Tython - Knighthood by Death Trap

It was early in the morning on Tython. Terand had spent the most part of the day before preparing the trials for Ashaiya. Parts of the forest had been inconspicuously changed an obsticle course. Ropes were set up for swing points while traps had been installed to halt a contestant with extreme measure. It would appear to be your average forest, unless you knew where to look for the oddities.

Terand, wearing his usual clothing, stood in the middle of his creation. He had left a message for Ashaiya to meet him here so she could arrive at any moment. Using the force. his vision spread out through out the area in a last check of all the traps and props. Everything was ready in the forest and near the mountain North of the area. All that was needed now was Ashaiya.

Slowly opening her eyes she sat up tiredly, adjusting her eyes to the light making it's way through a window on the right of the room. Maybe she would go get some droids to practice with today...

Though while that was the intention, it soon changed when she had found the message left by Terand. Asking her to meet him in the forest somewhere. Taking some clothing out from her closet, she decided to wear simple baggy white cloth pants accompanied by a waist-length tan long-sleeved top with a dark brown karategi over top that was held closed by a black sash. Putting on dark brown boots as well, she let her light-brown hair down loose to her shoulder blades today. Deciding she better take her lightsaber and rifle with her today, just in case. Placing the black strap that held her rifle over her torso diagonally and placing the lightsaber hilt on her sash.

With that she left the temple room and made way to the entrance, where she would then move out towards Terand's direction. Relying on the Force to track him down so she knew where he was at the moment. It took her approximately fifteen minutes to get to Terand's direction, another a few moments to find Terand specifically. Approaching him she brushed her hair out of her face and spoke.

"You wanted me to meet you out here?"

Sensing Ashaiya's approach, Terand finished up with his inspection just in time to greet his padawan.

"Yes, today this will be your training ground." He gestured his hand to the entire are of the forest as this was said. "Your goal is to utilize any means, from ground travel to going through the trees, to make it from here to the top of the mountain North of here. Always be on your guard. May the Force be with you."

With a slight bow of his head, Terand had entered Force speed and Left Ashaiya where she stood. The trials had begun.

Bowing in return, although confused. She watched as the blur rushed away. Sighing she looked out to spot the mountain that was apparently her destination. Taking her lightsaber into her right hand she then began making her way there. Keeping her guard up, focusing on all that was around her, she was curious as to what her master had apparently done to make this travel a lot more difficult than it sounded.

Terand had pick a good spot up in a tree so he could watch Ashaiya with ease. As she walked forward in to the obsticle course, Terand lifted his hand and let loose the first test. A large tree branch fell from a tree and made it's way towards Ashaiay with it's broken splintered end aimed right for her. It's speed picked up the more it traveled as Terand held it's movements with a combination of push and pull. If hit, the branch would smash Ashaiya In the stomach and bury her into the ground while being flattened.

Hearing a sudden cracking her eyes shot out towards what appeared to be a branch attempting to impale her, and with the use of a Force Push from her left hand the tip of stick would be abruptly pushed up. Though she would quickly then side step to the right and swing down towards the branch, igniting just after she began the swing. The silver lightsaber cutting the stick in half and thus would successfully drop the to the grass below. That was the idea anyways.

Sighing, she figured the test would be starting now. Switching her lightsaber back off she began her way towards the mountain once again.

Everything was quiet after the branch was sliced. Once Ashaiya had made it 30 feet away from the branch, the next part began. A small rock that could fit into the palm of a hand had without warning shot it's self into a tree and narrowly missed. More rocks roughly the same size soon followed. The first flew directly for her head from her left followed by another from behind aiming for her back. Two more came from ahead on a direct course for her legs with a last on from the right heading for her stomach. These rocks weren't simply being thrown but hurled at Ashaiya as though fired from a gun of sorts. On impact, they would rip through her body.

As she continued her way her eyes suddenly shot out towards where the first rock hit the tree. Assuming this was her next trial she quickly took everything around her into complete consideration. Waiting she then experienced something rather...odd, and quick. She saw a small vision of a rock heading towards her from the left. Almost in reflex she quickly dropped to one knee and tucked her head, allowing the rock to fly over her. Another vision and she quickly turned her body around as much as possible and with her left hand Force Pushed away the rock heading for her back. Because of this turn she was now on her back. Once again a vision of sorts showed her the next two rocks heading for her legs, and she quickly rolled back up to her shoulder blades and with her hands pushed herself up into a jump back onto her feet. The two rocks flying under her as she did this. Her last vision showed one last rock heading towards her back, now that she was turned around. Quickly side stepping, while turning to her left she watched as the rock flew by. Sighing she then waited a few minutes to confirm this segment of the trial was over. Before turning once more and heading back in the direction of the mountain.

The mountain was getting closer as Ashaiya continued, but the further she went, the more deadly the path became. Hidden pits filled with spikes littered the way. With one wrong step, Ashaiya would find herself skewered.

Continuing on towards the mountain she decided to take a moment to consider how far she had come. Sitting down she placed her weaponry down closed her eyes taking a few minutes to meditate on her position and approximately how far the mountain was. After coming to a sufficient conclusion she climbed back up to her feet, and accidentally with her right hand pushed her lightsaber over. Quickly rolling down it abruptly dropped into what seemed to be a hole of spikes or something. Fortunately the lightsaber was made from a strong material. Force Pulling it out she figured this wasn't going to be the only hole around here.

Placing everything back on she then used a combination of Speed and Jump to plant herself onto the branch of a tree, bending slightly in response of her weight. Though she wouldn't remain there long as she then began making her way towards the mountain through the trees.

Ashaiya would soon find that traveling the trees wasn't any safer than by ground. Tree branches had been pulled back and secured so they would snap at a person and knock them out of the trees while others were even deadlier with small spikes tied to them. Of course Ashaiya wouldn't be able to see the branches were bent until she was close to see the base of the branch, but then she would be too close.

Experiencing yet another small vision of sort, she quickly drew her lightsaber up into both hands and ignited it. Just as the branch on one of the trees snapped back. Turning to face it the branch would simply connect with the beam of the lightsaber and be sliced in half. The sliced branch would then fall to the ground below. Continuing this little pattern for the next couple trees over, some branches positioned higher than others so she had to lower and rise her lightsaber. She finally sliced one more off but did not proceed.

Force Pulling a few rocks to her she then quickly threw one at a time at different areas of the ground below to test if there were any more holes left. Or any other surprises. Determining the path was safe she dropped down and moved back out onto the previous path, now holding her ignited lightsaber in her right as she continued towards the mountain.

A few of the rocks had hit solid dirt but one had hit something else. As the rock hit the ground, an explosion went off. It wasn't large enough to cause much damage to the area since the blast was aimed upwards. Whatever was above it wouldn't remain in one piece. Along with these mines were more spring like spikes ready to catch anyone unguarded.

Using a combination of visions and Force Sense she made her way closer to the mountain, despite the apparent land mines that had been placed around. Dis-igniting her lightsaber while on the way just in case.

Ashaiya was now at the base of the mountain. All that was left was to climb to the top. However, before she could begin her climb, five battle droids, wielding two training lightsabers each, jumped out from the bushes and surrounded her. Their hands began to spin causing the lightsabers to appear as yellow shields of sorts as they rushed for Ashaiya.

Peering up the mountain just arriving she sighed, figuring she had to now climb it. Spotting a sort of trial on the mountain she was about to make her way there until five training droids abruptly appeared. Turning around she noticed each at two lightsabers, and they all seemed to be using them in the same way. Spinning them quickly so they appeared to be a sort of shield. Igniting her own silver lightsaber in right hand, she then lowered it and waited for the droids to get closer. Noticing they had decided to surround her she then took note of each droid's position, and quickly leaped up with the help of Force Jump over a droid to her left. Leaping over it she came down behind it with her lightsaber slicing it in half. The droids in response of her movement then changed direction heading for her.

Leaping back a bit more she waited into one of the droids had passed the already defeated one, and using Force Pull on one of the lightsabers that was dropped she would have it swipe against the droids leg. The droids leg sparking a bit and causing it to abruptly drop to its side. The lightsabers it was holding still in the same motion would be constantly swiping against it's own chest now.

Using the Force once more she would use it to lift the droid and toss it into another droid. The droid that was lifted would at this point be destroyed because of the combined damaged it would receive from the other droids lightsaber and the impact of being thrown into another droid. The other droid now on it's back, as well stuck because of the weight of the droid on it she would quickly move towards it and behead it. Turning to the last two droids she then approached one, and in response the droid stopping it's shield of sort quickly attempted to swipe at her waist with it's left lightsaber. Using her own lightsaber to stop it she used a combination of the Force and Teras Kasi to thrust her left fist into it's chest and completely through. Because of the force it's inside circuits and such would be blown out it's back, like a small Force Push was released in it.

As it then fell back she turned to the last droid and stopped in a sort of face-off between her and droid. Twirling her lightsaber in her hand she then stretched out her left leg and taking a large step forward, she then did the same with her right. Again with her left, then her right once more. So she was doing small leaps. On her last leap she quickly ducked underneath its left lightsaber as she then quickly shifted her body to the left now behind it in a sort of crouch and swung her lightsaber directly through it's midsection. Ending all five droids.

Standing up straight she then switched her lightsaber off and began her way onto a trail that lead up the mountain.

The mountain stood almost 200 feet tall. Around half way up the mountain path, Ashaiya would encounter yet another test of her cunning and skill. Four remote droids hovered high above her, about 50 feet away. They sirled around the air until spotting the Padawan. Instantly their blasters were armed and they began blasting at the mountain side. This caused rocks to fall down the side of the mountain and part of the path near the blasting to be broken into gaps. After finishing their job, the droids headed back to the top of the mountain.

Spotting the four droids she had half a mind to simply destroy them and there, however she couldn't be sure that the droids were part of the test or not. While putting her lightsaber hilt back onto her waist she watching them abruptly start blasting the mountain side. Quickly grabbing her modified DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle, she took a shot at one of the droids. Though unfortunately they finished their job before one of them was hit, and unfortunately the bolt only skinned one of the droids. So it wouldn't have been destroyed, just damaged. Spotting the now rolling rocks above her she quickly with the aid of Force Speed moved back and far enough away from the rocks. Sighing, as well putting her rifle back into place on her back she then took note of each newly created gap.

Using a combination of Force Jump and her own physical abilities she would leap over each gap. Upon landing on one she began to feel it start breaking away, until the point it simply began rolling down the mountain. Managing to barely get a footing she quickly force jumped. Not quite landing on the next piece of the path she did manage to grab onto it's edge, where she then pulled herself up. Completing the rest of this broken path she once again began walking up the mountain.

Terand, watching for Ashaiya to make it to the top, stood on top of the cliff. He stood a good 50 feet or so away from the edge with the four remote droids floating around him. Seeing the girl reach the top, Terand removed a lightsaber from his jacket and ignited the fiery blade. The droids didn't give the padawan much of a chance to rest up. Immediately they flew towards her with their blasters firing repeatedly. They kept moving continuously to make reflecting much harder while also remaining out of range of her lightsaber.

Igniting her lightsaber she smiled slightly, reflecting a blaster bolt in no particular direction. Wielding the lightsaber with her right hand, she then focused on one of the droids with her left hand and used the Force to force it down to the ground crushing it with the impact. Deflecting another bolt out into the sky she then used her free hand to create a quick wall of Force Ice to stand in front of her. Now tossing her lightsaber out and using the Force to control it she had it cut through another one of the remotes.

Catching the lightsaber again with her left hand, she deflected another bolt. Stepping away from the wall of ice she then used Force Ice once more, but in a smaller degree. Creating simple small shards that would fly out and penetrate one of the droids. Having the shards tear completely through the remote because of how hard the ice was. Deflecting yet another blaster bolt she stretched out her left hand and used Force Pull on the last remaining droid, pulling it directly into her lightsaber where it was then penetrated.

With the four droids now defeated she turned to Terand, noticing his ignited lightsaber. Not moving she simply turned to face him and waited.

A half smile formed from his lips as Terand watched his padawan dispatch the four remotes. He was satisfied with what he saw.

"Disignite your lightsaber and kneel before me my padawan learner."

Nodding, now starting to feel the effects of this trial she switched her lightsaber off. Placing the hilt back onto her waist she then dropped to her knees before him. Though her mind was still clear and she kept her guard up, although subtle. Just in case he intended to continue testing her. Waiting now for his next action, she kept her head lowered staring to the ground. Not that she had many options, other than staring at his crotch.

"Jedi Padawan Ashaiya Sihn, for showing your proficiency of the lightsaber and the Force, I dub you a Jedi Knight."

Lifting his lightsaber, Terand held the tip over Ashaiya's right shoulder before moving it over her head and holding it over her left shoulder.

"Arise, Jedi Knight Ashaiya Sihn."

Terand turned his lightsaber off and placed it back into his jacket.

"Before we part ways as Knights, I wish to leave you with one last lesson. Follow me."

Turning around, Terand walked forth. His eyes scanned the ground until he spotted a suitable specimen. He knelt down next to a small plant in the beginning process of it's growth cycle.

"The power of Force Surge will allow you help plants grow while also granting them sentience. With concentration, you can even make them perform certain jobs."

Placing his hand over the small plant, Terand concentrated and allowed the Force to flow from himself and into the plant. Slowly it began growing into a blue flower with two leaves on it's stem. Once he was finished, the flower moved slightly as though it was looking around while it's leave also moved.

Smiling slightly as she was Knighted by her Master she couldn't manage a complete smile. Not because she didn't appreciate this honor, but because she was beginning to tire now given a moment to rest. Standing at his command she also then followed him to where he would leave her with one more lesson, Force Surge. Spotting another plant she then crouched beside it, and then focused on using the Force to help power this plant in a way. Managing to have it grow as well, just not as much. She would have to work on this ability more.

"There is nothing more I can teach you. For now, I must go and see to some things. Good luck with whatever life throws at you and may the Force be with you."

With that said, left Ashaiya. It was now up to her to chose which course to take in her life.