First Lesson (Vustia)

[Darth Ophidia]

The baseline appearance and proportions of near-humans and general humanoids never ceased to amuse Darth Ophidia. Having found one hopeful among many with the right mind, the right hunger, and the right likeness, she spared no effort in setting up the meeting. To pick one's apprentice was an arduous task, not to be taken lightly, as she had learned from past mistakes. However, she was quite certain that this one would be up for the task.

The invitation was simple; a card left for the Acolyte in her usual residence, bearing a set of coordinates and a single line of handwriting in the words: Peace is a lie; there is only passion. No more, no less.

The coordinates would lead the girl to the planet of Tython. Once a jewel in the Republic, the planet was now an ashen waste, entirely corrupted by the dark side of the Force in a ritual upon its capture. It smelled of ash and sulphur, dry and barren, exposed under the naked flame of truth that the Sith had shone upon its lies.

The Pale Assassin stood upon a height enjoying such a view. Her eyes were closed, her hands clasped behind her back and her senses reaching out through every stone and grain of sand she could find. Her breath was slow, steady, yet around her the air grew cold with a permeating aura of the dark side. She was no mere dabbler nor conjurer of cheap tricks. This was a true Lord of the Sith in her prime. Now, like an ambush predator, she waited.

[member="Vustia"]

 

[Vustia]

She had heard the stories of Tython many times but had never actually visited the planet herself, setting her ship down on the surface she couldn't believe it was once a Centrepiece in Jedi customs. Jumping out from the newly opened cockpit a sharp taste of ash hit her tongue, a smell beautiful to her became obvious, oh how she loved the smell of sulphur.

She made her way to the given location, she didn't know why she came, she knew that this was fully due to a Sith's work or even a Jedi trap. Most likely the first one, the Sith Code was a sign she hadn't seen for years yet it beckoned her. She better not regret this decision.

Arriving at the location it still looked like a barren wasteland but there was a stronger presence. She could feel the darkside as soon as she landed but it was stronger here. Much stronger.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Reaching out, she could feel the young woman as she stepped off from her ship. Like a spider at the corner of her web, she watched the fly sprawl between her invisible strings. She pulled a string of her web, sending a vibration through the Force to pull the acolyte closer. It would manifest like a whisper, so close it could be heard, but not so much it could be discerned as words.

However, the closer she came, the more clear it would become: Words of a strange language, sharp and hostile in sound. She repeated the same six lines over and over again, familiar, but strange, power and ancient like the order to which it belonged. Darth Ophidia transmitted the Sith Code in its original language like a call.

Meanwhile, her form remained stationary, like a beacon in wait for one to follow the signs.

[member="Vustia"]

 

[Vustia]

Vustia froze in place. She heard something. Definitely. What was it? She turned towards the direction it came from and walked closer. The further she went the clearer it became. She couldn't understand it. Yet she could. It was so familiar yet so foreign. She continued forward before being greeted by a tall formation.

The sound was coming from the top. She turned towards a path that lead up towards the top and began walking towards it. Maybe it was the person who sent the message. No, it had to be. Nobody else would be luring her towards them. As she got to the start of the path she stopped. If she continued there was no going back. She had to choose now.

And so she walked forward and began walking towards the top.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Patience had never been a key word in the description of a Sith. Yet, Darth Ophidia found it to be essential in the life of a successful Sith. So often did it happen that she was required to wait, be patient and take the slower path. She found a sanctuary in her breath and in immersing herself in the Force. She stoked the fire in her soul, but kept it contained. She was the master, not the puppet; she held the eye of the storm, unmoved. That was the meaning of Sith.

When [member="Vustia"] finally climbed to the top, Ophidia turned slowly, deliberately to face the acolyte. Her eyelids parted, revealing the orange irises beneath. The irises burned like embers in contrast to the ashen hues of her skin, cast in shadow under the hood of her cowl. She maintained a mask of stoic judgement as she observed the one who had come. And then, words, not spoken but transmitted directly to Vustia's mind.

What is the first law? What is the decree of those who above all seek power?

The code.

 

[Vustia]

She had made it. This was the source of the darkside energy she felt. This was strange, the entire planet had been taken over by the darkside but it all seemed weak in comparison to the power of this one person. As [member="Darth Ophidia"] turned to face her it felt like she was being penetrated by this strangers eyes. The voice echoed in her head again. This time it was a question. It felt familiar and was in a language she could understand. The answer had been one that she had known for a long time.

"Peace is a lie. There is only passion. The Sith Code"

 

[Darth Ophidia]

A moment of silence, and then the stoic mask broke with the faintest hint of a smile. The Sith Lord stepped back, away from the edge of the cliff, and gestured for the young woman to come with her. Somewhere in her step, she pivoted, turning her back to the prospective acolyte. Yet, she maintained a full awareness of her movement. Darth Ophidia left nothing to chance, only made it seem as such.

She did not go far, but trekked further into the rocky flatland of the ashen waste that topped the cliff. Soon, however, the stones quickly gave way to a large oval crested with monolithic stones, vaguely humanoid in shape and a dark, dull grey hue. The Dark Side of the Force was vibrant there, condensed. To a Jedi it would probably have been entirely nauseating, but to one who aspired to the dark side of the Force, it was like touching a live wire funnelling unbridled potential.

Don't be afraid, my dear. Come closer.

Once more, the Sith Lord transmitted thoughts to [member="Vustia"] . Extending a hand, she curled two ash-grey fingers towards herself in a gesture of approach.

 

[Vustia]

Watching the Sith carefully Vustia became aware of her amazing power. [member="Darth Ophidia"] had power unlike anything Vustia had ever felt, she beckoned Vustia to approach, thinking long and hard about the possible consequences of her actions towards this beacon of power she began to walk forward and with every step the presence of the dark side grew and became even more clear.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

The beckoning hand turned, palm now facing down to the earth and the fingers tipping down to gesture for her to kneel. Around them, the shadows deepened and the monoliths appeared to stretch taller and taller like the teeth of an open maw. And in the maw they stood: Riders of the storm, masters of the dark side.

You have potential for much power, I can feel it.

A distant storm rumbled in the background, clouds casting the steely sky into a new coat of shade. The wind picked up, picking up the coarse ashes and rustling the sparse vegetation that dared brave the soil. A hiss, seemingly without source, cut through the backdrop of the wind and starved plants. It was a cold land, barren, naked, exposed like the truth of their code.

I can help you fulfil it. All you must do is swear yourself to me, and I will show you.

Once more, Darth Ophidia turned her hand. This time, she showed her palm as though offering something invisible to [member="Vustia"] . What she offered lay in her words: Power, fulfilment. Her burning eyes did not blink once, nor did they waver. Much like the monoliths standing sentinel around them, she seemed to grow in magnitude the closer the storm came.

 

[Vustia]

[member="Darth Ophidia"] 's power seemed to know no bounds, the very ground itself seemed to be at will to her power. Vustia noticed as the entire landscape changed, presence of the dark side growing and growing. It was strong enough to make Vustia scared of this stranger. But then, the stranger offered to help unlock Vustia's powers. Vustia swore she wouldn't return to training ever again after the terrible experience she had in her youth. Two thoughts came over her, one was that if she refused she would most certainly die, and the other was that if she accepted she could become powerful, maybe not as powerful as the stranger but still very strong.

Vustia got down and knelt in front of the stranger and accepted the offer of great power.

"I swear myself loyal to you forevermore, the very force itself binds me to you, I am forever loyal"

 

[Darth Ophidia]

[member="Vustia"] knelt and swore. Darth Ophidia felt the first trace of a bond taking place. Swearing oneself into the service of a Sith Lord was not an oath easily cast aside. It left a mark upon the soul, a thread that lingered between the two despite great distances. Vustia was prudent to assume that Ophidia would have killed her if she had tried to resist. She was not one to take kindly to decline. Acceptance, however, she dealt with far more easily. This time, she spoke the words herself.

"Then you shall be my apprentice. All I know will be at your disposal, for a master without an apprentice of none is a master of nothing."

Her voice was coarse, rasped, husky one could say. The manner in which she spoke had a clear-cut imperial pronunciation and a cold calculation to its pronunciation. There was a stark difference between her spoken word and the murmur she had transmitted telepathically. While the telepathic speech was persuasive through a sense of alluring comfort, her spoken word clearly demanded attention and the outmost dedication to her command.

"Now, apprentice, show me your strength."

Her left hand lashed out to the side, pointing straight at one of the monolithic statues cresting their oval space.

"Lift it."

 

[Vustia]

Hearing this strangers actual voice shocked her, it was much different to the tone that was in her head.
She had been given a task and yet again it was to pass or most likely die, the stranger probably didn't take a likeness to failure.
Vustia froze for a moment. She had promised not to use the force ever again to avoid being taken back to that horrible place and that was many years ago, was she even powerful enough to lift one of those? She had to try anyway she didn't want to disappoint the stran- no, her new master. She focused all of her energy into trying to lift the statue and at first it began to tilt a bit, then it rose a tiny bit into the air and dropped instantly. In a panicking rush she blurted out:

"I'm sorry, I just lost focus I'll do it this time I swear"

She was afraid of death at this point, probably the worst fear she had ever felt in her life then she remembered what had been said at the training grounds "Use your fear, it will give you strength, it will make you more powerful than you could ever imagine." Vustia took this advice and focused her fear into lifting the statue and with haste lifted the statue into the air higher than she could of imagined she could take it to.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

For a moment, she felt such disappointment. When [member="Vustia"] first failed to heave the monolith into the air, Darth Ophidia's eyes narrowed and her fingers curled into cruel talons that sparked with arcs of bright blue electricity. She was about to send that very same current through the acolyte in order to put fear and pain, perhaps even hatred, through her body and jump start the potential within her. But then it all turned. Before she even lifted her hands, the enormous stone structure floated up into the air like a balloon. A smile crept over the Pale's lips as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"Very good. Use your feelings. They give you power."

Turning her head, the Sith Lord set her burning eyes on a rock outside of the opposite side of the oval. It shook and shifted, letting dust fall off its sides. Then, as the Sith Lord raised her chin, the boulder tore from the ashen ground. With a swipe of her head, Ophidia sent the boulder flying at her apprentice from behind.

"They give you focus."

Self-preservation was a powerful teacher. More often than not, Ophidia found that grave danger would bring out hidden talents in those tenacious enough to survive. Some even thrived under the constant pressure she put on her apprentices. These made good soldiers, some even became potential Lords of the Sith like herself.

 

[Vustia]

Vustia calmed down briefly, almost smiling at the praise. This was stopped however when she saw [member="Darth Ophidia"]'s head swipe across. A huge boulder was heading straight towards Vustia, she was scared of failing of course, but felt like showing off how good she was after the rush she got from lifting the statue.

Vustia jumped high into the air and landed on the top of the moving boulder to avoid damage and then placed her hand on the surface of the boulder, she then waited until the boulder was about to be directly in line with [member="Darth Ophidia"] . She looked up towards her master and sent the boulder back into the ground with the force and looked straight at her master hoping to be praised once more.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

The hunt for praise had been a driving force for many an apprentice, but Darth Ophidia was a cruel mistress. There were those who had brought her trophies of slain immortals, built ships and given them her name, or dedicated battles to her honour and her good favour. Yet her approving smile always turned to that same look of stoic indifference; unimpressed. That was what faced [member="Vustia"] when the dust cleared and she looked at the pale woman she had so recently named her master; unimpressed. The burning irises gave off the perpetual glow of hatred, like embers set in a face of ash. Yet, the expression was without any great emotion.

In response to the boulder, however, she had made a very simple movement. With two quick steps forward, she had positioned herself just outside its point of impact. It was no display of great power. She did not even release the clasp of her hands behind her back, but remained standing with the same proud posture.

"Consider this your first lesson, Apprentice: I will hurt you in order to make you powerful. I will beat you down so that you may rise. One day, you may be the one to end my reign and take my place. And when you raise your hand against me, you best be strong enough to strike me down."

Ophidia set her burning eyes upon the apprentice with the cold hate flaring behind her stoic face. There was a seriousness to her words and a gravity to her voice that could burn words into the rock should she will it.

"Or else, I will kill you."

 

[Vustia]

Hoping for a look of approval Vustia only found the burning stare of her new master. It was a giant disappointment for Vustia as she only wanted to impress.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]'s words burnt a message into Vustia's mind, she had now entered something she could not escape from, there was nothing to do but follow orders and train under her new master. But as she would progress she to grow stronger and her new master would be the perfect person to do this.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Although there was no verbal response, Darth Ophidia took the message for clear. She turned her left side to the boulder and placed a hand upon its surface. The Acolyte's combination had been fair, albeit far too flashy. Then again, was she not as eager to show off back in her own youth? She could vividly remember tackling her master's Bha'lir in her very first session. She could also remember him giving her the very same threat she had now spoken. It was all part of the cycle that pushed the Sith onward.

"I require you to practice your telekinesis every day for at least thirty standard minutes. Slack off at your own peril."

Moving her hands up, she telekinetically lifted the boulder, floated it over her head and put it down in front of her gently.

"Your emotions give you strength, but you will need practice and discipline in order to harness it to the full of your potential."

Stretching her hands out in front of her, the Sith Lord closed her eyes and focused on the stone, its surface and density. She could feel it almost as though it was between her fingers. She felt it, then reached into the reservoir of power within her cold hatred. The fingertips curled into talons and moved apart. The stone creaked like a tortured being. And then, with a cacophonous crack, the boulder split clean in half.

"Then, nothing can stop you."

[member="Vustia"]

 

[Vustia]

This was what Vustia was worried about, she didn't want to actually put effort into this but it seemed she had to. She agreed to the terms and conditions and waited for a response.

"Thirty Minutes will suffice. I will train as hard as I have to in order to please you."

The comment she got about discipline made Vustia feel like a child but she understood.

"I will do as you ask and hope that you can help me harness my emotions fully"

The last comment showed Vustia that it was possible that she could even surpass her master as unlikely as it seemed.

"If I could become all powerful I could rule the galaxy."

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

A smile flashed over her lips again, then faded like frost under the sun. This one sure was ambitious. Ophidia would not put a lid on that kind of ambition. How to truly rule the galaxy would become apparent in time. The truly powerful were never seen, never touched. Yet, they could see everything, control everyone. Ophidia herself could only aspire to truly embody such mastery, and she had no doubt even they had another level of power to aspire to. There was no end.

"Yes, even rule the galaxy."

There were some who had gone far enough to rule in such a scale: The Thousand Year Emperor, Darth Sidious, Darth Krayt, to mention some. But much like the Dark Lord who led their current One Sith to glory, all were betrayed. In the end, death took them all. More often than not, their successor had been their bane.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Slipping her hands into her sleeves, the Sith Lord drew a simple lightsabre hilt from her left sleeve and tossed it at Vustia. In time, [member="Vustia"] would create one of her own, but for now this would let her fend for herself.

"A storm is brewing. You will need this to fend for yourself."

 

[Vustia]

Catching the sabre, Vustia examined it. It was a very nice hilt and she liked the design. If she could be bothered to though she might make her own. What was troubling was the mention of a storm.

"I thank you for the weapon master. But may I ask, what is this storm? I wish to know so I can be prepared."

[member="Darth Ophidia"]