Assassiner Des Corbeaux

[Zion Mirtis]

Another morning to the light of Courascant in the Sith Temple. Sophie had felt the morning light seep through her window and onto her face as she laid in bed. It's glare had awoken her to a new day. Another day of teaching among the Sith with her master [member="Darth Arcanix"] and whatever darkside lessons to be given. After the last one had involved nearby being killed by sithspawn all to retrieve an amulet infused with the blood of a dead man to hone her abilities Sophie was a little skeptic that today's would be any easier. At least among the thing's she'd gained that day a new pet was among them.

Speaking of which when Sophie woke she found her devourer pup Sebastian lying just below her bed in his usual spot. The great sithspawn beast was claimed by Sophie after she'd inadvertently slain his mother, leaving both Sebastian and the other two pups who were currently being used by the One Sith by other means without a chance of living. They'd followed Sophie more out of respect than anything else, and now one was obedient to her and a loyal friend.

When she rose and place her feet on the ground Sebastian stirred, a little whimper as he began to wake. She patted his head, the beast accepting it like a loyal dog, before Sophie had gone to a nearby intercom.

"Fetch me my breakfast." she called to one of the servants. "And bring something for my hound, too."

The servant on the other side complied before she turned it off, making her way to her private bathroom in her quarters. One of the major perks to living the higher life in the Sith Temple. While she bathed and dressed herself the servants had arrived with meals only for Sebastian to growl at them once they entered.

Luckily for them Sophie had arrived in time to say "Down, Sebastian. They're not the food. They're only bringing it."

The devourer calmed and sat while waiting for it's food to be brought to it. Sophie did as well but sat at her table ready for her. Once both meals were served the servants left while the two began to feast together. During this time Sophie pondered when and where her master would call her to for today's lessons.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Taeli groaned as the light from the rising light woke her up. She really didn't want to get up yet, but the day was begging to be used for something. Stretching and stifling a yawn, she swung her feet out from the large bed and went to the refresher.

While she washed herself, her thoughts turned towards what she could teach her apprentice next. Sophie had seemed highly interested in the Sith familiar that Taeli had used to keep track of her progress during her first task. A lesson in Sith alchemy seemed to be in order, plus her apprentice could then begin help her with her other project.

Selecting a dark green dress and a silver belt to wear, she summoned a servant to her quarters.

"Go to the temple and retrieve [member="Sophie Gustav"] and bring her to the palace's alchemy lab, go," she said and the servant took off to follow her instructions. Making her way down to the lab, she went over what she would need to make another familiar or two or several. Having multiple would be very useful to her apprentice when she began to go out and do missions for her, or for when they began to search for the hidden knowledge that existed throughout the galaxy.

Reaching the lab, she began the process of gathering the materials necessary while she waited.

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Halfway through her breakfast Sophie was interrupted with the arrival of her master's servant. He told how she'd been summoned to the alchemy labs in the Sith temple, a sign that Sophie was to learn a little more magic-like techniques today. She nodded and stood, handing what was left of her breakfast for Sebastian to finish before following the servant down to the lab itself.

The walk itself did seem a little longer than Sophie remembered. Not so much to the lab itself but just through the temple. She'd started to grow ever more present of how grand it was compared to the Jedi Temple on Tyhon she'd been on. But this was once a Jedi Temple as well, so it made sense for it to be as vast as possible more room to hold more things and whatnot.

Finally arriving to the stairs down into the labs the servant had allowed Sophie to continue down while he simply returned to his duties. Sophie had only ever seen the labs once, and that was when she was brought down to deal with learning her lightning abilities. Now there was no knowing what [member="Darth Arcanix"] had waiting for her.

Once she'd arrived and spotted her master she bowed and said "You summoned me, Master?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Yes, I did," Taeli said with a smile, looking at her apprentice and the devourer pup that was obediently following her. "I see Sebastian I do believe you named him has taken quite a liking to you."

She continued to smile as she gestured for her apprentice to join her at the work station she had set up. Various potions bubbled and hissed, their ingredients holding a key component for the creation of the bird-like Sith creature. The bones and feathers of several avian creatures were arranged in neat piles so each could take the shape of an individual familiar, even though a giant one had tempting benefits. Preserved hearts were placed near each pile.

"I thought today we might have a more relaxed lesson, the theory behind a Sith familiar then seeing if you might be able to create one or more yourself," Taeli said to Sophie. "I saw how interested you were and thought you would enjoy something like this before we begin other, more strenuous, activities."

As she spoke, the shadows behind her shifted a bit and her own familiar swooped over to her.

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Seeing all the odd concoctions and pieces of animal about the place Sophie wad curious to see what exactly went into all of the Sith alchemy. When [member="Darth Arcanix"] had made the mention of Sebastian it had given a mumbled growl before Sophie told him to wait outside; even to where she pushed his whole body to direct him out. He was still just a pup after all.

After that she listened as her master explained how they would be dealing with making familiars, something Sophie had indeed been interested in when she witnessed her master create one as well. When set familiar had appeared from the shadows and swooped Sophie ducked before recovering herself and looking to where it flew.

"Yes, master." she said, still watching it before turning to look at her. "I was curious to know if crows were the only shape a familiar could take. Are there other possible forms for one?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"In theory, yes, familiars can take other shapes," Taeli explained. "The Nightsisters of Dathomir, for example, have different shaped familiars. We Sith typically choose an avian form for our familiars to allow for easier intelligence gathering, the ability of flight is a powerful tool."

Turning back to the alchemy station, she continued, "A Sith familiar is bonded to the person who creates it, but that bond can be temporarily given to another, such as when my familiar was connected to you during your previous adventure. Familiars can also act as conduits for the creator, acting as eyes and ears for us from afar, but not just for that. If it so pleases a Sith, we can channel certain Force powers through the familiar. Examples being illusions, defensive shields, projecting our hatred as an impenetrable and deadly field, and so on. This does have the potential effect of consuming the familiar however."

Looking at her apprentice, she smiled again.

"But first, we need to create a familiar. I hope you wont be squeamish about this too much, Sith alchemy does require certain things such as blood to work properly."

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Listening to the aspects of a familiar it became clear why the Sith were so keen to have them; at least those who studied in the field of alchemy as her master did. Sophie could see how potential having basically a living extension of yourself available for so many tasks. Spying. Using powers. Conveying thoughts and the like. Seeing these same potentials herself Sophie was more eager to understand how to use one of her own by the end of today.

When the mention of blood came up Sophie had given a concerned look before realizing it was hers that was involved. She nodded to [member="Darth Arcanix"] before walking over to her. As she did she readied her right hand, the same hand that had helped start her practice in force lightning, and presented it to her for whatever use she needed. Holding it out, palm up, Sophie awaited for her to draw whatever amount of blood she needed to make it work.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Taeli slowly slid a knife along her apprentice's hand, drawing a thin line of blood that stuck to the blade. As she did so, she felt it necessary to explain why this was needed.

"The absolute key to Sith alchemy is blood, Sophie. To truly unlock the strongest aspects of alchemy, three blood components are required. Blood of a loved one, blood of an enemy, and your own blood. A familiar does not require two of those as your blood will act as the bonding agent for the connection."

Taeli slowly dripped a few drops of Sophie's blood onto the closest pile of bones, before setting the blood stained knife into a sterilization fluid. Picking up one potion and removing a heart from its container, she placed it within the chest cavity of the familiar and poured the potion over the pile of bones and organ. A dark green, almost black mist rose around the bones and feathers, the blood releasing a small amount of dark side energy. Sophie would feel an ever so slight pull from the blood, but it wouldn't hurt much and would forge the connection between her and the bird.

Calling upon her own command of the dark side, she brought the energies crashing into the beginnings of the Sith spell and began chanting.

"Redde haec ossa, ligabis ea in umbra, ex vita nova cudere sanguinem obtulerunt."

The mist began to darken, both her spell and the dark side energies twisting around and merging with the bones and feathers. A faint heart beat began as a shifting, shadowy skin began to grow across the bones as they re-arranged into a bird-like form. A pair of red eyes opened as more dark side poured into the creature on the table, her chanting continuing over and over until the familiar gave a caw and spread its wings.

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

A little hiss escaped Sophie's lips as she felt the blade cut into her skin. She glanced down a little and saw what was taken before pulling out a scarf and wrapping it around her hand. A decent and temporary bandage for now. She tightened it and hissed again while knowing it was needed to keep the bleeding down to a minimum while the rest of the lesson progressed.

Sophie listened as the aspects of blood and the components to alchemy were explained. Hearing it all made sense since, when thinking on it, the blood of a loved one or enemy was a drawing point of emotions; the power that drove the sith's use of the force. The blood from one of them, or herself in this case, would be rife with emotional power.

Once the spell itself began Sophie took a step back as she listened to her master's words echo while a reaction occurred. She watched as bone and blood and heart began to consume into the green energy smoke that was produced. She watched as a black form began to arise from it all before, standing there, a familiar crow was born.

Sophie was almost speechless before asking "Is....is that mine?"

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"See for yourself," Taeli said, smiling as the familiar flew over to land on her apprentice's shoulder, the connection unlocking and allowing her apprentice to see and hear through the bird-like creature's eyes and ears. While the bird flew over, Taeli quickly jotted down the awakening spell for the familiar so her apprentice would have it as a reference.

"Now that you have seen how it is done, I want you to try and replicate the ritual. If you mess up, that is okay as we have multiple piles of ingredients," Taeli continued saying, moving aside for Sophie take the lead position at the work station.

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Once the bird landed on her shoulder Sophie gasped, feeling some odd connection start to form between her and the familiar. Before she knew it she was, in fact, seeing what it saw. She could see herself next to herself, perched on her own shoulder. She turned her head to the right, as did the familiar, and she could see the rest of the lab. Looking up both could see the top of the lab, the bird mimicking the same movements as Sophie as they were officially connected to one another.

When [member="Darth Arcanix"] had spoken Sophie had managed to break the connection, now seeing through her own eyes. She was surprised to hear that it was her turn to try and create yet another familiar but, given it was her lessons, it made sense. At least her master was nice enough to write everything down. Sophie nodded and walked over to the station in the lab before looking over what was needed; the familiar still perched on her shoulder.

Aside from more of her blood she needed certain potions to mix together along with the bones and feathers of different bird species from around the galaxy, and finally an animal heart. Given that all were provided in the lab itself it was easy for Sophie to hurry over to where any and all ingredients were and pile them all together or have them sitting on stand by. She kept hurrying back between where her list was sitting to where everything was stored before finally having everything she needed.

Looking over it all Sophie looked, confused, then turning to her master and asking "How do I mix it all in exactly? Is there some special order or something?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"No special order, but your blood must grace the bones first and foremost," Taeli replied, standing back a bit to allow her apprentice room to work. "The catalyst for creating the familiar's life is the blood and potion, but as long all the necessary ingredients are present, you need not worry."

She was curious if Sophie would be able to harness the dark side in this way, if she could it would be greatly helpful and she would join the ranks of a select few of the Sith that practiced alchemy. She would be the envy of many apprentices and acolytes, something she knew her apprentice craved. She wanted to ascend higher than all of them, and if she could do this, she would be able to start learning more and more alchemy rituals.

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Understanding now the blood was the key Sophie held her hand out over the bones of the bird parts she assembled together. Unwrapping her hand so the wound was directly over Sophie squeezed her palm, another little hiss of pain escaping her lips, before drops of blood sprinkled over the dead remains. After that she reached over and grabbed the vial containing the potions needed for the ritual. Poring it over next Sophie began to watch as everything reacted. All that remained were the words [member="Darth Arcanix"] had written on the paper provided for her.

Slowly Sophie began to recite "Redde haec ossa, ligabis ea in umbra, ex vita nova cudere sanguinem obtulerunt."

Everything began to react as before. Formations of bone and blood and magic were mixed together in green smoke-like energy before bursting into shadows. Once it cleared Sophie could see it had worked. Another crow familiar stood there, this one a little smaller than the one her master made. It cawed before the one on Sophie's shoulder responded as well.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Excellent work, my apprentice," Taeli smiled, observing the newly created familiar. "Now I ask you to make another one and we test the other applications of familiars."

She was curious if her apprentice, while able to see and hear through the connection, could send an emotion, thought, message, or Force power to the bird-like shadow creature. The girl was natural when it came to directing the dark side it seemed and she would prove to be very helpful for the tasks Taeli had in mind for the near future. So many projects and tasks.

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Another one? Three familiars? To Sophie that sounded a little much, but if it was for the sake of the lesson then so be it. She looked back at the list for what she needed, some she already knew, before walking over and gathering more. As she did her new familiar flew over and rested on her opposite shoulder from the one created by [member="Darth Arcanix"] earlier. Gathering everything and double-checking to make sure all were there Sophie walked back over to the table and placed everything as she remembered before. When she drew blood this time she felt a little feeling go from her hand. She hoped she wouldn't have to keep this up much longer or else she'd lose more blood than make familiars. Saying the magic words and pouring in all the potions the reaction was as before. A third familiar crow stood there, this one about the same as her master's. Seeing it Sophie began to see she was getting better.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"That's enough for now," Taeli said, seeing her apprentice getting a little pale from blood loss. Moving over to her, Taeli pulled a bacta patch from her satchel and placed it on Sophie's hand. The girl had created two familiars, quite impressive for a girl that had been a Jedi only a short time ago.

"For the next part of this lesson, I want you to project something through the familiar towards me," Taeli instructed. "Simply use the familiar as conduit for what you want to send. If you have trouble visualizing that, think of the familiar as the rifle of a blaster and what you are sending is the blaster bolt. A thought, emotion, a Force power whatever you wish to try and send."

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

The little bacta on her hand had helped Sophie a lot. It was better that her wound was fully healed now while she needed her strength. And given the instructions that her master wanted her to go through she would need it. She recalled how [member="Darth Arcanix"] had said a familiar could project things thought it thanks to her. Now was the time to test it.

Thinking on what to try first Sophie looked to the first familiar, created by her master. She began to focus before she could feel herself seeing through it. Now she had to focus beyond that. She thought of force lightning and how it had felt for her to project it from her hand. She imagined the familiar as her hand, as her master had described a blaster, ever to where she raised it in front of her.

Using the same thoughts she opened her eyes with a burning focus. The familiar cawed before it's beak had fired a bolt of force lightning from it towards the Sith knight.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Seeing the bolt of Force lightning heading towards her from the familiar's beak, Taeli smiled. So far so good, and time to test another application of Force Lightning she had been reading about. Summoning the energies of the dark side and focusing on the area around her, blue lightning burst into existence to form a spherical shield of twisting and crackling energy, and Taeli wondered what her apprentice would think about this new technique being shown.

Her apprentice's lightning attack was caught by her shield and absorbed, but it was an excellent first application of her apprentice's control of her familiars. Taeli let out a slow breath and the lightning shield faded away.

"Excellent work, Sophie, truly excellent," she said, praising the girl. "Try something else now, and use one of the familiars you created."

[member="Sophie Gustav"]

 

[Zion Mirtis]

The appearance of this 'force shield' had surprised Sophie for sure. She half expected her master to block the attack with her hand or simply move away in time. Apparently she'd had another trick up her sleeve instead. Seeing as the lightning was gone and [member="Darth Arcanix"] ordered her to try something else Sophie nodded.

She looked to the last familiar she'd created, the one sitting on her opposite shoulder. She focused through it as the other, feeling the connection and seeing what it did, and tried to think of something else to force through it. Thinking on emotions to send Sophie thought of fear, the fear she once had that was slowly being chipped away with every lesson learned in the darkside.

The familiar's eyes began to glow more red that usual. Eventually it cawed, but every caw it gave seemed more echoing to where it would enter into someone's mind and feel as though it was all around them. Sophie was curious to see how her master would handle that.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The fear attack was slightly unexpected, but Taeli was not displeased in the slightest, even as she felt the blanket of fear wrap around her and begin to seep into her. But, she wouldn't allow the fear to conquer her, instead she began to conquer it. Slowly, all the fear she was feeling was changed to anger, to rage. Taeli was quite certain that once they began other aspects of the dark side arts, her apprentice would be a feared sorceress. The girl's basic fear attack was still quite strong for an apprentice, but unless it was tied to an illusion or a personal fear, it could be fought off.

Unleashing the excess emotions as a screamed Force Bellow, she made sure not to direct it towards her apprentice but instead at the far wall. The energy wave smashed the wall, leaving several cracks that would need fixed.

Turning back to her apprentice, her grin continued.

"Extremely well done, you'll be a force to fear once we've trained that aspect of your abilities up," she said. "One last test then, a thought through the second familiar you created."

[member="Sophie Gustav"]