Author Note
I made a mistake last chapter. Naga Sadow was buried on Yavin Four not on Dxun. Its Freedon Nadd's tomb that you go in KOTOR II while on Dxun. No hardcore fans pointed out so it can be forgiven.
Reviews
Joe Lawyer
I don't plan for him to find out any time soon. I think I'll save the discovery for when he's running around the galaxy chasing down Sith artefacts, or maybe even he's with the Exile.
War Sage
Why a boy?
tylermech666
Plots and schemes are so much fun. Its why I like Game of Thrones so much.
He will respond that's all I'm going to say. His kids are important. Although the very important one is a few years off yet.
Sith Gothic. Part Seven.
"A lightsaber—any weapon—only achieves worth in how it is wielded—in the effort, the struggle of one who holds it." - Kreia
Training Room. The Sith Academy. Korriban. Revan's Sith Empire. Star Wars KOTOR Galaxy.
Lightsabre combat is many way very different than using a sword. The most noticeable difference is the odd balance of the weapon, all of the weight is in the hilt. With a sword you have a heavy metal blade and you have to account for that weight.
The second most noticeable difference was the omni-directional cutting edge, any part of the blade is utterly lethal. With a sword well hitting people with any part of a sword will hurt, but a killing blow requires a bit more effort.
Since the creation of lightsabre, the art of duelling with them has developed into many styles. The seven most well known forms come from the Jedi Order but there are a few other styles that were made up by the Sith. All seven of the traditional Jedi based lightsabre forms included the same basic techniques as most sword fighting styles, those being defensive postures, strikes, parries, and counters so my earlier training with the sword had not been a waste of my time.
I'd been told that only a Force-sensitive individual could completely master lightsabre combat, and after only a few lessons I was being to see why. The blade of the lightsabre moved so fast that one had to have some sort of precognition, and enhanced reflexes simply to avoid killing yourself.
Also the lightsabre is a very versatile weapon. It can be wielded one-handed or with both hands for greater control.
Jedi are trained to use the Force as a conduit between the wielder and the weapon, and so were their dark counterparts. Through this bond in the Force, the blade becomes an extension of the wielder; it can be moved without needing any real thought just as if it were a part of the body.
I was not at that level as of yet so I had to think about what I was doing when waving the weapon around. I couldn't just let the Force guide because I didn't have the needed control so only a true master of the lightsabre could train me in a way that would avoid injury for both of us.
Although the blade is completely weightless, two-handed slashes were often still used. This was because momentum is still needed in order to cut through solid objects, it takes time to burn through metal although flesh bone don't require much effort to cut through.
The stronger the swing, the faster and easier the blade will cut. If little effort is used then the lightsabre will only leave shallow cuts, not that different from using a very sharp sword really.
Another odd thing about this weapon is that when two lightsabre blades came in contact with each other, they act as if they are solid. This can also happen when the blade comes into contact with certain materials and energy fields.
The last thing that separates a lightsabre from a more traditional sword is the fact that blaster bolts bounce off the blade. A skilled wielder can deflect a blaster bolt harmlessly away or if they are very skilled they can even control where deflected bolt goes, meaning that its possible for a Jedi or a Sith to kill someone attempting to shoot them with the attackers own weapon.
Many of the simplest of lightsabre combat moves are part of the Shii-Cho lightsabre form, which was the first form developed, and it is specialized towards training novices, such as myself, in the use of the lightsabre. Attacks and parries in this lightsabre form focus on horizontal swipes, while parries are carried out with vertical blocks meant to push the point of the enemy's blade away from your body.
Mostly it involved repeating the moves in sequence, it was the tutorial form of lightsabre combat and so simple even a child could do it. In fact children trained by the Jedi did learn this form of lightsabre combat first, and they stuck with it until they felt ready to chose a different style.
Sequences are precisely choreographed series of attacks and parries that once perfected flowed together effortlessly. Learning to fight using martial arts and even dancing involved the same method of learning. Each form of lightsaber combat, be it the simple Form I of Shii-Cho or the more complex forms that come later, has its own sequences and there were hundreds of different sequences which could be applied to various combat situations.
In time such forms could be surpassed or even merged into a mixed style that suited the individual.
My teacher was urging to me focus my efforts on Form V: Shien/Djem So
Form V was interesting because it was actually two forms of lightsabre combat.
Shien was the defensive style. It allowed one to deal with blaster bolts and other enemy attacks without compromising the wielder's ability to make a quick counter-strike. It had become popular during the war because it allowed a Jedi or a Sith to deal with blaster using opponent which often outnumbered the Force User.
However it wasn't much good when facing a single opponent who also had a lightsabre. That was when Djem So came into use.
Unlike other forms Djem So required the lightsabre user to not only counter-strike but to also press the attack. Using the Force to enhance my growing physical strength I could use varied attacks to overwhelm my foe, to batter down their defences and make a killing blow.
It was rather ungraceful compared to the forms that most Jedi used, which often involved all that silly leaping about and elegant movements more suited to showy displays of skill rather than a real fight. It might not require much agility but the sheer power of Djem So was not to be underestimated, and could be further enhanced by using one's rage as a source of fuel.
Still despite the fact that Form V wasn't very stylish it was a good form for me to use. It had served both Darth Bane and Anakin Skywalker very well and would no doubt serve me in the years to come.
"Are you ready?".
The question brought me out of my thoughts and I focused my attention on my instructor who was currently pointing a gun at me.
Normally such things would worry me but I knew that the blaster in the Twi'lek female's hand was a training tool not a real weapon. The bolts it fired were no more damaging that the stings of a bee, they were annoying and you quickly learned not to get stung, but it wasn't fatal.
With a snap hiss noise my red blade sprang to life and I put my weapon up a high guard position. Ban fired her 'weapon' and with a sweeping movement I deflected the bolts so that they hit something that wasn't me.
When Ban took out her own sabre I switched from Shien to Djem So as I knew that Shien wouldn't do much good against her. She was a dancer, even if she never danced anymore, and could easily slip past a defence meant for blaster attacks.
Using the standard attack stance I brought the sabre up above my head while charging forward. This was called the 'Falling Avalanche' an attack with brought the blade crashing down from above with all the power the lightsabre user could muster. Djem So was all about raw power and strength so while it would have been unwise of her try and block my attack she had the mobility to move out of the way. My 'lover' simply sidestepped the attack as I wasn't that fast yet and I hadn't actually wanted to hit her.
When Ban went on the offensive she purposely slowed down so I could switch back to Shien and block her mock attacks with sweeping gestures that could of blocked more than one attack in a single move.
My teacher was a user of Makashi, a lightsaber form that focused on finesse, and elegance. She was smaller than me and even with the Force she couldn't match my physical strength so it was a good style to use. It was also favoured by Jedi and since I might be fighting, dark or otherwise, knowing how to beat Makashi was important.
I knew that staying on the defensive was a bad idea if I used Shien because while I liked the style it was not meant for beating a single foe with a sabre. So I went back to using Djem So and tried to batter down Ban's defences.
Not many people could switch styles like that or even care to try. But to me using both parts of Form V seemed rather natural. Perhaps it was because I could separate the desire to attack from my desire to stay alive.
Staying alive involved using my fear to keep myself breathing. It was all about not dying. Sith were said to have no fear but I did and I used it. Then when it came time to attack it was all about getting angry and wanting to make that killing blow. That was also easy for me, and must be why I could so easily move from one part of the form to the other.
Which I had done rather well but the Twi'lek woman was simply to good for me to beat with brute force and would be for a long time to come, but that wasn't the really the point. Her blade movements were so fast, as was her body, that I could swing as much as I wanted to without risk of killing her.
It also helped me to stay in shape and got me all sweaty, which she seemed to like for some reason, perhaps it was because it led to shower sex.
Djem Sho was all about lightsabre combat so it also allowed me to get use the weightless blade and since I was staying on the offensive I didn't have to worry about protecting myself. It was a good opportunity to let lose and focus on using the darkside in combat.
In the end my youthful stamina and aggressive attacks started to wear Yuthura Ban down. But she could of killed me or otherwise ended the fight before now. It was almost as if she wanted me to tire myself out with training. I pushed past the aches of my muscles and kept attacking. I knew that one day, perhaps soon, I would have to kill someone with my sabre so I couldn't just stop because my arms got a little tired.
"That's enough" Yuthura Ban decided when my arms ached so badly that chopping them off with a sabre seemed like a good idea.
She sidestepped once more as I attempted to strike with one hand. I overextended, went right past her and nearly hit the wall.
"You need a little more control" my teacher advised "your too used to swords, you don't need to throw all your strength behind the strike".
Djem So did demand raw power but when facing an agile foe it was wise to keep something back. She could of so easily have run me through when I had overextended.
"Yes, my master" I replied.
Yuthura Ban smiled coyly and said.
"I prefer mistress".
Well I didn't and in case she picked up my disgust on the idea I decided to make a little joke in order to cover my distaste over the title.
"Long as you don't start wearing leather and carrying a whip I'm fine with calling you that".
Ban seemed confused by my statement. I had assumed that there would a great demanded for Twi'lek dominatrixes in the galaxy, perhaps I was wrong.
"A little Earth humour" I explained to the alien Sith.
She nodded and then sniffed the air.
"You stink, go and shower. We can train more in the morning".
I had thought she might of joined me but she went off on her own, maybe my remark offended her.
Ah well I had my red skilled almost a sex slave waiting for me back in my quarters. I could always wear myself out with her while taking a shower.
Then later I might be able to finally get out into the Valley of the Dark Lords. I still needed to find that blasted tomb.
Wynn's Office. The Sith Academy. Korriban. Revan's Sith Empire. Star Wars KOTOR Galaxy.
After a quick shower, sadly alone, and a change of clothes Yuthura Ban made it in time to for her weekly meeting with her Sith Master.
Uthar Wynn was a busy man, what with running the Sith Academy and all, so he left a lot of duties in the hands of his apprentice. However he wasn't lack in his duties, the Headmaster made sure that his underlings kept him informed about what was going in his domain.
"How is he progressing?" inquired the Sith Master.
There was no need for Wynn to elaborate on who the he in question was, there was only one male student of any real worth here at the academy. Others had some potential and would decent officers and a few might make become powerful Dark Jedi, but as far as Wynn was concerned only one student in this academy would be gaining the title of Sith Lord upon graduation.
"His lessons are going well" answered Yuthura Ban "his progress is steady but not exceptional so".
The Twi'lek was lying at this point. In truth Gothic was progressing rather well. Most students at his level of training would be still be learning the basics of Form I. Gothic hadn't mastered Form I but there was no reason for him to. The man might have little formal training as a swordsmen but it seemed to Ban as if her student had spent most of his life just waiting to get his hands on a sabre.
He was clearly a natural. Gothic had already figured out the hard part about being a Sith Warrior, he knew how to use his rage to fuel himself in combat. Now all he needed to do was to adapt Form V to his own needs and learn how to improvise without breaking his stride.
If Wynn knew his pupil was lying Ban could detect no sign of it.
"What about his other uses of the Force?" he asked next.
Yuthura Ban didn't need to consider his answer.
"He shows remarkable skill with telekinesis".
Actual his telekinetic abilities were more than impressive, if a little crude, he wouldn't be Force Choking anybody any time soon but he'd likely be crushing people as if they were vices before long.
"We've never had anyone with his potential in this academy" said Wynn, mostly thinking out loud "in fact there might not have been someone with his potential before now".
There had been some debate in Wynn's mind about Gothic's strength in the Force. Some of the accounts about the long dead Dark Lords suggested that someone like Gothic could of come right out of the Old Sith Empire. But Wynn didn't think that those ancient Sith Lords had actually enjoyed a stronger connection to the Force than the Sith of today.
In his mind the Sith, and by extension the Jedi, of modern time were no less than those ancient Sith it was just that a lot of knowledge of the Force had been lost. That was why Darth Revan, in her wisdom, had invested so much time and resources into recovering what could be recovered from Korriban. If the secrets of the long dead Sith could be rediscovered then it was here that those discoveries would take place.
"He is lacking in skill when it comes to the more subtle uses of the Force" reported Ban.
To be fair the man from beyond the rim had progressed more in the few months he had been here than some students did in a year, but Ban wanted Wynn to think that Gothic was weaker than he actually was so that he wouldn't fear the dark haired human teaming up with his apprentice.
Wynn however was not so easily fooled. He had many informers and they had told that the human he had named Gothic, for reasons he didn't understand, was an extremely dangerous person. Even with his distracting habit of repetitively seducing people he was progressing rapidly.
The Headmaster was giving serious thought to sending the young man far, far away just so he didn't end being a threat to Wynn's rule of the school.
"Perhaps it is time that I became more involved in his education" mused Wynn "he should be taught the true power of the dark side by a true master".
Ban knew her teacher was testing her. If she protested the idea he would know that she had more interest in Gothic than she should. But if she let Wynn take her 'lover' under his wings then she might lose him forever.
"He still has much to learn" Yuthura Ban said non-committal.
"Have him come to office tomorrow afternoon" the Headmaster ordered.
Without another word Wynn dismissed his untrustworthy apprentice and got back to his paper work. It appeared that even Sith Masters had to deal with the bureaucracy on its own terms.
Valley Of The Dark Lords. Korriban. Revan's Sith Empire. Star Wars KOTOR Galaxy.
"Hello again Lashowe".
My words made the Sith trainee nearly jump out of her skin. Clearly she was no better at detecting people using the Force than I was, but I hadn't needed the Force to know who she was even from a distance.
There was much ambition in this one.
"Hel..hello... my lord" she replied her stuttered words caused by fear.
She might of mistaken my mood upon meeting her for displeasure with her, after all she was suppose to watching ships for me, but it wasn't her I was mad at.
"I'm not a lord" I told the woman "I'm just a trainee like you, only more skilled".
The last thing I needed was a student to start calling me lord. It would annoy the real lords and give my instructors the impression that I had ideas above my station. Which of course I did but it was not a good idea to draw attention to the fact. It makes the master's nervous.
"Did Ban let you enter the academy?" I asked.
"She did" was all Lashowe said in reply.
Ban must of let her in order to deny me an agent outside the academy. That or she thought miss crew cut here would try and get revenge for the humiliation I'd made her endure. Having a rival would only motivate me to work harder and if Lashowe tried to kill me then all the better as I would have to kill the blond haired woman, which would drive further down the dark path.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded to know.
Lashowe was quite aware that I had a lightsabre on my belt and that my Zeltron, not quite a love slave, was armed with two blasters both of which were never set to stun. Zanii was also a very, very good shot.
"I think I might of found a holocron" the newbie Sith explained.
Ah now this was ringing bells.
"In the tomb of Tulak Hord" she added.
Lashowe was trying to impress Wynn no doubt, and if I remembered right whoever impressed him the most got to enter Naga Sadow's tomb, which was where the Star Forge map was located. That was also where the graduation ceremony took place.
After graduation you were official a Sith, you got some gifts and become an officer. Depending on how well you did that could end with a low rank posting on a ship or even governorship of recently conquered planet.
Actually getting to that point could take months or even years but Lashowe seemed to not want to wait that long.
"I want that holocron" I declared.
Before she might do something as foolish as say, protest, I said something else.
"You can either aid me and be rewarded by Wynn alongside me or die here".
There was no one about so if I killed her no one would know it was me who did the deed. Zanii wouldn't say anything and Lashowe wouldn't either on the account of being dead.
In truth I had no intention of handing over the holocron. If I remembered right Tulak Hord was an expert in lightsabre combat, and would know a lot of other things as well, if I had his holocron I to could become a master of lightsabre combat and perhaps more.
The tomb proved not to be much in the way of challenge. The traps didn't work any more since the had been jammed by the bodies of long dead grave robbers and the nasty creatures in the tomb died rather easily at my hands. It helped greatly when I used telekinesis to throw Lashowe at the monsters. They were so driven by hunger that they started eating her alive and died feasting on her flesh rather than defend themselves.
Looting the place turned out to be rather profitable. Sith Lord are a bit like the Pharaohs of Egypt. They were buried with their treasure.
Aside from the treasure I found an old mask its features which I handed over to Wynn as on me it looked really dorky, a few gems that could be used as part of a lightsabre that I kept, and a few stone tablets which I handed over for more prestige. The holocron which I also kept along with a very nasty looking sword.
I discovered a few things from that holocron rather quickly.
Tulak Hord had never used a lightsabre according to the holocron, he was in fact a swordsmen (which explained why he had been buried with that cruel looking blade) I also found out that holocrons have translation software. And last of all I also discovered that Hord did know a lot more about the dark side than how to fight.
Best of all the gatekeeper of the holocron was more than happy to teach me. In fact the gatekeeper promised me that I would learn everything Tulak Hord had known at the time of its creation.
Everything.
Including how to drain the strength of my opponents in order to extend my own life and to increase my power. That was something I was very eager to learn.