Private Unseen Omens

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

After some years of wondering the galaxy, Palm had gotten used to calling her freighter her home. Except for her frequent visits to Illyria, or the rare occasion in which she was recalled back to her home-world for this reason or the other, most nights she spent in the chambers of the freighter, never remaining within the orbit of any planet longer than was necessary to accomplish the mission that had brought her to it in the first place. Now things had changed. Now she was, besides a Geminian representative, a Confederate and aspiring member of the Knights Obsidian. Naboo had become a constant, and she had a feeling it would remain one for quite some time.

As her code of conduct as an Ambassador dictated, her joining the Confederacy had been a personal choice unrelated to her duties to her people. It had been too long since she had last been among others with a connection to the Force, and while many questions had ensued since her arrival to Naboo about the little-known practices of the Soller Navah, the Order that had shaped her into the force user she was today, Palm was swiftly finding her footing among those sworn to protect and uphold the laws and order of the Confederacy.

In them, she had found a diversity she had not seen anywhere else. And calling it intriguing would have been an understatement.

Not so long ago, Palm would have chosen to steer clear of certain doctrines and teachings which clashed with the restraint that was taught to her. She was a duelist, she knew herself and what she was capable of and would never resort to outside influences to accomplish that which could not be done by her own hand. Or at the very least, these were the things she told herself. The cover to the dark musings and whispers that were ever so subtly but surely taking root within her because of the schemings of one Illyrian King. Unnoticeable, yet present. Buried deep underneath that calming and seemingly absolute neutrality that bled forward and enveloped her.

Right now she felt at peace, focused.

It had been only a few weeks since she had been welcomed into the headquarters, but today was the day in which her role within the Knights Obsidian would be decided. Being a foreigner, Palm found it acceptable that they would want to gauge not only her skills but her alignment and, perhaps more importantly, her intentions. The Soller Navah did the same with all those who found themselves at their door. She had posed no objections against this evaluation, and now awaited patiently in the large training room she had been directed to.

Palm had reached a crossroad in her life, now a decision and a beginning awaited. And she was still oblivious to the calm before the storm, the omens laid unseen and unread.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

Gerwald looked down at the datapad which was in his hands. Another entrance into the Knights Obsidian needed to be tested. His life as a Lord Marshall seemed to be more paperwork than being on the field, and Gerwald missed it. More time was spent on home than missions. At least when he was teaching it was equal parts mission and equal parts training. The wolf inside him was growing restless. He needed a fight, he needed a war. The lupine was not bred for peace. War was what we knew, and war was what he craved. It was ironic that his meeting today was with an ambassador, a diplomat.​

​

This was business, and Gerwald was certain to keep it as such. He was there to assess skill, and Gerwald was not going to take it easy. According to what he read in the file this individual had some level of training, but other parts were rather vague. He needed to know exactly what she was capable of. His dress was casual, but there was nothing that indicated this session was supposed to be.​

​

He was large, tall, Gerwald filled whatever room he walked into. He carried himself in a manor which was meant to be intimidating. Whether this person would find him as such was yet to be seen. Perhaps her reaction would also be a test. Everything about this meeting remained to be seen.​

​

"I am Lord Marshall Gerwald Lechner. I will be conducting your assessment today," he said walking past the woman without so much as looking at her.​

​

She would see to much if he did, the dark circles under his eyes, evidence of too little sleep and the nightmares which still haunted him at night. It was his reality, and the weight of the ring he wore around his neck. He reached for it, offering a silent reminder of the promise he had made to the soul which had been bound to it, and then turned to face the woman.​

​

The rubber balls floated in the air as his had rose.​

​

"If I launch these at you, will you be able to stop them?"​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

Her amber gaze moved to meet the figure of the man who had just entered the room, the small flame of intrigue dancing behind the golden irises. Whereas many others would have found his towering height intimidating, Palm was unbothered by it besides the subconscious mental note that his build alluded to a physical strength that needed to be considered. She came from a planet were tall people where the norm, and had been raised to assess anyone in her vicinity. Sizing people up, anticipating, they were habits to her. But today it would be her on the other side of the looking glass.

Her posture was straight but not stoic, hands folded neatly behind her back and comfortable clothes hugging her figure. A simple black tank top that allowed her lean and slightly muscled arms to remain on display and unbothered by fabric, dark grey pants ending in a comfortable pair of boots that would not hinder or thwart her movement.

"I am Palm-Imer, Lord Marshall. Thank you for your time."

There was no 'Ambassador' or 'Heir' before her given name. She would not have her geminian titles mean something in the Confederacy, this was her own personal pursuit, her own choice, and she was sure many people back at home would frown upon her for making it. But she was not one to easily waver from what she thought was right, and there were no laws enabling her handlers to tug on her leash.

The golden eyes wavered for a second, following a movement of Gerwald's hand as he reached for something around his neck. Being observant and curious often served her well, but this was not the moment to entertain her questions. This man was a member of the higher echelons of the Confederacy, and knowing Adron and Alessandra Malvern, she knew to not expect anything less than thoroughness and demanding standards from her evaluator. Her focus returned to the task at hand as the rubber balls began floating around him.

Her upbringing as a soll'nav and a follower of the Art of One meant Palm practiced restraint. Skills such as telekinesis were forbidden, for they believed one's influence in the galaxy was to be born of their own hand. As a duelist and individual, Palm had mastered herself in ways very few could even while still having much to learn and her own handful of flaws and weaknesses. But the more esoteric and perhaps better known applications of the Force were something she had not dabbled into. Even if in the later months her curiosity for them had been ignited.

It was fortunate then, that he had asked if she was able to stop the balls instead of throwing them, for deflection was among her permitted skills. That said, it would be him sending them her way, and she was not about to underestimate the abilities of a Lord Marshall. So, Palm offered a slight nod as her eyes meeting his with a calm gaze.

"I believe so, Lord Marshall."

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

Gerwald nodded at her introduction.​

​

"So your file tells me," came a brief answer followed by two fingers pressing against the bridge of his nose. "That was rude of me, I apologize."​

​

The wolf was not typically one to be short in nature. In fact many who knew him though the man could be quite sociable and pleasant when he chose to be. Quiet and stoic were other words some would use to describe him, but Gerwald had never been described as rude. Perhaps there were those who would behind his back, but never to his face. The lupine had made it a point to try and be seen by his peers and those beneath him more. His position demanded it, and Naedira had made effort to attempt to groom him for it, as had others.​

​

Leadership. The word had escaped Gerwald for some time. While he was used to teaching, the man had never seen his potential lead others. He had been forced to when the Dark Ones had attacked his village on Stewjon, and he not looked back since. The Confederacy had made him a follower again, long enough to learn, something which Gerwald had taken his time in. Now that he had been with them for some time he found himself the teacher and a leader among them. He was something that only one person had ever envisioned him becoming, and now Gerwald had his eyes set on more.​

​

Another nod was offered to the woman when she gave the affirmative. If she believed she could keep the rubber balls from hitting her, then he would see how correct she was. There would be no words spoken before the first one launched at her directly. If she could not stop it, the rubber would leave a red mark on her forehead. Gerwald did not hold back in where he aimed or the velocity at which he sent the sphere shooting in the direction of Plam's face. She would prove herself, or she would not.​

​

The second and third would follow aimed at either shoulder. She was here to be assessed, and the lupine would ensure he knew what she was capable of before their time was finished. When the exercise was over, Gerwald would clear his throat, his arms folded over his chest.​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

A small smile curved her lips as she nodded understandingly. "No apology needed, Lord Marshal." She realized her introduction might have been somewhat redundant, even though it was born out of the habit of replying to one with her own. Thus, Palm had not found his remark to be rude as much as it was a fact. The geminaie were not easily offended, their ability to mold their own personalities and reactions - to a degree - gifted them with a temperance and a tolerance that was not often seen in most people.

As soon as her words were spoken, she allowed her concentration to return in full to the matter at hand. Her eyes fell closed, anchoring herself in the Force, reaching out through it to see and feel its ripples and flows. Then her eyes opened again, right when the first rubber ball was launched towards her with a speed and force than exceeded even what she had originally expected. Dodging would have been easier, but he had asked her to stop them. Not to move out of the way.

Her brow furrowed slightly as the first one stopped centimeters before colliding against her forehead. To many, this would seem a close call but truth was her application of Force deflection was at its strongest in an intimate range, for she rarely if ever allowed her use of the Force to be externalized in any other range wider than what was absolutely necessary. The next events would happen so fast that only another force sensitive would manage to keep track of them.

As the first rubber ball was stopped her hands moved; swiping in a half-circular motion with unnatural speed, enhanced by her will in the Force. They intercepted the two other projectiles aimed at her shoulders. Once again, deflection had played its part in dampening the impact so that her hands wouldn't be crushed by it. This did not stop a grimace - which Palm swiftly tried to erase from her features - from surfacing. It had been painful, but the task was accomplished.

Her left hand completed the circle, also grabbing the first ball which had been falling since being stopped by the force near her face. A red tinge and an uncomfortable but tolerable dull pain had taken over her hands, even though she did not stop to look at them. Instead, her gaze returned to the Lord Marshal, awaiting to know if her performance had been sufficient. She would not be surprised if there were questions, for not many force-users would have chosen to respond to this test in the way that she had: putting her own hands at stake.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

"Interesting..." Gerwald said as he watched the woman respond to his attacks.​

​

There were many ways to do what he asked, and how to accomplish it was left up to the woman. Naturally the volume and pace of his attack made her solution possible, but it would not always work. There was a grimace, one which Gerwald noticed despite how tired he looked. Despite his perpetual exhaustion, the lupine did not miss much. His attention for detail was intricately linked to his nature as a predator. The wolf inside did not allow him to miss important details.​

​

Blue eyes finally took the moment to look over the woman and size her up. The simplicity of her chosen attire appealed to Gerwald. It seemed this one was practical. That was why he found it odd her weapons remained unused. He did not specify how she had to stop the projectiles, and was curious as to why she allowed the pain so early into the exercise. Perhaps there was a cultural reason to it. The lupine was not accustomed to other force traditions as all he had know was what Naedira and Alkor had taught him. One had helped him to embrace the Sith Code, while the other the ways of a Dark Jedi. Unless she was using the pain to gain strength, Gerwald saw no need for it.​

​

"You caught them, why?" The question was direct, and the tone expected an answer. "There are weapons hanging about you which would have been effective and saved the pain you allowed yourself. Would you have done the same were you in a combative situation?​

​

The wolf was curious. Gerwald could see from just one task the woman was powerful enough to do as she pleased. She was certainly not the weakest among those he had assessed before. Her potential was not something which was raw and undetermined. Palm was trained, refined, and even though Gerwald could sense untapped ability, she would not need much of a catalyst to unleash it.​

​

"What if the ball had been a rock, and I would have chosen something larger? If your life had been in danger, what would you have done then?"​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

Palm took a moment before replying, not because she needed to find her words but simply because the questioned resonated within her longer than it should have. Why? She knew her answer, she believed in it. Then, why did it feel so foreign? The code of the Soller Navah flashed through her mind with ease. Palm had always known there was so much more to the Force than what she could tap into, but it was only until recently that she had begun to question. Even if she refused to see it, to acknowledge it. Her reply would be formed by words she knew well, words a part of her still upheld and revered, but then there was another side, one that agreed with the Lord Marshal's implied point of view.

The Ambassador turned her head slightly to the side, displaying a mark several shades lighter than her own skin drawn onto the curve were her neck met her left shoulder. The Ser'imper, the mark of restraint. "In the Order where I grew up we are taught to know our own strengths and our own limits, and to push them so that we might grow stronger." It was a delicate and dangerous art, keeping this balance. Arrogance, or even a simple mistake in assessing themselves, could prove fatal. They spent years learning about their own person, to the point where self-awareness reigned every aspect of their life.

Except when they purposefully blinded themselves to certain things, a sin she was guilty of.

"I believed I could do this without my weapons, so I did not draw them." Being a soll'nav implied a constant state of practice. Were he to continue sending similar objects her way, the moment would come when she would be able to catch them without feeling pain. If she had used her sabers, then perhaps her demonstration would have been more striking, but there was no furthering herself in that. Not from her point of view, at least. Palm, at this point in time, held no specific ambitions towards her place with the Knight Obsidian. She would give her best, yes, but on her terms. The Lord Marshall's judgement would be trusted, and a new journey would begin.

Then his next inquiry came about, and her peaceful and warm voice filled the room once again, ready to provide answers. "No, Lord Marshal. Had you been trying to kill me I would not have tested my limits." That was not the soll'nav speaking, but the Ambassador. Judicious, calculating, even if her overall tranquil demeanor did not convey such traits at the moment.

"If my life had been in danger, I would have done what is within my abilities to preserve it."​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

The lupine looked on with curiosity in his eyes as the woman canted her head to one side, enough to reveal a mark on her neck. Gerwald was not close enough to determine whether it was a tattoo or some type of brand, but such markings were not unfamiliar to him. His former lover had once been the Nightmother of the Mandragora, and her body bore each mark associated with the spirits they had worshipped or followed. Some of those from his early days among the Confederacy still found themselves among the ranks of those who still practiced similar magicks. They too still bore the marks of the respective spirit they once held an allegiance too.​

​

"And an assessment is the appropriate time to prove to yourself that you are capable of more?"​

​

It was a simple question, but one Gerwald knew would likely come with a less than simple answer. The Lord Marshall stepped closer as he pondered what direction to take the rest of this meeting. The rest of her answer did draw a smirk from the wolf. It was the grin of a predator that admired the confidence and strength the young woman possessed. She was very different than he had been upon his arrival. Gerwald had known nothing of the force, only that he could manipulate it. He was a warrior and nothing more, now he knew there was nothing which could limit him, only himself.​

​

"This will seem cliché, but just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD."​

​

The lupine closed the distance between himself and the woman, breaking any boundaries that the formality they had been using up to that point demanded. Grabbing the woman's wrist he lifted it up to show her the redness of her palm.​

​

"Within the first seconds of this assessment and your hands already show signs of pain. Had I pushed harder and had you thought you could still catch them, what would have happened then? Pain is a useful teacher and motivator, but your physical limits are not the only limits you should push. You have a mind, intellect. The Force connects you to everything around you. Of all the things at your disposal, you put your own body in harms way to pass a simple test?"​

​

He released her hand as he took a step backward. Gerwald shook his head unsure of what to think in the moment. The only thing he knew was that there was no need for them to be so formal, especially after the direction this exchange had taken.​

​

"We can dispense with the formalities. Please, Gerwald."​

​

His head nodded to the answer.​

​

"At least you would not allow yourself to die so needlessly."​

​

Gerwald drew in a long breath through his nose and let it out slowly as he motioned for the woman to sit. He did the same, crossing his legs over each other in a crisscross position.​

​

"Tell me more of this order which trained you. What else should I be aware of."​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

Palm listened to his words attentively, and knew she would be lying if she said she did not find reason in them. Her Order's ways had always been somewhat controversial in the eyes of most force-users, and in a way some of them were losing their meaning to her too. Or maybe it was just her losing her way.

Perhaps someone else would have tried to provide a better answer to his first question, but Palm simply said what she felt to be true. Full transparency. "It certainly isn't the best moment to do it, no." If one considered practicality first, then pushing a limit during an evaluation was not a safe move to make.

"But then again, I might not find myself under these same conditions again. It was a fleeting chance." And for better or worse, she had taken it. Palm didn't consider it outlandish to assume that the Lord Marshall did not spend his days flinging stuff at Obsidian knights. It went without saying that if he had asked her to repeat the exercise while using another method to complete the task, she would have obliged. However, it looked like that was not going to be necessary. At least for now.

Gerwald then moved near her, the closeness was not something that bothered her in the slightest and she welcomed him into her personal space with the same relaxed disposition that she had shown when distance still separated them. It was as though his proximity had been something Palm had already been familiar with since before this meeting, the traits that allowed her to feel comfortable in all manner of interactions shining through. After all, she felt no ill-intent coming from the lupine, and a measure of trust was granted since they were, hopefully, soon to be members of the same Order.

Her amber gaze followed his hand as he lifted her own, and then she saw the red tinge in it which - although subsiding - could still be felt. Then her head tilted slightly upwards so that she could look at him again, now having to make up for the height difference since distance had been cut short. There was understanding in her eyes.

"Pain is a useful teacher and motivator,"

The words resonated within her. She had not contemplated her own reasoning in that light, but she found him to be right. Then he stepped away, and her hand returned to hang at her side as her eyes followed him.

Palm was pulled out of her reflection by his next statement, a soft smirk curving her lips before what seemed to be a relieved chuckle escaped her. "It's good to hear that, Gerwald it is then. I'm sorry, I'm used to having to conform to strict etiquettes." It gladdened her to know they would not be necessary here. She had no way of knowing how much information on her background was present in her files, but knowing what she knew about the Confederacy as a whole it was safe to assume that anything relevant and that could be publicly known, had been registered.

The Ambassador followed his motion and sat down across him, her posture slightly more relaxed. The remnant of her previous smile could still be seen in her lips, inspired by the prospect of speaking about the ones that had raised her. Even if in the later years, spent away from them, she had been steering away from their path, this did not mean she didn't hold affection for her fellow soll'nav. After all, thre was nothing in this galaxy that Palm loved more than her people.

"The Order of the Soller Navah is native to my home system. The name means Art of One." Of course, there was too much to be said but luckily for them both, she was good with words and summarizing would come easy to her. "They believe that the Force is a personal guide and those gifted with a connection to it must use it as a means to self-discovery and mastery; that change should come from within. Because they value individuality above all else, we are barred from using applications of the Force that would go against this belief. Telekinesis, mind control, most forms of altering....we are talented at defending against them, but cannot use them ourselves." She was content with her initial explanation, although she was sure there would be questions.

"If you can't do it by your own hand, then you weren't meant to do it in the first place." She repeated the words of the one that had been her Master, Artem-Lahs, but while not so long ago she would have quoted them with absolute confidence, now there was room for doubt and Palm did not attempt to hide it from Gerwald. "That is what my Master would tell me."

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

There was one word to describe the woman which stood in front of him, stubborn. She had answered him true. Using an assessment to push her limits was something which she should not have done. However, she was honest that had taken the opportunity presented to push herself anyway. Gerwald could not help but chuckle at the revelation. He quickly found the woman's drive and spirit to be likeable. She had the heart of a warrior, something which many among the Kinghts Obsidian seemed to lack. Using the force, and having the soul of a fighter were not the same thing. Gerwald could only list a few by name, and Palm's would be added to that list.​

​

The ease of which she had allowed him to break into her personal space surprised the lupine. Gerwald had expected some resistance, but he did not even feel any through the force. There was a calm and comfort that did not come natural to the wolf. While the predator had no issue with invading beyond the boundaries of another, the wolf was always hesitant when the opposite was the case. Survival was bred into him. He had been raised with the idea that he was only a small portion of what remained of a once grand species, the last of his kind. Even though that proved to be a lie, Gerwald could not help but behave as though it were true most days, especially when the rest of his family were either dead, or had abandoned him.​

​

For a moment, as they looked each other in the eye, it seemed as though the pair came to some sort of understanding. Gerwald was not entirely sure what that understanding was yet, but he felt as though something changed between them in that moment. This was no longer a simple assessment. Whatever the force had designed this meeting to be, a test of skill was not it.​

​

"I rather hate them to be honest, the formalities. Before I joined the Knights Obsidian I was a simple warrior. We had our traditions, but the battlefield was never a place for such etiquette."​

​

At least they both felt the same way about addressing each other in a formal manner. Gerwald was more than happy to be rid of the niceties. His nature was more direct, especially now. He had learned the hard way that being nice caused its own trouble.​

​

He sat, listening intently about the order which Palm described. His head shook slightly as she described the belief that the force was for the individual. To a degree, he almost agreed. Were it not for the fact the wolf within was so connected to the world around him, and that was only amplified because of the force, Gerwald might have even believed such a thing. As such, he found it difficult to believe they would learn to defend from things that her master had said... they could not do by their own hand.​

​

Their own hand. Gerwald grinned at this comment, and as if the doubt she expressed, or the nonsensical words of her master, pushed him to it, Gerwald lifted a hand to catch the ball which he had called to it through the force.​

​

"But what if my hand can do this," he said as a single finger touched the ball only for it to dissolve in front of their eyes. "Shatter point. Some like to call the skill resonate. Through the force the weak points of an object, or person, are made known, and with a touch, a ripple of force energy, you have what you see before you."​

​

His words were designed to make a point, so he let them sit for a moment before explaining.​

​

"The force moves through everything, connects everything. It connects me to the ball, the floor I am sitting on. It even connects me to you. Certainly you have felt this every time you reach out with the force to sense your surroundings, even to apply the force to yourself to jump further than you should, or say... to slow a rubber ball enough so that it only stings when you catch it rather than breaking your hand."​

​

Gerwald locked his blue eyes to her amber.​

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"You speak of pushing past your limits in one breath, and the next you limit yourself. How can you have it both ways?"​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

What she had expected to be a formal and probably tense testing had developed into an interaction that she felt quite comfortable in. Being curious and laid back was in her nature, but given her line of work it was very rarely that she could allow herself to display these traits. In the stage of politics, appearances and gestures were everything. She had never liked it, but her gift for it was not only programmed into her during her upbringing but it very literally ran in her blood. Tailored for a specific role by geneticists, another almost perfect individual designed to fulfil a certain function and populate the Consors Sovereignty. The code tattooed in the inside of her lower lip was proof of it.

A small smile stretched her lips upon hearing the snippet of his past that he had shared. She was not surprised to learn that he had been a warrior, nor did she doubt that he had the right traits for it. It also revealed, indirectly, how much he had furthered himself for here he sat now, a Lord Marshal of the Confederacy. Palm's respect for him gained a new meaning at the realization, but there was also admiration at the fact that he was still true to his roots too.

She had kept her eyes on him throughout her explanation, and when her words were finished and a grin appeared on his features, her head tilted slightly to the side, awaiting to see what would happen next. One of the rubber balls levitated towards him and as soon as his finger made contact with it, it was pulverized. Almost as if it had been dissolved. Her brow furrowed slightly, concentration clouding her features and the gears of her mind turning easy to see behind the gleam of her golden eyes. For a moment, she was reminded of her first visit to Illyria when Adron Malvern had just as easily drained a rose of its life. The applications had been very different, but the end result was similar. Only this time, in contrast to the wariness she had felt back then, there was interest.

Perhaps working with the Exarch had made her used to this uses of the Force. Perhaps it was something else entirely.

There was slight stirring within her, a something that had not been there before but which had grown throughout the last year. She could still not recognize it for what it really was, deafened to the whispers and pulls of it because they were too faint. The geminaie stayed silent for a moment, eyes leaving Gerwald's to set on the floor before her, disconcerted with herself. A big part of her agreed with him, while the remaining one still insisted on staying true to her previous teachings.

"Not so long ago I would have had a better answer," As she began to speak again, her gaze was lifted to meet his once more. "It would have gone along the lines of 'balance'. That one cannot use the Force without being affected by it too, and that abusing its gifts only results in losing one's way, in crossing a line which no one is meant to cross. That through restraint, true meaning and balance are found..."

The next words were hard to say. Not only because there was a proverbial knot in her throat that wanted to keep them from coming out and turning them into a reality, but also because she found it strange that she was choosing him of all people to confide in with something she had kept unsaid for far too long.

"But I am not entirely sure if I agree with that anymore, at least not completely."

It was hard voicing something that went against everything she had been taught. But even though she was stubborn, she was also honest. Palm had always been open-minded about different points of view, but she had never wavered on her own beliefs. Not until recently, at least. That was more than enough to inspire this doubt within her. She took in a breath and then exhaled, her chest rising and then falling as she bid herself to come out of this contemplative state.

"I still think it isn't right to interfere with what is around me so freely," The irony of how she wouldn't force push an enemy but had no qualms about killing them so long as they were within range was not lost on her, but the difference laid in that she saw honor in one and not in the other. "But I will admit I may be a bit too set in my ways." The small smile had returned to her, an eyebrow raising slightly in amusement at her own expense. She would give him that admission, it was the least she could do.

"Change is not a bad thing." Another teaching of her Order, one that she was purposefully misinterpreting right now.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

Restraint? Gerwald had never known the word but recently. He was learning where restraint was needed, and where it was not. Many had known him to be a wild wolf, one that was guided by his emotions and passions. It had gotten him into trouble, and brought calamity on those he had called family or friends. Yes, he had been abandoned, or lost, most of them, but he could not ever claim to be completely innocent of the reasons why that was so. The lupine would never admit it to anyone, but despite all those who surrounded him, he was a lonely wolf.​

​

"You sound like a Jedi," Gerwald retorted.​

​

In truth his assessment was not that far off from reality. The philosophy she had been trained under was similar to the code he had heard spouted from the lips of light sided force users. Gerwald never had much time or patience for their path. He was creature of nature, and understood that the feelings, instincts, and passions, of ones soul were as much a part of the person as was the flesh, and the parts of them which were tangible and tactile. Gerwald would never be without those things, so why should the way he use the force ignore them also?​

​

"It sounds to me that you have been questioning this for some time? Perhaps I can help."​

​

Gerwald floated another ball toward himself and plucked it out of the air as it arrived.​

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"You interfered with this as it was on a collision course for your face. It seems when your life is at risk you would do whatever it takes to preserve it, even use the force to manipulate things in ways that your philosophy may not approve of. Preservation is as much a faithful motivator as pain is a teacher. I have found myself in many situations where if I did not take a life, it would be mine. I have killed with a sword, my bare hands, claws, teeth, my lightsaber, and the force itself. If the force is a tool, no different than any weapon, if you would kill with those blades you carry, then why would you limit yourself with the force?"​

​

It was then Gerwald floated the ball toward the woman, allowing his eyes to lock with hers once more.​

​

"Have you killed before?"​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

A short, pleasant laughter escaped her. He was right, it was not the first time she was made aware of the similarities between her Order and the Jedi - but it was the first time someone was willing to point them out to her. People often saved their opinions to themselves when they were about someone else's beliefs, it was refreshing to meet someone who did not hold back from speaking their mind. "We do resemble the Jedi in many ways," She admitted, just like everything in the Sovereignty, the Soller Navah had taken from that which they thought would make them better. "we are also different in many others."

Her smile faded slightly at his next statement, that bothersome doubt making itself known to her once again. Still, she nodded her agreeance. Palm had already revealed to him that she harbored these doubts, there was no point in trying to keep the details hidden anymore. She then fell back into that calm and concentrated expression that seemed to characterize her when he began speaking. Help was something was not used to asking for, but it was also something she wouldn't pass up when freely given.

She allowed herself a moment to ponder on her answer, once again she was dissatisfied with it, but this particular point was one in which her soll'nav stance still held mostly true. Her voice sounded a bit more serious than it had before, "I have killed." And not only for self defense, one of the more glaring differences between her order and the Jedi.

"While killing is not forbidden in my Order, using the Force to do it is seen as an easy way out." That was the best way to put it. "We do not promote killing, but like with everything else, if we can't do it without the aid of the Force then we are to consider ourselves not worthy of doing it. It applies to weapons too, to a degree. We are not allowed to forge our lightsabers until we can fight bare handed." Indeed, the guard-shotos had become an extension of herself by now - but there was a time in her life when she would feel more comfortable with her fists than with the weapons.

Her eyes then shifted from Gerwald towards the ball that was floating twards her, before returning his gaze to him. Once again, she draw on the Force to push against the man's influence and keep the ball from coming any closer in a slower and softer demonstration of what had happened before. "Deflection, defending myself...that is not frowned upon. I would not harm anyone by stopping a projectile fired my way, so it is accepted." Of course, why stop herself at that if she could hurl the projectile right back the way it had come from and get rid of an enemy? This were the things she did not have justification for.

"I see the faults in the logic, at least I think I do. I also still believe in it, it has brought me peace and made me grow stronger," Although not as strong as other paths would. The thought intruded her thoughts and left as swiftly as it had come.

"I suppose old habits die hard." She added, offering a small smile once again. This had been what she was taught since she was no more than a toddler, and letting go of one's roots was no easy task.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

The chuckle which landed on Gerwald's ear was enough of an admission that Palm already knew the truth about her order. While he was certain they did have their differences from the Jedi, they did seem like a force order which more aligned with the tenets of light sided ideology. Gerwald did not understand philosophies which tried to find balance. There were many who attached some form of morality to the force when in his mind it was a tool, a weapon. In a world where war was the one thing which seemed to be constant, the lupine did not understand why there were those handicap their use of it in the name of claiming a higher standing.​

​

A nod followed Palm's admission. She did not look like someone that had never taken a life. The way she approached the exercise she had been given at the beginning told him there was more to the woman than something, or someone, innocent before him. She was a physical creature in many ways, and such creatures knew what it meant to take a life.​

​

Gerwald had taken many.​

​

As he listened to her words, the lupine began to understand her more. Not only had she taken a life, but she had killed with her hands. Whether he intended to or not, Gerwald smiled. Despite what her record stated, this was no diplomat in front of him. Palm was a warrior, plain and simple.​

​

"You know the smell of blood, and the taste of iron in your mouth then. There is a rush to it, knowing that you are capable of doing such a thing in your own strength, and by your own hand. It is a feeling that eventually becomes second nature, instinct."​

​

There was a slight change in Gerwald's eyes as though the wolf threatened to take over. It had been some time since he shifted last and let the beast free, but this was not the time or place. Closing them, and then reopening them, Gerwald settled on Palm once more. The blue of his eyes fully restored.​

​

This time as the ball passed to her, she was gentle in the deflection, pushing on it, but not fighting. It was as though the action itself was her way of reconciling herself to the flawed logic Gerwald had voiced. She knew it, in her core, that what she had been taught was flawed. As she had said however, it was hard to let old habits die.​

​

"I know what it is like to reconcile a past with the present. There are times you learn a truth that leads you to the conclusion your past was a lie. As it turned out, I was led to believe my mother, along with me and my siblings, were the last of our kind. When the Confederacy came to our world so did another of my kind. A female. I was angry enough to leave it all behind. My life had been a lie. That did not mean it was easy to find my place here at all. Not only was I experiencing a culture I did not understand, I was learning that what I thought I was... and who I was... were different."​

​

The wolf paused and smiled.​

​

"So... you prefer to fight with your hands?"​

​

His question would seem out of place if it were not for the fact Gerwald wanted to prove a point in the best way he knew how.​

​

"Show me..."​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

Palm knew this rush he spoke of very well. It was one she often tried to shake away, frowning upon the feeling of superiority that a kill brought for it often tried to push her away from her hard to keep neutrality. And yet at the same time it felt justified. Whether it was to preserve her own life, or if she was carrying out the orders of the government she served, Palm knew there was only one reason why she fought and killed. It was for her people and those she loved, for their safety and well-being. There was nothing wrong in feeling powerful upon proving herself capable of being their shield and sword, when it was called for.

The golden gaze of the geminaie remained on him as Gerwald revealed part of his story. Although they hailed from very different pasts, the sentiment he had expressed was exactly the one that applied to her in the present. A clash between who she thought she was and who she really was, or more precisely - who she was becoming. The responsibility of forging her own self fell on no other hands but her own, believing this meant taking responsibility for her actions and choices. Even when they went against which had been taught to her.

She nodded in understanding, the contemplative expression on her features allowing the lupine to know that his words had hit the nail on the head. This assessment had proven to be a lot more insightful and, in a way, therapeutic than Palm had expected it to be. It was funny how far off the mark her expectations had been, but luckily this was the good kind of unexpected. An elbow resting over the crease of her knee, her hand reached for her chin as though she was thinking about something when Gerwald mentioned fighting.

An inkling of a smile curved the corners of her lips when she saw the amusement on the man's own expression. Sparring was something she did not get to do very often since she had finished her Ambassador training, at least not against sentient opponents. Indeed, the last time her partner had been Adron's adjutant, Danielle Mueller. While the younger woman had proven to be very skilled and have immense potential, it was easy to see this match would be an even bigger challenge.

And Palm couldn't help but look forward to it.

Gerwald was taller and larger. While as a member of her species Palm had enough strength in her upper body to put even the strongest of humans to shame, she did well to remember that Gerwald, like herself, was not a human. When an opponent had the upper hand in size and therefore in reach, there was only one path available for those like her who specialized in and felt most comfortable up close and personal to their enemy: stay safe and wait for the window to get close enough, or alternatively...

Smile still on her lips, she stood up. Palm was not overconfident, in fact she was as painfully aware of her limits and disadvantages as she was of her strengths and gifts. All her training, after all, had focused on bringing her to the deepest understanding of herself she could possibly have, and this in turn allowed her to read other out of the differences between them.

In a fraction of a second, the relaxed posture she had sported until now transformed into a solid stance ready for combat. Knowing his arms would have the advantage of reach, the geminaie gave a step forward only to simulate that a punch had been her chosen tactic. However it was not her fist but her leg that shot forward in a fluid and powerful transition, aiming a front kick at the larger man's midsection. Just as before, she would not underestimate him and that meant no holding back.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

He stood when the woman did. A smile graced his lips as he watched her take in the difference of their height and physique. Palm was sizing him up and forming her strategy. It was a cruel thing Gerwald was doing. He had the advantage against her in every way. He was larger, stronger, and more powerful in the force than she was. His sense of smell, sensitive hearing, uncommon agility, and animal instinct, gave him advantages Palm did not have. In short, this was not going to be easy for her, and like the woman before him, Gerwald did not plan on taking it easy on her.​

​

His goal was to prove a point. Gerwald wanted to see how far he could push her. Her mind had already accepted the fallacy of the philosophy she had been taught, but her heart was still loyal to it, despite the doubts which she had admitted. This fight was not as much about testing her skill as it was meant to be Gerwald's way to give the woman the push she needed to embrace another way, a new way.​

​

Palm-Imer needed to know that it was okay to use the force in other ways. Gerwald did not care if she chose to do so sparingly, but if she was going to be a Knight Obsidian, or part of the Confederacy, then she needed to push herself to be more than what she currently was.​

​

Her attack, the deception behind it, was almost predictable, not because Gerwald saw it coming, but because it was sound strategy for their differences. Gerwald's thick forearm came colliding with the leg which had been aimed for his gut as he stepped forward with a massive fist aimed directly at the woman's nose.​

​

She was pretty enough, and Gerwald hated the thought he might damage something so beautiful, but their healers could repair any damage he might cause. There was more to Palm than a pretty face, however, and the lupine was more than positive she would not succumb to such an obvious maneuver.​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

A new opponent and the beginning of a fight were always the most difficult part. This was something most fighters, excepting those of very little endurance, could agree on - but it took on a whole new meaning for those who had received her training.

Her eyes on him was a lot more than just sizing him up or keeping her focus on her opponent. It was each muscle twitch, the balance he kept on his feet, the speed and way in which he moved. Kyr'ret martial arts were a thing of precision, but they had very rarely failed her before. In a way, they were similar to the power Gerwald had exemplified before: shatterpoint. Find the pattern, find the weakness, break it. Of course, Palm had no deluded perceptions of grandeur and, even though this did not relent her in the slightest, she was well aware that the odds of winning were not on her side.

This would not keep her from giving him a good fight.

As Gerwald's fist shot out, Palm reacted quickly. She dodged, watching the fist fly past her mere centimeters away from her face. She had barely been fast enough, but at least now she knew this. In one fluid motion, her body responded. The punch seemed to have been the trigger of a chain reaction she could enact out of muscle memory alone. Her hand shot up, grabbing Gerwald's forearm but not with the intention of trapping it - she knew her strength would fail her at such an enterprise - but to pull him forward into continuing the momentum of his jab while her body adjusted its position.

She was now standing sideways, no longer in front of the Lupine but rather slightly out of reach from his arms, for now at least. Once again, one of her legs shot forward, only now it was her knee attempting to connect with the man's ribs. The speed and power Palm knew she needed to put into every move if she wished to have a shot at this were well past the strength she usually employed, and that meant she'd have to be careful to not wind herself down too quickly.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

Gerwald should have expected she would dodge the punch, but there was part of him which had expected her to take her chances and attempt to push her limits. It seemed that she could employ sound strategy when it behooved her to do so. The wolf grinned as he felt her grip his arm, just enough to guide him forward.​

​

Smart.​

​

The woman had decided to use his own momentum against him. Fortunately for him it had only been one step. Yes, the step would carry him forward, but the fact he had not stopped moving would allow for him to pivot on his own if he chose. Gerwald had three options. He could take the knee to his gut and risk getting winded, he could pivot, or he push her knee away, or any combination of the three. There was only a matter of seconds to make his decision, which was the beauty of combat. His reaction and counter had only a short window of time to be decided or the outcome would be determined for him.​

​

Smiling, Gerwald lowered his hands to push on her knee. It was not a gentle push, nor was it a simple block. The wolf shoved hard, hoping to knock the woman off her balance. She was only on one leg at the moment, and this was a moment where Gerwald's strength could overcome her finesse. He was not a martial artist in any sense of the idea, but he was more than just a brute. Rather than attempt any sort of attack, Gerwald walked through the push, and pivoted so he could face the woman. She would either recover and attack, or she would fall. The wolf needed to be ready for either.​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

​

His strength alone was enough to make him a formidable opponent - experience, skill and creativity aside. She was reassured of this as one push of his hand against the knee she had lifted in the hopes of landing a hit suddenly broke her well-kept balance. Her eyes widened slightly as her mind rushed, her body preparing to readjust itself as she fell. Much like cats, a geminaie always landed on their feet, a millennia of falling from high places adapting them for such a feat. But perhaps right now her natural instinct was not the best route to take.

Allowing herself to reach a vulnerable position on the floor was simply not an option. If Gerwald could overpower her while on her feet, it was the right thing to assume she simply wouldn't stand a chance on the ground. Grappling against a stronger opponent was a prospect she did not enjoy contemplating, speed and accuracy did not hold as much value when you didn't have the space to move.

On the other hand, trying to catch herself from falling would leave her just as open for attack. There was no point in avoiding a fall if she could be toppled right back down as soon as she regained her footing. It was then when a viable plan came to mind, and the smirk that had been erased suddenly returned. This time making use of her own momentum, Palm embraced the fall. Her body shifted, making sure her hands and feet would land on the ground instead of her back.

As soon as her hands were placed firmly on the ground, Palm turned on this new axis aiming a round quick at the side of Gerwald's knees. If she succeeded, then perhaps it would be enough to make him fall, if not, then the motion would enable her to get back on her feet faster, ready to try and counter his next attack.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

His knees were the target now. Gerwald seemed to see what she was attempting to do, and while he was aware getting him off balance was a sound tactic, Gerwald had other surprises of his own. He was not human. While he was a large man, the lupine was more agile than one would expect of someone his stature. As the woman swept for his legs, Gerwald leaped into the air and rolled as he launched himself over the woman's body. As the wolf aimed to land on his feet, the massive lupine extended his leg, hoping being his heel down on Palm's exposed shoulder.​

​

He wondered how she would react. He was not trying to harm her, well to a degree perhaps. Gerwald wanted to see how far he could push her before she abandoned her philosophy and used the force on him. Would she stick with it, or would she attack if her life were in danger. Oh she had killed before, but Gerwald was certain she had never done so with the force. He did not want her to kill him, but he did want her to attack, and he would press as hard as he needed to in order to make it happen.​

​

It was cruel, but that was how Gerwald functioned.​

​

Palm needed to know that there were more tools available to her, and that the force itself was not lethal. Yes, she could cause death through it, but that did not mean the tool was to blame. The wielder decided what came of the force energy they commanded. Gerwald simply wanted Palm to understand this lesson.​

​

Her future would depend on it, as had that of every Knight Obsidian before her.​