Private Shola's Ark

[Adron Malvern]

R U N E S​

Tags: Amali Mustra ​

This woman would likely be the source of a great deal of agitation. He said nothing in response to her words on her need to hide things. He supposed that may have been a fine answer yet the fact remained that it was still a useful skill to have. He turned from the woman as she offered her threats, again saying nothing in response to her words.

As she spoke, his hand went to the wall. He dipped his finger in the bloody mark, rolling the top digit of his finger over the wall until the rune appeared. It was a simple design, three diagonal marks within a hexagon. Finally the Sith Lord drug his finger through the center of the design to create a strike through the rune.

"Jaradumas." The man spoke simply, raising a hand to the rune as if to continue on the lesson. It was clear his mind was more focused on the instruction than Amali's threats. "The power of runes comes from the materials used, the name of the rune, and the power of the writer."

"These runes are of the ancient way of Kruel. By utilizing blood you triple the power of the design." He stepped back, glancing down to the open wound on his hand before using his free hand to gesture to the space beside Amali. "You're too unpracticed in these arts to activate the rune of another, so first you must craft the rune. While doing such you must take command of the Force and demand it's obedience. If you do not have total control then you will be little more than a child doing arts and crafts."

"With every stroke of your blood you will let the threads of the Dark Side, the ancient ways, weave themselves into the rune. When it is completed it will be harder to erase and should not fade without considerable effort." He told her before gesturing towards the wall.​

 

[Amali Mustra]

Adron Malvern


He seemed to ignore her question, the condition she required for this to go through. She decided to bottle it and look back at the rune on the wall. Ancient Sith Magic talked of Sith Runes that could actually produce the effects of the Force, and it gave her ideas. She always wanted to investigate them, but neither she nor her people honestly had the teachings of this ancient tradition, seemingly lost to the ages. She turned her head back to the runes and raised her cybernetic hand, touching the rune Adron had left on the wall with his blood. She questioned the validity of the enhanced power of blood, as it merely seemed intrinsic when the need arose to write without ink or similar substance, but she had no reason to disbelieve him. Amali had no hand to cut, not even an arm or a leg. But, she didn't need a blade, either. The hand that touched the touch pulled back, closer to her face as she produced a single digit; the index finger. She angled it towards herself, and what seemed like her having second thoughts was actually her bionic limb initially 'rejecting' the order she influenced upon it. The arm struggled to move for half a second, before Amali ended up stabbing her opposite shoulder with the digit. She seemed unphased. Pain was literally part of her life, and she maintained her emotions and focus like a Jedi, but this was more akin to the focus and standards of assassins, it was just obvious that usually dark side wielders used their pain to amplify themselves. Amali chose focus over tears.

She pulled the finger out and looked back over to Adrons rune before taking a step to the side and began copying the exact design Adron made, as if she was a machine, capable of recreating art form. Truthfully, it was all on the bionic arm, and some mathematics. Once she finished the rune, she looked back at Adron. She knew just because she copied the rune did not mean she perfected the ability, but it did show she had no trouble creating said rune. Now it was questionable if her lifeless arm actually needed life to create a rune, and if said arm could even activate a rune. She still figured it would need a life force touch. If Adron paid any attention at all, however, to her wound.... he would notice that the skin seemed to peel when she pulled her finger out. Perhaps it was more cybernetics underneath? But then where would the blood come from? If Adron had very little knowledge of such medical-related things, he could chock it up to false skin that covered the.... awkward parts where the cybernetic limb connected to the body. "Hey, Arsosûtoi," she said calmly, "you can ignore my other demands for now. But if you're going to be a mentor, I require your name." She showed she would not continue the lesson otherwise, "you know mine, I don't know yours."

 

[Adron Malvern]

JARADUMAS​

Tags: Amali Mustra ​

"Malphas."

The word fell from his lips with a curt, nearly dismissive tone as he looked over the rune that the woman had crafted. He took a step forward so that he may lay his hand upon her strokes of blood. The crimson paint smeared against his touch, staining his hand while he glanced down at the blood that covered the digits of his hand. He turned from the rune before shaking his head. "You're writing it but you must commune with the Force as you do such. Simply drawing the rune means nothing if you do not empower it."

He turned to Amali as he spoke, yet his eyes caught the synthskin that had torn against the side of her shoulder. He did not dwell on the thought, yet he was not one to see something of that nature and not give it a place in his mind. He turned back to the rune before speaking once again. "I want you to press your head to the rune. Focus on the Force and let your power flow within the rune, as you do repeat the word Jaradumas." Malphas backed away from the wall, turning back to the other side of the room.

He let out a soft exhale before lowering himself to his knees. Clasping his hands together he closed his eyes for a moment while Amali saw to her task.

He spoke simply with his eyes closed. "The power of this rune will hide the presence of the Force in the area around us. It is an ancient technique that the Sith of old used to maintain their identities." He explained to her. ​

 

[Amali Mustra]

Adron Malvern

Amali stared at the rune for a moment, not really realizing but affirming that she wrote the rune without any power, like she was drawing on the wall. As Adron spoke, it grinded on her. His requirement was to teach her how to use the Dark Side. A teacher. But he speaks to her as she is worthless. An arrogant teacher. Harnessing the Force in her mind not only seemed as a way to stray from her path, but it also seemed out of her grasp. To wield the Force was to relearn everything she knew of the innate ability her people had, she wouldn't start over. Instead, she closed her eyes and ignored Adrons final words. She knew of the ancient Runes but had no way to learn them... if upset her that this heretic knew of it and she did not. She stabbed herself once more in the same place, wincing slightly before reaching back to the wall, but only after adjusting her position to a fresh part of the wall. "Jaradumas," she tried to say it in her accent, but it felt as though it tarnished her tongue. She said it a few more times until she started to whisper it, the expression on her face - though hidden from Adron - seemed to come off angry, but she was focusing, as she did with her magic. She instilled the power of her people, drawing it enough until she felt confidant enough to write it, and she did. "Jaradumas," she whispered once more, drawn out as she wrote on the wall. Adron started to get a sense from the wall, similar to her blade when she infused her power into it.

When she opened her eyes, she stared at the wall. She refused to touch it, turning her head slowly to Adron for him to inspect it. Every lesson is taught in steps, you don't get to the end in the first go. You learn as you take steps. "When we are done here - and I think we should be soon - I propose we leave. This planet isn't exactly a perfect atmosphere for living, and being in a cave with lava may not be ideal." She gestured to the lava around them in a canal, the lava Adron brought down to try and kill her just a bit ago. "I would also like to bury my pilot appropriately, so I'd prefer taking him home before he starts to burn. Please," her hand came up as if to 'display her efforts' and give an awkward pose, "inspect my new attempt." She spoke in a plain tone, without any emotion, especially anger. She understood Adron was going to behave dismissively of her, so she wasn't going to treat him like a person. She was going to treat him like a soulless entity.

 

[Adron Malvern]

F A T E​

Tags: Amali Mustra ​

Although the King could sense the emotions that came from Amali he paid them little attention. At least that would be the outer shell that he revealed to the woman. He often came off as a dispassionate narcissist, which wasn't entirely false however the man was actually hyper-sensitive to emotions. They were the true keys to unrivaled power as well as the gateways to different methods of control and persuasion. Emotion was everything.

Malphas' focus remained on the wall as he felt the Force slowly flow into the wall of rock and stone. He uncrossed his arms as she spoke of the room they stood in and the lava around him. He glanced down to her before nodding at her point on burying her pilot. Though the fool had died unnecessarily it seemed to be harvested from a sense of loyalty and duty. If nothing else Malphas could respect that.

His hand pressed against the wall, running his fingers through the crimson blood. It was hard to the touch, brittle like dried paint, but it did not smear against his hand.

She has done well. He mused. It can take some days of practice to correctly write a rune, pronounce the name correctly, and empower it with the Force. It is weak and would not hold against any proper Sith or Jedi Master, but against the common person? It would be effective. He kept his thoughts to himself before finally turning back to Amali and nodding at her display. "Well done. In time you will perfect this rune, however it prevents my senses from scouring through the other side of the wall so the task was accomplished."

Still. There was a lack of commitment that held her back and it would continue to do such. The man pulled a small device from his belt, a comm device of some kind. He held it out to the girl while speaking plainly. "Finish your business here and then contact me. Your next lesson will be a good gauge of your true potential." After placing the device in her hand the man took even strides towards the pathway that had led him down to the tomb.

A smile upon his lips, he was eager to see what the future held. ​

 

[Amali Mustra]

Adron Malvern


The man seemed to fight a lot of battles in his head. A metaphor. He showed no expression as if to put off some sort of display of professionalism and perhaps awe the uninspired or uneducated, clearly showing his thoughts were racing a mile a minute and taking priority over his actual life in the present. Amali thought if she should start paying rent if she lived in his mind so much, since clearly his thoughts were on her and her abilities. Thankfully, she had gotten the basics done on runecrafting. She was quite interesting in such a craft, however. To know the ancient traditions, rites, and abilities of the old Sith... it intrigued her. She never wanted her people to die out in culture and memory, so Adron got her commitment via another route. Before she realized it, Adron complimented her and was done here, handing over a special comms link so that they could communicate again. Amali grew a slight anger on her face as she accepted it but he immediately turned to leave. She aimed her sword at him, and her force sensitivity was channeled into the blade once more, lighting a beacon for Adrons senses. He sensed anger and frustration through the blade, when just before he sensed nothing but focus and silence.

"I gave you a condition, a condition you have not agreed to yet. Therefore our pact is not completed," she took one step forward, getting into her fighting style. This fighting style was in the shadows just a bit ago when they initially met, but he couldn't see it. It was some wild style that he would not be able to recognize. "If our pact is not completed, then we have no agreement. You must not speak of me or my brethren, you must not speak of our existence, or I would rather die trying to defend this secret. It can not be exposed to anyone. I value my people over my own life, as I always have. I have fought and trained for their benefit and survival, in order to protect them, for over eighty years. I will not simply let you walk without accepting the condition."

 

[Adron Malvern]

M U S T R A​

Tags: Amali Mustra ​

When Amali took up her position against the man, he paused in his steps. He could feel a killing intent coming from her once again and the man was tempted to cut her down now. Yet, he turned his mind to restraint. By cutting down all who got lippy with him he would only create pockets of discontent. The behavior would not serve him well in the future. Still when he turned to see the woman's stance he was more intrigued than he was insulted.

He shook his head at her softly before his eyes fell upon her. "You are entirely too weak for such claims of war. Move in silence and let none see your power until it is greater than there own." Still, he nodded his head at her words. "I will keep your secret Lady of Clan Mustra. However I will look to see your progression in the ancient ways. The ancient ways are dying, I will need help to preserve them."

The Sith Lord turned from Amali before pulling the hood over his head. "I'm a difficult teacher, but I will show you the extent of what I know, so long as you are willing to learn. So long as you are willing to remain hidden."

Hidden.

The Order of the Hidden would find its inception soon enough. While the Sith Lord was yet uncertain how, he would see it's rise. It would take a great deal of patience. "Contact me once you are ready for your next lesson." He said, moving towards the stairwell. ​

 

[Amali Mustra]

Adron Malvern

Amali held restraint, not committing to an action as she listened to his response. She would give him the courtesy of a response, unknown of what it may be. The man was surely arrogant enough to not take any 'back talk' while also always seemingly prepared to put her down. However, to her surprise, he submitted to the condition she required of him. She felt an easiness come over her as her grip on her blade loosened, and her stance became gentle from its original stern position. He agreed, and there was nothing else required of either of them for the time being. She lowered her blade as it slowly stopped glowing while she listened to him. One day, he would have to see her as an equal if this was going to continue, as she wouldn't take anything less. She doesn't submit to the traditions of the Dark Side, so a simple slot fill wouldn't work with her. She hoped he would eventually see that. But for now, she stayed quiet, taking in what he said as she adjusted her footing to a more idle and comfortable position.

She was curious how this relationship would continue, and as a surprise to Adron, he would find that her word meant everything. She wasn't upset about being defeated and, aside from the death from her pilot, she was only upset by this agreement she had 'signed'. Well, the agreement wasn't so bad.... the teacher is another thing altogether. But she hoped in time it wouldn't be so bad. She pulled the communicator up to look at it, pondering for a moment as she ignored Adrons final steps before he was gone. What really would be her future?