Prologue: The Strongest Metals

[Ria Misrani]

A JEDI'S DESCENT: PATH OF DARKNESS​

PROLOGUE, THE STRONGEST METALS​

​

UPON ARRIVAL ON TYGARA, CHARLYRA'S CYBERNETICS ARE SEEN TO IMMEDIATELY.​

SHE'S GIVEN NEW LIMBS, AND IMPLANTS WITHIN HER THROAT THE SURGERY​

TAKES HOURS. CHARLYRA'S RECOVERY TAKES DAYS. SOON AFTER THE FIRE ORDER'S​

NEWEST PADAWAN IS UP AND ABOUT, WITH HER NEW MASTER, MISTRESS TEMPEST​

EAGER TO TEMPER HER PADAWAN IN FIREMANE'S FORGE... ​

​

​

Charlyra looks at her new arms in the mirror. No longer did she have the bold, in depth ridges of standard Republic fare. Now, now she had new motors, servos and a sleek design that prevented the elements from causing her to have more down time than was absolutely necessary. New implants and cords within her throat meant she could speak without a robotic echo. Outside of Firemane's hospitals, Charlyra's seen little else of the facility or the planet. Tygara was home to the Eldorai, a new species that Charlyra had been unacquainted with prior to her pledge to Mistress Kerrigan and Tempest. The former Jedi's old robes had been discarded in favor of new ones, robes of the Fire Order. Or Order of Fire, if you wished to sound lengthy - or bold. Either way, Charlyra examined her new colors, deep reds and oranges, tinges of a fire-like yellow. Hooking her new utility belt around her waist, she sheathed her lightsabres on either side of her hip.

The doors to her room opened, and in an instant she knew who had entered her room. "Mistress." She turns to bow as Tempest enters. "The doctors are set to discharge me today, perhaps we can start training?" Charlyra had been eager to begin her training ever since she touched down. However, her health had been the priority and - as she looked between her two shiny arms she gives her Mistress a smile. "I have yet to break these in, properly."

[member="Tempest"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Charlyra Araano"], [member="Valiens Nantaris"], [member="Tempest"]


((Nice post. Tempest's writer is away for Monday and Tuesday, but we can already push ahead a bit if you like. ))


Fire Order. Or Order of the Flame. Siobhan changed her mind a lot! She was still a bit sulky about how Knights of Kerrigan had been vetoed. But the name and, more importantly, what it represented sounded good to her. Firemane was an ever-growing family and was becoming a home for Forcewielders who wanted to chart a course outside of the old paths of Jedi and Sith. For many, it also meant a second chance in life.


Thusly, there was a smile on her face when she walked into Charlyra's room alongside Tempest. The medical facility was located aboard the Tirathana Skyport, which orbited Tygara. Like her new acolyte, the Countess' curvaceous body was clad in a set of fiery robes. These were way cooler and more practical than Jedi ones. Her dark red hair cascaded about her shoulders in a full mane, framing her face. A classy, sparkling pair of earrings adorned her ears. Her feet were tucked into black leather boots polished to perfection. Outside of the battlefield or missions, Siobhan was an unrepentant fashionista.


"Hey, Lyra," she greeted the younger woman warmly. "I see you're all fixed up, sweetie. I'm glad surgery went well. Those robes look good on you." Stepping forward, she gave Charlyra a hug, though she kept the embrace loose just in case the former Jedi was feeling sore or did not want physical contact. Siobhan had a bit of a momma hen personality. "If you're up for it, we three can get some training down today! Test out your new limbs."

 

[Tempest]

[member="Charlyra Araano"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tempest entered, smiling at their new Apprentice. “You look fantastic, Lyra!” she said enthusiastically. “Doctor Osway was impressed by how swiftly you’ve recovered from the surgery, and she’s cleared you to do some light training today.”

Doctor Osway, an impressive green Twi’lek with a commanding nature, was not one you disobeyed. She had a way of narrowing her eyes and setting her jaw which made one know they were in trouble. And since she was the chief surgeon for Firemane, her disfavour was a bad thing, given how often its leaders got injured!

She eyed Siobhan's new outfit. It was certainly quite...bodacious. She wasn't sure if that was a word, but it seemed to fit.
'Nice outfit, oh High Supreme Grand Exalted Mistress,' she teased telepathically.

Walking over to her, Tempest laid a hand on Lyra’s shoulder. “Is there anything I can get you first though?”

 

[Ria Misrani]

Lyra's eyes softly shut, and when they open back up there's a flicker of lavender in them. "I'll be fine, for now." It was definitely new, to be without her breathing apparatus, again - not that she ever quite needed it. At least not for breathing, but her anxiety over her scars and insecurities regarding her appearance began to swell. "Actually." She corrects herself. "Gloves." She looks down at herself again become quite self conscious about it. The Tirathana Skyport was quite large and offered much to her as a her first stop on Tygara. Rest, recovery and some manner of training.

Bowing with gratitude toward her masters, she accepted the gloves and placed them along her hands. Flexing each finger she took a breath for confidence. "Now, I am ready to train." With that she followed Tempest and Siobhan out from the room and down the corridors. Hair trickling down her shoulders. Boots against the floor her eyes would survey every inch of her new surroundings. It still felt, different - here than on any other world or station. In the back of her heart, lay a dark shard that been festering for a long time - it bled into her soul and this, this is what allowed her to feel the darkness the first time.

Conflict, led to chaos and chaos led to the darkside.

The preaching of the Jedi Order barked at her. She grit her teeth, her fists balled as she became focused on shutting that part of her memory out. She needn't be tormented by the past. Her eyes lit up, upon the mention of her name. "I'm sorry what was the question?"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Tempest"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Charlyra Araano"]


Siobhan probably realised the Dahomian was trolling her, but played along anyway. "Thank you, darling. I like that title! I should make it an official one. Next time you address me, I expect the proskynesis from you!"


She frowned a bit as she led Charlyra and Tempest out of the room to the training area. It didn't escape her notice that the girl was feeling self-conscious. Siobhan could sympathise since she had a high opinion of her own looks but no amount of makeup could hide the vicious scars etched into her face.


"Tempest asked whether she could get you anything else before we start. Is everything alright, Lyra? No need to feel bad about your scars. I have a ton, so does Tempest. They're not blemishes, they're marks of what you've endured and what you've survived. You're a beautiful woman." For a change, Siobhan was not making an attempt at flirtation. Charlyra seemed distracted somehow, though it appeared to be something deeper than her looks, but Siobhan could not place her finger on it. Perhaps because she was a darksider and had given up on the Jedi Code more than a decade ago.


Fortunately, they arrived at the training room soon since it wasn't far. Firemane had a floor reserved for itself on the Skyport and, conveniently, the training section was located quite close to the hospital. This was convenient since training accidents happened sometimes. Instead of bothering to use the keypad, Siobhan made a gesture and the door opened as if my magic. An orthodox Jedi would probably see that as frivolous.


The hall resembled an Atrisian dojo and was used by Siobhan, Tempest or any other Force Adepts employed by Firemane whenever they were on the station. Remotes and training droids could be released on command, there were rocks of vayring size and weight an acolyte could use to practice telekinesis on and weapons were stored in an adjacent room.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Charlyra Araano"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Into the training dojo they went. There were all the tools for a Force user to train. Everything one could want sat ready…usually to be destroyed. The capital upkeep for a training room like this was intense, not just a punching bag and some weights!

Tempest called a remote to her from where it sat on a bench and activated some buttons.
“Lyra, I’m not going to push you too hard for your first time. So for this first round the blasters will be sting bolts only.”

From out of a compartment stepped a pair of Clone War era droids. These ones had their vocabulators removed, so they couldn’t chant ‘Roger, Roger’ all the time.

“When you’re ready, Lyra…begin.”

 

[Ria Misrani]

"They are a reminder of my failures." Lyra mentions as she follows her masters into their training dojo. It was beyond what she had expected for sure, but it didn't change why she was hear. Gripping her own shoto she takes her place and bows at the center of the mat. She begins her introspection, and begins to glow her aura is lavender and it grows the more she introspects. Buffing her own abilities, she's still easing herself into this - it's hard being new, at this age. It is as if she is an initiate once more, but this time without her clan - or the clan she once knew. Now, she had to adapt to a new clan. Rising to her feet she discarded her robes on a bench, leaving only a small sleeveless tunic with a low cut revealing smoother skin that had been agitated by years of rusted metal and cybernetics.

PHOOWSH.

Her lightsabre shines a brilliant shade of purple within the lighter shaded core. She approaches the center of the mat. Taking an examination of the room around her she watches as the droids begin to unfold. She squints if only to accurately mark how high she may have to jump. She takes out the other sabre and rolls it along the ground. Baby steps, which meant working with what she was familiar with and not trying to do too much at once. Shii-Cho was a stand form, one that all who had been trained at the Academy knew well. Reduction in damage received and an increase in damage dealt. Jar'Kai was taught to her, but her body was not use to wielding two weapons at once, instead she used to free hand for defense and improvised weaponry when needed, or to use the force. Juyo was a form that her master had been attempting to teach her, all the while Ataru had been her bread and butter. For now, however; she remained in Shii-Cho.

She looked toward her master and gave a nod of readiness. "Send them to me."

Droids with their blasters ready began to fire, and Lyra slid under the bolts coming from her right. Outpacing them as they splashed against everything but her. Lyra's shoto cut through the first droid, while her free hand outstretched to the droid beside him with a force disarm throwing his bolt gun to the floor as she sidestepped a third droid's attempts to shoot. Flipping over the third droid she sent her sabre cutting through him as well. Force stunning a fourth droid while she dealt with the second by throwing her sabre watching it cut through it as well.

A sting of bolts ricocheted off her metallic arms, bolts from droids five and six, respectively. Using her lightsabre to deflect the bolts heading for her. Gritting her teeth as she used her metallic arms to soak up the bolts that did hit her. She allowed her battle strike to come into fruition, unleashing a massive strike on the fifth her with her lightsabre while force disarming the sixth and then striking him just as well. She looked down at her arms where the bolts had struck looking at the marks they left behind. Lyra prepared herself for the next set, as she buffed herself with introspection this time utilizing her battle strike to increase the damage out put in the second round. Turning to her masters, "send the next wave."

Lightsabre Form Mastery: Training Session I, Fire Order

[Jar'Kai] |||||
[Shii-Cho] |||
[Juyo] ||||
[Ataru] |||||||

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Tempest"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Charlyra Araano"], [member="Tempest"]


Siobhan felt like saying something that she considered to be wise and insightful in response to Lyra's remark, but then clamped down on that urge as the training session began. This was probably for the best, even though Siobhan liked giving maternal advice, but mere words would probably not help.


Snap-hiss! Action, cool acrobatics, destroyed droids! Naturally, B-1s were rather unimpressive and a bit dim, but it was still a beautiful takedown. Especially when you considered that Charlyra had been out of practice. There was something feral in Siobhan's look while she watched the girl evade and then destroy her two opponents. Charlyra had good instincts and reaction time.


It confirmed the Force Mistress' belief that they'd made the right choice on Tatooine. In all fairness, Siobhan was an appalling lightsabre duellist. She'd been decent as a Jedi, but years of relying on the Force and guns had thoroughly atrophied her duelling skills since she stopped using a sabre.


She could appreciate the artistry of someone who seemed to wield the lightsabre, iconic weapon of Jedi and Sith alike, as an extension of her body. Ok. That was kinda hot. We might be filling a niche here, she broadcast to Tempest over the telepathic radio.


"Good girl," she commented. There was a gleam in her eyes. Again droids entered the room. Two from the front, one entered the training dojo from behind Charlyra, aiming to catch her off-guard.


Two of the droids carried heavy sonic blasters. These were set to stun, but still packed a punch. Sonic weapons were the poor man's anti-Forcewielder weapon because they were easy to produce and trying to block a concentrated mass of sound instead of a plasma bolt would result in your lightsabre falling out of your grasp. Moreover, they could muck up a Forcer's concentration and thus disrupt space wizadry. The third automaton carried an automatic blaster rifle.

 

[Ria Misrani]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Charlyra deflected shots from the blaster with ease, but it was the sonic weaponry that caught her off guard. Throwing her down to the ground, lightsabre dropping from her hand. Almost immediately when you think she's prone - Lyra was on her feet. A feral like growl of rage emitted from her new vocal cords giving her a very Sith-like sound when she unleashed her rage. She used her force disarm to throw their weapons down, while summoning hers, and launched her lightsabre toward them both, sidestepping blaster bolts she caught her lightsabre in hand and struck the larger droid.

It merely stood back up and went to attack again, this time Charlyra did a backwards flip to give her self room, launching herself into a force leap that nearly overshot the big droid. She landed on the wall behind him, and in a split second landed on the wall just before blaster bolts could strike her. With a riposte she drops the large droid and does well to catch her breath. "Send forth the next wave." She didn't quite notice the spot of bruising on her body - sonic weapons were still nothing to sneeze at, especially when you're caught off guard.

Lyra's grip on her shoto tightened as she paced the mat waiting for her next set of opponents.

Lightsabre Form Mastery: Training Session I, Fire Order

[Jar'Kai] |||||
[Shii-Cho] |||
[Juyo] ||||
[Ataru] |||||||

 

[Tempest]

[member="Charlyra Araano"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tempest had been content to watch as Lyra dealt with her opponents. The two waves had fallen easily, and the girl still wanted more.

‘I think she’s just what we’re looking for,’ she confirmed to Siobhan. A duellist would fit in very well with Firemane, as they had no one to fill that expert role.

“One moment. Destroying droids, especially these ones, grow less of a challenge. I would like to add a new wrinkle. One thing you must be able to do is focus on multiple enemies, on multiple fronts. Thus, I will send in the droids, but you will also be having to face an enemy from above. For this exercise, avoid destroying the flying droids until the end.”

Several small probe droids were released from hatches and took their positions over Lyra. They would fire down at her whilst she was also dealing with the droids. Splitting her attention would be key for Lyra’s survival in combat, so may as well develop it now.

 

[Ria Misrani]

Theme: Duel of the Fates, Metal Cover​

​

[member="Tempest"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

Charlyra paused waiting for her master to speak. Her mind had now been empty, a void for someone to fill, battle often did that for her. It made her more complacent Ra once said. She bowed with respect and turned back toward the mat, taking a moment to find introspection she could hear the droids above her. Controlling the flow of combat was something Wulfsmaw did well, after all, you don't earn an aggressive title simply for bearing your teeth. It's knowing how to use your teeth, she could sense the wave of bolts heading for her. Rolling out of the way the bolts hit around her but no where near. She threw out her lightsabre to the right and used force stun en mass on the left side, bolts grazed the side of her face from above.

She grit her teeth soaking in the damage, taking the pain and stacking it. Perhaps it was because of the two powerful auras in the room, perhaps it was because of her own self destructive nature but that pain was stacking into fury. Her lightsabre came at her side and rolled out of another wave of bolts. Using her left hand she summoned the second lightsabre from the beneath her masters' bench. Unfortunately she was also getting attacked and her concentration broke, she fumbled her switch between Shii-Cho and Juyo for roughly two minutes deflecting the bolts in haste before a few scored across her chest.

Her concentration was swayed again when the droids above unleashed more rounds, without any lightsabre form in hand she went to basic instinct, using her raw agility to dodge as many of the bolts as she could before taking a moment to finally come into Juyo form.

That stacked fury finally unleashed itself her force stun turned into something more... her eyes glowed lavender but began to break into a magenta hue, almost red. She kept her concentration, her rage - channeling it into a magnificent force roar or scream as some called it, crumbling those particular droids into pieces. She threw both sabres to the right back flipping just out of range she knew Tempest told her to save those droids above her for last but, Goddess they were annoying. Another feral like growl as she used force disarm to take their weapons away while personally dismantling the droids on her right.

She let loose a battering assault on those poor things before the droids above her finally paid their ultimate price, using force leap she came up and in a whirl of lightsabres slashed through them all. Swallowing hard she turned to her masters and simply looked down at the ground mostly in disbelief that she was even capable of such a force power. Her eyes were void of emotion, simply blank as she tried to comprehend what just happened. What was once a dark shard had now begun to grow into a crystal within her soul.

Lightsabre Form Mastery: Training Session I, Fire Order

[Jar'Kai] |||||
[Shii-Cho] |||
[Juyo] ||||
[Ataru] |||||||

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Charlyra Araano"], [member="Tempest"], [member="Valiens Nantaris"]


The last wave of droids fell before Charlyra as the young woman wielded not only her lightsabre, but drew upon the raw power of the Force. Before she seemed to have mostly used it to buff herself and disarm her opponents, but now her use was more aggressive.


More powerful and, from a Jedi's point of view, darker. "Red," Siobhan suddenly said, using the code word to indicate to Tempest not to deploy any new droids against Charlyra. "You did well, dear. I'm proud of you. You've got speed, strength, determination, aggression, and you can improvise. Remember to always be aware of your environment, even whilst under pressure. Your fury can be a useful tool to empower you, if you're the one in control of it and not its slave. The eye in the storm."


Not once did she raise her voice when she spoke. Her tone was soft, but carried authority. She reached out with her hand and placed it on Charlyra's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. An orthodox Jedi would've probably cautioned Charlyra against the embers of darkness. However, Siobhan was a Dark Jedi. She did not try to compel her acolytes to 'fall to the dark side', but she didn't discourage its use either, as long as their actions didn't contradict Firemane's principles. "When you unleashed the Force, how did that make you feel?"

 

[Ria Misrani]

Charlyra looked up upon hearing Master Kerrigan. A bead or two of sweat trickled down her face, her skin was glittered with sweat. Her heart rate went down to normal. "Fury." She says, echoing Kerrigan's words feeling it roll off her tongue. "Certainly one way to describe it..." She continues beneath her breath. Licking her lips she regained her composure. How did it make you feel? Master asks and Charlyra's eyes twitch for a moment, the force subsiding. "It felt." She tries to grasp at the words.

She doesn't notice Siobhan's hand on her shoulder, her mind focused on trying to find the word. "It felt..." She repeats, "free."

"I felt free." Because for once she was trying to actively censor herself. Given the ability to embrace her darkness, did in fact empower her. "No longer was I a slave to the code, I did not once think of it - remind myself to adhere to its nature."

She sheathed her lightsabres into their holsters.

"Though I knew not that I could... Produce such..." She motioned behind her looking at the destruction. "I was... blind, all I felt was rage and yet." She tried to find a word for it. "Yet." The acolyte struggles here, the transition from Jedi to Dark Jedi didn't seem quite as easy. "Unnerving, all I could truly feel was a ferocity within myself."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Tempest"]

 

[Tempest]

[member="Charlyra Araano"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

“The thing most Jedi do not understand is that fury does not mean reckless and wayward. Using your fury and your passions does not make you an uncontrolled berserker…but it is for you to manage that passion and ensure it is being well directed. The fire inside you should be banked and stoked until it is white hot, but then applied like a thermic lance rather than a flash of wildfire.”

She eyed the girl’s handiwork with a critical eye. “It is good that you have clearly had some training, it means we do not need to delay us with the basics. Now we have seen your skills we know you are no mere beginner. You have strength, it is now for us to hone that.”

“Mistress Kerrigan is one of them most powerful telekinetics in the galaxy, and her command of the Force is nearly unmatched. I am more skilled in the elemental power of lightning, but I am no slouch with a lightsabre, and I know of others who are skilled in certain areas. Thus, two areas where you can learn from us as we train you, in addition to the lessons we give you together. Which would you like to discover and hone first? The Force, or your blade?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Charlyra Araano"]


"Once you walk down the dark path, forever it will dominate your destiny."


Presumably if Tempest or Siobhan had been orthodox Jedi, either of them would have quoted these words, since they were often treated as infallible holy writ. However, this did not apply here. As a matter of fact, Siobhan genuinely believed that the changes Charlyra was experiencing were a good thing for the young woman.


"You've tasted strength," the Force Mistress smiled thinly. "It's disconcerting to let loose like that, I know. But also liberating. Freeing. You're among sisters. Two women whose inner fire glows white hot but who've learned to harness and control it. The Jedi code has some good points, but in battle it's like a leash holding you down and that constraint can make the difference between death and survival. Even a moment of doubt is fatal in a life and death situation. Passion, anger and so on are part of what makes you human, just as love. So nurture that inner fire, harness it without burning yourself. We'll show you how to use it in a surgical manner. It is a means to an end, not the end in itself. Balance calm and rage. Be the eye of the hurricane, sweeping all before you but remaining at the focal point of it instead of being blown away by the storm."


She patted the young acolyte on the shoulder. Calling Charlyra a girl was probably inaccurate since she was only a couple years younger than Siobhan and had experienced the harsh reality of this war-torn Galaxy, but the Lady could not help feeling protective of her.


I'll have you know that I'm the most powerful telekinetic in the galaxy, she broadcast to Tempest. This was totally not a petty use of the Force mobile phone. Anyhow, she gave Charlyra a nod. "Up to you, dear. We'll get to everything in time. Take a breath, then decide."

 

[Ria Misrani]

In the singular moment that Charlyra felt Siobhan's hand upon her shoulder, she closed her eyes. Shutting out the voices, drowning out the sounds and looked within herself to find what answers she sought. As if perhaps she could conjure the miracle she'd long been awaiting. Instead all she could recall was an intimate discussion, one held within the depths of a Republic cruiser.

Ammee's hands traced the scars along Charlyra's back. "I felt it within you, the darkness."

"I am trying." She replied, turning to face her beloved. "Though I fear it is controlling me."

There's a hard swallow from Ammee, and she can feel the fear, the unknown coursing throughout her mate's body. Ammee's hand graces her cheek and Charlyra moves her face into the palm of that delicate green hand. "You are stronger than the darkness, Nimmy." A once cheeky nickname became a name of passion, endearing. "You can defeat the darkness."

"I can no more defeat the darkness than I could save my Master." She replies angrily moving away from Ammee's embrace throwing off the covers and taking her robe from the hook off the wall. Metal hands curl into a ball, Charlyra looks at herself in the mirror and punches the glass with little to no provocation. "This is the face of a coward, and it is a coward who you love."

"You are no coward, Charlyra." Ammee responds getting up from their bed using Lyra's Jedi Robe for cover from the cold. "There would have been no time for you to save him."

"I didn't even try." Charlyra snaps, "there I was above him and I watched, I stood and I watched."

Ammee pulled Charlyra by the arm reeling her into her own body. "You have died had you intervened, and then were would we be?"

Charlyra took a breath, curling her body into Ammee's. They stood there in their room beside the bed, with Ammee holding onto Charlyra, until she managed to get her lover to the bed once more. Green skin against an olive complexion, a slow kiss lingered between them. A kiss that represented a love, forbidden by their order. "I don't know what to do, my love." The brunette confessed to her beloved. "I am torn, and I feel as if this darkness will consume me."

She gasped for breath as the memory left her body. Charlyra was visibly shaken looking between her masters she did her best to read their faces, to recall the information they had given earlier. All she could recall was the feeling of her fury, of her rage... Years of adhering to the code, of controlling herself. It was beyond disconcerting. It was everything she had feared, but she chides herself that she chose this path this is what she must do, and she mustn't be afraid to unleash all that she had been holding onto. Lightsabres were one thing, an art she had been more than consumed over the years. So then her answer became quite easy for them. "The Force."

"There was a time in my life, where the darkness could have consumed me..." She continues, adding. "Balance must be achieved, a neutrality lest I become my own villain."

[member="Tempest"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Charlyra Araano"], [member="Valiens Nantaris"]


"Balance between fury and calm. I can help you find that," Siobhan spoke. If the Countess had been a history buff with a perchant for the ancient times, she might've referenced the Je'daii. After all, they had pursued balance. However, their philosophy had been far too esoteric since they were a bunch of monks who spent all their time meditating.


Or at least that's what Siobhan would have thought. Coming to terms with her own inner ferocity had been a struggle. Ultimately, she had found what she believed to be a stable balance, though it had taken her to a rather dark place. She believed it was a better one for herself, for she no longer had to try and fit into an order that just wasn't for her. Time would tell whether she was correct.


"Using the Force is an act of will and preseverance. It will respond to your command. We'll start with basic telekinesis. Centre yourself, feel the Force around you. You are like a glass and the Force is the water you fill yourself with. Don't overexert yourself. Your body has limits. You will see the strands of power, then pull at them. Gently. Look at that rock over there," at that she pointed at one of the stones that was lying on the training floor.


There were a couple of those. Some of them weighed more than a ton. Obviously this one was a hell of a lot smaller and less heavy, though it would still be an effort for an acolyte. "Envisage it lifting, then make it rise up into the air and keep it there." Once she'd gotten an idea of Charlyra's telekinetic ability and she'd practiced a bit, they could move on to telekinetic push. Siobhan believed in learning by doing, so Lyra could probably look forward to an adventure in due time.

 

[Ria Misrani]

All the while Siobhan spoke, Charlyra could not help but envision her first master at the temple on Coruscant. Master Kandria, who rather than spoke as if the Force was water to fill you, spoke as the Force was a river and you were merely part of it. You flowed wherever the Force took you, where it bends and flows you may bend and flow with it. To feel the Force as you would feel water going through your hands. You could no more control how the river flows than you could how the Force flowed through you. The Force was unique to each individual, and while being able to produce common powers such as lightning or telekinesis, not everyone could.

If everyone had the same powers then it'd be quite the bore, Master Kandria would say. She had once told Charlyra not to worry about her active powers developing because they could come at any time. Charlyra's own battle prowess landed her with the Jedi Sentinels... Her mind went to focus on Siobhan's words. The dark padawan turned to focus on the training rocks, she stood beside Siobhan and tried to do as she instructed. When nothing occurred after her first attempt. She sat down, hands in her lap - her force aura began to glow, radiating in a beautiful lavender.

The rock did begin to move, shaking - shifting as it began to lift from the ground.

Just as soon as it did, Charlyra's aura began to change into a magenta hue, and the rock began to glow from within.

Vivid flashes of her past resurfaced, cutting through her focus, her concentration. Nothing substantial, just flickers of her life. Flickers of emotion and all were rooted in one thing.

Chaos. These are not our ways, Charlyra. You must calm yourself. - Master, I am sorry. Sorry, Charlyra? My dear child, you obliterated them... Charlyra, I know what you have been doing. I know that you sneak about these grounds with your lover, Ammee. - Master - Why? Why have you taken me from Tython? It is for your own good, Charlyra and hers. Love is forbidden and you know that. She is my heart and my soul, Master - what have you done? Master? Why can I not destroy your brother? If he seeks to ruin you then allow me to ruin him first! No, no, MASTER. YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE LORD SAPRUS. Anger. Look at me, Ammee and you see but a coward a fool who thought she could control her fate. I am a monster, when you love me you love a monster have you not seen what I am? Guilt. Hate. These are not Jedi things. Forgive me, ... Oh, it seems you've awakened once more, little padawan. Get out of my head, Saprus. Oh but you, you are filled with so much potential. NO! I want no part of this. You are part of this. - Get her out of here! Run while you can you pathetic Sith! I COULD HAVE KILLED HER. You could have died, Charlyra. Control your padawan, Master Ra. They hate me master, I can feel it. They do not hate you child. You have great potential... What is your name?

The rock's glow began to turn, crumbling but yet remaining whole in one centripetal unit.

Charlyra opened her eyes, they were filled with a lavender glow. The rock as a unit was afloat in air, but the centripetal unit began to spin, faster and faster. It stopped, she made it stop choosing to focus on part of herself that belonged to Ammee. Concentrating on that she sealed the rock back together into one whole piece, setting it back down.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Charlyra Araano"], [member="Tempest"]


For a Sith, the Force was a beast of burden to be subjugated and used as a tool for self-exaltation and chaotic conquest. Jedi treated it as something greater than them. Rather than exalt themselves, they submitted to it and let it guide them. Adapting to a new belief system had been comparatively easy for Siobhan because she'd never fitted in amongst the Jedi. Adril, her master, had been brave and just, but a terribly poor Jedi.


Siobhan watched her padawan's efforts to lift the rocks. Her expression conveyed patience, letting Charlyra take her time at her own pace. Finally the rock rose up into the air and as it did so, Charlyra's Force aura lit up in a most beautiful lavender then a magenta. Siobhan could not tell what inner conflict the young woman was going through, but she could tell she was distracted. She caught flickers of emotion. Anger, guilt, love, but not the context.


Conflict between her Jedi teachings and those of her new mistresses? The burden of guilt weighing down upon her shoulders? Siobhan could only guess the cause, but she understood being haunted by your past. After all, she had been tormented by what had happened to her sister, to Adril. And blamed herself for their deaths. Eventually, it had given her drive.


I sense a disturbance in her Sciia. Perhaps we should arrange for her to get a counselling session with Eileithya, Siobhan broadcast to Tempest. While the Eldorai priestess would probably try to convert Charlyra to Ashira, she was also a very compassionate woman. Moreover, she was a light sider. Or [member="Coryth Elaris"]. To say that the gentle rogue Jedi's life had been hell would be very accurate, but she'd pulled through and become a great woman.


"Good. You're doing well," Siobhan spoke, while Charlyra seemed to be fixing the rock back up and sealing it. "Now lift it and throw it. As hard as you can. Remember how the Sith made you feel. Your desire fight them, to protect the girl you love. To never flee again. Channel that feeling. Embrace your strength. Then let it shoot forth like a thermic lance." The compartment opened to reveal a battle droid behind her. It levelled its blaster rifle at Charlyra. "Bombard the bot."

 

[Ria Misrani]

Theme: Anakin's Fall​

There was a hollow sound from within the training dojo, when there were no words and just silence. Charlyra could hear it, the emptiness and stillness. She took a moment to breathe, to bathe in the quietness of it, if only for a moment. She searched for her safe place, she searched for Ammee. For those nights when the she fought the darkness, and now it seemed more than ever that Charlyra needed to confront that dark shard within her heart.

When she used her fury, her rage - it was freeing, yes. It was also terrifying, in that the monster she had fought for so long... Won. As if in the moment she stared the then Lord Saprus down, they made a connection. Saprus delighted in Charlyra's power, her passion and anger. Shamed that Charlyra had been taken by the Jedi, for in Saprus' own words. "You would be a Dark Lord in a matter of years, you would be powerful. With no Jedi to tell you what to do, and no code to adhere to... Strike down Tabium and I will be your master." Such meaning in those words, for the Sith no matter their allegiance did not toy with taking on an acolyte. When they sensed power, they craved it. They wanted it for themselves, for their cause alone an no other.

While her first encounter with Saprus had been indeed the death of her Master. Saprus would appear again during multiple campaigns, before Charlyra fled into her own self-imposed exile. She looked toward Master Kerrigan, her eyes were wide almost pleading to never speak those words. She was becoming once more afraid of what she could be capable of. Her inner turmoil wrought with the past, but embraced a future where she no longer need to fear the darkness, but to embrace it - to channel it.

Turning to the rocks, Charlyra swallowed hard. Rising to her feet she concentrated once more, drawing on what fueled her. Flickers of her past, were no longer emotions, but the voices of those who sought to gain from manipulating her. Lord Saprus invaded her concentration as if she had planned it that way. I know you better than you know yourself, Charlyra of Chandrila. You hate me for killing your master, but you loathe yourself so much more for allowing me to kill him. Allowing him to dictate your life, to divide between you and your... Mirialan. Squeezing her eyes shut her lavender hue surrounded her. Once more it turned magenta, this time with a dangerous dark aura. Focus, Charlyra. She could almost hear that old stubborn Twi'lek's voice. Do allow Lord Saprus to cloud your judgment now, you have done well to pair with Masters Kerrigan and Tempest, balance yourself child. Balance. Stay out of this, fool.

A light force presence began to make itself known, though it was not active in nature. One could no not discount there being another person within the room. Even if you could not see him.

Perhaps, there had been a reason why Master Ra'alon had feared teaching his padawan how to actively use the force. He, in his infinite wisdom foresaw what might occur. A vision granted to him that his own padawan could become a Dark Lord. Using her knowledge of the Republic to aid the Empire's hellspawns... The First Order, the One Sith or even the rising Sith Triumvirate. What he did not foresee, were Masters Kerrigan and Tempest - the Fire Order. For they had been far beyond the reaches of the prototypical battles of Jedi and Sith. He had long ignored both the Dark and Gray Jedis.

Charlyra focused, pushing out both the feuding Dark Lord and her own Master from her mind. Concentrating on the sound of her new Master's voice. Focusing on the love that Ammee had given her, knowing that this turmoil would all be one day over. She channeled this, focused on this...

When she opened her eyes, both the magenta and lavender auras vanished and now within her eyes, glowed a frightening purple - one that matched a singular trade mark force power.

No one in this room could have predicted the force power she would unleash.

Her arm outstretched she used her body as a conduit of energy. Taking all that she had been conflicted with and unleashing it through a single use of force destruction. Both the battle droid and the rock, ceased to exist. Reduce to mere ashes.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Tempest"]