New Times, New Sith [ Mass Teaching ]

[Darth Timoris]

Melori flashed a glance at her partner for this exercise. She heard his dissatisfaction at the task given and wondered if their instructor had. But so far, no punishment.

Melori’s training had been thorough but possibly not typical. Her first lesson had been to unlearn how to connect to the Force and then, and only then, learn this new way. It had been long. And tedious. And thorough. But above all it had been successful.

She had a variety of emotions tucked away for use at times like these – but still there was none greater than her single greatest driver. Hatred. When asked she would explain it was a hatred for the Jedi. For their dismissal of her powers. She even told her sister this was the primary emotion still and up to a point she was telling the truth. For she actually hated the Jedi more for their incessant comparisons to her older sister – the one she dare not mention yet. In everyone’s eyes she was a pale imitation and that made her so angry she could taste it.

Oddly she could thank the Jedi for teaching her this ability – but it was her Master that combined it with her far more powerful control of the Force that allowed her to achieve what she had so far. She even carried the small ball from her original training session with her, so she could practice her Abilities, even when out for her morning run.

Her interest in her partner’s efforts was almost broken by the sound of crashing stone – but her Master’s teaching had been laborious – it was all about concentration. Lose it and you lose control of the Force, so she carefully added her power to holding the pillars – as the instructor had demanded. Six alone would have been too great a challenge but between them it was possible. And as her mind sensed the shapes to determine where they should all go, she hoped her partner was going to maintain his focus, as she couldn’t maintain this alone.

[member="Zambrano the Hutt"] | [member="Elensa Jari"] | [member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Ostanes"]

 

[Wolf]

[member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Zambrano the Hutt"] | [member="Elensa Jari"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Ostanes"] | [member="Melori Raaf"]

Wolf inched back slightly as a purple vein pulsated in the Gen'dai master's face. He looked very angry. The Sith Lord's hand then became a fist and came hurtling towards Wolfgang in a backhand. Wolf's eyes widened as it made impact, making an audible grunt as the air was beaten out of him and he was thrown back a few feet, hard onto his back.

The man groaned, his back already sore from the encounter with the raging youth, and strained to look back at the Sith Lord and was relieved to find he was not coming at him to inflict more punishment. Instead, the huge Gen'dai, [member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"], told him to get to the right hand set of pillars. Wolf obliged and picked himself up as quick as he could.

Next, the Sith Lord commanded them to lift six pillars all at the same time, and solve the puzzle? Wolf looked down and noticed the greaves in the floor, it wasn't hard to piece together what this puzzle was. The hard bit was lifting these pillars. Wolf would struggle to lift one pillar, let alone six! How was he supposed to do this? He watched as others tried. He noticed that one woman whom he recognised from other training sessions managed to sustain the pillar in the air but failed and it crashed to the ground. This relieved Wolf, that at least some of his colleagues were not miles ahead of him.

Wolf was determined to make an impact, and stretched out both of his hands. He concentrated on one of the pillars, and willed it to move. He clenched his jaws and cried out at it with his thoughts. Move! Wolf thought he saw a slight shudder in the pillar, but he couldn't really be sure.

Summon hate, fear and anger. That was what Kezeroth had said. Wolf was reminded of his first true experience with the Force. Back on the field, as he had discovered the betrayal of his own brother. His brother was pinning him to the floor. Memories rushed back like a flood. His brother was not in danger. It was not a distress signal. It was an ambush. His brother had defected to the Republic. "I'm sorry Wolf. I had to do the right thing." What a pathetic and weak excuse. Wolfgang thought of those same emotions that saved his life that day. As his brother pinned him down, he was filled with such a sense of betrayal, with such bitter rage that exploded outwards in a burst of the Force that propelled his brother off of himself and allowed him and his squad the opportunity to escape.

Emotions welled within the young man, growing like a gathering storm.

He was a fool. He knows nothing of what is right and wrong.

Peace is a lie.

Wolf's muscles tensed as he grit his teeth and glared at the pillar in front of him.

There is only passion.

The emotions broke forth, translating into energy and bursting through with all the fury of a betrayed man. The pillar was thrown off the ground and was sent flying across the main square, crashing on the other side against the wall.

Well done Wolf you solved that puzzle really well.

He growled in annoyance quietly to himself, he was not too keen on experiencing another physical reprimand from the Sith Lord.

 

[Darth Assimilus]

With a frown on his face Kezeroth shook his head and finally bared his teeth at everyone's performances. THus far they were not following his new instructions. Embrace Hate, Fear and Anger.... He wanted them to summon it! In honest truth the task was not in the pillars that was just there to help the process. To a degree each acolyte did what the Gen'dai wanted he had to admit that much, But as each student started to get frustrated as they failed he could slowly feel it growing. Rage...

Overseeing [member="Wolf"] give the exersice a go Kezeroth tilted his head as he examined the man, His body was straining, his gaze suggested he was in a intense focus. Maybe he was bringing up old memories to boost his performance? It interested him slightly. Glancing over to [member="Elensa Jari"] he could only chuckle as the lady lost control. IT was hard for Kezeroth to picture her as a arrogant Sith lord full of power and same went for the Hutt who seemed to be just... sitting there? Or was he standing? Who knew.

*Slam* Spinning around quickly Kezeroth eyed a pillar that slammed into the wall across the courtyard. Tracing its path back to the Acolyte [member="Wolf"] who fell into a rage. Slowly Kezeroths grin grew, clapping his hands he stated. " Well done... I could feel that!" and he spoke truth the Gen'dai could feel the mans body working hard as if it was his own. Raising his hands he clapped twice, his fingers sparking with lightning to be played with as he began to speak.

" Enough! Your emotions have convinced me to halt the teaching. The point of the Exercise was not to completing the puzzle it was how you moved each pillar. I dont care what anyone else tells you about your emotions, They are powerful and can make a difference when called on. Use those Untapped feelings and dont hold back! Holding back will only make you weak!" he paused. " Tell me Why... Do you all wish to become Sith?! For Power? What is it? Id like to know..." he asked slightly curious and looked at everyone. His little speech bordered on Sith teaching and almost dipped into Dark Jedi philosophy. Something most Sith Lords did not like at all. But Kezeroth was never a true Sith. He was and always would be a Dark Jedi, Uncaged and impossible to Control. He wanted each acolyte to see this..

[member="Melori Raaf"]
[member="Akuma"]
[member="Zambrano the Hutt"]
[member="Ostanes"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

For Melori it was like being back in that hospital bed – when she woke from that six-year coma. Her first lesson, given her muscle atrophy and her related lack of mobility was linked to the Code.

Not to learn it by rote but to understand it and apply it to her own situation. To put her own hopes and desires into a broader context – one that allowed her to best realise those dreams. Her ultimate aim was to eradicate the galaxy of Jedi, but in a particular order. First those that meant nothing, then those that mattered to her sister. Finally she would see the end of her sister’s closest friends before she’d take her own sister’s life. It sounded so simple when she put it like that – but in part due to her arrogance, Melori never saw it as needing to be any more complicated.

But she knew that to get to that point she needed to be a different person than the one standing here – and the Sith and the Code provided the keys to unlocking her challenge. Not that she was going to reveal all of this here and now.

So she glanced around, her eyes now returned to their usual pale blue hue. She knew she was being judged and evaluated every step of the way, but she chose not to reciprocate. Lords were worthy of respect as they’d earned that right and she could use them in her quest. Knights were Sith that may or may not become Lords, so she tended to pay them little regard. Acolytes? She never saw herself in competition with any of them, so paid them no heed. Part of this was that aforementioned arrogance and the remainder was that, even in her short time here, she’d seen them come and go. Angry young wannabes who thought that kicking every passing cat made them Sith. She kept her own counsel on them, never even discussing them with her own Master. She was responsible for one person and one person only – Melori. That individual deserved her 100% attention.

But she did look around, to see if, like last time, she would be the first to step forward. And, no doubt for a variety of reasons, she was…

“Why? I wish to be free from restrictions – and I include the Jedi in that equation. I strive to achieve perfection and fulfil my potential, to be free of limits. Every generation has its Sith’ari. If it proves to be my destiny, I intend to make the Sith stronger than before. Or die, being found unworthy.”

There was no melodrama in her voice, no boastfulness or wide-eyed passion. Rather it was said in a most matter-of-fact way. For many, even those that had seen her before, it was probably the first time they'd heard her speak. Other than with her Master, she spoke only when necessary - which in training scenarios was rarely.

[member="Zambrano the Hutt"] | [member="Elensa Jari"] | [member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Ostanes"]

 

[Wolf]

[member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Zambrano the Hutt"] | [member="Elensa Jari"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Ostanes"] | [member="Melori Raaf"]

Wolfgang was surprised to find Master Kezeroth clapping his hands and congratulating him on the effort. The young man nodded his head in gratitude at the Sith Lord's compliment. He was pleased with himself, after all he did successfully use the Force at least, he had proven to himself what happened with his brother was no freak accident and he had the potential to truly control it.

Holding back on emotions would only make him weak, said the Gen'dai. Wolf made sure to note that, though he still had his reservations. Unrestrained emotions also make a man act rashly and without thinking. Wolf was young and he hoped that with experience he would learn exactly how to let his emotions burn through as raw power without the setback of impulsive and irrational decision-making.

He was intrigued as Kezeroth now turned to ask them why they wanted to become a Sith. The philosophy of the Sith fascinated Wolf, and he was eager to answer. He listened interestedly to one woman's answer, to be free from restrictions, to even strive to become the Sith'ari. Wolf found a level of arrogance in such an ambition, though without ambition, how would one succeed? He also expected there to be a great diversity in the answers that would follow, the Sith were united yet comprised of diverse personal convictions and testimonies, some built on lives of suffering and pain, others on a quest for power, and others on the conviction of the philosophy itself.

Wolf was of the latter, though there were many reasons for his own pursuit of the Sith way. He stepped forward.

"The Sith are the only honest group of people in the entire galaxy." He paused, some would think him foolish to think honesty was the top of the Sith's agenda, though he continued in order to explain.

"The Jedi, the Republic, they shout 'Peace!' to the rooftops, 'Freedom!', 'Democracy!' Yet with all this peace and freedom, they prove themselves to be no better than anyone else, for they too are imperialists to their core. They seek peace, yet they impose their self-proclaimed superior values onto the planets they conquer, or as they would say, 'liberate'. For all their talk of freedom, they do not give the planets they seek to invade any choice in the matter. For all their talk of democracy, they give no seat in the Senate for those whose values they severely disagree with. For all their talk of peace, they continually seek to expand their borders, to claim territory for their own and conquer the galaxy. 'Peace is a lie.' They are the supreme hypocrites of this galaxy, followed by the other factions." Speaking these things out loud served to deeply and intimately remind Wolf of his convictions, the fire in his soul ignited as he now began to pace around the room, continuing to address both Kezeroth and his fellow acolytes in his Coruscanti accent, a fiery and passionate conviction now projecting forth his voice,

"The Sith do not dance to such a hypocritical tune, seeking to deceive themselves and make themselves feel better about their actions. The Sith are unashamed of their imperialism, and their violence, and their imposition of authority, and the restriction of so-called freedoms of their subjects. The Jedi tell you to not follow emotions and to detach oneself from them, and yet somehow believe in pacifism without the need of said emotions. The Sith make no such concession, they are brutally honest about the way in which they act: 'There is only passion.' Rationale and logic is to be highly praised, though emotion is a fundamental part of what makes us sentient, we are not robots, and if we were emotionless robots the Jedi would not be able to come up with a moral structure to begin with."

"The Republic are heavy-laden with the crushing weight of bureaucracy in their bloated democracy, the Jedi with the weight of their arrogant claim to moral superiority and commitment to an unjustifiable and oft-infringed pacifism. It is as if the Jedi and Republic thrive off of hypocrisy. The Sith require no such things. They are honest."

"To myself, the Sith path is the only viable option. It not only benefits the self, but it benefits the galaxy. The Galactic Empire of Palpatine was a potent force that served not only the Emperor but instilled an iron rule. The very concept of the strong ruling the weak may be seen as immoral to the Jedi, yet by doing so we can truly bring the peace they always longed for, though they fail to see the irony of such. They would argue that such a peace would be brought about by the wrong methods, but then I ask them, where is the success of their arrogantly proclaimed 'right' methods? They have had millennia to demonstrate their peace, through toothless politicians whose only wish is to please the populace to get re-elected, they refrain from taking the displeasing and harsh yet necessary decisions. Unsurprisingly, the results are found lacking."

"The Sith will bring order, regardless of whether their individual members want it or even believe in such a thing. That is the end result of successful and disciplined imperialism. I strive to be strong in order that the Sith are stronger. And as their conquest of the galaxy grows, the iron rule further expands, worn-out Republic governments are transformed into well-oiled, efficient and ruthless machines; order is enforced. 'Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.' The people of the galaxy will indeed come to see, whether they appreciate it or not, the freedom that the Sith's victory will bring, life will prove itself to be better when guided and disciplined by a mighty and fearsome hand, not the chaotic and weak dealings of corrupt politicians and tiresome bureaucrats."

"That is why I wish to become a Sith."

Wolf's expression was one of serious conviction and energy, and had quite forgotten how long he had been speaking for, and even then he had probably not covered all the reasons why he pursued this path. He did not regret the time he had taken though, it reminded him of what he stood for, and he walked with purpose as he rejoined the ranks of the acolytes to hear what the others had to say.

 

[Elensa Jari]

[member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Ostanes"] | [member="Melori Raaf"] | [member="Zambrano the Hutt"]

Fully expecting to be on the receiving end of some stern punishment for her failure, Elensa had to confess herself surprised when none arrived, the Sith Lord choosing instead to end the activity and move onto his new choice of test. That did surprise her, though: he wished for them to talk. And I've never seen a Sith Lord truly tolerate Acolytes speaking in their presence, if only because we have little of value to say that they might wish to hear. She knew she certainly didn't, but that was more because she couldn't talk to begin with, and wasn't capable of poisoning the airwaves with her words regardless of how much their powerful teacher might wish it.

The other blonde Sith spoke first, her words confident, spoken in a manner that radiated pure sincerity, a touch of arrogance softened by hope, her aspirations clear enough. This is one who seeks her own independence, freedom from the chains that might bind her, seeking to exist without being placed in a box, as we all ultimately are. Elensa envied the ease by which she made her assertions, seemingly fearless of consequence, the way her voice was projected in such a controlled, easy manner, the expression on her face giving a clear insight into the fact that she cared little if any of the others objected. Perhaps that's a proper Sith response, Elensa thought calmly, her eyes narrowed in thought. But it similarly screams of futility: seeking to fight only herself, for who else truly chains us, prevents us from moving forward? Our insecurities, our desires, our limitations...that's what keeps you in your place.

Not that she couldn't admire that dream: perhaps it had been her own, once. First, a noblewoman of Hapes, raised in a culture where rules defined everything, right down to who would speak in what order in any social gathering of note, she reflected, a little hint of sadness attached to that nostalgic thought. Then a Jedi, asked to break free of that restrictive social upbringing, encouraged to turn towards inclusivity, offering positive regard for all beings and placing myself at their service. She had struggled with that, oh yes, fought it because it was an attack on her very identity. And then the Sith came, and removed even that obstacle, offering me only a singular choice: survive, and learn, or die. Not such a difficult choice, but to it that inadvertantly added the one barrier that is truly insurmoutable: my ability to protest their offer.

The next, that tall Human that far towered over her, his words were many and eloquent in their own way, delivered with a passion that surprised her, but was not merely a proclamation seeking power for it's own sake, but rather decrying those that possessed it and wasted it, in his view, a scathing attack on the Jedi and the Republic they had sworn to serve. He speaks very freely of something he likely has little experience of, she thought mildly, watching him carefully with her deep blue eyes narrowed. True, the Jedi are hypocrites in their own way, but they understood that about themselves, she mused. They recognised the imperfection of their own world, knew the limitations they placed themselves under. None of it mattered, because what was important was that they served the Force and the Republic as they understood it. She had never embraced their all-encompassing need for acceptance - she was native to a world that was hardly the model of democratic rule, and knew well that their notion of maintaining the status quo could only end badly. A shame they had to prove my point only when their lives were torn away from mine, leaving me to embrace this greater hell.

As Wolf silenced himself, stepping back into their ranks, his expression still fierce with that reasoned zealotry he had displayed in delivering so empassioned a speech, the Hapan knew it was her turn to step forward. Perhaps another would have felt nervous, having all eyes upon them, trying to speak without stuttering or being incoherent, or doing any of the other things which provoked those insidious feelings of self-consciousness that were considered 'normal'. No, I can suffer no such affliction, because the best I can offer you is the softest of sighs. Doubtful that any would understand that, but she had to try anyway, if she did not wish to find herself accused of disobedient behaviour before a Sith Lord more than capable of punishing so trivial an offense with violence.

She raised both hands and quickly flickered her fingers through a series of motions, sometimes simply using one hand to shape out simple letters, chaining them together to form a word; at other times, pressing the fingers together and moving them in intricate patterns to use but a single gesture to represent a simple term. Doubtful any of them understand me, but I can hardly be seen to ignore him. Of one thing she was now entirely certain: none of them could mistake what she was doing, and fail to recognise her natural weakness, unable to control and use the most simplest of communicative forms. Perhaps my silence now becomes apparent to you all. Whether they would judge her weak or vulnerable for it, she would see in due course.

You don't choose to be Sith, she signed using her GSL, her fingers moving rapidly, each slender digit moving in precise patterns to form the words she could never again speak aloud. They choose you. We have but to survive it, or be crushed underneath. A slight shrug of her shoulders accompanied this last, Elensa having long acknowledged that her choices were limited and of little consequence in truth. Death should have claimed me before. In failing to, it leaves me to make the best of what remains to me. The Acolyte paused a moment, thinking through her next words carefully, even though she felt that none were likely to understand. It doesn't make a difference what any of us call ourselves. The power granted by being what we are is something we either embrace, or fail to live up to. To squander it only proves us undeserving. What choice is that?

With that, she lowered her hands once more, her gaze remaining straight and steady, then stepped back into line with the others with a sudden flurry of her long skirts, their fluttering ceasing as quickly as it had begun as she surrendered her place to the next among them.

 

[Zambrano the Starweird]

" Tell me Why... Do you all wish to become Sith?! For Power? What is it? Id like to know..."

Suddenly, the black points in the air surrounding Elensa dissipated, falling to the floor as dust and returning to its master. His one good eye opened, breaking his meditation cycle of breathing. The shadows still consumed his absent vision, but he was not hard of hearing. The query was in a way, an interesting one to Zambrano... perhaps he hadn't truly considered it... at least in this life.

Such pondering thoughts were soon distracted by his partners interpretation of her motivation to succeed as a Sith, or to die trying. Bad, very bad. She acknowledged that she might be unworthy, thus it made it so. There was confidence to succeed yes, but beyond basic success her aspiration would never be met so long as she allowed a lack of worth to be an aspect of her character. Power is not meant for the worthy, but those strong enough to ignore the temptation of weighing something by their own value in relation to it, and simply taking what could be theirs. In fact, power was not meant for anyone of any particular creed, value, or denomination that could be categorized. Power is, and thus it is so. It cannot be owned, or used. It is simply the user that directs power upon others. Power can be harnessed, even created, but never truly owned. So it is hopeless for one to attempt to chain it, a key foundation in the Sith being contrary to the creation of chains.

Then another student stepped forward and... took over the lesson with a lecture? How unpleasant. However, despite the droll in the background, the playful hutt was soon distracted by ants that were on the ground near him. Stretching out his hand, he poured the invisible black sand of his soul upon their tiny hill, tasting their textures and smelling their decrepit faculties and feeling their sickening alien crevices, but denying the acknowledgement of nearly all sounds. Out of all of this, though, in the ants he saw them. Not with his eyes, but with his blackened psychotic mind... and they reminded him dreadfully of those awful creatures of the dark: arachnids.

Remaining silent somehow, sharpened tendrils of the darkside soon formed out of the gelatinous mass he had amassed around the doomed ant hill, and in stretching out his grimy hand towards them... he killed all of them. Literally, all of them. The tendrils slashed through the nearly non-existent minds of the bugs through mere suggestion of death, and snaked down the worm-like tunnels, rendering anything within the ground down to the deepest tunnel and through every cavern up to and including the ant queen and the eggs within, utterly totally dead. His mind was well refined now with such mental acrobatics... though it did probably take him the solid twenty minutes it took for his fellow student to finish up his ramblings. By the time the silent one took up the stand, he was in the middle of slashing through a thousand eggs and pupic ants with his mental fury... blood dripping down onto the courtyard from his nose as he did this. Some droplets even fell on to the ant hill, where dozens of ants lay twitching in their mental deaths approximately twenty minutes ago.

Pulling his mind out of the ant crypts, he suddenly became aware of a new silence, that was not filled with the awkward movements of a mute. It felt expecting of him. Like he had forgotten something. Then he realized he was going to interrupt the ramblings with some of his own, instead this came out:

"I wish to become Sith again because I can."

He then promptly found another ant pile.

[member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] | [member="Akuma"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Ostanes"] | [member="Melori Raaf"] | [member="Elensa Jari"]