When War Met Poison (Warv, Belladonna)

[Noffiti Hideme]

Noffiti listened to the call. It was short and simple; she'd be able to train with Warvanus. He was strong and he said he loved war and battle. He had to have a few tricks up his sleeve that he could teach her. She smiled happily, she was probably the oddest Sith Padawan to have ever existed.

"Thank you, My Lord." She chirped before the holonet ended, his image fading from view. She turned around to retrieve her shirt. She was okay with just her band on her chest, but he was going to be training her. She prefer to keep it on, mostly because men desired women and she had always been surrounded by men. Her brothers were different, they saw her as a sister and nothing else. But the men she recently found herself surrounded by were not her brothers. She slipped the shirt over her head and readjusted the knot of braids on her head.

She turned back to her new trainer. She smiled and waited for orders.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus listened as Lord Blood spoke, he gave a nod of acknowledgement before the holo died . Once it had ended , he turned around to face Belladonna. He studied her. She was way to giddy, which told him she had no idea what was in store for her.

“Are you absolutely certain?” he asked “Conditioning will be nothing less than brutal. This will cull out the weak, if you truly have what it takes then I will temper you into something stronger, formidable if you do not then you will die.” He had no smile nor did he scowl. It was their way, the stong survived, the strong ruled. The strong were feared. “You will have physical conditioning, this will be a big part of what I will teach you and train you in, you will also work with a simple blade for some of it as well, when I became Tormentous’ apprentice he had me choose between a single blade, a double bladed staff, or a tonfa” the memory bubbling wanting to rise to the surface of his thoughts he squashed it down with ease. “I chose a simple blade, I used it all the way until I made my lightsaber.” He studied her, she would not be giddy when he was done with her.

“Are you absolutely certain you want to proceed supplicant?”

[Noffiti Hideme]

Noffiti knew she had always seemed too excited about stuff. It was just the way she acted. She could be serious and strong when she needed to be. She nodded her head with a smile. Her excitement and smiling face was always what threw her opponents off. She was a sweet girl until she had men pinned to the dirt.

"I am absolutely positive!" Her voice was filled to the brim with anticipation. She had trained with her brothers until she could take them down in minutes. Soon it became a bore, but now. Now she had a real challenge. This man before her was nearly twice her size and definitely more skilled. She'd learn how to defeat her opponents in his way and then her own. She'd become stronger than ever. "Teach me everything you know."

[Kell Sangros]

He walked around her in a small circle, obviously evaluating her. He could not fault her for being excited even though what they were about to do would take a very serious commitment and a focused mind and a unbreakable will. She had a hidden fury about her. He could feel it no proof it was there , the tools of a warrior but not. It was still too early. He did not succumb to lust for women. That part of his life was long over, he belonged to the Darkside, it was his choice of course. One he had made with no regrets.

“Follow me” he said at last, and walked out of the arena.

His footsteps echoed through the hall. He did not look back to see if she was following or not. He had remembered seeing a steep mountain nearby. There the conditioning would begin.
When they both arrived at the base. He looked at her “You will climb this mountain using no gear but your hands, feet and whatever strength you have in your arms and legs.” With that he stepped back and watched. Shortly after if she were to turn to see if he was watching she would find him gone.

[Noffiti Hideme]

Noffiti stood still while he walked around her. She felt at ease for some reason, the darkness told her it was okay. That she was a warrior and warriors did not falter. She followed behind him as they left the arena. At least she had gotten some stretching in before they were going to start.

They completely left the building and outside to find something. She saw the mountain and grew increasingly curious. There were plenty of mountains on Crait, but she hadn't gotten close to one like she was now. She spun around to face him when he told her to climb it without any gear. Her eyes widened and she looked back at the mountain. There were footholds, but not much else. The only thing she had climbed was a few buildings and loads of trees. She turned back to find him gone.

"Great. I've been abandoned to climb a mountain." Noffiti sighed and turned to the mountain. She took her shirt off again and tucked it into the waistband of her pants and kicked off her simple shoes. They provided little traction and would only give her troubles. She looked at the surface before she started grabbing onto rocks and crevices. She just hoped her hands wouldn't sweat too badly.

About four minutes later her foot slipped and she nearly shouted. She stopped herself and simply hung there for a few minutes before getting her courage and found another foothold. She continued up and tried to keep herself calm. If she panicked then she would fail. And if she failed then she'd be disappointed in herself. She wouldn't panic. She wouldn't fail.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus had through the Force made it to the top of the mountain. He stood at the top looking down and watching Belladonna. He watched as she struggled. She would make it up to the top if she did not do anything rash. He had negotiated the mountain with a series of Force Jumps. So there he stood he said nothing, he was not even sure if she could even seen him yet. He would wait for her. This would be one of the many things he would be having her do. The sculpting had begun, he would chip the pieces away that he could. The rest of the work would be Lord Blood’s to do. All he would do is train her to give her the fortitude to survive it.

In one hand he held two wooden practice swords, he would not use blades just not yet. He decided to break the silence as he watched her negociate.

“You are half way there” is all he said as he turned his attention to the sky and the crisp blue clear sky not a cloud in sight. Though if it was doing a torrential downpour it would not change the regiment he would be putting her through. As time goes on he will have her only do this in those conditions, but baby steps he thought to himself ruefully. He grew bored of watching her and went to sit on a patch of grass the two swords laying across his lap as he sat and waited for the newest of Blood’s apprentices to reach the top and join him.

[Noffiti Hideme]

Noffiti watched the rocks she was grabbing onto, making sure they were sturdy and strong. Warvanus's voice startled her and she gripped the rocks harder, feeling them bite into her palms. The ones she had grabbed were unusually sharp. She wanted to say something back, but decided against it. She just held on for a moment longer before moving again.

A few minutes later she was nearly to the top when she sliced her palm on one of the rocks. She cursed loudly and wiped the blood on her side, not caring that there would be a large red line on her skin. She gripped another rock with her injured hand and had to wipe her hand once more before it wasn't slick with blood. She'd use a piece of her shirt and wrap it to stop the bleeding. She focused once more on climbing.

She finally made it to the top and rolled over onto her back. With her chest still heaving she ripped her shirt and took the strip of fabric to wrap around her hand. She stopped and turned her head to look at Warvanus. "Is there. . .any. . .any sage up here?" She looked, seeing if she could spot any while still laying down. "I know he has a lot of rare plants. . ,and animals here. He must have some sage." It was an odd question to just ask, but the cut she received was deep. The sage would help keep it clean.

[Kell Sangros]

He watched and listened and as she made it to the top out of breath, sliced hand. He didn’t answer her question as he rose. “Part of strength is ignoring the pain, the cuts, bruises, aches in your bones and your muscles, you must learn to tune it out” he said simply, he was pleased she made it up but this was the beginning and he was not about to let up on her. He tossed her one of the wooden swords then continued.

“Let’s see how well you can defend yourself” and no sooner had she caught the sword he went in for a basic attack. He stepped forward as the wooden training sword went for a middle level strike towards the waist. The attack could easily be blocked. He was testing her here twofold. First her swordplay and second how she handled herself when less than 100% and how she would do admist distraction. The wooden sword was not sharp nor was it laced with poison or stun barbs, she would eventually have to deal with that , if she survived that is.

[Noffiti Hideme]

Noffiti sighed when he didn't answer her question and instead launched into another talk about pain. While he spoke she wrapped her hand and tied it with her teeth. She'd have to look around for it when they were done.

The training rod landed next to her and she picked it up. She only had a second to react before he moved to strike her. She rolled away, towards the edge. It was risky but she had little options. She pushed herself up onto her haunches and held the training rod out. She had an easy opening to his zone five and six -- his legs -- being so low to the ground. She held the wooden stick in her injured hand so that she could use the other without causing pain.

"The sage wasn't for the pain, just so you know. It was to avoid infection. I'd like to keep my hand in the long run. I'm sure you could deal with it in the long run, but I like my hands where they are." She smirked, but laughed at herself mostly.

[Kell Sangros]

He spun and went for another mid level strike only in half swing he changed the direction of his attack and went for the legs he only extended the weapon and not his whole body so that he would not give a bigger opening. “An enemy isn’t going to give you a chance to treat your injuries, you must tune out the pain. Losing your hand should be the least of your worries, because if you lose your life because you were not focused then your hand won’t matter” He was holding back, one day she would get good to where he wouldn’t hold back.

Yes he talked about pain but a Sith apprentice acquainted themselves with it in the beginning so that they would be unstoppable later. He would instill this lesson, along with many others in regards to combat, strength and of course physical conditioning. This was his job right now. In the beginning he practically lived in the gym, working out, practicing with his blade, training in the Force. Seemed like another lifetime ago.

After the second round of attack he flourished his weapon swinging In a figure eight pattern. This time he went in for a higher strike at throat level. If anything she was a curious one, afterall you don’t truly know someone until you fight them.