Ask Slicing Like the Wind

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Zeffo, once the homeworld of a great realm, was now only a backwater planet filled with ruins and some villages. Palpatine’s Empire dug everything valuable that it could find, but some secrets still remained. After their collapse, new citizens returned to live at this place.

It wasn’t the ruins that brought Caerllion there. He decided that the planet would be a good place to train Trodai. The dangerous fauna, rough terrain and inclement weather made the planet perfect to test the Pureblood Force abilities in many ways. The Annfyn wondered if his apprentice would be capable of dealing with it.

Dressed in black robes with a cloak that covered his head, the Annfyn watched a small village below the plateau where he had landed his ship. Trodai had come with him and Caerllion was waiting for him to come out of it. The Champion expected that he wasn’t going to take too long to get ready.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Several months before Judgement and Home is Where the Heart is

Trodai wondered what kind of training awaited as he got ready for the challenge ahead. They were on Zeffo...A unfamiliar location to the Pureblood but it didn't matter to him. It was just a training ground, a place he would be reformed in fire and pain. This was his purpose, to be a Sith.

Here Trodai stood in Sith Armour ready for the tests ahead. As he exited the ship, he noted the ever changing weather, villages and ruins. Along with the terrain. It would be unremarkable save for fact it was unpredictable. Stepping out moments after Caerllion, he spoke, kneeling as he did. As was tradition.

"Master. I am ready to begin."

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion eyed his apprentice. Once again the Pureblood opted to wear his armor. For the first part of this training, his choice of outfit could be problematic. Sometimes, the best defense for a Sith is simply being able to disappear in the crowd without being noticed.

“Good. We'll start now.” the Annfyn said, while walking down a path in the mountain slope. The wind was strong, making strange sounds around them. The Annfyn robe moved with it, giving to him the impression of being a malevolent spirit. In a way, he really was. The Dark Side was part of him.

“Remember how I controlled the mind of the guards in Elim's house? I'll teach you how to do it.” his apprentice had problems using the Force during this mission, now it was time to change it. "You need to focus in the presence of your target through the Force, then you use the Dark Side to subdue them. Once their will is weak enough, you'll whisper commands to them.”

After following the path for some time, they arrived in a small village. It was small, but busy due to a nearby spaceport. “There is a cantina. You'll go there and follow my instructions to subdue someone's mind, while I wait here. You have two hours.” he pointed to an alley. “Then you'll bring your puppet for me. Are you prepared for that?” Caerllion was skeptical if anyone would allow Trodai to get close to them while he wore that armor.

It would be another problem that the Pureblood would need to solve.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai looked at his Master, he could tell by the expression he wasn't amused at his armour choice. And he soon realised why. Little did he know they were to start with a mind technique...and so he cursed his luck. As they walked down the path, he too felt the wind.

Like a monster making noises as it bellowed, almost alive in it's own way. Trodai listened as Caerllion explained, interested in learning this technique he spoke of. It would be a useful tool. He noted what he needed to do, the need to first approach and then take control. Following the path still for a while longer, the two soon stopped. Trodai saw ahead, a small yet busy spaceport. He knew then what his task likely entailed.

He listened as he was given two hours to retrieve a victim from the cantina. Nodding he stepped forward as he spoke.

"I am. I shall try my best, Master. I will not fail this time."

Trodai walked, he kept going until he was within the spaceport. And despite the off look, most chose to ignore him. Content with whatever it was they were doing. Entering the cantina, Trodai soon found a victim. A blonde human. Smuggler by his look, it didn't matter to Trodai, only that he followed.

And so he approached and began to work the Magick (Force).

Spoiler

OOC: Actions Taken - 1.People allowing Trodai to get close without being suspicious.
2. Mind Control
Roll D20 1: 15
Roll D20 2: 8

Successfully allowed to approach, Trodai began to work, planning the suggestion and motivation to follow him. The man quicker a eyebrow at first, shaking his head but it was a soon no use. He relented, following as led him out, no-one paying much notice as they thought he was a friend or something similar. Trodai was walking back, the strain inside the mask was evident, it was not easy to maintain control. He brang the human puppet to his Master.

And then the exhaustion set in, forcing him to momentarily loose control. It was a continuous struggle.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Hidden among the shadows of the ally, Caerllion patiently waited for the return of his apprentice. The Annfyn had given three hours for the Pureblood because he expected that it would take some time until he was capable of connecting his mind with another person.

To his surprise, Trodai returned in less than twenty minutes. Through the Force, he felt how the Pureblood was tired, barely being capable of walking. However, he was successful in bringing a mind controlled man to him, even if he ended up losing control due to the strain. Caerllion immediately used his own power to take control of the human, allowing his Apprentice to fall and rest.

He commanded the human to return to the cantina, remembering nothing that had happened. Once he was far away, Caerllion turned to look at Trodai. “You did well, but things could have gone wrong. You need to practice.”

Caerllion would give some time for Trodai to rest, before starting to walk away from the village. “Next thing that you will do is establish a bond with a local creature. You’ll subdue it and use the Force to make the connection.”

When they were outside the village, Caerllion showed his apprentice a plateau in the distance. “A herd of philiaks live here, bring one of them to me. I’ll be waiting in these ruins.” he showed the ancient building on a mountain slope at the north of the plain.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Tricia rested and we soon recovered but knew he needed to work on the technique. After his rest he listened, and was intrigued about the possibilities of learning this new technique, for it would come in handy. Soon enough and Trodai was off, walking down towards the plateau and the roaming phillaks.

It was while there the hard bit would begin.

As before he attempted to enter the mind of the horned creature, who looked like it couldn't even see in front of it. Several appeared to be attacking each other over perceived territory with no sense of self preservation. Picking the closest he began.

OOC: Actions Taken - Used Beast Control to try and form a bond with Phillak
Roll D20: 7

He focused, issuing a simple yet authoritative command "Obey."

The creature did so following to the ruins, however yet again was it a struggle to keep the bond. And he was getting exhausted simply by the effort. Soon enough and the creature broke the bond, bashing him up the butt and sending him to the floor before trying the same with Caerllion. Feral as it was.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

As he had said to his Apprentice, Caerllion was waiting for him in the ruins. More than a century ago, the Empire had drilled this place in search of anything that the Zeffo civilization had left behind. However, parts of the buildings still remained behind. Like the yard where Annfyn was seated cross legged, in deep meditation.

He was feeling the approach of Trodai, once again exhausted. His apprentice was capable of establishing a bond with the philiak, but he was barely maintaining it. Caerllion was starting to think that the Pureblood had problems in using the Force. He wondered how he was with a lightsaber.

“Good job.” Caerllion said, before Trodai lost the bond and was bashed in the butt by the philiak. The animal immediately turned at the Annfyn, rushing to attack him. With a flick of his hands, the Champion held the creature with the Force. Then, he rose from his place and slowly approached it. Placing a hand on its head, he established a bond with it.

With a silent order, the Annfyn sent the philiak away. “You need to practice more with your Force abilities. You are only having half-successes so far.” he turned away from his apprentice, before walking away. “Stay here resting, I’ll prepare for your next practice. I’ll be back in one hour.”

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai considered it as he listened. It was true, lately the Force has been temperamental, not doing as he said when he needed it. And so he resolved to fix the issue. While Caerllion went off, Trodai used the time wisely, both resting and meditating. Trying to strengthen his connection. He wasn't stupid, he knew how it looked so far.

But this was training. It was to improve and learn.

And so he continued as he waited.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion left Trodai recovering and walked toward a specific place. Centuries ago, during the Clone Wars, a Venator-class star destroyer crashed into the planet after being heavily damaged by the Separatists. Its remnants still remain here, a testament of a part of galactic history.

However, the Annfyn wasn’t interested in the old parts of the ship. The ship had fallen close to a body of water where the largest predator of Zeffo used to live. While he climbed down the mountain slope, Caerllion was able to hear the sound of the creature. Its heavy steps in the water made the Champion adopt a careful stance.

A jotaz was drinking water right below where Caerllion was. The creature was distracted, not having noticed the Annfyn. Not wanting to give the animal the chance to react, he immediately used the Dark Side to coil around the creature’s mind, while muttering a spell in ur-kittât. It screamed, but couldn’t resist. The jotaz’s eyes became burning red, it was under his control.

—-------------------------------​

Sometime later, Caerllion returned to the ruins. If Trodai was still resting, the Annfyn would use the Force to throw a pebble to attract the Pureblood’s attention. “Your abilities with the Force need improvement, but now I want to test your fighting abilities.” after saying that, he jumped in a pillar. From there, he watched his apprentice.

“I could teach you how to fight with a lightsaber, but it would be for another time. Now you are going to deal with the unexpected.” he snapped his fingers and a loud roar was heard, before a ruined wall was completely demolished. The jotaz appeared, completely bloodlusted and with red eyes. After seeing the Pureblood, the animal rushed at him. “Bring it down or you will die.”

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai grumbled slightly as the philiak knocked him over, sending him to the floor as it went to strike his Master. His rear was now sore...picking himself up he listened as the creature was controlled and sent away like it hasn't just attacked them. Troda I few annoyed at himself for not holding long enough. As Caerllion spoke, he listened.

And as he disappeared, Trodai meditated and rested at least until his Master returned.

And he was not alone. He heard the words and the request, a small smile gripping his lip, for this was where he hoped to shine...He was a warrior afterall. He felt the familiar feeling, the hairs on his skin standing up, as a warning sounded in the Force. A coming danger, and Trodai soon found what it was.

He moved quickly, igniting the lightsaber as the slow, tubby beast smashed through a ruin wall like it was nothing. Observing the beast, at first he did nothing, allowing it lol come. Yet keeping an eye on it...he would move it to where he wished it to be. And create a opening. As the podgy creature approached, Trodai dived out the way into a roll, switching the lightsaber off as he did before re-igniting as he rose up, allowing the beast to crash into a pillar as it's own momentum carried it onwards.

The pillar broke in two as the beast shook it's head, slightly disoriented briefly.

Trodai used the opening. As the creature tried to turn, slowly due to it's size, he moved in. Ducking under it as it tried swinging for him, enhanced with the Force he went for the kill. Estimating that if this beast was anything like back on Korriban, it's weakest point would be at the front. The belly or abdomen. And so he aimed to go under the arm and stab into the belly before slicing up.

A attempt to cut it wide open from the bottom up.

OOC: Actions Taken - Attempt to slice open the Jotaz belly -
D20 Roll: 18

Trodai smiled as his lightsaber hit true. As he ducked under and cut deep, impaling the beast in the gut, and the lightsaber went upwards to carve a path along the spine through the thick front. His guess was right...that had been it's weakest point. He removed it and stepped to the side as the beast growled in pain before toppling over dead. It's life extinguished as Trodai proved his skill with a blade.

He awaited Caerllion next instructions.

"The beast is dead Master." he said , standing victorious and relatively unscathed after the encounter.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

From his spot at the top of the pillar, Caerllion was able to see Trodai dealing with the jotaz. The Annfyn had not only put the creature under his control, but also had awakened its internal fury, which wasn’t so difficult since these animals would get mad for anything, even by simply looking at their reflection in the water.

He watched the fight with interest, expecting to see if the Pureblood would be capable of avoiding being killed. It was with great surprise that Caerllion saw his apprentice kill the animal with little effort. The fight ended faster than he had expected and now he thought about what he should do.

The jotaz was going to be the climax of this training session, but ended dead in less than ten minutes.

“Good job, apprentice.” Caerllion said, before jumping down the pillar. Thanks to the use of the Force, he landed gracefully in front of Trodai. “You are a better warrior with the lightsaber, but still need to practice your Force abilities.” he turned to look at the ruins. Maybe they could still continue with this training.

“What do you think about exploring ruins? There is an ancient Zeffo temple nearby, one that was carved inside the mountain. Perhaps we can find something that escaped Palpatine.” and he could improvise some more for Trodai’s training.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai stood standing over his victim and embracing the compliment to his skill with a blade. While he had felt the beasts anger, it had not phased him or deterred from his attempt to kill it. Trodai looked at it, taking a tooth as a trophy. A reminder of what he was capable of.

Looking to the ruins as Caerllion turned and spoke of them. Trodai considered the choice, if there was even a choice at all. He was curious though and did wonder what secrets might lay hidden, if it was worth the effort. He decided they had nothing better to do and what better way to train than practically. So he spoke "I have no issue exploring the ruins. If there are secrets to be found then it is fitting it be us who find it."

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”Excellent! I was hoping to have an opportunity to explore these ruins for a long time.” Caerllion was excited for it, like a child going to a candy shop. However, he wasn’t going to show such a weakness in front of his apprentice. The Annfyn was still in his business mode because Trodai’s training session was still happening.

He only needed to think what to do next for the Acolyte.

Caerllion would guide Trodai away from the corpse of the jotaz, ignoring the fact that his apprentice had picked one of the creature’s teeth. Everyone has their hobby, I guess. he thought. Putting a hand inside the mouth of an animal was an invitation to bacterias.

“Trodai, you never talk about your family.” since the Pureblood was his apprentice, Caerllion thought that they should know each other better. Some type of confidence should exist between them. “Do you have other siblings?”

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai listened as they walked to the ruins, his Master wanted to know more about him. And he would oblige to a point. As they walked the hills and looked out for threats on the approach, he was vigilant. Especially after the beast. Tricia was amused at Caerllio n reaction to his pulling of a tooth, it appeared it didn't understand the practice. A ancient one among the Warriors to keep something of their kill, a trophy to remind them of that which had been accomplished.

Especially something like this.

The tooth would be remade into a necklace to wear, one of bone and runes carved. Eventually. As Caerllion asked if he had any siblings, Trodai spoke the truth. "I do. One half-brother among the Order. Champion, Mjan Adas iv-Sadow. he is considered a bastard by the rest of the family. I believe he was the one I pulled that burrito prank on. Albeit it got out of hand further than expected. We have always been close and played such pranks is on each other with a bit of mischief, but lately we have drifted further apart. As we find our own way. And what of yourself Master?"

@LouJoVi