No pain, No gain

[Garivald]

Static noise reverberated throughout the cabin before the intercom came on. "We've arrived at Atrisia. We should be in Jar'Kai shortly."

Ears flattening against his head in Garivald opened his eyes and sat up. Stifling a yawn, it was a moment before he grunted acknowledgement. After a minute he stood and stretched, working a kink out of his back. Walking over to the cabins window he watched as the ship quickly descended towards the capital.

It would be good to finally get off this transport ship. He'd breathed the stale, artificial air for far to long. Plus the engines made the damn ship vibrate! How he hated the vibrating! It had been days before his stomach settled.

Lost in thought it took him a moment to notice they had arrive at the capitals Royal palace. Turning he went about the cabin grabbing the few items he had laying around, his datapad being the last. When he came to it he paused for a second, fur bristling in anticipation. It hadn't been even a month ago that he'd received the message telling him to come here.

Leaving the cabin, he made his way down the corridor towards the back of the ship. Entering the cargo hold he made his way past the handful of other passengers who were grabbing there belongings. Descending down the ramp Garivald stepped down the platformt. Closing his eyes he breathed in deeply and then slowly exhaled. It was good to breathe real air again. Opening his eyes he looked up at the sky for a moment then looked down at the ground. It was good to have ground stay still.

Taking another breathe Garivald made his way across the platform towards the palace entrance. Filled with excitement; still he couldn't help feeling more than a little fear. How could he not?

He was here to meet his new master after all.




[member="Lord Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

Another apprentice.... it was time, chosen had appeared worthy of his teachings and strong enough to wield them.... yet that remained to be seen. It was said this one was a half breed, strong and athletic a perfect disciple or his teachings in fighting, Mythos however sought to learn more about his affinity with the force.

Mythos sat in The Citadel. It was a place far in the mountains away from the central capital, abandoned and in ruins because of war. It was the home of the Inquisition back in the times of the Atrisian Empire, now it served only as Mythos' private chambers of meditation. As usual his guard surrounded the perimeter far from sight and silent. They were ordered to neutralize anyone that did not fit the profile yet stay out of sight.

Mythos sat in deep meditation sending his signature through the force, reaching his apprentice to him.... He could sense him, sense the desire to to find his new master as soon as he touched Atrisian soil. He was ready. Mythos slowly began to hum and reach out to his apprentice through the force.

<<In the Mountains..>>

That was the only message, visions of where he stood, the outside of the citadel, if he could not find him then he did not deserve his teachings, he was weak.... this was his first test.

Along the way there would be deserters, brigands, he needed to get to the Citadel no matter the odds. It could even take days yet Mythos would be with him in the force all the way through watching, it was located far from any city in Atrisia a haven for master and apprentice.

If he could find him... he would be worthy.

Along the way there would be those who guided him sent there by Mythos himself, there would also be those who would intend to kill him or divert his path. The very guards outside the temple were placed there to offer him one final challenge as well, this journey would be his first step into becoming what he was truly meant to be, or die trying. A Sith.

[member="Garivald"]

 

[Garivald]

He'd barely walked a handful of steps past the palace doors when he'd felt something odd. For lack of a better way to describe it... it was as if somewhere in his mind; he had felt something. After a minute had gone by the sensation continued to harass him. Hesitating for a moment he gave into his curiousity and slowly reached out to it with his mind.

<<In the Mountains..>>

It was as if a dam had been breached. Images of a man of average height with blondish brown hair invaded his mind. Violence and power rolled off him so strongly that it forced Garivald to one conclusion. This man could kill him right now and there wouldn't be anything he could do about it.

Soon images of what appeared to be an ancient temple replace who he instinctively felt was Lord Mythos. The temple looked to be new but he sensed that it was extremely ancient. Even after Fading he found that he could recall each image vividly; almost as if they were part of his memories.

Coming back to himself, Garivald found that he'd unconsciously used the wall next to him as support from the onslaught. Leaning against the wall he took a second to think about what had happened. His new master had summoned him here from coruscant offering to take him as an apprentice. To train him in the force.

And he wasn't even here! He was in some temple in the damn mountains instead! He'd been on that frekking ship for days!

Fur bristling in anger, he shoved himself from the wall and started making his way down the corridors. After getting lost in the unfamiliar hallways Garivald lost control of his temper and pounded his clawed fist into a nearby door in frustration.

Hearing noise coming from the other side the door opened up revealing a human child. Startled out of his anger Garivald stared down at the child for a moment before coming too. Revealing is canines in what could have been a smile, "I don't know how to leave the palace. Which way is the exit?"

Eyes wide in fear the child quickly pointed to the left and even more quickly closed the door and setting the lock. Sighing Garivald turned and went the direction he'd been told, soon finding the way out. Making his way to the steps he began making his way towards the city limits. While doing this he thought things over again with a clearer head. He wasn't being treated like a new toy as he'd first thought. From what he'd seen of the sith it was far more likely that his skills... his strength and abilities were being tested. If he wanted to be trained he need to prove he was worth the time it would take.

He began making his way through the city, all the while the words <<In the Mountains..>> continued to faintly reverberate in the back of his mind.

Another smile found its way on his face.

"As you say master."

-edit-[member="Lord Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

The wind blew constantly in the citadel, Mythos took it all in as his chance for reaching out through the force and to his apprentice. His force sense appeared to be well versed, he could sense Mythos, acknowledge it was him, accept his call... this was more than the average acolyte was capable of doing. He smiled to himself, as soon all the pieces would come into place one by one, his apprentice would find his way to him, or find his way to an early grave. As such was the way of the Sith.

He was being watched, from the moment he had stepped out of the ship he had eyes trained upon him by agents of Mythos ordered only to observe not intervene. As eyes watched him leave the palace two shadows flanked him tailing closely behind then turning at the next street alley they vanished. Everywhere he looked Mythos had eyes, the baker in the side street? Actually an informant and a former Inquisitor for the Atrisian Empire, the old lady at the corner with the children in her arms? A handmaiden of the emperor, as deadly as her age is long.

As the acolyte walked the street a small child scampered around the white stones of the glorious capital of Atrisia. This child was actually, an Illusion, a mirage made by the mind of Mythos into his apprentices mind.

Spoiler

If he would notice the intrusion or not remained to be seen, what was important at the moment is that the short haired, blonde child walked up to [member="Garivald"] with Mythos' yellow eyes.
"Warrior"

The child said, his voice sounding with an echo due to the remarkable distance the illusion had to travel. The child's hand pointed to the mountainous region far from Jar'Kai's borders as capital. The beautiful landscape surrounding the direction of his finger. "I await you beyond the mountains, but ask yourself this, what light can you count on when all other light will be your demise?"

The child spoke with the authority and power of Mythos, and with those words the child vanished in a puff of trailing smoke that only he could see, any attempt to speak to the child would just draw attention to himself as a lunatic for no one else could see the illusion or would believe him even if he chose to explain it.

 

[Garivald]

Making his way through the city Garivald stopped a couple people, asking where the market district was. If he was to travel into the mountains he would need a few days worth of food and other items. After getting directions he continued winding his way through the streets until he finally reached the market.

Looking up and down the street he eventually spotted what he was looking for. Walking up to a stall he listed off his need for few days rations and a travelers kit. Eventually settling on a price with the merchant, he grabbed his new gear and started walking down the street towards the city limits.

As he was walking Garivald noticed a human child break from a crowd up ahead and make his way towards him. There was something off about the boy, but he couldn't quite place it.

Now standing directly in front of him, the blond child stopped and looked up, meeting his gaze with unnaturally yellow eyes. The sheer power and weight behind the childs gaze was almost staggering.

"Warrior", the child said, his voice echoing as if from a great distance. Lifting a finger the child; who he now believed was [member="Lord Mythos"]; pointed out beyond the city of Jar'kai, towards a mountain range. "I await you beyond the mountains, but ask yourself this, what light can you count on when all other light will be your demise?", he said, with such commanding authority and presence that it banished any final doubts as to his true identity from Garivalds mind.

Slowly, his master vanished from his vision, leaving no trace to having been there at all. Looking around himself confirmed that no one else had seen the apparition. In fact several passerby were giving him odd looks, making him realize he'd been standing there staring blankly.

With his masters disappearance a faint pressure in the back of his mind faded as well. He hadn't felt it before but its sudden absence left a hollowness in its place. This worried him immensely. If his master could enter his mind without his notice then all the more reason to reach him quickly. He needed to learn how to defend against such things.

He began walking again, thinking about what his master had said. What did he mean by counting on light? And what the frekk did other lights being his death mean? Did he mean that literally? That there was something out there that emitted light that would kill him if he got to close?

Or maybe a metaphor for something? Like don't rely on just his five senses but try and use the force to sense things? How the frekk did he do that?

"I hate riddles", he growled under his breath. Even if he figured out the answer, he wouldn't even know until someone told him.

With the sun starting to set Garivald picked up his pace, soon reached the city limits and exited out onto the plains beyond. He wanted to make some distance before nightfall.

 

[Mythos]

The day turned into night, campfires around the citadel rushed their fires and songs were sung in the air. The guard of Mythos took this moment to bond with each other, to tell and share stories in the middle of the night, Mythos walked among them as food was cooked and drinks were handed out. He gazed at the setting sun all the way until it vanished in the Atrisian horizon, he closed his eyes and fell into the darkside of the force, seeking where his apprentice might or might not be, what the next step of his journey would bring about. What he saw was the warrior heading to the mountains in the pitch black night.He could not hide the smirk on his face as he nodded, the emblazon insignia of the Atrisian battalion flew above him, he could hear the chatter of the Jar'Kai, they talked of different philosophies in the force. Like a revelation coming to a screeching halt the Sith Lord saw the pack of brigands and thieves he had expected, he could have counted on them like he counted on the wind, they sharpened their weapons and in the cover of night these brings made a living out of assaulting, killing and stealing from pilgrims and travelers. A terrible screech filled the air as a gust of wind slammed the rusted metal windows of the citadel against the duracrete of it's walls.

Mythos saw his apprentice make his way through the plains and into the winding dirt roads that lead to the off distance towns and villages before the citadel, he also saw the collision course he was executing that would lead him directly to the pack of brigands that outnumbered him twenty to one. It was now that Mythos struggled to see, darkness covered the plains, only the moon shining bright in the sky offered some illumination, if his apprentice wanted to remain undetected and his march to remain unhindered by unnecessary conflict he would have to solve Mythos' riddle right now. The faintest shimmer of light, the slightest reflection upon him would alert the murdering band of thieves to his presence. The brigands already scoured the pains in look for strays, screams in the off distance would alert his apprentice that they had already succeeded once... they could do it again. Murder was the meal of the day, pillagers and robbers, packs of them across the plains and forests. They shone search lights across the fields as they scoured the lands, the slight rummaging of movement shifted their search towards his apprentice...Mythos smiled. This would also indicate his apprentices aptitude for stealth, it would highlight if he charged forward to destroy or thought of a better strategy besides that....

Mythos focused upon his mind and sent the image of the child once more. "Warrior" Materializing from thin air the figure of the child stood beside [member="Garivald"] while gazing upon the plains before him. He stood with along pause without speaking, his eyes just trained on the horizon glistening with the dark blanket of night. "Welcome to my lands... all you see before you belongs to me, every blade of grass and every mound and hill is mine to control, even those who now seek to kill you and take what is yours... how you seek to solve this is beyond me... i will be watching"

The image vanished, search lights coming closer... it was time.

 

[Garivald]

(OOC- I might have gone slightly overboard with the fighting/action.)

Hearing a blood-curdling scream, Garivalds ears twitched. Eyes snapping open, he sat up and looked around the surrounding area. He had been following a dirt road; traveling in the direction his master had told him to go; when the sun had set. Though dark by human standards, he was able see reasonably thanks to the moonlight. Instead of traveling through the night, he had instead decided to continue for a couple of hours before stopping to set up camp by the road. He had wanted to conserve his energy for his journey.

"Warrior"

Flinching in surprise Garivalds hand snaked down to his vibroblades hilt. Turning his head he saw the child projection of [member="Lord Mythos"].

"Welcome to my lands... all you see before you belongs to me, every blade of grass and every mound and hill is mine to control, even those who now seek to kill you and take what is yours... how you seek to solve this is beyond me... i will be watching" With that the illusion faded from view.

Wait... what? His master had sent people to kill him? Without even properly training him yet? No... that didn't make sense. Shaking his furred head, he began to work his mind, trying to fully wake up. His master had laid claim to all that he could see, even those who lived here. That probably made the people after him bandits... and from the scream that had woken him, murderers as well.

Now that he thought about it... the way his master had phrased his words left him free to do what he wanted to the bandits. Which meant his actions were being judged.

It was a given that he planned on killing them. He couldn't in good conscience leave them behind to keep attacking people. He didn't have it in him to do such a thing. Besides, they'd already forfeited their lives when they began killing and robbing other atrisians.

Considering his lack of knowledge on the bandits, he decided a more strategic attack would be best. He needed to know how many enemies there were and what type of gear they had. If they had any ranged weapons it could be a small problem.

After leaving the military and becoming an acolyte, he'd had to return his infantry rifle and armor since they were military property. Leaving his traveling gear at his makeshift campsite, Garivald crouched down low heading out into the field of tall grass and trees. Counting four search lights heading towards his camp he made a wide arc to avoid them. Using his sense of smell he traveled further out retracing his enemies steps.

After a couple minutes of slow travel, he found himself at the edge of a small clearing. In the clearing were three men who were ruffling through two travelers packs. Smelling like they hadn't bathed in a couple weeks, they didn't look much better. There clothes looked to be hanging by there last threads. Not far from them were the bodies of two elderly men; both not moving. To rob and kill your own people... especially defenseless old ones such as these....

Ears pressing flat against his head, his fur bristled as he growled silently at the sight.

He couldn't attack now though. He needed to be patient for a little longer, to see if there were any more. Inching back from the clearing, he silently made a wide circle before coming back to the clearing. He hadn't caught the sent of anyone but the seven bandits and the two corpses.

Drawing his vibroknife, Garivald inched his way forward till he was within arms reach of the three bandits. Grabbing the closest one by the hair, he reached around and slid the knife across his throat. Letting go of the first one, he lunged at the second man, slamming his blade up into his side and twisted. Ripping his knife out, he shoved the man over and jumped over him to get at the third bandit.

He didn't make it in time. The bandit managed to let out a yell before Garivalds knife slammed into his upper chest, cutting his cry for help short. Ears perking up, he tried to make out noise. He needed to know if the bandits near his camp had heard.

"Kriffing hell."

Hearing shouts coming towards his direction, he slipped out into the tall grass and waited.

Soon he heard multiple sets of feet running, followed by three men charging into the clearing; two wielding vibroblades and the third a blaster. Taking careful aim, Garivald whipped his arm around, lodging his knife into third mans throat.

That takes care of the annoying one.

Drawing his vibroblade he dashed into the clearing and swung his blade, seperating a bandit from his head when they'd turned to see the blaster bandit fall to the ground. Using his momentum, he moved forward, deflecting the other bandits attack and impaled him on his sword.

Hearing movement behind him, Garivald pulled his blade out and turned. Lifting his sword up he managed to deflect the two-handed chop that came down on him. Staggering back from the impact, he stumbled over the bandit that had fallen behind him. Dropping into a backwards roll, he bounced back on his feet.

Launching himself at the bandit, he gripped his own blade in a two-handed grip. Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Garivald swung his vibrosword as hard as he could into his enemies blade; sending it flying from the bandits grasp. Bringing his weapon back around he shoved his sword through the bandits head and withdrew it; watching him fall to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Garivald closed his eyes; blocking the bodies from his sight. He took no pleasure in taking the life of another. He did what needed to be done. What had to be done.

Opening his eyes he made his way to the bodies of the two elderly men. Looking down at them in both sadness and anger, "I truly hope that you find solace in knowing that these men didn't live to see the next day; That judgement was met swiftly."

 

[Mythos]

(OOC- No such thing as too much blood! XD)

Mythos watched every move of his apprentice, his choice of meeting the violence head on was also taken into account in Mythos' mind. He could feel every killing stroke in the force while he remained in meditation, his soldiers around the camp made note that the Tenno was not to be disturbed further. Only Martha accompanied the King in his solace, only she watched over him in his meditation, only she saw him smile when the ripples of death in force began. "Good... very good..." Mythos said under his breath, words meant only for himself.

Mythos stayed silent during the aftermath, recovering his strength as the sun rose and his apprentice gave the innocent dead their last rites. The act was an honorable one, one which Mythos held in high regard above all his deeds, his reluctance to take life however would have to be remedied with time. Impressed, the Sith Lord above the citadel gave his apprentice another sight into what was to come. Another illusion of the child would appear, this one holding in his right hand the Axe that was the symbol of his power and might, the Axe of Adas. "You have done well, your skills are impressive... I now have a task for you." The child said, taking a step forward and pointing towards the nearest mountain.

"High above that mountain lies the next step of your journey to me and my power... there you will find your first true test within the force... for in that mountain lies a pass called the dead mountain pass. A shadow lies over that mountain as well as creatures that will tear the flesh off your bones if you let them... I will be watching.."

When the illusion vanished this time it did so in the direction of the mountain pass, shining it's light into a road off the side of the valley where the hike would begin. Above the road and near the top hills would be a impassable cliff with hellish winds of frozen breath. Ice cats as well as massive scorpid creatures prowl the side of the high peaks as well as bandits and highwaymen seeking to coin those foolish enough to venture that far. Mythos however had laid a gift at the peak of the mountain, a gift that would compliment his new apprentice wherever he went.... if he could find it.

@Garivald

 

[Garivald]

The child illusion faded outward towards the hills, where it faintly illuminated a dirt path that led up through the hills towards the closest mountain. If Garivalds master hadn't shown it to him, he never would have found it.

"Thank you for your guidance master."

With a final saddened look, he turned and began walking; leaving the two old men as they were. It wasn't that he didn't want to bury them. He simply new it would be a pointless waist of energy. The scavengers and carnivorous animals living on the plains would eventually sniff them out and uncover them to feast.

Traveling back to his camp, he gathered his traveling gear and began making his way through the tall grass, towards the hills; setting out early. After what had happened here tonight, there was no way he'd be able to go back to sleep.

Working his way through the plain, his progress was hindered a half a dozen times when he'd caught the scent of a few local predators; forcing him to make his way in large curving zigzag . While it was unlikely that he would die in a confrontation, he didn't want to receive injuries from fighting beasts. Not when he had so much farther to travel.

Eventually, Garivald reached the foot of the hills as the sun crested the horizon; bringing with it the first morning light. Walking around in circles for a few minutes, he finally found what he was looking for; the path up into the hills. The trail was overgrown with various plant life and appeared to not be traveled often. Following the winding trail, he began working his way upwards, befor getting snagged by plants and had to fight his way through them. As it grew harder to travel he got frustrated; drew his vibroknife and started hacking at the local flora. This continued on all day; while taking frequent breakes; until the end of the day, when he cut down the last plant and found himself in a glade.

Sweating profusely and breathing heavily, he sheathed his knife and entered the clearing. Walking around the glade, the only thing he discovered was an enormous rock that continued in all directions. Except for the path leading back down through the hills. The path he'd spent all day clearing to where? A dead end?!

Had he been toyed with this whole time? Had the Sith Lord been playing with him?

No kriffing way in hell! I didn't come to this planet; travel all the way up these fething hills for nothing!

"There's something I'm missing. He said there'd be a up. That the next step in my journey would be atop the mountain."

Slowly, Garivald began looking up the rock face until his neck muscles were straining. A mixture of surprise and shock found its way onto his face.

There, a few hundred feet above him, buried into the side of the mountain was a cliff.

"No kriffing way. How am I supposed to reach that?", he wispered.

 

[Garivald]

He had spent two days resting and observing the stone wall, trying to map out how to climb up to the cliff. The first thing he'd noticed was a small plateau a third of the way up. It had taken him a few hours to map out a possible route to reach it. From there he'd slowly scanned the rest of the way up; trying to paint a mental picture and figure out the rest of his pathway.

Once he was well rested and was confident in his mental map, Garivald began climbing. He managed to reach the plateau after his fourth attempt; covered in various scrapes and bruises across his body. Physically drained, he spent the rest of the day and the next recuperating.

Climbing up from his resting area, he managed to reach roughly thirty feet before needing to turning back. Considering how much he'd been drained by the first third of his climb, there was no way he'd make the rest of it in one go by relying on just himself. He would try to do something he'd never actively done before.

He was going to try and rely on the force.

Sitting down cross legged Garivald closed his eyes. Fighting to suppress his thoughts, he also struggled to open himself to the force; to commune with it. He'd only managed to do this a half dozen times, but never intentionally. After failing for some time, he gave up on clearing his mind and focused only on reaching the force.

It took him quite some time, but he eventually felt a profound, yet subtle shift in his mind. He was open to the darkside.

Feeling his aches and pains dull a bit, he also felt invigorated. Opening his eyes, Garivald started climbing again; while trying to maintain his tenuous link to the force. As he climbed, he felt himself being pulled subtlety in certain ways; tugged to reach out and grasp at handholds he wouldn't have grabbed onto. At first resisting, he soon gave in and allowed himself to be guided up the mountainside; eventually going on autopilot.

Until the light breazes went away, and he was hit with a strong gust of wind that almost threw him out into open air. Loosing focus, Garivald lost his grasp on the force and found himself clinging to the wall exhausted and gasping for breath; holding on for dear life. Hugging the wall, he tried to grasp the force and failed several times. Resigning himself to reality, he closed his eyes and began getting his breathing under control. From there he made minimal body movements in an effort to build up his energy.

After a few minutes he resumed his assent; arms and legs trembling from the effort.

Sweat matting down his fur, Garivald struggled to push himself up the rock face a couple more feet; grasping at a handhold to steady himself. Once he was ready, he dragged himself a couple more feet up the rock-wall; putting his clawed hand around another rock. Feeling the frosty wind picking up, he pressed himself as flat against the mountain as he could and gripped as hard as he could. There was no fething way he'd be blown off the mountain. He'd discovered a very intimate understanding of his limits the last time he'd lost his grip and fallen. Plus he was only a handful of feet away from the cliffs edge; too close for him to die now.

Garivald fought down his impatience and excitement and slowly.... so very slowly.... drew himself up the last few feet.

Grasping the cliffs edge, he pulled himself up over its side. Taking large gasping breathes, he rolled himself onto his back; chest and limbs on fire from overuse. Shrugging out of his pack, he slowly opened and drew out a cloak; rapping it around himself. He needed to rest awhile.

[member="Lord Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

Far beyond his apprentice, Mythos watched him and in battle meditation imparted some of his strength to him with which he would be able to rest soundly and when he awoke a great strength would be gifted upon him. He could only impart a small degree of stamina, insignificant in contrast to the energy his apprentice would need to continue his trek over the foreboding pass and through the massive winds of the mountain peaks. Mythos smiled in his place of meditation at the process his apprentice was making, it was the single greatest achievement he had ever witnessed from an Acolyte... yet Mythos would never admit that.

Mythos pondered if it was time his trek came to an end, if his journey to prove himself had run it's course and He could send a gunship to pick him up and transport him to the citadel where Mythos was. He shrugged off the thought... It would be a disservice, he thought... it would only take from him the greatness he could achieve.

Suddenly he saw a shimmering form behind the form of his apprentice that laid down wrapped over his cloak. Ice Cats... Mythos frowned on the development. His aspiring apprentice had still to recover his full strength yet the ice cat approached methodically, stalking his pray and behind him the pack of feline predators of the high cliffs that rarely saw the full blown meal of strong meat and without hesitation began flanking him to all sides. Mythos thought of reaching out to his apprentice and awakening him to the oncoming danger... but he decided against it... it would be his test for the senses, Force Sense... the force without Mythos' help or aid in anything, would warn him of the oncoming threat.

These felines were capable of launching projectiles from their backs as daggers, they had claws that would tear through armor, they hunted in packs and Mythos had already seen, fought and feasted upon their cooked flesh so he knew before hand that these creatures were a challenge even for a Sith Lord in numbers. If his apprentice could come out victorious out of this encounter, it would show Mythos that not only was he worthy of his apprenticeship, but formidable even now against all odds.

"May the force be with you my apprentice..." Mythos said as the feline predators closed in and seconds from pouncing. "You will need it..." suddenly, the attack began.

@Garivald