Channelknight Fadran

"Indeed. The Mori'Kar, or the Mind Touch - though many simply call it the Jedi Mind Trick nowadays." The corner of her mouth poked up. "The will of Deception surrounds you. You likely aren't aware of it, but you weave a slight amount of it into every word you speak." @Justice_Magician

As she predicted, the new one was having... difficulties. But he was more adept than perhaps she had expected. "Cloud," Master Feisyyd said, voice a little more patient than usual, "you're familiar with Deception, correct?"

What's a dumb question?

"Indeed. They both follow the same basic principle of extending one's own perceptions. A Force Meld must combine your awareness of another person's Presence into a more direct union - Similarly, the mind processes every sense separately, and only combines them in a secondhand way. By allowing your awareness to combine, you can accomplish this higher level of perception."

She chuckled. "That was quick."

"How do you meld the sound of my voice and the movement of my lips? It's difficult to describe, but natural once you've felt it enough."

"To begin, you will enter meditation." Feisyyd sat on a large stone. "And first connect with the world around you. It's a state you're familiar with, I'm sure - but once you've achieved it, acknowledge your other senses as well. Try to meld them."

yeah he's cool

"Do feel free to join us, Rajib," She said. "My padawans teach me new things every day; I see no shame in learning from your juniors." "Sith Assassins are master hunters; better, perhaps, than any other in the galaxy. We could leave, yes, but he would follow."

"Your first lesson," Master Feisyyd began, "is to reevaluate your senses. Not just your perception in the Force, but also with all the ways you interact with the physical world. Just as your eyes can be deceived by illusion, your connection to the Force can be misguided: you must master the use of both to fully prevent yourself from falling victim to trickery." She'd awoken her many pupils bright and early this morning: Nayla and Reelwiron, of course, but she'd also brought Pucky and Rukk along with them. Cloud, too, and the little green boy called Inger. These were the ones the Assassin had taken interest in - in fact, she could still feel a faint trace of his presence lingering about them. It was an inkling akin to desire, though vague enough that she couldn't quite discern the specifics. All things considered, it seemed like the sort of thing such a capable Force-Wielder would be able to conceal... which, of course, could only mean that he'd left it there intentionally. Last night, Grandmaster Shan had taken her aside for a private conversation. She disapproved, put simply, on the basis that accepting the terms of this competition played too far into the Sith's hands... and Feisyyd agreed, of course. This was exactly what the Assassin wanted, and to follow through with his rules would only serve to plague her students with temptations to the Dark Side. But, funnily enough, that was her own plan as well. "There is a name for this harmony between all the senses: a technique called Mar'jib, or 'Truesight' as it might translate today. Akin to how both your eyes can combine slightly disparate images to create a three-dimensional vision, you must learn to translate all your senses to combine into a single perception. Advanced applications can allow you to see far beyond the regular scope of time and space than even the greatest masters of Prescience, but for now this will simply act as an automatic filter against deception. "It is a difficult technique to master, but its additive nature means that your ability to wield it will only increase with time. Today you will focus entirely on learning to consciously guide your senses into a weave, then teaching your mind to perform it reflexively. Proficiency in this art will be your springboard into our next lessons... and hopefully even just beginning to tap into Truesight will significantly improve our chances against Krarik." @Ancient Elantrian @Ravenclawjedi42 @Scars of Hathsin @The Bookwyrm @Justice_Magician @Shard_Blades

WRITING ADVICE: get the right music Don't listen to that cremscat "pop" stuff that millennials are putting out nowadays - expand beyond all two genres of modern "music" that are "Why won't this girl make out with me" and "This boy I used to have make out with broke up with me." In fact, forgo lyrics altogether. You want to write? Don't unnecessarily put extra words in your brain. Trying to write to a song you know the lyrics to is like trying to write two stories at the same time, and it will not work. No, don't listen to music. Listen to the right music. Find a playlist with instrumentals, and compile all the songs that fit the vibe. What's that? You don't know where to start? Well, too bad there isn't an entire genre of wordless music made expressly to elicit specific emotions for a storytelling medium. OH WAIT. Video Game OSTs are, by far, the best source of inspiration for grinding out several pages of your next project. I'm something a Nintendo purist who dabbles here and there in Sonic the Hedgehog and Final Fantasy - all of which refuse to stay posted on youtube for any extended period of time, but all that really means is that I have to periodically update my links. In fact, I don't really keep any "saved" playlists / compilations anyway - I just think of what OST works the best for the scene at hand and look it up. The protagonist is strolling through a forest on their way to some town or whatever? Chill Legend of Zelda. A superpowered supercharacter is engaged in a godlike duel to the death? Kirby all the way. Writing a lightsaber battle in Jedi Insurgence? Metroid Boss Battle Themes, babeyyy. I don't have the time or the energy to list out the definitive list of game OST selections by vibe, so if you need suggestions just lmk. If you have a pretty good idea of what vibe you need your writing to elicit, then I can probably get pretty darn close with at least some OSTs. Sometimes I'll go even further beyond and listen to anime stuff (Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan, Hunter x Hunter), or go for LoFi covers to relax my brain, or just put on literally any of Insaneintherain's VG Jazz Covers because they work for every situation somehow. Also when in doubt go with Mario. If you're not trying to write the edgiest thriller or the goofiest comedy, then all the Super Mario OSTs work great for middle-ground stuff.

"Very well. Nayla, can you help our guest find a room?" "Mkay." She pulled her hood down to give Cloud a nervous grin, gesturing for him to follow her into the temple. "We have lots of empty places here... you can even be my neighbor, if you like." Meanwhile, Master Feisyyd relaxed her shoulders and let out a sigh. By the Whils, that fight - however short - had really taken it out of her.

Feisyyd bowed, but continued. "As you wish, but I insist that you stay with us at least until the matter is resolved. It's as much for your own safety as it is our benefit - and I think you might come to appreciate some training in the Force."

"I imagine it could be dangerous, what with a Sith of all things... and here, of all places. I suppose it could also be in your favor to seek him out and join his cause, but unless you surrender yourself I doubt he'll be so keen to let you live and leave."

"That is," Feisyyd said, her voice level as always, "if you would like to further your knowledge of the Force... or 'Witchcraft,' as you call it." "And Master Feisyyd's really nice," Nayla piped up. "You seem nice too."

"It means Apprentice, in the old tongue."