Heirs to the Throne (Training Thread, Raphael & Blood)

[Raphael Xandir]

The miners suddenly sprung to life around him as Raphael was now prepared for the surprise attack. He snapped into a defensive stance as the now angry miners surrounded him. There was no way the young Sith could overpower them all, it would take a miracle. A miracle he had seen his father complete many times before.

-Begin Darkness App- -Word Count: 200-

Silver eyes looked around at the artificial lights and screens throughout the windowless room. His focus was not on the vast amount of light around the miners. Gloved hands extended outwards towards the ceiling and wall as he tried to perform his own miracle.

Concentrating within the force, Raphael felt out every single source of light energy throughout the area. In his mind he could see the essence of smoke expanding out of his hands through the force. The dark charcoal smoke slithered its way around the room, finding every artificial light and screen it could find. The Sith willed the smoke to coat each and every minute bulb and pixel that illuminated this room. He wanted to suffocate every single source of illumination throughout the room that shined like a sun.

He then began to focus all of his control to the palms of his hands as he began to attempt to strangle the light sources with the aura of smoke. His focus became intense as the charged particles within the electricity began to fight back. Hands exhausted themselves trying to suppress every single particle through the force. The charcoal smoke draining each and every source of brightness within the room, the lights began to flicker and dim. The flourishing particles inside the light now struggled to survive as the young man subdued them through the will of the force.

In his mind the Initiate could see the current of electricity leaving the light sources as a fleeting gray smoke. The gray smoke had done its job, extracting each individual charged particle; they began to decay and cease to exist within the force. The gray smoke now began to dissipate into their surroundings casting the room into near complete darkness. One last push of concentration resulted in the room becoming pitch black as darkness wrapped its soothing blanket around everything and everyone.

-End Darkness App- -Word Count: 313/200-

[Raphael Xandir]

Confused in the darkness the miners began to inch closer. He had counted around four of the miners up and moving, ready to ambush the Sith. It was a near impossible situation as none of the parties could see anything around them. Raphael moved around the room, bumping into everything he possibly could it seemed. Quickly, he grew tired of the anticipation and started focusing on finding these miners.

-Begin Force Level Three App- -Word Count: 300-

Raphael began his own dance in the dark as the miners neared. Through the force he strained his mind to pinpoint the exact location of the miners. A much more difficult task given the room was pitch black; he truly had to rely on his force abilities for this one. Charcoal smoke, the aura Raphael perceived the force as, moved around him in waves. The smoke searched for the life forces of his targets, straining his mental vision, as he could optically see nothing. Head pounding, he began to identify each miner one by one at a slower pace than he had hoped. In a few moments, he had determined where each miner was in this darkness, but it came at a price.

Now nauseated by the strain on his head, Raphael then reached out to alter the force around them. The same smoke that he had called upon to find the men was now also wrapping a coil around the miner’s legs. Clouds of dark smoke slithered around their legs as Raphael struggled to maintain his control of the force around all of the men. The Sith had never had to call upon his abilities like this simultaneously before, it was becoming increasingly harder to maintain. Once he was confident enough that his grasp on the force around the men was secure, he began to attempt to manipulate it.

Quickly, the young man started to feel faint as it was taking a toll on his body and mind. Raphael soon felt this his entire being was about to give out, rendering him unconscious. Calming his mind and blocking out the pain, Raphael began to will his own body to push through. The force began to fuel his body, the only thing keeping him on his feet at the moment. Smoke now circulated through his body, enriching his muscles and allowing him to stay firm while he maintained his grip on the miners.

He felt energized like there was pure adrenaline pumping through every inch of his being. The force charged his newly learned abilities giving him command of the position he was in. Concentrating deeper, Raphael found the will to get a firm grasp on the situation around him. With a pull of his fists, the Initiate manipulated the force around the legs of the miners. Their movements couldn’t recalibrate to the tiny shove in the force Raphael gave them, as they smacked the ground unbalanced by the change in the force. Raphael collapsed in pure exhaustion as he had fatigued every ounce of energy and ability he had. Through the force his body and spirit were fueled, but it took everything he had and then some.

-End Force Level Three App- -Word Count: 448/300-

The miners remained struggled to with the pain of slamming into the ground as Raphael regained his composure. As the miners were rolling around on the floor, he took the opportunity to limp out of the room to find cover in a more safe position of the facility.

[Raphael Xandir]

(OOC: Resubmitted Force Level 3 app)

Confused in the darkness the miners began to inch closer. He had counted around four of the miners up and moving, ready to ambush the Sith. It was a near impossible situation as none of the parties could see anything around them. Raphael moved around the room, bumping into everything he possibly could it seemed. Quickly, he grew tired of the anticipation and started focusing on finding these miners.

-Begin Force Level Three App- -Word Count: 300-

Raphael began his own dance in the dark as the miners neared. Through the force he strained his mind to pinpoint the exact location of the miners. A much more difficult task given the room was pitch black; he truly had to rely on his force abilities for this one. Charcoal smoke, the aura Raphael perceived the force as, moved around him. The smoke searched for the life forces of his targets, straining his mental vision, as he could optically see nothing. Head pounding, he began to identify each miner one by one at a slower pace than he had hoped. In a few moments, he had determined where each miner was in this darkness, but it came at a price.

Now nauseated by the strain on his head, Raphael then reached out to understand his environment through the force. The same smoke that he had called upon to find the men was now also slithering down each and every bump this control room offered. Clouds of dark smoke slowly waved around the room as Raphael struggled to maintain his sight within the force of all of the men. The Sith had never had to call upon his abilities like this in the darkness, it was becoming increasingly harder to maintain. Once he was confident enough that his grasp on the force around the room was secure, he began to focus within himself. The strain it took on his body was becoming severe.

Quickly, the young man started to feel faint as it was taking a toll on his body and mind. Raphael soon felt that his entire being was about to give out, rendering him unconscious. He concentrated on his body, releasing the training blades he had on his belt. The force surged through his body in the form of smoke yet again, slithering its way this time down his arms as he held the blades. The force itself coiled tightly around each hilt of the blade, giving the young man a sense of confidence in his abilities with lightweapons.

He felt energized like there was pure adrenaline pumping through his arms, powered by the confidence of the blades. The force charged his newly learned abilities giving him command of the position he was in. Concentrating deeper, Raphael found the will to get a firm grasp on the situation around him. With a solid grip on his blades, Raphael began to move around the room delivering controlled blows like he had been taught during his martial training. Each strike delivered was a result of countless hours of practice with lightweapons, swift and effective. With enough strikes on a man, it would render them unconscious or even dead. Raphael could feel the ones who perished from his strikes. The force around some had suddenly becoming non-existent in the darkness, creating a black hole within the force. It was often a traumatic feeling for the young man, but one he was getting used to as he progressed his training.

Raphael collapsed in pure exhaustion as he had fatigued every ounce of energy and ability he had. Through the force his body and spirit were fueled, but it took everything he had and then some. But as his body recuperated, he could somehow feel a tiny bit of the force had become unlocked to him. Pushing himself to his limits allowed a test of his strength, the limits he now had pushed himself past were no longer limits. The unplanned test was a success as the Initiate, had a new ceiling within the force.

-End Force Level Three App- -Word Count: 592/300-

The miners remained struggled to with the pain of slamming into the ground as Raphael regained his composure. As the miners were rolling around on the floor, he took the opportunity to limp out of the room to find cover in a more safe position of the facility.

[Raphael Xandir]

Sitting comfortably in on of the vast courtyards on Sojourn, Raphael toyed with his ability within the force. During meditation he usually found he serene environment of the lush vegetation and magnificent creatures around him allowed for his mind to expand within the force. He had the basics down already, but since his run in with the one they called Silence, Raphael knew he needed to advance himself through the force.

-Begin Sense Level Two App- -Word Count: 700-

Deep concentration allowed for the young man to expand further within the force. His mind wandering as it floated around the surrounding area, something he had practiced many times before. The essence of smoke followed as it coiled its way around the courtyard before coming to a complete halt. Toying within the force, he found that essence making it way back to his body. He could visualize himself as if he was a bird hovering slightly above the courtyard. The young man had never looked more peaceful as he wandered throughout the environment.

Deciding to take a new route with his understanding of the force, Raphael coiled that gray smoke tightly around his own body. It strangled him in a loving embrace before it eventually made its way inside of his being. With the help of the force, Raphael began to feel things he never thought possible. The young man began to experience the inner workings of his body. First he felt through his skin to his muscles. Each individual muscle that aiding in movement and blood flow throughout. From there he could feel his thick crimson blood circulating throughout his body. With a strenuous concentration, he could feel within the force each blood cell doing its job. Nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are being carried around his body without any clots to block the flow.

Delving further into his senses proved to be more difficult than he thought. His internal perception became as cloudy as the smoke that embraced him. The strain it took on his mind and in the force made it difficult to maintain the experience. Raphael decided he needed a little more, just a stronger concentration with the force would allow him to continue. It took everything he had to focus on the smoke, the force and everything around it. It was as if he was forcing the essence of smoke deeper into his being to discover new things through the force.

With a hardened concentration on everything, Raphael felt it easier to focus on the bigger picture. The way his bones and organs feel through the force, how each different piece of his body was essential to him functioning throughout life. His interest was peaked when he heard a thump throughout him, a constant one. It was music to his ears as he searched his senses to find the source of the thump. Before long he found it, the consistent beat of his own heart. The heart was working tirelessly to pump blood throughout his body. In the force, he could feel each artery and vein working as it did so. It was a beautiful symphony to the young man, one he intended on listening to longer before he got a sense of another beat. This beat was not of him, rather one nearby it seemed.

Through the force, in the distance, he could here that same thump. That beat that made every being who what they are, the consistent sounds of a heart beat. It distracted his inner focus completely as he found himself wandering. His mind searched through the force in search for this heart beat as it fluttered faintly in the distance. Raphael could feel the life all around him, within the vegetation, the insects, and the creatures that lived on the lush moon environment. Yet, the young Sith honed in on that specific heart beat he was searching for. A small creature not native to this moon but rather, brought here by his fathers business appeared to him through the force. Raphael felt that steady heart beat as he felt his own just moments ago.

As quickly as he had found his target, he felt something else go very wrong in the force. Such a tingling sensation in the back of his mind usually meant something was about to go wrong, Raphael had felt this many times before. It wasn’t as severe as he had felt before. The young man decided maybe he should watch this play out, as the force wasn’t screaming at him to move. This time from behind him as a bird like creature flew dangerously low to where he was meditating. It swooped over him grabbing the other creature as it ravaged it.

Raphael could feel the heart beat of his target grow weaker and weaker through the force. It’s life being ripped away from it by predation; the Initiate could feel its like fleeting. A black hole within the force began to appear as the poor creatures life left this existence and moved on to the next. The force suddenly ceased to exist around the creature, giving Raphael a mild headache. He was becoming used to death, it was something that was usually all around him in his dealings with the Sith. He knew soon enough these types of tremors would no longer bother him. Raphael struggled to maintain his feeling of the force on this death, but it eventually became to much for him. For now the Sith opened his eyes exhausted with the feats he had just performed within the force. He was finally able to see more clearly now through the force and everything he was able to see was magnificent, even death.

-End Sense Level Two App- -Word Count: 870/700-

[Raphael Xandir]

Weeks Later
-------------------------

Raphael stood outside of his resort suite, pondering his recent training. He had felt stagnant in what he was learning. He needed some new flavor to his life, something that he had always wished he could do after seeing his father attempt it.

Looking up at the balcony it seemed like an impossible task. Surely he could climb it, but why not practice what his father had shown him many times before. It seemed easy enough; he had taken controlled strikes against harder things. It should be relatively easy to pounce his way up there.

-Begin Force Jump App- -Word Count: 300-

Taking a couple of steps back, he gauged the gap between him and the balcony. At first, he decided to focus on that gap. Raphael hoped that if he could envision the gap and him leaping through the air with the aid of the force, it would be an easier task. His heart began to beat faster; this seemed to be such a simple task to his father that he would hate for himself to fail, he would feel entirely embarrassed. Deciding upon just trying an attempt, his legs began to churn as the gap started to close. With a giant running leap his hands reached out in attempt to grab any sort of edge on the balcony.

Unfortunately there was nothing close to grab, as he had to halt his pace before smacking the wall underneath the balcony. Raphael felt dejected and uninspired to continue, he almost allowed his emotions to end his efforts. But instead, he decided to remember what he had been trained to do. Raphael harnessed those emotions, the bleak and pathetic, using them to charge his efforts forward. Instead of succumbing to the weakness of emotions, he used them to as a spark that would light the fire of his efforts. The young man had to be calm and just focus on him and the force. He knew that if he weren’t worried about failing, then the force would guide his way.

Taking huge steps back, Raphael focused on that ledge again. If only he could just the smallest grasp on it, he knew he would feel accomplished. His mind relaxed, concentrating deep down into his being; the force was there he just had to focus to call upon it. Slithering out from his soul, the smoke inched his way around his body. It was now searching for the best place to control his leap for the edge, a concentrated effort to best propel him.

His confidence soared as he gazed upon the balcony one more time before deciding upon another attempt. Legs began to move again as he a he launched himself into a full on sprint towards wall. As his pace allowed the wind to rush through his hair he could feel the force slithering its way down through his thighs and down to his shins before engulfing his feet and entire lower body in the force. He could feel the force aid in his muscular function after every step, launching his boots into the ground. A smirk fell upon his face as he felt he could finally do it.

The wall neared and Raphael knew it was time to let the force guide him. Eyes fell upon his target as the force swirled around his thighs as it used them for the catalyst of the jump. It then moved down to engulfed his knees as it allowed for a quick bend as he looked to leap upward. The force then made its way down to his feet for one last act of magnificence. He pushed off of the ground with his feet as the force left his body with such authority. As the force left him, it too pushed against the ground just as his feet did in a fight against gravity. The force willed its way to allow the man to leap through the air with ease; it was invigorating.

Before he knew it, he had a grasp with both hands on the ledge. Pure emotion and joy raced through his heart as he dangled from the balcony. He had finally accomplished an ability in the force that seemed so simple to his father. Even though it was just a miniscule effort of the full on ability, he was proud of himself and more importantly, confidant that he could continue to learn how to master this ability and the force.


-End Force Jump App- -Word Count: 639/300-

[Raphael Xandir]

A Few Days Later
----------------------------

Raphael walked through the starport, headed directly towards his transport shuttle. It seemed he needed to be free of this place as soon as possible, the Sith were not wanted among this planet. His pace had doubled since running into a bit of trouble within the city, he was alone and would need backup soon enough.

Upon entering his hangar the door shut fast behind him. A group of men approached calmly and demanded his attention. They wanted him to pay a fee before leaving the planet. It seemed as if they had no weapons and that they were the only few nearby, but Raphael couldn’t shake the feeling like something was wrong.

-Begin Surveillance App- -Word Count: 300-

Concentrating within himself he focused on the life forces he already knew were there. There was no problem determining how many there were but he needed to know why he felt like he was in danger. Raphael attempted to push out into the force to discover this newfound feeling. His senses searched far and wide in this hangar, but ultimately it came back with nothing. The young man still couldn’t help but thinking that these men had some tricks up their sleeves. He needed to search the whole hangar, but how?

Concentrating his senses, he modified the force around him; building up what he felt was a ring of smoke around his body. Its thin influence permeated the area around him slowly, crawling across every inch of the cold hard floor. It was a glorious feeling; he could feel every little nook and crack around his immediate vicinity. He figured that this might be the way to acknowledge everything in the hangar without laying eyes on it, but it would be an immense task to stretch his reach out that far. The Sith had to try it, for his life seemed to be in danger.

He needed to cover this area fast, but how? He had only been able to sense certain points of interest in little areas before. He needed his senses to move as a water vessels radar moved around in an ocean. If he could manipulate the force and senses around him, pushing it out all at once, maybe he would be able to dissect the information faster than ever before. It would be a difficult task, but he had to try; he had to make the waves move out and hopefully it would pick up information like sonar radar.

Slowly but surely, he sent the wave of smoke inching its way out from his perimeter. He continued to pump the force with energy, allowing it to move outward more. Within the next few feet, he felt the men that had faced them with their hands behind their back. There were around five of them, all with the hands on a grip of a blaster that he could not see. One was holding a trigger of sorts, an odd thing to carry around.

Moving behind them, this smoke slithered towards the crates that sat next to his transport ship. Each crate was identical to the next, square and off white in color. Something was off it seemed; one of these crates was not like the other. This crate had a wider crack in it, allowing the smoke to seep into it revealing what was inside. It seemed to be a foreign weapons cache filled with explosives ready to blow. Were they intending on blowing his ship if he did not pay their inconvenient toll?

Farther again, the waves billowed out, putting a strain on Raphael’s ability within the force. He struggled to will the smoke to climb the walls to the catwalk above. His body began to shake and his breathing became labored as he was determined to go just a little bit farther. Good thing he did, as it seemed another man was crouching in the darkness with a rifle directed right at him.

His confidence soared as he felt he was just now getting a firm grasp on the situation. (Even though it seemed he was in a tough position - if he couldn’t find another way out). The strain on his senses was relieved when the wave came crashing back to his perimeter as he focused on another direction.

Deciding to focus on the other direction, he honed in on the waves moving out behind him. It moved to the wall directly behind his back, a control console sat tucked behind some more crates. The console had been smashed it seemed, sparking everywhere as wires created a hazard for the nearby environment. Next to the wall stood a door, shut tightly closed. It took an immense amount of concentration to push past the door, but good thing he did. Standing firm behind it was a half dozen droids armed and ready to attack upon an attempted escape.

The wave came crashing back into his being as he was exhausted by the excess use of the force. Although it revealed a newfound technique and it surely would come in use sometime later on, he knew that this situation was not a one he was going to be able to get out of without paying up.

-End Surveillance App- -Word Count: 750/300-

The Sith then had to oblige by paying them their desired amount of credits. His search came up with the conclusion that he was surrounded and that there was no way out of this hangar without paying the toll. It angered him, yet he knew next time he would bring more to back him up.

[Raphael Xandir]

Days Later on Sojourn

-Alter Flow App- -Word Count: 100-

He felt stronger within the force; it had now become a tool from him to use freely within his life. Although he had been studying it for quite some time now, he still found it difficult to alter the light smoke that surrounded every little thing in this universe. Raphael looked about as the smoke flowed around him quietly and peacefully. His gloved hand reached out to touch it, to somehow make it bend to his will. The craving to understand the force, to feel the pleasure of making it move in whatever way he wanted, consumed him. Though, the ebb and flow of the smoke still continued to move around him like a constant stream, even though he tried his hardest to alter it.

His hand reached out once more, pulling and tugging at that constant flow of force. Suddenly, the force that surrounded the tree began to bend. That stream began to flicker as the direction of the force was being altered. With one last heave of concentration, Raphael tore the constant stream of the force away from that tree and directed it towards himself. The stream came rushing through him instead of the tree it would of normally surrounded. Raphael felt a fresh and renewed feeling with himself as the force flowed through him intensely.

-End Alter Flow App- -Word Count: 218/100-

[Raphael Xandir]

Days later in another sticky situation

-Create Light App- -Word Count: 100-

Darkness consumed the area around him. Raphael had become accustomed to it, yet it was not practical for this situation. It was an odd situation to be in, he needed a source of light, rather than the dark. His mind drifted, as he envisioned an orb of light shining bright within the walls of this prison. In his mind the orb called to him, floating around the dark room, revealing a soft tone of white upon his face. The orb came closer along with the warmth of the light. Raphael grasped for it within his vision, attempting to take hold of the force itself and create said orb of light.

As he reached forward his hand moved through the orb like it would through water. The light then fluttered about until it moved to go within his body. His eyes opened as he could feel the light building up inside him. His eyes focused on the darkness now ahead of him as he concentrated on the force inside of him instead of around him. Feeling for that orb of light inside him, his analytical mind found a way to push that feeling through his body to the palm of his hand. His clenched fist felt the warmth of the light flow underneath. Raphael molded and shaped that energy until he felt ready. With a release of his clenched fist a spark ignited giving some light to the room for a brief moment. A smirk came across his face, as he knew he had it on another attempt. He kept worked on pulling that orb of light from within, attempting to ignite a similar light in the palm of his hand. Another release of his clenched fist revealed a flaring orb of light. He held it steady as it continued to grow, giving light to the rest of the room, feeling confidence within the force once more.

-End Create Light App- -Word Count: 316/100-

[Raphael Xandir]

-Lightstaff Construction App- -Word Count: 1,000-

He sat crossed legged on the ground of a seemingly desolate planet, the lush forest beamed with the energy of the force. Creatures around him called out within the night as he sat alone in a clearing. The force permeated through this forest, Raphael there was hidden knowledge here. He had come here to study, to learn, and to create something he had hardly ever seen before. The young man had brought the ancient schematics and notes from his father’s teachers, but Raphael still felt that this place could also aid in the creation of this object. Long enough had he watched as his colleagues advanced before him. He was now highly prepared and ready for this ancient tradition to begin.

Raphael had been taught the process many times before upon Sojourn, only in the form of training weapons. It had become a routine part of his training to assemble these weapons within the force, but this time it seemed different. He strove for something greater than the average Sith or even the average Jedi.

The young man recalled his previous teachings from his father; he knew what he had to do. The first objective was already completed, to find a place of power within the force, one that was radiated the force so greatly it could be harnessed. Raphael could feel the force everywhere within this forest. It was in the air, in the trees, in the creatures that lay dormant in the night, it was even beneath his feet within the soil. The force had led him to this planet to finally complete this tradition, but there was still a little farther to go.

A cave ahead of him called to him as he went deep into the depths of its abyss. He followed the chasm down into the darkest parts of the cave, carrying with him the schematics and a pack of metals and wires he had collected that were necessary for this process. Before long, the cave revealed an opening, one teeming with the light of many crystals deep inside. It was here that something truly called towards him, something beautiful. A crystal in the distance glowing and pulsating with a golden hue beckoned him to come closer. Raphael approached it as the yellow shined back onto his face. It took a moment but Raphael felt a sense of excitement once he finally could extract the crystals from the cave. The next objective was complete; he had four different golden crystals to use for his staff.

Moments later, the young man emerged from the cave to sit back down in the clearing he had done so in before. His silver eyes reflected that of the golden crystals as he held it within his grasp, enthralled by his connection with it. He studied its curves and cracks, as he was ready to begin.

Raphael was very well prepared for this situation as he opened up his back revealing different parts and components to making this weapon. A cloth was laid across the dirt before him as a makeshift workbench. He began the process of creation, most of everything being made in sets of two.

He flipped through the schematics that glowed before him, deciding upon his first crafting project, a “vibration lens”. This would allow the lightstaff to vibrate a higher rate of speed. Raphael pulled pieces of glass and metal from the pack as he carefully inserted the pieces together. He had done some of the preparing of the pieces before hand but decided upon assembling once he was finally ready. The glass sat firm within the cylindrical metal pieces as he put them off on to the side. He would also need a focusing crystals, which he had gathered sometime before, placing it upon the cloth as well.

The next schematic he flipped towards was the emitter matrix, a piece of grave importance he had learned. The blade itself was emitted through this matrix to its pretermitted length. If assembled improperly, it would come with dire consequences. He then assembled the metal pieces as the schematics showed.

The last important piece of the puzzle was the energy cell, the primary power source for the lightstaff. Raphael chose the Diatium power cell to power his weapon as he placed it before him. He then pulled a long steel cylindrical object from his pack and placed it upon the cloth as well. The hilt held a design that pleased him as well as a handgrip that he felt would ensure no one could take the weapon from him. The staff in different pieces was remarkable, truly beautiful. He only wondered now what it would look like when it would be completed.

All the parts sat before him waiting to be assembled as he grasped the foursome of crystals, as he had to prepare them for assembly.

It took hours upon hours as time began to fly, the young man meditating upon the crystals he had found deep within the cave. Raphael took many hours to imbue the crystals with the force as he worked to free the crystals from any impurities it might have had before he had extracted them. The young Sith molded the golden crystals into the shapes that he needed to have them to fit perfectly the crystal’s energy chambers. His concentration hit an all time high, as he was unaware of anything else around him besides the crystals.

Soon the sun began to rise and the process of imbuing the crystals was coming to an end. Raphael placed the crystals onto the cloth with the rest of the pieces, examining them carefully. The schematics turned to the final page as he noted how to put together all of these pieces. Wires connected to wires, metal clanked upon metal, crystals sat tightly in their chambers. The pieces fit together like that of a puzzle as he put the finishing touches upon his weapon. He fused together the clips upon the staff so that it may sit comfortably on a strap upon his back.

Raphael turned the schematics off as he clicked the last button and clip together upon his magnificent lightweapon. It was truly something to behold as he held it within his hands. Standing to realize that day had fallen upon him, he ignited the golden blades, scaring the wildlife around him. A smirk came across his face as he was finally able to complete such an ancient tradition.

-End Lightstaff Construction App- -Word Count: 1,076/1,000-

[Raphael Xandir]

-Begin Alter Level Two App- -Word Count: 700-

Raphael sat on one of the ledges of the great temple on Yavin IV, nearly hanging off of the edge of it. Eyes closed, his mind wandered the nearby environment. The great forest exuded life to the point where it was almost overwhelming to feel out. Green as far as the eye could see as well as the strands of smoke that clung every bit of life together. Raphael had figured himself to be somewhat adept at seeing the living force around him, mostly in the form of smoke, but he hadn’t quite figured out how to manipulate said smoke. He knew that was the least of his worries now, but his plain curiosity with the force had his interest peaked.

His glove hand reached out to pluck one of those strands of smoke. In the distance, he could see the strand connected ever so tightly to the leaves of a tree. Raphael envisioned that maybe, just maybe, if he were to be able to manipulate the flow of this specific strand of smoke than he would be able to create a rustle of the tree leaves just as a breeze of wind would. His hold on the force was tight within his mind and his body, but through the outside environment, he couldn’t match up.

The lightest of touches grazed the smoke in a way a musician would pluck a string to create music. Fingers began to dance as he watched the strand of smoke waver in just the slightest bit. His senses watched as the strand of smoke vibrated all the way down to the tree near the ground, but it did not budge. The leaves stayed still in the wake of the lack of wind and the lack of his ability to significantly alter the flow of the force.

Raphael slid down from the ledge of the temple to march further closer to the tree out of frustration. His left relieved his right hand of the glove that he felt was maybe heading his ability to truly disrupt the flow. Even though he had been able to draw the flow into himself before, he was never able to alter it at this magnitude.

His hand reached out again to force his will upon the strands of the force. Raphael was angry and frustrated with his lack of ability. But upon failure yet again, he realized he needed to calm himself, to truly feel the force around this tree. With a moment or two of relaxation within his mind, the force began to alter. One by one the leaves upon the tree began to rustle as if there was a slight wind.

The young man felt proud as he could hear the rustling atop of the tree, he bathed in the joy of his accomplishment. Even after his efforts had stopped, he still heard the rustling. It was an interesting sound as he heard to the leaves moving together faster and faster. Raphael questioned this sudden burst of wind that surely he did not create. Feeling the breeze at his back, he turned around to reveal a familiar sight.

An adolescent Arkanian Dragon sat curious as to what its supposed “Master” was doing. Raphael had acquired the dragon egg quite some time ago when he returned to his father. From the incubator, he had brought it to Yavin IV to grow and bond with him. Although not much bonding had happened so far, the reckless adolescent often followed the only person that it really knew.

Taking the confidence from his new success, Raphael wanted to see if he could truly bond with the beast. If he could in fact control it, maybe then would the dragon respect him enough to head his command one day.

Approaching carefully, Raphael climbed aboard his spiked back as the beast took off in a nervous panic. The flight started out very badly, he would have to obtain control of his pet sooner rather than later. Even though the dragon was twice his size, it would be more beneficial to learn to control it before it reached its full-grown strength and size.

He began to envision the strands of smoke like he did around the tree. This time the strands were connected to his hands and flowed to both wings on the dragon. The strands ebbed and flowed with smoke just as the environment around them did. The force was truly everywhere. Raphael pulled on one side of the beast to alter the flow of the force on one wing. Grabbing hold of the strands within the force he began to tug. The flap rose slightly and the beast was sent soaring to its left, the opposite for the other wing. Still the beast flew its own reckless path as Raphael tried to physically alter it.

The young man knew he couldn’t keep this up long; he had to take whatever mild success he got from this. He had to force the beast down somehow; instead of pulling or plucking he had to push the flow of the force away. With all of his might and concentration, Raphael pushed down on both wings as the beast was sent spiraling to the ground. The flow of the force was so drastic and sudden that it was forcefully asserted on the wings. He then attempted to pull the strands up at the last minute, it hardly worked as he couldn’t get the right hold on the force before the dragon met the ground and decided it was done with having Raphael on its back.

Raphael smacked the ground as the dragon left the temple area, taking with it the understanding that he might have someone with the ability to command him soon enough. Gathering to his feet, Raphael felt a sense of pride in his newfound ability within the force. He was somewhat adept at most aspects of it now, rather than a select few. The young man would take this as a learning experience and hopefully expand on his abilities to alter the force soon enough.

-End Alter Level Two App- -Word Count: 1012/700-