What happens in a cave, stays in a cave

[GhostOfProtocol]

Spoiler

This is just the dev thread for this guy, no training from him yet. We need fifteen - twenty posts so lets do this

A white cloud rolled overhead, the sun bright. The ground heating up, the small hill path heating under the sun. Two men hiked, the clear younger carrying the rucksacks, bags and other important equipment such as the tent. He would be learning how to use the darkside of the force to enhance his strength, learn how to convert the darkside to energy.

He wouldn't be allowed to sleep for a week.

That was the challenge. Master to apprentice, the challenge. Tap into the darkside, mold the force and make into energy. The older man, the master walked ahead, the steep hill nothing to him. Atrisia was a great planet of many landscapes, the hills were perfect for this training. Darth Novus stopped on a small ledge big enough for one.

The city below was stunning, and he thought of that lightly, stepping back out onto the path. The stairs had all but gone at this point, replaced by a steep hill covered in dirt with little things to grip onto. To the left was a cliff face, a thick cliff face. To the right, a drop that would easily lead to death.

The master stepped forward again, smirking, sweat not even sticking to him. He felt the cool pendant on his neck, hiding his force signature, hiding him in the force. It was his tool, something he shaped with his own hand. That was his to use, perhaps one day his apprentice would become it's rightful owner, but he wasn't sure yet.

Perhaps he'd have a kid.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Darth Novus"]
Txon was ready and eager to begin the exercise his teacher had put forth for him. He barely felt the weight of the gear he carried, such was his elation of being out of the palace and into the wild. This was his element. This is where he was strong. He could feel nature around him, his enhanced senses giving him a picture clearer than any human not blessed of the Ancients could manage. The smells, the sights, the sounds; all had a meaning and a purpose.

Txon followed behind his teacher, as chipper and upbeat as a child about to enter a candy store.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The path became steeper before stopping a cliff face. Darth Novus breathed out lightly, the mask covering his face, cooking it slightly. It wasn't made to deal with heat, a small oversight Novus should have probably seen and dealt with. He felt sorry for his young apprentice, but knew it was worth it. His force connection would have to give him the power to carry the load up the cliff face or suffer the fate of death. Colt had always looked out for his young friend, but this time he was on his own.

Slowly, Colt reached up, fingers lapping around a loose stone. He reached up, powering his strength with force enhancement, fingers wrapping around another stone higher up. His legs were dangling, the power to climb coming from his hands and only his hands. He grabbed another stone, swinging his body across. His foot balanced on a small outcrop as the Sith Knight reached up again, legs free in the air once more as he pulled his body up.

It wasn't a large cliff face, but his young friend would struggle. The weight of the packs would cause stones to crumble under his hands as he climbed, just as the Sith Knight had forseen. Slowly, he pulled himself over the edge, stopping. Something was off, another presence in the force, two. His apprentice... and another. Another, a dark presence but something that Colt wasn't expecting.

He reached out in the force, dropping to a knee. He felt power, something that he loved, he adored power. He looked down at his young friend, nodding to him as he got back to his feet. The plan had changed, they would hunt down the source of the issue themselves and then they would train.

They would always train.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Darth Novus"]
When they arrived at the cliff face, Txon stared up at it with happiness in his heart. Not even an obstacle such as this could dent his enthusiasm. He sat down and pulled off his boots, knowing he would not need them and they would just make his climb more difficult. Now ready, he reached up and dug his sharp claws into the rock, sliding them down until they hooked in, giving him a hand hold. He pulled himself up and gripped higher with his second hand, scrabbling for and locating a foothold as well. He began to climb, his claws allowing him to find holds that would be impossible for a human. He slipped a few times, and it took him a momentous amount of strength to carry both himself and the packs, but Txon was no weakling.

His excitement grew as he approached the summit. He could feel something, a presence like that of his teacher and the hermit on Dagobah. He had found that his Blessing allowed him to sense people who were nearby, even if he somehow could not smell, hear, or see them. If the person was Blessed of the Ancients, the presence was different. They felt like a tornado, momentous power focused and controlled. Txon wondered how he felt to them.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

He eyed his young friend, standing. The Knight closed his eyes, the force presence playing on his mind. It was painful, the power radiating from the man. Darth Novus stared at his young apprentice lightly, nodding. He was trusting in the force now, following the force more than anything else. The force was his guide, and in turn he was guiding his young apprentice. A small branch cracked under his feet, the sun still baking the two men. The cliff faces in front of the men shone, Novus turning lightly.

A cave entrance.

Slowly, Novus ducked down, stalking into the cave. The feeling was close, power was close. He looked over a small box, a man slept on a small pile of clothes. Slowly, Novus took a step forward, careful. He felt a grip over his mouth, dragging him back from his young apprentice. Colt knew that he could of easily fought off the attacker, the attacker himself felt weak. However, it didn't. Every good Sith needed to negotiate at times, and this would be the perfect chance for his young friend to learn.

Then it hit him. The bedding was a rouse, the man had felt Txon before he'd arrived. Colt felt the pendant around his neck, trying not to stab himself mentally. He'd forgotten about Txon, he'd been set up. Yet, the man didn't seem violent, he released his hold slightly. Then the man offered his arm to Txon.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Darth Novus"]
As Txon reached the summit, he heard the slight sounds of a struggle. The sounds would be far too soft for a human, but Txon's enhanced senses allowed him much greater sound pickup than a human. He heard the slightest sounds, and plus his Blessing gave him that feeling of dread that always came when danger was near. When a hand appeared above him, and it did not smell nor look like that of his teacher, he knew something was wrong.

With a great burst of strength enhanced by his anger and fear, and possibly his Blessing, though Txon was not aware of it, he launched himself over the lip of the edge. He rolled forwards, releasing the packs as he did, and launched himself to his feet. He snatched his lightsaber from his belt and activated it. He saw his teacher being held by a strange man, a man who radiated power. No matter, Txon would defeat him and release his teacher.

"<Release him!>" Txon yelled in his native tongue as he still had only minimal grasp of Basic,"<Release him or I swear I'll tear you to pieces!>" Txon hoped his meaning was clear.

Txon wielded the blade in an offensive stance, every sense alert and ready for battle.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The man kept his grip loose, nodding to Txon lightly. He retracted his hand, removing his arm from the neck of Darth Novus. The man coughed, blood splatting the floor. He was ill, he was dying, that much was clear to everyone. Slowly, the man become rigid, speaking through the force to the two men in front of him. As he spoke, he stepped forward, offering his hand again. The two men in front of him had a choice.

"I apologize for my action, I needed to know I could trust you. The force only tells me you are darkside users, I needed to know I could trust you. I am, clearly, dying. Age has set in and I can only cheat said death for so long. My power will die with me however, unless I share it. I want to show you what I can achieve, the both of you. The Lord of Atrisia Darth Novus, your name is known in these parts. His young steed Txon, another well known name."

"Take my hand"

Darth Novus would eye the man lightly, slowly indicating to Txon. The young child could drop his weapon, he needed to trust people. The both of them needed to learn to trust people. He reached his hand out, not touching the elder male yet. He needed to be sure he could trust the man, it was more than just who could use the Dark Side. It was trust, the man that held you hostage wasn't normally a man who you trusted.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Darth Novus"]
When the man released his teacher, Txon relaxed, but only slightly. Then he once again heard the voices in his head. At the mention of power he lightened up slightly more, but only when his teacher nodded to him did he lower his weapon completely and allow the blade to shrink back into the hilt. He stood beside his teacher, ready to spring if the old man made so much as a single hostile move.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Spoiler

Txon won't be in these bits, thus I'll tag you when

Every so often, Darth Novus thought, he sat and he just thought. It was rare, but it opened one's mind to the force. Novus could feel the life force of the man in front of him, it was wearing away. Slowly, Novus allowed his hand to wrap around that of the elder man, his skin cold and rough to the touch, the opposite of the skin of the Sith Knight. Novus was careful with his body, his skin was smooth and carefree.

As if a heartbeat passed, both men vanished. Txon wouldn't see anything, wouldn't feel anything but the force coming from the spot the two men were standing. They'd just popped, vanished into thin air and they had just poofed, it was the nicest way of putting it. They'd vanished and they couldn't be felt in the force. The darkside however, would fill the cave. The feeling of the dark strong, the darkside having powered the move.

Flow Walking.

Novus and the older man looked at each other. He'd heard of the force move, flow walking, he wasn't sure where from but he'd heard of it. The two men were stood in the First Jedi Temple, a small breeze blowing through. Both men watched, before the old man begin to speak. His voice was quiet, the energy being used to power the words nearly too much for the elder man to handle.

"I will show you how to trust me, then you can learn my power Lord Novus"

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Novus nodded. The old man nodded. Both men turned, both men faced three young Jedi, each in serious discussion about something. Novus heard the small hiss of a lightsaber, knowing that the blade couldn't hurt them. He knew of flow walking, knew that he couldn't alter anything nor could he be hurt. He wanted to know how to pull it off, that's what he wanted. He shuddered, watching as a tall male draped in black with a red bladed cross guard lightsaber walked in from the shadows of the doorway. He had a mask, a small red mask sat upon his face.

He looked at the Jedi, looked at them readying their weapons. He twisted his foot, a Makashi style hold upon the blade. He lunged forward, striking a Jedi down instantly, laughing at the fallen corpse. He twisted, impaling another Jedi with his blade. The third Jedi instantly dropped his lightsaber, starting to run. The Sith laughed, reaching out with the force, using telekinesis to hold the Jedi in place.

The old man held out his hand, Colt wrapping his fingers around it. Both men popped from existence once more, the scene changing to the hold of a Star Destroyer. A small table was set up, tools lining the shelves and the table. The man in black strolled in, Novus finally realizing.

The man in black... was the old man.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The man in black reached out, both Novus and the old man smiling. Torture by Chagrin, a wonderful force power capable of breaking even the strongest minds. The Jedi trapped to the longer table screamed out, being forced to relieve his worst memories over and over. It hurt, the physical pain and the mental pain would drive a man insane, make a man beg for death. He wasn't done though, the man whispering to Novus what was going on.

Force Horror.

Force Insanity.

The man was begging, pleading for help. The old man offered his hand again, Novus gladly accepting. He was done reliving this, he was done having to listen to the suffering of the man. Both men appeared once more, the same room. The Jedi had a lightsaber through his stomach the man in black was fighting. He was throwing invisible spears with the force, Darkshear being applied. The man was powerful, he had that.

The man offered his hand once more, Novus accepting.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

The two men appeared in the desert, Tatooine. A large sandcrawler stood in the way of the two men, the man in black knelt before it. The old man had power, though why he had to come back in time to show Novus, he wasn't sure. He shrugged it off, watching the man lightly. As if expecting it, the man stood up, placing his hand to the thick track of the sandcrawler, eyeing the sand that came off as he did so. He didn't worry about the sand.

The sandcrawler shattered, shatterpoint being applied in a great way. Novus smiled under his mask and the old man cackled. Novus took the hand of the old man once more, both men poofing and appearing some place else. Flow Walking was a great power, it allowed people to see what happened in the past and how to change things in the future to make the future better. It allowed you to judge people's mistakes and make them better.

They appeared in a small cantina, the man in black with his arm outright. Every single person was quiet, the man choking on nothing. Force Grip, force choke applied in the best way. The man fell, dead as the old man and Novus walked from the cantina in silence. It was only when they were outside on the sand that the old man spoke.

"Do you... trust me?"

"I want to learn"

Novus was being truthful, he liked what he saw.

"I can get Txon to join me. Though I will not call you master"

The old man cackled, as he offered his hand.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Both men appeared back in the same spot, no change. Txon wouldn't of noticed anything, a split few seconds had passed. Normal time flowed on, Novus eyeing his young apprentice lightly. He shook his head, not quite sure if what he was seeing was the future or the present day. It appeared to be present day, so Novus went with it. Flow Walking had shaken him, he wasn't sure if he liked it now that he'd returned to his own time.

"The man is honest, he has shown me his ways. He will teach us, though he will not be our master. There are some things even I can not know my young apprentice, but I am willing to learn from him, willing to accept his teaching for power. The question is, are you willing to do the same? Will you ignore that he tried to kill me..."

"Tried"

"Tried to kill me, will you ignore that, my young friend?"

Novus smiled under his mask. His apprentice would accept, he knew that. Txon had the exact same amount of lust for power that his master had, thus the great paring. Slowly, Novus eyed the old man who was still smiling, and then he turned back to his young friend once more. He wanted the answer, he would learn without Txon if he needed too, it was just that simple in fairness, just that simple.

Just that simple.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Darth Novus"]
When his teacher asked him to trust the old man, Txon was hesitant.

"<The Anatasi do not forgive nor forget easily,>" he said. He thought about it for a moment. This man was offering power, new techniques to make Txon an even stronger warrior than he was now. No Anatasi in their right mind would pass up such an opportunity.

"<However, I came to learn, and that is what I intend to do,>" Txon said. He walked right up to the old man and towered over him.

"<But know this,>" he said, "<I can sense that you are Blessed of the Ancients, and that you hold great power, but know that I myself possess my own power. Betray me, or show even the slightest hint of hostility towards me or my teacher, and even your dark arts will not be enough to save you.>" His point made, Txon backed up and stood behind and to the right of his teacher.

"<I am ready to learn,>" he said.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Spoiler

Yey, final dev post I'll knock this up in the codex and PM you when we can begin training in a new thread

Novus nodded to his young apprentice. This power would be out of his league, but he would learn it to continue serving under Darth Novus. Novus himself was wondering if he was powerful enough to handle the skills being offered to him. He was a Sith, he would be powerful enough or he would suffer the consequences of not being strong enough to handle the full power. The powers he'd seen taught him many things, they taught him the power of the dark side.

All he wanted, all he lusted was power. It burned deep within him, eating at him day in and day out. He was a teacher, he was also a learner when he wanted new skills, when he wanted, when he needed to make himself more powerful. The Jedi that caused the death of a Sith would be killed, that Sith would also be killed if it turned out he was faking his death. The other Sith would be killed for running away and hiding somewhere. It was just that simple.

The other Sith had shown cowardess, something that Novus didn't condone. Running away from a fight wasn't fair, it wasn't right nor was it the right thing to do. He would be struck down for hiding when the Jedi came knocking. Everything that happened on Lujo would come to a close, that was for sure. In some way, every single death of Lujo would be avenged. There was a delicate plan on hand, it would require Novus to reach the rank of Lord, name his apprentice a Knight.

Together they would mold the Dark Lord, whoever was leading the One Sith at the time. They would wipe out the Republic before marching on Voss. Every single Jedi who fought on Lujo would die, it was that simple.

"Return at noon tomorrow, bring two slaves with you"

[member="Txon Taronyu"]