Post by Taylor on Apr 18, 2014 12:30:01 GMT -5
(Edit out Battle Meditation. Change ages earlier in profile. Write the forms more into his bio. (With removal of Battle meditation should be easier. Read through for more info.)
Name: Vartth
Race: Farghul
Age: 124
Height: 6'4
Weight: 210
Appearance:
Like most Farghul's Vartth stands taller than most humans. His body is mostly lean muscles that allow for the use of speed and strength that are well documented amongst his species. He also has the normal tan coloring, but with a few flecks of deeper brown. His ears, unlike most, are tipped with black fur. His features have started to feel the lure of the darkside and have started to take on a more ferocious appearance. Warm brown eyes have become a sickly shade of yellow and his features are more sunken than once before. Where warmth once was there is coldness and a calculating gaze.
His mane is long and thick, reaching down his back. He keeps it out of his face with an intricate headband made of an expensive black metal that is also found in his belt. It is decorated with an assortment of small red gems. There are two horn like studs above his temples. These protrusions look as if they could be used to gore someone and probably have been used to do so.
Vartth isn't fond of the robes that most force users wear, but instead prefers something that allows for more freedom. He often forgoes a shirt, but wears loose fitting pants. Usually a shade of red with black thread running throughout it in a simple yet elegant pattern. His belt is made of an expensive looking black material and decorated with red gemstones. Like most Farghul's he prides himself on his appearance. Around his waist he wears a black sash that is held in place by his belt. For shoes he wears boots you'd except from a smuggler, but they've been modified. They offer better footing and are less restrictive.
Personality:
Vartth was once a man of the order and believed in the message of the order. He believed with all his heart that the side of light would overcome the darkness forever and always. He also believed in the idea of a better galaxy where crime would no longer choke out innocence and happiness. This idealistic mentality was tarnished by his fall to the darkside and replaced by something far less forgiving. The idea that only the strong survive became his newfound personal philosophy. He found his respect for someone dependent upon the power they held and not by the good deeds they'd accomplished. He also found himself craving a worthy combatant and a challenge that he had not desired during his time with the order. Life was less about aiding others and more about fulfilling a twisted need to find a love like the one he had felt towards his old master. Much of his decisions are in hopes of finding someone that can understand the call of battle as he does because of her. Due to his training with her he communicates much of his emotions through body language and fighting. He considers fighting an art form and approaches it as such. He takes pride in himself, his body, and the weapons at his disposal.
Fighting isn't all that defines Vartth. Due to his extended life span he has had time to absorb books and various other materials. Because of this he is a well read individual that has an understanding of politics and philosophy. These are two things he calls upon quite often even with his position as a member of the sith. The way he interacts with people is based upon manipulation and discovering the best way to bend them to his will. He finds how they tick so that he can discern their wants and needs. With this knowledge he often finds someway to make use of them when he needs it by offering them what it is they crave. This ability is also used for cruel purposes. Having had a taste for cruelty awakened in him he makes use of psychological torture quite frequently when given the opportunity. This deceptive and cruel nature has infected the way he battles as well. Once upon a time he was an honest combatant that would never make use of Tràkata, but now it finds a well established place amongst his arsenal.
There is still some honor in Vartth. He tries to avoid killing someone without giving them a chance to defend themselves. He prefers to face them in combat before delivering the final blow or whatever is required. He offers them this opportunity because it is the honorable thing to do and its one of the few things that has not changed about him. He has also retained a soft spot for children. He has no issue killing an adult, but when it comes to youth he finds himself disgusted by the notion and refuses if it is within his right to do so.
A few things set Vartth aside from the typical Sith. He gives into his anger and passion when he is caught in battle, but he tries to keep a level head outside of it. He also thinks tactically which is what has kept him alive for so long. He has an innate ability to evaluate the situation he is an come to the best course of action for survival. Of course in the heat of battle this isn't always useable, but when it comes to drawn out conflicts it gives him an advantage. His military mind is also beneficial because of his use of battle meditation. However this does have some downsides. His use of the force is often wasteful and uncontrolled. The finesse shown in his blade work isn't shown in his use of the force (outside of augmenting his dueling abilities). This odd mixture speaks volumes of his personality. In some aspects he can be calculating and level headed, but in other areas he is quite prone to blind fury. He is easily offended and when offended he finds his calm lost and often strikes out with a fury that's unforgiving. He is capable of diplomatic solutions, but prefers to deal with things in an aggressive and vicious way. The strongest being the one that walks away as victor.
Birth place: Farrfin
Faction: Sith Order
Rank: Knight
Previous Faction: Dark Jedi
Previous Rank: Marauder
Lightsaber: Two curved hilt lightsabers
Color: Red
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho - 5
Makashi - 5
Soresu - N/A
Ataru - 3
Shien / Djem So - 2
>>Sub-form Backhanded - N/A
Niman - N/A
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield -5
Juyo - 2
Double Bladed Combat - N/A
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic: 4
Telepathic: 2
Body: 7
Sense: 6
Protection: 2
Healing: 0
Destruction: 3
Specialized Skills:
Projected Fighting
Force Rage
Tràkata
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 8
Intelligence: 5
Speed: 7
Leadership: 3
Unarmed: 5
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons: 1
Bio:
Vartth was born on Farffin. He was born into poverty and was no stranger to the exchange. HIs family often ran jobs for them when they were available. It was one of many ways they were able to put food on the table aside from stealing and cons. Vartth soon became a part of this world. At the age of six his mother taught him how to pick pocket. It was a skill he quickly learned to make use of and was often able to spot easy targets with relative ease. There was an oddness to how he just instinctively knew how to maneuver through a crowd. It was almost as if he guessed the flow of the crowd and went with it. It was never truly decided if this was because of a force sensitive nature or his instinctive reflexes when it came to battle.
This nifty trick of his was eventually what led to his being discovered as a force sensitive. A Jedi was wandering the streets of the city. Vartth had heard of them, but nothing more than a few tales here and there. They were whispers in the streets, but they weren't spoken highly of nor often. It hadn't helped that his family focusing more on the concrete and necessary details like the names of the local gangs. He didn't recognize the robes or the lightsaber hilt as identification. He only noticed the bag attached to their waist he was sure held a few coins he could use to help provide food for his family. He slipped into the crowd and attempting to snatch the purse as he'd done a thousand times over, but this time was different. The Jedi grabbed him before he even reached the purse. The woman was like nothing he had encountered before. She was an Echani and a Jedi, two things he'd never encountered. The kindness she offered him was almost as uncommon. Rather than punish him she offered him a few coins from her purse, but requested to be introduced to his family to see if she could offer them any help. Vartth normaly would have refused and tried to escape, but to his surprise he found himself compelled to do so.
Vartth took the mystery woman to his home and she introduced herself to them as Jedi Master Erisi. She informed Vartth and his family that he was force sensitive and made the request that he be given to the order to undergo training. His parents were apprehensive at first until the topic of his care came up. When it was made clear to them that he would be well taken care of and well fed they made the decision to turn him over to the Jedi. They understood they couldn't offer him what the order could and they wanted the best for their son.
A few months after turning six Vartth was removed from the only world he knew and whisked away to the Jedi Temple to undergo training. His first four years were turbulent at best. He had a hard time adjusting to the way things were. The first month he'd been guilty of hoarding food and pocketing expensive looking trinkets in case he'd need to sell them off at a later date. It wasn't until he'd been there for six months that he came to understand he wasn't at risk of being removed from the academy and that his survival didn't depend on theft. Erisi was the one to explain this to him. She was responsible for helping him adjust to the academy and was also the one to suggest what ultimately led to his betterment. Vartth had a documented anger issue during his early years at the academy. He was used to fighting and often overreacted to a slight because that had been the way things had been at home. It wasn't until Erisi suggested he be given more time with physical training and a more demanding routine that he finally began to calm. The angry outbursts were from pent up frustration and anger as well as him still adjusting to this new setting. Erisi, as an Enchani, was able to see that in the aggressive stance and during the few sparring matches someone as young as he had been was allowed. Erisi also became his instructor during these sparring matches. It was thanks to her that he picked up the basics of the Echani Arts. It was also when he gained an appreciation for sparring and began to think of it as an art form. It was uncommon for a youngling to have such an interaction with a Jedi Master that was not assigned to train younglings, but because of the bond the two had formed as well as her ability to help curb his aggression the bond had been fostered.
It was to no one's surprise that, when he underwent the initiate trials at the age of thirteen and passed them, Erisi became his master. His training was primarily focused in lightsaber combat and combat in general. He was also taught self control and how to remain calm. For two years, before he was taken on his first mission, his master had ensured the Jedi Code was something he could recite in his sleep. More importantly it was something that flowed into his movements in battle. Much like his master he enjoyed the thrill of battle, but because of that he needed something to tether himself so that he wasn't lost in the passion of exchanging blows.
His first mission with his master was a simple one. The task was a diplomatic affair that he had been brought on so that he could learn about another tool at a jedi's disposal, their words. His master had been sent to a small world to help facilitate the termination of a twenty year feud between two rival clans. Not once did she draw her weapon, but she had managed to help the two sides find a solution to their conflict. It was thanks to this experience that Vartth developed an interest in more than just lightsaber combat, but also politics. His training began to expand from there and soon introduced were several books to help mold his mind for more than just battle tactics. That and the importance of words was put upon him which is why, much like his master, he became a man of little words. Preferring to only say what needed to be said and expressing himself through actions instead.
His missions with her became more and more demanding as time progressed. The first had been mainly diplomatic and had been designed to give him an understanding of the power of words and the importance of using them before force. Slowly this transitioned into learning how to apply force when necessary and when it would be appropriate. His first mission of this type was on a small world near his homeland of Farrfin. A gang had been putting heavy pressure on the community and there had been several complaints about this. The Republic had been unable to deal with the situation and had requested the Order assist them. Erisi had taken the mission. It was a week long mission. The first two days had been attempted negotiations with the gang leader, but that had quickly deteriorated. The reason for this deterioration had been due to Vartth speaking out about the state of the community and some of the atrocities he had experienced. His accusations and aggressive tone had prompted an aggressive response from the gang leader and his followers. Erisi was able to keep most of them at bay long enough for the two to escape. They fled into the community and sought safety in the slums, far from view. After the incident Erisi did make him aware of his mistake, but she understood the cause of his actions. She admitted she had requested this mission because she wanted Vartth to come face to face with the community he had been raised in before he was eligible for knighthood. It was a chance to face the anger he might feel so that he would be released from it before it had a chance to fester later on in his life. It was also a chance to show him that while sparring was an enjoyable activity violence wasn't something to undertake with a light heart. She had wanted to see him in battle, to see how he responded. He had passed the test by showing that during the battle he hadn't fallen into the lure of passion. He had fought because he had to not because he enjoyed the thrill of the fight. She also made note of the fact he'd managed to use the force to bolster their coordination during the fight. It had been a fledgling thing, but she had advised him to explore that aspect of his gift.
After laying low for a few days and recovering from the altercation Erisi and Vartth made a move on the compound controlled by the gang. They slipped in through their defenses in the dead of night and did their best to make it to the gang leader with the smallest number of casualties. Upon reaching him Erisi offered him one last chance to remove himself and his gang from the community before he was forced to do so. This demand was met by anger and force to which Erisi had to respond. She and Vartth, fighting side by side were able to disarm the gang and arrest their leader. He was brought into custody and prosecuted accordingly. Vartth had wondered why they hadn't executed the man. He believed it was best considering the damage he had done. Erisi reminded him that their place was to carry out the commands of the order not be judge and executioner.
After this particular mission he withdrew from his master for a span of two weeks. During this time he meditated to center himself after the encounter. He had, after it, been haunted by dreams of his own home world. His time meditating allowed him to confront these fears and start the process of laying them to rest. While the wound was still raw he found it less painful to consider his past as well as those who continued to live in conditions like those or worse. It was thanks to this experience that he would eventually undergo the Jedi trials and emerge a Jedi Knight.
When Vartth reconnected with his master she made the decision to train him in a style he hadn't considered would be a good fit for him. The style was Ataru. The reason was because of his natural affinity for speed and superior strength. It was also due to the fact that it had become quite apparent that his idea of defense was a strong offense. The first few lessons in the art had little to do with lightsaber combat, and all to do with his physical condition. While he was fit prior to this training he saw a marked improvement in agility and strength. It wasn't after two months of grueling physical training that he had his first lesson in Ataru. During the time the groundwork for the style was drilled into him he saw little of the world outside of the temple. With each passing day he found himself growing stronger, but he also found himself using his power in the force less and less. He relied on lightsaber combat to survive an encounter which was yet another thing his master made a notice of. During a sparring session she surprised him with force push and knocked him completely out of balance. The short lived seeds of pride that had almost taken root were cast out when he became aware of just how much room he still had to improve.
His first mission since beginning training in Ataru was off world and it was a grueling two month experience. His master had experience in dealing with Dark Jedi and thus had been given the assignment of dealing with a dark jedi that had taken root in the thick woods of a forest planet. Their attempt to land was met with aggression by the inhabitants of the planet who had sworn allegiance to the dark jedi. Turrets shot down their ship and they crashed in the dense forest.
The crash landing left his master injured and unconscious. Vartth suffered injuries and was ill prepared for the armed party that attacked the moment he got his master off the ship. Fueled by fear, anger, and pain he did his best to overcome the ambush party. He knew from the moment the battle started that he was calling upon the much feared dark side of the force to defend himself. It was all he could do because he had panicked. In the middle of the fight his lightsaber was destroyed and he was left unarmed. Due to his neglecting of his force powers he wasn't able to do much without his lightsaber. Having failed to stop the ambush party he and his master were captured.
When his master came to they had been placed in a holding cell that was guarded by one of the denizens of the planet. Eventually the dark jedi that had taken residence on the planet made his presence known. When he faced the two he remarked that he could feel the darkness in Vartth and that he had watched him give into his anger. The comment had filled Vartth with shame, but he was surprised to hear no judgment from his master.
For three long days they were imprisoned and subjected to torture by their captors in an attempt to force them to give into the dark side. Vartth, after a particularly long session, begged for mercy and admitted that he had enjoyed the feeling of giving into his emotions. That had shocked his master who quickly turned on him in rage and demanded he think of the vow he had taken. Vartth ignored her and begged for mercy as well as a place as the dark jedi's apprentice. It was of course a ruse on his part, but it did work. He won the dark jedi's trust and was released from his cage. He was however forced to hurt his master, which to this day still haunts him. He did his best to cause her the least amount of pain possible, but he had to be convincing. Having proven himself the dark jedi allowed him to roam and take the title of apprentice.
For four days he was able to keep his master alive and continue to earn the dark jedi's trust. Eventually he was able to, during a sparing match, make use of Ataru and slay the dark jedi who had been unprepared for the sudden and aggressive assault. With their leader and protecter slain their captor's supporters soon departed. Vartth freed his master, but because of the immense pain inflicted upon her as well as seeing her student fall she was mentally unstable. She attacked Vartth claiming he was lying to her and trying to cause her to fall as he had. He fought her hand to hand and it was because of this she eventually calmed and realized he hadn't fallen to the dark side. Through their battle she felt his true emotions and was able to regain her bearings.
When they returned to the temple many believed he was ready to attempt the trials to become a knight, but he no longer felt that way. With his brush with the dark side and having experienced fighting from such a negative place and finding it had made him stronger he felt weak in his dedication to the code. Instead he considered leaving the order and would have had Erisi not intervened. During one of their sparring matches she was able to trip him with far more ease than normal and it was because of this she knew something was wrong. Rather than ask with words she asked by action. She pressed the assault and kept doing so until he retaliated in anger and attempted to harm her. However he was able to stop himself before landing what could have been a crippling blow. His master made an interesting mark that he'd never forget. "The lure of the dark side is nothing we haven't all experienced at one time or another, but that doesn't mean we've fallen. It's the moment you forget the code and yourself that you've fallen." Realizing that he had been unable to hurt his master because it went against everything he stood for he came to understand that his actions had been out of necessity. He hadn't enjoyed hurting his master, but he had enjoyed killing their captor. Even so much of it was blamed upon the trauma rather than any fall from grace. He was commended for his bravery and actions even by his master who had seen for the briefest moment the rage of the dark side underneath the surface.
After that experience he asked his master to train him in a style that offered more defense. From this came his first experience with Shien/Djem So. It was a continued focus on offense, but on the ability to counter attack. For well over three months he focused on the style in hopes of becoming proficient enough that he could use it if he was ever in a situation like the one he had been in before.
After twelve years of being a padawan he was eligible to undergo the trials required to move upward in the order. The trials was a draining and daunting experience, but it was the Trial of the Spirit that was truly taxing. Vartth came face to face with his greatest fear, himself as the very thing he had sworn never to be. A member of the exchange and an abusive fallen jedi. It was this he came to face with and ultimately overcame. There was no exchanging of physical blows, but rather an exchange of words. This shadow of himself attempted to seduce him into the world he dreaded and he did his best to remain rooted in the light. Ultimately he survived the encounter, but with a new appreciation and understanding of the lure the dark side possessed.
He emerged from the trials as a Jedi Knight, a Guardian to be exact. His relationship with his master came to a close and he was given the lead in his life. However he would many times cross paths with Erisi and continue to learn from her. During his time as a Knight he continued to explore training beyond lightsaber combat. but he did not neglect the art. He made use of his time by training in the forms that had garnered his attention. He had yet to find a style that resonated strongly with him and had managed to be more of a jack of all trades rather than a specialist. This however was ended when he was on a mission with another Knight. They were thrown onto a hostile battlefield and during the heat of battle his ally was disarmed. He used the force to acquire her lightsaber and was able to coordinate the use of two blades with great effectiveness. It was thanks to this experience that not only did they survive, but he also learned the art of Jar-Kai.
Adopting this new style, to him, he started blending the forms he knew in a way that worked well with the use of two blades. Focusing on this took away from his time to focus on deepening his connection to the force. Due to this decision the fledgling gift he had for Battle Meditation was neglected and went unmastered as well as unused outside of reflex. From time to time he was able to call upon the skill for some small advantage, but never anything noted by himself or others. He was however able to establish himself as a well known duelist and often called upon for combat heavy missions. He was however a diplomat when necessary. Due to this combination he found himself often on missions that required a mixture of the two. Diplomacy to avoid combat, but the ability to hold your own just in case of a conflict that required it.
A diplomatic mission was ultimately his undoing in his ascension to master or attempt to do so. The mission had him protecting a diplomat on a war torn world. He was charged with protecting him and was expressly forbidden from killing anyone on the planet. He was to unarm and incapacitate that was it. This order was easy to maintain during the majority of his stay, but it was during an attack on the diplomat's home that he was forced to act and ultimately break this rule. While protecting the diplomat he struck out at one of the attackers and unfortunately killed them. The identity of the slain was revealed to be a very well known and respected member of the opposing faction on the planet. His death incited outrage and ultimately created a new conflict that forced he and his charge to flee off world. When he returned to the order he was not greeted with any compliments, but rather criticism and anger. He had managed to cause a greater conflict than originally in place. He felt the anger was misplaced and unjust, but regardless he saw a marked lower difficulty in the missions he was assigned. He went from diplomatic missions to simple investigations and arrests that had little chance of a political backlash.
This mistake combined with his neglecting of a deeper connection to the force, was not considered for becoming a Master even after having been with the order for as long as he had. He was at the age of forty-four when he found himself becoming bitter about this fact. Erisi was the first to notice this change in him. During a regular sparring session he struck out at her in anger, knocking her off balance and ultimately winning the fight, but revealing the brewing rage within him. Erisi advised he deal with whatever it was that troubled him, but he rejected her claim that anything was wrong. For a year he was able to avoid her, but eventually was cornered by her. He told her the truth that he felt he was being slighted by the order because he had yet to be considered for ascending in ranks. She challenged him to a battle, an echani based hand to hand battle with the ability to use force powers. He of course accepted. He had learned early on that Erisi's age had little impact on her ability to battle. During the fight he found himself constantly on the defensive and easily beaten by her with the introduction of the force. She explained it to him as this "You're strong in combat, but you lack in the force. You block it and resist it. Until you're truly one with it you can never expect to ascend."
After that meeting he found meditation becoming a regular part of his life. Constantly he tried to focus more and more on the force. Eventually he was able to increase his use of it and learn to augment his combat skills with it. Erisi had shown him that the force could be more than a complimentary ability in combat, it could become a part of your style in a way he had yet to learn. For ten years he focused on this. He took as few missions as he could so that he could focus on increasing his abilities in melding the force with his lightsaber skills. Ultimately he was successful in learning this technique, but he had yet to truly master it.
At the age of fifty-four he was introduced to his first true loss of a loved one. His master passed from old age and he was amongst those that mourned her passing. With the loss of his master he found himself isolated within the order. He had been close to her, she had been his only family and his greatest friend. There was no one to fill the role and he quickly found himself unhappy amongst the orders ranks. He was constantly seeking out companionship, but was unable to find anyone that could communicate the way he knew best which was combat. With the death of his master and his seeking to fill that void others became more aware of the teachings he had been offered. Many frowned upon the fact that much of his training had been based upon fighting as a way of communication. Sensing that to continue this pursuit he would draw unwanted attention he withdrew fully into himself and focused only on his missions and deepening his connection to the force. Many mistook it for diligence, but in reality it was self imposed exile.
During his self imposed exile the republic was faced with a growing new threat. Many of the jedi feared open conflict would ensue, but Vartth found himself oddly enough craving it. He wanted a new challenge, a new distraction. He wanted to find someone to spar with that would invoke the same feelings his master had. It was during this reflection he came to understand that he had truly loved Erisi as more than a master. It was one of many small things that contributed to his fall from the order. It was also during this time he made the decision to take on a padawan. He felt it was the right thing to do, to continue the legacy of his deceased master. He took on a young padawan that sought the ways of combat just as he had. He trained them the same as his master had trained him. The basis of combat and the way it could be used to communicate. For four years he felt he had found something akin to the happiness he had once felt, but it was soon shattered.
The fledgling whispers of a new group of dark jedi quickly captured the interest of the order. Varrth, his padawan, and few others were sent to find out more and possibly locate a member of this new order. This simple mission ended up being more of a massacre. He and his small group were ambushed by a group of dark jedi. The others were slain, young and inexperienced knights, but he himself had been able to survive it along with his padawan. His padawan had been injured as had his fellow knight. He made the decision to give them a chance to escape. During the battle he used the force to push the two of them out of harms way and continued the duel alone. The two escaped, but he continued the battle. He ave into his rage and fury to fuel his assault. It was in that battle he truly fell to the lure of the darkside and had drawn upon it. It was in this moment his gift for battle meditation had also come into play. He was able to survive the encounter, but not without a scar. He had enjoyed that battle, truly given into the aggression and pent up anger he had experienced. That battle had been less about survival and more about his enjoyment.
Rather than return to the temple he sought passage off world and accepted exile rather than return and face possibly judgment. For twenty long years he traveled and kept himself from view. He continued his training as best he could without the advantage of the jedi library. He also began to explore the gift of Battle Meditation that had revealed itself fully to him during the battle that had spurred his exile. Along with this he started to test the waters of Force Rage, but often resisted the lure out of fear.
For twenty years he danced with this as the galaxy around him was filled with growing tension. After meditating on the issue and allowing himself to be guided by the force he made his way to a dark side planet that had called to him for reasons he couldn't understand. It was there he came face to face with his padawan who had now ascended to Knighthood. The reunion was bittersweet. During his exile Vartth had explored the dark side as a fledgling would. He had learned to abuse his powers, but still he had yet to fall fully into its grasp. He was however no longer a Jedi. Refusing to believe he had fallen he fought his once padawan. Ultimately he won the battle and gravely injured his student, but it wasn't a victory he savored. He realized as he backed away from the edge of anger and stopped himself from delivering a killing blow that he had truly fallen. What terrified him most was that he had no regrets of it, he felt nothing except pleasure with this new existence. He denounced the order and left the planet to find where he truly belonged, amongst the Dark Jedi.
When he truly came to terms with his fall the Sith had yet to make their move and the ranks of the Dark Jedi were still well known. It was amongst them he found his home, but no master. A small clan of dark jedi who he had encountered and had been responsible for facilitating his fall to the dark side were the ones he found his home amongst. They were a group of three and there was one amongst them that was considered a Dark Jedi Knight. The individuals he had encountered and dueled had been students of this Dark Jedi Knight and the other he now met was the last surviving one. His master was known simply to him as Blade. It was from his time with this new master he gained many of the scars that adorn his body. To prepare him for the trials of the darkside he was subjected to excruciating pain and taught to enjoy it. This torture was not only physical, but also mental. The greatest pain he experienced wasn't the torture itself, but that he soon discovered he enjoyed it. He came to crave the pain his master inflicted, but that soon turned into something more. The idea of being the one inflicting that pain became so overwhelming that eventually he gave into it. During a sparring match between himself and his fellow apprentice he disarmed her and went further. He used the force to lift her in the air by her throat and eventually crushed her windpipe. She survived the encounter, but never spoke again. His master found pleasure in the cruelty he viewed, but his fellow apprentice was not so pleased.
After recovering from the almost fatal duel the other apprentice found the chance to strike. She lashed out at Vartth when he was sparring with their master. In the middle of the fray he was able to retaliate after an almost fatal slash to the abdomen. He lashed out in response and was able to gravely wound his opponent. He soon became the sole apprentice to their master. This continued for three months before he soon realized he had surpassed his teacher. The dark side had been something new for him to learn, but now he found himself dissatisfied with what his master had to offer. He had a craving for knowledge and experience that his master could not satisfy. His master of course was not pleased with hid decision to leave. He had to fight for his freedom and he emerged the winner. With his master slain he took a trinket, his master's lightsaber. It had been damaged in the fray and no longer activated, but the insignia that had been his master's remained untouched.
Armed with this he made the decision to become a part of something he had only heard whispers about. A new Sith Order that was becoming a thorn in the Order. He joined their ranks and produced his master's lightsaber as proof of his ability. Of course his master had only been a Knight and not someone truly worthy of note. It bought him little regard, but it was enough to gain him a place in the new order.
Upon his entering the new order he eventually came in contact with Sandra, a human sith. The two had a fleeting entrance in one another, but it wasn't until a sparring match that they found it nearly impossible to escape one another. She had a similar understanding of fighting and explored it as a form of expression and communication.
RP Sample:
The cold winds of the coming night slithered across Vartth's fur. His comrades that found the night air to much for their bare skin had retreated indoors minutes ago, but here he remained. His place, sentinel, against the railing of the large balcony was more welcoming than his quarters. He stared up at the dimming colors of the sun and the creeping shadows that would soon engulf the night. A few stars had revealed themselves where the sun no longer reached. The pale outline of the moon was starting to become clearer and clearer. It was always breathtaking to him how well the transition from night to day could be used to explain nearly every aspect of life. There was always light and there was always darkness, one without the other was a nearly impossible task. There were planets engulfed in sunlight longer than others, but even still there was darkness to be had. In the shadows of all things touched by the light there existed the others. He had once been amongst those that wandered the well lit paths and had undertaken the impossible task of banishing the shadows. He had been naive and foolish, rejecting who he truly was. He had been blind then, blinded by the light. Here in the depths of darkness he found himself truly able to see. No longer was he confined to the cramped quarters offered to the Jedi. He was no longer contained by their code, but was truly himself. They had held him back all these years, but even still he felt a lingering bit of guilt. He often saw the face of Erisi when he stared up at the setting sun. He could see her features, her silver eyes staring at him as the stars came to view. He had loved her, he had no doubts about that, but he had also failed her. This newfound happiness had come at a cost. The thrill of battle had become his newest lover and in doing so he had turned his back on everything she had taught him. Even still he kept a remainder of her close at hand. A small pin crafted after an Echani bird was attached to the sash around his waist. It often went unnoticed, but those who inquired about it found he was less than willing to offer an explanation.
Pushing away from the balcony he turned and suddenly found himself face to face with the burning yellow eyes of Sandra, a young sith apprentice that had become the closest thing to a companion that could be had here. He offered her a feral grin as a greeting and she offered her hand in response. It was an almost mocking gesture as he took her hand in his own and brought his lips to her skin. He brushed them across her fair skin and pulled away. "Enjoying the cold weather?" Her voice was far softer than his own, but she had long forsaken the quivering tone of an innocent and sheltered woman. There was steel in her voice and she had no issue proclaiming her sexuality through it as well. The way she stood, moved, it was all perfectly crafted. To most it would seem she was just a naturally charismatic and attractive woman, but to those with a more discerning eye they could pickup on the subtle tells that prostitution had played a large part in her formulation. "It gives me a chance to think and there's less people out." Vartth responded as he released her hand and leaned back against the balcony railing.
Sandra moved to stand next to him, leaning against the rail and looking up at the sky. "You know you're one of the few tolerable people here." They had known each other for barely a month, but there was an uneasy sort of trust between them. They knew they both longed for power and a better position in the order, but for now they could exchange words and blows with the same frequency. "And I could say the same of you." He responded. "You're also the best dressed." She laughed in response to his comment and turned to face him. Her attire wasn't conservative by any standard. Her exposed mid drift and skin tight leggings left little to the imagination. The decorative breastplate adorned with streaks of red hugged her tightly enough that there was no doubt about how well her heritage had endowed her. "You're just saying that."
Vartth offered no response, but instead ran his a hand through his hair and brought his hand to his chin, tapping it softly with his thumb. They stood there in silence for a few passing moments, comfortably enjoying the noises of nature rather than spoken words. It was always like this with them. The barriers were in place and the masks were carefully crafted, but slowly they would fade when they realized they weren't facing an opponent. They were the closest to friends this place had produced. She sagged against the rail, relaxing her posture. "How long do you think it'll be?" It was the burning question he asked himself every night. They'd talked about it so many times they never had to finish the question. "I say another two months. You've got experience and so do I. They won't want us wasting away amongst the pathetic excuses of force users." His response wasn't arrogant, but rather matter-of-factly. She chuckled in response and slowly that chuckle turned into roaring laughter. "Modesty has never been your style has it?" It was his turn to laugh in response. "Back when I was in the order, but even then I knew I could put most of them in the dirt."
Sandra pushed herself off of the rail and backed into the center of the balcony. It was large enough to accommodate a gathered crowd, but there was nothing to it other than barren metal. She reached for the lightsaber at her side and used the force to bring it to her hand.
Vartth pushed himself off of the rail with a gleam in his eyes. He removed his two lightsabers from the holster and ignited them. They exchanged words at every encounter, but it always ended in violence. It was freeing for both of them. It was their language. Vartth took his stance and waited for Sandra to make the first move. She ignited her double bladed saber. She gave it one quick spin, turned in place switching hands as she turned, and swung it down as part of her brief warm up for their battle. She moved her left foot back as she centered herself. Her breath became steady and even before she exploded from her position and went directly at him. In a flurry of moves she crashed into him. He blocked the blade from one angle with the lightsaber in his right and the next with his left. Slowly their moves became a dance of light and fury. The speed of their moves increased to match the other, but never to overpower. The heat of their blades singed at their skin and when it seemed injury was inevitable they deactivated their sabers and found themselves entangled in one another's grasp. His arms were at her waist and hers against his chest. His eyes locked with hers they stood their quietly contemplating their next move. Even when they ended their sparring like this they were on the battle field.
They stood that way until they finally felt the moment pass. As he pulled away, for the briefest moment, he saw her black hair lighten to the silver shade that had been his Echani's master. The moment past and did his best to hide it. He couldn't explain her feelings for her, but it reminded him greatly of his master. They fought against the pull, but every night they found themselves doing the same dance. Pulling apart and bidding each other goodnight. Their hearts beating not from the excursion, but from the fluttering passions they longed to share with one another.
Name: Vartth
Race: Farghul
Age: 124
Height: 6'4
Weight: 210
Appearance:
Like most Farghul's Vartth stands taller than most humans. His body is mostly lean muscles that allow for the use of speed and strength that are well documented amongst his species. He also has the normal tan coloring, but with a few flecks of deeper brown. His ears, unlike most, are tipped with black fur. His features have started to feel the lure of the darkside and have started to take on a more ferocious appearance. Warm brown eyes have become a sickly shade of yellow and his features are more sunken than once before. Where warmth once was there is coldness and a calculating gaze.
His mane is long and thick, reaching down his back. He keeps it out of his face with an intricate headband made of an expensive black metal that is also found in his belt. It is decorated with an assortment of small red gems. There are two horn like studs above his temples. These protrusions look as if they could be used to gore someone and probably have been used to do so.
Vartth isn't fond of the robes that most force users wear, but instead prefers something that allows for more freedom. He often forgoes a shirt, but wears loose fitting pants. Usually a shade of red with black thread running throughout it in a simple yet elegant pattern. His belt is made of an expensive looking black material and decorated with red gemstones. Like most Farghul's he prides himself on his appearance. Around his waist he wears a black sash that is held in place by his belt. For shoes he wears boots you'd except from a smuggler, but they've been modified. They offer better footing and are less restrictive.
Personality:
Vartth was once a man of the order and believed in the message of the order. He believed with all his heart that the side of light would overcome the darkness forever and always. He also believed in the idea of a better galaxy where crime would no longer choke out innocence and happiness. This idealistic mentality was tarnished by his fall to the darkside and replaced by something far less forgiving. The idea that only the strong survive became his newfound personal philosophy. He found his respect for someone dependent upon the power they held and not by the good deeds they'd accomplished. He also found himself craving a worthy combatant and a challenge that he had not desired during his time with the order. Life was less about aiding others and more about fulfilling a twisted need to find a love like the one he had felt towards his old master. Much of his decisions are in hopes of finding someone that can understand the call of battle as he does because of her. Due to his training with her he communicates much of his emotions through body language and fighting. He considers fighting an art form and approaches it as such. He takes pride in himself, his body, and the weapons at his disposal.
Fighting isn't all that defines Vartth. Due to his extended life span he has had time to absorb books and various other materials. Because of this he is a well read individual that has an understanding of politics and philosophy. These are two things he calls upon quite often even with his position as a member of the sith. The way he interacts with people is based upon manipulation and discovering the best way to bend them to his will. He finds how they tick so that he can discern their wants and needs. With this knowledge he often finds someway to make use of them when he needs it by offering them what it is they crave. This ability is also used for cruel purposes. Having had a taste for cruelty awakened in him he makes use of psychological torture quite frequently when given the opportunity. This deceptive and cruel nature has infected the way he battles as well. Once upon a time he was an honest combatant that would never make use of Tràkata, but now it finds a well established place amongst his arsenal.
There is still some honor in Vartth. He tries to avoid killing someone without giving them a chance to defend themselves. He prefers to face them in combat before delivering the final blow or whatever is required. He offers them this opportunity because it is the honorable thing to do and its one of the few things that has not changed about him. He has also retained a soft spot for children. He has no issue killing an adult, but when it comes to youth he finds himself disgusted by the notion and refuses if it is within his right to do so.
A few things set Vartth aside from the typical Sith. He gives into his anger and passion when he is caught in battle, but he tries to keep a level head outside of it. He also thinks tactically which is what has kept him alive for so long. He has an innate ability to evaluate the situation he is an come to the best course of action for survival. Of course in the heat of battle this isn't always useable, but when it comes to drawn out conflicts it gives him an advantage. His military mind is also beneficial because of his use of battle meditation. However this does have some downsides. His use of the force is often wasteful and uncontrolled. The finesse shown in his blade work isn't shown in his use of the force (outside of augmenting his dueling abilities). This odd mixture speaks volumes of his personality. In some aspects he can be calculating and level headed, but in other areas he is quite prone to blind fury. He is easily offended and when offended he finds his calm lost and often strikes out with a fury that's unforgiving. He is capable of diplomatic solutions, but prefers to deal with things in an aggressive and vicious way. The strongest being the one that walks away as victor.
Birth place: Farrfin
Faction: Sith Order
Rank: Knight
Previous Faction: Dark Jedi
Previous Rank: Marauder
Lightsaber: Two curved hilt lightsabers
Color: Red
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho - 5
Makashi - 5
Soresu - N/A
Ataru - 3
Shien / Djem So - 2
>>Sub-form Backhanded - N/A
Niman - N/A
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield -5
Juyo - 2
Double Bladed Combat - N/A
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic: 4
Telepathic: 2
Body: 7
Sense: 6
Protection: 2
Healing: 0
Destruction: 3
Specialized Skills:
Projected Fighting
Force Rage
Tràkata
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 8
Intelligence: 5
Speed: 7
Leadership: 3
Unarmed: 5
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons: 1
Bio:
Vartth was born on Farffin. He was born into poverty and was no stranger to the exchange. HIs family often ran jobs for them when they were available. It was one of many ways they were able to put food on the table aside from stealing and cons. Vartth soon became a part of this world. At the age of six his mother taught him how to pick pocket. It was a skill he quickly learned to make use of and was often able to spot easy targets with relative ease. There was an oddness to how he just instinctively knew how to maneuver through a crowd. It was almost as if he guessed the flow of the crowd and went with it. It was never truly decided if this was because of a force sensitive nature or his instinctive reflexes when it came to battle.
This nifty trick of his was eventually what led to his being discovered as a force sensitive. A Jedi was wandering the streets of the city. Vartth had heard of them, but nothing more than a few tales here and there. They were whispers in the streets, but they weren't spoken highly of nor often. It hadn't helped that his family focusing more on the concrete and necessary details like the names of the local gangs. He didn't recognize the robes or the lightsaber hilt as identification. He only noticed the bag attached to their waist he was sure held a few coins he could use to help provide food for his family. He slipped into the crowd and attempting to snatch the purse as he'd done a thousand times over, but this time was different. The Jedi grabbed him before he even reached the purse. The woman was like nothing he had encountered before. She was an Echani and a Jedi, two things he'd never encountered. The kindness she offered him was almost as uncommon. Rather than punish him she offered him a few coins from her purse, but requested to be introduced to his family to see if she could offer them any help. Vartth normaly would have refused and tried to escape, but to his surprise he found himself compelled to do so.
Vartth took the mystery woman to his home and she introduced herself to them as Jedi Master Erisi. She informed Vartth and his family that he was force sensitive and made the request that he be given to the order to undergo training. His parents were apprehensive at first until the topic of his care came up. When it was made clear to them that he would be well taken care of and well fed they made the decision to turn him over to the Jedi. They understood they couldn't offer him what the order could and they wanted the best for their son.
A few months after turning six Vartth was removed from the only world he knew and whisked away to the Jedi Temple to undergo training. His first four years were turbulent at best. He had a hard time adjusting to the way things were. The first month he'd been guilty of hoarding food and pocketing expensive looking trinkets in case he'd need to sell them off at a later date. It wasn't until he'd been there for six months that he came to understand he wasn't at risk of being removed from the academy and that his survival didn't depend on theft. Erisi was the one to explain this to him. She was responsible for helping him adjust to the academy and was also the one to suggest what ultimately led to his betterment. Vartth had a documented anger issue during his early years at the academy. He was used to fighting and often overreacted to a slight because that had been the way things had been at home. It wasn't until Erisi suggested he be given more time with physical training and a more demanding routine that he finally began to calm. The angry outbursts were from pent up frustration and anger as well as him still adjusting to this new setting. Erisi, as an Enchani, was able to see that in the aggressive stance and during the few sparring matches someone as young as he had been was allowed. Erisi also became his instructor during these sparring matches. It was thanks to her that he picked up the basics of the Echani Arts. It was also when he gained an appreciation for sparring and began to think of it as an art form. It was uncommon for a youngling to have such an interaction with a Jedi Master that was not assigned to train younglings, but because of the bond the two had formed as well as her ability to help curb his aggression the bond had been fostered.
It was to no one's surprise that, when he underwent the initiate trials at the age of thirteen and passed them, Erisi became his master. His training was primarily focused in lightsaber combat and combat in general. He was also taught self control and how to remain calm. For two years, before he was taken on his first mission, his master had ensured the Jedi Code was something he could recite in his sleep. More importantly it was something that flowed into his movements in battle. Much like his master he enjoyed the thrill of battle, but because of that he needed something to tether himself so that he wasn't lost in the passion of exchanging blows.
His first mission with his master was a simple one. The task was a diplomatic affair that he had been brought on so that he could learn about another tool at a jedi's disposal, their words. His master had been sent to a small world to help facilitate the termination of a twenty year feud between two rival clans. Not once did she draw her weapon, but she had managed to help the two sides find a solution to their conflict. It was thanks to this experience that Vartth developed an interest in more than just lightsaber combat, but also politics. His training began to expand from there and soon introduced were several books to help mold his mind for more than just battle tactics. That and the importance of words was put upon him which is why, much like his master, he became a man of little words. Preferring to only say what needed to be said and expressing himself through actions instead.
His missions with her became more and more demanding as time progressed. The first had been mainly diplomatic and had been designed to give him an understanding of the power of words and the importance of using them before force. Slowly this transitioned into learning how to apply force when necessary and when it would be appropriate. His first mission of this type was on a small world near his homeland of Farrfin. A gang had been putting heavy pressure on the community and there had been several complaints about this. The Republic had been unable to deal with the situation and had requested the Order assist them. Erisi had taken the mission. It was a week long mission. The first two days had been attempted negotiations with the gang leader, but that had quickly deteriorated. The reason for this deterioration had been due to Vartth speaking out about the state of the community and some of the atrocities he had experienced. His accusations and aggressive tone had prompted an aggressive response from the gang leader and his followers. Erisi was able to keep most of them at bay long enough for the two to escape. They fled into the community and sought safety in the slums, far from view. After the incident Erisi did make him aware of his mistake, but she understood the cause of his actions. She admitted she had requested this mission because she wanted Vartth to come face to face with the community he had been raised in before he was eligible for knighthood. It was a chance to face the anger he might feel so that he would be released from it before it had a chance to fester later on in his life. It was also a chance to show him that while sparring was an enjoyable activity violence wasn't something to undertake with a light heart. She had wanted to see him in battle, to see how he responded. He had passed the test by showing that during the battle he hadn't fallen into the lure of passion. He had fought because he had to not because he enjoyed the thrill of the fight. She also made note of the fact he'd managed to use the force to bolster their coordination during the fight. It had been a fledgling thing, but she had advised him to explore that aspect of his gift.
After laying low for a few days and recovering from the altercation Erisi and Vartth made a move on the compound controlled by the gang. They slipped in through their defenses in the dead of night and did their best to make it to the gang leader with the smallest number of casualties. Upon reaching him Erisi offered him one last chance to remove himself and his gang from the community before he was forced to do so. This demand was met by anger and force to which Erisi had to respond. She and Vartth, fighting side by side were able to disarm the gang and arrest their leader. He was brought into custody and prosecuted accordingly. Vartth had wondered why they hadn't executed the man. He believed it was best considering the damage he had done. Erisi reminded him that their place was to carry out the commands of the order not be judge and executioner.
After this particular mission he withdrew from his master for a span of two weeks. During this time he meditated to center himself after the encounter. He had, after it, been haunted by dreams of his own home world. His time meditating allowed him to confront these fears and start the process of laying them to rest. While the wound was still raw he found it less painful to consider his past as well as those who continued to live in conditions like those or worse. It was thanks to this experience that he would eventually undergo the Jedi trials and emerge a Jedi Knight.
When Vartth reconnected with his master she made the decision to train him in a style he hadn't considered would be a good fit for him. The style was Ataru. The reason was because of his natural affinity for speed and superior strength. It was also due to the fact that it had become quite apparent that his idea of defense was a strong offense. The first few lessons in the art had little to do with lightsaber combat, and all to do with his physical condition. While he was fit prior to this training he saw a marked improvement in agility and strength. It wasn't after two months of grueling physical training that he had his first lesson in Ataru. During the time the groundwork for the style was drilled into him he saw little of the world outside of the temple. With each passing day he found himself growing stronger, but he also found himself using his power in the force less and less. He relied on lightsaber combat to survive an encounter which was yet another thing his master made a notice of. During a sparring session she surprised him with force push and knocked him completely out of balance. The short lived seeds of pride that had almost taken root were cast out when he became aware of just how much room he still had to improve.
His first mission since beginning training in Ataru was off world and it was a grueling two month experience. His master had experience in dealing with Dark Jedi and thus had been given the assignment of dealing with a dark jedi that had taken root in the thick woods of a forest planet. Their attempt to land was met with aggression by the inhabitants of the planet who had sworn allegiance to the dark jedi. Turrets shot down their ship and they crashed in the dense forest.
The crash landing left his master injured and unconscious. Vartth suffered injuries and was ill prepared for the armed party that attacked the moment he got his master off the ship. Fueled by fear, anger, and pain he did his best to overcome the ambush party. He knew from the moment the battle started that he was calling upon the much feared dark side of the force to defend himself. It was all he could do because he had panicked. In the middle of the fight his lightsaber was destroyed and he was left unarmed. Due to his neglecting of his force powers he wasn't able to do much without his lightsaber. Having failed to stop the ambush party he and his master were captured.
When his master came to they had been placed in a holding cell that was guarded by one of the denizens of the planet. Eventually the dark jedi that had taken residence on the planet made his presence known. When he faced the two he remarked that he could feel the darkness in Vartth and that he had watched him give into his anger. The comment had filled Vartth with shame, but he was surprised to hear no judgment from his master.
For three long days they were imprisoned and subjected to torture by their captors in an attempt to force them to give into the dark side. Vartth, after a particularly long session, begged for mercy and admitted that he had enjoyed the feeling of giving into his emotions. That had shocked his master who quickly turned on him in rage and demanded he think of the vow he had taken. Vartth ignored her and begged for mercy as well as a place as the dark jedi's apprentice. It was of course a ruse on his part, but it did work. He won the dark jedi's trust and was released from his cage. He was however forced to hurt his master, which to this day still haunts him. He did his best to cause her the least amount of pain possible, but he had to be convincing. Having proven himself the dark jedi allowed him to roam and take the title of apprentice.
For four days he was able to keep his master alive and continue to earn the dark jedi's trust. Eventually he was able to, during a sparing match, make use of Ataru and slay the dark jedi who had been unprepared for the sudden and aggressive assault. With their leader and protecter slain their captor's supporters soon departed. Vartth freed his master, but because of the immense pain inflicted upon her as well as seeing her student fall she was mentally unstable. She attacked Vartth claiming he was lying to her and trying to cause her to fall as he had. He fought her hand to hand and it was because of this she eventually calmed and realized he hadn't fallen to the dark side. Through their battle she felt his true emotions and was able to regain her bearings.
When they returned to the temple many believed he was ready to attempt the trials to become a knight, but he no longer felt that way. With his brush with the dark side and having experienced fighting from such a negative place and finding it had made him stronger he felt weak in his dedication to the code. Instead he considered leaving the order and would have had Erisi not intervened. During one of their sparring matches she was able to trip him with far more ease than normal and it was because of this she knew something was wrong. Rather than ask with words she asked by action. She pressed the assault and kept doing so until he retaliated in anger and attempted to harm her. However he was able to stop himself before landing what could have been a crippling blow. His master made an interesting mark that he'd never forget. "The lure of the dark side is nothing we haven't all experienced at one time or another, but that doesn't mean we've fallen. It's the moment you forget the code and yourself that you've fallen." Realizing that he had been unable to hurt his master because it went against everything he stood for he came to understand that his actions had been out of necessity. He hadn't enjoyed hurting his master, but he had enjoyed killing their captor. Even so much of it was blamed upon the trauma rather than any fall from grace. He was commended for his bravery and actions even by his master who had seen for the briefest moment the rage of the dark side underneath the surface.
After that experience he asked his master to train him in a style that offered more defense. From this came his first experience with Shien/Djem So. It was a continued focus on offense, but on the ability to counter attack. For well over three months he focused on the style in hopes of becoming proficient enough that he could use it if he was ever in a situation like the one he had been in before.
After twelve years of being a padawan he was eligible to undergo the trials required to move upward in the order. The trials was a draining and daunting experience, but it was the Trial of the Spirit that was truly taxing. Vartth came face to face with his greatest fear, himself as the very thing he had sworn never to be. A member of the exchange and an abusive fallen jedi. It was this he came to face with and ultimately overcame. There was no exchanging of physical blows, but rather an exchange of words. This shadow of himself attempted to seduce him into the world he dreaded and he did his best to remain rooted in the light. Ultimately he survived the encounter, but with a new appreciation and understanding of the lure the dark side possessed.
He emerged from the trials as a Jedi Knight, a Guardian to be exact. His relationship with his master came to a close and he was given the lead in his life. However he would many times cross paths with Erisi and continue to learn from her. During his time as a Knight he continued to explore training beyond lightsaber combat. but he did not neglect the art. He made use of his time by training in the forms that had garnered his attention. He had yet to find a style that resonated strongly with him and had managed to be more of a jack of all trades rather than a specialist. This however was ended when he was on a mission with another Knight. They were thrown onto a hostile battlefield and during the heat of battle his ally was disarmed. He used the force to acquire her lightsaber and was able to coordinate the use of two blades with great effectiveness. It was thanks to this experience that not only did they survive, but he also learned the art of Jar-Kai.
Adopting this new style, to him, he started blending the forms he knew in a way that worked well with the use of two blades. Focusing on this took away from his time to focus on deepening his connection to the force. Due to this decision the fledgling gift he had for Battle Meditation was neglected and went unmastered as well as unused outside of reflex. From time to time he was able to call upon the skill for some small advantage, but never anything noted by himself or others. He was however able to establish himself as a well known duelist and often called upon for combat heavy missions. He was however a diplomat when necessary. Due to this combination he found himself often on missions that required a mixture of the two. Diplomacy to avoid combat, but the ability to hold your own just in case of a conflict that required it.
A diplomatic mission was ultimately his undoing in his ascension to master or attempt to do so. The mission had him protecting a diplomat on a war torn world. He was charged with protecting him and was expressly forbidden from killing anyone on the planet. He was to unarm and incapacitate that was it. This order was easy to maintain during the majority of his stay, but it was during an attack on the diplomat's home that he was forced to act and ultimately break this rule. While protecting the diplomat he struck out at one of the attackers and unfortunately killed them. The identity of the slain was revealed to be a very well known and respected member of the opposing faction on the planet. His death incited outrage and ultimately created a new conflict that forced he and his charge to flee off world. When he returned to the order he was not greeted with any compliments, but rather criticism and anger. He had managed to cause a greater conflict than originally in place. He felt the anger was misplaced and unjust, but regardless he saw a marked lower difficulty in the missions he was assigned. He went from diplomatic missions to simple investigations and arrests that had little chance of a political backlash.
This mistake combined with his neglecting of a deeper connection to the force, was not considered for becoming a Master even after having been with the order for as long as he had. He was at the age of forty-four when he found himself becoming bitter about this fact. Erisi was the first to notice this change in him. During a regular sparring session he struck out at her in anger, knocking her off balance and ultimately winning the fight, but revealing the brewing rage within him. Erisi advised he deal with whatever it was that troubled him, but he rejected her claim that anything was wrong. For a year he was able to avoid her, but eventually was cornered by her. He told her the truth that he felt he was being slighted by the order because he had yet to be considered for ascending in ranks. She challenged him to a battle, an echani based hand to hand battle with the ability to use force powers. He of course accepted. He had learned early on that Erisi's age had little impact on her ability to battle. During the fight he found himself constantly on the defensive and easily beaten by her with the introduction of the force. She explained it to him as this "You're strong in combat, but you lack in the force. You block it and resist it. Until you're truly one with it you can never expect to ascend."
After that meeting he found meditation becoming a regular part of his life. Constantly he tried to focus more and more on the force. Eventually he was able to increase his use of it and learn to augment his combat skills with it. Erisi had shown him that the force could be more than a complimentary ability in combat, it could become a part of your style in a way he had yet to learn. For ten years he focused on this. He took as few missions as he could so that he could focus on increasing his abilities in melding the force with his lightsaber skills. Ultimately he was successful in learning this technique, but he had yet to truly master it.
At the age of fifty-four he was introduced to his first true loss of a loved one. His master passed from old age and he was amongst those that mourned her passing. With the loss of his master he found himself isolated within the order. He had been close to her, she had been his only family and his greatest friend. There was no one to fill the role and he quickly found himself unhappy amongst the orders ranks. He was constantly seeking out companionship, but was unable to find anyone that could communicate the way he knew best which was combat. With the death of his master and his seeking to fill that void others became more aware of the teachings he had been offered. Many frowned upon the fact that much of his training had been based upon fighting as a way of communication. Sensing that to continue this pursuit he would draw unwanted attention he withdrew fully into himself and focused only on his missions and deepening his connection to the force. Many mistook it for diligence, but in reality it was self imposed exile.
During his self imposed exile the republic was faced with a growing new threat. Many of the jedi feared open conflict would ensue, but Vartth found himself oddly enough craving it. He wanted a new challenge, a new distraction. He wanted to find someone to spar with that would invoke the same feelings his master had. It was during this reflection he came to understand that he had truly loved Erisi as more than a master. It was one of many small things that contributed to his fall from the order. It was also during this time he made the decision to take on a padawan. He felt it was the right thing to do, to continue the legacy of his deceased master. He took on a young padawan that sought the ways of combat just as he had. He trained them the same as his master had trained him. The basis of combat and the way it could be used to communicate. For four years he felt he had found something akin to the happiness he had once felt, but it was soon shattered.
The fledgling whispers of a new group of dark jedi quickly captured the interest of the order. Varrth, his padawan, and few others were sent to find out more and possibly locate a member of this new order. This simple mission ended up being more of a massacre. He and his small group were ambushed by a group of dark jedi. The others were slain, young and inexperienced knights, but he himself had been able to survive it along with his padawan. His padawan had been injured as had his fellow knight. He made the decision to give them a chance to escape. During the battle he used the force to push the two of them out of harms way and continued the duel alone. The two escaped, but he continued the battle. He ave into his rage and fury to fuel his assault. It was in that battle he truly fell to the lure of the darkside and had drawn upon it. It was in this moment his gift for battle meditation had also come into play. He was able to survive the encounter, but not without a scar. He had enjoyed that battle, truly given into the aggression and pent up anger he had experienced. That battle had been less about survival and more about his enjoyment.
Rather than return to the temple he sought passage off world and accepted exile rather than return and face possibly judgment. For twenty long years he traveled and kept himself from view. He continued his training as best he could without the advantage of the jedi library. He also began to explore the gift of Battle Meditation that had revealed itself fully to him during the battle that had spurred his exile. Along with this he started to test the waters of Force Rage, but often resisted the lure out of fear.
For twenty years he danced with this as the galaxy around him was filled with growing tension. After meditating on the issue and allowing himself to be guided by the force he made his way to a dark side planet that had called to him for reasons he couldn't understand. It was there he came face to face with his padawan who had now ascended to Knighthood. The reunion was bittersweet. During his exile Vartth had explored the dark side as a fledgling would. He had learned to abuse his powers, but still he had yet to fall fully into its grasp. He was however no longer a Jedi. Refusing to believe he had fallen he fought his once padawan. Ultimately he won the battle and gravely injured his student, but it wasn't a victory he savored. He realized as he backed away from the edge of anger and stopped himself from delivering a killing blow that he had truly fallen. What terrified him most was that he had no regrets of it, he felt nothing except pleasure with this new existence. He denounced the order and left the planet to find where he truly belonged, amongst the Dark Jedi.
When he truly came to terms with his fall the Sith had yet to make their move and the ranks of the Dark Jedi were still well known. It was amongst them he found his home, but no master. A small clan of dark jedi who he had encountered and had been responsible for facilitating his fall to the dark side were the ones he found his home amongst. They were a group of three and there was one amongst them that was considered a Dark Jedi Knight. The individuals he had encountered and dueled had been students of this Dark Jedi Knight and the other he now met was the last surviving one. His master was known simply to him as Blade. It was from his time with this new master he gained many of the scars that adorn his body. To prepare him for the trials of the darkside he was subjected to excruciating pain and taught to enjoy it. This torture was not only physical, but also mental. The greatest pain he experienced wasn't the torture itself, but that he soon discovered he enjoyed it. He came to crave the pain his master inflicted, but that soon turned into something more. The idea of being the one inflicting that pain became so overwhelming that eventually he gave into it. During a sparring match between himself and his fellow apprentice he disarmed her and went further. He used the force to lift her in the air by her throat and eventually crushed her windpipe. She survived the encounter, but never spoke again. His master found pleasure in the cruelty he viewed, but his fellow apprentice was not so pleased.
After recovering from the almost fatal duel the other apprentice found the chance to strike. She lashed out at Vartth when he was sparring with their master. In the middle of the fray he was able to retaliate after an almost fatal slash to the abdomen. He lashed out in response and was able to gravely wound his opponent. He soon became the sole apprentice to their master. This continued for three months before he soon realized he had surpassed his teacher. The dark side had been something new for him to learn, but now he found himself dissatisfied with what his master had to offer. He had a craving for knowledge and experience that his master could not satisfy. His master of course was not pleased with hid decision to leave. He had to fight for his freedom and he emerged the winner. With his master slain he took a trinket, his master's lightsaber. It had been damaged in the fray and no longer activated, but the insignia that had been his master's remained untouched.
Armed with this he made the decision to become a part of something he had only heard whispers about. A new Sith Order that was becoming a thorn in the Order. He joined their ranks and produced his master's lightsaber as proof of his ability. Of course his master had only been a Knight and not someone truly worthy of note. It bought him little regard, but it was enough to gain him a place in the new order.
Upon his entering the new order he eventually came in contact with Sandra, a human sith. The two had a fleeting entrance in one another, but it wasn't until a sparring match that they found it nearly impossible to escape one another. She had a similar understanding of fighting and explored it as a form of expression and communication.
RP Sample:
The cold winds of the coming night slithered across Vartth's fur. His comrades that found the night air to much for their bare skin had retreated indoors minutes ago, but here he remained. His place, sentinel, against the railing of the large balcony was more welcoming than his quarters. He stared up at the dimming colors of the sun and the creeping shadows that would soon engulf the night. A few stars had revealed themselves where the sun no longer reached. The pale outline of the moon was starting to become clearer and clearer. It was always breathtaking to him how well the transition from night to day could be used to explain nearly every aspect of life. There was always light and there was always darkness, one without the other was a nearly impossible task. There were planets engulfed in sunlight longer than others, but even still there was darkness to be had. In the shadows of all things touched by the light there existed the others. He had once been amongst those that wandered the well lit paths and had undertaken the impossible task of banishing the shadows. He had been naive and foolish, rejecting who he truly was. He had been blind then, blinded by the light. Here in the depths of darkness he found himself truly able to see. No longer was he confined to the cramped quarters offered to the Jedi. He was no longer contained by their code, but was truly himself. They had held him back all these years, but even still he felt a lingering bit of guilt. He often saw the face of Erisi when he stared up at the setting sun. He could see her features, her silver eyes staring at him as the stars came to view. He had loved her, he had no doubts about that, but he had also failed her. This newfound happiness had come at a cost. The thrill of battle had become his newest lover and in doing so he had turned his back on everything she had taught him. Even still he kept a remainder of her close at hand. A small pin crafted after an Echani bird was attached to the sash around his waist. It often went unnoticed, but those who inquired about it found he was less than willing to offer an explanation.
Pushing away from the balcony he turned and suddenly found himself face to face with the burning yellow eyes of Sandra, a young sith apprentice that had become the closest thing to a companion that could be had here. He offered her a feral grin as a greeting and she offered her hand in response. It was an almost mocking gesture as he took her hand in his own and brought his lips to her skin. He brushed them across her fair skin and pulled away. "Enjoying the cold weather?" Her voice was far softer than his own, but she had long forsaken the quivering tone of an innocent and sheltered woman. There was steel in her voice and she had no issue proclaiming her sexuality through it as well. The way she stood, moved, it was all perfectly crafted. To most it would seem she was just a naturally charismatic and attractive woman, but to those with a more discerning eye they could pickup on the subtle tells that prostitution had played a large part in her formulation. "It gives me a chance to think and there's less people out." Vartth responded as he released her hand and leaned back against the balcony railing.
Sandra moved to stand next to him, leaning against the rail and looking up at the sky. "You know you're one of the few tolerable people here." They had known each other for barely a month, but there was an uneasy sort of trust between them. They knew they both longed for power and a better position in the order, but for now they could exchange words and blows with the same frequency. "And I could say the same of you." He responded. "You're also the best dressed." She laughed in response to his comment and turned to face him. Her attire wasn't conservative by any standard. Her exposed mid drift and skin tight leggings left little to the imagination. The decorative breastplate adorned with streaks of red hugged her tightly enough that there was no doubt about how well her heritage had endowed her. "You're just saying that."
Vartth offered no response, but instead ran his a hand through his hair and brought his hand to his chin, tapping it softly with his thumb. They stood there in silence for a few passing moments, comfortably enjoying the noises of nature rather than spoken words. It was always like this with them. The barriers were in place and the masks were carefully crafted, but slowly they would fade when they realized they weren't facing an opponent. They were the closest to friends this place had produced. She sagged against the rail, relaxing her posture. "How long do you think it'll be?" It was the burning question he asked himself every night. They'd talked about it so many times they never had to finish the question. "I say another two months. You've got experience and so do I. They won't want us wasting away amongst the pathetic excuses of force users." His response wasn't arrogant, but rather matter-of-factly. She chuckled in response and slowly that chuckle turned into roaring laughter. "Modesty has never been your style has it?" It was his turn to laugh in response. "Back when I was in the order, but even then I knew I could put most of them in the dirt."
Sandra pushed herself off of the rail and backed into the center of the balcony. It was large enough to accommodate a gathered crowd, but there was nothing to it other than barren metal. She reached for the lightsaber at her side and used the force to bring it to her hand.
Vartth pushed himself off of the rail with a gleam in his eyes. He removed his two lightsabers from the holster and ignited them. They exchanged words at every encounter, but it always ended in violence. It was freeing for both of them. It was their language. Vartth took his stance and waited for Sandra to make the first move. She ignited her double bladed saber. She gave it one quick spin, turned in place switching hands as she turned, and swung it down as part of her brief warm up for their battle. She moved her left foot back as she centered herself. Her breath became steady and even before she exploded from her position and went directly at him. In a flurry of moves she crashed into him. He blocked the blade from one angle with the lightsaber in his right and the next with his left. Slowly their moves became a dance of light and fury. The speed of their moves increased to match the other, but never to overpower. The heat of their blades singed at their skin and when it seemed injury was inevitable they deactivated their sabers and found themselves entangled in one another's grasp. His arms were at her waist and hers against his chest. His eyes locked with hers they stood their quietly contemplating their next move. Even when they ended their sparring like this they were on the battle field.
They stood that way until they finally felt the moment pass. As he pulled away, for the briefest moment, he saw her black hair lighten to the silver shade that had been his Echani's master. The moment past and did his best to hide it. He couldn't explain her feelings for her, but it reminded him greatly of his master. They fought against the pull, but every night they found themselves doing the same dance. Pulling apart and bidding each other goodnight. Their hearts beating not from the excursion, but from the fluttering passions they longed to share with one another.
