thefinaljedi | Appointments

[Luke returns Loki's bow]

Its nice to meet you too.

So, what has Obi-Wan told you about the Force?

He's described it as life energy initially, though from my viewpoint, there are energies in everything. To which he agreed readily.

He said that you can manipulate these energies in subtle ways. And implied you find some sort of... will to them?

Ah, yes. The Force is an energy field that is produced by everything in the known universe. Plants, animals, people, planets, stars, even galaxies. It binds together everything, and yes, it does have a will.
The best way I could think to describe it to someone not from the Galaxy is to think of it as the will of the universe.

I hope you understand what I mean. Its not easily put into words. And yes, certain individuals have an aptitude for manipulating those energies. Some are subtle, some are not.

Interesting. The only place where our viewpoints seem to differ in the most fundamental concept is this idea of will. I have... never noticed such a thing in my years of using magics.

Is there a defined skill set you use, or is it more flexible than that?

Well the Force isn't any sort of arcane magic, no. Aspects of it are similar, but by my understanding sorcery works outside of the laws of physics, while the Force is just a part of them.

There are a huge variety of powers, though much like with magic spells there is a great deal of variation between an individuals use and skill with any given aspect of the Force.

The manner in which I use my so-called magics is perhaps different from what you have heard. Magic and science are, ultimately, one in the same. I am able to manipulate the energies. Mostly I do so within the realm of physics because it is... easier. But I have had call in the path to... temporarily break the rules. [He smiles crookedly.] Which is not something commonly done.

But from my viewpoint, it's most easily understood as... redefining things to suit my purposes. Because I've the necessary strength to do so.

[He taps his chin with one thin finger.]

I do not find these things all that dissimilar, really, but we shall see.

Well, perhaps. The laws of reality tend to vary between worlds, I've noticed. There are no mutants or gods where I'm from, but here I've met both.

[Luke gives Loki a long look, almost like he's sizing him up. There are tremors around Loki in the Force, showing him images of violence and loneliness. Psychometry in the Force is one of the few things the Jedi just simply cannot shut off. People, places, and things give him sensations, both past and present. Of course he doesn't mention this, but he scanss Loki's surface emotions subtly, unconscious of the fact that he's even doing it.]

What would you like a demonstration of first?

Ah, I had thought as much. Nice to have another bit of theory proven.

Though the term 'god' is a rather... fuzzy one.

[Loki is completely unaware of this, and it's probably for the best. Beneath his controlled veneer he always seethes, but feels secure that no one can tell what he truly feels, even on days when he's just screaming into his own head.]

I'm afraid Obi-wan wasn't terribly specific about what skills there might be, other than precognition of a sort. Perhaps take me through skills in the order in which you learned them?

[Luke nods, ignoring the sensation coming off of Loki and turns towards a trashcan.]

I actually learned precognitive and enhanced senses first. However, after that. [He waves his hand and the can starts to float and dance around in the air] Telekinesis. Though, without the fine control I'd normally have thanks to the barrier. The limit of what one can lift is really only determined by one's belief in the Force. I've seen some Jedi have trouble with trashcans, and others able to pull entire starfleets about with only the Force.

[He's not joking, either.]

After that? I learned how to make friends and influence people, and other psychic tricks. I somehow doubt the mental compulsion would work on you. I feel your will is strong, but if you'll permit me.

[Luke closes his eyes and Loki may feel a sort of telepathic phone-ring. If he answers he'll just hear]

I can open a two way communication line

Edited 2012-09-20 16:41 (UTC)

[Loki observes all of this with an intensity that indicates he's perceiving with more than just sight. He stirs his fingers through the air almost idly, then nods.

Belief in the Force to him sounds like intensity of will.

He smiles crookedly.]

Likely it would not. Those are tricks that I have on occasion used on others.

[Loki starts, eyes narrowing, but he quickly perceives this psychic poke isn't any sort of attack, and he answers cautiously.]

Ah, useful indeed.

[This isn't something he often uses; it gives him headaches. Not because he's straining his ability with magic, but rather because such tight control is required. He can't afford to let feelings leak away where someone else could see.]

Indeed. It does not allow for more than talking unless there is a particularly potent bond, like between my twin sister and myself.

[Luke breaks the connection]

And then there are more obvious displays, though oriented more towards combat. Enhancing muscle strength and speed is fairly common, and projecting energy in one form or another. Typically Jedi avoid this, as it is associated with the Sith, a sort of opposite philosophy to ours.

Beyond that, Psychoempathy, healing, absorbing and redirecting energy, and other more rare gifts. Flight, Pyrokinesis, Mnemomanipulation, and other more specialized powers. It isn't unlike sorcery, though those abilities are more difficult to demonstrate, save flight.

[And with that, he's hovering just a few inches off the ground.]

[That Luke keeps the telepathy brief is something of a relief. Loki continues to follow along what the man said, listening intently.]

I can understand negative associations, but I've never seen the point in... depriving oneself of a useful weapon because of it, I suppose. [He shrugs.] But I tend to be very... pragmatic.

[He makes a mental note to ask about the Sith later, for the sake of curiosity. Right now, it seems like it would just be a distraction from the topic at hand.]

[Loki grins briefly at the sight of Luke hovering, a quick and brilliant flash. It puts him in mind of the Traveler, and it's impossible to not smile at that.]

Quite a diverse group of skills, then, though it sounds like perhaps each of you has a more limited toolbox upon which you concentrate. [This makes sense to Loki, since presumably these Jedi will be shorter lived than he has been.]

For my part, nearly every skill that you have mentioned is something that I can do, some by multiple avenues. Though I am not very good at healing, particularly not myself. Nor... physically enhancing myself, as you said. The reality of my own body is a little too hard to fight.

If you wish, I might demonstrate a few things, and perhaps you will get a sense of how I work.

The Force has two sides, Loki. One side, the side wielded by the Sith, is corruptive and dangerous. To draw too much on that power is to risk losing ones mind to madness, no matter how well shielded or prepared.

[A faint, neutral warning about the Dark Side.]

And you would be correct in most cases. My family is a bit different in that the majority of our powers come naturally to us. I'm hardly a good example for a typical Jedi, nor are my father and my sister. My father was born from the Force, he has no father of his own. Master Kenobi would be, however, a shining example of such.

[That would make sense, but touching the Force extended one's lifespan greatly, with some human Jedi living for 3 or 4 centuries, and some like Odan-Urr lasting for over a thousand years]

And yes, by all means, a demonstration would be appreciated. I've begun studying magic hear through the work of Harry Dresden and Helios Sprensonne. I'm always interested in new methodology.

Curious. That is, perhaps, a difference. I have never noticed such a thing with the magics of my home. [He smiles crookedly.] It is nature. It is what it is.

[Magic isn't what drove him mad, after all. He needed people for that.]

Ah, I see. So you are unusually strong.

I am rather an anomaly, myself, but without good reason like you have, it would seem.

[Loki nods.]

What I discovered first was bending light. It comes quite naturally to me. I was a terror as a child because of it. And it's quite a flexible way to work.

One can be invisible, [He vanishes abruptly, though he has little doubt now Luke would be able to track him despite this simple trick; the mortal is quite powerful.] and then create images. [He makes a perfect image of himself, standing about five feet away.] It's tactically useful.

[He reappears, the illusion Loki shattering and disappearing at a wave of his hand.]

Of course, it's more flexible than that. A bit like art. [He does what he did for Ikki the previous day, spreading his hands and bending the light between them, this time making the shimmering image of fish swimming in the air.] And of varying sizes, of course, though I noticed here I can't make anything too large and complex.

[For him, this is life at its best, magic for its own sake. He relaxes almost imperceptibly, genuine joy lighting his expression.]

Impressive.

[Luke can track Loki, it isn't a particularly difficult task, the illusions appearing translucent to him, lacking the vital thrum that makes up a living organism. Illusions were not, in the slightest, an inconvenience to a Jedi who knew what to look for.]

Very, very impressive. So you favor illusion? [Luke returns Loki's smile, genuinely impressed with the fish.]

and yes I've noticed a significant decrease in my power as well, unfortunately.

It's what comes most naturally to me. [He lets the illusions drift away and unravel in the air.]

It sounds as if I can do the same sort of... mental tricks as you as well. Those also came quite easily. [He uses a bit of magic to make a rock leap to his hand, much like he would with one of his daggers.] Levitation. [A crackle of flame wreaths his hand for a moment as he heats the rock up.] A bit of this sort of thing, though I find it inelegant. I don't think I'd be able to do much with it here anyway, even just that is far more effort than it ought to be.

[He drops the rock on the ground carelessly. He makes a quick mental calculation, his current spot and a point ten feet away and on the other side of Luke. In a blink, he goes from one to the other.

That was much harder than he likes. He needs to be much more careful about it.]

Potentially the most useful thing I can do here. Potentially.

[Luke nodded, figuring Loki could do something like that. Most wizards and magi he'd met here could. It was one of the few things that he didn't feel was possible with the Force. ~~He was wrong...but thats way beyond his canon point~~.]

Teleportation is definitely useful. Would've been handy to have a guy like you around back in June.

[Luke's smile is genuine, and if that's any indication Loki isn't such a terrible individual at all. Angry and ruthless but...not wholly evil. Even if he had killed Phil.]

Not as useful as I'd like. I have not yet understood the spatial disconnect represented by the barrier.

[Loki taps his chin thoughtfully with one finger.]

I can also heal, but I'm quite bad at it. Not that I'm often called upon to do so.

What happened in June?

The Malnosso sent Droids and Shift Hunters to raid the village, and were repulsed by the efforts of the residents here. They had also instated a draft at the same time, so many of our most powerful were sent off to fight in the war.

[Luke shrugs]

Someone with teleportation and illusion skills would've made it a lot easier.

I see. An unpleasant situation.

[He looks calmly at Luke.

Of course the answer that springs immediately to mind is what makes the man think he would help. Loki is no hero. Many would claim he's downright evil. But as he informed Adele on no uncertain terms, he has little interest in helping people who hate him.

So perhaps there are a few he would have stirred himself to look after. Ikki, perhaps. Or the Traveler.]

It sounds as if you did all right for yourselves though...?

Yes, the plan worked. There was some unfortunate loss of life, but we managed to deceive the Malnosso.

[Luke had figured as much, and yet he also had pegged Loki for a pragmatic man. Bleed for other people? No. The Jedi felt that right away, but for a chance to stick a thumb in the eyes of the enemy and gain valuable information?]

We set up decoys in various places around the village, individuals and illusions disguised as the Malnosso's target: one of their own who'd been rendered unconscious due to a civil war within their organization.

[Loki nods.]

Ah, an interesting problem.

Was their target able to provide any interesting information to us?

[Now he begins to see why he might be motivated to help with a project such as that.]

Some, yes. Information regarding the droids, mostly.

However, he died during the battle, unfortunately. He was very old, and sick. We managed to keep him out of the hands of the Rogue faction of Malnosso.

He's apparently back in power, and has sent warnings to us since, of bad shifts. Since that time the missions we've been sent on have also been focused on removing the Rogue faction from play. It isn't much, but it is a start. Catherine, Bil, the Blue Man. Those are his names.

[Luke shrugs]

He certainly isn't the monster or the fool that the Malnosso are so often made out to be. We spoke, briefly, before his passing.

[Death and then resurrection. Multiple names. Rogue factions. It's an interesting bit of data to add to his understanding of the situation.]

What is it this rogue faction wants, precisely?

[He smiles wryly.]

Oh, I don't know why anyone would think them fools at all. This is all very cleverly set up.

As far as we know? Nothing. They've only interacted with us in childish ways, taunting us before shifts and in general doing things I'd expect of a school bully.

[He shrugs]

Some people do, mostly the arrogant, or people that don't quite understand the situation. You do know it's actually the world that brings us here, and not the Malnosso, yes?

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