[Training] Sith Thought

[Vonlin]

The Falleen Sith watched the events unfolding before him with a widening grin. He was pleased with how well he had been able to turn the Acolytes against each other. Azool had sparked anger in both of them and had them using it agasint one another now, a lesson well taught.

Before Achukka's second attack of lighting could reach Tessa, Azool would intervene. With fast reflexes the Sith Sorcerer summoned the dark side to him and instantly rage built up inside him. He lifted up both of his arms and pointed a hand at either Acolyte. Azool's now channeled and directed the rage at either of them, surrounding them both with it. He flicked his hands up and used the force to grip both of them, seizing them with great strength and attempting to lift them both off the ground and suspend them in the air. If he was successful with his force grips he would place Tessa out of the lighting's path. "That is enough! Well done, both of you."

If they both provided no further resistance and seemed content for now to stop attacking each other he would set them back down. He waited to see how they responded to all of this and if he would be able to continue the lesson, reviewing what just happened.

 

[Kassa]

By the time Achukka had launched his lightning, Tessra was just about to fire off a second volt until they were both stopped, and lifted into the air. As she landed back on her feet, she took a moment to regain her composure. Flipping her hair back behind her ears, she looked at her Sith tutor.

"Yes... My Lord," she said once more, casting a look toward the one she was instructed to combat. About that time, her Rancor roared once more. With a soft clicking noise, the roar turned into a whine, and then into silence.

 

[Quill]

Achukka could feel the Force gripping around his neck and was only let go once he and Tessra stopped fighting. When he was let down, Achukka nodded his head slightly before walking back over as he ignored the girl once more. His robing were slightly damaged by the attacks. In his mind at that point, Achukka was remembering that both Azool and Tessra were to die once he finished his training. The acolyte still managed to respond to Lord Azool however.

Yes, my lord. I am also quite confident that I have a full understanding of the code as you have given it.​

 

[Vonlin]

He looked to the two Acolytes after putting them both back on the ground. "What you just witnessed there was a perfect example of how conflict breeds strength and growth. Worm Tessa, previously you were unlikely ever able to use any form of Sith lighting, now you can. While you Worm Achukka, it appears you have been able to use some Sith lighting before but from my judgement just used the most powerful form of it yet to date. You see it is conflict which drives both of you to these new heights, never forget that. It was passion that gave you your strength, not peace."

He nodded and clasped his hand together in front of him, his long green claws curling around each other in the gesture. Azool was happy with where the direction of the training had gone. He had blended the code with some actual practice of the force but he was not done yet. "To learn how to think like a Sith does not stop at just understanding the code," he directed at Achukka. "There are other Sith philosophies you must learn to understand and how to apply before you can ever be made true Sith!"

"A test for you then Achukka if you feel so confident in your knowledge. Say the Empire is invading a planet. An experienced and capable Imperial General is in command of the ground forces and you have been sent by the Sith Order to assist in the invasion. The ground assault on the planet's capital is of vital importance to the Emperor and it must not fail. The General disobeys a direct order from you because he prefers to lead the assault his way using his extensive military experience that towers over your lack of experience with military strategy. What would you do? Kill him for his disobedience and disloyalty to a Sith? Of course if you did that the loss of his leadership over his troops during the assault would seriously threaten the Empire's chances for victory in that battle."

He looked to Tessa, "After he gives his answer I want to hear yours."

 

[Quill]

The question was not a simple one and Achukka had to think about it for a minute. The general was not listening to Achukka, and if he was not listening, this would deem him a traitor. However if he was killed, and they lost the battle, Achukka would be executed for his failure in all likelihood. Then Achukka found the answer within his mind.

He would tortured. Stabbed, electrocuted, and his mind would be probed. He will lead in the battle the way I command him to... Then he will die.​

 

[Kassa]

"Kill him of course. The General's incompetence and disregard of a member of the Sith shows signs of disrespect towards our mighty ways. Thus, he must perish and his corpse shown to his comrades. From that point, you take the battle in your control, or until a respectful General shows up,"

Folding her arms, the young girl noticed that her wound had cauterized. Wiping off the blood from her claw wound with a finger, the Acolyte drank it, and let out a wicked grin.

 

[Vonlin]

He listened to both answers, the torches around the room casting strange shadows on his face.

He began to circle the two of them as he spoke, "In that he cannot be allowed to live in the long run you both are correct. He must die," Azool stopped behind Tessa, "But in immediately and out right killing him you would be letting your emotions control you Acolyte, instead of using them. Your arrogance in assuming that you could lead the assault as well he could would be your undoing. There stands a good chance that the Empire would lose the battle under your command and because of your actions...the Emperor would probably as a result later execute you." His eyes darted to Achukka for a moment then back to Tessa, "You mention another general and redeem yourself at least a little there. The Empire has a near endless supply of officers and commanders ready to step up the career ladder as those at the top fall from it and make room. We never need to worry about purging a weak officer from the ranks as others will take his place. In this particular situation though there would probably be no other immediately available officers capable enough to replace the general at a satisfactory level so in the end your answer is incorrect. Count yourself fortunate that you have made the incorrect decision while the situation is still a theory and not a reality."

He now turned back to Achukka, "You worm, have hit the nail on the head. You would be patience with your revenge and strike when the time is right. The general would command the battle and lead the Empire to victory, you would then strike him down afterwards for his disloyalty and be able to claim credit for the victory before the Emperor's eyes. Instead of being killed like your peer you would likely be rewarded."

Azool smiled darkly taking a liking to this particular Acolyte, perhaps he would even consider making him his official apprentice...perhaps. But for now there would be more questions giving either of them opportunity to rise or fall from his grace yet.

"Tell me what you two would do in this situation. You are sent to a planet on the outer rim to recover a lost artifact of interest to both the Sith and the Jedi. During your search of the planet you encounter a Jedi who you know has a lead on the location of the artifact. As a Jedi he is an enemy of our order and your Sith heritage demands that you confront him in battle. The Jedi does not yet know you are a Sith though. He is a trained Jedi and would rather die during torture than reveal his lead on on the artifact's location."

 

[Quill]

Achukka was indifferent to his success over the girl. She was young and it was not truly impressive to outwit her. There was then another brainteaser for Achukka and the girl. He had to think long and hard about how he could manipulate the situation. Any use of the Force or show of his red lightsaber would immediately show his true colors as a Sith. The Jedi would in all likelihood not break during torture. The Jedi cannot be killed immediately because of his lead regarding the artifact. Achukka thought about all of the factors and then answered.

I would continue to keep my true nature hidden. I would pretend to be harmless and accompany him while he journeys to his lead. Once we determined whether his lead was or was not unfounded, I would eviscerate him with the darkside in combat. I would prove both my power and tact in the situation.​

 

[Kassa]

"I would track the Jedi. I would apply Force Stealth and use Force Sense to tail him, while attempting to mask my presence. I would follow him until the artifact is located by him, or until I was discovered. Then, I would kill him and take the artifact for myself,"

Tessra nods lightly, awaiting another question.

 

[Vonlin]

Azool nodded, pleasantly surprised that both of them came up with the right answer. He did not need to add further explanation.

He gave them their next question, "This time its your turn answer first worm Tessa. The answers given on this next question can be a bit unorthodox and disagreed upon among the Sith lords.

There is a powerful Sith lord. He has four apprentices. You are one of them. All four of you are far weaker than him. As a Sith you all strive to become more powerful than and overthrow your master so that you may replace him. The opportunity presents itself that the four of you working together can ambush and take out the mighty Sith lord, even though he is stronger than any one of you individually. The four of you are considering this opportunity. What do you do?" There was many approaches to this question and Azool was curious to see which they would take.

 

[Kassa]

Tessra seems to ponder for a moment. By this point, she didn't care that the Sith tutor was getting her name wrong. Instead, she seemed to scratch her chin, eyes pulsating as she pondered.

"Only if the opportunity presented itself. The four of us would form an alliance. Then, I'd take my favored apprentice, and make a secret alliance. After weakening the Sith Lord, the four of us would strike silently and swiftly. The three alliance members would stun him. Then I would finish him off. Afterwards, the one I made the secret alliance with would kill the other two while they were distracted. Then, I would finish off the final apprentice and become the Sith Lord,"

Nodding slightly, she looks toward Azool, pondering her answer and if it was wise to give such an elaborate plan.

 

[Vonlin]

((haha sorry, typo, how long have i been doing that?))

 

[Quill]

Achukka thought hard however his answer was already taken partially. Tessra had picked the right answer by Achukka's standards, however the ends were not the same.

I would do the same, my lord. However once all was said and done, I would not kill the final apprentice. He would swear loyalty to me. If he did not, then he would die. I would also like to mention that I would not take on another three apprentices like a fool. Raise no more Sith than you can put down.

 

[Vonlin]

He listened to both of their answers and sighed. They were the expected textbook answers, he had hoped for some more innovation from at least one of them but was disappointed. It was in this idea and this lesson that Xezgul Azool secretly disagreed with the teachings of the Sith Order. He would not obviously and outwardly speak out against them or the Emperor, not now at least. But he would indirectly challenge this faulty idea here with these two acolytes who posed no threat to his power.

"Fine, you kill the Sith Lord and replace him. But as I said before, he was far more powerful than you. Now with his absence as well as the absences of the other two or three apprentices that you would kill our Sith Order is in fact not actually better off. The weak were not purged but instead rose to the top and the powerful are gone.

The Jedi would have a considerable advantage over us suddenly and would perhaps now strike since you removed the Sith Lord for them and they would kill you. Now there would be no Sith left. What do you have to say about that little worms?"

 

[Kassa]

"Who would tell the Jedi? As the new Sith Lord, I would keep my most loyal subjects to keep the general population quiet, and should the Jedi attack, there are plenty of Sith ready to defend me. And if they're not, they'll die,"

 

[Quill]

Lord Azool wanted a different answer, and perhaps he wanted the answer to benefit the Sith as a whole instead of just one particularly. That is more against the policy, but not entire wrong. Achukka thought out his answer again and this time it was changed substantially. Achukka in the situation would still want a greater deal of power than anyone without making the Sith as a whole suffer.

In that case, my lord, I would agree to the coup, but secretly alert my master. Once all four of us start the attack, my master and I would turn the tables on them, and I would be left as the only apprentice. Then once my power grows strong enough, I will kill him myself.​

 

[Vonlin]

The Sith Sorcerer chuckled a sinister noise, "How well said Acolyte Achukka," the first time he had used either of their names in referring to them, a sign of obviously being impressed. "You have found the answer that increases your own power, takes advantage of the situation and increases the Sith Order's strength, well done indeed. The Sith lord would reward you and the two apprentices you were competing with as peers would be removed from the field. Playing both sides of the table is a tactic often enjoyed by the Sith and one you should both be weary of and use yourself."

He turned to *Tessra*, "First of all a Sith does not need their subjects to defend them," he sneered, "Second even if no one told the Jedi eventually their would be a fight of some kind, after all conflict breeds strength. The Sith would be at a disadvantage without the powerful lord who was destroyed by lesser beings. Thirdly, because the Sith lord is more powerful than you it is likely that one of the other three apprentices, as Achukka would, alert him to the plot and kill those who did not remain loyal to him."

"It is natural for a Sith to kill those above them, but ensure that before you attempt it you are in fact more powerful than the target. Otherwise you only run the risk of loosening your own life. If weaklings plot against the powerful it is usually to your advantage to take the side of the powerful and come out on top with less competition. Always ensure you are on the winning side...."

He moved in front of them once more and remained there, "I have one final question for the two of you." He paused and looked closely at the two of them, about to ask them the question he had been contemplating while he waited for them to arrive. "When we train Acolytes here at at the academy we usually weed out the weak and unworthy. All but the strongest are eliminated. But with what looks like a war about to break out, the Sith will need as many soldiers on their side as possible. If we do not cut back on our standards we may threaten our future war effort. What do you say of this topic worms?"

 

[Quill]

There was actually a very good plan in mind when Achukka thought of it. Something so that the weak could be used and eliminated at the same time. Achukka thought it was a great idea that would kill two birds with one stone.

I would put every weakling on a suicide mission that would feint our enemies to attacking their position. Then while the weak die, we strike a grievous blow to our enemies. So grievous that they are now put at level where we do not have to change our policies. The weak serve the strong to their deaths like it should be.​

 

[Kassa]

Tessra seemed to ponder lightly for a second. She simply ignored the Sith's remark towards her. The other Acolyte had made his decision before hand. There were no take-backsies once you'd done something of that caliber.

Tessra didn't entirely agree with the whole predicament that she was expected to say. Instead of copying the older Acolyte, she crossed her arms and thought a little bit more.

"I personally don't agree with this other Acolyte. We're sending children not even on a Padawan's level against Jedi Knights. They're bound to realize something is wrong. And as we know, they're children. So, suppose they're captured and interrogated by the enemy. Little kids aren't hard nuts to crack, especially when exposed to pain. I vote that we keep them here, and simply redo our training regiment. Make it tougher. Then we weed out the ones who didn't make it, erase their memories, and sell them as slaves,"

 

[Vonlin]

Azool tilted his head to the side, not terribly pleased with either of their answers. He growled, "Like politicians both of you dodge the question and the real issue here. I'll acknowledge you attempt to offer some innovation and that is at least in itself worthy. But for the most part both of you skirt around the actual problem at hand."

He also wasn't pleased one bit that Tessra was ignoring his remarks to her, not the best way to behave in a training encounter. Sorcerer and alchemist of the Sith Order Xezgul Azool had far better things to be doing than lecturing fresh meat and if the worms were going to ignore him, well he would become most angry indeed. He was becoming furious at the thought, thinking how his time could have been better spent in his laboratory or out on an excavation. For now he held off his ultimate punishment, preferring to finish this lesson without distraction.

"Directly now worms, pick a side on this question. Do we allow the weaker Sith Acolytes to live in the shadow of an approaching war? Or do we purge our ranks of the weak as is our tradition?"