Alchemy Workshop (PM to join)

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Tydus Wryeens"] [member="Niysha"] [member="Effie Duanna"] [member="Khan Ra"] [member="Mishka Larraq"] [member="Fable Merrill"] [member="Ibaris Varanin"] [member="Veino Garn"] [member="Darth Praetorias"] [member="Dissero"] [member="Akio Diachi"] [member="Julius Sedaire"] [member="Máni"] [member="Valik"] [member="Atheus"] [member="Pravus Zambrano"] [member="Daxton Bane"] [member="Calina Ovmar"]

IC/

"It's important," said the robed and hooded figure, "to recognize well-trodden ground. A Force-imbued blade, a Sith sword, a protective talisman in necklace or ring or gauntlet form -- these are stepping stones, not endpoints. Be suspicious of anyone who claims to be a master crafter, but has nothing more to offer than a shield charm or a pretty blade. Seek after originality.

"I admit that this is personal bias talking. A thing can still be a masterwork even if it's been done ten thousand times. But what you need to do is recognize when a crafter has done something unique, or is stuck in rote repetition, crammed and twisted by the classical mess. Look for the spark of insight we talked about. Look for something different.

"There's a sword called Winterfang, forged during the Dark Age. In most respects, a normal Sith sword, even unexceptional. But one of its crafting rituals was augmented by an innovative process involving terentatek blood. The process has been lost to time, like the sword, though I looked for it and even approximated it. But though I learned much through imitation, it was still only imitation. The original remains superior. I've seen that blade. It can shear through terentatek hide like nothing else can. One small, situational bonus, utterly innovative, sets Winterfang apart from your average Sith blade. Its nameless creator put heart and soul into it, and it shows.

"I could go on with any number of examples. What matters is that you make yourself into the kind of crafter who never settles for...vanilla. Don't be gauche, don't be cheap, but don't be boring either."

***​

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"I believe I have experienced this "spark", but for me to create this artefact I have envisioned I must ask some time to gather the necessary information personally, as the scrolls and holocrons lack the necessary material, I fear." | OOC: In hope it's okay if I change the order of events on my part a bit. I'm also curious if there are any good sources and examples one could read through to get more of a feel of how the actual process of alchemy, i.e. infusing things or creating artefacts with the Force, works ICly on a more descriptive level? |

OOC/ Let's see...

• The Book of Sith (pdf easy to find)
• The Dawn of the Jedi novel
• The Tales of the Jedi comics (easy to find)
• Some of the Clone Wars episodes have various Dark Side rituals
• Sithisis
• http://www.d6holocron.comhas a TON of useful sources, some of which might have relevant details - try the Dark Empire Sourcebook and Galaxy Guide 14 for starters

 

[Akio Diachi]

[member="Ajira Cardei"]

Akio listened to the prior point, which seemed rather intuitive. To focus on small, powerful artifacts made for stronger artifacts. It allowed the Crafter, be they a master, padawan, or Knight to pour all their energy into its creation, instead of throwing that all around to several different objects. He nodded taking it in.

"It's important," said the robed and hooded figure, "to recognize well-trodden ground. A Force-imbued blade, a Sith sword, a protective talisman in necklace or ring or gauntlet form -- these are stepping stones, not endpoints. Be suspicious of anyone who claims to be a master crafter, but has nothing more to offer than a shield charm or a pretty blade. Seek after originality.

"It would make sense then," Akio mused as he perused a scroll, "Anyone can do the basics, but only a real powerful being can create something new." He absentmindedly grabbed the amulet around his neck as he tried to piece the information together into a working model, "Expound on the original creations by amplifying their innate powers however do it creatively. Work classic creations in a new way."

He stored that data in his mind and turned his attention back to the tome in his hand. There was something about the stealth of the Maalraas. Force Stealth was a much neglected skill for the most of the galaxy, but one that was very important in Akio's line of work.

"Perhaps this is something of what this person speaks," Akio thought wandering through the room further.

 

[Khan Ra]

There were... interesting things in these scrolls and such. Dozens of examples of Force artifacts that had been created with sorcery or alchemy over the years. Several things seemed interesting. Stasis chambers that allowed you to survive for millenia, items that could be used to detect for sensitives. However, he wasn't particularly interested in those things... He had little interest in trinkets that he would rarely use, or ways to survive for generations while still being practically dead. He wanted something to make him stronger, something that gave him power. There were items like that, amulets used by Sith sorcerers that increased their power tenfold, but left them exghausted afterwards. But that was too extreme... Yes, he'd gain power, but then what? He'd collapse, likely, and be killed shortly afterwards. Surely their were ways around that? Or perhaps something else? Hmm.

Khan looked up from the scrolls he had been reading as the strange figure, who Khan had begun to assume might be some kind of Force Ghost or apparition materilized through the force nexus, began to speak. The figure spoke about scale, and how it was lamost never better to mass produce an item or create many of it. That would only simply dillute the product. Khan nodded as the figure spoke. He had no intention of mass producing anything, anyway. He wasn't interested in giving power to others. Khan nodded again as the figure ended it's speech, before going back to reading at the scrolls.

It seemed that there were other things like the Sith sorcerer's amulets that gave power in the Force, but to a lesser state. Enough to have an edge, but little enough that it did not leave you exghausted. Some crystals found on Dathomir and used by the Nightsisters, staffs made by... Ewok shamans? Ewoks had shamans? Interesting. Perhaps this could be helpful... Khan reached for another scroll, looking for more examples of artifacts that met what he was looking for, as the figure behind him began to speak again.

Now the figure spoke of avoiding unoriginal common items. Shield charms, Sith blades. It warned against doing what had already been done, and to attempt staying original. It spoke of a spark of insight, something new, or different. Khan frowned, replying to the figure.

"If something works, if something is useful, what does it matter if it is a common design?"

[Sorry for slow posting, irl stuff going on so I haven't been able to be active on Chaos. [member="Ajira Cardei"]]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"If something works, if something is useful, what does it matter if it is a common design?"

[member="Khan Ra"]

Beneath the dark hood, teeth glinted: a smile, and not a nice one.

"It matters," said the digitally altered voice, "because your enemy may be stretching his wit and skill more than you, becoming smarter, more creative -- and perhaps in possession of something you're not. Serviceable is just that, but your rival may bring something truly advanced and innovative into play. Then not only will you be outgunned, but you'll be less prepared to adapt. Creativity and adaptation are two sides of the same wupiupi. Remain in a rut and you'll be at a disadvantage when you face a weapon or a monster that you've never seen before. Does that answer your question, Khan Ra?"

 

[Mishka Larraq]

Mishka listened to the ramblings of the hooded figure as she continued to read the book. To her, it sounded as if she were hearing only one side of a conversation between two other people. Only thin parts of what was being said sounded applicable to the ponderings of Mishka. Perhaps the figure was speaking to multiple students at once? Or perhaps it was just programmed to interact with a more... experienced student. Either way, Mishka turned her eyes from the book to the crystal that she had placed beside it. With one hand, Mishka picked up the artifact and turned it over and over in her hand. A thin metal lattice encased a shaped and cut crystal. Even with her limited experience in such things, Mishka could see that the internal structure of the crystal had been... not hollowed... but restructured. It was filled with numerous small inner structures, some hollowed and others reinforced.

<A holocron... contains Jedi teachings...> Mishka thought to herself as she examined the object that her book had just identified for her.

Mishka sat the holocron back on the desk, staring at it for a moment in mild annoyance. She didn't know how the kark to access whatever information was or wasn't within the holocron, but she wasn't sure she had the time to try and learn that particular skill right now. Biting her lower lip, Mishka drummed her fingers against the edge of the table as her eyes danced back and forth across the numerous artifacts arranged around her. A tingle ran down the back of her neck as she felt a familiar pulse of fear permeate her being. Quickly, her head turned and eyes snapped onto the object emitting the weak aura of fear. After a moment of searching, her eyes found it. A small chunk of rock on one of the shelves not too far from her. Tentatively, Mishka rose from the table and approached the shelf. The closer she got, the stronger the emotional draw. It was weak though. Far weaker than the soul-steel she was training herself to work with. And... it was just different. Mishka couldn't identify why, but she had a feeling that the rock did not come from Dromund Kaas.

<Some other tragedy then.> Mishka thought as she picked up the chunk of rock. Mishka couldn't tell the difference between a force nexus and a force infused object, but she knew a fear aura when she felt one. Likewise, she felt the fear and suffering of those that had died when this chunk of rock had broken off of whatever it had been before the culling of life.

And then she had her spark.

With a snap, Mishka turned around to face the hooded figure. With left hand on her hip and right hand gesturing with the rock it held, Mishka asked the apparition a direct question.

"Pehea vaabir Ni gotal'ur ibic... Dar'chaabar?"

[member="Ajira Cardei"]

Mandoa Translation

Spoiler

"Pehea vaabir Ni gotal'ur ibic... Dar'chaabar?"
"How do I make this... not fear?"