A wayward Knight (Master/apprentice mission)

[Kian Karr]

Kashyyyk wasn't a planet Kian had expected to find himself in his duties as a Jedi....but then again, he had been to various planets he never thought he'd go. As a child, Kian had read about the massive wroshyr trees that covered the planet, but his imagination hadn't covered even half of it. Standing on the wooden plateform, Kian's eyes looked upward as the tree ascended even high, and then he glanced down, beyond the railing into nothingness. The trees were so tall that from there all he could see below was......darkness.

"Are you ready?" Kian asked, turning to his apprentice [member="Varus Shatterstar"]. Kian and Varus had been sent by the Jedi Order in order to investigate the disappearance of Jedi Knight Vol Vallen. Vol was one of the rising stars of the Jedi Order. As a padawan Vol had shown a great gift in controlling animals and soothing the minds of beasts. As such he had spent a vast amount of time trying to understand the Voxyn and other Sith-used animals. Then he had come to Kashyyyk.....and no one knew why.

All Kian knew was that it had been three weeks since Vol had last reported into the Jedi and that was certainly not like him. Upon arriving on Kashyyyk, Varus and Kian had split up and gathered information. Kian had spoken with the Wookie leaders.....a feat made possible by the use of a translator droid, while Varus had spoken with the local traders and merchants. When they had returned they had found their stories similar. Both parties reported that the Jedi had seemed odd. He had been easily excitable and paranoid. Regardless of this, when he had demanded to be lowered into the shadowlands they had done as he requested.

The shadowlands of Kashyyyk held many dark secrets.....and many predators. Kian looked at Varus and beneath his goggles his eyes narrowed. He was worried, taking his padawan on this mission. The shadowlands were a dangerous place, but Kian couldn't shield him for long. He was a Jedi....danger was part of the deal. Glancing to the young man's waist Kian saw the lightsaber hilt dangling from his belt. Varus hadn't created his own yet, but he had been issued a temple lightsaber for the mission, Kian just hoped he wouldn't need it and more then that.....he hoped Vol was alright.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Kashyyyk was an attractive planet with tall growing trees, vibrant and colorful plant life and lively, powerful native inhabitants. The Wookiee were powerful creatures that thrived on tradition and respect, but they weren't the only ones that inhabited that planet so blessed by nature. It was so very peaceful, but he'd studied it the past couple of weeks before they had arrived and he was well aware of the many threats and secrets the planet held. In many ways it was a pretty face with with fangs just beneath the lips, just like many of the native flowers that displayed vibrant, attractive colors that distracted from the poisonous barbs that laid in the center of each bulb.

"Of course, Kian." Varus said as he gathered his thoughts and diverted his eyes from the orange skyline. The sun wasn't quite down over Kashyyyk, but it wouldn't be long. They had a few hours of light left, but it wasn't anything that was a necessity. The jungles were more dangerous at night, but from Varus' limited experiences with wildlife on Ossus, he was well aware of the effect that the Force had on beasts. Most creatures could sense the force, which as a matter of fact, was why wild creatures were so much better in tune with the weather than most humanoid beings. They could sense changes and fluxuations in the force which tipped them off to disturbances and bad weather. In his time on Ossus, he'd frightened and scared many more creatures than had ever challenged or shown aggression towards him.

He was more than prepared for this mission, his first official undertaking with his new teacher, Kian. He was ready to do what he must for the betterment of another Jedi, and eager to learn and absorb all that he could along the way. Vol Vallen might have been a promising, up and coming star of the Republic, but talk was cheap and rumors were often inflations of the truth, sometimes stretched and warped by those who the rumor was about themselves. He didn't respect rumors. He respected one's presence, their hard work and their persistence. Not what other people said they were.

"Where shall we start?", he asked as he turned and started scaling the outer edge of the platform they were on, his hand sliding against the smooth wooden rail as he closed the distance between he and Kian.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"Down there." Kian said, pointing over the rail to the depths below. "Our quarry has made his way into the shadowlands....and so must we." Kian said leading his padawan along the platform. Kian had paid for a guide to take them and he had been told to meet them at the lift not far from where they were. Nightfall was coming, and the shadowlands would be dangerous, but beneath the massive trees it was forever night below and Kian didn't wish to back off while the trail was warm.

Approaching a large wooden platform that was tethered to large wooden gears, Kian realized they were at their destination. There, standing a good three feet taller then Kian was a grey and gold haired wookie.

"Grundyr, is everything set to go?" Kian asked as he approached the wookie. Grundyr turned toward Kian and began to speak in the wookie language of Shyrriwok. Kian understood none of the language, but with the aid of the force and telepathy he was able to skim the wookies mind in order to ascertain the basics of what he was saying.

<We are ready when you are> Grundyr said and stepped onto the platform. Kian motioned for [member="Varus Shatterstar"] to follow him and with a jolt the platform began it's slow descent into the darkness. It would be some time before they reached the bottom and Kian knelt down on the platform to meditate as they went. Stretching out into the force he focused on all the ife around him.

"This is a wonderful planet, Varus. Can you feel it? Can you feel all the life....can you feel the force flowing through all these trees and the creatures that live amongst them?" Kian asked his padawan as they descended into darkness. It got dark surprisingly fast as they went further down.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus found his place on his knees next to Kian and as easily as slipping beneath the surface of water, Varus slipped into the stream of the force. As he did he heard Kian speak to him, asking him if he could feel the planet and the increddible life force it had. That much was obvious, but he replied to his Master without hesitation.

"Yes, Master. I can feel the vibrance of the force here in everything. Everything seems alive here, which I suppose we have to attribute to the allowance of nature to flourish on this planet.", he explained his feelings about it as they waited to reached the ground and decend into shadows.

"It's so unlike Coruscant. It's not covered in metal and cold of life aside from the specs of humanoid beings that make up the only unfiltered conduits of the force.", he said softly as the force soothed him from every possible angle. It completely enveloped his form when he slipped into meditstion, reinforcing his thought from before that if circumstances had been different he could see himself living a comfortable life here.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"No.....and yet it is also the same." Kian said glancing over at [member="Varus Shatterstar"]. "Here as on Coruscant, there are the struggles of nature. Predators seeking prey, prey seeking to avoid being victims, children being born, the old dying.....whether wrapped in metal or in trees, you'll find that all worlds mirror each other in this way."

"Any planet you look at will have things that mesmerize you and things that make you shudder." Kian said, "One of the most important things you will learn in your time among the Jedi is the ability to see the good in horrible places.....and to recognize the corruption in the most pristine of worlds."

As Kian spoke, he felt the platform begin to slow in it's decent. They were nearing the bottom. Rising to his feet he signaled for his padawan to do so as well. Kian left his lightsaber clipped to his belt, but he began to stretch out with the force as they sunk down to the forrest floor. The shadowlands were a dangerous place and they would have to be on their guard while here.

<We're there> Grundyr said as the platform hit the ground with a soft jolt and the wookie leapt down to the ground. He carried a bowcaster in his arms and strapped across his back was a large, jagged vibroblade. <This way> Grundyr said leading them into the darkness.

The darkness of the shadowlands was not the pitch black of night, but was a hazy, foggy darkness, aided by the fact that the long dark journey down had allowed for Kian and Varus's eyes to adjust to the poor light.

"Be on your guard.....their watching us." Kian said smiling beneath his mask. It wasn't a lie. You could feel the eyes of the shadowlands upon you as you walked its depths. Countless predators were sizing them up, determining if there was enough reward to warrant the risk of an attack.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus pushed himself up and followed Kian I to the dark Forrest flook without hesitation. He trusted his Master without question and there wasn't a spec of doubt in his heart as they started their journey. As they walked, Varus could almost feel eager eyes looking them up and down just wondering what they might taste like, but it didn't frighten him. He knew that no matter what, the force was guiding him now in his life's walk, and if that walk was meant to end on that day, then it would, but he had a feeling he was meant for a lot more.

The darkness didn't frighten him, consisering he could sense everything in the immediate area that had a life force. The only things that could cloud his senses in the force were things born and bathed in darkness, and some creatures simply were. Most beings were indifferent creatures that didn't sway towards the light or the dark. These were creatures that he could sense because their portion of force energy that they were made up of was untarnished and unfiltered. It was natural, and the easiest thing for him to pick out, but those creatures that bore dark hearts were a little harder to sense.

Their connection to the force was shadowed by the dark side, and their vicious nature had hidden them well, and not jus with natural camouflage. Their force was shaded by darkness and ever evading sight and touch. Even then, though, the taint of the Darkside could be felt, whether or not it's location could be pinpointed. That's why, as he walked with Kian and their Wookiee guide, he kept a watchful eye and an open mind.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

As they made their way through the Shadowlands, Kian couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn't the typical feeling associated with an animal of prey.....but of an intelligent being that stuck to the shadows. He remained vigilant as they walked, but Kian's attention was so focused on that feeling, that when danger came he almost missed it entirely.

A sudden twinge in the force and a feeling in his gut and Kian reached out with the force shoving at Grundyr's back, pushing him forward, just in time to avoid the leaping Kinrath that descended from a nearby tree. Kian's yellow blade sprang to life and severed the creatures outstretched spike. Kinrath's were not creatures that Kian had encountered much, but on the trip to Kashyyyk he had read up on the dangerous animals of the planet. They were fairly large arachnids, with four legs and a spiked arm that extended from their head, that if stabbed with injected a poison that slowed an opponent down and made them weak.

The first kinrath shrieked in pain when Kian severed its arm, but he cut that scream short when his blade dug into the head of the creature, extinguishing its life. Kian helped Grundyr back to his feet just as five more came out of the brush around them. Two leapt toward [member="Varus Shatterstar"] and three circled around Kian and Grundyr, effectively cutting him off from his apprentice.

"Varus!" Kian yelled out lifting one of the kinrath into the air with the force and slamming it into the closest tree before he had to leap away from a deadly strike from another. "Watch out for their poisoned spike!" Kian yelled out to his apprentice. He had been doing exceptional in training.....but Kian still worried. This would be Varus and his first taste of battle together and he was both scared and eager to see how his apprentice would do.

Grundyr blasted one of the three with his bowcaster and roared with triumph, while Kian dismembered the third attacker. But there was a rustle in the brush and four more quickly charged out at them. How many were there? Kian couldn't help but think to himself........and why are they attacking in waves?

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus' eyes darted back and forth as the scene began to unfold. There were violent, quick movements as some of native beasts of Kashyyyk attacked them. As they descended upon them, however, Varus stopped and let his eyes slant closed. Quickly his mind sank into meditation and he allowed the force to move him as he employed the use of Center of Being.

It had been one of the techniques he'd been most perplexed by since beginning training with the Jedi, and he was going to rely on it then and there. He'd trusted the force all his life, so it wasn't as hard for him as it might be for someone else to allow the force to guide his movements and work through his hands.

When the two Kinrath approached him from either side, closing in on him quickly and raising their long, poison tipped limbs, Varus waited. He stood there, perfectly still aside from his arms that raised his saber with the hilt held horizontally, pointing out to his left. The next moment the blublue blade shot out as either Kinrath struck at him, and in one smooth, quick motion, Varus torqued his midsection and spun his entire body. As he did, his blade flipped over either shoulder, buzzing as they passed through hard exoskeleton and tissue.

The next moment was filled with screeching as both creature raised up, howling in pain as their poison filled front limbs fell from their bodies. They the were silenced when one after the other, Varus plunged his saber into the chests of the creatures, both of them falling at his feet the next moment. Without hesitating, though, after having defended himself, Varus turned to the offensive and opened his eyeyes again. As he did he saw four more Kinrath rushing out of the treeline and inmediately reached out his hand and used the force to push the lead Kinrath. As the large arachnid was thrown through the air it screeched before colliding with the other three, which bought them a little time as they fumbled over one another.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Grundyr roared defiantly and charged the kinrath's that had been distracted by [member="Varus Shatterstar"]'s force attack. With a sweep of his broad vibrosword, Grundyr cleaved the first kinrath in half with a sickening thud, cracked the skull of the other with the pommel of his sword. Kian followed closely behind him and finished off the other two with a broad swipe of his lightsaber. Rising up from the attack, Kian scanned the area with his eyes and the force. It seemed like that was the last wave of them.

Turning back toward Varus, Kian smiled.

"Good work." Kian said, "I see your training with Corvus Raaf has paid off." As Kian said this he walked over toward the kinrath he had thrown into the tree. It was still alive, though its body was broken and it would certainly die. Kneeling down, though safely out of reach of its poison tipped arm, Kian touched its mind with the force. First he soothed the pain the creature was feeling, getting it into a calm state. Then he looked for what he suspected would be there. A touch of the force in the mind of the kinrath, a foreign touch.

"They were sent after us." Kian said, turning toward Varus. "They were guided by the forc....." As Kian said the words the snap hiss of a lightsaber was drowned out by the roar of pain that escaped Grundyr's mouth. Spinning around Kian saw a green lightsaber blade sticking out of Grundyr's midsection. The blade retracted and Grundyr fell to the floor, clutching at his stomach. The hooded figure behind him turned off his saber and darted into the brush behind, laughing mischievously as he went.

Kian leapt to Grundyr's side. The wookie was alive but the wound was a serious one. Kian didn't get a good look of the hooded figures face....but he wielded a lightsaber. Luckily, lightsabers cauterized wounds leading to very little bleeding. Reaching into his belt, Kian pulled out a bacta capsules. They would help heal the wound, but they wouldn't be enough to save Grundyr. Grabbing him under his left arm, Kian turned to his apprentice.

"Grab his other arm, we need to get him back to the lift." Kian said, not sure how hard it would be to help the wookie walk. Luckily, as he lifted Grundyr began to rise as well. Once on his feet, Grundyr place his large hand on Kian's shoulder for support.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus sighed a breath of relief after the attack of the Kinrath had subsided, but no sooner had he disengaged his saber did he watch as a green light burst through Grundyr's body. He watched as the massive Wookiee fell, Kian rushing to help him back up as he asked him to assist.

Varus glanced around for a moment, wanting to pursue the attacker, but he listened to Kian and rushed to Grundyr's other side. Varus was a large young man standing 6'5, but even he was made to look average when he helped take Grundyr's weight. He pulled his arm across the back of his neck and started walking, taking as much of Grundyr's weight ad he could to take the burden off Kian.

"We need to hurry.", Varus said, pushing himself and the others forward so that they might have time to get back on the atracker's trail before it ran cold.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian and [member="Varus Shatterstar"] rushed Grundyr back toward the lift. It seemed like the journey back to the lift was so much longer than the walk to the ambush had been. Kian spent the whole time stretching out into the forrest with the force, seeking warning of any attacks to come.....but Kian didn't sense any. He couldn't wrap his mind around why though. If he were the aggressor, Kian would have thought this was the perfect opportunity to attack, while both Jedi were preoccupied with the injured wookie.

Arriving at the life, Kian and Varus laid Grundyr down on the wood. "You'll be ok." Kian said, putting the force into his words, hoping to sooth the wookie. Activating the lift, Kian stepped off and watched as the lift rose into the air, leaving Varus and Kian stranded below. Kian hoped that Grundyr survived, not only because he was their guide and helping them had gotten him injured, but because if he died they might assume Kian and Varus were dead......and not send the lift back down.

"We'll be on our own for a while." Kian said turning back toward Varus. "You handled yourself well back there.....but the attacker will be waiting for us, we'll need to be on our guard." Kian said as he began to make his way back to the ambush site. "What did you notice about the attack?" Kian asked. He hadn't seen much of him before he took off into the shadows.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus watched Kian as he spoke, the pair of them making the trek back to where they'd been ambushed. He made sure to keep a quick pace, but not one too fast that he might miss something if the force tried to warn him of another ambush or attack. As they hurried along, though, Kian asked him about the attack and how he had perceived it.

"Well...", Varus said, making sure to speak in more hushed tones as they got closer and closer as he didn't want to alert the attacker to their position. "...it's clear that the creatures that attacked us weren't necessarily doing it based on a predatorial need or necessity. They were being compelled by whatever we say that stabbed Grundyr.", he explained to the best of his ability, really only explaining things the way he'd thought they seemed to him.

"From what I can tell, considering the attacker didn't pursue us...", he said, taking a wide glance around before his gaze circled back around to Kian and his sapphires sat on him again. "...he wasn't trying to kill. He was trying to scare. So I have to assume that he's protecting something, or he could simply want to be left alone."

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"Very good." Kian said as they made their way around a bend and found themselves back at the ambush site. The bodies of the dead kinrath were already gone and Kian wasn't sure if this was the doing of the hooded figure or simply the shadowlands claiming the dead. Kian thought it likely that it was the shadowlands claiming the dead.

Kian stopped for a moment and stretched out into the force. He knew the direction the hooded figure had fled, but he couldn't trust on his eyes. Focusing his mind, Kian allowed the force to guide him. He focused on what he had felt in the mind of the kinrath.....on the signature in the force. After a few moments, Kian points in the opposite direction the hooded figure had fled.

"That way." Kian said turning toward [member="Varus Shatterstar"]. Kian quickly, though cautiously, begins to follow the signature in the force, touching his mind and Varus's so that he too can experience the force signature. As they progress, Kian can begin to feel the darkness growing. He didn't know what was ahead.....but the darkside was involved.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus waited and watched around he and Kian as his Master reached out in the force. He guarded them both, his hand clutching his saber tightly in his right hand, though he left it deactivated for now. He didn't want it drawing in unnecessary attention while Kian did his work in the force. It didn't take long, though, and as Kian found the signature in the force he felt Kian's touch. He felt the darkside through the broadening of the force that he was feeling from his Master, and as he did he looked over to the Kel Dor with a worried look upon his face.

"It's a stronger connection than I was expecting.", he said before they moved off in the direction Kian has pointed in. He was always on his guard because he was an overly cautious man, but in that moment he was on edge just a bit. This mission had gone from search party to dealing with a Dark sider of some sort who'd established a connection to it that was concerning to say the least. He moved at pace with Kian, keeping to his right and back a pace or so in order to cover his blind side and keep eyes at their back while they moved through the shadowlands.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

As [member="Varus Shatterstar"] and Kian made their way towards their objective, it became clear that they were being watched once more. They were certainly moving into a trap....but sometimes in order to deal with a trap one had to spring it. Then Kian spotted them. Hidden amongst the woods and the shrubs, there were eyes glowing in the dark of the shadowlands.

"Do you see them?" Kian asked quietly to Varus. His grip tightened on his lightsaber hilt, but he left the blade deactivated.

"We're being watched." Kian said, though no doubt his padawan had already felt this in the force. Breaking through the last of the shrubs, they found themselves entering a clearing nestled between two enormous trunks. At the foot of one of the trunks stood a man kneeling down meditating. He wore dark robes and his hood was pulled up and over his head. Looking up at them as they approached, Kian couldn't quite make out the features....but the darkness he had sensed in the force was coming from the man, at least partly. The area itself seemed steeped in the darkside of the force.

"Show yourself." Kian demanded stopping several meters away from the man. Slowly the hooded figure rose and pulled back the hood. Kian recognized the face from the reports they had been sent.

"Knight Vallen," Kian said shaking his head in disappointment, "you are under arrest." Kian said igniting his lightsaber, the yellow blade casting a dim light in all directions. "Throw down your lightsaber."

"I think not." Vol said smiling. It was a demented, crooked smile. Kian didn't know what sort of man Vol Vallen had been, but looking at him then, Kian knew he was mad......something was broken within the man. Stepping back, Vol whistled and the jostling in the shrubbery spoke of something approaching. With a sinking feeling, Kian watched as the eyes in the shadows materialized into three large Katarn's. The large reptile-mammal hybrid was a dangerous foe by itself, but against three the odds were not in Kian and Varus's favor.

Kneeling back down, Vol closed his eyes and whispered "Kill them." The creatures each let out a menacing growl and leapt toward Kian and Varus.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Slowly the Katarn began closing in on all sides of Kian and Varus, stalking them slowly and cautiously, waiting for an opening. They approached their targets slower and more carefully, creatures more prone to hunting their prey with patience and taking opportunity rather than using their power and force of will to get the job done. They were true beasts of shadow, the assassins of Kashyyyk, which Varus was seeing very clearly now as he faced three of them at Kian's side.

As they approached, Varus waited for one to make the wrong move so that he could take advantage of the first mistake, well aware that these creatures were not the brash thinking, impatient Kinrath they'd faced before. With those precious few moments, Varus spoke, though he wasn't sure what it would all be worth to a man who was far gone that he was practically drowning in shadow.

"You're angry. I understand that, but what I don't understand is why.", he started to say, his sapphire eyes shifting between Vol and the massive Katarn that was slowly swaying it's tail back and forth as it slowly crept towards him. His hilt, all of a sudden, burst to life, no longer needing to hide itself from the shadowlands as they'd already been found by the most sinister of creatures. "Please...", Varus pleded with Vol.

"...let me help you.", he begged, his words soft as he then focused in his icy stare at the Katarn that was now only about fifteen feet away from him. "You help your brother when they fall."

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"Listen to him, Vol." Kian said as he watched the katarns close in. "There is still hope." Kian said but his words fell on deaf ears.

"There is no hope." Vol said, and then turned his eyes on Varus. "You speak of things you know nothing about. I am not doing this because of anger, I'm doing it to protect us.....to protect the Jedi.....I'm creating an army!" Vol yelled as the katarns leapt into the attack. Lifting his arm, Kian pushed the middle Katarn into the path of the furthest one from them, tripping them both up and buying [member="Varus Shatterstar"] and himself time to deal with the first one, two-to-one. Lifting his blade, Kian stepped to the side and swept his lightsaber in an arc, cutting deep into the creatures stony hide.

But the cut wasn't a killing blow, just one that would slow it down. However, it did have the added benefit of causing the katarn to turn his attention toward Kian and expose itself to Varus.

"There hide is thick!" Kian warned as he slashed his blade across the creatures face, causing it to roar in pain and anger.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus shook his head in disappointment as he watch Kian attack the Katarn. He'd thrown one into the other, causing them to fumble over each other, which did buy them a little time. It had to be enough for them to do something about the third beast, which Kian had already gotten to work on. As Kian cut across the creature's face, it clenched it's eyes shut and rared back, roaring in pain as it did. That was an opportunity that Varus took advantage of as he took two massive strides and threw himself into the air with a force aided leap.

His body flipped end over end until he was right above the creature's head. When he was, he threw his feet down, thrusting the bottom of his boots into the top of it's head and slamming it's skull into the earth beneath them. He then rolled over the creature's back until he was right side up again and landed on one side of the creature. As the Katarn pulled it's head up out of the dirt, it glanced over at Varus with a less than pleased look on it's face, but as it did it was too late. Varus had summoned the force into his free palm and thrust his hand into the lizard like beast's side.

It's body was lifted up and thrown across the clearing through the air, falling in the direction of Vol who was still on sitting on his knees and directing his minions. As the Katarn flew helplessly at it's Master, Varus raced off across the clearing towards them both, intent on capitalizing on Vol's soon to be made mistake. If he protected himself from the falling Katarn, Varus was almost certain that he wouldn't be able to defend himself as he followed up with a slash to his midsection.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian Karr:

Kian was impressed with the force push from his apprentice, but he didn't have the opportunity to focus on it. The other two were regaining their footing and circling around. [member="Varus Shatterstar"] leapt into the fray against Vol and one of the two katarn's turned as if to follow. Kian used the force and threw a large rock, which struck it in the side of the head. It had the desired effect, as the katarn turned and roared at Kian and came charging at him.

Kian had to trust in his apprentices abilities against Vol, because it would take all his attention to deal with the two beasts in front of him. Katarn's weren't immune to lightsabers, but they had thick hides and could take a beating. As the one charged him, Kian leapt up and over, coming down within striking distance of the other. Lifting his blade, cut down, severing part of a claw and then had to dive away from the swipe of a tail.

While this happened Kian was stretching out into the force, feeling their minds. Vol's connection was weakening but it wasn't weakening enough for him to try and enter their minds. Kian was a strong telepath, but Vol was a prodigy when it came to beast mastery. Hopefully his concentration would slip enough in the fight against Varus.

Vol Vallen:

Vol's eyes shot open as the katarn flew at him and he was forced to abandon his position and leap aside. Before he had much of a chance to recover, the young human was attacking him, his blade coming at his midsection. Vol reached for his lightsaber, but he wasn't going to be fast enough. Instead he threw himself sideways and nudged the man's blade aside with the force.

Uncliping his lightsaber from his belt, Vol ignited the emerald blade and sidestepped in the hopes of putting himself behind Vol. Vol struck at Varus's back with a thrust of his saber and followed this up with downward cut of the blade, hoping to hit the young human above the left knee. Vol wasn't a particularly skilled duelist, but nor was he a novice. As a practitioner of Niman he liked to use the force in combat and to improvise as he fought. With this in mind, he used the force to lift up and throw a fallen branch at Varus as he struck at him.

 

[Varus Shatterstar]

Varus had already been channeling the force through his core as he attacked Vol, watching as the Knight narrowly avoided his attack and maneuvered around behind him. That might have been the end of Varus had he not been as strongly connected to the force as he was. The force was as a brother to him, when to others it was but a whisper. Even as a Padawan, the force had always called to him, bellowing and burning in the back of his mind when there was danger that warranted his attention.

Varus dashed forward with one long stride, avoiding Vol's initial thrust, but as Vol followed through with his downward cut at his legs and threw a fallen branch at him, the young Padawan saw no other course of action. His legs swelled with the force and launched him straight up into the air, his body flipping backwards as Vol missed his attack with his blade and the tree branch passed beneath him. As Varus came vertical in his flip, head over heels, he threw out his hands, saber clutched tightly in his teeth, and called the force to either of his palms.

He'd never tried anything like this before, and in fact, it was entirely off the top of his head. It wasn't until that moment that he was employing the use of Niman, a Form of combat with baser skills and techniques that allowed for a great deal of creativity and originality from the practitioner. That moment he knew that it was going to be where he excelled as a Jedi. That moment, he didn't hold back for the sake of Vol. In but an instant he unleashed a massive wave of the force, truthfully too much to have relinquished that early in the fight, but as he passed over the Knight's head he knew that Vol would be hard pressed to avoid the attack from below. If he didn't find a way, he might very well be crushed between the wall of energy and the ground, yet if he did avoid it or defend against it, he might very well be be drained by the time it was all over.

It was a wild card he'd played. One that could have backfired, but if the element of surprise was still in tact, then he'd have Vol on the ropes.

[member="Kian Karr"]