An Army of Clay, Flesh and Bone

[Isabet Denko]

She watched her opponent's outline fade as he ran. The but of her gun dug into the churned dirt as she lifted herself to her feet. She had taken less then three strides before she heard Strider's booming voice. Isabet reacted instantly, taking a leap into the air as her jet pack burst into life. She rocketed up in the sky a little way ahead of her companion. She felt the wave of heat raising up as she left the inferno behind her. She wouldn't let the Mon Cal slip away from her, but as she glanced down she could see nothing but a bright red glow.

@[member="Strider Garon"] @[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Marcus Faust]

@[member="Ember Rekali"] @[member="Darth Isolda"]

And so it began. Ember came in fas going low, but Vindica knew better than to trust the first strike, eight times out of ten his first strike was false, an it was this which allowed him to survive. He did lower his guard a bit, but stayed in a position where he could move to counter a false strike. But when Ember hit him, it wasn't Xhinx, only an illusi-imeanwat.

Vindica ducked low and stepped outside, Ember's saber whizzing overhead and the man himself going past. Without pause he swung horizontally at Ember's back with intent to bisect him and end the engagement before it began. But life was never that simple.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Darth Vindica"]
A duck telegraphed like nothing else, and Ember planted his left foot to arrest his momentum, then swivelled his feet to reverse his stance and turn right rapidly in the process. It didn't quite get him fully facing Vindica, but close enough. His left hand let go of his sabre, and he flicked out his forearm like he was going for an inside-outside unarmed block. Rather than wind up with the blade at three o'clock as if stabbing it into a wall, however, he kept it at twelve o'clock, as if he was hitting said imaginary wall with a hammerfist. Vindica's strike slammed into Ember's blade just above the emitter.

He stepped back with his left foot, then, using the motion to straighten out the orientation of his stance and really face Vindica. @[member="Darth Isolda"] was off behind him somewhere, or off to his left side; this moment was about instinct, and Vindica was more important just now. Ember stepped in again, left foot forward, then another step to get into sabre range again. All true motion began at the feet, and he uncoiled like a spring, aiming to carve Vindica in half at the waist.

 

[Marcus Faust]

As the blades clashed Vindica made to move his blade down and through the saber, leaving Ember without a lightsaber, however the man moved to fast for anything of that sort to occur. Planting his right foot he bent at the knee, and the second @[member="Ember Rekali"] launched forward, so did he. Twisting his blade downward he caught Rekali's strike as the two speeding force users met. Stepping out and to the right Vindica spun, swinging at the Mandolorian's side, hopefully catching one of the gaps in the beskar.

@[member="Darth Isolda"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Darth Vindica"]

Mobile, whirling fighters - both of his Masters had followed that philosophy, though Ember was more a man of power than of mobility, at least in a lightsabre duel. On the other hand, about three-quarters of his training directly pertained to physical enhancement, to making himself faster as well as stronger, improving his senses and the instincts of his body. He spun in toward Vindica and raised his hand, inverted lightsabre sweeping across his body to catch the slash and attempt to shove it high. As his spin stopped, right side near Vindica, his left hand whipped up, and a Thorn of Ryloth hookblade, humming with electricity, snapped out of his sleeve. He stepped in again, blades locked for the moment, too close for anyone's comfort, and attempted to jam that hookblade into Vindica's saber hand. This was long range for such a small weapon, but even a grazing contact would send a brutal amount of amperage cascading into the Sith Master's defenses.

 

[Marcus Faust]

The sabers violently clashed, hissing in discontent, but more importantly the sound made the sound of an activating hook unnoticeable to the now hyperfocused Vindica. The second it touched the Sith jerked back, but the voltage still had it's effect. However Vindica would not be out of the duel yet, tossing his saber into the air with a spin, he caught it with his other hand while the momentarily inactive emitter faced @[member="Ember Rekali"]. With the hilt held in a reverse grip he ignited it and allowed the blade to extend forward and run through the unprotected face of his upon if he didn't adjust. Vindica wouldn't leave this to chance however, and despite pain, used his free arm to let loose a purple-blue torrent of force lightning.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ember couldn't help but admire @[member="Darth Vindica"]'s coordination. The green blade flicked to the right just as Vindica activated the weapon. Finding the exact perfect moment to smash the blade sideways in the process of extension -- that would have been a move for a blademaster. Instead, Ember just got his sabre in the way, turned the blade sideways, and let Vindica's rapidly, forcefully extending blade ram itself into the flat of Ember's lightsabre. Jolting the emitter back in his hand, possibly weakening his grip, maybe burning his hand if Ember was lucky.

And Ember could sure use a little luck, because that lightning sent him flying.

 

[Marcus Faust]

The grip he had on the saber weakened momentarily before he flipped it back into the standard grip. He had an advantage at present with the lightning, and he didn't plan to relinquish it any time soon. He kept the torrent flowing as he slowly closed the gap between himself and @[member="Ember Rekali"]. The pain from the arm was ridiculous, usually after being electrocuted one didn't using electric attacks, but the Sith Assassin had felt worse, and knew for the sake of @[member="Darth Isolda"] he needed to suffer through.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Darth Vindica"]
His sabre had deactivated as he fell, but against the stream of lightning he forced his arm toward the fallen weapon, and snagged it. The blade snapped to life between the two Masters, and he put all he had into gathering the lightning upon the blade. Still twitching with stray current and hot sparks, he rose with a grunt, lightning still grounding itself on his upraised lightsabre.

Against the force of Vindica's barrage, he took a step, and then another, sabre held two-handed.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

((Back from my LOA, sorry for the lateness of this post!

Vornskr held the blade at bay for a few moments longer before the vision of the Prophet surged through him, and he saw the imminent danger approaching. He cut off the lightning surging from his left hand, before welling the Force within his fist to deliver a telekinetic punch to Ordo's midsection that would hopefully send the Mandalorian back a few yards or so to create some distance between him and the Sith Lord. Then, with all of his might, he summoned forth a shield of energy to surround himself as the shells detonated and blanketed the area in white hot death. It took all of his strength to hold the shield as the inferno raged outside, and he buckled to one knee as the shield threatened to collapse, but with a last surge of strength it held as the inferno subsided away from him. With a mighty roar he pushed outward with the force, sending the flames and other debris flying outward away from him. Lucky for the Mandalorians and their damnable Beskar plate armor.

Vornskr reactivated his lightsaber, and stalked towards where he guessed Ordo had been throw or wherever he had gone to escape the blast. Their fight was not yet done.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Darth Vornskr"]. ((No worries, I was glad to wait. But now I have to use theatrical tom foolery on you.))

The punch in the force collided with hom almost as soon as the lighting stopped. He tumbled backwards across the ground as the liquid fire spread across the ground and bathed him in flames. His armor was made for handling the heat of atmospheric reentry but it still burned.

He pushed himself up to a knee as the chemicals burned on his plates. The flames licked and danced across his plates as he gained his feet and reignited his orange blade. He turned toward the Sith Lord as he approached and assumed the Djem So stance. The fire would slowly burn out but for now the Mandalorian face the Sith while flames clung to his armor.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

(Didn't see the post)

@[member="Darth Shara"]

"You..."Preliat screamed through the torrential rain of lightning that tore through his body. He was glad he had the armorweave now, but it hurt, it hurt like nothing else he had ever experienced. His nervous system was practically on fire. His HUD went haywire, but still retained the capability for voice commands. Using his crushgaunts, Preliat dug his hand under the plated skin of the man before him, and went to literally tear off part of his skin. With his other hand, the plasma torch died out for a moment, before a jetison of napalm spewed forth. It would splash the Sith in the face, before shortly, the plasma torch reactivated.

"WILL BURN IN HELL!"He finished, as the lightning tore through his body. His body was on fire, but the Sith was about to literally have the rest of his head burnt off. There was no defending it, nothing could help the Sith now. But in the meantime, as napalm scorched his face and he went to tear off the armored plate on his arm, Preliat dealt with lightning coursing through his body, wreaking havoc on his nervous system and his muscles. It was a terrible feeling, to be coursed you entire body with such pain. It was awful, but what the Sith was about to experience, would be worse.

At least, Preliat hoped. And at worst, if the Sith moved, it would set alight the Sith woman behind him, the liquid fire raining from his wrist, the reserves of his flamethrower going into this desperate attempt to cling to life.

 

[Darth Isolda]

@[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

Isolda ignored the woman, she was like a buzzard harping around her head. No, her attention lay at the the battle that raged beyond, the fire in the distance reflecting in her eyes.

"F̶i͜g͡h̸t̢ ͘f͡o͏r͟ ̕th̶e G̨odd͠es̷s...̷ ̨a̷ńd͏ ̸y͟o̵u s͟h͢all͠ fi͜n̨d̷ ou͢t," said Isolda to the woman, indicating that if she fought against the Mandalorians, she would be seemingly welcomed into the fold.

It was a challenge. A choice. You were either with them. Or against them. The Chosen of Vahla deemed it so, just like the fate of the heretic Vahla which Darth Vindica now fought against.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"You Mandalorians are nothing if not tenacious, that's the first time you people have napalmed your own positions. I fear if you utilized that tactic more on Junction, the planet would not have been razed off all life during the War." Vornskr rolled his shoulders as he casually let his hood fall back to reveal his features, a thick angular jawline, piercing emerald eyes, pale corpse-like skin, and a mane of black hair flowing down past his neck. The entire right side of his face was a ruined mess of flesh and bone, the result of a titanic battle between the Sith Lord and the Empress of Ten Thousand Worlds on Lwhekk. The burning inferno surrounding the battle zone cast eerie shadows across the Sith, making him appear more sinister than he actually was. An intimidating factor the surrounding environment could make, but against a battle hard soldier like Ordo it probably meant very little, but still... Made them both look badass.

With one hand, he beckoned the Mandalorian to come at him once more.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Darth Vornskr"]

The Battle of badasses had only just begun it seemed as the two warriors faced one another once more. Ordo hadn't met a Sith of this quality once at all during the war and for the vetran Mandalorian that was both a privilege and a compliment.

He slowly stepped toward the Sith moving his blade to be held infront of him as he edged near striking distance. The Sith's epic face bathed in the glow of the battle field while the flames slowly burned on Ordo's armor. To on lookers they must have been a fearsome thing to behold.

Ordo raised his blade for his opening strike and let the 'falling avalanche' of Djem So fly in a hard downward chop at the Sith's head. Once more the fight had begun.

 

[Marcus Faust]

Vindica was impressed, it took strength to do that, a lot of it. But @[member="Ember Rekali"]'s strength wouldn't save him, or at least he hoped not. Suddenly the torrent stopped and Vindica shot forward with a newfound rage, slamming his saber against Ember's. The rage was out of character, caused by a sweet voice calling out in his head, "Marcus? Marcus I'm scared, Marcus help me!"

His sister, Maria, she was in his head. Why was she in his head? He didn't need reminders of the past, Marcus was dead. Like her. The voice did nothing but fuel him with rage as he struck again and again at Ember's chest.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Vornskr raised his blade up in a defensive block as the Mandalorian's blade came down with tremendous force, the continuation of the fight opening up with a thunderous roar as the blades clashed. The flames clinging to Ordo's armor proved a possible threat, but Vornskr was not entirely worried moreso than he was about the Mandalorian's lightsaber. The hindsight given by Isolda made the fight much more manageable, but the future was always in flux and despite the aid given it wasn't something to be relied on. Their blades were a flash in the glow of the flame, a light in the ever present darkness surrounding them, and nothing could stand between them now. No Mandalorian nor Sith could come between them, as whatever Gods lurked in the darkness of space had personally selected this fight to remain uninterrupted once it had restarted.

Vornskr's face was a mask of ferocity, his mouth agape in a battle-snarl, his eyes blazing with the dark side, his hair whipping wildly in the wind. Spittle spewed from his mouth as he uttered a curse, "Your armor means nothing, Mandalorian! Your faith means even less, and I will enjoy breaking your spine across my knee and feasting upon the flesh of your fallen allies."

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Darth Vornskr"]

Ordo was no mystic and even farther from a Jetii monk but he was sure there was something more at work as the two unhindered warriors weaved a tapestry of death across the burning landscape. Perhaps one day soon it would be their peoples clashing across the galaxy as it burned beneath their feet.

Ordo's face was a scarred mask of determination and furious resolve behind his T-shaped visor. The sparks of the sabers bathed them as over and over blade met blade. The Sith was impressive and brutal, a worthy enemy if ever there was one. The Sith passed his guard once again hitying his heavy shoulder plate and sprayed bits of fire in all directions.

The Sith spoke as Ordo regained his rhythm and continued to attack and defend.

"You may scare Jedi and Men Dar jetii," Ordo replied through his helmets speakers, (prepare for cliche bravado) "but I am beskar." Strike parry. "I am flames." Parry strike parry. "I fight for the Manda." Clash! Hisss strike. "And I know. No. FEAR!"

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Then I will make you know fear, Mandalorian." Vornskr said as he blocked a strike from Ordo, before moving from the block into a swift counter attack towards his defenses. Then he unleashed his true power, the power of the mind. True power did not lie with armies, or armor, or even weapons, but with knowledge and the power of will. The mind of mortals could be easily twisted and warped to your own desires, but the mind of Force users, no matter the allegiance, were made of sterner stuff. However; to a mental master like Vornskr, he took great pleasure in torturing the mind of his foes. It was one of his many passions, besides woman and wine, and he always felt a little spike of pride in him when he was successful. It was that mind that expanded outward to probe and prod at Ordo's, trying to fill it with nightmarish visions of every horror imaginable. The death of his comrades, his comrades betraying him, his culture being snuffed out and Mandalore burning until it was nothing but a lifeless husk.

All things are possible with the power of the Force, but these were all farces conjured by Vornskr.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Darth Vindica"]

Repeated lightsabre chops in the general direction of Ember's chest? Oh, that he could handle. Solid, powerful Djem So blocks, each one a strike designed to jar Vindica's hands, slammed into the Sith Lord's incoming blows. Ember set his feet in a firm, forward-heavy stance, his green blade ricocheting between power postures. This range, this scenario, was his game, and he returned the strikes with the full force and speed of a Master who'd put about three-quarters of his training time into physical enhancement.