Walking a Blade's Edge (Anaya Fen)

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin nodded. "Interesting choice. It's not my specialty, believe it or not. And of course there are a number of ways to do it. Standard Force techniques work; extrapolations of mind tricks. What I use most often is a technique of an obscure group called the Jukre. But I also know a power of Sith Magic that Sirella Valkner taught me when I was her apprentice. Qazoi Kyantuska, it's called. Domination of the will. Mind control. Normally I wouldn't share this with anyone but a Master, but I believe every strong Knight should have one Sith spell -- if they're among the three percent of Sith who can use Sith Magic. Tell me, do you know if you have the gift or not?"

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya shrugged "I've never been given the opportunity to find out. Despite my first masters own ability to use it, he never taught or tested me." there was a hint of bitterness in her tone and she looked away from Ashin for a moment. She had been a trophy to him, a toy. Never a true apprentice just another pet, to whom he fed small morsels of power just to keep them to heel.

She pushed the bitterness to one side, reminding herself that he had paid for his slights against her with his life, and looked back at the future Dark Lord. "How do you know if you are gifted?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"There are a few ways that might work. The simplest? Here." Ashin pulled a necklace from inside her shirt, removed it, and passed it to Anaya. "There's a Sith spell woven into that, a false Light Side aura. It'll only work if you meditate upon the Dark Side sufficient to tap into the powers of Sith Magic, and if you have the gift. Give it a try."

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya accepted the necklace, turning it between her fingers as Ashin spoke. She felt...somewhat nervous, an unusual feeling for Anaya. She walked into every challenge with the attitude that she would succeed, the chance that she might not unsettled her a little. Nonetheless she closed her eyes and began delve into the darkside energy that she had bound her life too. She let the energy flow through her for a moment, relishing in its power before pushing herself further, her mind still aware of the locket in her hand.

As she pushed further into her the hate filled energy she began to feel something like a whisper in the back of her mind, she pushed towards it, and felt the necklace change in her hands. Her eyes snapped open as the spell revealed itself, blanketing her in an aura that was not her own. She let out a soft sigh of surprise as she looked at Ashin, her young age betrayed in the surprise in her face.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Well how about that," said the Dark Lord softly. "You're one of the three percent. Somewhere, thirty-two Sith just started crying.

"I'm no master of Sith magic. I know about three or four spells, no more. The one you want to learn isn't suitable for multiple targets or wide areas, unless you're, well, a high-level Master. Most Sith sorcerers collect spells from different teachers. Once you're done with me, I'll send you to master sorcerers who can expand your skillset. But let's begin with mind control.

"This will be difficult as a Knight, but doable. I don't recommend trying it against Knights or Masters; they'll be able to resist long enough to hit you, and hit you hard. But other people, yes. This also has one major advantage over a standard mind trick: It works against Hutts and Toydarians and such.

"Here's the incantation. I'm presuming you can read Ancient Sith; if not, I can teach you."

A simple illusion shimmered to life before them: Words of fire, written in a dead language. Ashin explained the states of mind associated with each step in the short ritual.

"Try it on me, whenever you're ready. It won't work, but I'll be able to tell if you're doing it right."

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya did not need the spell to control multiple mind, the ability to control one was more than enough. She was not here to conquer worlds, she was here to weed out the weaknesses in the empire. Mind control would be a handy trick to use on lesser subjects to gather information. She was not so foolish to attempt to control someone stronger than her, the repercussions of such and act would hurt. "Noted." she told Ashin at her words before the illusion rose before them.

Her thirst for knowledge had seen that she learnt ancient sith when she first started on her path as a sith so the words were not unfamiliar to her those she was somewhat rusty. She listened intently to Ashin's explanation, hanging on every word her determination to grow feeding her concentration. It was complex, much more so than anything she had been given a chance to learn before but she would not falter.

Upon invitation to try Anaya drew on the darkness that made her who she was and shifted through the stages of the ritual, pushing deeper into the darkside as she had to unlock the necklace, following Ashin's instructions as best she could, as the incantation left her lips she felt tendrils of the force reach out from her to seek to grasp Ashins mind.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

As the Sith spell settled over Ashin's mind, the Dark Lord hunched down in her chair, eyes visibly burning. She murmured certain words, her own familiarity with Sith magic coming into play, and opened up the hunger. Force Drain devoured the strength of the mind control spell.

"That was...precisely right. Well done indeed." She wiped a cold sweat from her forehead. "You've taken your first step into a larger world, as someone said once.

"Seek out the masters of Sith Magic. Learn spells from them; expand your repertoire. I want you to be brilliant, Anaya. I want you to be the best we have."