Social Games The Rancor Pit (EUC Dueling thread)

IC Padawan Voss
Duelling Master @Kyber Acyk

Stang. The strikes were coming purposefully at his weapon hand, and Voss was left with a choice: risk losing his hand, or drop his lightsaber. He could hear the words of Master Obi-Wan echo though his mind: ‘This weapon is your life’. The hilt of his lightsaber would be undamaged by a strike from a regular lightsaber, and perhaps outside of the Rancor Pit he might consider a different approach. For now, he was quite keen on keeping his hand. As the next blow arrived, aimed at his wrist, Voss let his saber drop to the ground, his Master’s strike passing through the air where his wrist was moments ago.

A Jedi is always armed, Voss thought. He channelled all his energy into a rapid front-kick to his Master’s torso, using the Force to try to break the stable stance his Master had been attacking from. It was a risk, but the lack of resistance to the previous strike from Master Kyber had afforded him a small window of opportunity as his Master recovered balance.

Maybe, if the Force was with him, he would be able to recover his lightsaber before his Master launched the next attack. Regardless, it served to remind Voss to be more careful of disarming attacks in future.

 

IC: Jedi Knight Kyber Acyk

The strong front-kick found its mark and Kyber sank down on his knees. Breathing deeply, the Mandalorian glanced over and saw his Padawan looking across at his lightsaber on the floor of the pit. If Voss is quick enough, he can use the Force to grab his lightsaber and disarm me...

Reaching out his hand, he was focused on retrieving his Padawan's lightsaber before Voss had the chance. This reminded him of the time, when he was a young Padawan, that he almost lost his saber in a duel with a Dark Jedi. The Force began to course through every part of his body as he saw Voss' lightsaber beginning to move and twitch on the floor of the pit. Come on, just a little bit more...

@Voss Fulris

 

IC Padawan Voss
Duelling Master @Kyber Acyk

Voss exhaled a brief sigh of relief as his kick connected. Reaching out in the Force to retrieve his lightsaber in this moment of opportunity, he could feel his Master doing the same. It was the natural next move from Master Kyber, but Voss knew his lightsaber well and grasped it firmly in the Force, returning it to his grasp.

Leaping at his Master, he ignited the silver blade and began with a series of slashes directed at his Master's wrists, just as his Master had done to him. Each strike was precise, with no wasted movement. With each parry, Voss pressed the attack further in an effort to break his Master's guard. Alternating high and low strikes, he hoped to exploit the relative lack of flexibility afforded by Djem So, whilst simultaneously embracing its intensity for himself.

 

IC: Jedi Knight Kyber Acyk

The strikes came thick and fast; Kyber grasped his still ignited lightsaber and began to parry those disarming attacks. "You have learnt fast, my Padawan," he said to Voss, while standing firm and refusing to be driven back any further. Show me your best, Voss...

Kyber launched into a flurry of fast, alternating Force-imbibed kicks with his feet and knees, trying to put his Padawan off-balance. Changing his stance, the Mandalorian became a brick wall and targeted the hilt of Voss' lightsaber, striking at it with every ounce of his being.

Shifting the lightsaber to single-handed use by his right hand, Kyber held out his left hand and dust began to rise up and encircle the pair. "Now, I know this might not be in the Jedi training manuals, but it is in the Clan Acyk manual - distraction can sometimes be your greatest ally,"

@Voss Fulris

 

IC Padawan Voss
@Kyber Acyk

As his Master shifted back to the offensive, Voss was surprised when a cloud of dust began to rise around him, obscuring his vision. Apparently his Master was trying to distract him. A hint of a smile crossed Voss' face - usually a very focused combatant, he was used to being the one doing the distracting, not being distracted.

His natural instinct was to disperse the cloud of dust to restore visibility and end the distraction. However, doing this would likely play right into his Master's hands, distracting Voss from the fight itself. Instead, he saw an opportunity: distracting others can distract oneself.

Sinking down slightly Voss coiled like a spring before launching himself vertically with the Force out the top of the dust cloud and over his Master's head. As he somersaulted above, he tried to slash downwards towards where he last saw his Master's head.

 

*Takes a sandwich but indiscreetly lifts up the top slice of bread to make sure its not Rancor*

 

Control...I am must learn control.

 

IC: Jedi Knight Kyber Acyk

Kyber could feel Voss' movements through the Force. He swiftly stepped away from the falling lightsaber blade of his Padawan and took a firm stance. The Mandalorian began to make broad sweeps as Voss came in for a landing and the fatal strike, hoping to catch him off guard again.

Flexing his right leg, Kyber swung it back and put every ounce of power into the kick and he brought it forward, aiming for Voss' torso. Hopefully it would connect and bring his Padawan back down to earth, literally, but not too hard.

@Voss Fulris

 

IC Padawan Voss
@Kyber Acyk

Oof. His Master's kick connected squarely with the centre of his chest, knocking the wind out of him as he fell. Flying a couple of meters backwards from the impact, Voss managed to land on his feet, albeit temporarily debilitated from the impact. He looked at his Master with resignation in his eyes. The Mandalorian was charging towards him with a renewed energy, and Voss realised they were entering the final stages of the duel.

He hunkered down into a defensive stance, bracing himself for what was to come. Perhaps this was the point at which he should surrender to his Master and admit defeat? The idea was grating to him, even though he knew it was inevitable.

 

IC: Jedi Knight Kyber Acyk

Using the Force to bolster his speed from the opposite end of the pit, Kyber sprinted towards his Padawan, the orange blade of the lightsaber held at waist height and at a horizontal angle, which was the perfect position to connect with Voss' head and neck.

He began to swing the lightsaber from side to side, which would draw across Voss' neck. To throw him off once more, Kyber switched tactics and used a powerful Force Jump. Drawing the lightsaber behind his head, he moved into the "Falling Avalanche" attack.

@Voss Fulris

 

IC: Padawan Voss
@Kyber Acyk

Voss' vision filled rapidly with the orange of his Master's blade approaching his face. Watching the blade crash down from above, he realised he could not bring his own lightsaber to his defence in time. Voss had never frozen in combat before, but now he found himself frozen like a statue.

He looked up at his Master's blade to find that it, too, was as frozen as him, hanging in mid-air. He did not have time to ponder whether he had frozen his Master's blade with telekinesis, or the Force had granted him a brief moment of speed. Seizing the moment, he ducked and rolled out of the path of the incoming blade, using the roll to swipe at his Master's knees from behind with a reaching kick.

 

IC: Jedi Knight Kyber Acyk

The kick connected with Kyber's knees and he came crashing to the ground with a thud. The still ignited lightsaber rolled out of his hand and the Mandalorian lay there breathless and felt a surge of pain coursing through his veins. It seemed the kick had reopened some old wounds that Kyber had received many, many years ago during some of his missions. He tried to get up, but the pain was just too unbearable.

Fighting through the pain, he hauled himself back up onto his feet and picked up his lightsaber. Grimacing through the pain, he smiled at Voss and nodded affirmatively at him. Voss had leant so much in the time they had been together as Master and Padawan and he was very proud to have been selected as Voss' master by the Council. And limping over to his Padawan, Kyber put his arm around Voss in a friendly gesture.

"I think that is more than enough training for one day. We will need to harness your telekinesis with some training sessions my Padawan, so you are able to use it to its fullest extent. But for now, we must head back to the Temple and reflect on what you have learnt here,"

@Voss Fulris

 

IC Padawan Voss
@Kyber Acyk

"Thank you, Master. I have learnt so much from training with you today, but it has also shown me how much more I have to learn. I look forward to your teaching on telekinesis when we have both had some time to recover."

Voss felt slightly guilty about reopening his Master's old wounds. It had been unintentional of course, and he wasn't sure whether or not to mention it and apologise. Thinking better of it, he bowed deeply to his Master as they parted. Returning to his quarters, he could already feel his muscles starting to ache after their recent use. Tomorrow, he expected to feel pain in places he didn't even know existed.

 

IC: Kev-Mas Colcha III

The newly knighted young Jedi arrived in the pit and sat waiting for his challenger to arrive. He had been chosen to assist another more experienced Knight with the training of her Padawan, who had recently constructed her own lightsaber. His legs were crossed and his head was bowed while his hands were cupped together in front of him, revealing that he was in a meditative trance preparing for what was to come.

This wouldn't just be a lesson for his opponent however. This would also be a valuable lesson for himself, where he would learn how to teach others. After all he was now a Jedi Knight, and the next step of his journey would be to pass on what he has learned.

Tag: @Khalia Octa

 

IC: Khalia Octa

Khalia entered the sparring pit and saw Knight Colcha sitting cross legged, meditating. Not wanting to disturb the new knight, she went over to a corner and sat. The young Twi'lek was feeling nervous for the fight and tried to wash the feeling away as she slowed her breathing and cleared her mind.

After several quick minutes she rose and stood quietly. She placed a hand on her newly made lightsaber while waiting for Kev-Mas to finish his meditation.

TAG: @Kev-Mas_Colcha

 

IC: Kev-Mas Colcha III

Kev-Mas slowly stood up, having sensed the presence of his challenger as she rose to her feet after her own meditation. Looking the Twi'lek dead in the eyes, he he pulled his saber pike from his back and held it at his side. He ignited the two golden blades, which reflected off of his electrum plated armor with a shimmering gleam.

"So I hear you've constructed your own lightsaber," he began, as he held his pike out in front of him, the attached blast shield bearing the insignia of his dead family facing forwards, "But what good is a lightsaber without the ability to use it?"

He nodded at Khalia as he gestured towards her to make the first move.

"Now how about you show me what you're made of?"

Tag: @Khalia Octa

 

IC: Khalia Octa

Khalia watched as Kev-Mas rose and ignited his golden blades before her. She unbuckled her own saber, but did not ignite it yet.

"So I hear you've constructed your own lightsaber, but what good is a lightsaber without the ability to use it?" he said. Khalia thought he would make a good knight. "Now how about you show me what you're made of?"

Khalia nodded, "My pleasure." She stepped back and ignited her saber, saluting him and then slipping into a ready stance.

The young Jedi opened herself to the Force and let it fill her, be her guide. She feigned a sharp jab down and left, then swung her amber blade up towards Kev-Mas' head, being careful to keep her blade across herself.

TAG: @Kev-Mas_Colcha

 

*looking down from the gallery at the Padawan and new knight*

Aah, she knows strike to cover! Very good.

Who brought the popcorn?

 

"Play nice you two." - Shouted from the bleechers
*watching Kev-Mas and Khalia

 

IC: Kev-Mas Colcha III

Kev-Mas' precognitive senses sung out to him, warning him of the coming blows. He sidestepped the feint and twirled his lightsaber upwards, catching Khalia's blade in a blade lock.

"Nice feint. It seems like you might have studied my fighting style a bit beforehand," remarked Kev-Mas as he pushed the locked blades downwards with a fierce intensity, "But seeing is different than experiencing."

Using the resistance from his opponent's blade as a springboard, he disengaged his lightsaber and sent a force push at his opponent, intending to cause her to stumble. Kev-Mas was sent flying backwards with a backflip, and reignited his blades as he landed on the ground with a crouch, his heels in the air like a predator ready to pounce on their prey.

He then launched himself towards the Twi'lek, reigniting his blades as he aimed a jab at her weapon hand.

Tag: @Khalia Octa

 

IC: Khalia Octa

Khalia pushed forwards and up against Kev-Mas' blades, the angle awkward but made slightly easier because of her short stature.

She felt the Force stirring as he sent a Force push her way. Rather than doing the more obvious thing and rooting herself to the ground, Khalia let some of the energy from the push hit her, which she used to flip backwards. She landed steadily and quickly brought her blade up to find the Knight flying towards her and aiming for her hand. The Twi'lek swung her blade across to knock Kev-Mas' away, then leapt sideways to face his right flank. As she landed she gripped her weapon in her left hand and curved it towards Kev-Mas' shoulder, adding strength from the Force behind it's swing.

TAG: @Kev-Mas_Colcha

 

IC: Kev-Mas Colcha III

Noticing Khalia maintain her balance, using the momentum from his Force push to mirror his own movements and ready a defense, Kev-Mas smiled as he disengaged his lightsaber once more just before it met his opponent's blade and tumbled away, her swing hitting the air where he used to be standing.

"Your movements are fluid and graceful like water," praised Kev-Mas as he ruffled his cape to shake the dust off of it, "A good defensive technique, but lacking in offensive capability."

"Now lets try another test," continued Kev-Mas as he looked downwards, almost as if he was briefly meditating, "Lets see if you can attack the right target."

Just then, the Thyrsian/Echani Jedi Knight seemingly disappeared into mid-air, and then shortly after reappeared... along with another identical copy of himself. It would be quite obvious what Kev-Mas did for anyone who knew him. He was rather gifted in the illusory arts of the Force, and as such it could be surmised that he cloaked himself with the Force for a brief moment and then when he reappeared he created a projection of a dopplegänger. But telling which one was him and which one was the dopplegänger was the real mystery.

"Is it two against one?" came an echoing voice spoken in unison by both figures, "Or are you trusting in the wrong senses?"

Tag: @Khalia Octa

 

IC: Khalia Octa

The Twi'lek faltered for a moment as her blade sliced through the air where her opponent once was. She recovered quickly and turned to the sound of his voice.

"The benefits of Ataru," she replied and nodded to the rest of his sentence, as well as benefits there were also weaknesses and she knew she'd have to address them when she chose Form IV.

Attack the right target, what are you getting at he--

Khalia blinked and stepped back as Kev-Mas disappeared then reappeared aside a clone of himself...or was the clone where he had stood? The two voices echoing distracted her, but their words did point out a possible solution. She closed her eyes and reached out into the Force to find Kev-Mas' living energy. She sensed it flowing from the Thyrsian/Echani Jedi on the left, but decided he could be fooling her there too. She sent a strong Force shove at right-Kev-Mas and leapt towards left-Kev-Mas. She burst into a quick flurry of strikes at left-Kev-Mas, alternating between high, low, right and left, while darting between flanks to force an opening.

TAG: @Kev-Mas_Colcha

OOC: Didn't know which one you picked to be the "right" one so just guessed You're challenging me, this is pretty fun