Teachings of the Blind Seer

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia looked back upon the days past, when she had left her family’s home on Bestine, she was a different person then. Life had been simple back then; she would wake, work on the farm, and then go to sleep. Now she was a traveler, seeking the higher knowledge of her witch kindred. She only had an inkling of insight into the power of the force, and she wanted more. Today she was not wandering aimlessly, as she often liked to, but she was seeking the assistance of a fellow witch. She had heard of Lavania the blind seer, a woman most gifted in the power of premonition. Cassia hoped that Lavania could lend her abilities to provide training in the ways of spell craft, and honing her abilities with the force.

She was no stranger to long days; she walked from first light until it became too dark to safely make her way. Cassia continued on, thankful for the help of her rugged boots as she made her way on the difficult forest terrain. While a gentle mist flowed through the forest, it was still quite pleasant, though it did make for careful steps. The young witch was dressed simply, cotton blouse and tawny trousers that were spotted with dirt and mud. She had tied back her long brown hair, as it had proved to be quite a hindrance when moving through the brush. She looked up for a moment, casting her gaze about the green canopy above her; she was beginning to feel very much at ease when in the splendor of nature.

The light was beginning to fade, and Cassia climbed deftly over a small ridge, pulling herself up onto the level ground. She paused a moment to catch her breath, and wiped a few beads of sweat from her brow. In the distance she could see the flickering of light of a torch, flames dancing into the dusk. She began to move with haste, Cassia knew she was close now. It wasn’t long before she found herself in a clearing, a place where the fog dared only to touch the edges of the circular space. There were a few torches present to keep the impending darkness at bay, and Cassia stood still as a statue. Somehow the forest had grown eerily calm and quiet; the only thing she could hear was the sound of her heartbeat echoing in her head. She turned round slowly, looking for a sign of her new mentor, and then saw a shadow emerging from the mists...

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania had spent her days since the fall of the nightsisters in the mountains alone. Petra had returned and while she was charismatic she had chosen with the witches to give elections to inspire peace. A strange notion the witch clans getting to choose who they wanted to be in charge of the nightsisters and it hadn't set well with Kiyala who challenged her. Taking nightsisters into the mountains to strike back and try to revert to the old ways of attacking the witches and enslaving everyone not them. Lavania had been there after the fall of the jedi temple at Coruscant when Petra came and took her of the ones there away.

The ancient being had wanted a seer and the rest were burned in the mountain village. Petra then set her here in the mountains intent to bring her back to the nightsisters fully but had vanished now leaving the seer in the mountains to live. She could leave at anytime but there was a strangeness to walking among the witch clans and the nightsisters were in hiding. She laid there on the bedding as hands moved over her back with a small blade and ink. Her one sister was drawing a new tattoo over her back as she felt it slowly being applied when her eyes were covered with a sash.

The short blonde hair raised up a little as she felt something coming, turning her head while she laid there and seeing someone approaching. Within the force before she was finished. She didn't speak drawing to her the staff to her hand as her sister backed away. Not finished filling it in but the lines framing the tribal markings were across her back and connecting to the ones on her arms and waist before she rose up and started walking. The beskar staff the mandalorians had created for their allies hummed with the face melting laser they had inside as she was walking into the mist and stood over the woman.

"You came."

 

[Cassia Edric]

“Yes, Seer.” Cassia spoke up, taking a step forward and offering a respectful bow. “My name is Cassia Edric. I am here to seek your wisdom and training.” She said as a simple introduction.

Cassia knew that she was force sensitive, but needed the guidance of someone with experience to assist with learning to control her abilities. In the past, she had been able to make objects move or tremble during times of emotional distress. At the time she’d written it off as a coincidence, but now she understood the true cause. She had the feeling deep within her that she could learn to take hold of these special powers. Having such little knowledge of the roots of spell craft, she was just beginning to break through the surface, and was both amazed and overwhelmed by the possibilities ahead. Cass was very eager to learn. It was much her way to charge forth at full speed, it would take someone with authority and patience to temper her.

The young woman’s body was tired from her travels, but her mind was alight with energy, ready to take on any task. She had come a very long way to attend The Blind Seer’s training, and was very much looking forward to learning. “I await your instructions.” Cassia said in a calm tone, nodding her head slightly.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Her head remained and looked down upon her as she listened to the girl. Moving forward and holding the staff in her hands as she tapped it to the ground and let the vibrations come from the earth with the force and sounds. Her other hand coming out while some of the mist dispersed to reveal more of the mountains and in the distance a small shack with some sisters outside. Some food out drying on a rack while she started walking towards the shack. "Come along then." She was letting herself chuckle just a little before she was stepping outside the shack. The sounds of something coming and eating as a large rancor peeked out from around the back of the shack letting a growl come out low in its throat. "It is alright ta'chika." Lavania turned around as she was getting her clothing. "Tell me about yourself? How did you find me?"

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia’s blue eyes followed Lavania’s movements carefully, her gaze lingering on the staff in the Seer’s hands. She watched in wonder as the mist began to clear, all with the simple movement of the woman’s hand. Cassia’s stepped forward tentatively at first, but her steps grew more confident as she followed her new mentor. It seemed that Lavania had carved out a home in the mist of the mountains, complete with a shack and food rations drying in the open air. A smile began to spread across her face, this was the type of life she could get used to. Her attention shifted suddenly at movement, she stood still as a rancor peered out from behind the shack. Despite the fact that the beast seemed docile at the moment, it was still a bit jarring to see, especially as she had never seen one before.

“Oh, I come from Bestine.” Cassia started. “I have only recently discovered that I have a connection to the Daughters of Allya, and I have newly been accepted into their fold.” She paused for a moment, thoughtfully considering what information to share. “I am very new to all of this.” She said smiling.

“I heard of you through stories during my travels, you are rumored to be a most gifted seer.” Cassia clarified, looking to Lavania. "I can only hope to become as skilled as you."

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

The mention of where she came from brought a small hiss... it was true she wasn't with the nightsisters anymore but she also didn't sit among the witches or travel to greet them. Only when a meeting was called did she partake of their odious stench... Still as she listened her gaze under the sash came upon the woman and she motioned her closer while one hand made the rancor lay its head down and go back to sleep. A small look before she brought the staff down and arced it gently to guide her into the home. "The daughter of Allya and I have not always seen eye to eye. They are the reason I cit my own eyes out but I am not like my sisters. The nightsister clans are scattered and barely a nation. So we live in solitude atop mountains or deep in caves."

There was more of a look though while she entered and the two women from outside were standing there. "Your arrival interrupted the small ritual. I need to complete it but help yourself to some food and drink. As much as my rancor loves me he will eat you should you approach him without me." Lavania stepped forward and laid down on the table as the application of the tattoo continued. The coloring of the large serpent she had seen and fought with the old covenant. She laid there as slowly the sisters continued to work. "Tell me young one." She looked at the girl and was moving about slowly with her hand as she traced along the staff with a small smile. "What do you see when you look at the force."

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia listened to Lavania speak; now her mentor’s title as the blind seer became clear to her. It wasn’t simply a matter of being sightless, and she was driven to wonder what exactly had driven Lavania to remove her own eyes. Though, it was not her place to ask at this time, so she remained quiet. Cassia blinked a few times when she was informed that her arrival had been a bit of an interruption. She couldn’t deny the hunger pangs, and she was most thankful at Lavania’s invitation to share their food and drink. While her mentor set about completing her ritual, Cassia turned her attention to a section of dried meat and water. She had been surviving on protein supplement bars during her travels; this was a much welcomed change.

She took a seat nearby the table where it appeared that her mentor was having a tattoo applied, and Cassia looked in her direction when she spoke. This was not a simple question, for Cassia was having a difficult time making sense of the force. The teen turned her eyes down towards the ground, eyeing the small pebbles amongst the dirt as she thought. “I’m not sure, to be honest.” She answered, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I suppose it’s more of a feeling for me. I can feel it all around me, at times as it feels as though I can reach out and touch things that are far away.” Cassia continued, though she wasn’t sure if she was making much sense.

For a moment she looked down at her hands. “But… it doesn’t feel like something I can control yet. It’s like water slipping through my fingers.” Her gaze then turned back towards Lavania, looking for words of guidance.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania listened to the girl speak and she had potential in that. There was an air of uncertainty, of well being able to be taught... Which was good. That pleased the woman as she was finished on her back and leaned up a little looking at her. Sash still tight but a smile on her face in the dim light of the shack. "That is alright and helpful. If you had said the force was something you commanded I would have questioned you that is the mentality of the darkside. If you had spouted off about its will leading you and guiding you the path of the jedi wouldn't be so bad. They need all the help they can get but water..." She trailed off and there was the green mist of the spirit ichor as she poured a little out.

"Water is the best way to look at it, our spells work off the mists created from the water then infused with the force. It is ours to use but it will slowly slip away and is why our spells are not permanent unless we use older magics. Flesh magics and ones of the blood." As the tattoo's finished and were filled in her hand scooped down pulling more of the mist up to her back as it settles and rippled. The life energies being used to give her a sort of healing effect while the areas were glowing and knitting along the lines of the tattoo's. "Your first lessons can begin now, make sure you are in comfortable cloths and have a staff. You will need it to wlk and channel your energies into."

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia nodded as she listened to Lavania, thankful that it seemed her answers had pleased her. A smile grew on her face as well. There was much that she didn’t know about the force, though she had a bit of knowledge about the Jedi and the Sith. Their paths did not seem right for her, so she was excited to be learning a different way to incorporate the use of the force with the magic of the witches. Cassia finished eating her share of dried meat and took a last sip of water, now feeling more revitalized and renewed. Her gaze then fell upon the intricate tattoo that had just been finished upon Lavania’s back, and the glowing mist that seemed to be speeding the healing process. Cassia’s heart skipped a beat when Lavania stated that her training would begin now. A mix of excitement and nerves filled her for a moment, but she pushed the waves of nervousness away, she hated feeling anxious.

“I am ready.” She said, standing up and brushing herself off. Cassia had few choices of outfits, only having one other change of clothing in her bag. Her traveling clothes would suffice, they were comfortable and light. The only thing the young witch was missing was a staff, she didn’t have one of her own just yet. Her eyes roamed the area, and she spotted a very plain wooden staff resting on a rack. Cassia approached it and let her fingers slide across the worn out wood. “May I borrow this staff?” She turned back towards Lavania. “I will make it a task to craft one of my own.” She added, it would be an interesting task, but would be helpful to her progress. Her hand grasped the staff and she set the end upon the ground, looking to Lavania eagerly.

“By the way, what do you prefer that I call you?” Cassia asked, taking a few steps towards her mentor.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

:avania looked at her and the staff with a look at her. "Well the mandalorians call be the hot crazy lady in the mountains but everyone else calls me Lavania. That is what you may call me or master." Her hands though went to her top while putting it on and tightening it for a moment. Her headdress she started to put on while looking over the staff. "You can use that one until you make your own. Not all witches need one but I find traveling through the mountains and worlds easier when you have a staff you can lean on and to defend yourself." She held hers while turning it in her hands and spoke. "The mandalorians fashioned these for the witches to use. Not wood but beskar fashioned to give us an edge as well as a blaster. Technology as part of one of our leaders attempt to modernize us. I won't lie and say it is the greatest but no one expects when you shoot them." She started walking towards the doorway and motioned with her staff. "Should you fail my student, the lessons could be carved into your flesh."

 

[Cassia Edric]

Hmm, a staff that also served as a blaster? That was an interesting twist indeed, an unexpected addition to an otherwise simple weapon. Cassia had a few ideas about the staff that she wanted to create, though this was a topic she would certainly need to think about. The young student moved to follow her new master, and she blinked a few times when Lavania mentioned that the training could leave her with scars. Cassia’s hands were already quite rough and worn, and years of farm work had made her well acquainted with bumps and bruises. Though, this training would be much different than anything she had attempted before, it was difficult to know that to expect. She took a deep breath and steeled her nerves; she knew this would be no easy task.

“I understand, Master.” She said calmly and nodded to Lavania.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania looked at her as she stood outside and nodded her head. The apprentice was ready and there was much she could learn but she needed to respect the basics of power and Lavania dug around as she tapped the little bit of wood used to make a porch. "Then we shall begin." The smile she gave though showed it was going to be something dangerous and huge and she gave a clean rag. "Scrub the floors." She said it but showed her how with the movement of her wrist. "I will need to create for you spirit ichor and it takes time." Lavania was moving off to a stone while her rancor moved a little walking and coming down to her hand. "Go and watch out, leave her to work." There was a look from her and the creature while she was sitting there with the staff and a small bladder of water.

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia looked eagerly at Lavania as she was about to give her the first task. The smile on her master’s face alluded to something most difficult, but she was feeling ready for anything. The teen’s expression went from excited to crestfallen as she heard the order given to scrub the floors. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly as she stood there with the staff in one hand and a rag in the other. “Yes, Master.” Cassia replied, trying to keep her tone from sounding flat. She nodded when Lavania explained that she would need time to create the spirit ichor, and Cassia moved towards the porch with her cleaning supplies. It may not have been the most glamorous of tasks, but she knew that there was a lesson in this simple chore: patience.

As Lavania set about her own work, Cassia knelt on the floor and emptied a few splashes of water in front of her. She rolled up her sleeves and began to scrub with the rag. This was very akin to her chores back home on Bestine. Cassia was dutiful in her work, and no matter how mundane the task, she wouldn’t complain. She looked down and watched as her hand moved the rag in circular motions on the floor, it was repetitive work, but it was also a bit mesmerizing. She let her mind grow blank as she listened to the sounds of the woods and continued to scrub.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania looked at the water as she was pouring the force energies into the bladder of water until she could see it glowing with the energies. The cooling mist coming over her hand while she was hearing the sounds of scrubbing and cleaning. The sounds of her rancor in the distance roaring and lumbering around while she stood up a handful of hours later. Moving over with her feet to stand and wash them in a basin as she set the bladder on the table and left it out for the apprentice before she was sitting down. A small smile on her face letting the girl continue and she waited until she was done while brushing herself off. "When you are finished come and retrieve your bladder of ichor. Next lesson will test your mental fortitude. It will take all of your energy and concentration. Are you ready for it?"

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia glanced over at Lavania every now and then; trying to get a glimpse of the ritual she was performing to create Spirit Ichor. She continued to scrub, and was fairly sure that the floor would be sparkling when she was finished. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see the mist flowing from her master’s hand, and the glow of the water bladder as well. After a few hours had passed, Cassia’s scrubbing rhythm had slowed as fatigue had set in. She shifted about; her knees were starting to get sore. After just a few minutes more, she was finished, and just in time. She looked up quickly as Lavania returned.

“Yes, I am ready for the next lesson.” Cassia said with a nod as she stood and stretched. Her master’s words made her a bit nervous; this test would take all of her energy. While she was not as chipper as she normally would have been, she still had some energy left to burn, one of the bonuses of youth. She walked over to the table and looked down at the bladder of spirit ichor. Her hand reached down and grasped it steadily and she turned her attention to Lavania. “Spirit ichor… what does it do?” She asked, tilting her head.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania was looking at her and spoke as she poured out a little of the ichor holding it in her hand. "The spirit ichor is what we use for rituals and spells. It empowers us, it makes it easier to create the magics." There with a small smirk on her face though while she was chanting a little. The ichor became mist and wrapped around her hands before she moved it around her face. Her senses flared out while she was hearing more sounds and she finally spoke with a grin on her face. "Your next lessons is here." Lavania rose up speaking as she walked and led the way. "You will paint the shack like so." She showed how to paint it with her hand while looking at the girl while she held her staff and walked. "I shall gather a few things outside and you will work. Then we will continue." Lavania was walking out of the door as she grabbed a shoulder bag and was going for herbs and plants.

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia’s blue gaze widened with interest as she watched her master pour some of the ichor into her palm. She listened intently to her words, trying to absorb all of the knowledge that she could. The student had seen her master working to create the ichor; it did look like a difficult process, though she hoped that she would be able to create her own in time. Her posture straightened up once Lavania mentioned her second lesson of the day. “Yes, Master.” She nodded quickly upon hearing that the next task was to paint the shack. Cassia watched Lavania walk off again with her staff and a bag slung on her shoulder.

She took up her supplies and began to paint as Lavania had demonstrated. Cassia pulled over a small wooden stool and stood on top to help her reach the taller portions of the shack. Though Cassia was not a perfectionist, she was determined to do a nice job and would pay close attention to the details this time.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania moved through the mountains as she went along the path, slowly while she was feeling the girl work she was picking up flowers, grasses and other portions as she needed it. The clay would come in hand as well as the stone for grinding the ingredients into a finer powder. Her amusement coming to her face though while she moved and stopped at the top of the mountain near a tree with herself in a place to sit. She took some of the branches and twigs for herself while gripping her staff while the sounds of movement came around her. From down below she could see and feel her rancor watching and protecting her. She stayed there long enough for the apprentice to paint the small shack where she could and was heading back as she arrived offering a small joke. "I love it, black is my favorite color." A smile on her face though while she was looking her over with a raising of her eyebrows under her headdress. "How do you feel."

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia continued painting and making good progress while Lavania was away. She made sure that her brushstrokes were even and that the surface was covered smoothly. After completing a section towards the roof she stepped down from her stool and let her eyes wander over her handy work. Cassia let her head tilt slowly from side to side as she stretched and took a short break. The student moved around to the last side of the shack that needed paint; she looked up at the blank wall and let out a breath. She couldn’t deny that she was tired, but she was feeling focused and determined to complete her task. Cassia started painting again, though with a bit less enthusiasm than before, her movements still precise but a bit slower.

After a short while she heard Lavania’s voice again, and she turned slightly to see that her master had returned. Cassia paused again and rolled her shoulders a few times to ease the stiffness that was starting to set in. “I’m a little tired, but hanging in there.” Cassia answered with a slight smile. She had but a small section to finish, she knelt down and finished the last portion. She stood and walked over towards Lavania, her eyes shifting between her master and the newly painted shack. “What is the next step?” She asked, wondering if the next task would take them late into the night.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania nodded as she spoke quickly. "Wash the rancor." She said it and let it hold in the air for a moment while she was walking towards the shack and openign the satchel with her staff. She wanted to see the girls reaction for a moment in the force and feel it before she spoke. "That was a joke come inside." Lavania was looking at the table while she set the supplies in the satchel down letting her staff rest next to the chair while she was sitting there and with the bladder on the table and the herbs she got a large bowl while adding the different dried grasses and plants to it. "Now mix your potion." She waited for her to sit while making the circular motion with her hand to mix them up. "Make a fine powder and we will be able to move on.