Public Branches and Blades

[Braze]

Under the boughs of a serene cherry orchard, the first light of dawn cast a soft golden glow upon the dew-kissed grass. Braze, the young warrior with a determined glint in his pale jade eyes, stood amidst the trees with a pair of wooden sticks in hand. These were no ordinary sticks; they were makeshift swords, emulating the feel of the blades he aspired to master.

With each swing, the sticks cut through the air, creating a dance of motion and anticipation. Above him, boards suspended from ropes hung from the sturdy tree branches. These hanging boards served as his training targets, a challenge to test his sword techniques and hone his skills. His eyes are covered with a dark satin cloth.

In the early hours of practice, Braze's enthusiasm was palpable. He thrust, parried, and lunged, his youthful energy propelling him forward. His strikes were swift and decisive, mirroring the echoes of battles that reverberated in his mind. In his eagerness to prove himself, he swung with gusto, but the rebound of the hanging boards caught him off guard. The wooden sticks recoiled, and he found himself struck by his own backswing, wincing at the stinging impact.

Undeterred, he stepped back, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. With each successive attempt, he improved, learning from his mistakes and adapting his technique. His relentless attitude drove him to turn setbacks into stepping stones on his path. As the sun climbed higher, its warm rays filtered through the cherry blossoms, casting a mesmerizing pattern of light and shadow. Amidst this picturesque setting, Braze continued his practice, sweat glistening on his brow. With each strike, he grew more adept, fluidly avoiding the backswings and displaying newfound grace and control.

 

[Abraham Crowe]

“You’re getting good, young padawan. However, real opponents tend to fight back though.” The pirate said as he leaned against a nearby tree. He had shrouded his presence in the force. Letting the it go as he spoke. Truth be told, Abraham was a little bored. He was on this planet to refuel and resupply, but had wandered off into the nearby woods after he had grown bored in town.

“If you want someone to spar with, I’d gladly offer up my services.” It was a sincere offer. Not some veiled threat. His voice held no malice. Despite being a Dark Side user, and member of the Sith Order, Abraham didn’t particularly ascribe to most of their common beliefs. He found the whole Jedi vs Sith mentality so bothersome. They were different sides of the same coin.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Abraham Crowe

​

Braze was deeply engrossed in his practice, the sound of his wooden sticks slicing through the air, and the soft thuds against the hanging boards forming a rhythmic pattern. He had set up his makeshift training course, honing his sword techniques with dedication and focus.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the tranquility, momentarily startling him. His heart raced, and he drew back, stepping out of his little circle of hanging boards. The voice was not a familiar one. A ripple of uncertainty washed over him, but he swiftly shifted his grip on the wooden sticks, preparing for whatever lay ahead.

A skilled Force user, Braze relied on the Force to assist him, and he proved his mastery by exerting his will over the swaying boards and ropes, steadying them with an unseen hand. His blindfold, now coated in sweat from his rigorous training, was pushed up, revealing somber jade eyes, curious to ascertain the identity of the intruder.

"Fight back, huh?" Braze repeated, his voice laced with both intrigue and caution. He scanned the man before him, trying to gauge his intentions and capabilities. A hint of a challenge gleamed in his eyes, but his demeanor remained composed.

In a display of casual confidence, Braze twirled the wooden stick and flipped it over in his hand a few times before tossing it effortlessly to the man. It was a gesture of both acknowledgment and readiness.

"Alright, so let's spar," he agreed simply, his voice firm and decisive. Braze had never been one to shy away from challenges or strangers. The prospect of testing his skills against a new opponent fueled his competitive spirit, and he was always eager to learn from such encounters.

 

[Abraham Crowe]

Abraham easily caught the wooden sword. Giving it a few test swings to get used to the weight. “Alright.” He said pushing himself off the tree he was leaning against. “Any rules? I’d hate for you to call me a cheater?” He asked as he placed his left hand behind his back. He preformed a Makashi salute with the wooden blade on his right hand.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Abraham Crowe

​

In the midst of the training grounds, Braze found himself facing a new opponent, a fellow warrior whose skills were yet unknown to him. A brief exchange of words and nods served as an unspoken agreement to spar, but Braze sensed that this was not a time for playful banter.

"Let's not maim one another. Savy?" Braze offered, his voice calm and composed. His intention was clear; this was to be a respectful and controlled encounter, not a reckless brawl. He returned the gesture, with a graceful flourish and bow.

Makashi, the form of lightsaber combat that Braze sought to master, demanded precision and poise. With a traditional, poised stance, he shifted slightly, avoiding being squared to his new opponent. The training grounds fell silent, and Braze's mind sharpened its focus on the upcoming duel.

They were both armed with solid wooden poles, lacking the usual training blades he was accustomed to. While welts might not be an immediate concern, they were well aware that considerable damage could still be inflicted.

With a calculated approach, Braze chose to favor a proactive style of parrying, ready to start working his cuts behind his opponent's swings. He would aim to use their momentum against them, displacing their strikes and finding openings to counter. His movements were fluid yet controlled.

 

[Abraham Crowe]

Abraham’s fighting style was anything but graceful. “No maiming?” He nodded. “Alright, seems easy enough.” His left hand behind his back shifted down as he used the force to pull a wooden target down from its rope. He then flicked his fingers out sending the wooden projectile at Braze. With Braze slightly turned turned to avoid being squared on, he had picked a wooden target on Braze’s off side. Hoping to slam the wooden training dummy into his back to see how he would respond to such a move.

He wouldn’t give Braze much time to recover though. Launching himself forward. He swung wildly. Easily telegraphing a swing from the right. One of two things was going to happen in Abraham’s mind. If Braze went for a block, he would drop his shoulder and body slam the Padawan. If Braze didn’t block, he would follow through with the swing into a barrage of sweeping slashes.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Abraham Crowe

​

Braze's instincts warned him that something was amiss behind him, but he refused to divert his focus from Abraham, he knew better than to look away, keeping his eyes locked onto his opponent's every move.

With a quick, calculated motion, Abraham struck, catching Braze on the back of his shoulder with a well-placed projectile. A sound of pain escaped Braze's lips, but he didn't let it deter him. His eyes narrowed, and he shifted slightly.

As Abraham advanced, Braze saw an opportunity. Instead of blocking, he moved to parry, following just behind Abraham's cut. He used his opponent's momentum to his advantage, before thrusting forwards.

 

[Abraham Crowe]

Abraham felt the blade deflect off his own. Coming down and connecting with his right shoulder, just as his left shoulder slammed into Braze in an attempt to knock the Jedi off balance. He made little effort to avoid the blows from Braze. He would would simply re-enforce his body with the force to be able to take the hits.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Abraham Crowe

​

Braze gritted his teeth as his strike connected with Abraham's 'bladea, the clash of energy resonating in the air around them. He felt the resistance against his 'training saber', the forceful impact traveling up his arms. However, his strike wasn't as effective as he had hoped, as Abraham's defense held firm.

But before Braze could react, he felt the unexpected force of Abraham's left shoulder colliding with his own. The impact caught him off guard, sending a jolt of surprise through his body. The collision disrupted his balance, causing him to stumble slightly. It was a move he hadn't anticipated, showcasing Abraham's ability to adapt and use unconventional tactics.

As the Padawan exchanged blows and collisions, Braze found himself faced with a seemingly impervious opponent. Abraham's willingness to absorb the hits rather than avoid them showed a level of confidence and mastery over the Force that Braze hadn't fully comprehended. He could sense the reinforcement of Abraham's body with the Force, a skill that highlighted the deeper layers of force user training that Braze still had much to learn about.

Braze's mind raced as he processed the situation. It was clear that a straightforward approach might not be enough to overcome Abraham's defense. He needed to adjust his strategy, to find a way to exploit the gaps in Abraham's stance or take advantage of his opponent's momentary lapses in focus.

He wouldn't let himself be outmaneuvered by his opponent. He would need to harness his own understanding of the Force and his combat skills to counter Abraham's tactics. He drew a steadying breath, channeling his frustration into renewed focus. Braze readied himself for the next exchange. As the clash of their sticks resumed, Braze's mind worked in tandem with his movements, searching for the opportune moment to strike and breakthrough Abraham's seemingly unyielding aggressive defense.

Although Braze was small he seemed to be doing a good job of standing up to Abraham's attacks, HE wasn't nearly as strong as the elder man but he was scrappy and willed with moxie that became evident in his fervor that didn't fade with any pain he took. It would seem Braze was rather used to working through some measure of pain in combat.