All in the Footwork (Open to SSC, others PM to join)

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni smiled warmly to Vorian. He didn't often get praised for his physical abilities. Even if he lost, he knew he had learned a few things from their fight. "Don't think you can pull that trick on me next time, though!" The Hutt grimaced as he remembered his wrist. The wound didn't warrant a trip to the infirmary, but it did sting a little. Tyyni didn't blame his duel partner for the wound, though. If anything, his own aggressive attack was the cause.

Tyyni let his smile drip down into a neutral face as his Master. He did slow his fall a little, but he had a far way to go. "Of course, Master. I'll make sure to land on my... er..." Tyyni didn't know the correct word for the expression he was going for. He never learned, never been around another Hutt. And he didn't exactly have feet. "...Not on my face." Tyyni laughed, embarassed, and turned to a couple of newcomers. They seemed to be twins. And they were congratulating... him? "I don't deserve this praise. The winner of the match is standing across from me."

With a satisfied nod, Tyyni glanced around the courtyard, looking for a show.

[member="The Wicked Truth"] @Quenladose @Vorian Adasca [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Setzi Lunelle"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Watching the new faces battle it out - [member="Vorian Adasca"] v [member="Tyyni Oluja"] and saw [member="The Wicked Truth"] waiting, looking eager to show her stuff. While he watched, he folded his arms and continued to talk to [member="Keira Ticon"].

"I didn’t say you just need a good hand with a saber to win a fight, I know more about that than most. Especially when it comes to you.”

He walked forward, around the outside of the Padawans, seeing [member="Setzi Lunelle"] sitting upfront and watching, and was welcomed by [member=Quenladose].

"Thank you, Quenladose. It’s been a while, but you look well. Very well. Please, meet my friend and resident pain in the backside, Keira Ticon. Keira, this is Knight Quenladose.”

Connor turned to Keira.

"Let the eager beavers finish their duel now, Keira, don’t rush. I want to see who wins and what makes them think they actually won before showing them that was nothing more than luck.”

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi watched the first duel until it was over, and then she rose up to come within earshot to what each padawan was saying to each other. The presence of Master Harrison also warranted her attention, as well as the entire courtyard it seemed. But this was understandable. Connor Harrison was the most powerful Jedi here… or was he? There was another who had a similar aura. The girl in the green armor, a person she had not been introduced to yet, was also undeniably a Master.

The brunette padawan knew that another duel was materializing, but she also couldn’t tell who was going to spar next. Would it be [member="Quenladose"] against the petite, dark-haired Jedi? Or would Master Harrison show them all what expert saber fighting looked like?

Walking down the stairs to join the circle of students, she put herself in the proximity to spar. After watching Tyyni and Padawan Adasca battle it out, Setzi desperately wanted to fight herself. But she was wary – especially with Master Harrison watching.
Did she want to better her skills? Or was the lust for conflict a simmering ember left over from the darkside? Still, she had an idea on how to prevent an appearance of rage or dark frustration.

“I’d like to practice Soresu if anyone would like to try and wear me down,” the padawan said to the group with a subtle smile.

She would not use Makashi, her preferred form. Her muscle memory for Form II, practiced over countless hours as a Sith Lord, included finishing moves which could separate a skull from a spine and pierce a beating heart in under two seconds if she was close enough to her opponent. She did not need to tempt fate today, nor show off.

Way of the Mynock it would be.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member="Tyyni Oluja"] [member="The Wicked Truth"] [member="Keira Ticon"].

 

[Connor Harrison]

Momentarily distracted by [member="Setzi Lunelle"] making herself known, which was positive, Connor rested his chin on his hand and swivelled to [member="Keira Ticon"] and muttered.

"Former Sith. I’d love to see if you can break her. Let me see what she’s made of.”

 

[Keira Priest]

When [member="Connor Harrison"] introduced her she couldn't help but flash a smile, shaking her head. "See, I can tell you're starting to like me. Introduced me as your friend before calling me a pain. That counts for something." With two turns of her head to each side she cracked her neck, flexing her knuckles and eliciting the same popping sounds. This was her own method of preparing for a fight. Not much of one, but it was. "So you're saying I still get to knock you down after this is said and done? Fair enough. I suppose I can make the sacrifice." Still carrying that same playful air she bumped into him purposefully as she walked by, glancing back to him with a raised brow for nothing more than a split second.

Her left hand fell at more of an angle to her side, vaguely reminiscent of a ready position, saber hilt seeming to fall into her grasp from her waist. The orange blade ignited with a snap-hiss and she spun it with a flick of her wrist, an unspoken challenge directed towards [member="Setzi Lunelle"]. It struck her that the bout would be largely unbalanced given the gaps between their skill, but given that the woman was a former Sith Lord that pang didn't ring too deep. "I'd be up for it, if you don't mind." No proper stance was taken. Instead she shifted her feet shoulder-width apart, weapon held loosely at her side. "Don't hold back, if you'd be so kind. I'm sure you already know well enough, but you won't be granted the same kindness here as you would on the battlefield. So go ahead and act like you're trying to kill me." A small smile. "I'm used to it."

[member="Tyyni Oluja"], [member="Quenladose], [member="Vorian Adasca"], [member="The Wicked Truth"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

It appeared they were going to use real sabers and not training swords, so Setzi pulled out her own saber handle from her utility belt. Already she felt in over her head, unfamiliar with Soresu and fighting a Jedi Master. In her mind was a muddled discussion:

What were you thinking, you silly, sad nuna? You'll never win this one, she told herself.

Yet... there is no ignorance, there is knowledge. You know what you’re doing, Setzi! Concentrate on what you know.

But Master Ticon wanted to open with an attack or so it seemed.

Should she give into the challenge, or hop to her back foot and allow her opponent the first attempted strike instead?

The brunette padawan ignited her blade, a blue lightsaber forged from an azure crystal with which she bonded on Ilum during a trip with Knight Mullarus. She then opened with a Makashi stance and began a few sharp jabs towards her opponent. Her goal was to switch to Soresu and not get caught up in the heady rush of Form II for too long. Just enough to knock the dark-haired Jedi off of her feet if her rapid fire onslaught was not met with careful parrying by Master Ticon’s orange blade.

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

[member="Tyyni Oluja"] had encouraged her to attend the sparring session. She was late to the gathering and looked on as at least a couple of training bouts were already underway. Sorel was crestfallen. She didn't like to be late and she enjoyed watching (as opposed to doing) even less.

She nervously fiddled with her cloak as she cast her gaze about the assembled Silver Jedi - hoping to see a familiar face but identifying none. But she was hardly a shrinking violet and so she cleared her throat with an audible cough louder than she expected. "If anyone needs someone to practice with, I'm game." She glanced around, hopefully. Please, her face said - even without words - don't leave me hanging.

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Quenladose"] [member="Vorian Adasca"] [member=The Wicked Truth"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Nodding after watching [member="Vorian Adasca"] and [member="Tyyni Oluja"] come to an end, each displaying a unique way of combat, Connor turned to [member="Setzi Lunelle"] and [member="Keira Ticon"] and had his eyes ready. However, the request of another new face - [member="Sorel Crieff"] - got his attention, and he sensed a great fear in her of not being looked upon or challenged.

He looked back again to Setzi and Keira, and then at the young Padawan. Part of him was going to ignore her, but that wouldn’t be who Connor was. Regardless of his short comings and how they looked upon him, he wasn’t going to give his title of Master a bad rep.

"Padawan, if nobody takes your call, I am happy to let you practice against me.”

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She sensed his powerful aura and surmised he was a Master. She bowed politely and introduced herself. "I am Sorel Creiff, Padawan to Master Matsu Ike. I accept your challenge to a spar." There was a confidence in her voice. Perhaps just a little too much?

With that she shrugged out of her dark brown cloak. Her robes were broadly traditional but her tabard was animal hide although brown like the remainder of her clothes. She removed the two sabers attached her her belt and set them to training level - still capable of a nasty bruise or burn but with no risk of losing a limb. She considered attaching them initially but decided to hold back for now. Instead she held one with her right hand - high above her head and angled back and down at an approximate forty-five degree angle. The other she held in her left, horizontal and at waist height, across her body from left to right. She wasn't powerful - but she was quick and relied on speed of counter as opposed to strength when it came to saber contests.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Quenladose]

So much going on now as she was watching the other jedi alla round them while the padawans were pairing off and she hopped onto her padawans back sitting there. The small petite woman laughing a little to herself while she sat there focused and ready to duel and spar with the ones who wanted to. Her pair of sabers were on her belt before she waited to see who might be fun to test. Her charric blade was there on her back while she pulled the sheath from her spine holding it with a bow of her head. "Padawan you have done well and should be able to rest if needed or work with one fo the others to spar again."

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a nod, Connor summoned everything about the Jedi he was inside to the surface. It had been…well….a hell of a long time before he’d actively sparred against a Padawan, let alone one he didn’t know. This wasn’t a duel to the death, not a duel fuelled from anger or vengeance – this was helping a young Jedi learn and express her gift, and he was to make sure she did.

With a nod and a smile, he tried to cut a string from the past holding him back. He had to enjoy this, but make it worth her while and not disappoint. Walking forward, he rubbed his hands together and took his silver hilt in hand, notching down the power so not to take her head or hand. Glancing up, he had to double take when he saw both hands holding a hilt – he didn’t expect two blades.

He swallowed gently. He hadn’t had to go easy in a duel in what felt like forever. This could be embarrassing in front of not just the others, but also Keira who would LOVE to see him stumble.

”Connor Harrison,” he ignited his blue blade with a sharp snap-hiss, ”at your service, Sorel.”

He looked at [member="Sorel Crieff"] and noted both hands, both angels of her blades and her stance. There was no point pretending he was a Master like the others who smiled, pandered and wrapped in bantha wool – he would do things his way that would push the Padawan to their limit mentally and physically to unlock the real Jedi inside.

Then, he killed his blade and stood up from his position and walked over a few paces.

”Sorry, Sorel. Can I see your lightsaber please, the defensive one.”

He held out his hand.

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] | [member="Quenladose"] | [member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Vorian Adasca"] | [member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She stood there for a few moments. Part of her was unsure what to do next. And not just a small part of her. Her former Master was a strict disciplinarian - quite unlike her current Master - who was more knowledgeable and, to be honest, did not focus on her faults the way the old Gran had. Not that it made either of them right or wrong - they were simply different. And almost all of her saber practice had been under his tutelage. And his first rule? Once the saber is activated, the spar begins. Until one of you yields you play by only one rule - there are no rules.

Had she handed her saber over to Maw right now, the Gran would have no doubt punished her for it. But this Silver Jedi, Connor, was not Maw. So she was in two minds. But then she couldn't stand here all day and pontificate, and had to make a decision immediately. Better to be disciplined for trusting than chastised for burning a Jedi Master.

So she kept her right hand exactly where it was and flicking the activation switch of her other hilt with her thumb, she heard it hiss-snap and then flipped it in the air, catching it so the hilt-butt faced away from her. Then she tossed it to the Jedi Master, and awaited his reaction.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The hilt extinguished her blade, and he caught it when she threw it over. Looking at it, it was a good design and seemed to be moulded for a small palm like hers. He smiled.

”Rule one,” he threw the lightsaber down a few feet of the incline he had walked up. Then, he ignited his blade again. ”Never question your instinct when your blade is ignited – it will mean life or death. Trust nobody but yourself.”

Carving the air gently between them, Connor side-stepped towards her, blade out and swung it around to the mid-riff to begin testing her defensive and evasive technique.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni conferred with his master. "I need no rest yet, Master. It is only a sprain, I think. I can walk it off."

Letting his eyes wander across the courtyard, Tyyni noticed a few other matches taking place. He saw [member="Connor Harrison"] and [member="Sorel Crieff"] begin theirs, and decided to go watch. He had asked Padawan Crieff out here. They had met briefly, and Tyyni had told her of his plans to go spar, and told her that she could come if she wanted. Apparently, she wanted to duel a master. Tyyni had heard of Master Harrison's unorthodox teaching methods, and decided to watch the bout. Bowing to Master [member="Quenladose"] and [member="Vorian Adasca"], the Hutt slithered closer to the fight, excited about what was to come.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She had a number of thoughts – all at the same time. None were repeatable in polite company, not that she had the time.

She lacked power but not pace, so as he closed to attack, she brought her other blade down. If Djem So was temporarily not an option, given she was on the back foot, then her other default Form, Soresu, was in order. As he swung to her mid-riff, she parried the blade with her own – two hands on the hilt as her golden blade pushed his outside and up. She moved at the same time, heading towards where he had tossed her other hilt.

“Rule two,” she countered, a wicked smile on her lips, “Most Jedi – even Padawans – have learned Force Pull.” With a satisfying thwack it connected with her now outstretched palm and she activated it and assumed her previous stance. “And if I were you, I’d put my trust in someone smarter.”

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The blades connected, and their movements were to counter each other. Sorel moved light on her feet, turning their position to be near the incline out, and in a position to call her hilt. Connor watched and raised his brow slightly at her confidence.

”Very good. You control your ability well.”

Now gauging the two blades, Connor moved forward, looking her in the eyes. Doing so, he looked into what was happening BEHIND the shell. She was stubborn, eager to prove she was the best and there was a sliver of arrogance.

”You carry a lot of weight on those young shoulders Sorel, don’t let it crush you.”

With that, he had found an image – a Gran; a Master of hers? A friend? He quickly used it and called to her inside her head.

”Sorel.”

He would just plant her name, and move quick as he did, seeing how she would fare with the light manipulation of what was inside her mind. A dangerous place for those wanting to break, manipulate and scare someone. His blade would be kept mid-height in order for her to utilise both of hers to defend her whole body.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She was confident. Kark it, she was arrogant. It was a line she’d always walked but invariably fallen on the side of conceit. She always countered that it was easier to rein in overconfidence than to become self-assured. But then she would say that, wouldn’t she? Her Master said this was simply a manifestation of her pride. She said he was plain wrong. Like many things she used to hold as strengths. But she was in danger of dismissing all he taught her – because of his terrible secret.

But she was in the here and now. She was poised to counter. He was no doubt stronger but she wondered if she had the pace to slip through his defences and two sabers were not something he would have encountered every day – even if she was only a relative novice with them so far. Unfamiliarity was invariably a tool to be exploited. It planted doubt in your opponent’s mind. And she had another trick up her sleeve for later.

Yet he held back – which is when she felt him in her mind. It felt wrong, like a Sith trick. But then, dark siders were who she would ultimately face. Yet the sensation was disconcerting. A blade she could block, but how do you parry this kind of attack without being distracted?

Which is where she found her next move from. If it was a challenge to fight him off mentally as well as his blades, it stood to reason he couldn’t continue to attack her mentally and parry her attack. Which was sound – as theories go.

So she led with her left, a simple blow, to the right elbow. The logical defence was to push her blade out and away – which would open his other side up to her right hand – so she aimed for his knee with her second saber. No real power, just pace.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Keira Priest]

There was experience behind those initial strikes made, of that Keira had no doubt. The precision that accompanied them was far too deft to belong to the seeming Padawan that had wanted to test her skill in Soresu mere moments earlier. This was a highly refined warrior that possessed a finely tuned skill with a blade and knew it, a far cry from the mantle of student she took on. Without a commentary as to her fighting style she blocked each strike by pushing away the jabs, a technique that would reliably leave one's opponent open, had she been looking to counter. But she was holding back, at least for a little while. This was a scenario meant to test the mind and mettle of a student, and while she believe in pushing one past their limits, it wasn't quite time just yet.

"I thought I told you not to hold back." The comment was made idly, almost without thought, this habit of prodding at others something [member="Connor Harrison"] would most certainly recognize. Once again she spun her weapon with a turn of her wrist, tip sparking across the ground just slightly, a gesture that could at once be taken as a threat and a taunt. She had been requested to determine just what [member="Setzi Lunelle"] was capable of, and wouldn't shy away from that. "If this was a real fight we both know you wouldn't defer to a secondary form. Don't doubt yourself, because that will be the death of you in no time. You Jedi always preach about letting the Force flow through you, so listen to it."

That might have been crossing a line, but she wasn't concerned with those boundaries. It was all part of the exercise, and there would be more pressure than this put on her when it came to a true fight. "Come on, Padawan. Try again."

 

[The Wicked Truth]

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

Well if everyone was pearing up they might as well find someone to diel as the duel hopped up looking over at them all. There was some interesting ones facing off against the jedi masters... and master Quenladose was standing ready for anything but the twins wanted to ease into the dueling scene while they both looked at the hutt and walked over to him offering a smile. Their voices coming out in unison as they were focusing the force to coordinate with each other. "So do you want to pair up against us?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

The distraction was there, and it wasn’t about getting the upper-hand. Connor could feel this young one was fuelled with a strong desire to succeed, but she was arrogant. He had to tread a little carefully. Or, did he?

She picked her attack well, forcing him to block one side and then near jump back on the heel for the block coming in low. Now he was on the back foot. Two sabres was his weakness; he had never been the best at this style of combat.

Connor swung left and hard, like swinging a bat, and after the attack he spiralled and did it again, this time from the right – two heavy swings –swish swish! – as the flurry of blades moved between them. Her speed was her greatest skill.

”Focus, Sorel. You’re spiking – arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand.”

[member="Sorel Crieff"]