mindscapeartist

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 7

Holle dismissed Zoren before looking back to Kai, "Yes, this is a mutual assignment, however I have lived with these women for over a year now, and know them quite well. These interviews are for the benefit of the Sith, and for you as a result. What I hope you learn from this is how to read body language, and a little bit of their tongue." She said, looking back to the door and calling out for the next woman to enter the chamber. This Dathomirian was quite tall compared to the previous one, and carried a long spear. Her physique was impressive, toned with lean muscle and showing a fair amount of scarring from previously won duels or battles. She was a very powerful woman among her people, and widely respected among the tribe. Holle knew her as the huntmaster of the group she had brought, but she chose simply to nod to Miss Tsintah, "This woman is very impressive, is she not? What can you tell about her just by looking at her? One of the most important abilities a Sith can learn is threat assessment. Who among the group is the most powerful, or most dangerous? Learning how to do that will definitely help you survive far longer than those with much less awareness. Appraise her on look alone first, take note of it, then proceed with your questions."

Holle looked at the warrior and spoke with her in the native tongue. Kora nodded in response, and looked to the stranger in the room and seated herself down with a calm facial expression. Her spear she held down, as if she was not prepared to fight, and her overall body language was that of someone who felt as though she was safe, or was confident enough that if she had to fight she could handle herself. How Miss Tsintah read that was entirely her own business though. Holle was pleased that she was able to teach someone though, and it felt good to have time to instruct on her master's behalf.

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 6

Holle listened to the rapid-fire questioning without expression, just as the huntress who was chosen as the first to be interviewed did as well. The Zeltron considered for a moment how best to approach translating without being quite so blunt or crude in the approach. She spoke with the woman, at length, about the topics chosen and took her own notes on the matter before translating the answers to Miss Tsintah.

"She is called Zoren and she is 29. She is a huntress of the Broken-Arrow tribe. It is her duty to feed her sisters, sisters being the tribe, as well as serving as a protector of her people. It is her belief that the most important thing to anybody should be strength in unity. She states that those who choose to disrupt her tribe's unity are exiled, and those exiles have formed their own tribe beyond the lands she calls home. They call their leader Mother, but her true name is Shala." she translated reasonably well. She then looked to Miss Tsintah to add her own bit, "Perhaps you should be made aware of the tribal organization on this planet. It is divided along sex. The primary native power of this planet are tribe composed entirely of women, with the men separated into their own groups as well. Procreation is at the discretion of the female, and she chooses the best possible candidate based on the male that is the strongest in their seasonal competitions to determine mating rites. It is all about protecting the future through producing the strongest children possible. It's elegant, in its own way." Holle said, fascinated by the knowledge she had gleaned simply from living among them for a fairly short amount of time. "But I digress. You may continue questioning her, or you may dismiss her and call in the next candidate. It is at your discretion."

This whole situation, including the being put on the spot part, would have been unnerving to most people who had little to no experience in such situations - but Kai found a way to maintain her inner peace. She controlled her anxiety with regular breathing and maintaining solid eye contact with the tribeswoman. She was also unaware of the proper procedure to conduct an interview or interrogation of this sort. The questions she asked were merely inquiries based on her own curiosity and had very little to do with logic or form. Nodding at Holle's translation of the native's responses, she offered her name in return, along with a brief word of appreciation for the native's frankness in communicating with her, Kai.

The bits about the tribal organization which were entirely Holle's addition, made the Korun swivel and cant her head in the Zeltron's direction. "A true matriarchal society, then." She commented briefly, considering this Dathomirian 'min-maxing' when it came to procreation and such. It likely translated to other layers of their culture which by now was screaming 'survival of the fittest!' at Kai - a concept she could identify with - even if her own background did not pick one gender to establish a firm upper hand in the society. The Korunnai were equal where gender was concerned. And nothing was more important than the herd and its survival.

But Kai did not see Dathomirian's way of procreating and producing the strongest offspring possible through some esoteric mating rites, as 'elegant'. She viewed it as rigid and premeditated, nothing more. In her mind, the definition of 'strongest' varied greatly, depending on the individual's motivation, their purpose for being. Sometimes the smallest person could be the one to change the course of the future, and not necessarily because they were the strongest, fastest or smartest. There was a subtle combination of traits that often made the strongest individuals, like the metals combining to forge a great sword.

"I was under the impression that we were both tasked with conducting the interviews." Kai said. Blinking, she looked away from Holle and returned her gaze back to Zoren.

"Tell her she may go, and bring forth the next candidate."

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 5

"The issue at hand is we are not binding them at all. They are not going to be enslaved as students, they are going to be trained. There is a difference between adversity and total submission. We are bringing them in as equals. If one is to train as a Sith, then they should be considered Sith. The adversity they face will breed strength or cut the chaff. They are used to hardships and struggle, we should shape that strength of will into a potent Sith. It should be considered a gift, not an obligation, nor should we consider forcing it upon them. If they wish to return home, then so be it. They have seen nothing truly dangerous, they have not seen any secrets, just the training grounds. Consider this the interview process for higher education, only instead of writing an essay on why they would be a good fit for our prestiguous educational facility they are to tell us what their motivations in life are. Once we discern that kind of information we can determine which ones to put through further testing. Let us not waste time on pushing them all at once when realistically there is no way that all of them will be good fits." Holle said, pushing the button to open the door. She called out in their tongue, and one woman entered the room and the door closed behind her. She was of moderate height and build by the standards of the Dathomirian tribes. It looked as if she was a hunter for sure, and she was looking around the room with a mix of caution and curiosity. The Zeltron motioned for her to take a seat across from her, and spoke again in her tongue. The woman looked to Miss Tsintah then back at Holle and nodded. Holle then turned to Miss Tsintah again, "Begin with your questions, Miss Tsintah." 

Not binding them at all, the Zeltron said. Not that putting someone through a 'trial of fire' was necessarily binding or enslaving, it was just pushing someone to the brink of losing control and revealing who and what they really were, under the veneer of what they normally displayed. Holle went on to make several important points though, like facing adversity through strenuous physical and mental training. Suppose that would peel off another layer or two when it came to these largely unpredictable tribeswomen. And only women, Kai thought. Not a single male among them. The men must not posses any of the gifts that females do, or to such little extent as to be considered negligible. Once again, she focused on the Sith Apprentice's voice and nodded her agreement.

The door to the office opened, and Holle called out in a foreign tongue. One of the women stepped inside while the door closed behind her. Her movements were akin to a stalker, careful and light, her steps entirely without rhythm. A hunter, perhaps? Kai thought. She wasn't overly tall or muscular, but there was something akin to a fierce determination about this one. The woman regarded the office tentatively, studying every spartan detail. When Holle spoke again, Kai felt the tribeswoman's eyes on her, very briefly. Their guest was seated now. Part of the Korun wished she could make the savage words, but it was of no importance now. The Zeltron was going to translate for Kai, so she better get started.

Locking her gaze with the tribeswoman, the dark-skinned Apprentice began her line of questioning while maintaining her usual deadpan countenance.

"What is your name? How many years have you? The name of your clan or tribe? What is your primary purpose as a member of your people? Who is your leader? Tell me about your spiritual convictions. What do you believe in, more than anything?"

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 4

Testing the waters was not usually Kai's style, but she had not spent the amount of time with Holle as she did with Darth Verrin or even Aiden for that matter. What she already saw of the Zeltron female she did not particularly like, but the basic understanding behind Holle's behavior did not elude her. She knew all about the infamous Sith competition. And while it was far from beneath her to indulge in the latter, Kai felt that it would be pointless to try and get one leg up on Holle. In fact, she would be lucky if she could keep up with the Zeltron. What was that saying again? If you can't beat them, join them - yes, that's what it was. Maybe it was time to adopt this particular frame of mind, Kai thought. At least for the time being.

Still, as Holle spoke, Kai could not help but feel a seed of derision swelling within. Appraising someone solely on the basis of their verbal communication seemed rather foolish in Korun's mind. These tribeswomen were not only mysterious and feral (unless these were merely appearances?) but they were also strong with the Force. Who was to say that they simply wouldn't tell Holle just what the Zeltron wanted to hear? Or Kai, for that matter. But the other Apprentice was adamant in stating that their relationship was built on honesty. She trusted them. And she wanted them as allies.

The Korun, on the other hand, would not trust these women farther than she could throw them. Cautious to a fault, she considered Holle's question while pondering the one point in Zeltron's earlier discourse - the one that focused on learning from these natives. These people's Dark side ways were different from the Sith. Could they have also been more powerful? Is that what drew the Zeltron to these people? But Holle did not elaborate further, merely waited on an answer to her final question.

"I appreciate your insight on a subject which I find as unfamiliar as I do, fascinating. I was merely curious to see how these people deal with conflict or strife. How they handle survival. How far they would dare go, to ensure their freedom or protect their lives. I find that whenever an individual is pushed to the extreme, that is when you meet the real person. Consider this. You can live with someone, side by side - for years - perhaps even decades. Share her land, her fire, her food. Communicate on every topic. Then one day, bind her, and hold her over the edge of a precipice. And on that day, you will finally meet the woman."

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 3

Holle bristled for a moment at the question. She had just said explicitly what they were to do, but after a small moment considering the curiosity of the acolyte she calmed down ever so slightly. Her eyes lingered on Miss Tsintah, an expression of reserved annoyance hanging between the two of them in the momentary silence. "Yes, the nature of this study will be verbal, and only verbal. We are to appraise them on their words alone." She said, answering the question very directly. Holle adjusted her chair behind the desk and looked over at the door where the women outside waited, "These women are not fully aware of what the Sith Order represents. They know that I am the liason between our Academy and their tribe. Our cooperation is built on honesty. Should we implicitly believe every word they say at face value? No, we should not. There is more to truth than just accepting someone's statements as gospel. One of the key components to discerning the truth in someone's words is to pay very close attention to the little details. Body language and facial expressions, however subtle, can reveal more about someone than their voice can."

The Zeltron paused for a moment, looking at Miss Tsintah with more intent than before. She had drive, it seemed, wanting to know just how the interviews would work. It was a quality she shared with the student. Holle did not like to go into situations blindly. "Learning to read people in this simple way is one of the key aspects of diplomacy. The ignorant often find that the word diplomacy and Sith do not mix, but the old adage that one can attract more flies with honey rather than vinegar remains true regardless of one's outlook on the greater Force. We have a very tenuous connection with the tribes on this planet, and no position to simply wipe them out. Besides, what would we gain from destroying them all? Is there something that we as an Order would benefit from by their eradication?" Holle steepled her fingers in the small pause. "No, I personally do not believe so. They have practices and an understanding of the Force that is very different than our own. It is a more religious look than most Sith are willing to adopt. They have long traditions of shaman and war chiefs that draw on the power of the Dark Side to settle their disputes or search for truth. I feel as if we as an Order would benefit from finding those willing to share their ways with us, rather than simply discrediting anything that is not strict dogmatic Sith doctrine." Holle sat back lecturing, a small trait she picked up on from her master. She had already been a verbose woman to begin with, but in the environment or her training that habit had grown exponentially. It was a thing she never considered actively, as there was no better way to educate someone than with imperical truth or historical fact backed up by the Library's stacks.

"I digress though. What do you feel would be gained from a so-called practical examination of the women? Make your case well and I will consider it, Miss Tsintah."

[mindscapeartist]

Copyright (C) Hybridgothica - All Rights Reserved

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 2

Having waited outside of Darth Verrin's office for a few minutes, Kai used the time to observe the tribeswomen who continued to stand in the hallway, almost adamant in their immobile state. Perhaps Apprentice Holle had used some darkside magic to persuade them to remain as they were - or maybe they simply respected the Zeltron as a fellow warrior? Either way, they seemed staunchly determined to remain as they were until their 'liaison' emerged again. To Kai's surprise, it did not take long.

She barely had time to consider a single path to facilitate their current assignment when Holle emerged from the same door Kai had exited only moments earlier. Turning to face her immediately, the Korun bowed in deference to the Sith Apprentice and waited to be spoken to. Watching the Zeltron approach and speak to the group of natives, Kai shifted her dual-colored gaze shift from her fellow Sith to the women, and back and forth like that - watching for any signs of trouble from either side, focused deeply on everyone's body language since she could not understand what was being said.

Assuming Holle was explaining to them what was about to take place, the Korun vowed to pick up the native language as quickly as possible. To this end, she was certain there were books and holo-recordings in Darth Verrin's office that would help her do just that. It would be time consuming, but definitely worth it, especially if the project were to have the desired impact. The more of them fluent in the locals' culture, the quicker the assimilation of the locals would take place. Or at least, that is what logic seemed to dictate.

"The women will follow us to my office, and there we will speak to them one at a time." Holle said without looking to her.

Kai nodded, "Yes, my lady." She waited until everyone formed up and began following Holle, then stepped in behind the last one to bring up the rear. In a space of a brief reverie, they would find themselves in the Zeltron's office which was a stark contrast to the Zabrak's workstation. Everything here was meticulous and painstakingly precise. Not a speck of dust visible, not a single item out of place. Kai's eyes widened slightly, taking it all in and realizing that if she had an office, it would probably be a perfect mix between Verrin's glorious disarray and Holle's draconian exactitude.

Heeding the Zeltron's inviting gesture, Kai took up a seat on the edge of one of the chairs near Holle and listened to the woman explain the what they were about to do, and how they would be going about it. When asked whether she was ready, Kai turned to Holle and shook her head. "I do have a question before we begin. Is the nature of this study going to be based on their verbal answers only, or will there be a practical aspect to this as well?" The measure of one's Force aptitude, after all, could not be rooted in conversation alone. Waiting for Holle to answer, the Korun wondered whether she would be scolded for asking a question before getting permission to ask it - but she would not worry about that now - the last thing the Zeltron would want to demonstrate is any kind of disunity among their own kind.

Qui rogat, non errat.

[mindscapeartist]

Be Thorough, 1

Holle's Office, The Dathomir Academy Following the events of Mind Over Matter

There was something poetic about having say in what students could and could not enter the Sith Academy. While it was normally not the case given the nature of the Sith's tenuous survival in the galaxy, the notion of bringing in untested tribal warriors and demanding their loyalty to a new master was something untoward to those with a healthy level of caution. Darth Verrin, her master, was absolutely correct in his assessment that the warriors would have to face a change in loyalties. That made what Holle and Kai had been assigned to do absolute necessity. To understand where these women stood in relation to their drive for success as a warrior, versus their loyalties to their kith and kin, it was common sense once Holle had the veil of ambition lifted from her eyes.

The Zeltron had stepped out of her master's office following the discussion, as well as her introduction to the newest student he had adopted as a pet project. The woman was at least respectful and understood her place in the pecking order, so she had that going for her. Still, Holle hated the idea of competition for her master's attention and training, and that meant that there was a tenuous balance of which Miss Tsintah was not aware. The woman stood on the precipice of disaster should she manage to usurp more than her share of the old man's attention; but likewise she stood close to respect should she prove to have more tact than the more Rancor-headed students in the general population.

Holle looked at her cohort of tribal warriors, and spoke to them in their language. She detailed what was to take place, and while they did not quite understand the need to allow yet another stranger speak to them, they understood that Holle had proven herself to be someone that would not guide them down a false path. While she conversed she cast sideways glances at Kai, a subtle motion for the women to look at her.

"The women will follow us to my office, and there we will speak to them one at a time." She said, not looking at Kai while speaking to her. Holle motioned for the women to follow and without so much as a word they formed up quite formally behind her through the halls and into the fastidiously kept office. If Darth Verrin's workspace was the end result of a hurricane of research, then Holle's was a precision strike. Everything had a place, and everything had a purpose. There was not so much as a single thing askew. Holle turned and told the warriors to wait outside, and that they would be spoken to one at a time.

Holle moved around her own desk and seated herself, leaning back in the comfortable chair and crossing her legs. She motioned to one of the chairs for Miss Tsintah, while the warriors stood at ease just outside the now closed office door. "I have told them we will ask them questions about their home, their history, and themselves. We are going to build a psychological profile on each of them, and assess the possibility of their entry as students in the Academy from there. I will not guide your line of questioning, rather I will interpret. I will also be taking notes. Are you ready?"

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 21

Verrin smirked at Holle's last request, and glanced over to Kai, who seemed to want to exit the office as quickly as possible. He couldn't sense any fear from her directed towards him, so he guessed that she was either eager to start the interviews, or she was uncomfortable with Holle. Of course, a combination of both was possible, or even none of those, but Verrin thought he'd amuse himself with an answer for both their benefits.

"Naturally, those texts are available.  I'll have Agatha flag them for ease of access, though you could show Kai how to do that yourself. But... by the by, Apprentice... how do you know that Miss Tsintah cannot speak their native language already?"

He let that question sit for a moment, as he looked upon them both. He guessed that given Kai's self-described isolation, that she didn't know the native tongue, and even if she did, she might not know the particular dialect. But she was also surprising in many regards, and for all he knew, before she ever traveled to Dathomir, she took the time to learn the basics of the native language. Or perhaps she knew sign language, pictoform, or telepathy... some other communication method. Interpretive dance?

Most likely though, his apprentice was correct, and the pair would have to work together to talk tot he tribeswomen. That would require them to start building trust with one another, as Kai would be relying on Holle to translate what she said without interjecting her own opinions to change the tone of a statement too much. He could already imagine Kai asking where the tribe's water supply was, and having Holle translate it as, "The dullard wants to know if you are capable of drinking water."

But similarly, he knew that Holle would need to start building trust with Kai in order to work with her in completing their goals. And in the near future, if Holle was to instruct the new 'student', she would need Kai to trust and believe it what she said.

The Sith... building bridges... who would have imagined they'd fall so low?

In fairness, Verrin attempted to offer a quip at Kai. "Follow Holle's lead though - she has established a level of trust with the tribe already, and has managed to get me coffee... I cannot stress how invaluable that is to me."

It was true. Even though he was as prepared today as he was on day one for Holle to kill him and take his place, she HAD managed to get him coffee by working with this tribe. She had definitely scored some favor points with that effort.

"Go on now... both of you. The sooner you start, the sooner we can begin bolstering our ranks."

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 20

Holle took one final drink from her mug and sat the thing back down on the beverage cart with but a simple use of telekinesis. She had been given another task, and for it to be performed with his new project student. The Zeltron noticed that the woman did not rise to the barbs, and so she noted that she was at least a nose above the rest among a fresh crop. Control of one's tongue and temper around their betters was a very fast lesson that was most often learned through pain, so she could appreciate that much about the student.

She bowed her head in her seat, "Absolutely my Lord. It would be my pleasure to screen potential students. We needn't use our resources on those who have no chance to yield any progress, correct?" Holle looked upon Kai with the final word.

"Acolyte Tsintah, you will ask these women what you believe to be pertinent questions regarding their readiness to learn in the Academy. Of course, I will interject should the line of questioning prove to be irrelevant. I will interpret between you and the tribeswomen, as I speak their language. If you wish to interact more with the tribes in service to the Sith Order then I would recommend you to learn the language as well. When I return to Sector A-7 to meet with their priestess I will discuss this learning opportunity with her. If they agree to teach you their language then of course I expect you to accept the gift of their welcome into their community. Am I understood?" She said, with the true panache of someone who had a taste of being a successful diplomat for her master and the Sith. Holle could get used to serving as an intermediary between neutral parties and the Sith.

The Zeltron looked to her master, holding a finger up to pause Miss Tsintah for a moment should she go to answer immediately as she was leaving, "I will compile the list of potential candidates at the conclusion of the interviews with both myself and Miss Tsintah's opinions on each woman in question. May I make a request of you, though, my Lord? Would you kindly set aside some basic archival texts on linguistics and the power of langauge for Miss Tsintah? I feel it would be in her best interest while we are on this world to study up on the idea that words can hold power beyond simple understood meanings."

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 19

Well, Kai may not have had the answers Darth Verrin sought, but she did sense the Zabrak seemingly 'entertained' by something she said. Either way, she did her best to offer her 'counsel' and once she was done with that, the acolyte expected to be dismissed. Before that would happen, however, the Sith Lord spoke at length with respect to the points she brought up earlier.

Force-sensitives? It was by far, the most interesting news when it came to the tribal population. Well, it would certainly explain a few things. Like riding those awful beasts, to start with!

In the end, Darth Verrin had made his decision. It may not have been what Kai expected, but then again, when did Sith go forth and do the 'conventional'? They were ordered to gather more intelligence and start integrating the tribeswomen into the Sith 'herd'. To that end, they would have to determine which ones would be the most suitable.... Not a task to be envied, Kai thought. Then again, she was not going into the unknown alone; the Zeltron was going to be in charge of this task as they went to interview their 'guests' waiting outside.

"As you will it," Kai answered simply. She bowed to Darth Verrin, then to Apprentice Holle, then removed herself from Verrin's office content to wait outside. Hopefully, they would take some time to confer as to what Holle expected of her, and how the Sith Apprentice wanted to proceed. With the door closing behind her, Kai's dual-colored gaze befell the gathered women and a staring contest ensued. Might as well observe them here, while waiting for the Zeltron to emerge; it would give Kai and the Dathomirians a little time to get 'silently' acquainted.

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 18

"That's too bad," Verrin commented idly on Kai's self-stated qualifications. But if he appeared disappointed, he didn't sound that way.

He was mildly amused with the repeated term 'sensei', but attributed it to a cultural quirk that would stick or not as Kai heard more, different people address him. Of course, there was always the possibility that the moniker would stick as others heard her speak it.  But the conversation required his input, so he leaned on his elbows on the desktop, and spoke to some of the questions Kai brought up.

"It's my understanding - and mind you, this is skewed, as the male point of view is somewhat dampened on this world - that the various tribes number between forty and a couple hundred women per group. The nature of their culture, level of civilization and technology, and this planet's geography dictate that larger groups become unwieldy, and smaller ones get absorbed or snuffed out completely.

I also understand that there are some tribes of menfolk here - those tribes tend to be few but long-established. The various amazon tribe leaders know that in order to perpetuate their species, they require menfolk for reproduction. My reading tells me that they have 'coming of age' rituals where mating is a mixture of the women defeating their desired mates, and rites of passage for the menfolk - as they strive to be the best specimen, so their tribe or family is chosen for mating. The various amazon tribes have a mutual understanding that the male tribes are to be preserved at all costs, but not allowed to prosper enough to be a threat.

We are in a similar situation, where we do not want the amazon tribes to become strong enough to be a threat to us. We want to take their best Force-sensitive people and make them part of our tribe, so to speak."

Verrin steepled his fingers in front of him. "So to address your points... if we don't make ourselves too strong a target, then the tribes will not unite against us. We are more than strong enough to handle any single tribe, and likely even several. We are NOT numerous enough to withstand a large number of tribes banding together against us. We aren't in our home territory... we are in theirs. They can win any kind of 'siege', so to speak.

As for their technological state, they have little. Electric power is absent, as are traditional 'firearms'. They don't possess blasters, or a desire to that I'm aware of. But they are skilled with their bows, their spears, their knives.  They have smiths, and can create simple martial weapons - I know of at least one tribe near the hills that wields metal sabers. But they mostly fashion weapons and tools from their environment, which is jungle. Their real strength comes from the Force.

This planet is steeped in it - the Force - and they, by osmosis or attrition, or what-have-you not only have some innate ability, but those who have really connected to it and can tap into it have become their shaman. These women are able, through rituals as old as the Sith's own ancestors, to create the same effects as we can. If you've read up on Battle Meditation, for instance, they can do it. If you look into Force healing techniques, or telekinetic binding, they can affect them too. They just require a focus - a ritual, or fetish - like our ancestors did. And most importantly, some of them can connect in some way to the rancors... I wouldn't say they tame them, because they are hardly 'tame' themselves. But they manage to come to some agreement with them on a telepathic level, and can get them to work together for mutual benefit."

Verrin paused.  He had some first-hand experience with the tribes, both as an emissary and as a captive.  While he was no expert on Dathomir, he wasn't oblivious to the ecosystem either.

"I'm pleased you're not concerned about the competition, Acolyte Tsintah. You'll do well, I think."  He looked first to her, then to his Apprentice.

"You both make good points that we not only need more information, but we need to start integrating those tribeswomen who will be loyal to us.  Because you both share the genetics that make these women trust you - over me - I want you to initiate interviews with the eight subjects my Apprentice has waiting outside. Question them... assess them.  You are aware of my concerns, so I trust those will influence your decisions.

Apprentice - take the Acolyte with you, and go interview your candidates in any way you see fit.  Find out which can be loyal to us, and have the rest escorted out of the facility. Feel free to question or test them as you will - but keep in mind that if they are not selected, they will take whatever information they learn back to their tribes. In essence, you two will be picking your peers in the near future. I think it'll be a good lesson in how a Sith Lord looks at budding Sith... they have to be good enough to be competition, but the concern is always that they will be too good. I eagerly await your conclusions, and will discuss how you find the process at length.  It's not often that such an opportunity presents itself to Sith at your stage of development."

His eyes roved over them both, and a sense of pride could be read in his gaze, or felt in the Force.

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 17

Preoccupied with thoughts of why she was being summoned to give 'counsel' to a Sith Lord, Kai did not even notice the tribeswomen at first. Barely had given them a passing glance, in fact - assuming they were there at the command of the Sith Lord - at which point it was none of her business. Stepping into Darth Verrin's office after being bid to enter, the Korun noticed they were not alone. There was another present, a female Kai did not recognize.

The Zabrak moved to remedy her curious gaze, offering a brief introduction of Holle, one of his Sith apprentices. He would then speak at length, addressing the presence of native strangers outside his office door. Dathomir's nomadic tribeswomen to be trained as Sith? Interesting. Did they have enough instructors going around for this type of venture to achieve any degree of success?Harboring these and other reservations, Kai resolved to give this some thought before responding at length.

Kai responded by bowing deep at the waist, first to the Sith Lord, and then offering a somewhat more 'shallow' bow to the apprentice.

Wow.... that skin! So startling.... and so pink. A Zeltron?

She had ran into Holle's kind before, back on Nar Shaddaa, when frequenting various casino and nightclub venues. This was the first time, however, that she would be faced with a Zeltron of the Sith.... variety. Kai wondered if the Sith Apprentice would unleash a string of biting comments her way, and she was not sure, why. Something about the woman just struck her as contemptuous and territorial. She did not have to wait long for the verbal vitriol to commence and mentally prepared for it, would not succumb to its obvious design.

"Ah, a fresh whelp desperate to claw themselves above the deluge of filth that birthed them."

Dark face retained its usual deadpan expression; dual-colored eyes flickered as she nodded. Due to Kai's lowly station, the Apprentice would not even turn when speaking to her. That too, did not bother the Korun; respect worked both ways, she reminded herself silently. On that platform, we are on even ground.

Flicking her surreptitious glance away from the Zeltron, she settled a calm gaze upon Darth Verrin.

Breathe. Just.... breathe.

"Ah, sensei - forgive me - I did see the visitors outside but did not realize their purpose here until just now. It is true, I have spent some time here, living mostly in isolation to preserve my anonymity and hone survival skills. Therefore, I am not qualified to give adequate advice when it comes to having experience interacting with these people. Yet I feel compelled to point out that the ancient saying of 'united we stand - divided we fall' has much wisdom to lend in this situation. Wisdom that perhaps, we should build upon.

First, I would investigate their numbers. When loyalties do.... get torn asunder, what quantity of natives would we be up against?

Second, I would gather intelligence on their technology. If there is anything I have learned from frequenting your Library, sensei, is that one should never judge a book by its cover. Just because they appear primordial, does not mean that they lack quality in their warfare strategy, weapons, or ancient knowledge we may know little about. That which we do know, may only be the tip of the iceberg. But if we fully get to know a thing, we can control.... that thing.

Third, I am not threatened by competition. It is but one means to hone the skills an individual needs, to strive for perfection. One of many."

Silence befell her at that point, as Kai realized she had been going on for longer than originally intended. She deferred from speaking further until her betters bid her to do so.

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 16

Verrin and Holle bantered back and forth for the time it took Kai to arrive.  At one point, Verrin thought about the many people gathered outside his office, but then became distracted by the current conversation. And if the gaggle of native tribewomen posed any obstacle or distraction to Kai, it didn't show when she finally knocked gently on Verrin's office door. He called out for her to enter, and then made general introductions.

"Acolyte Tsintah, I hope your meditation was going well.  Meet one of my apprentices, Holle. Apprentice, this is the new Acolyte I was talking about."

Verrin vacated his spot to take his usual seat behind his desk, and gestured for Kai to sit in the second visitor chair, next to Holle. He watched carefully. In meetings like this one, it was possible that the introduction was being assessed by both women. On the one hand, Kai might be sizing up Holle, trying to determine what made her qualified to be his apprentice, and whether she could oust her from that role to take it for herself. On the other, Holle might be taking in Kai, wondering what made her special enough to attend this meeting, and wonder if her position was at all threatened. Knowing Holle as he did, Verrin doubted she was too concerned over her own standing, but if a threat was perceived, things could become volatile between the two.

Verrin decided not to let them think on it too long, if they considered it at all. "Acolyte Tsintah... you may have noticed the troupe of characters outside my door.  My apprentice has recently been on a... diplomatic mission to the local amazon tribe. Those women out there want to be trained as Sith, and Holle was kind enough to bring them back here for consideration. But I have concerns.

Their loyalties seem to lay with their tribe, of course, and their lives are based on leadership by matriarchy. As YOU know, things are a little different here among the Sith, especially the higher up the chain of command you go. One of my issues is that should we train them, and accept them, what will they do should a situation dictate that we need to... disperse their fellow tribeswomen? Another is how they will respond to a chain of command not driven by gender.   If we deny them training, or force them to obey commands contradictory to their loyalties, would they band together with other tribes to attack us?

When you first came here, I understood you had spent quite some time on the planet.  Have you interacted with these amazons?  Are you familiar with their culture, desires, and needs?  Even if not, do you have an opinion on the matter?  How would you feel about competing with them for positions in our organization?"

There was nothing that Holle saw from the woman that entered her master's office that led her one way or another. She was a student in the Academy, and she could not begrudge her that considering it was another body that had come to them willingly. On the other hand, more students meant more competition among the Order. While there was a moratorium on the student body killing one another to gain standing, her lack of knowledge on Acolyte Tsintah did not give her enough to consider her anything more than an annoyance at worst.

"Ah, a fresh whelp desperate to claw themselves above the deluge of filth that birthed them." Holle said, sipping her fourth liquor infused coffee. It was a biting comment, but that was what the Zeltron did best. Provoking others into anger and poor decision-making was an excuse for her to defend herself. Of course, if this young woman was valuable enough that her master called her in for a second opinion then she must have something to her. Perhaps she had self-control that the average neophyte learner possessed.

She did not turn to the woman that her master addressed and continued, "Let me add to my master's request. Provided, of course, you interacted with the tribes in any capacity. That information could prove crucial in my efforts to bring the women of this planet to the truest path."

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 15

It took a while for this meditation to achieve any tangible results, Kai realized. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes like hours. If there was anything she had gotten down pat by now, it was breathing. Could not go wrong with that one! Her chest rose and fell with deep, rhythmic breaths that made her feel in control of things, in command of herself both physically and mentally. Her psyche was crystal clear, making it easy for Kai to attain crisp focus of whatever she put her mind to. Even Verrin's prolonged absence did not seem to tarnish her efforts. Initial anxiety at his ongoing disappearance made the acolyte curious, but Kai never let it get the best of her to the point where she would suddenly yank herself off the floor and leave the chamber in search of the Sith Lord.

There could have been a small element of fear playing a part in that? He never gave her permission to leave the room, after all.

Several more minutes passed. Given the bland setup of the room, Kai did not have much to play with but she did have the equipment she came in here with. Gloved hand moved to tap the edge of the sheathed vibro-blade on her belt before removing the weapon and balancing it on the fingertips of both hands, lifting it to the level of her eyes which then studied the object briefly before beginning to close. Within seconds, the vibro-blade began to tremble slightly, before finally lifting a few centimeters off Kai's gloved fingertips. The Korun's eyes remained closed as the weapon began to shift higher, assuming a slow clockwise spin. One, two.... feet up, one, two.... feet down. Repeat. Control the angle of the blade and the velocity of the rotations, and then--

--CLANG!!

Spinning out of control, the blade smacked down upon the floor, its tip embedding itself dangerously close to Kai's left foot. The acolyte's eyes flew open as an echoes of a message she had heard in her mind only seconds ago replayed themselves again, and again.

"Come to my office, Acolyte Kai Tsintah - I seek your counsel.... "

A grimace of confusion set itself in the girl's dark features. Her counsel? The venerable Zabrak's age must have been catching up with him, dulling his wits. What could a lowly academy initiate possibly have to offer a Sith Lord, in terms of advice?! Sighing, Kai leaned down to yank the blade out of the floor tile and slipped it back into its protective sheath before getting to her feet and straightening her tunic. However strange the message, there was nothing for it but to follow its beckon call. Heading to Darth Verrin's office, Kai dismissed her thoughts altogether and focused on her breathing, slow and deep and even - pausing only to emit a light knock at the door while waiting to be admitted inside.

[mindscapeartist]

Mind Over Matter, 14

Holle's answers to the questions gave Verrin the impression that she hadn't considered the many possibilities of her intentions. Fortunately, she didn't take the matter as a crushing defeat, but tried to work her mind around how they could have their cake and eat it too. She spoke of enemy tribes, and battle captives, which weren't out of the realm of possibility.

Verrin hrmm'd.  "Hrmm..."

Then he went back to pacing and talking, partially to answer her question and partially to work the matter out for himself.

"The battle captive idea isn't terrible. I just wonder if we keep recruiting from a pool of people who are constantly beset by lost family members, are we getting better Sith, or are we getting more of the same?  I have said - many times - if I had five credits for every Sith hopeful who came to us and had lost parents, been raped as a child, or had outright killed those parents, that I'd be able to buy my own capitol ship. To date, I can't think of a single Sith who joined up and had a still-living family on the outside who supported them and their decision.  If we - the Sith - kill the relatives of these 'enemy' tribespeople, why would they JOIN our cause?  Wouldn't they simply seek revenge?  Wouldn't they band together, with other tribes against a 'common enemy'?  Gather their rancor allies, storm this facility, and end us all? Would they join up with the Jedi?  I'm not sure it's the best way...

... not that your initial idea was terrible.  The tribeswomen you brought back... maybe all of them wouldn't agree to our terms, but if one of them did, that's one more hopeful we'd have than before.  Maybe it's possible to pick some fruit from each tree, so to speak... I wonder..."

Verrin paused and sent a message, telepathically, to the new student - Kai - whom he presumed was still trying to meditate. His message was simple and clear, "Come to my office, Acolyte @Kai Tsintah - I seek your counsel."

Verrin then went on to talk more with Holle, "I have a new student who is showing some promise. She came to us from the jungle.  She isn't a tribeswoman, I don't think, but she has spent some time here and may know some things about the thoughts or influences of the nearby villagers. Plus... she should meet you - and you her. I suspect your paths would meet eventually, and perhaps there's a way you can work together to overcome this... unusual challenge."