A March Through the Abyss

[Kel Novastar]

@Tirdarius

In a cruel fit of satire, the newly anointed Acolyte had no previous knowledge of the Korriban academy prior to meeting his new associates. Having quite literally grown up in on board his parent's archaeological vessel, the happenings of the galaxy had mostly phased past his visor, especially when such instances involved the more pragmatically-inclined practitioners of the Force. Even during his time on Nar Shadaa, he'd mostly dealt with an underworld filled with thugs and criminals who were inclined to not understand the force. This newly-minted life of his afforded new responsibilities as well as knowledge previously hidden from his view. The galaxy was at his fingertips, and with nothing but time on his hands -- seeing as he was without a true master -- Kel had the opportunity to dip into the galaxy's wealth of knowledge for whatever he sought to find.

Korriban, for multiple reasons, was the perfect step step in this path. Even aside from the temple itself, he was sure that there were temples and ancient structures which might possibly still have been left alone. As he learned first hand, those places tended to have a way of keeping intruders at bay. It was something to consider, but it wasn't his first objective by far. It didn't take him long for his fighter to arrive on the outskirts of the planet by way of his hyperspace ring, and his flight towards the planet's surface went without any hassle.

It didn't take long for him to locate the Temple itself, which completely stood out against the backdrop of its surrounding landscape. A brisk walk would ensue, but his arrival at the temple wouldn't take very much time and with little effort as well. He was in no hurry, and unlike the holocron which he'd studied that stated the temple was destroyed, it appeared that the new one built in its stead was in no danger of being destroyed.

Arriving at the front of the temple, he was greeted by a duo of guards near the main entrance that halted him right as he attempted to enter. It was a relatively painless affair, and he explained who he was and that he was indeed a Sith that had arrived to check out the academy. A brief check of his person would allow for the dangling lightsaber off his left to be easily seen, and the finely-crafted Sith dagger holstered onto his utility belt was also seen as he moved his jacket to the side. He wasn't there for any trouble, but he'd be a fool if he wasn't always armed for the occasion.

After several minutes and the appearance of another man who struck him as being force-sensitive, the individual would clear his entrance and escort him into the temple. He explained several things, including when the temple itself was rebuilt and a few more historic facts of importance. A brief tour of the first hallway into the building would reveal him to grand artifacts and portraits on the walls, all of them offering a sense of grandeur that dwarfed what he'd seen on Athiss by a long shot. It was enticing, if not outright inviting. He had half the mind to offer to join the academy, but a rash decision would not be in his best interest. He wanted to see what more this place had to offer, or specifically find out who could tell him more about the information he had come a long way to find.

Eventually the two would come to a stop after having walked through what he assumed was the more "visitor-friendly" areas of the temple, and he was brought to a final room which was filled with the same grandeur-esque artifacts but with a few places to sit as well. A massive window was placed on the very back wall, the view outside of the temple being rather decent, but nothing in comparison to what he'd seen on the inside. "I'd wish for a few moments to myself." He'd reply to the man, who indeed would offer Kel some time on his own.

He spent several minutes pacing through the room slowly, his eyes looking over the artifacts around him. Even the occasional ceremonial plaque was there for him to read, although most of it proved to be the same Sith propaganda he'd seen elsewhere whilst coming in the building. After several more minutes passed and his guide didn't return, Kel became a bit curious as to what he'd find outside the room, and decided to exit the room without hesitation.

With no guards outside of his room, he easily veered off to the opposite side of the hallway he came down, slowly walking down the hallway and once more taking a look at everything mounted along the walls. He passed several rooms as well, including a room which appeared to have acolytes engaging in some sort of physical training. As much as he wished to train them with -- sarcasm -- he was a bit more interested in seeing what else the academy had to offer. Perhaps he might even find a master worth their salt there, but he wouldn't get his hopes up. He'd suffice with exploring, at least until he had no more reason to.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| [member="Kel Novastar"] |​

"Pride is a very dangerous thing here, boy."

A voice spoke, emanating from a dark-cloaked figure that stood down the corridor that Kel walked, originating from the direction that the younger man had just come from. It had been easy enough to observe the boy's progress: the guards at the gate had served to unsettle him just a little, to prick at his pride and ruffle a few feathers, admitting him nonetheless because they had no proof that he was not what he claimed to be: another who sought to succeed in the path of the Sith Lords. The truth of such a claim was something that could only be tested and determined further down the line. After all, many claim in aspiration something they are not worthy of.

He arrived as so many had: youthful, energetic, so sure of themselves, ever believing that they had the ambition, the drive, the sheer power to rise to the top of a pyramid that ever struggled to admit only the worthy to climb those steep steps. That others here were beneath him seemed obvious to the boy's thoughts: he burned with contempt, disdain, an invariable sense of his own superiority. He had bristled at having to have his identity checked, as though his credentials were obvious, his capability obvious. It had been an insult to submit to such checks, that was clear, something he had agreed to only because he did not wish to start a fight on arrival. But perhaps at another time.

The young man had not sought out anything in particular, following his guide listlessly, keenly observing everything with those brown eyes of his, noting everything of consequence and caring for none of it, clearly. There was an apathy in his expression, a hardened sense of annoyance at the procedures. He had sought seclusion when an opportunity came, perhaps wishing to be rid of a burden, the inconvenience of requiring an escort. And, finally, when he could, he had chosen to slip away and explore on his own. Never imagining that you were being tracked... As if the Sith would allow a loose cannon to simply wander on their own.

The being that now stood watching him with a steely grey-eyed stare was perhaps the younger man's equal in height, clothed in black robes that flowed softly around him, concealing his figure, though he seemed slighter of build than Kel did. Slender pale hands rested before him, the tips of the fingers resting against each other with only minimal pressure.

"Perhaps you are superior to the others here, but perhaps not," the older figure observed, his voice sharpening slightly as his sentence came to a finish, a clear hint of disdain carried there. "But what evidence do you have to offer but your own ego?". A dark eyebrow raised, clear against pale skin, carrying inquisitive question. "Have you tested your mettle against those here, or do you simply think it best to broadcast such childish thoughts for us all to read?"

 

[Kel Novastar]

[member="Tirdarius"]

The words which were spoken to him were intriguing, to say the least. It was not the context in which they were spoke, but rather the fact that the individual behind them was clearly a master at his craft. Be it by his own arrogance and pride or not, it was quite obvious that Kel walked with a confident tune in his step, and the thoughts which were masked by such impassivity were commonly speaking in disdain of the weakness which surrounding him. Even in a place such as the academy of the so-called Sith, there was weakness to be pointed out, at least that's what his initial assessment came to be.

That being said, there was a brief moment of weakness when the presence of the figure was perceived to be in his immediate vicinity. It was brief, perhaps only the span of several seconds, but the adolescent's cold exterior was met with a shiver down his spine that he'd not felt since his trials back at the temple. Luckily for him, his back was facing the presence that he felt and heard, but there was always a chance that would not even matter. Turning away from the wall he'd previously been gazing at, Kel would come into view of a man who was roughly the same height, but the presence which he felt was greater than his.

This man -- or atleast what he was -- was who he was searching for when he decided to visit the Sith academy on Korriban. The sheer presence which emanated off the individual was astounding, if not admirable. It was a level of power which he himself wished to aspire to achieve, but in time that would come. His thoughts were flowing too freely for his comfort, but his ability to mask his thoughts was not as up to par as some of his other skills with the force.

The most he could do was make his thoughts as jumbled as possible, switching from multiple different lines of thoughts at random intervals in order to make peering into his mind more of a nuisance than beneficial. Whether or not such a tactic would work was to be seen, but it was all he had to offer at this current stage in the game. That being said, the jumbling of his thoughts would come to a short halt when he began to form a response to the man's words.

"Can't say i've been afforded the honor of testing my mettle against the acolytes of this academy, no. If it weren't for others, I wouldn't have even realized that there was an academy here." In fact, he most likely would've wandered the galaxy aimlessly in search of more of their kind had that bit of information not been passed to him. "Perhaps I see myself there better, perhaps not. Such is the way of the Sith, no? Superiority over your peers due to your perceived strength." His previously hanging hands finding their way into the comfortable depths of the black pants he wore. He straightened his posture out after he finished speaking, but that same look within his eyes remained from before.

He was never a fan of not staring a person directly into their eyes when speaking, regardless of their affiliation or rank within an organization. In spite of the man's presence, Kel would hold true to his form as he'd always done in his life. Kel was curious at who the black-hooded man was, and even more curious as to knowledge the man possessed. But without wanting to get ahead of himself, he'd simply wait and see how the conversation would go. After all, he was technically intruding further into the academy than he was allowed. But even that could've been a feint knowing how their kind usually worked.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| [member="Kel Novastar"] |​

Ah, one of those. A faint smile found expression on the face of the Sith Lord, amused despite himself. Naturally this one should feel that way: finding himself looking first at the selfish nature of the Sith, not looking deeper beyond that. And so we continue to attract those who see themselves as superior, never imagining that we might call them to a life of service. It was a common problem among the newer arrivals to the Sith, the ones that had not yet been broken: they only understood that the Sith demanded great things from them, that they rise above their petty selves and become something greater. But never can they see the truth of what that journey must be.

This one would learn it in time, Tirdarius was certain of that. They always do, or they die realising that they had failed to learn the one thing they needed to continue on. It was a silent contract they all agreed to when entering these halls, whether they knew it or not. They didn't know it, of course: so many believed that they might come, be strengthened, and unleashed to pursue their own agendas, granted the gifts of the Force without a price. And how many of them come too late to that realisation, to understand that what we will ask of them is everything they are, and might ever be?

It was ever a disturbing revelation.

"What benefit is superiority?", he asked calmly, observing the younger man with a detached, emotionless mask that so often startled those that sought passions in those who would rule. Such mindless devotion to a code they little understand. "To what end is it put? Simply to empower you, allow you to rise above the common man?"

It was a question he knew that few truly bothered to consider: what was the end goal? So many saw the black robes, the lightsabers, the intimidating presence that walked the corridors, utterly secure in their superiority, knowing that few might challenge them. They did not see the scars that might hide beneath the robes, the pain that was concealed by the fiery eyes, the suffering they would experience to reach that point. They did not understand the sacrifices that would be asked of them to even achieve the opportunity to truly serve the Sith. Do you understand what you ask? Perhaps if he did, the young man would walk away, and find a simpler life to lead.

It was understandable, of course: for this young man to have had a sense of possibility unlocked in his mind, he could only see an endless vista before him, never knowing a horizon. The galaxy was his to play with, something he might manipulate at his whim as lesser beings bowed before his greatness. And is it this which you seek, I wonder? That was ever the question that sat at the edge of his mind when confronting these children: why are you here?

"You have come to allow us to teach you, haven't you?" The Sith smiled again, more openly this time, less in amusement, more in simple openness. Few Sith revelled simply in life: so often they were too focused upon doing their duty. What would this boy become? That yet remained to be seen. "What service do you imagine we will ask in return?"

 

[Kel Novastar]

[member="Tirdarius"]


The man's words were interesting to Kel, if only due to the fact that they were not what he was use to when dealing with those who called themselves Sith. He'd come to learn on Athiss that the specific order which he received his training from had valued one's strength in the force, as well as overall power, over every other facet one could come up with. It was an interesting notion, especially since it differed a bit from what he'd previously learned from that holocron he stole from his parents, but it was necessary for him to comply with their code in order to fit in.

That being said, there was a part of him which felt superior over others who possessed abilities that were lesser than his. He understood there were others greater than him, although, and the superiority which he harbored only extended into the confidence he had in his own abilities. It was a boon, to say the least, as it allowed him to perform at top condition with full confidence in his skills. But it was never vocal, or at least there was no need to outwardly boast about how he felt he could do compared to others. He viewed such actions as weakness in itself, as one who was confident in their abilities needed not to inform others to make themselves feel validated.

Perhaps that was part of the reason the boy had such an indifferent demeanor towards, well, life in general. He'd do what had to be done for him to accomplish his goals, but his moral complex was still there, even if only in the most broadest sense. He didn't believe in harming non-combatants, but if one got in his way he'd cut them down without second thought. There wasn't any glory to it, nor was it reason for him to feel more superior to that individual than he already was. Superiority, in his mind, only came about when faced by opponents who themselves were warriors, be it with a code of honor or not. Such was what separated him from the Sith of Athiss, as well as from the master who was unable to fully bring his student down the path of the dark side.

His hands remained comfortably in his pockets as the man spoke, not once moving outwards nor his body language expressing anything other than pure indifference to the situation. Inwardly he was a mixture of curiosity, observance and suspicious, but that was simply the nature of who he was. The presence of the Sith in front of him had only managed to multiply those feelings even further.

His questions were rather direct, and they were said with an openness that was different from before. In response, Kel took a moment to consider what to say before starting off with a simple shrug of the shoulders. "I came here to see if this academy was real, to be honest. Now that i've confirmed its existence...i'm curious as to what it has to offer...or at least I hoped to discover some of the more powerful Sith around here." It was the most honest statement he could offer. Kel was not the type for deceit, nor trickery. He preferred logic and rational thinking, and for the most part would rather giving direct answers to questions when he was afforded the chance.

To the second part of the question, it didn't necessarily require any critical thinking to offer his response to that. He'd been asked something similar when first employed by the Hutts, and once more by his previous master being introduced to the paradigm of the Sith. "I imagine you would ask for loyalty and obedience. Of course there is no such thing as being offered something without receiving anything in return, that much I know from experience." It was a fool's errand to believe the opposite of what he said, as such a belief would be liable to get yourself killed when dealing with shadier individuals. Nothing was free, especially not the potential to greater improve oneself's power. It could end up a hefty cost, but such was the price to achieve the goal of furthering one's own ambition.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| [member="Kel Novastar"] |​

The way the younger man spoke...it was almost as though he were comparison shopping in some upmarket mall back on Coruscant, the kind that accepted the very best of customers, offering bespoke services and products at a range of prices best described as exclusive, catering to an elite clientele. We may as well be discussing a reasonable exchange of services, for which my company shall naturally hope for your loyalty as a customer, and young sir's discretion in whatever offers we might provide for him. Amusing, but it fell far short of any reasonable truth.

The Sith path was not something you might simply dip your toe into in order to test out the waters: their way was more akin to throwing you into a deep pool and waiting to see whether you would swim or drown. Those who drowned were simply ignored as irrelevant: those that could not make it to the surface and stay afloat would not be capable of passing the other trials that might come afterwards. Those who survived might become proficient swimmers, but never again would they leave the water. Once we claim you for our own, the only way you leave is through oblivion.

So few were willing to take that plunge, and fewer still were truly prepared for it. The more ethical among the Sith simply refused to allow it, for those who they did not think would make it: they would serve the Sith in other ways, rejected for training as Sith, but given responsibility and opportunity to advance themselves in other ways. It was a simple enough rule, as far as Tirdarius was concerned: there was no purpose to wasting potential, if it might be used to serve the Sith. True, some only serve as a lesson and a warning to others, but even in this way, they are useful to us.

"We offer you nothing," the Sith Lord said coldly, knowing that the young man would undoubtedly expect him to rattle off the various benefits of being among the Sith - an idle desire to satiate the greedy, those who felt themselves entitled to something more than they had, as if their gifts warranted nothing less. "Those who come here know that they surrender themselves to service, no less than their lifetimes, something they give to something far greater than they. All are but cogs in the greater machine, a mortal component that makes us unstoppable."

Of course, so few understood this, truly: they imagined that the Sith teachings pointed them towards personal supremacy, a level of ascension that placed them at the very pinnacle of a vast pyramid, answerable to none, capable of destroying worlds at a whim, and exercising power over countless billions. They never perceived that their lives would be a perpetual struggle, a battle between them and the galaxy, wrestling to establish control and order over a galaxy run increasingly chaotic. They would strengthen themselves through the conflict, but they would suffer terribly, and sacrifice everything to do it. So many are willing to learn when it costs them nothing, but how many are willing to pay such a price for the opportunity to serve?

"Embrace our ways, and you will be broken into tiny pieces, shattered into nothingness," he remarked, that cold tone not warming even an iota. His grey eyes observed the other man appraisingly, wondering at what point he would realise that he had made a grave mistake in coming here. "What you are is irrelevant, and what you think yourself capable of, worthless. The strength you feel you possess is as nothing to us," he continued calmly, reflecting on how such an understanding so often provoked petty rage, a desire to reach out and show the Sith what they truly could do. The arrogance of it. "If you knew even a small portion of what you might endure, you'd turn and leave this place."

 

[Kel Novastar]

[member="Tirdarius"]


It was quite obvious that Kel seemed rather interested in this man's words in spite of his warnings and the such. His experiences when dealing with Sith were rather limited, to put it simple, and the curiosity which had led him to Korriban in the first place was once more in full effect upon hearing the man's words. In his search for one to teach him the ways of the Sith, he had never imagined them as an order to be completely black-and-white uniformed across the galaxy. Even his own studying prior to his introduction into the order had displayed numerous variations of Sith throughout time, but his own personal experiences had made him a bit narrow-minded, or at least biased in the way he thought about the order.

Tiradarius spoke of the order as something which one would essentially devote their lives to, which was a concept that wasn't unfamiliar to him. He'd have to admit, although, that his directness might have came off as smug, or perhaps as if he was expecting the Sith to accept him with open arms. He knew nothing was that easy, especially when dealing with members of the Sith order in his past. Even his own introduction into the order was at sword-point, and such was only due to his former master seeing an opportunity to use Kel to further the goals of the Purebloods back on Athiss.

Considering his only other option was death, he accepted his former master's apprenticeship, albeit with little regret. The opportunity which laid before him had opened up a path which allowed him to further his own ambitions, even if it was at the cost of his own personal freedoms. It was similar in aspect to what Tirdarius was speaking about; devoting oneself to the Sith for their lifetime, allowing themselves to be a cog in the greater machine at work. It was a concept that he'd become recently familiar with since his introduction to the order. If one were to look at things in black-and-white, it would be appropriately summed up as a "necessary evil" in the grand scheme of Kel's own ambitions.

His life prior to the order was nothing short of a Hutt thug with little to his name but his ship, a few creds and his own regime of training. If growing as an individual, or better yet, going through yet more trials that would potentially break him further in order to rise from the ashes of what remained was what it took for him to reach another step in achieving what he wanted, he'd take the chance without second thought. His intentions when coming to Korriban had not initially been to look towards potentially staying there for quite some time, but it was highly evident that his knowledge of the order which he claimed to be was far from up to par.

He may have understood the Athiss way of the Sith, but the methodology which Tirdarius was exposing him to was something he'd not seen displayed in person. He wanted to learn more about how this man viewed the Sith and perhaps use that information to further influence his own values. Innovation, after all, was the key to making sure one would not remain complacent in life. Even if his being there could potentially be another opportunity where he might die, it was a chance to further improve on himself which he was starting to understand he could not let slip by.

With all that in mind, for once he'd break the cold exterior he held, his eyes softening a bit upon hearing the last words coming out of Tirdarius' mouth. After all he'd heard from this man, he couldn't see himself leaving the academy without at least acquiring more information on his own. His hands slowly exited his pockets before coming to a grasping halt behind his back, softened albeit still rather confident eyes staring back at the Sith in the aftermath of him speaking.

"I can see... there's much I don't understand, or at least don't have a clear picture of." He'd begin, touching on the faults of his previous words from earlier in their conversation. "But I can't see myself simply turning tail and running for the spaceport. To do so would simply be cowardice-- or at the very least against what I believe I stand for." And what he stood for, in his eyes, was the belief in having confidence in oneself at all times. Whether or not the Sith on Korriban saw that as a fault was fair game as far as he was concerned, but it had kept him alive all this time.

That aside, he was attempting to come across to a point which was a bit hard for him to outright say, funnily enough. It would imply weakness in himself, but it was a necessary evil for him to do so. After all, he was in the presence of what he assumed to be a Sith lord of some sort, and to pass at the opportunity to show that he was committed to devoting himself to the Order would be foolish. With that in mind, he'd continue to speak once more before coming to a finish. "But, what I'm trying to say is...I wish to learn more, to have a better understanding of the Sith than what I came here with. At whatever cost that may be."

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| [member="Kel Novastar"] |​

Cowardice, is it? In truth, Tirdarius would think it a display of good common sense: the natural reaction of any individual faced with danger. Pain was designed to be a teacher, but the first lesson it ever taught was that things which hurt were something meant to be avoided. Natural self-preservation. A means of preserving the self, and thus perhaps protecting the species from extinction. But this was a natural drive that the Sith ever sought to fight, because the path to power was hard.

Suffering was their path, agony their constant companion, sacrifice and loss something they had to come to terms with, something they might use to become stronger. It hurt, oh yes, and very few were left untainted by it: every Sith was a walking wound in one way or another, each having had something - everything - ripped away from them. Your passions, your family, your friends, your sense of identity, your very self torn to pieces. A being who could not survive that would not truly survive the daily struggles that came with their vision.

"It's an easy thing to say that, boy," Tirdarius said calmly, his words carefully inflected. "Easy to say that we will do something no matter what it may cost, but the reality is harder to embrace." Indeed, he often felt true sympathy for those being pushed through their training, those being broken on the wheel into tiny pieces that might never again be put back together. "But do you understand why this must be? Why we demand nothing less than everything you are?"

Undoubtedly not: few did, in reality, but then the vision of the Sith was one well-concealed behind their outer facades. One of the things so few understand: that very few ever truly embrace what it is to be Sith, because they do not live long enough to learn it. Only those who proved themselves survivors and capable of pragmatic action were inducted into the higher ranks, where they might learn the truth: that the pain they suffered was only the first step, and that they would be required to struggle constantly in service to the Sith vision.

"We offer power, but it is not instantly granted, nor eternally yours," he informed the younger man. "The gift of the Force is but developed by those capable of recognising the purpose for it: that it must be used in service of something greater than yourself." The Sith Lord offered a nonchalent shrug, knowing well enough that such was rarely a selling point among the new arrivals: they saw power before them, and wanted their fair share. Imagining we will share our secrets and let you use it to aggrandise yourself at the expense of the Galaxy. "And power must be earned: the Force gives it only when you truly give yourself to it in turn. That is no gentle process."

The Sith Lord beckoned to the young arrival, gesturing that he should follow, though whether he would do so was for him to decide. It was an odd thing to be conversing in a corridor, where any might pass by - though most would undoubtedly find another way past rather than think to jostle their way through. Self-preservation was a natural inclination for a Sith. He strode into a nearby training room: open-plan, a polished parquet square adorned the centre of the room, depressed so that one had to step down onto it, used for students and their instructors to work within while spectators stood around the edges. A better place for discussion.

"What is it you already know?", he asked, turning back to face the younger man as he finished his movements. "To wish to know more suggests you already have some understanding. I would share it."