With a Spirit Like Mist (Animus Malgus)

[Darth Ophidia]

Some time had gone since last she trained her apprentice [member="Animus Malgus"]. He had grown relatively adept in the last skill she taught him, and so it was time for him to put another notch in his belt. Once more, she would train an apprentice in the art of stealth. This was not the visual and audible disappearance she had learned from [member="Darth Veles"], nor was is the art of shrinking ones presence in the Force, as [member="Darth Ferus"] had taught her upon her knighthood. Both of the aforementioned techniques were far out of the acolyte's reach, for now. No, this was an ability she had dug out from the depths of the archives when she herself was an acolyte: Buried Presence. Combined with the Cloak of Shadow, it rendered one virtually undetectable, and it was a gangway to the Art of the Small.

Darth Ophidia sat in the ruins of the Tython Jedi Temple. Her legs were folded up in the lotus position; her hands rested on her skirts. Her left hand cupping the right and thumbs touching lightly. She appeared peaceful on the first glance. Her eyes were closed and her hood was thrown back to expose her bald head. Ophidia's black robes draped around her form as she sat in a near deathlike stillness. For those probing in the Force, she was nothingness. There was air and dust and the lingering spirits of the restless dead of the ruin. Only upon physically seeing her would one be aware of her presence, and even that was a trick in and of itself.

She had given instructions to her apprentice, he would meet her there in the temple for a lesson. The instructions would take him to the main entrance hall of the former Jedi Temple.

 

[Mythos]

Upon receiving the summons Animus was eager to begin the Training, and being lead by Instructors to the Temple he felt his heartbeat skip faster and faster, he was eager to see his Master again and train with her, what could she have in store for him this time? The Power to Crush an Enemy with his bare hands? Fire Lightning bolts from his fingers? That ability Ferus had used on him that summoned Fire that was black as night to consume his enemies flesh? Animus let the thoughts muse on his mind as he entered the Once Sacred Jedi Temple.

Animus however, upon entering the hall he did not feel her like the last Training session, this put Animus in High Guard as he walked through the Ruined Halls lightsaber at head height Angled Upwards, A trap? It definitely was Animus Thought, he did not sense his Master here it must be a ploy to Ambush him.

Until he saw her in the Lotus position not too far away, still, unmoving, unflinching, only her Rhythmic breathing as he approached her did he sense. His lightsaber quickly turned off as he approached his Master, but he was still confused was she an Illusion? He could do that now thanks to [member="Sage Bane"] and he knew that Illusions to the Naked eye were almost Impossible to detect.

With a confused face he sat in front of her, his head tilted to the side as a confused puppy. "Master?" he whispered as if he was unsure that a response would even come. [member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

As Animus spoke, her eyes opened slowly. Her irises burned like embers in ash as she stared down at the form sitting in front of her. She still felt as though she was nothingness, but then a smile appeared on her lips. First there was a small sensation within her, as though there was a kindling fire deep in her gut. Then the kindle turned into a raging inferno, as her Force Presence exploded into being. There was no actual fire, yet the image was quite clear as the Sith Master exposed her full power for a brief moment, and then settled into a more relaxed state. Her little demonstration was over

"Animus. I see you have taken a seat. Please meditate with me before the lesson begins. You will need all of your mental faculties for the task ahead."

She watched him intently and unblinking, as though she simply waited for a moments' weakness in him.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus felt his Master's presence engulf him in a wave of the Dark side, as before he could feel nothing, now he felt her clearly, this was no Illusion, this was [member="Darth Ophidia"] in the flesh. his Master sat before him and her presence was like a fire that burned his eyes to the extent he winced.

He was confused, just a second ago she was no where to be felt, however now, he felt her as clearly as he did back when his training with her began. Shrugging it off he did as she commanded "Yes master" He said a bit more Eagerly than he intended, he had been waiting for his next training session with his master and now finally here he was, his next step into becoming a Sith Knight was now.

Animus closed his eyes and focused, relaxed and breathed in and out rhythmically. He still had no clue what this time he would be learning, however he still thought it was a lesson on destruction and annihilation, but his meditation was not hindered by these thoughts, his thoughts were on the meditation, on the focus, on gathering the force within him. He was ready, but until she commanded, his meditation would continue undaunted.
Animus was Proud to be her apprentice, to be part of the Sith, all subjugation to her will was a matter of Pride and Joy to him, there was no greater Honor, there was no greater glory, than to be here, right now.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Their meditation was not so extensive, yet they sat for a full fifteen minutes. The purpose was to ready the mind for learning, and strengthen one's connection to the Force. In some ways, it was as though they tidied their mental and physical workspace before creating something new. When the meditation was to end, she opened her eyes once more and swiftly clapped her hands to wake her apprentice.

"I did not tell you what I called you here to learn. You have grown stronger, but your power lacks subtlety. You are like an Oxibeast, plowing through what opposes you. That is the way of the warrior, and a respectable way. However, it is not our way."

Ophidia put her hands on her knees, the back fingers of her left hand drummed impatiently, but otherwise her formed appeared at ease. Her eyes remained intense, timing her blinking with that of her acolyte to maintain the illusion that she did not blink.

"For this reason, I will teach you one of the most basic techniques within the art of stealth. We call it Buried Presence. I have demonstrated it for you once already. It will mask your presence in the force, and you will appear as nothingness to your enemies. It can also mask your affinity and alignment with the Force. It takes time and patience to master, but you will succeed."

It was not a question of faith, but of a requirement. If Animus did not succeed in learning the skill, he would prove himself as unfit to follow her teachings. She had no use of an assassin who could not hide himself.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus snapped out of his Concentration at her command, his golden eyes awakening from a slumber. Breathing in and out slowly and rhythmically he listened patiently at the words of his master, he also took her tosu position and his hands intertwined with his own fingers intertwined at his center.
He listened to what she said and did not smirk at the mention of an Oxi Beast, although the idea of being an Unstoppable force destroying everything in your path with no thought of stealth and subtlety amused him, he knew such a path was not the one he was going to thread... no. His path was that of the Assassin and he would see himself Knighted one day by his Master.

Animus began to understand, so this is how she was able to disappear, to hide her force signature, to become nothing. He nodded in understanding, but still yet to understand how to fully undertake this task. To become nothing. What did that mean? How could he just, Hide his Force Presence? The Force was everywhere, you can't just hide the air.

He knew of course, it was not as impossible and complex as he made it out to be, Animus had this bad habit of either over complicating his obstacles or oversimplifying them, this time, he was lucky to have [member="Darth Ophidia"] as his Guiding light.

"Yes master" he said bowing his head forward. he was ready, he understood the Why but he still did not understand the How. He was ready to learn however, and the hunger for knowledge had gripped him deeply.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Few words from him this time, it was something of an improvement. As for the Oxibeast, he may think of it as unstoppable, but Ophidia knew all too well how stoppable they were. In fact, another apprentice of hers had stopped one right in this temple. The locale and choice of words were on purpose. She would strengthen Animus and sharpen him into a blade for the One Sith to turn on their foes.

"Good. First, you must find your own presence. Feel the life surrounding you, and isolate what is not yours, through this you will find your core."

She nodded as a signal for him to begin. If one did not find one's core, one could not shroud it. One had to sense something first, in order to hide it.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus heard her with his golden eyes beaming in anticipation, he was a bit disappointed that he wouldn't be smashing things or shooting lightning from his body but this skill, Animus thought, might help him get the jump on an unwary force user at the very least. The hunger for power and Knowledge was a never ending vacuum within Animus, he was always ready to learn something new, Always eager to test his skills, and always eager to meet a new challenge with ferocity and determination.


He took a deep breath and cleared his mend letting the air leave his mouth, Again he breathed in through his nose thinking of what his mission was, and letting out eliminating all that was not about the mission at hand. This was a way Animus focused on his tasks at hand, someone easily distracted by thoughts and anything like Animus would find this tactic indispensable.


He thought of his Own presence, his core, the part of the Force that was his... however he could always sense someone else' signature but never thought of his own, "Find my presence..."
Animus closed his eyes as he looked to feel his presence, the life that emanated around him, the immediate energy of the force that surrounded his being. It took him a while but he soon felt the life surrounding him, his own energy like waves of fire around him, mixed with that of all living beings of the force.

The Next step was to Isolate what was not his, this was a bit more challenging as he did not exactly know how to do that. He focused on the waves of his own energy, what he felt was his, and drew it in, eliminating all over energy of the force that was not his and around him at the moment.
It took him minutes, Hours, he did not know. He always took his tasks slowly in order to fully comprehend them, but now he knew.... He had his Core. His personal essence of the Force was not around him, and he could sense it.


However he was a having a hard time controlling it at first, now he fully grasped his Core.


[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

It took some time for Animus to grasp his essence, but in the end he appeared to be successful, of course that was just the beginning. Some would say it was the easy part of their practice. Next came the more difficult task of actually shrouding it.

"Good, good. You have completed the first and most simple stage of this techique. Next, I want you to imagine a cloak made of absolute insignificance. Think of air and dust and shadow. Think of absolute nothingness, and spin it into a sheet to wrap around your core."

As she explained, she also showed. Slowly her presence appeared to dissolve as she donned a mask of nothingness. While she physically retained her position right in front of Animus and did not disappear from his sight, she would feel increasingly difficult to look at. Much like a single speck of dust floating past one's eye. She was there, yet so insignificant that one hardly paid her any mind. Even so, her words rang out with truth in her instructions. Become nothing.

Animus would certainly not master it to the point where he would go unnoticed in plain sight, not yet in any case. However, it would become easier for him to melt into the shadows. Unless he was sought after, he would likely remain unnoticed.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

"Insignificance?" Animus looked at His master as if in doubt, his knowledge came from pride, and power, not to shroud ones force in the nothing that it came from. Then he did not feel his master anymore, this time he knew it was no trick, This was his test, what he would be learning is how to make his force essence undetectable. Animus quickly sighed and nodded, Understanding now it's uses and prepared for his attempt.

Shadows, shades... and the sands in the air. That is what Animus thought of, as the master had ordered, but the force was reluctant, the force did not diminish, this was not a task of power but of concentration and skill, which Animus found hard to grasp.

Alone he felt for a few hours, Ophidia no where to be felt but she was there he knew, which made it harder because, his desire to impress his master made him want to stand out which in this case he would need to do the exact opposite.

A cloak of shadows is what he contemplated, as if he was in one of the deepest corners of this place, unseen... The veil of dust and nothing. To feel insignificant, he just had a brilliant idea that helped him. He thought as how he felt Naked in house Chaf by the power of the Ysalamiri. The force was nothing in him.. He focused, on these thoughts as his eyes closed after a long time, only to open again with determination. This task would not deter him, but it would take time, he felt his essence slowly being blurred, but he continued to try and mask all of it.

Focused on the task Animus after what seemed like an Eternity was feeling his aura different than usual, less... obvious. He still did not relent from his task, he continued to repeat her words exactly as she said A cloak of absolute insignificance . That is what he concentrated on making, and it was slowly covering him, enveloping him like a silk sheet of intangible, nonexistent smoke coming fourth from his body.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

This one sure was taking his time figuring it out, but in the end he did begin to grasp it. Ophidia's face went from something akin to boredom, to a small smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"Yes, Animus. That's it. Like a cloak to wrap around yourself. Let the fabric of it reflect your surroundings, like a camouflage."

She knew well that he wanted to stand out in her eyes, which was one of the reasons why she had chosen this skill. As she had mentioned, he was like an Oxibeast, direct to the point of recklessness. If his pride came at the cost of the mission, then no Sith would come to save him. There were only two options: Success or death. Either he adapted to the skills he needed to succeed, or he would die a failure and be forgotten. She was not too eager on training failures.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

After a long, seeming eternal time, Animus was beginning to feel quite insignificant, the shadow and veil of the Mist that covered his Essence diminished his signature and he understood how it could be hard to spot now that the Veil enveloped him like a sheet of shadows.

He did not like this feeling, he felt like nothing, he felt like an insignificant spec, an insect of the force, his force signature blurred and veiled. It took him deep concentration to get to this point, and even deeper meditation and focus to keep the veil up, it was not as easy as it sounded, Telekinesis basics were easier to grasp than this by a long shot to Animus.

This technique was hard for Animus, not because of it's difficulty, but because of the Mental state that was required. Pride, Strength and Power were what Animus Understood, this was an exact opposite of what he was, and therefore made it very difficult to achieve, which is why he took so long.

Opening his eyes, he smiled at his master then frowned thinking he failed... "I can't get it to be like you" He said with a sigh, "I can only cover it with the veil, not diminish it to nothing like you are right now Master" He did not relent on his task, he was not going to give up on it, his signature became a bit more blurred as he focused and concentrated again... He did not know that [member="Darth Ophidia"] was already at a very high proficiency level at this skill, so he thought he had to get to the point where she was, Unnoticeable, Undetectable. He did not know that to get to that point, one Training session would not do.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"It takes practice to come to this level. Months, if not years of diligent training."

She could have said something to comfort him, but that was not her role. She was there to push him on and give him goals to strive for. She was not there to coddle him and tell him it's all right. Such sentiments were foreign to her to begin with. From utter disappearance, she somehow emerged as a person devoid of the Force.

"Now try this. Don't hide your entire presence, but become mundane. You have seen them, those not blessed with our power. Mask yourself as one. It is the same principle, but a different application. Your cape becomes a hood. Now try."

She watched him intently. Posing as a bounty hunter, she had conversed with Jedi Masters who were unaware of her affiliation. She gave them no course to survey her. It was a very useful skill to use in a crowded area.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus tilted his head in confusion, his master now posed as normal person, her essence there but not indicating any presence of the force. Animus immediatly realized the possibilities of this skill, a smile slit his lips. "Yes master" The possibilities made his mind think of bloodlust... An ability that would make your enemies underestimate you? How marvelous. Animus thought as his Gaze focused and gained intensity. This was something he did want to strive for.


He focused in the same principles as she had said, now the act became a bit more simplistic. The idea was in his mind, and the way to attain the idea was in his mind, so the execution of it, came fast. However he at first became confused in to how to properly imitate the essence that [member="Darth Ophidia"] was giving. After a while he realized that his Essence was his, and an Individual way was how he had to go about things, upon realizing that, he channeled the hood of Insignificance and Prepared for his Master's Judgment.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

This time, her apprentice adopted the technique easier. She knew this one would be easier for him, but it was only so because he had tackled the mountainous task of complete Buried Presence before. She watched him as he wrapped his mind around the task before him.

"Remember that as soon as you use the Force for any other purpose, you put your disguise in jeopardy. Commit to it until you have no other way."

She observed his work in manipulating his presence and nodded as it came to a satisfying result. Not perfect, but satisfying.

"There is one more way to manipulate your presence, and it is the most difficult one. You can invert your alignment in the Force and appear as a lightsider. I doubt you'll be able to pull it off, but try if you wish."

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus listened intently to his Master as she continued her explanation he did not unveiled his cloak, trying to focus on it while she talked he would continue to get used to it, it was a new feeling, a feeling of a new ability being added, but at the same time the ability itself made him feel... well, normal.

"A lightsider?" Animus pondered this task, in contemplation, she doubted he could do it, and she had reasons to, but his bloodshot yellow eyes hid a demeanor few have seen, perhaps not one of a Jedi, but one of light for certain.

Animus closed his eyes and focused on the force, his mind now on a different plane, a plane of Peace, one that lacked emotion and was bathed in serenity. He thought of knowledge and light, of being in harmony and equilibrium with the force. Truly, not very difficult things for him to grasp. His essence began to vibrate a particularly different way, but not being masked as he breathed out and in. He had never thought of letting the force go from his control, not to dominate the force, but dwell on it.

Light, being engulfed into his essence, it took a great deal of concentration to get to the level of Harmony he was in, but because he had compassion, this was not a hard thing to do. Peace, harmony and serenity bathed over him and his entire essence, he became light, in essence at least, or at the very least he felt that way, he could not really tell.

His eyes glanced to his master, to gaze upon her reaction and see if he had any progress upon achieving this skill.
[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

As her apprentice's presence changed all too easily, her upper lip curled in a sort of sneer. She did not like the feeling of the light, it was irritating and persistent. Deep down she could feel herself growing angry with her apprentice, which was a sure fire sign that it was working. Her lightsabre, resting in her lap like a pet, itched for her to activate it and strike out at this impudent little twerp that dared show his presence. Ophidia closed her eyes to put reigns on her rising passion.

"That is enough. Be mindful of that skill, it will attract the fire of your allies as if you were a foe. And you know full well how we deal with those who dabble in light."

Her eyes opened and stared with a menacing intensity at the apprentice. With an exhale she stood up with a single fluent motion. Her hand seemed to produce a blindfold out of nothingness. However, it was simply some expert slight of hand.

"It is time for a test."

She tied the blindfold around her head, making sure she could not see anything. Yet she was able to step gracefully down from the stone on which she had been sitting. Her right hand went to her sabre, which was unclipped and activated with a signature snap-hiss

"Hide from me, or I will kill you Animus Malgus."

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus' eyes popped open like two giant beams of yellow light, her words leading up to this had already thrown him into a state of subtle panic and it only got worse as of now. What he saw was not the approving glance of a master who had seen her apprentice succeed and ready to give a approval, but that of a Sith Queen ready to decapitate her next foe.

"Hide from me, or I will kill you Animus Malgus."

Hide? Oh right, she can see me even with the blindfold, i could see her too if i was blind Animus thought as his mind raced through what he should do next. The Quickness of the everything made it hard to focus, but knowing that without applying what he had learned, he was a dead man he moved to the task with haste.

A dead man for certain Animus thought. unlike what he had seen first hand from [member="Darth Ferus"] as he challenged him, he had only heard Tales from [member="Darth Ophidia"], tales that would make the skin crawl to even the most battle hardened Jedi Grandmasters. Could it be true? Could his Master Be the Shadow of Death?

Animus, did not want to find out right now, he focused quickly on repeating what he had done as he stood up slowly and began to back away slowly, the cloak or hood of insignificance was a lot harder to don in the heat of a situation such as this, Animus however, did not relent on his task, and backed away even more as he tried to put some distance on him and his Master. This was the second time his Master put him in a situation of Life and Death. Success of Failure was more than just a passing word, he was starting to understand that. It was the way she Taught.... it was the way she bred her Assassins, Success or Death, was likely to be the way Animus would be taught from now on.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

When animus backed away, he would see her sabre slash through what would have been his throat in a nonchalant swipe of her scarlet blade. She could still hear the apprentice and came chasing after him with a surprisingly quick stride. It was the fluency of her motions that granted her speed as she removed every unnecessary halt in her body. She was like a torrent of water as she kept swatting after him with her blade.

He would have to remove himself properly and use more than just the skill she had taught. He would have to use all the elements of stealth. He would have to move without sound, and be without presence. One day she would teach him to remove himself from light completely, but this was not the time. She was blind, but she was not deaf, nor numb. All her senses were on alert.

"Pathetic. Show me your skill Chosen One"

She spat the words like a bad taste in her mouth. It was an eerie sound she made; as if she whispered it right into your ear. She was alluding to the answer he gave to her question on their first meeting "Why was he Sith?". To be worthy of such a title he had to be better than this. Life and Death situations brought out the core of people. If they did not learn or adapt, then they perished. Only the most adaptable, the cleverest, the strongest, the best would survive to be Sith. All others were waste. The Pale Assassin did not deal in waste.

[member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus threw his body back his hands over his shoulders as his hands touched the floor, now readying for a backflip as the Scarlet Saber wisped past his throat, she WAS trying to kill him, and a few inches forward from where she was and she would have done it. Animus however, did not get here by sniveling his way to a training or by begging his way to becoming her Apprentice, He arrived here by surviving death, more than once.

Quickly he angled his body as her blade swiped at him, thrusting in between his ribcage. Lacks subtlety... those words came to him, he realized this was a real life or death situation, and his Visage grimmed and became Stern. Dashing to the right he landed on stones but he did not look back, the sound he made when he landed a few feet away he was sure could be heard so he kept moving, while he moved and dashed he concentrated on diminishing his essence to a blurr, surprisingly to him, the reality of death made every move he made precise and with purpose.

The Cloak of insignificance was upon him, and he was on his way to a Broken pillar, his steps on the way were fast, yet fell heel first and impulsed with his foot forward, careful to make as little noise as possible, yet he did not know exactly how that would turn. Jumping, making little sound, he latched on to the top of the snapped pillar with one hand and hung there, 10 feet in the air as breath did not leave him, and only a drop of sweat fell down to the base. It was then he turned around and scanned about, His master was not his opponent, and a flurry of death would come to him if every move he made was not perfect and flawless, a difficult thing to do considering he up until recently had only known direct confrontation.

He wanted to say something, some prideful comment on how he was more than worthy, but smartly held his tongue, any sound, even the slightest sigh would give away his position. Animus was a shadow on the wall however, and he did try his best not to even move... if he could hide from Ophidia... was to be seen.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]