Ask Naboo Stepping Stones

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael had an apprentice now. The specifics that brought this about were less than ideal but he would train them to the best of his ability. He had no idea of how much or little training she'd undergone from Trodai, so he would need to start fresh. He had multiple simple tasks he wanted to get done now that he was free to roam the galaxy once again. He debated for days on which he would do first as a simple way to gauge the acolyte.

He knew the acolyte took part in the quest to kill his family, the one that adopted him. He had yet to properly lay claim to being the head of the Osso family, it would be an easy task. He could do some basic training before moving on to the task at hand, giving him time to acclimate to the Master role. He was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans outfit. It was accessorized with a light jacket to hide his lightsaber.

Trael and Kyssiara were on an empty island in Naboo's lake country. It was where his old house once stood, a place of pain for the Master. He walked along the weathered stone dock up to the main area of the island. The land was flat and the wind made the grass look like an ocean of green, "I am unsure of how trained you are." Trael said to the acolyte, "I'm going to walk you through meditation. You will use your hatred of me to fuel the darkside as you do." He said to her unamused, her bloodlust towards him was almost palpable. "Questions?"

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Under most circumstances, Kyssiara would've been ecstatic to be assigned to train under a Sith Master and visit a beautiful world like Naboo that contrasted with the harsh tundra of her homeworld.

But these were not "most circumstances."

The Pureblood had already trained under one Sith, the late Trodai Narat iv-Adas; a flawed man but a successful Sith, someone who'd truly valued her ripped away by an overeager Sith Master. She'd already been to Naboo, a willing volunteer on a mission to slaughter the family of the man who'd ordered her master's death. Now Kyssiara stood before that very same man, Trael Osso, who'd been named her master in relief of the murdered Trodai.

The girl, wearing a simple black tunic and pants, gazed at the Sith Master with hatred burning behind narrowed golden eyes while he explained a simple medidation excercise. For such a simple situation on the surface level, a master evaluating an acolyte, tension coursed through the air to the point where there was a hint of the taste of electricity. Using hatred to fuel her connection to the Dark Side? Kyssiara might have smirked and responded with a confident quip in the past, but the amount of rage built up in her body had made her uncharacteristically calm.

"I have no questions, master." she responded. "Let's begin."

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael simply looked at the acolyte before him. His face and eyes only hinting at his lack of amusement at the entire predicament, devoid of any other emotion currently. "Good." He said, unclipping his lightsaber. He sat down setting his lightsaber in front of himself. "Sit like I am and delve into the Force. Bring your anger, rage, hate, pain, and loss to the forefront of your mind. Nurture it by playing out the memories or imagined scenarios that caused the emotions. But, don't let them take control of you." He explained, Trael's personal philosophy revolved around controlling ones emotions rather than succumbing to them.

He watched as she meditated, making sure she did it correctly and bluntly correcting her if she didn't. Once it seemed she had gained a grasp on it he simply busied himself. Though he would’ve preferred to be meditating himself and feeling the Force of the planet course through him, he couldn’t allow himself to delve into the Force with someone that actively wanted him dead so near. So he sat there in the same stance his hands on his knees as his lightsaber split at the joint, one half slowly disassembling itself.

He disassembled and reassembled his lightsaber a couple times before Kyssiara had come back from her meditation. His gaze moving beyond his saber to her once she did, “Good you’re able to meditate.” He said, his lightsaber returning to his hand, “I’ve read you lean into Sorcery and Force usage more than combat.” He said, standing back up, “Are you able to manipulate all of the elements?” He inquired, clipping his saber back on his hip choosing to focus on her strengths more than weaknesses for the moment.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara sat opposite her new master, mimicking his position and closing her eyes while Trael instructed the Pureblood to feel her emotions without letting them take control. The girl took a deep breath, letting the Dark Side flow through her as if she was a conduit. Memories of all kind bubbled to the surface, feelings Kyssiara knew she needed to face. For all the hatred she felt for Trael Osso, he was right that she needed to be channeling those emotions rather then letting them drive her.

The acolyte thought of her mother, who'd come at her with a knife in a manic frenzy. How this woman, once a powerful sorceress leading their village on Ziost, had devolved into a despondent madwoman trying to cut away a piece of her child in pursuit of some dream of joining the nobility on Korriban. A woman who'd let her emotions govern her decisions, which had led to her ruin.

Kyssiara recalled the night of the party at Darth Arcanos' palace, how she'd be told her late master Trodai had taunted his bitter rival and then turned his back to them. How that one shortsighted decision had left him vulnerable in the medbay where he'd been so dishonorably assassinated.

Trael Osso needed to die, but the acoltye couldn't let herself be shortsighted. Her hate would be the catalyst of her ascension through the Sith primed and ready to strike when the moment was right; not just when she wanted to. As Kyssiara drew herself out of her meditation, she regarded her master with golden eyes and stood up while he put his lightsaber away and inquired about her abilities with the Force.

"I've practiced with all the elemental abilities, save 'fer Force lightnin'." the Pureblood replied. Kyssiara quickly formed a hand sign, generating a pressurized point of flame between two fingers before unleashing a powerful burst of flame at a bush off to her right. "But I've always had an affinity for pyrokinesis, and Professor Iymril's sign castin' classes have been particularly useful." she added.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael listened as Kyssiara explained how she understood all the elements besides Force lightning. “Force lightning is an entity of its own. It’s a Sith’s rage and hatred made manifest.” He said, watching as she formed her hand-sign and used it to make a rather strong flame on a nearby bush. Trael listened as she explained her natural affinity with fire and how she’d been taking sign casting classes. “Unless you can keep your distance sign casting isn’t the best suited for combat. Although I also don’t know exactly how much it helps with Force usage.” He said simply as he turned to look at the flaming bush.

His hand stretched out towards it and the flames moved till they were hovering over his hand. He poured some of his own power into the flames forming them into an orb and making it larger, “I also have an affinity with pyrokinesis. I want you to try and keep the flames condensed into this orb. Without relying on sign casting.” He said as his eyes watched the orb flickering, “If you can’t they will run wild and burn you.” He wouldn’t coddle her, he’d keep her from dying but getting injured was necessary to learn.

He floated the orb towards her, “If the flames get too wild just disperse them.” He offered, “If you succeed maybe I’ll show you something I can do with pyrokinesis.” He said, trying to prod her curiosity. He didn’t really have anything overly special, but he did hold a greater control and magnitude of pyrokinesis than she had probably seen. “Once you’ve completed this we’ll complete why I brought you here.” He told her as he waited to see how she handled the flaming orb.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara raised an eyebrow as Trael explained his understanding of sign casting to her; which was to say, very little understanding. It came as little surprise to the acolyte, given that very few of the other Sith utilized the practice. Iymril was the only one she knew used sign casting regularly, and the Pureblood doubted they'd had an academic conversation about it with Trael when the two had been conspiring to kill her former master. "Sign castin' allows you to channel the Force much faster, and utilize a wider range of techniques in quick succession without as much fatigue as without it." Kyssiara explained to the Sith master. "It's greatly improved my proficiency."

The girl watched as Trael called the flickers of flame from the bush she'd set ablaze to his hand, intensifying the fire into a concentrated orb more dense and powerful than Kyssiara had ever created before. Her eyes, like his, were drawn to the swirling heat of the orb as Trael explained his own affinity for pyrokinesis and instructed her to keep the flames contained within the shape he'd fashioned them into. Easy enough in theory, significantly harder in practice.

Kyssiara was not going to allow her new master, of all people, to get the better of her with this test. Was she confident that she could complete the task he'd given her? Not at all, especially since he'd amplified the strength of the flames from what she'd created. But becoming a Sith meant facing the fire head-on, and walking through it undeterred; in this case, literally. Plus, Kyssiara was intrigued by hinted promise at a new application for pyrokinesis that Trael mentioned.

As the orb came to a stop hovering right in front of her, Kyssiara took a deep breath and extending her hands a few inches from either side of the flames, commanding them to bend to her will. Her eyes flashed a shining gold as the acolyte put Trael's earlier lesson to good work; she channeled her hate, her anger, her pain, and poured those into her focus. The Dark Side flowed around her stronger than it otherwise might have, amplifying the Pureblood's strength.

The flaming orb pulsed, small flickers of flame escaping out in random directions as it threatened to expand and burn everything nearby; but Kyssiara refused to allow it. The ball grew and shrunk by different amounts for a few moments as the girl sought to control it, tongues of flame licking at her fingertips. Soon, though, the orb stabilized in the space between Kyssiara's outsretched palms. "There ya go, master." she said in between heavy breaths, beads of sweat running down her forehead. "How's this for not bein' burned, eh?"

If Trael answered in the affirmative, Kyssiara would slowly release her hold on the flames and allow them to disperse in a single burst up into the air.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael took in her words about sign casting. He wasn’t too sure on the speed aspect as it required making symbols and hand gestures to use from his limited knowledge, that sounded slower than simply willing the Force to do as you wish. Efficiency he could agree on fully, but speed not so much. Either way it wasn’t something he could see himself utilizing, not now or anytime soon anyways, he was a duelist first and foremost even if he’d weaved Force usage heavily into his fighting style.

He watched as she struggled against the flames desire to be freed. Noting how she poured the dark side into her efforts, utilizing his teachings. He should’ve felt some semblance of pride at the fact she was using his teachings so quickly, but there was a part of him that chided the fact she needed to delve so deeply into the dark side to keep the ball under control. Eventually she got it under control, Trael simply blinked away her quips.

“Good. You were able to keep it contained.” He said his tone slightly lighter. The orb would be taken from her hold on it to float over Trael’s hand. He had thought of a way to show her the capabilities of one who honed a craft. He walked past her, the orb splitting into four as he did. “Time for me to keep my end of the bargain.” He said walking to the edge of the island overlooking the water.

He poured the Force into them, all four growing them larger than the size of the original, his focus was fully on the orbs. One separated briefly flickering from his concentration slipping. That’s when Trael started utilizing the dark side slightly, no where near the degree Kyssiara had earlier, but enough for it to be noticeable. It went back into its condensed shape, Trael’s left hand moving outwards separating it fully before it shot out over the large lake. It rapidly expanded the flames being released, leaving the top of the water steaming momentarily.

Once that was done he took a second, though maintaining one or two orbs was nothing, four of this size was more draining than he expected. He moved the three remaining away from himself over the ocean. They began spinning the orbs losing their shape and forming into a flaming vortex. The heat was intense, not only causing Trael to sweat but also drying the grass near it. Then it dissipated and Trael turned to her his blue eyes having golden streaks in them. “Maybe sign casting wouldn’t be so bad if it’d make that less draining.” He said as he pulled some of the water to him taking a drink.

Once he finished cooling down he looked to her, “Alright now that we’ve gained insight into each other’s power, it’s time we set off to see my aunt.” He said, leading the way to the boat. The trip took them back to Theed and through the city streets. Stopping at a large manor with the name Osso on the gate.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara watched with keen interest as Trael took control of the flaming sphere from her, using his control of the Force to split it into four separate orbs of greater size. She felt the Dark Side gather around the Sith Master, the Pureblood's face betraying a begrudging admiration for his ability as Trael concentrated the flame and shot out one orb that he let explode over the lake in a powerful display of power.

Kyssiara felt the wave of heat rush over her, causing the girl to immediately begin sweating. The acolyte was no stranger to heat with how often she conjured fire of her own, but her new master's display had created a pocket of hot air around them that she wasn't accustomed too. Ziost was no Tatooine, after all. Kyssiara offered Trael a small smile as he conceded that sign casting might have made his effort less draining; other people she may have referred to Iymril, or even offered to show the basics of sign casting herself. But she'd let Trael figure it out for himself.

Thankfully the heat slowly dissipated and the Sith Master explained that they were going to visit his aunt. What for, Kyssiara couldn't imagine, but she simply nodded and followed along until the pair stood in front of a mansion in Theed, a plaque on the gate bearing Trael's surname. "What are we doing here, master?" the Pureblood asked, "Your aunt isn't a secret Sith Lord, is she?" she added, doing her best to hold back a sneer. Several pointed comments popped up in her mind; "feeling sentimental," "meeting with what family you have left," and more. But ultimately, Kyssiara held her tongue. Those comments would've gotten her severely punished by Trodai, and her former master's killer was a full on Sith Master. Now wasn't the time.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael stared at the gate, memories of a long time ago assaulted him. A young boy covered in smoke from a house fire, crying in the floor as a woman screamed at him. Monster, evil spawn, never should’ve been born. A list of insults played through his mind, ones that his own aunt threw at him. Then was the day he was thrown out, a few days before he met Mama Dolce, “You have no place here. You murdered my sister. I told her that nothing good would come from marrying your father. Leave this house or I will make you.” She hissed at him, Trael was now a young boy, roughly 12, it had only been a couple months since the house fire he started. Then it flashed to Mama Dolce, the woman who gave him a home when she had no reason to, the woman who became his family not by blood but by choice.

Trael was drawn out by Kyssiara’s voice, missing most of the first question. Realizing he had been clutching his fists closed, he released them. He couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at her second remark, “No, though she acts like one more than other Sith.” He mused, “She’s acted as the houses head since my absence when she discarded me as a child.” His words were sharp, the disdain for his aunt unable to be kept at bay. “I am now an adult and have never been relinquished as heir, since I’ve never been proven killed and have proof of being alive. We are going to ensure that the title is transferred to me.”

Trael walked up to the gate, before he could grab it to open a guard approached, the woman seemed to be in her early twenties, “There’s no meetings scheduled for today. What is your business here?” She asked once she got close to the gate. Trael cleared his throat, “I am Trael Osso, I wanted to pay my aunt a visit.” He said his Naboo accent much heavier than before. The guard raised an eyebrow and had the expression that she didn’t believe him. Before she could speak up another voice came from behind, “Whose there child?” An elderly man’s voice croaked out. The old man came into view and Trael’s eyes widened, it was a guard he was familiar with. The old man’s face also betrayed surprise, “Victorino? You’re supposed to be dead.” The man gasped, Trael’s eyes betrayed a hint of sadness at his father’s name.

The younger guard walked over shaking her head, “He said his name is Trael Osso. Apparently lady Morde is his aunt.” She said in an exasperated tone, the old man on the other hand looked as if the secrets to the universe had fully made sense, “Trael?! You look so much like your father I thought he had come back to life. Come in.” He said opening the gate and letting them through. The elderly guard led them to a sitting room with a fire place that was on for looks not so much heat.

Trael was absentmindedly moving the flames with his hand, “We will handle this diplomatically. Don’t let my aunt rile you up, it’s how she gets you to do what she wants.” He said making sure that Kyssiara understood everything. They had been left waiting for at least ten minutes, Trael had stopped messing with the fire and was sitting on a couch, “It seems we’ll be waiting a while. Do you have any questions you want to ask me? You may ask whatever you want and I’ll answer if I have one.” He said to her, for the whole trip it was just her showing him what she could do. So now he’d let her pick his brain of anything she wanted, maybe it’d alleviate the boredom of waiting and pass the time.

@René