A Formal Tradition Training (Garev Uluc)

[Overseer]

Edit: Shade Order

Reaching Thyferra was easier than Garev anticipated and his meeting with the Shade Council went particularly well in his opinion. He was told that he would meet his instructor in a field on the temple grounds.

He reached the training grounds early and waited levitating in a patient manner. While waiting his drew in the scenery, the trees and the sounds of animals of in the distance. He appreciated nature whenever he could, his homeworld of Alpheridies wasn't exactly teeming with wildlife.

After a while he decided to meditate while he waited for his instructor to arrive.

 

[D.C.]

Quentell stepped onto the training grounds. Normally the Shade Knight wore black robes, but this time he was dressed in a white robe and a light brown tunic underneath.

He saw his new padawan meditating at the training grounds and walked over to him.

"Greetings, Garev." he said. "You're early, that's good. How are you?"

 

[Overseer]

Garev left his meditative state when he heard a familiar voice. He was genuinely surprised.

"I'm fine Quentell, I was unaware that you would be the one to train me. Well I'm ready for whatever you have to teach me.

His mind was clear and he was prepared and eager to learn.

 

[D.C.]

"Very good. Will you follow me, please? We're going to one of the training rooms. I guess I should ask you why you want to join the Shade, but I brought you here myself, so that would be a stupid question." he laughed and began to walk towards the building.

He led his padawan towards their training room and opened the door.

"So here we are. This is our training room and here most of our training will take place." he explained. "After you, Garev."

 

[Overseer]

Garev followed Quentell and chuckled at his humor. On the way to the training room Garev was trying to stay calm. He would finally be able to learn more about the Force. He knew quite a bit already but that was only words, the most practice he'd had was with telekinesis.

"Thank you Quentell, I really appreciate you bringing me here."

 

[D.C.]

Quentell nodded when Garev thanked him and closed the door behind them.
There were two chairs in the room and a table between them. Quentell pointed to the chairs.

"Please have a seat. Before we get started I'd like to ask you some questions."

He sat down himself and waited until Garev sat down. Then he continued:

"So, this is where we're going to study and train. I'm going to teach you about lightsaber combat, like how to wield your lightsaber properly and you'll get to choose one style you want to learn. I'll tell you later more about it, when the time is right. Next to lightsaber combat I am going to teach you about the Force. Offensive, defensive and supportive powers. Last but not least, I am going to teach you some diplomatic things, which could be very important. A word often could do more than a blade."

He paused for a while to let Garev think about it and then he went on to ask a question.

"What exactly have you already learned about the Force? Tell me about all the powers you know and which you control the best and which are still weak."

 

[Overseer]

"I have extensive knowledge and control of telekinesis. That is my primary mode of transportation and how I am able to get anything done. I have decent control of energy negation but I still have trouble with it. And I can sometimes reverse the activation of a Force power back on it's user, though it's very stressful for me to do so."

Garev thought for a moment about how much he actually knew about the Force before he spoke again.

"I know that the Force is everywhere and in every living thing and that with it there is no limit to what one is capable of. But that information I gathered on my own. Traditional professor of the Luka Sene prefer not to cover the more powerful aspects of the Force, so I read about a lot of it on my own."

 

[D.C.]

"I see, I see... So about telekinesis I won't have to teach you anything. And I remember you reversing my Force Crush back to me, though it did not harm me. I think you have to develop that technique some more, and then it can be a very useful power."

He listened to Garev's view on the Force and how he read about it.

"Though text alone can explain many things, it won't actually teach. What you say about the Force is true. Or it least, it's what I think too. The Force is a great power, though I am not entirely sure if it is the greatest power in the universe. There's always something greater... Something stronger. Just like among the warriors in this galaxy. There's always someone stronger than the other one, but in the end it's our personalities and emotions that makes us equal. Now Garev, I want you to recite the code we, the Shades, live by. And tell me, what do you think it means?"

 

[Overseer]

"My emotion makes me
My knowledge guides me
My passion drives me
My strength enables me
My harmony balances me
I walk the shaded path"

Garev thought for a moment about the code he'd just recited.

"Well, I think that the code means that I am nothing without my emotions, an empty shell. I would be lost without knowledge. Passion keeps me going, even when there appears to be no way out. I am able to do anything through the strength I posses, and and I am balanced when all of these things apply. I can perform at my best only when my emotions, knowledge of the situation, determination and strength are present within me. And with that I can walk the line of light and dark."

 

[D.C.]

"I see what you mean, and it is a very good explanation, though it is not how I see it. However, there is no right or wrong interpretation. Everyone thinks different about it."

He stood up from the chair and unclipped his lightsaber from his belt.
"Let first train in some defensive saber combat. I'll send in some remotes and you must block the bolts, and remember, hold your lightsaber in both your hands. I don't want to see you using your telekinetic saber combat."

He moved towards a panel at the wall and turned towards Garev.

"Just tell me when you're ready and I'll send them in."

 

[Overseer]

Garev hesitantly took the lightsaber. Though he uses lightsabers, this would only be the second time he had held one in his own hands. He was a little nervous, if he could use his telekinesis he wouldn't have any trouble at all. He gripped the lightsaber as firmly as he could in both hands. Taking a deep breath and told Quentell he was ready.

 

[D.C.]

"Alright, here come the remotes. I'll send them in one by one, in total there will be four remotes." he said and he pushed a few buttons on the panel.

A moment later a hatch in the ceiling opened and one remote came out. It floated before Garev and fired its bolts.

Quentell stood at the panel observing his padawan.

 

[Overseer]

Garev saw the remote come down from the ceiling and he began to focus. The first shot came out, to Garev, it seemed a bit slow. He moved the lightsaber to deflect, but he was to slow. it hit him in the shoulder. The next one came, he moved faster this time and deflected it before it could hit him. He was happy with himself but remained calm. The next shots came and he deflected some and missed others but maneuvered well enough not to get hit again.

The second remote came through and he deflected most of the bolts and dodged the rest. He began to work up a sweat. But he was enjoying himself, using his body was exhilarating. The third remote came out and he deflected all but two of the bolts fired, but he could feel his muscles beginning to burn.

When the fourth remote came out Garev's body was exhausted. He could see where every bolt was going, but was barely able to dodge or deflect them in time.

 

[D.C.]

Quentell observed his apprentice and saw he was getting exhausted by the forth remote. It was too quick to get exhausted. Obiviously Garev had a weak body. He removed the remotes and walked over to Garev.

"Are you ok? Sit down for a while and rest. It seems like we have a lot to work on, if you're already exhausted by the forth remote. I don't blame you or anything, it's just that the training will take a little longer."

He glanced at his student. Now he had observed his current physical state he decided it was time for something different.

"Now, Garev, tell me. Have you ever been so angry, so damn angry, you could taste the Dark Side. Have you ever felt like murdering someone or giving in to the Dark Side? What I mean is: How close to the Dark Side have you ever been?"

 

[Overseer]

Garev was breathing heavily, upset with his body for not being able to finish his first lightsaber training session. He responded to his master's question concerning his state of being with.

"Yes, I am fine. Just a bit winded is all."

He floated over to the table and sat down. And thought for a moment.

"The most anger I have ever felt at any point in my life would have been recently, back on that planet with those dark jedi. Their refusal to see fault in their logic the darkness that consumed them. I could have sworn I had killed one of them I was so angry. He had a whole in his torso and side from being repeatedly driven into a spike on the side of the cave. But it would appear that the Darkside kept him going. I'm not exactley sure where you would place that on a scale though."

 

[D.C.]

"Well, let's say it sounds very heavy." After he said this he thought about what Garev just said.
"You know..." he continued. "...What I want to teach you, is something about the Dark Side. You see, the Dark Side can be powerful indeed, if it is used by the wielder, and not the wielder being used by the Dark Side. I don't want you to fall for it, but being able to control your anger and use it to strenghten yourself, is what I want to teach you. It is a technique I use in battles often."

He looked at the center of the room and pointed to it. "Please, move towards that spot and stand there."

He waited for Garev to take the position.

"Have you heard of powers like Force Lightning and Force Crush? Those are deadly Dark Side powers. Each time I use them I let my anger flow through my veins, but I use it. I control it. That's what I am going to teach you now. To control your anger."

A moment later the room was gone and so was Quentell. What appeared to Garev was a dark back alley where a young harmless girl was being beat up by a man. Although Quentell was nowhere to be seen, his voice sounded: "Do you see that? A man beating a harmless girl. Let the anger flow through you and end this, but don't let it take control of you. Now, show me what you got."

 

[Overseer]

Garev watched as the girl was being beaten, it angered him, frustrated him. His anger began to well up within him, he reached out with the Force, lifted the man into the air. He slowly began closing his fist, letting each of his digits be a limb to control the man. As he began to contort the mans body, his left arm began to tingle. He turned it palm side up and aimed at the abuser and began to shock him repeatedly, the lightning soon became a constant stream. The mans body was charred beyond recognition and with his right hand he clinched it into a fist and ground him into dust. All the while appearing calm.

"How was that?"

 

[D.C.]

The room was back and so was Quentell. He was impressed.
"That was very good. You used your anger and succesfully executed it on the man. I remember when master Julius, my former master, let me do this. Back then I Force Choked the man, but I was a little afraid after I used the power. I never realized I had that ability, now I have developed it to Force Crush and I often use it in battles. I think you did better than I did in that test."

He nodded to Garev and smiled. He had a good student and he would make a great knight, Quentell was sure of it.

"Now I would like to know, now you can control your anger, how... How does it make you feel?"

 

[Overseer]

"It felt a bit different than when I used my other powers. At first it was a little overwhelming, but I was able to control my anger. From that point it was rather simple."

Garev was enjoying this experience, he was learning more about the Force, and he liked it. He was eager to take the next test, but tried not to show his anxiousness.

"So what would be next on the agenda Master Quentell?"

 

[D.C.]

"Although your physical state is not perfect, and I don't blame you for that, I would like to go on to some more lightsaber training. We need to get rid of you getting exhausted to soon. With enough training you can become strong."

He Force Pulled a box from the corner right next to his right leg and waved his right hand above it. Using the Force he opened the box and he Force Pulled two training sabers out of it.

"These are training sabers. Here, try this one." He used his telekinesis again to let it float before Garev, so he could pick it from the air.

"To start with, I would like you to tell me which of these words describes you best: determination, contention, resilience, aggression, perseverance, moderation or ferocity."