The time has come to speak of many things...

[Nightshade]

ooc: there is another reference in the title.

Nightshade left the cargo bay intent on finding Ch'lana but suddenly changed his mind and returned to his quarters to think.

After a moment he triggers the comm, "Akarui, will you join me for some tea at your leisure?"

[GM Craig]

There is silence on the other end of the line for a moment.

"Yes, I would welcome that. I'll meet you there."

A couple of minutes later, the door chime sounds.

[Nightshade]

Toshiro goes to the door and opens it for his guest, revealing his formal silk robes.  With a bow he indicates the cushion at the table and pours tea for his guest before taking his place as host of the ceremony.

After an appropriate amount of time, he asks the first of many questions, "Can you tell me more of this Force? Did it make Niil a better student than he should have been at his age?"

[GM Craig]

"He has learned to concentrate on a task, to the exclusion of all else. His skills with the Force can make him seem better than he would be without it, especially for tasks where he would normally be a novice."

[Nightshade]

"Ah yes, singleness of purpose is most useful."  Yoshida ponders for a moment before asking a follow up question, "will it make him faster?  And is there anything that I should know of or be concerned about if I continue his training?"

[GM Craig]

"He has not learned techniques yet to speed himself up or sense danger, though that will come in time. As he progresses, he will be able to detect an attack before it happens, and preemptively counter it. You will strike at him and find he is not where you expected, or find he has blocked a strike before you had even launched it. As he advances through my training, he will become faster and stronger that might seem possible, and he will be able to ignore even heavy blows."

Ch'lana pauses. "As his sensei, you should be aware that he is entering a difficult time. For practitioners of the Force, extreme emotions are dangerous - more so for him, I'm afraid. He must be careful to not let his emotions drive him. The level of emotional detachment required will become increasingly difficult for him as his power grows. As he learns new skills he may become impatient, and feel like he is being held back. As his power allows him to do things that seem impossible, he will over-estimate his abilities and feel restraint is unfair. As an example, he is anxious to have a full lightsabre, and pushes himself to make one but I will not permit it until he is ready. He will become increasingly impatient with my refusals.

"Be careful about pushing him. If he starts to display emotions openly, stop and give him time to centre himself. I know such things are often part of training, but in his case they may be dangerous. Once he has learned to master himself, pushing him will be less dangerous, but for the next long while he will be vulnerable to emotional provocation and resent attempts to hold him back."

[Nightshade]

"This is good to know, thank you."

Pausing for a moment, he makes his final point of business, "I have been meditating on grandfather's Jisei, and I feel that I am ready to hear of his last moments when you are ready to speak of them."

Sitting back on his cushion he indicates that if now is the time, then proceed, but if not, there is no pressure.

[GM Craig]

You've clearly rattled Ch'lana. He recovers quickly, but it was obvious.

"I apologize for my lack of decorum. This has been a difficult day, and your request caught me by surprise. But you deserve to hear.

"This was a long time ago, before the Clone Wars. Your grandfather had been in my company for several years by this point, and we were fast friends. The mission was to a planet called Jabiim. It had a long and dark history, with sweeping plagues and frequent raids by Trandoshans and pirates. Without a security force of their own, they had repeatedly appealed to the Republic for aid, but responses had been insufficient or non-existent. Finally they appealed to the Jedi Council, and I was sent to investigate. Your grandfather came with me.

"When we arrived, the planet was in the middle of being occupied by Trandoshan raiders. We were caught by surprise. Our ship was damaged, and we were forced down on the planet. I never even made contact with the planetary leaders. We lived on the run for several days, always one step ahead of Trandoshan patrols that were searching for us. Eventually, I hit on a plan. If I could face the Trandoshan leader, I might be able to force them off the planet. It was a long shot, and likely a suicide mission, but I had a duty to try.

"We were sneaking into their headquarters when we encountered the clan leader's bodyguards. There was no way past them without fighting, but there were too many of them. I knew we would never win, but I was about to jump out an engage them anyway. But your grandfather told me to finish the mission and handed me the lacquered box I gave you. Before I could say anything, he leaped out and attacked, drawing the bodyguards away. Thanks to his efforts, I was able to enter the command centre, and take the Trandoshan leader as a live captive. This was a terrible loss of honour, and he was disgraced before his clan. I was able to convince the others to leave the planet and move on.

"I found your grandfather later. He had brought down eight of the twelve bodyguards before being taken down himself. Your grandfather was one of the most skilled Shinobi I had ever seen, but I have no idea how he could have defeated so many. I knew he was banished from the Shinobi. I could not return him to his ancestral home - they would never accept him. So I burnt his body on a pyre so that his spirit could find it's way back."

Ch'lana rises at this point and moves to a storage cabinet. He removes a long box and brings it to the table. Setting it down reverently he closes his eyes and places a hand on the box while closing his other fist and placing it over his heart. He takes a breath and opens his eyes before passing the box to you.

"He was banished, and without honour in the eyes of his kin and clan. But I have never known a more honourable man. It seemed wrong that my friend who sacrificed his family, clan and his very life for me should have his swords lost, so I kept them. Now that you walk his path they should pass to you, if you will have them."

[OOC: When you open the box, you will see a long and short vibroblade. They are not fancy weapons - they have seen much use, and were obviously working blades - but they have been lovingly cared for. There are small nicks and abrasions on the hilts and blades, likely evidence of their last battle. They are a matched and balanced set, so when using both to attack in the same round, they give a +1D on attack rolls. Note that other rolls are still affected by the MAP normally.]

[Nightshade]

Toshiro could not speak, he could barely breathe.  Tears streamed down past the dam of training, past the years of keeping his emotions in check, the lessons in decorum, past the point of caring that another witnessed his outlandish display.  He was raised on the legend of these blades, Seikatsu and Shi...the blades of life and death with the wielded being the balance between the two.  Thought to be lost with their owner, many in his family would have considered their disappearance from the clan to be the greater tragedy.

The Shinobi continued to stare at the weapons before him, as though they were a trick if the light that would vanish at any time.  It seemed like an eternity had passed before he could bring himself to reach out a hand that trembled with anticipation to touch the handles of each blade.  He marveled at their balance, at the edge that they retained after all these years.  A thrill of a shiver ran through his  arms as though the blades recognized him, reaffirming his belief that the spirit of his ancestor resided in the weapons.

He finally looked up at Akarui with renewed wonder.  How did an outsider possess such qualities as to honor the memory of his grandfather and of these treasures.  The elders clearly taught that the Gaijin were not to be trusted and yet this one had achieved an honored place among the clan and had inspired friendship and loyalty in his grandfather.  His actions showed more nobility than the clan towards his ancestor, towards his family that his people would disown...for what crime?  For following the teachings of the elders in regards to obligation?

Clearly torn between what seems to be the truth he learned from infancy and the proof of another way that was before his eyes now, Yoshida made a decision.  One that would likely lead him down the path of his ancestor, even though he didn't fully comprehend that now.  Rising from his sitting position on legs still shaking with emotion, he removed his current blade and presented it to the old Jedi on bended knee. "I cannot repay the debt of gratitude.  I pray that you will accept this token payment.  I am your man, bound for life, your blade when you need it, your confidant when you want it, your servant when you require it."

He waited wordlessly for the reply.

[GM Craig]

[OOC: I made a boo-boo, and thought for a moment that Ch'lana was in his own quarters. Instead, he'd have brought the box with him, but set it aside.]

When you lose your decorum, Akarui busies himself with a long, intense sip of his tea that happens to cover his eyes - an obvious kindness, but a kindness nonetheless.

When you offer your sword, Akarui's decorum shatters once again. He shakes his head. "No, Yoshida-san! Your grandfather saved my life many times, as I saved his. He was a dear friend, and we called each other 'brother.' I did not give you your grandfather's blades to impose an obligation on you, I gave them to you to relieve an obligation on me! Taking them would be a great kindness to me! I have carried the burden of his death for over twenty years! Please, just accept them. They are freely given, to honour a dear friend long gone!"

He takes a breath, and struggles to regain his centre.

"I have mis-handled this, and I am sorry. I should have known there was no way I could give you these swords without you're feeling an obligation. I should have left them for you to find." He shakes his head slowly and sighs.

"Yoshida-san," - he insists on using the honorific when custom clearly does not require it - "I do not mean to insult your offer. I know it is meant with the best of intentions. But you must understand that obligations and pride are what separated your grandfather from the ones he loved. I know the heavy burden he carried - the things he sacrificed to come with me. Seeing his grandson's first steps, watching him grow, being proud of the man he grew into - all this was lost to your grandfather over duty, obligation and pride. I do not wish to perpetuate that cycle.

"I do not want a servant, or a blade, Yoshida-san. But I would welcome a companion. Even a friend. Let there be no bonds between us but those of friendship."

[Nightshade]

"It shall be as you say.  I have had few friends in my life, and would welcome one such as yourself."

Returning to his feet, the Shinobi bows once more, before retaking his seat.  "I may need your help to understand friendship properly.  It does not come easily to one steeped in tradition and honor.  It tends to sterilize emotions."

[GM Craig]

Akarui smiles sadly and sighs. "I may not be a model to follow in that matter, Yoshida-san. My youth was spent denying my emotions, and some of the most traumatic events of my adult life were the result of surrendering to them. Perhaps we can work this out for each other, hmm? And I should start. As we are now friends, I shall relax my formality. May I call you Toshiro in private? Or would you prefer Nightshade? You of course may call me Akarui, or Ch'lana, as you prefer. Those names hold equal significance for me."

[Nightshade]

"In private I shall call you Akarui and please call me Toshiro.  In public it may be best to remain Ch'lana and Nightshade."

Standing, he grasped the other man's forearm in a gesture that, while awkward and stuff from lack of practice, was no less earnest and genuine. 

"Thank you again, Yujin."