[02:11] <@HLeviathan> As long as you can remember, your home has been a cold, sterile one. You were well provided for, never wanted for food or shelter, though it has been one lacking in human contact. You've been raised by an endless succession of droids of some description or another, and only very rarely, have you caught a glimpse of another organic. A tall red man with a red mustache and black clothing.
[02:11] <@HLeviathan> You have never had the opportunity to speak to the red man. But whenever he comes by, he watches you intensely.
[02:16] <@HLeviathan> You spent your early days being taught fundamentals. Languages. Mathematics. Practical skills as well. Such as the names of various plants and animals, how to provide for and cloth yourself. You do not want for an education. When you are not in study, you are encouraged to exercise. Really, as a young boy it is indistinguishable from play. Chasing remote droids, maneuvering through
[02:16] <@HLeviathan> various obstacles. Your life, in so far as you can understand it, is full.
[02:17] <@HLeviathan> Then, at the age of seven, by the best reckoning you have, the red man comes again.
[02:18] <@HLeviathan> He speaks to your droid caretaker. A protocol droid, this time, who nods diffidently to the red man, and toddles its way over to where you are currently in study with another droid.
[02:19] <@HLeviathan> "Master Zurui," it says, "I am very sorry to interupt, but it seems that your time with us has come to an end."
[02:21] <@HLeviathan> "The Master has come to retrieve you. Please get up," it says.
06[02:23] * Zurui nods, standing up. He doesn't really understand what 'The Master' wants, but his curiosity drives him. The Master was a rarity, something new in his childhood.
[02:25] <@HLeviathan> The protocol leads Zurui over to the red man, who watches him with great interest. As you finally get a glimpse of him up close, you come to realize that his great mustache and eyebrows aren't. They are part of him. Almost like hardened tendrils. You've seen such things in your studies, but never quite like the Red Man.
[02:25] <@HLeviathan> "Come with me, young one," the man speaks with a gravely voice. "I am to take you to my master," he says.
06[02:27] * Zurui nods, following the Red Man wherever he is lead, obediently. Curious, but quiet. Listen to learn.
[02:31] <@HLeviathan> The Red Man leads you out of the complex that has been your entire world, and you suddenly feel very small. Your world was merely connected to a grand hallway, and as you walk down it, you see doors, much like the one that has closed behind you. You walk for, what is for a seven year old, a long time. Where ever you are, it is quite grand indeed. Several orders of magnitude bigger than
[02:31] <@HLeviathan> what you know, but eventually you find yourself before a large pair of doors. The Red Man stops and looks at Zurui with a scrutinizing gaze.
06[02:32] * Zurui stops as well, looking back to the man, watching him back quietly, not in defiance, but as if to let him observe him, and to observe the Red man as well. He sure was interesting and new, compared to the droids. Not a word.
[02:33] <@HLeviathan> "You are about to meet my master," the Red Man rumbles, his 'mustache' twitching as he speaks. He looks like wants to say more, but then seems to decide against it.
[02:35] <@HLeviathan> The man turns towards the doors, and with one hand pushes it open. As the heavy door slowly moves, its twin also opens in time. He steps through, leading Zurui again. The doors close behind them on their own.
06[02:36] * Zurui follows quietly, watching, waiting. He is nervous, almost scared, but his curiosity keeps him from running from the unknown.
[02:37] <@HLeviathan> The chamber is grand, though austere. It seems as if it is all made of black marble. And then you see her. A woman of indeterminate age, fantastically tall, with white hair down to her shoulders and burning yellow eyes gazing languidly at him. She is dressed in loose-fitting black robes with a wide belt around her waist. she sits on an impressive looking throne, which she slumps in,
[02:37] <@HLeviathan> almost disdainfully, her head resting on her gloved fist.
[02:39] <@HLeviathan> Her eyes remain on Zurui. She may be affecting boredom, but Zurui feels like she is watching his every move, his every subtle twitch. Her presence fills the room, and he can feel it.
06[02:39] * Zurui is in awe, watching her, an amazing person. Is this The Master? His knees twitch, as if to bow on instinct, but he remains standing, quiet. Taking in every inch of the woman, her atmosphere, her attitude.
[02:41] <@HLeviathan> They scrutinize each other for several tense moments, before she finally speaks. "He's interesting, Tanomas," she says, apparently addressing the Red Man, 'Tanomas', without breaking her gaze.
06[02:42] * Zurui starts a little when she finally talks.
[02:42] <@HLeviathan> The Red Man bows in response. "Do you know who I am, boy?" the woman asks him. Her voice is quite low and husky.
01[02:43] <Zurui> "No, ma'am."  If she wants him to know something, she'll say it.  Don't speak out of place, Zurui.
[02:44] <@HLeviathan> "Fair answer. You do not know who I am. Do you know who the man behind you is?" she asks impassively.
01[02:45] <Zurui> "He's the Red Man, Ma'am."
[02:45] <@HLeviathan> One corner of her mouth curls up slightly.
[02:46] <@HLeviathan> "He is Tanomas. Until I say otherwise, he is your master," she explains, "What does that make me?"
01[02:47] <Zurui> "... would that make you my master's master?"
06[02:47] * Zurui hazards a guess.
[02:48] <@HLeviathan> "I am your master's master," she confirms. "He will teach you the things I wish you to learn. If you learn his lessons well, then we will meet again," she says. "However, I will give you your first lesson, and your first task."
[02:49] <@HLeviathan> *if you learn my lessons well
[02:49] <@HLeviathan> *and your first task, personally.
[02:49] <@HLeviathan> "I want you to repeat after me," she says.
06[02:49] * Zurui listens!
[02:50] <@HLeviathan> "Peace is a lie, there is only passion," she says.
01[02:50] <Zurui> "Peace is a lie, there is only passion."
[02:50] <@HLeviathan> "Through passion, I gain strength."
01[02:50] <Zurui> "Through passion, I gain strength."
[02:50] <@HLeviathan> "Through strength, I gain power."
01[02:50] <Zurui> "Through strength, I gain power."
[02:51] <@HLeviathan> "Through power, I gain victory."
01[02:51] <Zurui> "Through power, I gain victory."
[02:51] <@HLeviathan> "Through victory, my chains are broken."
01[02:51] <Zurui> "Through victory, my chains are broken."
[02:51] <@HLeviathan> "The Force shall free me."
01[02:51] <Zurui> "The Force shall free me."
[02:52] <@HLeviathan> "Good," she says, "I want you to meditate on those words. Weigh them in your mind. If we meet again, I want you to tell me what you think it means."
[02:53] <@HLeviathan> *think they mean."
01[02:53] <Zurui> "Yes, ma'am."
[02:54] <@HLeviathan> Her eyes finally shift targets from Zurui to Tanomas behind him. "Take him," she says, and with that, she shuts her eyes entirely.
06[02:55] * Zurui turns to his new master.
[02:56] <@HLeviathan> Tanomas, The Red Man, acknowledges Zurui and turns to the heavy double doors, which now open on their own for the pair, as he leads him out of the room.
06[02:57] * Zurui follows him silently, awaiting his word. He still watches the man move, almost pretty blatantly staring, as if hoping to glean something that may be useful just by watching him.
[02:58] <@HLeviathan> Once he's seen Zurui move, the man does not bother turning back, once again leading the boy through the grand halls of his master's master.
06[02:59] * Zurui follows, trying his best to take in the amazing grand halls as well as his master at the same time.
[03:00] <@HLeviathan> END PROLOGUE
03[03:04] * HLeviathan|OUT (~HLeviatha@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) has joined #SithApprentice
02[03:06] * @HLeviathan (~HLeviatha@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
03[03:06] * HLeviathan|OUT is now known as HLeviathan
03[03:34] * HLeviathan is now known as HLeviathan|SLEEP
03[05:11] * HLeviathan|OUT (HLeviathan@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) has joined #SithApprentice
02[05:14] * HLeviathan|SLEEP (~HLeviatha@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
03[05:15] * HLeviathan|SLEEP (~HLeviatha@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) has joined #SithApprentice
02[05:15] * HLeviathan|OUT (HLeviathan@Rizon-3BF6FF.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
03[08:28] * Retrieving #SithApprentice modes...
03[11:04] * Zurui is now known as Brand
03[12:05] * Brand is now known as Brand|Lunch
03[16:05] * Brand|Lunch is now known as Brand
03[16:23] * HLeviathan|SLEEP is now known as HLeviathan
03[17:58] * Brand is now known as Zurui
[18:00] <HLeviathan> Life changes for Zurui. Where before there was structure, now there is challenge. He is pushed. To learn more. To do more. To run faster. To be stronger. Though he steadly improves, the goal is always set just beyond his reach. But it is not all movement. There are moments of contemplation, where his master, Tanomas, speaks to him of more ephermal things.
[18:01] <HLeviathan> "Sit," Tanomas instructs Zurui after a difficult day. In this chamber, there are no chairs. The ground will have to suffice.
06[18:01] * Zurui sits cross-legged, quiet, listening for instruction.
[18:04] <HLeviathan> "Take this," Tanomas produces a small trinket from his robes. It is a small, smooth black stone. It looks insignificant as it rests in the palm of red hand, but somehow, the stone seems important. It has the presence about it, an echo of power, smaller, but simmilar to his master and the master's master.
06[18:04] * Zurui takes it, eyes drifting to watch the stone. His thumb caresses the stone, watching it, feeling it.
[18:06] <HLeviathan> Zurui feels that presence wash over him, and fade, becoming part of him. He can still feel it if he concentrates.
01[18:06] <Zurui> "Thank you, Master."
[18:08] <HLeviathan> "This is a talisman of The Force," Tanomas explains. He too, sits. "Do you recall the words that my master had you learn?"
01[18:08] <Zurui> "Yes, Master."
[18:08] <HLeviathan> "What was the last passage?" he tests the boy.
01[18:08] <Zurui> "The Force shall free me."
[18:11] <HLeviathan> "Correct," the red man intones. "The Force, is a power that permeates the universe. It is found in every living thing, and the actions of the living effect The Force."
[18:13] <HLeviathan> "There some who can feel The Force through their being, and can command its power. You are one such person," Zurui's master explains. "What you felt when you took the talisman from my hand was The Force. And in time you will learn to wield it's power."
06[18:14] * Zurui listens quietly.
[18:23] <HLeviathan> "Your first task will be to lift the talisman from the palm of your hand with only The Force. When you have achieved that, I shall teach you more," he says. He then stands and leaves the chamber. The doors close behind him, an an audible mechanical clank can be heard. The door to the chamber has been locked.
06[18:26] * Zurui opens the palm of his hand... uh. Hmm. How to do this...
06[18:27] * Zurui exerts his will, focusing his mind, his power. He knows that he has it, Master said he did... so it's there. All he has to do is draw it out, make it obey him.
[18:28] <HLeviathan> As he focuses, he once again feels the faint outline of the stone's presence. It is a tiny thing, but its weight exceeds mere mass.
01[18:29] <Zurui> But is that what he wants, or is that what he's going along with?  What was it The Master said?  Peace is a lie, there is only passion.  Passion.  What does that mean?  Passion leads to strength.  Passion is about wanting something, isn't it?  Feeling it.  Is that what the stone wants?
06[18:29] * Zurui thinks as he concentrates, focuses. Force the stone to lift, to rise. Want it, need it.
[18:30] <HLeviathan> He spends an hour fumbling about, wanting it to move. Willing it to move. Commanding it to move. It sits there, in his hand, unresponsive.
[18:32] <HLeviathan> Another two hours, and still nothing.
01[18:32] <Zurui> This is a mental challenge, far different from the physical exertions.  Just keep working, thinking.
[18:33] <HLeviathan> Four hours more, and the stone still sits in his hand, stubborn, almost taunting.
06[18:33] * Zurui has had difficult subjects before, and giving up simply was not an option. Every hour only increases his drive, makes him want to move the rock more. He wants to have it, he has to have it.
[18:34] <HLeviathan> Zurui has been in this room, alone, for fifteen hours. He's feeling fatigue, and pangs of hunger.
06[18:35] * Zurui won't give up. Passion leads to strength. Want it.
01[18:36] <Zurui> Have it.  Take it.  Move it.  This is the first wall, and once he's over it, it'll be easy to do it again.  Just lift.
[18:40] <HLeviathan> It's been thirty-one hours. Zurui has refused to sleep. His hunger has long past painful pangs and is now just a dull angry growl. He's prostrate on the floor of the chamber, his eyes, through the haze, still looking at that damn stone in his hand. His single minded determination has pushed down all the feelings of helplessness, but he's approaching his limits. Eventually, his body
[18:40] <HLeviathan> simply gives out. No amount of will can stop it. His hand falls, and the stone tumbles out, and through his fading sight, he sees it stop, shakely, for just a second, before hitting the floor.
06[18:41] * Zurui smiles a bit as his body fails him.
[18:41] <HLeviathan> A dreamless darkness claims him.
[18:44] <HLeviathan> When he next wakes, he is unsure of his surroundings. His hunger is once again painful, but he feels like he has recovered some measure of his energy. As the world comes back into focus, he finds he is laying on the thin bedding of his room. Attatched to his arm is some sort of medical device, feeding something into his veins. On the small drawer near where he lays, is the talisman
[18:44] <HLeviathan> given to him by his master.
06[18:45] * Zurui reaches his hand out, beckoning to it quietly. Come.
[18:46] <HLeviathan> It visably shakes at his beckons.
06[18:47] * Zurui smiles again. Once that first horizon was breached... he focuses harder. Come.
[18:49] <HLeviathan> And it comes, shimmying uncertainly across the table, and when it reaches the edge, drops suddenly before it- or better, Zurui, steadies it. And it comes, until the talisman rests in it's new master's palm.
06[18:50] * Zurui smiles, putting it away and leaning back. Shota Zurui is proud of himself.
01[18:53] <Zurui> Waiiit.
06[18:53] * Zurui puts the talisman in the palm of his hand, face up.
01[18:53] <Zurui> Damnit, he specifically wanted this.
06[18:53] * Zurui concentrates on lifting it from his palm.
[18:54] <HLeviathan> And as he commands, it rises, more easily this time. Finally satisfied that he has completed his master's tasks, he can allow himself to rest.
06[18:55] * Zurui closes his eyes and rests.
[18:57] <HLeviathan> Zurui is given a day to recover himself, but once it passes, his training intensifies. The Force becomes part of his other training. His goal is set ever further, and it is only thruogh the use of The Force that he can hope to chase it. In time he recieves a pelko-barb saber, a curious weapon who's edges sting and burn and rob him of his limbs for a time. Tanomas instructs him in its
[18:57] <HLeviathan> use, sometimes against himself, sometimes against other men with red skin. He gains confidence in his skill. Other lessons follow, some esoteric in a way completely unlike The Force. Through the transparent roof of one of the great halls, he learns the names of stars, and of other planets far away, and he is told that he will one day travel to them.
06[18:58] * Zurui learns with gusto, facing adversity and challenge with the same strength and effort as he had before.
[18:59] <HLeviathan> Five years pass, and one day, his master comes for him, as he has many many times before, but today, Zurui feels it is a portentious day.
[18:59] <HLeviathan> "Come, boy," Master Tanomas tells him, echoing the words from many years past.
01[19:00] <Zurui> "Yes, Master."  Zurui moves to follow his Master.
[19:04] <HLeviathan> His master nods and turns his back on Zurui, leading him down the corridors of the world he knows. He has become accostumed to them, but Master Tanomas makes a turn that he has made only once before. He feels a growing presence, one that this time, he has is equipped to percieve.
06[19:08] * Zurui prepares himself mentally, mixed with equal parts nervousness and anticipation.
[19:13] <HLeviathan> And then they arrive at the large pair of doors. With a small gesture on the part of Tanomas, the doors swing open slowly. And Zurui sees her again. Just as he remembers, the master's master sits on her throne, as if only moments had passed since he had last seen her. Her eyes bore into him, and she inclines her head slightly. Master Tanomas bows and excuses himself from the room
[19:13] <HLeviathan> entirely, the doors closing behind him. Zurui is left alone.
06[19:14] * Zurui bows to The Master.
[19:14] <HLeviathan> "Tanomas decided to bring you before me this day," she observes.
06[19:15] * Zurui listens!
[19:16] <HLeviathan> "He believes, then, that you have learned what he has to teach," she considers for a moment. "He is no longer your master."
01[19:17] <Zurui> "Yes, Ma'am."
[19:18] <HLeviathan> "I had given you an assignment," she looks at him lazily, "Give me your report."
06[19:20] * Zurui breaths in deep. "Yes, ma'am. Peace is a lie, there is only Passion. Peace is a lie because life is challenge. Peace is pretending that challenge doesn't exist. Passion is how we overcome challenge. Passion is ambition, how we become stronger."
[19:22] <HLeviathan> She closes her eyes as she listens closely to his words, absorbing not only their meaning, but their intent, and maybe deeper still.
01[19:22] <Zurui> "Through ambition, through passion for what we do, to face our challenges, is to gain strength.  To become more and more powerful.  I have experienced this firsthand.  But strength... isn't true power, is it?  The story of Mandalore... Mandalore wasn't just strong.  Many mandelorians were strong, right?"
[19:23] <HLeviathan> A single eye opens and gazes at him, but she says nothing.
01[19:23] <Zurui> "To be powerful is to know how to use your strength to gain power beyond your own. Many myths are filled with strong heroes who died... but kings are the ones who become powerful and attain victory, the ones who know how to use power, not just strength."
01[19:25] <Zurui> "Victory... is the way to break past limits.  To go further amongst your path.  Only the victorious go further... and the Force is the key to all of this.  The Force is how we channel passion, strenth, power, victory.  The Force is our enabler, that makes it possible to go beyond our limits, or anyone's... the Force will set us free."
06[19:25] * Zurui goes quiet, having spoke more at once than he has in a very long time.
[19:26] <HLeviathan> Her eye closes again and she sits quietly for a time, leaving Zurui to simply wait.
06[19:27] * Zurui waits, really, really hoping his answer was satisfactory.
[19:29] <HLeviathan> Eventually, she speaks. "Your understanding exceeds that of a beginner," she says, eyes opening again, "You touch on the truth. Meditate it on it further," she says.
01[19:29] <Zurui> "Yes, ma'am."
[19:30] <HLeviathan> "You have a name, boy?" she asks.
01[19:30] <Zurui> "My name is Zurui, ma'am."
[19:33] <HLeviathan> "Your are Number Six," she declares offhandedly, "You will have many masters now, and they will have many students," she says. "You will learn well."
01[19:33] <Zurui> "Yes, ma'am."
[19:34] <HLeviathan> Again, she is quiet for a time, then decides to speak again, "I will ask you two questions to guide you."
06[19:35] * Zurui listens, waiting for her words.
[19:35] <HLeviathan> "What is power?" she asks.
[19:36] <HLeviathan> She pauses.
06[19:37] * Zurui memorizes the question.
[19:37] <HLeviathan> "What is the purpose of power?" she aks.
06[19:38] * Zurui memorizes.
[19:39] <HLeviathan> The door behind him opens.
[19:40] <HLeviathan> The woman closes her eyes, concluding the meeting.
06[19:40] * Zurui bows once more, and steps out of the room.
[19:41] <HLeviathan> Tanomas is waiting for him outside, and scurtinizes his face. "Do you have a name, boy?" he asks. He echos the question. His tone is different, however. Expectant.
01[19:41] <Zurui> "Number Six."
[19:43] <HLeviathan> His facial tendrils bristle as smile spreads across his face. "Good. Good," he says, "Come," he says, leading him down hallways Zurui has never treaded before.
06[19:43] * Zurui follows.
[19:48] <HLeviathan> And again Zurui's world expands, it quickly becoming apparent that the facility he is in is larger still than he realized. It is several minutes until they arrive at their destination. These doors open on their own, though the movement is distinctly mechanical, not produced by The Force. In this grand room, there is a surprising sight. Many men in Red, some in black robes like Tenomas,
[19:48] <HLeviathan> others in the more typical purples and golds. Droids bustle about with their business, and,  in the center of the room, sitting around a large table, five pairs of eyes turn to meet Zurui's.
06[19:49] * Zurui watches them back.
[19:50] <HLeviathan> Two humans, a male and a female, another humanoid male with blue skin and red eyes, a large hairy alien that Zurui recognizes from his studdies as a wookie, and... one last humanoid dressed in some sort of air tight suit, breathing through a filtration mask. All but the last two are dressed in identical black outfits, which match Zurui's own. They all carry at sides sheathed pelko-barb
[19:50] <HLeviathan> sabers.
[19:50] <HLeviathan> *at their sides
06[19:52] * Zurui instinctively starts towards them, but pauses, looking a bit back towards Tenomas, as if to await his permission or instruction.
[19:53] <HLeviathan> Tenomas gives no signal. Instead he and the other red men in black acknowledge each other and begin to congregate together at one side of the room, leaving Zurui to his own devices.
06[19:54] * Zurui walks to the others, then.
[19:56] <HLeviathan> On closer examination, all the others are his age, or so he guesses for the wookie and the masked one. The blue one steps foward, breaking away from the rest of the group and intercepting Zurui. He simply stands there for a moment, sizing Zurui up.
06[19:58] * Zurui watches him back, eyebrow raised.
[19:59] <HLeviathan> He inclines his head back, looking down his nose at Zurui. "I am Number One, student of Master Nunes," he announces.
01[20:00] <Zurui> "I am Number Six, student of Master Tenomas."  Zurui replies evenly, watching him eye-to-eye.
[20:01] <HLeviathan> Its difficult, as the blue boy, Chiss, Zurui recalls, is slightly taller than him, which is accentuated by his posture. Zurui continues to be studied for weaknesses.
[20:02] <HLeviathan> Zurui can feel the eyes of the rest of th eroom on him as well.
06[20:04] * Zurui waaatches back, unflinching. Don't go for the saber... but wait for it. Let the Force tell you what he's going to do.
[20:05] <HLeviathan> The atmosphere is tense, and soon the entire room is deathly quiet. Suddenly, that silence is broken.
[20:06] <HLeviathan> "Go mate with a Bantha, Number One!" the female human suddenly yells.
[20:07] <HLeviathan> All eyes, turn to the girl, including 'Number One' who seems shaken by the sudden and unexpected insult from behind.
06[20:07] * Zurui smirks and steps around Number One, casually disregarding him at this point. So much for trying to bitch the new kid, punk.
[20:08] <HLeviathan> All the Red Men lose interest and return to conversing amongst themselves. The human girl waves Zurui over to the table, where the other three settle down.
06[20:09] * Zurui sits easily, giving a polite smile.
[20:11] <HLeviathan> "I'm Number Two, student of Master Mesoth," the girl indicates herself with her thumb, smiling.
06[20:11] * Zurui gives her a nod and a smile, looking to the other students to introduce themselves as well.
[20:12] <HLeviathan> "Number Three, student of Master Stithta," the human boy nods.
[20:13] <HLeviathan> "number four. master thul," the masked one says through a vocabulator that distorts its voice.
[20:13] <HLeviathan> The wookie... says something in a language that Zurui does not understand.
01[20:14] <Zurui> "... Sorry, Number Five, I don't understand you."  Zurui speaks honestly.
[20:15] <HLeviathan> Number Three speaks up, "He is Number Five, student of Master Dulius," he interprets. Number Five nods and growls again, to confirm.
06[20:15] * Zurui nods in thanks to Number 3. "You two will have to teach me Shiryiiwook sometime."
[20:16] <HLeviathan> Number One returns to the table at this point, "You speak only Basic?" he asks with a sneer. "How feeble."
[20:18] <HLeviathan> "Shut up Number One," Two says again.
06[20:18] * Zurui doesn't dignify the Chiss with a response. "So, what're the other Red Men like?"
[20:18] <HLeviathan> Number one simmers, but shuts up.
[20:19] <HLeviathan> "Red Men? The Sith?" Number Three asks for clarification.
01[20:19] <Zurui> "Yes, them.  The masters, right?"
06[20:21] * Zurui covers his ignorance fairly well.
[20:22] <HLeviathan> "They teach us," Number Three says, "Though it seems they taught us all differently."
01[20:23] <Zurui> "I see."
06[20:23] * Zurui isn't quiiite sure how to proceed here.
[20:24] <HLeviathan> "Master Mesoth taught me to use The Force!" Number Two says proudly.
[20:24] <HLeviathan> Number One grumbles.
01[20:25] <Zurui> "Differences, indeed..."
[20:26] <HLeviathan> "we were all taught to use the force," Number Four tells Zurui, "number two was simply taught more than the rest of us."
06[20:26] * Zurui thinks of his talisman. "What has he taught you?"
[20:27] <HLeviathan> She smiles mischeaveously, and waves her hand through the air, "Number Six, there's a bug on your face!"
[20:28] <HLeviathan> Zurui slaps himself in the face with an open palm.
01[20:28] <Zurui> "... that kind of trick, huh..."
[20:30] <HLeviathan> She nods again.
01[20:30] <Zurui> "I'm impressed."
01[20:31] <Zurui> "I don't think I can show off what I've learned so easily."
06[20:33] * Zurui looks around. Surely we have things to do aside from socialize.
[20:33] <HLeviathan> One of the Red Men in black clears his throat. It's hard to physically distinguish him from Tanomas, but by now, Zurui know's his previous Master's presence.
06[20:34] * Zurui looks to the Red Ma- no, the Sith.
[20:35] <HLeviathan> "To those of you who do not know me, I am Nunes," he introduces himself.
06[20:35] * Zurui memorizes the name.
[20:36] <HLeviathan> "Beginning tomorrow the six of you will be under our instruction," he explains. "You have this day as a respite to use as you see fit," he says.
01[20:37] <Zurui> Alright.  He doesn't respond, assuming it's a general announcement, but continues to watch and listen.
[20:38] <HLeviathan> And with that, all six Sith in Black turn around in unison, and sweep out of the room. The droids now make their move, and bring in great dishes of food of all sorts. Rich, savory food the likes of which Zurui has never had the opportunity to see, much less taste. The heady aroma seems to make quite the effect on the others, the wookie more than the others, perhaps.
[20:39] <HLeviathan> "Food!" Number Two exhults. Number Three seems to perk up a bit. Number One is drawn out of his sulk.
06[20:40] * Zurui turns to the dishes. Awesome.
[20:42] <HLeviathan> The dishes are placed before you and very soon the table is over full, there being barely enough room for the student's plates. The Wookie vocalizes something, which the other students, fluent in its language or not, take as a signal to start eating.
06[20:43] * Zurui goes ahead and starts, picking up food. A growing young boy who is constantly working his ass off needs to eat a lot!
[20:45] <HLeviathan> As quickly as the students go through the food, especially with the wookie's help, the plates continue to be replaced with fresh foods, gobblets are filled with heady wine and even music is provided by the droids not serving.
06[20:47] * Zurui eats and drinks, but is careful not to fall prey to the sucker rule
[20:48] <HLeviathan> Number Two and Five eat with reckless abandon. Number One enjoys his fill but does not stuff himself, neither does Number Three.
06[20:49] * Zurui moderates himself. He's gonna have to bust ass tomorrow, and stuffing himself is not going to help that. Neither will too much booze.
[20:51] <HLeviathan> Number Two and the Wookie show no signs of slowing down, which is starting to become the main point of fascination at the table. The Wookie is an adolescent it seems, but still towers over the girl... and yet they continue to go at it for some time.
06[20:51] * Zurui is impressed, starting to just watch them absently as he considers The Master's questions.
[20:53] <HLeviathan> "Don't get too comfortable," Number Three says quietly to Zurui. "In all likelyhood, we will be enemies tomorrow."
06[20:53] * Zurui nods quietly, making no other indication of having heard him.
[20:56] <HLeviathan> END SESSION