Ask The Path to Balance: Perspective

[Isen Ramm]

To this, there was nothing that Isen could argue. This was, without question, the Jedi way. When life could be saved, save it. In a sense, what Izel was proposing was not a change to how the Jedi act, but a strict adherence to it- taking that idea of preserving life to the greatest extremes. If Isen looked at it from that perspective, he clearly saw the merit.

The part that Isen struggled with was the pragmatic part of it. It's one thing to give the Sith a chance to see the error of their ways. It's an entirely different question to convert them in numbers fast enough to squash their religion without violence. To that end, Isen had a question. "Do you propose we try this individually? Sith by Sith? Or is there a way to communicate to them more broadly?"

@Reyn @Zohrael

 

[Yulie]

“Some things…are not so easy to forgive.” Yulie tread softly of the subject, reluctant to openly disagree. Purging her body language of a defiant syntax, she timidly elaborated, fearful that even the mildest dismissal of Izel’s wisdom would test the Jedi’s patience. It was a useful skill developed as a child, honed in a famously unforgiving environment where assertiveness was a punishable offense. “Like debts. The bigger the debt, the harder you are worked to pay it off. Some are worked to death…others pass their burdens to their children…”

Those memories were not so venomous, at least not until they were contrasted with the crimes of the Sith. Her gaze hardened and her tone soured. “...But what’s genocide between friends? All’s forgiven.” People could suffer their whole lives for want of Credits, but the Sith were spared even a fraction of that suffering if they could only change their ways. The very idea of that was offensive.

She took a long, unsteady breath, trying to tranquilize the unnatural anger that haunted her. Images from the HoloNet were returning to her memory, escorted by the Dark Side through the opaque lens that second-hand spice had wedged into the lobes of her brain. From what Izel had said about infamous Sith from a bygone age, they did have a path back to the light. However, Yulie could not overlook the cost. Half a galaxy conquered, the Jedi massacred, and who knew what else?

Without Emryc’s rhetoric to galvanize her fury, she was able to swallow it this time. Her anger turned inwards, and she regretted speaking out of turn. She was doing it again, she told herself. Ruining a good thing, pushing away the only people who are kind to me. Who am I to speak aloud, anyways? She had no insight into the Force worth mentioning, yet she dared to question a fully-trained Jedi? She could not find a reason why either of them would indulge her petulant incredulity, but someone had to speak for the dead and Yulie was the only one here who would do so.

“It’s not fair.” She said quietly, sadly, affirming that she at least listened to what Izel had to say about breaking the cycle. Her anger was being made alloy with despair. Was the Force really so cruel that forgiving the Sith was truly the best way to beat them? “How many people get caught in the middle? They deserve justice, don’t they?” Her concept of justice was malformed, birthed in the sunken depths of a debtor’s prison, but she did not think her concept of injustice was terribly different from anyone’s. Forgiving the Sith felt like injustice and it was not so easy to let go and look forward. She turned her palm upward and traced the horizon, gesturing to the entirety of Ambria “Is forgiving something like this really that much different from condoning it?”

She wore a half-flinch on her face, unaware that she was pre-emptively bracing for a slap across the face. She failed to purge her defiance, so she was the one in the wrong and would make no effort to avoid it, yet she felt justified in what she said. Bruises fade quickly, her torment tended to linger, and she already carried a heavy load. Yet in the face of that burden, she was not looking for forgiveness. It would somehow feel worse, she was sure of it, like Stormkirk’s death was meaningless in the end, just a thing that happened long ago, too unimportant to even grieve over. She felt that people like her were supposed to suffer and the Sith were even worse.

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

While Isen seemed to agree with the core idea of what Izel was preaching, he also seemed to doubt the practicality of such a strategy. She could understand that. They were already at war after all, and every second counted. "I mean for a combination of the two," She explained to her apprentice. "If you can individually convert Sith one at a time that would be wonderful, and I hope you will make that effort once you have been made a Knight, even if it is difficult." She paused, working her mandibles again as she thought to herself. "I have... plans, that I intend to set into motion once we return to the Order. Plans to affect the galaxy on a grander scale and force the Sith to come to us on our terms. And if you wish to help I can fill you in on those plans once I have finalized them with the Council. But for the time being, I want you to focus on how you may be able to personally damage a Sith's faith in the dark side when you encounter them on the individual level."

Before she could go on her attention was drawn back to Yulie. The girl was still hung up on the very concept of offering forgiveness and a second chance to people as awful as the Sith. And again Izel couldn't blame her. She had seen first hand what they were capable of, and part of her begged to hate them for it. But she had to keep reminding herself of the truth.

"The dead won't benefit from our retribution." She argued with the young Dathomirian, making sure to maintain a sympathetic tone. She could feel the anguish within her, and didn't want to exacerbate it. "Our actions will not change their circumstances. They have already transformed into the Force, as we all will. Nothing we can do can bring them back, but we can bring them peace. And the only way to do that is by bringing balance to the Force, by snuffing out the darkness that infests this galaxy. Turning our hatred and sorrow against the Sith will not accomplish that, only turning them away from the dark path will do so." As for Yulie's statement about forgiveness and condoning, that made Izel tilt her head slightly. When she spoke again her voice was soft, not meant to be biting, but only to make her think about her perspective on the matter.

"Tell me Yulie, do you think you deserve forgiveness? After what you've done?" Her tone very clearly addressed one very specific evil the Dathomirian had committed in the past. Having connected their minds, the memory was almost as clear to her as it had been to Yulie. But Izel felt no hatred for her, only pity. "You did a terrible thing that can never be undone. Yet you come to me asking to be taught the ways of the Force, so you can return to your people. Do you believe you're worthy of a second chance? To be better than you were before?" She inclined her head slightly. "All life is precious. So from my point of view, taking just one is no different than taking a thousand or more. So either everyone is capable of redemption, or no one is."

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

As the Vratix Jedi spoke to Yulie, her words brought a lot of things into focus. She had meant the words to cut into Yulie's mindset, and perhaps they would. What Isen did know, however, was that her words had a profound impact on him. While Isen didn't know if everyone was capable of redemption, it became quite evident that the natural order was that nobody was really worthy of it. Not Yulie, not Izel, not Isen. Even though Isen had been raised in the Order, even he had blood on his hands. Not innocent hands, really, but definitely opponents that he could have defeated without killing. Even more plain was that Isen was in no position to be the judge of who is capable or who is worthy. At the end of the day, nobody was in a position to do so.

Did Isen deserve forgiveness? He would like to think so, but forgiveness from who though? The cultists were dead, the priest was dead, the warrior was dead, and the stone and fire monstrosity was dead. Who was left to forgive him for the death of the cultists? Izel may forgive Isen for disappointing her, but she had no authority to forgive him for the death of those people. And for the first time, Isen felt more than regret for killing those cultists, regret for acting in a way not in compliance with the Jedi code. He felt remorse for taking life that could have been preserved.

The padawan looked to his master and added on saying, "I suppose it's the Jedi job to preserve justice, not to bring it. I never thought of it as a difference, but ss I stop to think about it, it's a pretty big difference."

@Zohrael @Reyn

 

[Yulie]

"Tell me Yulie, do you think you deserve forgiveness? After what you've done?"

Time marched for several heartbeats. The question confused her at first, as she thought back to the ship. Did Izel overhear Yulie mouthing off to the Captain before they departed? It could not have been about that time she accidentally broke the covering to the surface cleaner, because the Captain clearly wasn’t intending on using it any time soon. And it was not about the obelisk; Izel already said she did not need to apologize for that blunder.

Then she thought of the spice den, and her muscles started tensing to the brink of cramping. There was so little truth remaining in those tall, fictitious tales that she did not quite know how to set the record straight. Even if her dull account of those events were to be believed, she played a decisive role in blemishing the reputation of the Jedi and could not diminish that fact no matter how she told her story. The urge to deny responsibility and blame the incident on a spice-induced panic almost broke through her chest, but Izel’s tone was not speaking to that incident.

There were times when the light of a sun would violently glimmer upon a helmet, hurting her eyes if Yulie were to look directly upon it, yet she somehow knew if they made eye contact, even through the radiant glow. This moment had a disturbingly similar feel. The past and present were making eye contact, and although Yulie could not comprehend how Izel managed to divine this information, Yulie knew that the Jedi had.

“You did a terrible thing that can never be undone. Yet you come to me asking to be taught the ways of the Force, so you can return to your people. Do you believe you're worthy of a second chance? To be better than you were before?”

Yulie tried to speak, and failed impotently, her lips voicelessly slurring vacant words that she could not find. Different parts of her wanted to say different things, pulling her in different directions while combining in a confused soup of emotions. If she surrendered her voice to her anger, it would have insisted that Stormkirk got what was coming to him. That he betrayed her, took from her, and left her for dead, alone, in the dark. There was a primal fear that he might do something again, and she had to defend herself pre-emptively. Were the impulse to deny responsibility prevail, she could insist that what she did was different and not at all comparable to what the Sith had done.

These feelings returned every now and then, and she tried to kill them by forcing herself to think the opposite, reminding herself the version of the truth that was better at pacifying her anger. “If I had forgiven him, it wouldn’t have happened.” He asked for it, but she would not give it. She went too far when she did not need to, it shattered innocent lives, and she was alone ever since. She could understand why a Jedi would take a few steps away from that line and dare not to approach it. No, she did not deserve forgiveness.

"All life is precious. So from my point of view, taking just one is no different than taking a thousand or more. So either everyone is capable of redemption, or no one is."

Were she balanced, it would be easier to stop herself from making that mistake, but the Dark Side clouded things. It made it harder to forgive, and easier to take things too far. Even when she tried to find her way back, her path seemed to bend towards the shadow.

“No, I don’t deserve it.” She could not tell if she was trying to be honest, improve herself, or indulge a self-destructive pattern that undermined her better efforts. “It’s not up to me to decide what I deserve. The Captain decides if I deserve to be on the ship. The Clan Mother decides if I deserve to be taken in. You decide if I deserve to see a lightsaber be purified. And it’s on me to prove my worth. So…if I can’t decide what I deserve…I probably shouldn’t be the one to decide what other people deserve. Or at least…I should treat them like they deserve better. Even if I feel like they don’t.”

Yulie tried to make this a rule for her to follow from now on, a line in the sand while she fought to live up to the Laws, something to hold her to the mark if she was about to go too far, perhaps prevent another Stormkirk from happening. It would make things a lot more difficult, though. Retribution was so much simpler.

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

"Yes." Izel said with a nod after hearing out both Isen and Yulie. The young Dathomirian still carried a good deal of self-loathing judging from her response, but this too could be repaired with time. The revelation in the moment was what was important. "It is not our place to make judgements on others." She looked to Isen. "All we must do is live by the Code, protect those that cannot protect themselves, inspire others to be better than they are," She turned back to Yulie. "And work to better ourselves. Always strive to improve yourself, and you will find balance." Her gaze lingered on the young Dathomirian for a few moments, hoping that would be enough to alleviate some of her more negative feelings. Regrets were something that always existed, but contentment was never fully out of reach for those that held on to hope.

She remained silent for a few moments afterward, continuing to strengthen her barriers, trying harder to push back against the latent corruption in the air. To her the dark side seemed to be becoming weaker over time. Or perhaps she was just starting to feel numb to the seducing effects. The longer she remained here resisting it, the less effect it was having on her mind. After overcoming her frustration with Isen and her doubts over Yulie she was feeling stronger, more focused. Turning back towards her apprentice she would continue with her lesson.

"As for helping Sith to find balance..." She began. "On the individual level you should do as I said before, speak to them always when you encounter them, try to learn as much about them as possible. There are actually instances where you will meet them and they will not immediately engage you in combat. Most likely it will be because they intend to try and turn you themselves, or manipulate you in some way. But this is a double-edged sword we can turn to our own advantage. When I was a Padawan, I encountered a group of such Sith on Ontotho." She paused to hang her head and sighed in disappointment. "Had I been more prepared something more constructive might have come of it. As things were, we barely escaped with our lives." She looked back up at Isen.

"And if they are to engage you immediately? I suggest employing Dun Möch against them." Dun Möch was another tactic most commonly used by the Sith themselves, but it was not unheard of for Jedi to use it as well. A form of psychological warfare that aimed to demoralize an opponent through taunts and deceptions. "Once again, it will require great physical discipline so as not to come back to bite you... And a sharp wit." She added on the end with a light chitter. "It also depends on you being able to read them and understanding exactly which type of tactic will be effective. In some cases you should try to make them angrier, so they lash out and become sloppy. Show them that all their anger does not give them the power they need to defeat you and it will break them. In other cases prey on their self-doubt and fear. Or exacerbate any conflicted feelings they have. The Sith always seek to dominate their opponents completely, so if you can dominate them in mind and body they will buckle before you. That is when you strike the critical blow, not with your blade, but your conviction. Defeat them, and break their belief in the strength of the dark side. They might surrender in an attempt to make you drop your guard of course, and that you must be prepared for as well. Knock them down as many times as it takes, but always grant them the opportunity to stand again. Eventually, their will shatters. All Sith are ultimately far more vulnerable than a Jedi who is in balance with themselves."

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

Isen offered a small grin to his the Vratix. "Witty banter isn't my strongest suit, Master." Isen couldn't help but find the humor in all of this. He was fairly oblivious to his own arrogance and self-righteousness until this trip, but he wasn't a natural trash-talker. He wasn't the kind to poke and prod verbally which is often a trademark or arrogance. These thoughts were going through his mind and he had to stifle a laugh. "You're right, Master Thral. I'm going to have to practice my socialization."

Now, that's not to say that Isen didn't find the idea of prolonging a duel with a Sith somewhat exhilerating. If he could show his superiority with the lightsaber, then....There was that arrogance again. This was going to be a work in progress. Back to the socialization bit, though. In all truthfulness, Isen would have to drastically improve in all areas of his socializing. While the most obvious component of Dun Möch are the verbal jabs, Izel was correct. In order to use the correct taunt at the correct time, Isen would have to significantly improve his ability to read others. Isen had secretly hoped to be a sort of "lone wolf" Jedi Knight, being sent across the galaxy by himself to take care of whatever business the Council thought needed taken care of. What he was quickly learning is that in order to be the best Jedi he could be, he had to be able to interact with others in a meaningful way.

A question came to him, a concern. "The Sith can feed off of their own rage. Is there a risk that taunting them or assaulting them with a deadly wit might...make them more dangerous? Stronger?"

@Zohrael @Reyn

 

[Yulie]

Powerless to close shut the book of her history, Yulie braced herself, anticipating that her dark secret was about to become the subject of Izel’s lesson. It was already halfway in the open, if a Jedi could thumb through the pages of her past then it would be simple to read from them aloud. She could only wonder what other secrets had been gleaned, but none pierced her so deeply as that one.

However, Izel did not pry any further. Instead, the towering insect actually reassured her, relating the teaching point to itself. It was not passing judgement on her, despite what she had done, and seemingly was allowing the book to close on its own. Yulie’s muscles relaxed tentatively; inexperienced as she was with being forgiven for even the smallest error, she unconsciously remained on her guard.

It was only a few days ago when the Captain snapped at her for being overly cautious with potential insecticides (a reaction that was all-too common in Yulie’s experience for insignificant mistakes), so she felt estranged by forgiveness for something severe. It was more confusing to escape judgement herself than it was for her to extend mercy to a Sith, even though it was completely consistent with the lesson Izel was trying to teach.

Izel’s gaze lingered on the girl while she worked herself through the confusion. The more unpleasant emotions had subsided, so although the Dathomirian had a lot to process she was at least able to do it more rationally instead of allowing her emotions to govern her higher thinking. However, Ambria made her emotions harder to ignore. The Dark Side’s miasma impacted the barriers, the strength of every collision enough to disturb the dark waters of Yulie’s mind, making it more difficult to keep herself steady. While she was able to acknowledge the merit of not passing judgment on others, she was making no progress in being good to herself.

Paying attention to the lesson kept her mind preoccupied, distracting herself from the downward current that her negativity tended to follow. She preferred distractions for this very reason; losing herself in her work left her with little time to beat herself up. Ambria lent its strength to her self-destructive thoughts, so returning the subject back to the Sith made things a whole lot easier. Instead of finding disagreement with the teachings, she thought it better to ask questions that might elaborate on the lesson rather than challenge it outright.

“Assuming a fight can’t be avoided, what if the Sith is stronger?” Yulie asked. “They may listen to reason if they can be knocked down over and over again, but what should we do if they are dominating the fight?”

If the Sith were roughly equal to the Jedi, Yulie had no reason to think that she would be able to hold her ground. Even if she learned to fight like the Force users in the HoloNet, she did not think her stature or physique enough to press an advantage. Dun Möch sounded useful, even though she was not completely clear on what it was, but what if it did not work? What if her wit was too dull, or they were better at reading her than she was able to read them?

Naturally, Yulie’s low regard for herself made it easier to predict failure in her efforts than success, but she did want to succeed. If Izel barely escaped the Sith with its life, Yulie would sooner or later find herself on the backstep and it would be nice to have some options. Maybe she could craft a small arsenal to even the odds?

“I could probably make you guys some wrist-mounted armor with an aerosol dispersal unit, have it remote-activated from your beamsssaber---” she was halfway through ‘beamsword’ before she could correct herself “---so when you’re crossing blades you can give them an eyeful of pepper mist. Or spray paint if they’re wearing helmets.”

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

As they continued, Izel was glad to see Yulie was focusing more on the conversation itself then the thoughts no doubt still clouding her mind. And she seemed to be a bit more willing to speak up now. As both students asked their questions she responded in kind.

"Well as I said before the tactic can come back to bite you if you're not careful," She responded first to Isen's query. "A Sith certainly can and will use their negative emotions to strengthen themselves, but remember that the power of the dark side naturally comes with less control. While in the moment they may receive a sudden burst of strength, their efficiency in the long term will suffer. Using Dun Möch goes hand in hand with battles of attrition, so it is important you are physically capable of enduring a long duel." Not that she had any doubts Isen could outlast almost any opponent is a battle of sheer endurance at this point. His training on Mon Gazza had made that abundantly clear. "But it is also vital that you know which buttons to push so to speak. If a Sith is driven solely by his blind rage and hatred of the Jedi, making him angrier will not help you. It would be more prudent in that case to distract him, split his focus, or draw him into an environment where he is unable to brute force his way through and must pause to think."

Now they were getting much more into the complex details that worked out in the background of any duel. Being a practitioner of Soresu and Makashi Izel was one to take explicit interest in recognizing every factor contributing the circumstances of a duel. Where it was happening, why, and whom was fighting whom. To her these details mattered even more than the skill level of each combatant. "If it is at all possible you should only engage the Sith on your own terms, in an environment specifically chosen to draw out their weaknesses. In a more sudden encounter, try to observe them before engaging. How they carry themselves, how they interact with their comrades and subordinates, or common citizens. All outward behaviors will give you some hint as to what drives them and what their weakness might be. For example, if one clearly shows signs of a self-important image through their speech and behavior around others, seek to humiliate them publicly. If they show signs of being acquiescent to their fellow Sith, cut into their feelings of inferiority." She paused, tilting her head as she gave the matter more thought.

"If you are caught completely off-guard, say in an ambush... There is only so much you can do." She clicked her mandibles, looking towards Yulie to address her question as well. "If you do not believe you are capable of overpowering them, withdraw if you can do so without endangering others. Avoid and evade them while trying to read them. Force them into an extended chase if they will give it and draw them into a locale that is more favorable to you. It is also good to remember that the Sith are typically very prideful creatures. If you are outnumbered, attempt to goad them into facing you one on one by accusing them of cowardice. And if that is not possible? Retreat. There is no shame in defeat so long as you learn something valuable from it." Of course there were situations where a Jedi couldn't retreat either. Or no true Jedi anyway, if it would mean abandoning others to their fate. Izel would suggest in those situations that all they could do would be to fight to the absolute best of their ability and sacrifice themselves for the good of others, if that's what was needed. But that wasn't a discussion to be had here.

At Yulie's suggestion of creating an aerosol weapon the Vratix couldn't help but chitter a bit in amusement. "Well that's certainly not a bad idea." She agreed. "Although you'd need to be careful not to inhale it or be blinded yourself. And such attacks can be blocked by the use of barriers. But at least it's something to consider. If an opponent's Force abilities are already being strained they might not be able to defend against such an attack."

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

Isen gave long consideration to what Master Thral was telling him. Much of it, if he was to be honest, was out of his wheelhouse. His wit was dry at best, and he preferred not to talk during battle, but just attack, attack, attack. Thinking back on previous battles, Isen was almost always the first to leap into the fray, even before the knights and masters where most padawans watched and waited what the more experienced rank and file would do. What Izel was proposing would require Isen to slow down, be deliberate, and, one would assume as a result, less lethal and finite in the results.

Isen figured that was probably part of what Izel was trying to get across.

While Izel talked, Isen tried to meld this with what made him so formidable as a duelist and combatant. He was aggressive, and that is what made Ataru a good fit for him. And when he attacked, he attacked strongly, powerfully. That is why Djem So was a good fit for him as well. But a thought entered Isen's mind. He had, on his own more or less, managed to combine the acrobatics, speed, and aggressiveness of Ataru with the counterstriking and power of Djem So. So much so, it was more or less a hybrid style combining the two. This was not a combination that many practitioners would consider ideal to meld. But, for Isen, he wanted to utilize all of his physical and psychological advantages, and forms IV and V were the forms that did that.

So, Isen surmised he could do same here. Perhaps he could use his stoicism to eat at opponents nerves. It was likely that should he encounter a Sith, they would expect a tinge of fear as death in such a confrontation was a very real possibility. But they wouldn't get fear from Isen. Isen, as un Jedi-like as it was, would actually welcome the fight. The Sith wouldn't sense fear, but anticipation. While the Sith fed off of emotion, Isen's ability to keep his emotions in check would in and of itself be frustrating for many Sith.

He nodded to his master. "Ok, Master. I think I can make it work. I think I understand the purpose and basic tenets. I may need to...modify...the normal tactics to fit me, but I believe it could be an asset. Perhaps it will allow some time for a Sith to rethink their life choices in the future." Isen would smirk a bit toward his master at that.

At Yulie's suggestion, Isen would think it over. "You know, it isn't totally without precedent. It's rare, but I have heard of blasters being attached to lightsabers. Some sort of aerosol could probably be made to work..." Isen was clearly thinking about how this might work, but shook it off and detached one of the lightsabers he created form his belt. It was quite different than most lightsabers in that the majority of what could be seen was not metal, but wood. He ignited it, and in the hazy, dusty air which was permeating with the Dark Side, the blade looked more royal blue than cyan. Isen looked at the blade, not marveling at it or worshipping it, but respecting it.

"I don't like all the fancy ornaments some people use, and some of the wild attachments you see from time to time. The lightsaber is a clean weapon. It was intended to be clean. It's designed to cut clean, and it heals as it cuts." He twirled it in his hands. It was well-balanced for Isen, and his skill with the weapon was quite evident as his movements were smooth and effortless. "If it passes through an arm, a leg, it cauterizes your opponent as it does so. In a sense, it's offers a sort of kindness while simultaneously being used for a savage purpose." He pressed the ignition button again and the blade sank back into the hilt. "All of that to say, I believe you should allow the weapon the dignity of being as clean and kind a tool as it can possibly be. Additions tend to do the opposite."

Isen attached the lightsaber back to his belt.

@Reyn @Zohrael

 

[Yulie]

At least running was an option. A protracted, merciful battle as Izel described stood opposite to Yulie’s default strategy. With her weight overshadowed, her reach falling short, her armor lacking and her skills unrefined, it took a thirst for blood to prevail. She had to pile her wrath on her enemies, burying her opponents with every square inch of her body right down to her eyeteeth until they fell. If she couldn’t shoot her hot heart’s shell upon them like a plasma torpedo, she would be the one staring down that barrel. Treating such an engagement like it was a dance…that left a lot of room for things to go wrong.

If only Izel had shrugged its shoulders and sanctioned lethal force when the odds of winning were long from the start. With these conditions, Yulie not only had to learn to fight differently, but she also had to learn to fight properly, and from a different place within herself. Thankfully, the Jedi Code did not obligate her to stand her ground and throw herself into the jaws of defeat. That way of thinking was more befitting of one adorned in heavy armor.

Now that she was thinking about it, the Jedi didn’t seem to have any concept of armor. Not these ones, anyways. Izel cautioned her about dosing herself in the eyes, but why would that be an issue if they were wearing helmets? True, she did not have a helmet, but Yulie took it for granted that they would cross paths with the Sith only when they were dressed for combat. She could find goggles in the engine room, or modify a welding mask so its tint wouldn’t blacken everything in sight. That would do in the meantime.

Yulie looked back and forth between the Jedi. No, they had to have armor. Hulking black armor like in the stories, ornate with medals earned in victory, or boasting the decal of the mightiest armies. When Isen spoke of his lightsaber, the evidence against Yulie’s assumptions were indicting enough to convict.

It’s made of wood.

The blue energy was appropriately royal, and it hummed with immeasurable power. Yulie had only seen them projected through a hologram, even in those translucent, deteriorating images they were magnificent, despite appearing washed out and thin. In real life, they crystallized the most far-fetched tales in a dazzling beam. They were so much greater than the stories, and well they should. The stories were so empty of truth. The Jedi were not the fearsome conquerors of legend, not if they made weapons from things that sprouted out of the ground. Did they even wear armor at all?

Isen spoke of the weapon as the perfect version of itself. Not with pride or reverence, but as statement of fact. The form and function were optimized for its purpose, and it was an extension of himself. He saw it differently than Yulie. She saw potential; a variety of secondary functions, a more durable casing, so many modifications that it would make more sense to develop an arsenal of varied blades for different situations. If only she could understand how they worked. She never gave up trying to expand into Jedi science, but never succeeded.

“I like multi-tools myself. I’m just a mechanic, not a swordswoman, so...no offense. To you or your lightsaber. Most of the stuff I work on or work with is garbage, but if it can be given purpose, I think that’s kind of dignified. Not that your lightsaber is garbage! Or lacks purpose. I just like tinkering with things.”

She had a number of ideas of things she could make, especially since the Code permitted fighting dirty. Vials of pepper mist and spray paint could be swapped out with vapors of dilute paralytic toxins of venomous spiders, or perhaps a refined variant of spice to trap a Sith in hallucinations. All of the above maybe? Smaller vials would mean fewer uses. There is always the option of something infectious if it's looking I might get captured. Two days with sporelung and anyone would play nice for the cure.

The barrier that Izel put up around Yulie’s mind was starting to erode, but from the inside.

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel was glad to hear Isen was open to trying and adopting some of these new methods for combat. Of course saying something and doing something were to very different things, and Isen had shown more than once already that he struggled to curb some of his more aggressive tendencies. "I intend for us to stay here for some time to build up our mental defenses against the dark side." She replied to her Padawan. "If you'd like to practice with some of these tactics while we're here we can spar later." With Ambria's knack for making emotions run high, it would be the perfect setting to practice Dun Möch. Just so long as neither of them lost control.

As the topic turned to lightsabers her apprentice revealed his to the Dathomirian, and gave his opinion on the matter. Straightforward individual that he was, he preferred a more minimalist and traditional outlook of the weapon. Yulie gave her opinion next, and Izel couldn't help but chitter a bit as the girl stumbled over her words, afraid she had given offense.

"It's important to remember every lightsaber is a unique reflection of it's owner." Izel piped in once both of them were finished. To show Yulie an example she held her own pike before her. Likely until now the Dathomirian would have mistaken it for a metal staff, but upon closer inspection one could see the activation switch as well as other knobs and buttons for adjusting the blade's length and intensity. She ignited the weapon, a glimmering blade the color of sunlight emitting from one end. The rest of the pike's outer covering, unlike Isen's saber, was made of phrik. A far more durable material that was needed in Izel's case, as anything less could easily be sliced apart by an opponent's blade. The opposite end from the blade formed a kind of bludgeon that could be used to hit her enemies as well. As she continued, Izel would raise one hand and twist the bladed end of the pike, detaching it to resemble a smaller shoto. "Every Jedi must construct their weapon as a part of their training. Padawans are permitted to build theirs however they see fit. First and foremost, a lightsaber must be the perfect tool to match it's owner's personality and style of fighting." She would then reattach the shoto to the pike and extinguish the blade.

As she lowered her pike again she would raise her head, antennae twitching idly as she sensed something not too far off in the distance. It was slowly making it's way in their direction, likely drawn by their presence in the Force. If the others were attentive enough, they too would feel a new type of darkness in the air, this one clearly coming from something alive. It was still far enough off however that the Vratix would have time to explain. She turned her attention back to her apprentice. "I think we're just about finished with today's lesson. There's just one more thing I wanted you to try before we head back to the ship." She would glance momentarily at Yulie. "This will be too dangerous for you, but you can stay back with me and observe." Looking back towards Isen she went on. "Obviously we don't have a Sith on hand for you to try out what you've learned here, but there is something similar in principle we can do. If not much different in technique. Tell me, do you have any knowledge of Beast Control?" It was a simple power to understand but difficult to master. The minds of animals were much simpler and easier to alter then those of sentients, but their somewhat alien nature could easily throw the unexpected for a loop.

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

As Yulie made the comment about garbage and lightsabers, Isen couldn't help but hide a smile as best he could. He wondered if her opinion about all the add-ons to a potential future lightsaber might change if she had the opportunity to start learning combat forms and how to use the Force. Being raised by Jedi certainly meant Isen's frame of reference was different than most. In an era where most Jedi come to the Order of their own free will when they are old to enough make such a choice, Isen was a rarity. He recognized that while he had a headstart on knowledge and practice using the Force, those that grew up outside of the Order learned something just as valuable- ingenuity.

"I think we're just about finished with today's lesson. There's just one more thing I wanted you to try before we head back to the ship," Izel would say. "Obviously we don't have a Sith on hand for you to try out what you've learned here, but there is something similar in principle we can do. If not much different in technique. Tell me, do you have any knowledge of Beast Control?"

The question took Isen by surprise, because it would so happen, he had been taught the basics of using the Force to tame animals by a Cathar Jedi that came to Yavin 4 after the events of Ajan Kloss. "Actually, one day after tutaminis practice, a Jedi by the name of Novaran Rah taught me the basics on..." He stopped short and then looked at Yulie before quickly flipping his eyes back to Izel. "Back home." Yavin 4 was still a secret, and in fact, a new set of rules and mandates from the Council had been sent to the Jedi across the galaxy. One of which was that bringing those not in the Order to Yavin 4 had to be approved ahead of time. Isen wondered what that would eventually mean for Yulie.

"After a rocky start, I was pleased with my progress."

@Reyn @Zohrael

 

[Yulie]

Yulie looked towards Izel when the Vratix started talking about lightsabers. It was still so new to see a functioning one that it would be impossible for her to not give them undivided attention. The fact that personal expression was considered a basic feature was probably the most exciting thing she learned about them. If the Jedi shared Isen’s sense of dignified minimalism, Yulie would have been contented her to form an ergonomic body for her to grip and endlessly fuss over aesthetics. However, when Izel showed the full function of the staff, Yulie really started to think about the possibilities.

Something with a shape like brass knuckles would be easiest to adapt to her fighting style; that would allow her to throw punches like she was used to, and she would only have to figure out how to extend the blade outwards to shotel length on either side so they would be equally viable for blocking. Setting them to point inwards at an obtuse angle would make it easier to redirect an opposing blade so it would slide away from her body and reveal an opening. Having one in each hand would allow for omnidirectional defense against an entire pack of assailants.

No. Those would not do at all. Yulie was not connecting with the form and function of that design. There were literally infinite possible configurations for a lightsaber, but only one was meant for her. Until she discovered it, neither the Dathomirian or her crystal would be satisfied with the construct. With no way to conceive of the final form for her personal blade, the various designs appearing in her mind were as smoke. As a mechanic, she was okay with that: no device was ever truly complete. As a Force Sensitive, it would be maddening.

Things were looking to be wrapping up quickly, save for some kind of test. Yulie arched her brow quizzically. If Izel said something was dangerous, Yulie was going to be extra cautious. Hang back with Izel, observe the danger from a safe distance. That was straightforward enough. From the frantic imagery in the HoloNet, Yulie imagined that Isen would be attempting some vulgar display of power that would leave a new crater in the world. Yulie wanted to see that power herself.

The looming darkness crept beneath Yulie’s notice. Of all aspects of the Force, sensing her surroundings was her weakest area. Ambria’s background taint was a shroud that concealed every other shadow, and Yulie could not even properly sense that. All she felt was the physical and psychological side effects of it plucking the strings of her essence. Were she more attentive, she may have spotted Izel’s antennae twitching idly, but it was Isen stopped short and briefly looked at Yulie that took the Dathomirian’s notice. His cheeks did not darken, that was disappointing, but he was being mindful of his home around her.

“Is your home on Dathomir?” If there was a reason to keep his homeland a secret from her, this was all she could think of. She just thought the abrupt silence as tiptoeing past a subject she might find sensitive. Even if his origins brushed against old wounds, she saw and knew so little of her ancestral home that it would have been a privilege to learn more. Dathomirian characteristics were indeed split down gender lines and it was only the women who were so pale, but Yulie had no way to recognize a man of her world without ever having knowingly seen one before.

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

"Oh?" Izel replied to Isen's answer with a curious tilt of her head. That certainly wasn't what she had expected. If he had any previous knowledge of the skill she would have assumed he'd learned about it back on Jedha, not picked it up from some random Jedi on Yavin. She hadn't heard of this Novaran Rah, but perhaps the Force was behind this bit of convenience. "Well isn't that fortuitous? That makes this much easier, come." She stood and started to turn to depart the ruins when Yulie piped in with her question. It seemed strange for her to ask such a thing at first, but Izel quickly put two and two together. The girl must have been wondering what Isen was trying to keep from her.

"No." The Vratix answered her. "Forgive us, but after some very unfortunate recent events the Jedi Council has instated several new mandates." She explained. "One of them being that we are not permitted to reveal the location of our home temple to outsiders without their express permission. If you do choose to train with us that is something that will need to be addressed later." After clearing things up for the Dathomirian Izel would start to lead them away from the ruins and back into the mountains. Her antennae twitched as she continued to follow her Force sense, leading them right towards the dark presence.

"I was not entirely truthful earlier when I said that all life on this planet was wiped out." She explained. "For reasons that are unclear a small number of non-sentient species were able to survive. Among them are one called the Hississ, large reptilian predators that still roam the planet. They have been drenched in the dark side, and spread it's corruption everywhere they walk. They are uniquely malicious in their behavior, and will inspire the same cruelty in those already gripped by the dark side." She glanced back at Isen. "It is even said the poison from their bite can turn one to the dark side." She looked forward again. "I have sensed one here in the mountains, it is being drawn to us. I want you to do as I have explained and try to tame the creature. This will not be quite the same as using Beast Control on any other animal, as their minds are deeply corrupted. Their motivations are not merely to survive like most creatures, but to spread the evil of the dark side as well. You must find a way to pierce the hatred that consumes it."

As she continued to lead them along the rocky mountain path Izel would use the Force to shield both her presence and that of the students, so as to avoid the creature getting the drop on them. Eventually they came to a small ridge. The Vratix would stop and crouch down, quietly gesturing for them to look below. In a ravine about thirty feet beneath them walked a large scaled creature. About two meters in height and over three in length. It lumbered along, oblivious to the Force sensitives above, flicking it's forked tongue as it searched for prey. A palpable darkness emanated from the beast that would threaten to trigger one's fight or flight reflex if they did not know how to resist the effects. Izel would put a hand on Yulie's shoulder to bolster her defenses through the connection they had made earlier.

"Be patient." She whispered to her Padawan. "Try to get a feel of the creature first, what it is thinking, how it will react. Do not approach until you are confident you can calm it. Remember that this creature is tied to the dark side of the Force. If you approach it aggressively you will only strengthen it." After giving this advice she would look back to Yulie. "You and I will remain here, watch what Isen does closely, consider this a lesson for yourself as well." After this she would look back to Isen and give a nod. If anything happened she would be prepared to help on a moment's notice.

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

Isen followed Izel along with Yulie on the elevated path. Looking down in the ravine below, he saw the monstrous lizard. The beast was not a sentient, but Isen could tell this lizard acted with purpose. Life throughout the galaxy existed to live. Predators hunted to live. Prey animals tried to survive. There was no evil intent for most of nature. It was violent, yes, but that was the mechanism that kept things in balance.

This predator was different. It was violent for violent's sake. It enjoyed inflicting pain and fear in others. It thrived off of it. Unlike the angler, the apex predator of the Yavin swamps, this animal sought more than sustenance. The angler had a territory. It killed to eat. It fought to set out an area of the swamp that was his. He was at the top of the food chain, and he kept the balance.

The Hssiss was a different animal altogether. It killed and fought to terrorize, to feel the pain and fear in those it hunted. It drew power from the pain and distress of that which it hunted. Isen was able to create a Force bond with the angler, essentially by becoming a living representation of the swamp. That would not be an option this time. In order to tame this evil beast, Isen would have to replace the Dark Side with the Light Side of the Force. He stared at the animal a long while wondering just exactly how to do that.

Isen looked at Izel and said, "Well, it's not going to tame itself, I suppose." With that, the Kiffar lifted himself over the ledge and dropped the 30 feet, using the Force to land gracefully on both feet in a crouch. He stood tall and allowed his Force signature to escape the protection of Izel hiding it. The hssiss had been walking away from Isen roughly 30 yards out, but the lizard suddenly stopped. It sensed the change in the Force, and furthermore, Isen's Light Side signature was repugnant to him. The lizard head whipped around, his tongue lashing out to sense further. He saw the padawan staring at him, standing tall. The lizard quickly spun around to face the Jedi.

The advantage that Isen had over most that would combat against the hssiss was that he was not afraid of the animal. His confidence was borderline arrogant- in fact, Izel had said he was guilty of arrogance. But in this scenario, that confidence was a benefit. The animal fed off of fear, and the size and countenance of the beast, he always felt fear from his prey. But this was different. Isen felt no fear, and this infuriated the beast. If he could not fuel the Dark Side with Isen's fear, he would fuel with it anger.

Isen started walking a long, slow track around the animal, staring at it, focusing on staying in an emotionless state. "I'm not scared of you, and you have no reason to be scared of me." He not only said these words, but he would try to project them to the lizard in front of him. All he got in return was a loud squall fueled by the Dark Side itself. It was a terrifying scream, so much so that even Isen felt a shiver run down his spine. He quickly recovered his emotionless state and turned to face the lizard fully.

The hssiss began a slow stalking of Isen. The padawan reached out with a hand, sending his Light Side senses toward the beast, trying to break into the lizard's mind. He could tell that he was not making progress, but the beast was stalking ever closer. With a sigh, Isen shook his head. "You're going to charge me, aren't you..."

@Zohrael @Reyn

 

[Yulie]

“Oh.” Yulie said, not disappointed exactly. It was much too far a long shot for Isen to have been from Dathomir to have put any hope into it. She also had nowhere near enough information to work with to be embarrassed for being so far from the mark. And the truth, the part of it that she was told, gave her something to think about. Something terrible was in motion, and the Jedi had to hide their entire planet from it. Was it that big war thing on the HoloNet? Or was it something that man was doing, building his own league of worlds?

She mulled on that as she trailed behind the Jedi, pondering the irony. If that silver-haired idiot had not riled everyone up in the spice den, she never would have found herself in the company of Jedi. By turning his audience against the Order, he accidentally delivered her straight to them. There were so many paths off Mon Gazza, but it was like she was meant to walk this one.

No. She thought to herself. Destiny only cares about important people. She reminded herself that she was nothing, and she would not think of it any further. Her thoughts returned to lightsabers and their various designs and enhancements, but those thoughts would wander while she made her way back to the mountains.

Corruption evaporated from the Hississ’ hide, staining the air with its own noxious fumes borne of the Dark Side. Imperceptible to Yulie’s senses, the taint wafted through her malevolently, assailing her differently than Ambria. It preyed on her hunger, tempting the predatory instincts that kept her alive on the rooftops of Mon Gazza. Crackers and protein paste formed but a small island in an otherwise empty stomach; the promise of meat demanded that she wet these lifeless grounds with blood until flesh can be pulled from bone and roasted in an open flame.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she opened herself to the faintest sounds that a near-human could detect and began stalking their path with a predator’s determination. Eyes forward, hairs on their ends, nails stretched from their palms, she silently crept to the stone precipice and peered over in such a way as to keep her shadow from spilling over the ridge.

There it was. Unaware. With enough meat on its hide to feed her for months. It was much too large, however, to slaughter like the prey she preferred. Even beasts half its size took offense to her challenge for dominance, refusing to let their wills be broken by her. Not knowing how to resist the effects of her hyper-stimulated fight or flight response, her eyes darted in their motionless skull in search for a boulder that she could furiously drop upon the creature. She did not have to dominate the creature completely, only distract it long enough for it to be crushed beneath falling rock. Once it gurgled its last gasp, the food would be hers.

Izel placed a hand upon Yulie shoulder well before she could act, and the desperate hunger overwhelming the girl’s judgement vanished at the speed of thought. The sensation of the hair on the back of her neck going limp gave Yulie a shiver, and she realized she did not even know why she wanted to sink her teeth into the creature’s throat to begin with. The whole point of this excursion was for Isen to confront it, but she had found the echoes of her empty stomach louder and more compelling than Izel’s warnings.

Backing from the edge a couple paces, she took only enough of a view to keep track of its position. Her muscles felt stiff and ached as if she had exercised too much a couple days prior. Yulie thought it absurd that she even entertained the idea of springing into action when she felt so depleted by the planet, but it was exactly as Izel described: the creature inspired its own style of cruelty from those in the clutches of the Dark Side.

Show it who’s boss. Yulie mouthed wordlessly to Isen, thinking her words to be an encouraging vote of confidence. Her barriers against the Dark Side’s external influences had been restored, but she still saw the confrontation as a matter of establishing dominance and collapsing the monster’s mind under the weight of a stronger will. That, it seemed, was just how Nature worked. Every living creature fought for supremacy, and the food chain was merely striations of their success. Social hierarchy was fairly similar, albeit less bloody, and Yulie was accustomed to being at the bottom. Isen on the other hand could climb to a higher rung.

She watched more intently when he dropped over the ridge, twice as far as Yulie could confidently land. She returned to her initial starting point a couple paces forward, taking in a wider viewing angle. When the beast screamed she felt the urge to attack but managed to hold her position, her only movements were in the form of her lips pulling away from her teeth. If it had been her in the ravine, she would not have the strength of mind to resolve the confrontation in a Jedi's way. She only had the strength to hold position and observe, steadying her priorities at a fixed point while the Dark Side churned within.

Isen raised his hand, a gesture she recognized when she herself would get a feel for her prey. Do it. She cheered Isen on in her thoughts, careful not to distract him or announce her position to the Hississ. Bring it to heel.

@Isen @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel stood completely motionless as she crouched by the cliff's ledge. From the moment Isen jumped into the ravine her focus was fixed solely on him and the beast, almost forgetting Yulie's presence entirely. Her antennae twitched again as she felt him reach out to the hssiss with the Force, their wills entering into an invisible battle. Isen was keeping calm for the most part, although it seemed the sheer volume of dark side energy emanating from the beast took him slightly by surprise.

That momentary lapse in his confident image encouraged the hssiss, and the Padawan would be able to sense it's deadly intent. From the emotions it was giving off he'd be able to tell the reptile didn't just want to eat him. It hated him. It wanted him to suffer, and seemed keen to inflict that suffering itself.

"You're going to charge me, aren't you..." Isen started, and before he was even finished his words the beast was indeed barreling towards him with a thunderous roar. It would take a snap at him, revealing teeth that would rend his flesh like wet paper if he did not manage to dodge it. Thankfully the attack was straightforward enough that it would be easy to see coming. The hssiss was still a lot faster for it's size then one might think though.

If Isen was observant enough he would be able to notice something else at this close range. The hssiss was thin. Unhealthily so. And heavily scarred for what appeared to be a fairly young beast. It's eyes as well conveyed a sort of desperation to it's hatred. A deep need to cause harm to it's prey.

@Isen @Zohrael

 

[Isen Ramm]

Isen could feel it even before the lizard started at him in a sprint. Isen knew the animal was gearing up his mind for an attack. As such, Isen easily avoided the beast by leaping right over the top of him as he came running in, flipping and twisting and landing behind the hate-filled lizard by about 12 meters. The hississ would raise its mouth and snap, but Isen cleared the business end of the snout quite easily. The dark side dragon spun around to face the padawan once again.

"Whoa...easy..." Isen held out a hand, trying to meet his mind to the dragon's. He could sense what the dragon was thinking. That was both a blessing and a curse. It was helpful because Isen could use that information to stay safe, and it would be pivotal to taming the beast. However, Ambria had a way of seeping the Dark Side into Force users' minds, and the lizard itself was filled with that same, seductive energy. It was just another danger added on to the pull of the Dark Side on this planet. The hississ hated him. He didn't need a reason, though Isen could sense something different. Whether it was hunger or boredom, this lizard desired to cause Isen pain and suffering before eating his meal.

Isen could sense the animal was hungry. Clearly malnourished and scarred from a hard life, however short it may be, the lizard clearly had not had it easy. With so little life on Ambria, so little prey, if any at all, the hississ could ill afford to let a meal pass by. Isen sighed wondering what sort of connection he could make when the animal, Dark Side filled or not, had a very real need to eat. When Isen was the only potential meal in front of him, what could the young Jedi possibly do to bypass the carnal need for sustenance and build a bond with this creature?

The lizard starting let loose another loud roar, and Isen could sense the dragon getting ready for another charge. Isen would try something....less Force-centric. One tried and true tactic the rest of the galaxy uses to tame beasts is through their stomachs, and Isen wondered if he might at least get the beast to stop for a moment to munch on something. Isen took a food ration from his Jedi belt and tossed it toward the animal, landing about ten feet in front of him. It wouldn't fill his belly, but it was crammed full of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. For a starving animal, it wouldn't stop the growling in the belly, but it would be a boost to the internal systems, perhaps getting the brain to act with less brain stem and more with the rest of the brain. With a hand still outstretched, he would try to marry this technique with the Force, sending a telepathic message to the best if the lizard was able and willing to accept it- "It's a gift. Eat. Let me help you. Calm down." Over and over, these messages were sent to the beast. Hopefully, the lizard would take the time to eat the ration and at least part of the message Isen was trying to relay to the dragon would get through.

@Reyn @Zohrael

 

[Yulie]

Yulie flattened herself against the stone when Isen leaped over the charging Hississ; Yulie was not about to be caught peeking into its line of sight if the creature was swift enough to spot Isen in mid-air. It was shocking to see such a feat, especially casually, but there was a reason why a single Jedi was regarded as an army in his own right.

Her ribs weren't pleased to be scraping against solid rock without something to pad them, so Yulie tried inhaling with slow, controlled breaths, so the base of her lungs would balloon first and ease the pressure. She could not tell from such a distance, but the creature was more of a kindred spirit to her than an adversary. Malnourished, driven by instinct and desperation, ready to lash out at anything unfriendly that stood in their way. Though bipedal, her features were more like the creature than the Jedi; gaunt, brittle at the pointy ends, covered in faded wounds that wouldn't completely heal unless she could get proper food and rest.

All the same, it had not earned her sympathy. From her vantage point, it was large, menacing, rows of teeth that could easily outrun her. Isen was clearly capable enough to keep out of reach, but Yulie could not see a way to force submission from something so dangerous. Her method of overpowering the wild did not feel viable against something like a Hississ. Watching Isen toss some rations reminded her that dominance did not need to be part of the equation at all.

She remembered how it felt when he broke bread with her, how it was not to gain power over her, but just being kind. She was willing to accept it without hesitation, at least when food was involved, but even though Izel had explained to not harm the creature, showing it kindness was the furthest thing from her mind. This added to the list of reasons she thought herself undeserving, but it made her hold the Hississ in better esteem than before. Even though she could not tell it was unhealthily thin or heavily scarred for one so young, she saw a little bit of herself in the beast, and a bit of the beast in herself.

Take the food. She silently urged.

@Isen @Reyn