Ask Home Away from Home

[Nevizkas]

It wasn't just that Cyutadakyr had invited Param to her homeworld to train, that seemingly small thing ballooned out of something else. But rather, the pureblood had simply wished to spend more time with the woman, yet in all of her years of confidence, it slipped.

The chance to train had been a simple means to an end, more truly an excuse to hide this flaw. A round about way to work on finding a solution to a problem that she hadn't realised lay under the surface, simply bubbling away. For all her wisdom and wit, her combative prowess and sly and coy remarks, she had never once actually wanted to spend time with another in a way that simply wasn't selfish.

As she stood in the middle of a store, clutching a weaved bag and awaiting Param's return. Although the Echani didn't know where they were going, Cyu had let slip that today they would spend together building a small garden, one far away from prying eyes and for their exclusive use and knowledge. She'd barely any gardening knowledge, given even in the literal sense of the word she did not possess green fingers.

But she also knew this was important to Param, and by that definition, Cyu wanted to make it important for her as well.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param exited the store, a small bag of seeds in her hand. Her silver eyes were excitedly looking through the bag, her face glowing like the sun itself. She looked up to find Cyu waiting for her, her smile staying. "All the seeds came in. We've got hibiscus, blue orchids, and lilies," she said, showing the open bag to Cyu. "It's going to be hard to keep them growing in the desert."

Her silver eyes lowered to Cyu's bag. "What do you have?" She'd said they were building a garden, but Param didn't know where. She assumed by an oasis like the last one. The sting of what happened there still a fresh mark, but she didn't let it show. Cyu was the only friend she really had, even more than that recently. There was always confusion broiling around that topic in Param's mind. They hadn't really talked about it since.

She shook the thoughts away. Today was going to be a good day, filled with gardening and making Korriban just a tiny bit more precious. Of course, she was wearing her black robes and trousers, lightsaber clipped to her belt. Vee was nested up on her left shoulder. He gave an excited beep and performed a little trot dance.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

It didn't take long for the two to reconnect, a smile flashing across the pureblood's face. "Excellent." She said, taking a quick peek in the other's bag. "Hmm, well, I asked around for suggestions and this is what we came up with." Cyu's bag had a collection of seeds and sprouts, ranging from desert roses, coral vine, some agaves and an autumn sage.

Wearing something loose fitting, Cyutadakyr had made sure that there wouldn't be much of a hike from where they'd park the speeder. "You know, black really suits you." She warmly shared, suggesting and then starting to walk. "It really compliments your eyes."

With a handful of tools and supplies already inside the speeder, and unless Param requested another stop, the pair would shortly start up its engine and exit the city to make their way across the vast desert plains. The morning sun would be just an hour shy of noon before they reached their destination, giving them plenty of time to get stuck into their busy work.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"Perfect!" Param squealed, looking into the bag Cyu had brought. They had everything they needed to start a garden on Korriban, and it was going to be the best garden it had ever seen if Param had anything to say about it. She beamed at Cyu. "Thank you! It's so hard to find colors that match silver everything" she said gesturing to encompass herself.

"I like this outfit," she added as they walked to the speeder. She pulled the tan hooded scarf a little, checking out the fabric. "You should wear stuff like this more often."

The sun was hot, and Param found herself wishing she'd worn something a little more casual and fitting of the warm weather. She didn't complain though. Her robes were doing more for her than if she were to wear anything revealing or cool. The heat wasn't how stars killed people, after all. "What is this place?" Param asked, looking around. She had both bags in her hands.

 

[Nevizkas]

The desert surrounded them in all directions as Cyutadakyr pulled up and parked. "Just a little further." She motioned for the pair to disembark with their things for the day. The sand dunes were warm under foot, both a relaxing feeling and a sign of many good things to come, as they started to crest the hill to look down below.

From their raised position, they'd spot a patch of brown among the grainy sand. The barren spot was devoid of existing life, nor did it appear to be a thriving oasis like the other spot, but Param would notice a confident stare resting upon the pureblood's face.

"This was once a garden belonging to a master forger, long since abandoned." It was obvious that there was still some work to do, but as they approached, the soil appeared to be relatively healthy. It was also clear that Cyu must have been there recently to prepare the soil for planting, although Param would be more the expert in that department.

"Will this work?" She asked, hopeful. There was one other surprise to show for the garden, but for now she held it close to her chest and playfully watched Param take it in.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"It's perfect!" Param said, her excitement not only plain in her tone but written all over her face as well. The soil was already prepared and everything. All they would need to do is plant the seeds, give them a mixture of plant food and water, and within a fortnight the garden would be thriving with beautiful colors. Granted, they'd have to make sure the garden got watered everyday, possibly even twice a day with Korriban's level of heat. Something a droid caretaker could take care of without much issue. That was a later them problem anyway.

She began to make her to the soil, dropping the bags gently just outside of it. They would need to use every last seed they had to fill a garden of this size. Param grew even more excited just thinking about it. Of course, the garden would only be flowers, only one of which really could be used to make tea, but Param doubted anyone was wanting to make anything from the garden. The fact that a garden could grow on Korriban would be good enough.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Dropping the bag's that she'd been carrying, Cyu couldn't be happier that she'd found the perfect little spot. Horticulture was a little more complicated than simply planting anywhere you wanted, she'd been told. Which is precisely why Param would be in charge of the actual logistics of the garden, with the pureblood assisting and following the others directions.

Within hours, the once empty plot was planted and filled with an abundance of life waiting to take hold. Standing beside the Echani overlooking their work like proud parents, Cyu felt emotions pressing behind the dam that was her constant emotional state. "Thank you for this." She warmly said, eyes grazing Params.

After a short rest for refreshments, Cyutadakr's face went coy once more as she couldn't resist wanting to reveal the remainder of the surprise. "Do you want to see something even cooler?" she teased. Trailing away from the garden, until she reached what looked like a solid stone surface against a sand dune, the pureblood seemed to play with something at first.

Within moments, what was once solid stone would be a hidden passage revealed. The depths of its mystery, calling out to the Echani and Pureblood alike.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param kept silent, watching over the little bulbs of soil that represented a freshly planted seed. She turned her silver gaze to Cyu. Cyu had meant it, Param could tell. The constant tugging and pulling from all corners of the Order on their minds and hearts weren't being taken lightly. Param herself had started to realize that everything she did, said, and loved as a Sith would be used against her. She only hoped that this garden wouldn't be used against her one day, because she needed it just as much as Cyu.

"Yeah," she said, hiding her thoughts with a warm smile. Param followed her to the smooth stone that became a passage. She squinted trying to see inside but it was pitch black. Reaching out with the Force, she only sensed darkness. It was old darkness, like the kind she sensed coming to Korriban in the first place, but more concentrated. "What is it?" she asked, looking to Cyu.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The ominous darkness lured, but unlike the first time the pureblood had ventured within in search of knowledge and treasure, Cyu knew what they were stepping into.

With a flick of her wrist, she drew upon the inherent heat within the air to use pyrokinesis. The small flicker of flame raced across the entrance until it struck a small torch in the rear, which in turn began illuminating the passage along the way. With a smile, she offered an arm if the other would take it for the walk down.

"It's a secret you must keep." She spoke with a soft and warm tone. "Many years ago, my ancestors built these great forges to combine objects with the force, creating powerful artifacts and the like." As they continued down, it was quite apparent that they were walking along a hidden path that was rarely trodden.

Cyu recalled vividly how she'd originally battled machination and trap in order to access its secrets the first time, the ancient knowledge and machines being well protected at the time. But this path led them directly to a vast room, dimly lit with many things to take in.

Param would notice long tables with old dusty tomes and objects, a row of book cases along the far wall and furtherest away, the soft glow of a geothermal forge.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param took Cyu's arm without hesitation. She didn't like caves much. The best part of caves were the vines that sometimes covered the walls. This one however seemed less like a cave, and more like a corridor leading to something more. It was also important to Cyu, and that alone was enough for Param to keep this a respectful and somber journey.

The room at the end of the path was large, but that wasn't what drew Param's attention. It was the long tables of tomes and small bits of metal and other objects. An almost never ending wall of books and holocrons, and a forge at the very end, still hot with a geothermic glow. "It's amazing," Param said, too wonder-struck to speak above a whisper. If even a normal voice could harm the rest of this place, she didn't want to be the one to wake it up.

"Have you been here before?" Param asked, looking up at Cyu. "Is this your family's?"

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Strolling into the room, Cyu caught glances of what had drawn Param the most. The collection of writings, descriptions and teachings. The pureblood herself had only delved into a small portion of what was on offer, and to say that it had been enlightening would be an understatement.

"I have spent some time here, yes." She nodded, as they reached the closest desk. "It's mine, at least for now." she looked over to Param with a smile. Her hand reached for a medium-sized tome and traced her finger over its cover before opening it to a random page. The Sith lexicon was first hand to someone such as herself, but without studying it themselves, most Sith barely knew more than the basics than what was drilled into them at an academy.

Even if Param couldn't understand the words, the crude images drawn into the pages would provide more than enough context for her to surmise its purpose. The bent object drawn from the forge was clearly meant to show one was supposed to work the blade while avoiding the scorching heat from destroying your progress.

If she seemed interested, Cyu would consider reading some of the passages, otherwise she would move on to something else.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param watched the pictures flutter by with the pages. There were a lot of objects shown, some of which she had helped work herself a long time ago. Her slaver had made them work in a much smaller, dirtier forge for any metal crafting he needed. The first thing they learned how to do was make their own chains that bound them. It was the swords on the pages that piqued Param's interest.

"Your people used a lot of swords," Param said. It was more of an observation, considering the amount of swords drawn in the tome. The Sith weren't unlike the Echani. Most of the differences lay in the reasonings of the rituals rather than the rituals and traditions themselves. The use of swords in Echani martial arts was massive; not necessarily needed, but a large part. Most village elders and high ranking members of the communities carried ceremonious foils with them.

"Can we make one?" Param asked, turning a gaze to Cyu, excitement clearly growing in her face. It certainly wasn't working in the garden, but it would be an experience. Master Thel was adamant about lightsabers, so she wouldn't tell him about this. Even if it stayed in her pagoda, there was no way she could leave the forge without trying. If it was allowed, of course.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

There was a lifetime of reading material one could go through before someone could claim to have read everything written down regarding Sith alchemy, sword forging and adjacent material. To achieve what Cyutadakyr wanted was something just dangling a little out of her reach, at least for now.

"Well.." She stood there, an iron cast will being battered by the excited Echani's smile. But that didn't mean they couldn't create something unique in the meantime. "Okay, let's do it. Did you have something specific in mind?" While Cyu went looking for the correct book following her answer, they'd also begin gathering the materials needed for this sword.

The forge itself was relatively simple, but sturdy. With a chain pull, the geothermal matter began the process of heating the chamber toward the correct temperature.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param thought for a moment. "Something Echani," she said, concluding with a contented smile, "something me." She made her way over to the actual forge. It's heat billowed out, washing over her. While Cyu gathered the materials and books, Param's mind wandered to her visit to Eshan. The foils she had seen weren't unlike many vibro-swords seen around the galaxy, but were unique in that the hilts weren't bulky. They were simple weapons, designed for ceremony and war. War against those that weren't wielding lightsabers, of course.

"In potions class, we had to let the Force guide us when making the potions, and funnel it into the potions as we made them. I think I'm going to do the same thing, just without all the alchemy," she said, smiling at Cyu. "What do you think?"

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

With a rough guideline to go on based entirely off loose words and context given regarding her culture, Cyu set to work finding what seemed right. Rather than going through each and every page and manual, instead relying on the force for guidance, she carefully walked along the corridor with eyes devouring each cover keenly.

At last, the pureblood paused, pulling an old, dusty tome from its cold rest and into the light. Next came a funny looking metal bar she pulled out of a small box which would form the basis of the sword. Lastly, a third box provided the tools they might need for the forging, all of which she brought over to Param and laid them out.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Cyutadakyr's smile broadened, measurably excited at the prospect of properly using the forge. It would not only be an opportunity for the young Acolyte to grow in experience and knowledge, let alone potentially creating a useful tool. The benefits for the pureblood did not stop there, however, as she desired to unlock its secrets contained within on the dark arts of alchemy.

And this was the first step of many, on this route.

As the more powerful of the two, it would be far easier for Cyu to multitask while maintaining a full concentration. This in turn would allow Param to entirely concentrate on using the force on the weapon itself, and shaping it to her will. The metal bar didn't take long to heat up inside the intense furnace, its glow seemingly brighter than Korriban's own star and reflecting heat as intensely.

Cyutadakyr then waited, allowing Param to direct her movements as the siren would begin her song. This was, after all, made for and by an Echani.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param's smile faded, only when she began reaching out with the Force. She connected with the metal, strengthening the connection. There was another connection there, though. As she stood, arms slightly raised at her sides with her head back as if she were being picked up by something divine, the kyber crystal Kodi had allowed her to take the night of the fair floated from an internal pocket in her robes. It bobbed in front of her, as Param's world funneled into an abyss.

The crystal spoke to her, and she spoke back. The conversation not spoken with words but with emotions and the Force. It was confused, and she reassured it. It was fearful, and Param comforted it. It was a tug of war, on that Param was winning. She would not bend the crystal to her will, or force it down a path it refused to go. Instead, she made it think that it had decided to go down the path of darkness. There was so much cruelty in the galaxy, so much harm. Clearly the crystal could see true freedom was the only choice.

And so the crystal began to bleed. The top turning crimson, soaking down into the ivory, translucent rock. Slowly it came to grips with the state of the galaxy, the emotional turmoil of Param's heart, the torn nature of her mind. It fused with her, became a part of her. When the last ivory fell to crimson, the crystal had all but become an extension of herself. Param's eyes opened, as she came back from the abyss, her eyes practically glowing an orangish-gold. She picked up the hammer, and stepped to the anvil, crystal following in tow. She was ready.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The little tremors in the force, in Param, was a sight to behold as the Acolyte began plying her misdeeds upon the crystal. Cyu could only watch with keen interest, wondering if the other could handle the immense strain that would certainly come her way, the pain that she'd have to enjoy finding the blade that she craved.

Time would tell if she could, and the pureblood continued to provide limited assistance in silence. This one was on Param and the Echani knew it, she had no choice but to succeed. If at any point she got stuck, the tome would provide some guidance on the next step, but as always, the force was the keenest guide.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param took up the hammer in one hand, and the tongs that carried the super heated metal in the other. Once again she gave herself to the Force. The darkness of the void that was the galaxy, the emotions the flowed through it every cycle. She was no longer on Korriban, deep in a cave at a forge. She was in a world between the physical realm and the Force. Planets and stars lay just beyond reach in a canvas of darkness, while the only thing keeping her from drifting through the void was a road of mist.

For Cyu, Param would start hammering the glowing metal. For Param, a journey unlike anything she'd ever been on was just beginning.

It began with her as a child. Watching her father, and then her mother getting butchered by a Sith Champion's cheap tricks. Then the rest of her village. The fear she felt, the anger. Why were her parents not strong enough to stop it? Why wasn't anyone else in the village strong enough to stop it? Things had been peaceful, things had been so right; but peace was a lie.

Then she was in a forge in some false temple on some unknown planet. Hammering her the very shackles that would bind her wrists and neck. She was only a young girl, there wasn't anything she could have done to stop the Champion. Why wasn't she more powerful? A passion was born. A passion that raged with the fires of anger and hate for her slaver and all those like him. For the guards that spat on them and kicked them.

The mist shifted, and she was surrounded by a library of holocrons. She took one, then two, carrying them back to her cell. It would take her days to figure out how to open them, but as she opened them one by one, she began to learn. She began to get stronger. The other kids enslaved with her knew it, could feel it. She grew so strong that a spar ended in one of their deaths. Sadness for her friend, and anger for the ones that forced her into this situation in the first place overwhelmed her. Her passion had given her strength.

Another shift, swirling mist around her. The guard was laughing at her from the other side of the cell. She challenged him again, said he could do whatever he wanted to her if he won. The creep fell for it, and never stood a chance. It was the vibro-blade that he carried that made the halls of that false temple flow with blood. It was that vibro-blade that she had plunged into her slaver's chest. What little assets and power he had becoming hers. Her strength had led her to power.

Suddenly she was dropped back onto Troiken, in front of a speeder. Master Thel was there, his expression a concoction of disappointment and apathy. Lightning arced from his fingers, coursing through Param's veins, through every muscle, over every fiber. Pain, there was only pain. And then there was a surge of power, and in the next moment she had lifted the speeder, channeling every emotion she had into the Force. From that power, she gained a victory over her weaker self.

The mist was a whirlwind around her, the void all but disappearing in a sea of grey. A face appeared, with a fanged grin, twitching ears. A tail swaying behind it with an excited tempo. "So…why do you think you’re still in chains? You seem pretty free to me," Kodi said.

"I am free," she replied. He only gave his fanged grin, slowly fading into the mist. "I'm free now. Freer than I've ever been." Tears built up in the corner of her eyes. She was free to feel pain, anger, hate, sadness, happiness, love. She could forge her own path, unlike so may in the galaxy. Her victory had broken the chains that bound her. She was free.

A CLANG rang out, snapping her back to the forge on Korriban. Her eyes burned brightly, tears half way down her cheeks. There were multiple pieces of metal in front of her on the anvil. One, a curved blade, another a black rose to separate the blade from the handle, and the pieces that would form the handle when applied. The bled crystal drifted down to the anvil, joining the rest of the pieces it would be joining.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The sounds of the forge gorging itself upon the metal, turning the lame and crude into the makings of a work of art. With each strike of the hammer, Cyu watched as the Acolyte committed herself to the act. The emotion, the strength and passion burning within the young woman incarnate.

The pureblood could not see, yet she saw as each cycle bought out by the Echani sew and wove a part of her soul, her pain and darkness within the bonds of the weapon being born of her labour.

Why was such a sight so lovely, a burden held alone? A whisper of freedom dealt a fortune of time and yet could the freedom to choose, become her worst torture yet?

Unbeknownst to the pair, a certain lair stirred.

Woe to the unprepared.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

The final step in the process was assemblage. Eyes still burning with the darkside, Param let go of the hammer and tongs. She raised her hands to the pieces of sword in front of her. They lifted, much like one would use the Force to lift a disassembled lightsaber. Everything was slow, and methodical. The delicate process of making sure everything fit just right, and wouldn't wiggle around, was a process not to be rushed.

The guard slid onto the blade first. The black rose a hallmark to her use of gardens as an escape from the terrors and injustices of the galaxy. Her love and focus for flora of all shapes and sizes manifest. A shield to stop her from cutting herself on the sharpened, deadly edge of the galaxy itself.

The bled crystal took it's place at the end of the tang, and the dark pieces of hilt closed around it. The pins set in, and the clasps tightened until it was secure. Black, leathery animal skin wrapped around the hilt, followed by a white, silk ribbon, wrapping in a diamond pattern. Her grasp of her Echani heritage. An embrace of the grace, serenity and beauty of the Echani people and their rituals.

The hilt was capped by the pommel. A heavy piece of metal with a large ring through it. A statement in the lack of chains, attached to it. A freedom wanted and striven for. A freedom mostly achieved, but with still so much work to do. The pommel twisted and clicked into place, tightening the hilt until there was no room for movement.

The assembled sword hung in the air a moment, before the scabbard that had been forged at its side slid over the obsidian colored blade. As it reached the guard, a metallic click rang out, seating the sword securely within it. The forged duo gently approached Param, until it rested in her palms. It was time for the final step.

Param focused on the sword and scabbard, not as a weapon and it's protector but as two, inter-connected weapons. She poured the Force, and all of the emotions that had accumulated over this journey into it. When she was just about at her limit, the Force retreated. It was done; completed.

She pulled the sword from the scabbard only showing a couple inches of the blade. An almost unnoticable crimson hue emitted from the blade, slowly fading as the last tendrils of Force funneled into it. She had done it. Param had Force forged a sword. And it was beautiful.

@Xorism