Real Hocus Pocus (Anja Aj'Rou)

[Nimue Stormson]

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Rumor was starting to spread throughout the galaxy of the Empress of Effekt, and her call to any and all magic users in the galaxy for assistance. Some who’d never heard of Effekt, or the Empress, only knew that one thing that was offered for their services: treasures. Offers of pure silver, gold and all other valuable materials that were mined from the planet were offered as rewards if the person was able to teach her properly.​

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However for many of those that agreed they were less than adequate. Many who’d come to the Empress’ palace had either little to no teaching, or were horrible teachers to begin with. The empress herself had sought out the more skilled master level magic users, but many had sent no word back to her and those that did denied her offers to be taught.​

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Three whole weeks of searching and the Empress was starting to grow more and more upset. So many had failed while others had not bothered to arrive at all. And all because she was trying to learn the secrets of the force and magic in order to hone her abilities and skills while understanding the nature of it all.​

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On Effekt people believed the Force was magic, and due to the bad history that came from past experience, those who were born with it were often considered cursed. When word of the force users in the galaxy had come to the people many feared traveling outside their world if it meant the Force was among other dangers out there. What Empress Nimue was trying to do was to be trained to master these abilities and prove that there was nothing to fear from the Force or magic; something she learned wasn’t too different from the Force but still of its own nature.​

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Sitting on her throne, looking disappointed with the past days of grief, Empress Nimue awaited the arrival of one [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] in the hopes she’d be a better teacher than the others. Hopefully the small token of silver was enough to convince her, as the others, of what payment awaited her if she agreed.​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja had little interest in treasures and for the most part disliked wealth for it being little more than a distraction in her eyes. The Host Lord had greater interests. She too believed that the force was magic, refusing most concepts that the few Jedi she encountered believed. It was unliving, and above all little more than a tool to be wielded.

Her starship, Order's End, approached the planet and descending from it was a gu-42 dropship, the somewhat large transport would land on a desolate landing pad where she was greeted by those in service to the Empress and following after was brought to her.

Approaching the room, Anja looked around to see that indeed this Empress was a wealthy individual, no doubt why she chose to pay in treasures rather than more orthodox manners. Nonetheless there were goals to be had and the Host Lord was willing to teach this Empress in hopes of achieving something that yet remains to be lucrative.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

As per the custom of the Empress’ dealings with off-world guests a servant and a pair of guards had awaited [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] when she arrived on her ship at the landing port. It was outside the palace but thankfully a speeder was awaiting to take her through the city and into the palace itself. A quick drive that also allowed her to see the city of Halaban, Effekt’s capital, from a normal perspective. The mix of modern and yet Nordic design of both the city and the palace showed how the people of Effekt had slowly but surely started to intergrate into the aspects of the galatic society. ​

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Once she arrived she was lead into the hall where the servant and guards escorted her all the way to the end of a red carpet that stretched from the entrance to the throne. Empress Nimue herself didn’t look as her guest approached, too caught up in her own thoughts to have noticed.​

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Once they arrived at the base the servant, a small bald man, had announced “Lady Anja Aj’Rou, your majesty.”​

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Nimue snapped back to reality and looked down at the magic user before her. Unlike the others Nimue could sense something about her that had a little more confidence in her abilities. It was enough to make the Empress stand from her seat, her scepter in hand, before giving a bow of her head to the lady.​

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“A pleasure to see you arrive so soon, Lady Aj’Rou. And here I thought I’d not be greeted by anyone of true importance today. Obviously I was wrong.”​

 

[Boethiah]

The Host Lord nodded to her, "I was curious to have heard your interest in magic.", she responded; her piercing eyes gathered the room and all its possessions quite subtly before resting upon the Empress herself. Truth-be-told, Anja wasn't exactly the most reputable person in the galaxy; few knew what she looked like and even fewer knew her by name. She intended to keep her true nature a secret by all means that did not mean keeping herself a secret. She found that the best way to remain hidden was being obvious; if people were looking for her then why would she offer herself as a Witch willing to train a foreign ruler? Of course, in another truth she intended to learn some things herself...

"If I'm quite honest, I didn't expect to find such a bejeweled world.", she added as a result of the sights. It was architecture and style unfamiliar to her but then again most of the galaxy was unfamiliar to her. She placed her two hands together, flat and held them so that the tips of her fingers were just over her lips resounding the body-language of deep thought. To begin with, Anja wasn't one for pleasantries and instead was rather forward.

"Shall we begin?"

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Empress Nimue’s eyes studied her guests’ as much as she was looking around the room. Those were the eyes of a thinking to be sure. Whatever great mysteries this woman could teach she hoped it was something worth a lot more than what the fools and would-be conjurers she’d dealt with before would be like.​

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When asked she said “Ah yes, the magic teachings. A means of knowing how to deal with it.” Her tone was a little more emphasized before she gave the witch an odd glance. After that she tapped her staff against the floor, the sound echoing out the entire hall, before saying to her servants “Leave us. All of you.”​

She waited and watched with [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] as everyone else, guard and servant alike, had eventually left the hall through every possible exit. The guards at the doors took up posts on the opposite side to make sure the two were not disturbed.​

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Once everyone else was gone Empress Nimue sighed before descending down from her throne and saying “Sorry for that, my lady. My teachings must be kept secret by everyone until my skills and abilities are mastered. Something my people will hopefully be more open to once I show them there’s nothing to fear from magic.” After that she stood at her right side, placing her hand on the woman’s shoulder, before saying “And yes, we shall begin now. I enjoy your quick to the business attitude, Lady Aj’Rou.”​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja nodded in regard, turning and pacing the open room; free from disturbance. "I lack understanding of how others do it but I do know this much... The Sith believe their powers are drawn from emotion, it's personal, and the Jedi believe it is gained through humility and detachment...Becoming one, they might say? I , on the other hand, seek new truths. For what they believe are half truths.", she said.

Her eyes turned back to the Empress, giving her a cold steady gaze as if to size her up in some way that is otherwise not apparent to her physical nature. "You must relinquish yourself to it. Magic is a thought, a will, and it exists where our sense of reality does not. Forget your eyes, your ears, and everything else. Let yourself goal and seek new perceptions; feel the energy around us and grab hold of your inner will.", she said going over to some sort of statue; placing her naked hand on its metalwork before pacing back to the Empress.

"Only then will you feel it inside you."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue stood where she was as the witch explained what went into learning magic. Her talk of how the Sith and Jedi viewed the Force so differently made sense to Nimue, given that she’d learned enough from both points to see that for herself. When she went on to speak of how magic was a part of where our senses could not touch it did make her feel a little more anxious to hear of its secrets. The way she spoke of it did put a little shiver in the Empress’ spine, even as she walked away before coming back and telling how she had to take hold of inner energies in order to power it.​

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Once she finished Nimue looked at her clenched hand before looking back to her and saying “Tell me more. If it's as truly grand as you describe it, I want to learn the secrets.”​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja listened well to what the Empress wished, "It's not a secret. Many are just merely ignorant to its nature, but you are willing.", she walked over to her and would place flat hand over the woman's heart-region of her chest. Then the Host Lord's head met her ear.

Anja whispered, "To understand that magic is limitless one must first know their own limits, let me show you." , she channeled the force after whispering softly into the Empress' ear; the wild dark-sided nature of Anja's force signature would then be distributed in its most basic raw form as she allowed her power to leak from her and into the woman. To some it might be intoxicating, to others it perhaps was unbearable, to her it could result in anything. The goal was to allow [member="Nimue Stormson"] to feel the power of magic, not just hear of it, but to understand that is not something necessarily taught. Whilst many Sith Lords have developed spells and inscribed their knowledge into holocrons and artifacts, they at one point experimented and dabbled with its raw power, molding it as their minds wandered throughout the possibilities. This is what Anja intended to show her, that the power was not a written book, it was an endless existence of unlimited truths.

The only limit to its scope was how far one was willing to go.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimeu’s eyes perked when [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] had talked about magic being something not in secret but a matter of ignorance from others. Given her people’s attitude towards it that made more sense to the Empress than she’d thought. She then placed her hand on her chest, something that made the Empress curious as to what would come next, only to be hit by the pure power dripped into her.​

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Nimue gasped at first, her mouth gaping open and her eyes growing wide from the sudden surge of energy into her. She felt as though she was losing air at first before it all came back into her lungs in one grand breath. After that the magic she could feel in her was exhilarating. She breathed through her mouth in great breaths before a smile managed to crack on her face. The feel of all of this power was so great for her she was practically enjoying it. It made her feel more free and yet empowered by it. She was almost to the point of laughing at how it felt to have it inside her. ​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja pulled away slowly, releasing her from its power; she was visibly exhausted just from that short burst -- not seriously so, but she seemed a bit shaky. "Now you know.", she said softly as if it was meant to be a thought in her head. The power that surged was only a small fraction to what could be achieved with Sith Magic , something that has eluded amongst the greatest of Dark Lords since the true Sith roamed the galaxy long ago. The truth was they didn't know what they were searching for, and newer applications and methods became more prominent in its place.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

When she was released Nimue also felt exhaustion from the sudden burst. She had to lean on her staff before looking back to the witch, realizing what sort of power she could attain if she was taught properly. When she’d said how she now knew the Empress said “Yes…. Yes I do…” After that, when she managed to catch her breath, she added “Amazing…. I never knew… How can I learn this power? Please, teach me.”​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja paced back and forth again, more slowly than she had before, her gaze glancing to the Empress now and again but seemed lost; in what? That was the mystery, perhaps.

"If you felt it, then you already can use it...", she said, stopping and once again looking directly towards the woman. "Every power; especially this one, comes at a price.", she clenched her fist together as if to represent the way the power clutched unforgivably. "Even I had to undergo certain trials and yet am only beginning to understand.", she paused briefly and pondered on her not-so-fond memories. She looked down at her feet, remembering how she first felt when she came into contract with its extraordinary hold on the mind and the spirit. She felt as if she was sinking into a dark abyss, falling into a sea of despair and fault. There was doubt, and anger, and above all longing for something one did not have. "...Yet to understand what that price may be.", she remembered the first time she realized she was sensitive , she had just killed the only person she ever felt attached to. A person who loved her and in response she buried her blade deep into him; remembering nothing but that cold bitter gaze as the life escaped him, his face growing paler by the second.

Those were not memories one would pride but she neither regretted them either. It was her beginning, her start to her path and that path was nearing its end. Or so she thought. One obstacle remained, the galaxy at large. So when she came upon the face of @Nume Stormson she saw a similarity but yet a difference. Both were heading down a similar path but to what ends? Likely different. Anja's face seemed to have broken out of her trance, only seconds long despite feeling much longer, and she reproached the subject. "I will teach you but I want something in return.", she turned and stated.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given how and what Anja had spoken of it was clear there was a lot involved with learning the ways of magic. The more she spoke of it the more it began to sound like the uncontrollable force that her people had feared it to be. Throughout history one small act or another was often the cause of magic, or force users as she began to understand. The greatest catastrophe was the ruined city of Kullcor that was said to be destroyed thanks to magic, however the true source behind that had already been dealt with by the empress.​

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After she turned and asked for something in return Empress Nimue was actually careful about agreeing too soon. The witch already said she didn’t want money, so it was hard to tell what she could want from her. Whatever it was she hoped it wasn’t anything too steep to pay.​

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“Yes…?” she asked, a little anxious to hear the answer.​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja looked to the Empress, without concern. "I ask only to have a facility out here, nothing to curve your authority - - don't you worry. I ask that we may experiment on your people; nothing large scale. In exchange not only will I teach you, I will given you other ways to grow in power and even share knowledge. Like I said, all magic comes at a price, and this is it.", she said.

Immediately she scanned the woman for any signs of deception; one of the Umbaran's natural traits were their ability to sense deception and dishonesty in others, amongst their persuasiveness. Of course an adept force user could hide it well and some races , cold-blooded ones especially, are immune.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

At first it seemed simple enough. The witch wanted a small place to establish some sort of base. It was easy enough to figure where, given that there was plenty of open land for a place to be established. But then came talk of wanting to experiment on her people, something the Empress was shocked to hear.​

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She was conflicted for sure. She didn’t want to let her people be killed over some sort of experiment. Yet, at the same time, she wanted the power offered to her. But would she really allow such a thing on her people? Even if it was nothing large scaled? It was a tough decision, one that was weighing on her the more she thought about it.​

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Finally, after thinking long and hard, the Empress sighed and said “Very well. You’ll have your base, and your test subjects. But I’ll make this clear: I’ll tell you where to set up and what people you can use. And you had best keep your word about this being a small operation. If this is used against me or anyone I don’t allow to be used, there will be a reckoning. I promise you that.”​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja was glad to see the Empress coming her way; more importantly than being allowed an outpost in this side of the galaxy, the Host Lord was able to gauge the woman's willingness. Perhaps in time new deals can be struck but for now it was enough. "A wise decision, and I shall keep my word; I do not lie.", that was more or less true. Anja wasn't lying, she would keep the promise but that did not leave out the possibility of a new deal being struck. She nodded to the Empress as if to conclude it, rather than shaking, and then began to speak. "I will continue your training. You'd make an excellent student. There is one more thing I will teach you this day, but after that it would be best to continue another time.", she said.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Still dealing with the uneasy feeling in her gut about this deal Nimue nodded when Anja agreed to teach her more. She sighed, feeling bad about it, but at the same time wanting the power. If there was a way around this in her conscious she’d have to figure it out later. For now she was just glad to get some sort of training in. When Anja had agreed to teach her one more thing the Empress nodded. Though as she did she realized how clever Anja was being. Only teaching her one thing per deal meant she’d be able to make more in time. The Empress didn’t like this but didn’t have much choice. With that she awaited to hear what she would be taught next.​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

Anja wasted no time in continuing. "You're regal, you have a world to rule, but I'm sure there are those who you seek to stand above; whether enemies of your regime or perhaps a rival ruler, one of the most valuable tools is controlling the fear of others.", she spoke; ready to teach her one of her own most valuable spells -- an intoxicating yet taxing power that required great concentration in both spirit and mind.

"Unfortunately, to understand how this works we'll... Need a subject of demonstration.", she stated.

Of course she'd make due on her deal already. Afterall, she'd be sharing in the knowledge.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

A method that had to be shown first? This was odd. The Empress thought on it for a moment before finally figuring what was best, something she didn’t fully like though. Tapping her staff against the stone floor made a loud echo. A moment later a servant girl came in, young and curly red hair. She dutifully walked up to the Empress and bowed before Nimue, reluctantly, turned her around to Anja as indication that this would be her subject to test with. After that Nimue took a few steps back, not sure of what was going to follow. She just hated the fact that these spells were coming at such a cost, but it had to be worth it.​

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[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]​

 

[Boethiah]

"You'll want to watch closely, but not with your eyes... Perceive with other senses, feel what I do and relish in it.", Anja said to the Empress before wasting no time with the girl. She reached out with her hands, from her distance, and moved each of her fingers in a way as if she was controlling a string with each one, before clutching them slowly. Within a matter of seconds the girl's own worst nightmares would be summed; she'd see the most terrifying memories, and everything she feared would come to life before her. To an observe it would see that she merely collapsed and began to weep drastically, muffling cries that could not escape her throat due to the shock alone. It was insanity but to the girl she was collapsing under the rampage of her dread and despair.

The act would continue only for perhaps ten or twelve seconds before Anja released her grip, just as earlier she was visibly sweating from stress on focusing only for that little time. The girl however was still shaking despite the illusions having faded, "She will wake up soon, but you don't want her to scream, do you? Alert everyone of what you've been learning? Do as I did, you depend in its success.", Anja meant to put the Empress in a position of pressure to see if that was a proper training method. To-be-honest she herself had learned rather unorthodox.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]