Private Meetings in the Dark-LOTS

[Darth Acharon]

Acharon disliked Korriban. He had spent a few years on the world during his initial training as a Sith, but had since taken to exploring the rest of the galaxy. He enjoyed that more, and the harsh sands of this world, while an excellent place to train acolytes held little interest for him now. Yet, he now had cause to be on this world again. The Lords of the Sith, an organization he had joined following his departure from the Sith Empire, now ruled over the planet. Their banner hung where the Sith Empires banner had only weeks ago, and their soldiers now worked to secure and fortify the planet for the Worm Emperor's future plans.

During his current visit to the planet, Acharon had caught sight of an individual, Darth Arkanus among some of the Lords of the Sith's newest members. The individual played a fine game, with the bravado and determination to pass for a full Sith Knight, as Acharon was. However, the smallest of movements had told Acharon all he needed to know. Dral had combat training, moderate as it was. He moved with some understanding of what his body was truly capable of, and with further education and discipline he would become a lethal bladesman. The harder part to figure out was the individuals connection to the Force. Senses and guessing could be misleading on someone true ability and talent with the Force, and only through a live test would Acharon be able to gauge what Dral could do.

He needed to see if Dral could become his first true apprentice.

So, now Acharon waited. He had sent a summons to Dral, instructing him to come to one of the Korriban Academies instructional halls. The Academy was still under repairs from the recent Galactic Alliance invasion that saw the Sith Empire driven back, and it gave Acharon the type of isolation he needed to test his future apprentice.

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[Darth Arkanus]

The summons came from Darth Acharon as he was practicing his lightsaber combat, his staff hitting the dummy as the sweat poured off his brow. He took it with a nod and fixed himself, putting a little composure to himself as he pulled his cloak over his shoulder grabbing the staff that laid in the corner of the room and began to make his way towards the room determined for the meeting. The man leaned heavily on as his staff as he made his way through the building, to any he would almost appear weak, and that was the best trick of them all, the staff was more to conceal what he had then it was something he required. Dral had been through much in his life, but he did not let that stop him from gaining more power to strike down any foe that opposed him.

Korriban was a particularly distasteful place for him, but he took it with a grain of salt, everyone started somewhere and if this was the way he needed to begin to climb the ranks of the Sith, this was where he must do it. The cloak he donned obscured much of his face as he hobbled forward to his destination clear in his head.

As he stepped into the room he leaned against his staff and pulled his hood down and gave a slight nod towards the Darth.

"You have summoned me my lord?"

He had never been a man to grovel, but he knew that to step up the ladder he must start somewhere and if that required a little of respect he would do it. Dral knew that many of the Lords here had much they could teach him, whether it was a deeper connection to the darkside, or to further hone his lightsaber combat. They all had some sort of knowledge that he strived to someday possess, to grow to become as powerful as the Emperor himself was his only goal, as was the goal of many others, here, but he was a mere Acolyte in the eyes of many that surrounded him, which was to help him further his goals.

 

[Darth Acharon]

Acharon felt the approach of Darth Arkanus before he saw him. The echoing of the staff he used to walk signaling his final arrival. A simple glance would have possibly led to a bad first impression among many Sith. Physical weakness, while not a definite hinderance thanks to the Force, was still an abnormality that among the more puritan castes would single Dral out. Acharon, however, saw it as simply a challenge. The fact Dral had survived for as long as he did, even with the hinderance, showed that he had the potential to achieve great things.

And serve as a valuable tool for Acharon's goals.

Acharon inclined his head minutely at the question Dral asked, the only movement from him as he took in the Zabrak. Acharon was sitting on a small pile of rubble, one leg propped up on an outcropping, the other hidden inside the black robes that he wore. "Yes Dral...I did. You are an enigma, young Zabrak. A being of great potential in the Dark Side of the Force, and yet you remain on Korriban. This world holds opportunities for our kind, yes, but it is limiting at the same time." As Acharon spoke, a small plume of smoke emerged from the darkness of the room behind where he sat.

Two crimson eyes opened up from within the darkness, and the sound of metal scraping on metal echoed through the room as Ardytishaus began to slowly emerge from the darkness. Acharon reached up with one hand, slowly dragging it along the the cannon that served as the beasts nose. Ardytishaus opened its mouth, dagger like teeth spinning slowly as a growl echoed from its throat. In the same instant, the wings on the back of the beast began to flex slowly, and a small smile crossed Acharon's face, though it was not visible.

"With an entire galaxy out there Dral, why have you not...used your wings and flown away?"

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[Darth Arkanus]

Dral kept his eyes on Darth Acharon as he sat on a pile of rubble, AS the Darth began to speak Dral listened to his words, taking in them as the man in front of him said it his face showing no signs of confusion as he stood there. With a slight nod Dral noticed a plume of smoke arise from behind the Darth. Dral had been in this exact type of situation before, this was many years ago, but he saw it clearly in his minds eye, with his previous master, as he was being picked out from the sea of Acolytes much as he had now. Much had changed for the Zabrak over the many years, but his burning passion and his hunger never diminished over the years. He had experienced much and learned a lot as well, but there was still much he needed to do before he could begin to climb amongst the other Lords of the galaxy, they were just a hindrance, a stepping stone on his way to greatness, to becoming a legend that would be known long since his death.

"Why does a bird stay in its nest, but not to prepare itself before showing itself to the world? Why does a child stay by its mothers side learning and watching from their parents? I may not be as young as I once was, but I still have much to learn before I make my name out in the galaxy. The galaxy is not kind tot hose with ambitions and nothing to prove for that want, that need."

Dral said these words as he watched the beast moving in front of him, some sort of large pet for the Darth. He could sense that it was not a living beast as it did not emit a force presence, but he could tell by appearance and complexity that this was a formidable creation and one that Acharon had taken much care and time with.

"I have spent time learning the basics of dueling and the darkside of the force but If I am to go out and conquer the galaxy I must gather all the knowledge I can before I head out."

Dral had set out before, with what he had learned from his first master, and it ended him back as a mere trainee, to learn more. He knew the pain of being beaten down, a feeling he never wished to have to feel again.

 

[Darth Acharon]

Acharon tilted his head to the side slightly, his eyes focusing fully on the acolyte before him. It was rare for Acharon to meet a fellow Sith who enjoyed philosophical debate as much as he did. It had been some time since he had actually been tested in a battle of words, but perhaps he could dust off his talents here. "You speak well for an acolyte, Dral. Unlike many of your peers, you do not hide behind action and bravado when faced with a question, a challenge, a problem. I will indulge."

Rising to his feet, Acharon took a single step towards Dral, folding his hands behind his back. "It is wise to remain in the nest. It is safe, organized, and removed from the chaos of the galaxy, but it hinders growth. You control the nest, you control the environment. Birds are only truly tested when they are thrown from the nest, where they can learn whether or not their training was worth the time. Parental figures are there to offer protection and wisdom, but those who give it freely and without reservation coddle their child. You must earn your knowledge, earn your strength, and earn your place beyond the safety of the nest, the parent, this world."

Mumbling to himself for a moment, Acharon turned away and began pacing across the room in front of Dral, his eyes never leaving the Zabrak. "I commend your commitment to learning the basics, Dral. Among your peers few truly understand the importance of them. They only desire to kill, to conquer, to rule. Without a solid understanding of blade skills, you will not kill. Without a firm grasp of the Force and its darkest abilities, you cannot conquer. And without the wisdom and teachings that once resided in these very halls, you cannot rule." Acharon came to a halt then, turning his full body to face Dral.

"But that does not excuse the delay. Ambition must be tested, knowledge must be tested, and blade skills Must. Be. Tested. Korriban can offer you challenge but not test. It is time you moved on from Korriban. Otherwise, it could come across that you fear what is out there in the galaxy."

Darth Arkanus

 

[Darth Arkanus]

Dral drunk in the words of the Darth like an alcoholic would a strong beverage. He listened carefully, even to the nuances of the words being spoken. Brought forth from Darth Acharon was imagery and truth. He perhaps was afraid of being defeated again, and that is what kept him in this nest of nests, he wanted to grow stronger, to temper his skill and his ability in the force, but the Darth was right, Korriban was long since beneath him. Dral, watched as the man strode back and froth in front of him, his eyes never leaving Dral as he stood there.

"Maybe I have grown out of the nest long ago, but now I am left without a challenge. I still have much to learn, I may not be able to learn it here but where must I learn more about the darkside?"

Dral knew that it was his time to leave and to spread his wings and to learn the upper limits of what the darkside could bring him, and also learn the skill of an expert duelist. He just didn't know where to learn, or who to learn from. That was what truly left him grounded here, after his lost... he was aimless. Dral never lost the strength he had, he had just lost guidance that he needed before being able to be free once more.