Grim Half-Truths

[Klesta]

While Yula had her first taste of actual ground combat in a command-level posting on Yutan, where she took part in the theft of several valuables from its Jedi Temple, including the theft of a blackwing crystal, she realized that there were glaring holes in her skill set, namely her lack of skill in the Force. She knows that the morale and the respect of her troops would be essential for her to become a good general for any party, and one good way to earn the respect of their troops was to have some combat skill. However, she does have a foundation in the Force from the moment she used the Force to cheat in high school and there it became clear that she was using the dark side of the Force. And also a foundation in lightsaber combat, albeit a little raw, not knowing how much of fencing actually translated to lightsaber combat. She might have been the captain of the fencing team back in her Nubian high school, but she realized on Yutan that her opponents in the high school circuit were mooks at best. She faced her prospective master, Lord Ferox:

"[member="Darth Ferox"], I have realized that there are a great many things I still need to learn to become an effective component of the solution to the dark side's military woes: namely, how to properly use a lightsaber, how to properly use the dark side of the Force"

 

[Darth Ferus]

Before [member="Yula Knezevic"] sat Darth Ferox, who seemed to have been sitting at a nearby bar. He was doing nothing but drinking at a whisky when she walked in, and he couldn't help but raise a brow over his blue eyes at her entrance. Formal, ish. Right to the point at least. With a chuckle the elder man stood, stretching until his bones popped and cracked. He was dressed in the simple clothing of a merchant. Sith robes were too dark and brooding for his own tastes after all.

"Well, kid. Usually you introduce yourself before asking for some lessons. Though, I suppose the first thing I can tell ya is you're aiming.. Wrong. Sith aren't part of some grand machine. We make the machine. Run it. You wanna learn from me, I'll teach ya. But you won't be some slave or servant to anyone but yourself. At least, by the time you're done with your training."

 

[Klesta]

"My name is Yula. For the Force to free me, I still need to know more than simply knowing Force-sense and Drain Knowledge: with those things only I would be a very one-dimensional Sith and I would be unable to do much of anything: I'd still be chained by my lack of Force-skill. Nevertheless, knowledge is power, and I have some foundation that comes from fencing, but I have yet to select a lightsaber form. In the end I would like to do telekinesis, Force-speed, mind tricks, Force-fear, Force-cloak and, of course, Force-lightning. Of course, strength will provide the means to victory"

The trick is that, historically, most factions that are propped up by Sith place them as components in the factional machine. Critical components, yes, but components in a machine nonetheless. She learned, from the history club back on Nubia, about what skillset would be a good fit for dark-siders who want to take command of armies: Force-fear, telekinesis (like Force-choke), Force-speed, Force-lightning, Force-cloak, mind trick. And pyrokinesis would be nice if area-of-damage is required, especially at higher levels. But that skillset would describe a commander that would be ready to fight on the frontline, a mid-level commander perhaps. Much like her current level of command, with an army that is made from Darth Maladon's residual forces, themselves leftovers from the One Sith armies under Darth Centax, whom she vowed to become a better general than he was. She knew that the dark side traditionally had a few military weaknesses: not that the First Order didn't address those weaknesses, just that they seemed uncomfortable with leaving the business to the actual dark-siders.

[member="Darth Ferox"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

About midway through [member="Yula Knezevic"] 's list the Sith held up a hand, simply asking for silence. Blue eyes flashed red as the Force catered a warning to Yula, should she listen. "Girl, I am not your library. You don't get to simply check out a power you'd like to learn. This isn't a Jedi Temple. We're Sith. You want to learn? You do as your told. You bow your head to your betters, grovel even. Each and every day you kiss the boots of those above you as they pet your head and teach you slivers of the knowledge you so desire. And then, on the day you've finally learned enough, you stand on your own feet. Those who would try to force you back down you beat back." Midway through his own little speech the Force began to swell again. Atop the girls shoulder an invisible heavy weight would be set, trying to force her down.

"You will learn respect, as many Sith have before you. Painfully. Use this pain as your weapon."

 

[Klesta]

With Yula being placed some Force-weight upon her, she feels the desire to use the Force to throw things at [member="Darth Ferox"] under the effect of the pain said Force-weight is placed upon her. Oh, she would love to throw utensils at him, but she doesn't know how to do so just yet. Now she realizes that Dark Jedi are often more humane to their apprentices. Yes, they use the dark side, but at least they usually do their best to respect the roadmap agreed upon with their apprentices within reason. Clearly Lord Ferox was a little more brutal, and now she can't stand upright at this point. She was forced to bend her back to even be able to support the Force-weight, knowing that her power is insufficient to cast it off. But her resolve hasn't weakened one bit. She knew that the agenda was not instant to carry out: she was given a grim reminder that she might be denied the knowledge she want at a moment's notice even if one's agenda was clear about what they wanted out of Sith training.

"Fine, that is the price I'm paying for my lack of respect" she groveled, with her back bent, on the verge of breaking, and with some anger in her voice. "As you command, milord"