Center of Madness

[Vexillar]

Raith stood in front of three other Acolytes. He had no shirt on, just a pair of cloth pants. Not even foot gear was had by the Arcanist. His hands were wrapped up in wrist wrap. He motioned for the Acolytes to come. They rushed him one by one, and launched attacks. A straight punch, axe kick, a dim mak strike to his throat. All great attacks, solid form, but far too slow for the Arcanist. His feet carried him away from each attack, except the last, which he grabbed with his right hand, and twisted the Acolyte's wrist before pushing back while stepping into his space and keeping his foot behind the attacker's.

The student toppled over and Raith resumed his stance. "You're reacting. Stop reacting. Force your enemy to react and you will win." The Acolytes gritted teeth and one charged him. He swung at the Miraluka's face, but Raith has no problem sidestepping and pivoting around to stand behind him. His feet left the ground as he jumped and used both feet to push off the Acolyte and flip back, causing the Acolyte to lurch forward. He wasted no time moving to the other two. They stood ready to defend themselves, but were gravely unprepared.

Raith hit the first one square in the chest with a straight kick, but the attack was blocked. The power behind it, however, did knock the wind out of the other. The second male didn't waste the chance. He moved to strike the Arcanist with a palm strike to the temple, but the Miralula's senses were quicker than that. He bowed his head and avoided the extended arm, bringing his own arm to up and around the attacker's he locked it in place and then pull, the sickening sound of dislocation, and the scream that followed, filled the air. Raith kicked him away and turned to the last one standing.

"I yield!" he cried.

Pitiful... Erchitu thought inside of Raith. The man had to agree. He raised a hand, the Acolyte before him lifted off the ground and clawed at his neck trying to release the invisible vice. "A Sith fights for dominance. If you cannot beat your enemy, you find a way to run. There is no shame in a retreat, but there is shame in showing weakness before the enemy." The Arcanist spoke harshly, yet lowly, and threw the Acolyte against the far wall.

They all groaned as they struggled to their feet. "Leave. See the medical droid and get fixed up. I have another class soon. Remember, act....don't react." The Acolytes bowed slightly before him and took their leave. Raith didn't often do martial arts training, but sometimes exceptions were made...Now however he had some training to continue with his Little Rancor, Virion. The Acolyte should be there any moment, and so for now Raith would sit and meditate. He poured over a book of Echani customs and such, desiring to learn more about them for....reasons. Eezeo waited in a corner of the room, while his pet Tuk'ata, Vallo, waited in another corner. The beast watched the Arcanist carefully. His every moved memorized by the canine. Raith was painfully aware of this, but since nothing could be done about it...well he ignored it.

 

[Taz]

The acolyte assassin made his way down the hall toward the training room. Returning from his mission in the Hapes Cluster just days ago he was on please with himself. Pleased with his progress as a Sith and well on his way to Crusader. Or at least he thought as much. Still he could not shake the feeling from the mission. For a second time his mind was violated by another member of the Order. The Crusader Mitzuki jumped into his head as if it was her own personal fun house, only to meet a guest she didn't expect and he could hardly explain.

The young Sith had little choice but to contact his mentor. He was not eager to allow the man into his mind after the first meeting. But he put little trust in anyone else. The Spell Caster would torture him with a life lesson before taking his life. Such things Virion knew first hand.

As the assassin continued down the hall he was met by a passing group of acolytes who look as if they hand gone a few rounds with Warmaster Rook. Or perhaps even more deadly Lady Eris, but they were coming from the very place he was going. Could they have been the latest victims of the Spell Caster?

"Interesting", he muttered.

The hybrid made his way to into the training room. The Miraluka where he expected, deep in thought. The droid who saved there lives, hiding in he corner waiting to spring like a Viper. There was yet another surprise. A Sith hound, little more then a pup compared to the ones he fought for Lady Sunsinger but he a Tuk'ata all the same.

"Master", Virion chimed. Careful to keep his eyes on the mutt in the corner. "You'll full of surprises Spell Caster"

 

[Vexillar]

He didn't bother looking over at the door. He knew who it was. He could feel his annoyance, his anxiety, his...confusion, from all the way down the hall. It was like a blinding light among the dark.

"Surprises? Is that what you think? Secrets are power, Little Rancor. The less people know, the more control one has." He grabbed the tome and stood up. Handing it over to Eezeo he turned back to the Acolyte. "Your problem is that your secrets are unguarded. You don't have the skills necessary to protect them. Even now, your mind races and I don't have to peer inside to know your thoughts. You had an incident with Crusader Mitzuki. Stray thoughts are a dangerous thing. I told you long ago, your actions have consequences. And negligence is just as much am action as slaughtering an entire village."

Raith looked over at the Tuk'ata as it huffed and rolled onto his side. Such a curious beast. No. He couldn't think about that right now. Turning his head back to the Acolyte he continued. "Now then. Keeping your mind safe is as simple as breathing. Think, Little Rancor, how could one protect their mind?"

 

[Taz]

Secrets and shadow are becoming a trademark Spell Caster, my problem is others like you who posses your skill but lack your tact. It is not negligent to not use tool I was never given. One can not lock the door if there is no door there at all. , he spoke firming but careful not to force his point. He was still very aware of the consequences of getting into a verbal war with the Arcanist.

The acolyte glanced to the hound once again before answer the Master's next question. "skip the door all together and seal the wall all together. Using the force as the mortar?". Referring once more to his very simple imagery.

 

[Vexillar]

He pursed his lips and chuckled.

"He stands in a center of knowledge and boasts that an opportunity to learn did not present itself. Little Rancor, you must take action where none seems capable."

He smiled and stepped over to the Acolyte, touching it forehead with a single finger. "Opposite way, my dear. Fill your mind with thoughts. Fill your house with useless furniture, and store all your important keepsakes in the basement. Thinking is all that needs to be done to secure your mind from the enemy. As time goes on, you'll find you can use sheer force of will to keep people out too. What is something you have extensive knowledge about?" He withdrew his finger but did not move from his new position.

 

[Taz]

"Some of us do more then sit and read tombs and recruit lost lambs to the meat grinder of the war machine", he prodded the Master fully aware of his enrollment in the conflict in the Hapes cluster and the coming challenge of Naboo. Also passing the result of his training with the other passing acolytes. Still the hybrid could hardly pass up opportunity to make the verbal jab

The smile on the man's face raised a question before the man put his finger on the acolyte's head. Then came the speech. Truly his Mentor had a gift for teaching and making his point in a lesson but 'my dear'? "I seem to have a gift for force concealment, it was perfected back home."

 

[Vexillar]

He shook his head and chuckled.

"You mock me for my love of tomes, but fail to see their importance. Especially here. Your knowledge, Little Rancor, you must know a lot about something. Force Powers and how they work won't help you here. It is not deep enough, strong enough. A thought shield is not composed of a singular though, but rather a singular topic that creates a multitude of thoughts. Thinks like cards, gun, droids, ships, etc etc. In an emergency thoughts of Force powers may help. But in such a case you are most likely lost anyway."

He struggled and circled Virion slowly.

"Reach out with your mind, Virion. Touch mine and understand what I mean. Focus yourself and expand. Feel your consciousness, and attach it to my own." If done properly then Virion would be met with what might feel like a wall, and the only thoughts available would be that of droid parts, and then gentle ticking of Eezeo that Raith was only aware of because he built the droid.

 

[Taz]

"I mock Master because that is our odd relationship it is not ? I am well aware of the importance of history and learning from others. No warrior or scholar can hope to live long if they can not learn from others. That is why I'm here after all.", Virion spoke and nodded through the rest. He was not a wordsmith, but a man with a killer instinct. Change would not come in a day.

As he listened to his mentor he centered himself. Sense the tactic seemed a little perverse to him. The thought of a slithering Viper from his home world came to mind. The acolyte focused and pushed the viper into the mind of the Arcanist. It was as if the snake had passed threw thick tall grass and into a wall of tiny little assassin droids. The little droids suddenly burst into parts, and the parts seemed to expand beyond site. Virion was amazed by the site even if it was little more then visions passing between the minds.

 

[Vexillar]

Raith could feel the attempted intrusion like a giant feels a gnat. It was bothersome to feel, but so very far from threatening. He nodded and pushed Virion's presence out of his mind.

"There are a multitude of ways to protect your mind. This is simply the most basic and quickest way. It requires no energy on your part either. This is why it is taught to high ranking government officials and VIPs. That being said, those with a talent for shielding themselves can produce a barrier around their mind from sheer will power alone. It takes much more energy to maintain during an assault, but is arguably stronger. Arguably."

The Arcanist motioned to Virion.

"So think, Little Rancor. What is something you know much about? Or can list off in your head?"

 

[Taz]

"Death", he said simple and without hesitation. Though he did not have the body count of some on the roster he was never the less knowledgeable in the art of death. Educated by blood thirsty slavers and tribesmen, and cold calculating sadistic force wielders. His knowledge was building, skills in simple and advanced weapons. Tricks of the mind, powers and abilities most mortals only dream of. Death was his life.