The Dark Academy on Korriban

The one introduced as Shaisha, a female Sith pureblood dressed in loose-fitting clothing that seemed of good quality, lifted her glass in a greeting to Layne.

"Well met... a good time to be drinking, after starting our last days at the Academy as students."

Sylvain smiled and nodded raising his glass, "The long haul is almost over. Soon Korriban will be a different place to each of us. For those who are new, and those who aren't."

She looked over the group, and the sinking feeling emerged this was going to be that group of 'popular kids everyone hated back in school.' And by everyone she meant just her. Or would have, if she'd gone to school. Her eyes lingered on Shaisha, even before she spoke.

That's one of that native species that gramps conquered huh?

"The fuck you mean, last? I just got here."

"Well, you know, this is the final part for most aspiring Sith. The next coming days will determine who gets to move from being an aspirant and become an apprentice to a Lord." She explained in a somewhat friendly way.

Slyvain smiled. We have quite the mutt here don't we.

"That's right. Kristal, Shaisha and I have spent time here before. This'll be the last time though, as the trials are here in the next several days."

He said with a smile.

"Are you aware of the tests that will be performed?"

Ugh...

"Everyone's already been calling me Lord. Now you're saying I'm some apprentice instead?"

She was either stupid; or taking the piss. Or some combination thereof.

She looked to Sylvain. "Are you?"

"Oy vey..." Shaisha chuckled, and took a gulp of her drink. "Right. Do you want the complete run-down of the setup here, Layne?"

I don't like her.

But if she was going to explain things, well, that was helpful, wasn't it? Who cared if she thought it was funny? Hers was a conquered species, she'd learned, so let her have her precious fun.

"Whatever," she shrugged. "Sure."

From the moment she entered Kristal had recognized her. Which was where Shaisha and Sylvain could have seen how she was concerend, only slightly, but see still concerned. Having faced the new arrival in her seat, despite it being a awkward sitting position as Syl was near her. Shaisha had the right idea, same one as Kristal. However the young Serasai didn't bring her weapon into the cantina. Instead she would merely need to be ready for whatever came.

As chances would have it, nothing did.

Unlike Sylvain and Shaisha, Kristal had no intent to be polite.

"I see your manners still serve you well." She did still hold back a bit, just enough to not directly call the woman a mutt.

As thing progressed Kristal left out further comments. For now.

Kristal's words did catch her attention, and her curiosity. Shaisha took notice of how she looked more guarded... well, for the untrained eye, Kris always looked guarded.

"Everyone here are students of the Academy... acolytes, aspirants... take your pick of the name, really. Each and everyone with the potential to become Sith. Those above us, Sith Lords, eventually all need apprentices, whom they will teach their secrets to, while in return the apprentices serve. In a way, consider it like adding powerful weapons to your arsenal, that you can improve over time."

She swirled the contents of her drink for a moment.

"Eventually, the Apprentices earn titles of Lord, and... well, circle goes on, you could say. So, for us, and you too, it seems, this time period is when we as students are being considered by Sith Lords who are looking for new apprentices. Hence calling it the last days as students of the Academy."

Finding that he has some free time during the day, and having completed his shopping trip, Khalim makes his way to see what the local Cantina is like.

Still dressed in his customary finery and black cloak, and with his saber at his hip, he makes walks up to the bar and peruses the list of drinks. After a short time, he makes his decision and orders a drink.

He takes a sip of the drink, nods satisfiedly, and then heads over to a comfortable chair and sits down to enjoy his drink.

Sylvain nodded, "It will seem like they are putting us through the grinder, but that is part of the selection process. Brutal, perhaps, but effective nonetheless."

“What is this place, flesh of my flesh?” the spirit called to Layne. She could feel him long before she could hear him. To the rest of the room there was a chill in the air and acrid taste on the tongue, a disturbance in the Force… no more like slight ripple.

It made the hairs on the back of the neck if that was applicable stand on end.

OOC: He is only visible to Layne.

Xevine nodded to the new arrival. "Xevine Distraacht." She offered simply, allowing the others to speak. "Have you paid any thought to which Lord would you like to catch the eye of?"

She felt slightly queasy... but quickly got over it. It was probably the drink.

"A shitty cantina at the academy," she answered him, without thinking. Did the others see him? Did she care? Did they? Or were they distracted by that disturbance in the force?

Well yes, she did care enough to at least try and act a bit more natural once she considered it.

"That's the reward at the end of that shit? A shitty cantina and a chance to perform tricks so you can get yourself a master? And you're all just dying to jump through the hoops, aren't you?"

She scoffed, then turned to Xevine.

"The only Sith lord I've ever even heard of was Oshin," she said; hoping that maybe one of these people would know enough history to fill in some blanks. Or convince the ghost that shit was different now, yo.

He chuckled, "There are plenty of motivators. Not doing what those who are stronger than you want usually will end in pain or death. You also grow in strength so as to no longer be contained by those who are 'stronger'... because you yourself become stronger than others."

Waves of anger and confusion flowed off him and he said, “I do not know this place, why is the flesh of my flesh a slave? I was a king with many slave-wives and armies of loyal warriors. The savages served me, respected my power. We were gods.”

“I am not pleased.”

He looked at Shaisha and said, “At least the slave wives exist.”

Had Shaisha known what the ghost was saying, she'd probably be livid.

Still, the disturbance made her uncomfortable. She was very attuned to the feeling of Korriban, but this was like suddenly finding a current of cold water in a pleasant pool of water.

"Syl has the right of it. It's a stepping stone to becoming more powerful."

...*former* slave

She thought angry thoughts. Maybe her newfound ancestor would hear them. If so, that would be helpful in terms of not looking like a lunatic who talks to ghosts. If not, well at least she had her angry thoughts...

...the comment about slave wives was amusing, at least. If only Shaisha had actually heard it, it would've been perfect.

"Whatever," she said to Sylvain's explanation. Sure, she got how that worked. In theory. The practice of it, however, had been a little less agreeable to her so far. "You're not going to find what you're looking for by wagging your tail at them and playing fetch with a dumb smirk on your faces all the while thinking you're hot shit. You do that, you'll always just be a tool."

He smiled, "You're right. There is a progression of these things for sure, and there are plenty of masters who don't want a dutiful dog for an apprentice. It's a matter of adapting to the world around you. Talk back to some instructors and they'll respect you. Talk back to others and they'll kill you."

"And most masters aren't interested in someone who can simply follow orders blindly and fetch slippers. Even trained tu'kata can do that. Someone who can think and act on their own, but in the interest of the Empire, and their agenda, is much more desirable. The coming days is our time to show that we are competent at more than just doing as we're told."

Shaisha lifted her empty glass, gesturing to the server for a refill.

"Isn't Oshin one of those old Lords buried in the tombs?" That was the best she had.

She let out a harrumph at the tone of the former slave. "You are only a tool if you allow others to make use of you without getting something out of it. If you see it that way, you're doomed for a life full of failure and death."

She shook her head, and looked at Layne. "My ancestors were mercenaries hired by the Sith. Now, we are counted among the noble Houses of the Empire. If you have the will, you can do anything."

“They know nothing of my legacy, flesh of my flesh,” Lord Oshin sneered.

“This lick spittle dares to counsel you on what makes greatness? You have my blood you have my gifts, these children know nothing of power. Where have my monuments gone? I do not like this place, is this my legacy?”

Lord Oshin scowled, “We were meant for more than this, flesh of my flesh.”

He slammed his fist on the bar and and there is a shatter of Force of power, every unattended glass is thrown against a wall, those in hand shatter spilling their contents even those made of metal or other materials resistant to breaking.

Lord Oshin is gone. There was definitely a tremor in the Force.

OOC

Using Destiny to convert Light points for Move.

Lord Oshin - Move Force Roll: 4eF 3 Light Side, 1 Dark Side

She held out a fist, unfazed by all the glass getting thrown about and knowing full well how to seize the moment.

"Oh, I have the will. Do you?"

She glared at the members of the group. How she hated them, so full of themselves. Probably thought they were going to walk away from this with a story about that time they laughed at some pathetic slave. They thought wrong.

"Thanks for the drink," she said in a mocking tone; before turning around and walking away.

If she had a microphone, now would've been the time to drop it.

Surprise flashed across her face as the former slave's outburst seemed to send her empty glass flying from her hand, along with all the other containers nearby, as if she had commanded the Force to throw them out of her way.

"!"

What in the blazes...

For the moment, she just felt stunned, as if something had happened that had caught her completely unaware.