Entry 4. Musing.

Hunt goes on. I chase slugs, they chase me (I'm tired of writing "k'lor'slug" each time, if I ever hunt any other slugs I will mention it). Although I can't put away feeling that everything is not that simple with this infestation. Not to mention our beloved shepherd told us a new piece of information on nature of our endeavors.


"Sith are predators. Sith feed on life force, on everything they can get." - preached Samus - "Actually, everyone feed on everyone. Herbivores feed on grass, carnivores feed on herbivores. Natural cycle. And Sith are on top of the food chain. But as no tiger will eat grass no Sith will feed only on simple food and drinks. We need energy. There are numerous ways to get it. But the one I will tell you about today is the one you already use. Those who know this topic, please be quiet.

Every living being have life cycle that is granted to it from the moment it was conceived. So is the will of the Force. Some call it fate. Since the moment something born into this world is has path in universe and energy to move on this path day after day, until last breath. This is not straight road, more of a general direction. And on one of intersections there is a possibility that this creature was born to feed another living being. And this living being could be you.

Apotheosis of living creature's existence is fight. Fighting for it's life living being uses all it's energy, all it's resources. The purpose in any creature is to continue existence no matter the cost. And when creature's life is at stake it will use resources in disposal to it's fullest.

That's where Sith come in. Reap a life is one thing, but to take this energy is whole another matter. Sith way is conflict, competition and domination - common knowledge. But why? To manifest energy most powerful way possible. Why two Sith Lords fight each other? They crave this energy, energy of a being releasing it's full potential. One must fall, the other will take everything he had. Our passion for this energy makes us stronger. We use this strength to gain power."


Anyway, I got explanations through philosophical babbling. First, to get power one must fight. Preferably to death. Second, now I know why the hell I move like a dancer and feel high when killing slugs. And third, disturbing one - it looks like I feed on this creatures. Eeeeew...

Entry 3.

This is fascinating!

Everything becomes so lively and vivid. Hunting is so much fun. Never thought it could be. I feel empowered, slashing through k'lor'slugs. I sense Force as tickling sensation under my skin that makes me fast and accurate. It is like lightning brewing inside me, goes here and there.

Now I don't use avoidance tactics anymore. I hunt them more aggressively, attacking even bigger groups. Thing is with every kill I feel more powerful and when k'lor'slugs jump out of sand near me I attack them without pause. The feeling is incomparable to anything I know. It is like being a hurricane in flesh.

I noticed that k 'lor'slugs loose their aim and vigor as I feel more power in me. Some even try to flee, but to no avail. After a short break I will continue my exercises. This slashing and running makes my really hungry.

Entry 2. Hunting lessons.

And two more days passed.

Sith fencing technique in nothing similar I was taught in my past. Not only they are using Force to empower body in fight, but there is much more. Some use Force altering energy of a weapon to produce different effects. Others intertwine fencing and use of different Force powers into one set of moves that lead to devastating effect on target.

Lord Samus oversaw my studies of k'lor'slugs and my training. He helped me perfect a few different moves that extremely effective against these creatures. Then he lectured us on nature of a hunt.

Hunt, when viewed from Force-user standpoint, in essence is a bond. A bond between two different creatures. While most of the time hunter is aggressor and hunted is a victim this bond is not the one Samus was explaining. On Korriban you probably will not find a creature that won't be glad to chew on a part of your anatomy. So the bond is between two hunters, trying to put each other down.

How one form a bond? It is direction and attention. When you watch something closely planing in your mind to kill it you preform this bonding. K'lor'slugs, in their turn, learn to observe hunter too, but as species, not as single critter.

My reflection on hunting approved Lord Samus' words. Indeed, I got more familiar with these creatures. After a certain amount of kills I knew when it will try to hit me with upper legs, although this nothing to do with the Force - I can see creature pausing before hit (actually, this one expose them to my flank move). But tail attack was surprise for me at first. Now I can feel when k'lor'slug is going to preform one. More then that, I can certainly sense when they are going to surface nearby.

K'lor'slug react to me too. After I kill a few in the same area they can appear not in usual pair, but in triplet. I had a feeling that somehow they start to sense danger I represent. Lord Samus confirmed my suspicions and advised to change position more often. He told us that animals in general are sensitive to Force-users. While more experienced Sith can hide their presence to different degree, we only learn to manipulate amount of presence we represent in the Force.

This technique is polar in structure - on one maximum you are hypothetically invisible to anything at all, since Force is the universe, on the other you fill everything with your presence. But we start in theoretical midpoint having mundane presence that is slightly modified by ability to use Force. Some masters of this technique, especially those who follow path of deception, can manipulate their surroundings to be virtually invisible. Other make their presence felt so vividly that enemies flee them.

After some consideration I decided to train on empowerment of my presence. Lord Samus helped me to understand how better draw on the Force to make my enemies feel confusion and uncertainty. He also mentioned that some creatures will not fall victim to this trick and that we should understand one thing: there is no separate actions in the Force. Every technique you use connected to qualities of Force itself and characteristics of surroundings. Those should be considered before action. He promised to tell us more on this subject later, as well as on topic of life force.

Entry 1. Arrival.

Two days passed since I arrived on Korriban.

Academy located in Valley of the Dark Lords. Probably for convenience, but truth is I think it's another trial for acolytes - listening to howling and cracking in the night. Korriban is harsh world, there are many dangers here although most acolytes come prepared and can hold their own.


First day was not much different from IYMC. 'Go through the corridor on your right, then take platform from the yard and go straight to the Academy. Duty Assistant Overseer will direct you to your instructor, your dormitory and your bunk location in your datapad.' And off you go.

No one told us, however, that K'lor'slugs is native around here (at least they act that way). Few acolytes were jumped while traveling courtyard. Probably those without real sensitivity to life force, I could sense those beast, although could not locate them exactly. Korriban empowers for certain at that moment power was overwhelming, so I could not concentrate.

While medical droid patched unfortunate I exchanged a few words with Orailus, local medic. Turns out that these critters is major headache around here. Soldiers fight them, but they don't have enough numbers to destroy the lairs. Basically cycle goes as this: soldiers search for K'lor'slugs, when they find them K'lor'slugs hurt and kill soldiers, medics patch wounded, new soldiers arrive... And so on, and so forth. Sith could take care of a problem directly, but they never did.

In addition turns out some parts of K'lor'slugs are valuable. You don't get rich selling them, but medical station will offer credits for different parts. I downloaded list from local computer for future hunting. I don't intend to tow whole thing each time I put one of this beasts down. Blasted Academy entry rules. If I had a decent blaster I could make a fortune. Good thing I have a decent knife to cut carcasses.

Bearing in mind these facts we traveled to Academy. After we arrived up there were no more obstacles of any kind. On the left from entrance I noticed a few vendors. I decided attend to them later. I will need something more sturdy then clothes I arrived with.

Duty Assistant Overseer turned out to be someone named Markan. I don't know whether Sith become like this with time, whether it is part of training or is it Dark Side. Usually I ignore attitude in people, but some people should be ignored with attitude altogether. After we got name of our instructor, Lord Samus, we were gone.

Lord Samus greeted us, noticing a few promising souls among our group and told that that next three days will be preparation for study. Students are free to explore Academy grounds and explore surroundings in general. My question about library Lord Samus answered with a glare and a few seconds of silence. Then he pointed behind him with his thumb and answered 'of course'.

When I've been almost I asleep I heard a faint music. Very beautiful, calling somewhere. I can swear it has nothing to do with sounds coming from local cantina (by the way prices there is a plunder).


On second day I went to library, with idea learning about K 'lor'slugs a little more.

K'lor'slug image in imperial database. Brrr.

Not much can be found about these creatures. They are native to Noe'ha'on, although Korriban also mentioned in some sources as native world. Most information is about breeding and habitat, though. And man they do breed. Now I understand why military can't diminish their numbers.

Since database did not yield any significant information I decided to study them myself. And best way to study a critter is to hunt it.