A Bastion of Monsters (Keira Ticon)

[Kalzan]

Bastion​

Capital of the Primeval​

​

Bastion was indeed a strange place, even by Sarox's standards. The capital of the Primeval, it was home to many weird and, what some would consider, wonderful people. A group of monsters and cultists, it was said, and yet Sarox felt at home. But he knew it was no permanent place for him, as these very people were in alliance with the One Sith. As much as even consorting with allies of the Sith was blasphemy to him, desperate times called for desperate measures.

Sarox seeked knowledge, specifically in the force. He hoped there would be no shortage of such knowledge here, and had arrived only a few hours ago in search of it. Indeed it did not take long for word to reach him of a master in the force, who may be able to share her knowledge with him. Now intrigued, Sarox went in search of the woman. In an area of the city that seemed darker than the rest, if that were possible, he found what he was looking for.

"Are you the Master I hear about?" Sarox spoke with some secrecy as he entered a small building to see the woman. Whether this was her home or just a place she had stopped by he did not know, but either way he required her attention. "I am Sarox, and I am in need of training." Blunt, as usual, yet effective to reaching the point. While he awaited his reply, the black ink on his mask shifted into different shapes, an odd display to most.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

A master in some respects but not in all, Keira wasn't exactly sure what the bounds of her freedom entailed when it came to where she was permitted to traverse on Bastion, or if she was allowed to leave the planet in the first place. The boundaries had been tested almost immediately after her placement on-planet, and no complaints had been raised after her first excursion, so she considered herself nearly free in all aspects. It wasn't ideal, but it sufficed to keep her occupied. And as one who all but required some sort of activity to keep herself entertained, it was a welcome discovery. While not nearly as untethered as she had been within the Ravens, she at the very least wasn't kept close to the Host Lord at all times, and that had to be enough. She had learned to settle.

That brought her to where she was in the moment, one of the smaller buildings that branched off of the main, sprawling complex that made up the majority of the capital itself. Its original function wasn't evident in the structure, but at this point it seemed to function as some sort of archive. With nothing more left to amuse herself with, in short order this was where she had found herself. It wasn't her ideal interest, but it included enough to allow her to distract herself. Most of the time, distractions were all she required in order to get by in the day-to-day. It was how she'd survived this long, when not in any sort of combat scenario. Contrary to what most seemed to believe, when not stuck fighting for her life she did like to expand her knowledge every once in awhile. It always served to outsmart one's enemies, after all.

The presence of the outsider hadn't gone unnoticed, and from the moment he'd landed on the planet she had noticed something out of place. Not much thought had been devoted to it, however, as it was possible this was just more new blood that had arrived to find his place in the greater galaxy. And so she had tuned it out, more or less ignoring whatever her sixth sense was attempting to communicate. That was before he'd decided to show up and grace her with his presence. As soon as he stepped within meters of the building her attention was once more drawn, and the moment he stepped inside she turned to study him, dark clouds roiling behind amber eyes. A wry smile twisted her lips at all that he had to say, and for a moment she merely watched him carefully. This was the one she had felt earlier, no question about it.

Turning completely to face him, not bothering to disguise the weapon at her waist, she spoke, "In some aspects, yes." Allowing him to assume what he would after that, she continued, "In others, not so much. But yes, I am what many would consider a master of the Force, in a certain light." The title was never something she openly claimed herself, preferring to demonstrate her power rather than verbally announce it. "It's good to know that you have the initiative. But you're going to have to elaborate more than that. What s this knowledge you seek?" Never had she considered herself much of a proper teacher, but it seemed numerous others were of a mind to change that recently.

[member="Sarox"]

 

[Kalzan]

An interesting woman, to say the least... Sarox had expected someone different, but her appearance did not change his opinion of her too much. He had no doubt in the woman's powers, and that was the only reason he was here. Her comment about being a Master in some aspects did not surprise him; many masters he had met were humble about their rank, whether they meant it or not. "I know of the foundations of the force. I can utilise Telekinesis and enhance my senses with the force. As for a lightsaber, I have trained in the first form, but I do not concern myself as much with using a blade. My focus is to improve upon my current knowledge of the force, and also expand it. The power of using the mind to communicate and influence people still alludes me, and increasing one's speed and strength is a feat I can not claim to possess." He paused for a moment, the black shapes on his mask congregating symmetrically in the center. "The rank of Knight is but a title, yet one that holds with it some power. I wish to obtain it so that I may fulfill my purpose. If you help me do so, you will have my service in return." Finally he was done, a small nod of his head signalling so. He continued only to ask:

"What do you say to my proposal?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Not only was he aware of his ability, but he seemed to know intrinsically his own limits, mentioning both strengths and weaknesses without pause or hesitation. There was enough he already knew to move along with little issue, and Keira had no doubt that he would call the title of Knight his own within a short span. Not only did he have ambition, but the skill to back it up, something that was rare when it came to those encountered in the past. Once he finished speaking she allowed silence to hang between them for a moment, though her mind was already made up. Many of those she had taught previously, while the numbers weren't exceedingly high, hadn't been half as aware fo what they wished to learn as he. That by itself was ample enough reason.

"You're going to want to know how to use a blade. The Force itself won't be enough when you encounter those capable of negating that upper hand. And it will happen. You need something else to fall back on." It wasn't a direct answer, but it hinted at her acceptance directly enough. "What style you choose and whether you pursue it to begin with is entirely your decision, but it's something I would advise towards, if just as a precaution and nothing more. You don't have to be a bladesman, but you should be competent." The Force manifested itself as a useful tool, but it wasn't something to be solely relied upon, as he would learn soon enough. Not if he wanted to preserve life and limb for any extended, healthy period of time.

This was one she could perhaps get along with. "I can't promise it's going to be easy." But she couldn't see any of it being exceedingly difficult for him either. "But I can see that you have potential and a want to succeed, and that by itself is more than enough. I'm willing to teach you all it is you'd like to know." What she wasn't certain of just yet was his offer of assistance in return, but she supposed not much could be done to dissuade him from that particular train of thought, and so she would let it be, for the moment. "There isn't a need for formal titles or any of that, either. In the end it's just semantics, and all it does is waste time." In that she wasn't the most traditional-minded, yet another reason her tenure with the Jedi hadn't lasted long. "You can just call me Keira."

Already she had taken on a student, but she supposed a second wouldn't throw much of a wrench in things. It was another way to occupy her time rather constructively. Since when did I become a teacher?

[member="Sarox"]

 

[Kalzan]

He had definitely come to the right place. What the woman spoke of now only affirmed his belief in her knowledge, the knowledge that he would possess in time. She was withholding specs of detail between her words, yet that was only the sign of a smart person. Common sense dictates you do not give away your thoughts fully, Sarox couldn't be the only one to think that. A smile formed underneath his mask at the hearing of her acceptance, yet this was only portrayed as a shifting of black on his mask. It was possible that in time some could learn his expressions from the black shapes, but it would take some time, and certainly this woman would not see it. Although he wouldn't be surprised if she noticed his delight through other means.

Her suggestion about using a blade made sense, and since she was the master he intended to follow her advice. "I see. I shall aim to vary my lightsaber styles, in order to match most situations. Your point is, of course, valid." The notion of difficulty then came his way, yet it swayed him little. "I wouldn't expect it to be easy." His mask's shapes shifted again, this time higher up in a line, but always symmetrical. "I don't see why the Jedi concern themselves with titles, your lack of interest in them is a welcome sight." Mentally he made note of her name, no doubt one he would become accustomed to shortly.

"I did come to you out of the blue so to speak, but do you have anything in mind to begin with?" He asked, the black shapes resting in a spread-out pattern.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Briefly Keira considered again what abilities he had mentioned being within his grasp and what others presently eluded him. Out of all of them telekinesis was no doubt her specialty, and something she had focused on, along with lightsaber combat. Two rather basic talents in the eyes of some, but able to be utilized with a deadly efficiency when in the right hands. That would be one place to begin, if he so wished. "Telekinesis is something of a specialization of mine, if you'd like to begin with a skill you're already familiar with. It would come arguably easier, at the very least." Not that she was much of a teacher in any traditional sense. A fact he would likely learn in time, if not from the way she was merely behaving at the moment.

"You'll find that my way of combat tends to be rather straightforward." Not to mention aggressive as well. "Depending on your preference, you may want to seek out another for saber combat. Ataru and Djem So are the two I focus on, and the more aggressive of the seven. With your want to concentrate on the Force, Niman would likely be preferred. It allows you to become proficient with a blade while utilizing attacks through the Force to supplement your abilities. Not a requirement, but something to consider nonetheless." Perhaps she was a more capable mentor than she believed. Of course, she was always one to learn through experience rather than any formal lessons. Only time would tell whether she taught in the same manner her former mentor had.

Stepping around him she moved out of the building, pausing to allow him time to follow. "With all of that being said, I don't have a preference as to what we begin with. Whatever you believe would be the easiest for you. I'm not the sort to dictate in which direction our time together chances to go." Nor would she have any concrete plans for how their lessons would end up. "As for titles, don't worry about them. The Jedi themselves are questionable." At that she cracked a smile. "Likewise with the Sith. No formality will be abided by, that I can assure you. I don't keep either company." The chances of them keeping hers was slim to none as well. She didn't tend to attract that sort of company.

[member="Sarox"]