The Dark Academy on Korriban

Lord Savas coughs and says, “There is a physical text in the library consult the librarian, she should be able to direct you to the Journals of the Sith ascetic, Yunkai Mun. His journals are dry reading but the sections describing Koro are illuminating.”

"I'll do that my Lord." He made a mental note of the name. It had been his intention to visit the library at some point soon, now he had a genuine reason to do so. Nodding his head he set off after the librarian.

Lord Savas points to Jun-Tsu or where she went.

Khalim also bows his head to Savas, "as you command, my Lord". He then heads off in the direction of the others.

The appointed librarian continued to walk the dark, rough halls of the excavation sight, preserved, yes, but still rough hewn from their sandy bed. She gazed at the various pictographs along the walls and ceiling as she set about returning to camp.

Jo'ren swiftly caught up to the robed woman he had only met at the start of this little adventure. "Applicant...Farro, was it? I hear you're the new Librarian. What's the procedure for checking out books?"

She glanced back at the sound of footsteps but then continued her 'sight-seeing.'

"I...," she was caught a touch off guard. She had been appointed to organize the library only two days ago, and it was less than that when she learned of her new student-appointment as librarian.

"I am," again she stammered trying to think quickly. "Come to the library. I am working on a new system for implementation. Use the main terminal for digital materials. They will be sent to your personal terminal in your dorm room. For physical materials, you will need to use the main terminal to request the title then R3-G3, or myself, will fetch it from the private collection. Of course, after verifying your aspirant number."

OOC: You don't need to make a thread in the library, but if you do, if I'm not present R3-G3 is. At which point requests can be made if you want an interactive thread. Otherwise, access is more or less assumed unless the tome is super rare or restricted, but I'm pretty sure most of those materials are in the museum.

"Alright, great. Thanks. I'll see if there's a digital copy, if not then I'll stop by tonight."

He looked at her with a touch of curiosity. "What's your story by the way? Since we haven't dinner this yet: I'm Aspirant Jo'ren Rath of the Bloodline of Sek'nos Rath, dating back to the Infinite Empire."

"Yes, I know," she said in a methodical manner, allowing the conversation to take more of her attention. "Zhe old bloodlines know your house vell. Zhis v'one iz Jun-Tsu Farro, no doubt beneath your esteemed notice. Mein House date only to zhe coming of zhe jen'jidai und the enslavement of zhe Sith. Ztill, ve vere among zhe first to blend zhe ancient Sith vays vith the myticizm of zhe ancient jedaii."

"Mein House has, for seweral zenturies now diworced itzelf from zhe affairs of zhe core vorlds here in the Stygian Caldera. Ve prefer zhe company of zhe other old families along zhe outer edges of zhe Caldera."

He walked beside the force witch at a comfortable pace, nodding at her commentary.

"Right, so your lineage focused inward, keeping out of the daily affairs of the Sith. Whereas mine tended to run around doing its own thing, but always came back eventually. Why did you come here then, why now?"

There was no accusation in his voice, just simple curiosity. He supposed a vision or call from the Force was responsible, but who knew? Not him.

"In truth? Ve ztay avay from zhe core vorlds because it interferes vith our vays, but it haz long been Farro custom to keep apprized of zhe goingz on of zhe Empire. So, a few Farro vith zhe interest keep estate on Dormund Kaas, und other places, but zhe family remains on Korriz. Zhen from time to time ve send otherz, enwoys to survey zhe methods of zhe Sith, especially here on Korriban, vhere our family first landed zhousands of years ago. Zo, here I am, to appraise zhe Academy, its professors, und its methods."

"That's interesting. Not what I expected to hear." He pondered her response quietly for a time.

"What's your assessment so far?". He was trying to recall if his instructors had mentioned the Farro's in the old tales.

"Adeqvate," the witch answered sincerely. "Vhile wastly different zhan zhe vays of House Farro und how ve teach our acolytes, it haz prowen effective, if a touch easy. For scions of old Houses like ourzelves, zhese tasks are rudimentary, tedious, und on occasion insultingly zimplistic."

"Vhile I beliewe I am groving in my zkills, I am giwen zhe distinct impression zhat zhe Headmistress may be structuring zhe curriculum to allow houseless acolytes to pass." She hardly needed to explain what she meant. Their alien instructor was making it easier for aliens to pass.

"I care not, und zo long as zhere iz still merit to zhe education I vill overlook it, but I have yet to zee zhe dreaded difficulty of zhe Korriban Academy zhat my progenitors zpeak of."

There was a nod of understanding from the big sith. "Factionalism is rife within the Sith at the moment. It seems to be the curse of this Empire. One faction fighting another for dominance rather than focusing on the Republic."

He gave her a shrewd look when she complained about the difficulty. His thoughts returned to Sanea's vision.

"There's still time to be surprised."

"Most zertainly, und I reserwe judgement until all iz complete, but at present, zhese tests of loyalty, und essayz on zhe history of the Sith, seem far more for unhoused neophytes zhan for zhose of us raised on zuch things zince birth. Vere I v'one to take offense, I might even be insulted at zuch trials."

"But zhanfully I am not, und, as I zaid, zhere is some merit to zhe curriculum here, zhough I have zeen a woefully small amount of time zpent on study of zhe Dark Side. Instead ve spend all of our time learning history, or going on survival hikes, or in lightzaber training. Physical purzuits zhat serve a purpose, but do not strengthen zhe zoul."

Jo'ren tapped his impressive chest. "Like to think I already the physical stuff covered. I only really began to develop my force powers since arriving. Can't say I disagree, although I'm dedicated to my lightsaber training as well as developing my connection to the force."

He looked over at Jun-Tsu. "So, you're developing it yourself. Right? How's that working out?"

"Slow, az a result, in part, from zhe zudden change in curriculum. Being forced to zeek out knowledge on my own haz slowed mein progress. Vithout zhe resources of mein family I have had to rely on mein own connection to zhe Umbră-Ușoară cultiwate my spiritual grovth. It iz an age old technique of zhe Farro for vhen ve are stranded und alone."

Jo'ren gave her a puzzled look. "Sorry? The umbra-what now? I think you're saying you have a training method for attuning to the force, but I'm not familiar with the terminology."

"It iz an ancient term, a blend of zhe old tongue uzed by zhe jen'jidai long, long before zhey came to Korriban, und an archaic term zhe Sith v'once used. It means 'Dark-light.' It speaks of zhe darkness vhich moves, zhe woid vhich sees, zhe blackness vhich is. Zhe Dark Side of zhe Force."

He nodded, taking her meaning. "Right, so your people still teach the old ways. Our families probably have lots of connections going that far back. I'll be honest, I don't recall much of my ancient history lessons, I was more interested in fighting and physical pursuits. So I guess from that point of view the classes aren't entirely wasted on me." He thought about how she had described the force. "I like your imagery."

"I am pleazed," she said in a bland tone.

"I vill not deny zhe skill vith vhich ve manipulate zhe Dark-light iz yet too....nescient for uz to best our foez, und no doubt if you choze you could wery easily cut me down. But, I vould like to zhink zhat in time if vill be study of zhe Umbră-Ușoară vhich vill prevail in powver. Skill vith the lightsaber, vhile a prominent part of zhe Sith, vill, newerzheless, pale before zhe vill of zhe Dark Side."

"In zuch a vay, I zuppose I play zhe long game, und pray to zhe Umbră-Ușoară zhat it bids me liwe long enough to zee zhat day."