Common Courtesy

[Darlyn Excron]

The hiss and thrum of a lightsaber was a beautiful thing, relaxing and deadly. The yellow blade of Darlyn's weapon was especially beautiful for the man, who had long had this and his blaster as his sole companions in life. Made of scrap parts, and only refined in function and not form, it was oddly fitting for him. And as he turned the active weapon over in his hands, waiting for [member="Karren Trask"] to finally show up. He'd been bored lately, crime fighting without crime was a dull profession after all, and he'd chosen to help teach a woman looking around the Praxeum for help the other day.

So that explained why he was seated in one of the saber training rooms, donned in his usual soot black robes, broken only by the blue wing crest of Commenor on his breast. He'd forgone the top cloak, wearing only the tunic portions of his robes while leaving the remaining portions folded neatly beside himself, waiting patiently with his yellow blade ignited in hand, turning over, rotating around his hand. He had to keep himself entertained after all.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

The doors parted with a whoosh as she arrived. Instead of robes today, she was clad in trousers and loose fitting tunic. Tan to be precise, with her brown hair braided over her right shoulder. As she entered she spied her would be teacher, and nodded. Both of her hands hung loose at her sides.

"Knight Excron. A pleasure to see you again."

She was tired, from many missions. After a visit to her Silver Sun unit in GA space and a few assorted field trips she had decided it was time to touch up on her core competencies. To learn a more adaptable lightsaber craft. Shien had gotten her whooped in nearly every close encounter so far, though it had its uses.

"Shall we begin? Or is there a prologue to your form of choice?" She asked.

She was a novice, with neither an idea of footwork nor blademanship at his own preferred method.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"Minister Excron," He corrected her as he stood up, the weapon in his hand still ignited in his hand as he looked her over. She was exhausted, which would make teaching her difficult. Still, perhaps it would hone in on the main purpose of his lightsaber form if she was tired, he certainly had his own exhaustion (though less physical) to worry over. All the same, he'd at least take it slow for a moment. Only for a moment, though.

"A prologue eh? Well lets see, Niman is a form of moderation over excellency, and focuses on being something you don't need to practice with to be competent. You're not going to win a lot of duels or be useful on a battlefield if you use it alone without taking appropriate sections from other forms into your training regime, but it does a serviceable job at combating your street thugs and criminals. That said, Niman is important to understand the principles of if you wish to use Jar'Kai, because of its origins in a dual-weapon martial art, and because of the active use of the Force in combat. Just as it's important to study the previous five forms enough to know when to utilize more useful tactics in combat, studying Niman is important for using adaptability and the force."

"That all said, if you choose to actively practice Niman, you can become a formidable opponent, freely adapting on the go and borrowing where necessary to continue surviving. Don't underestimate the value of being versatile. Now then, would you prefer we start with a basic exercise to get your head into a Niman mindset, or would you rather get a royal smack down first to demonstrate?"

[member="Karren Trask"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

Karren raised an eyebrow. She considered for a moment getting a little demo but thought better of it. The best way to test a form was through combat, so she shook her head and lowered her eyebrows. From the small of her back she unsheathed her saber, a small silver cylinder and let her blade ignite.

A brilliant flare of emerald came bursting forth with that familiar snap hiss. She settled into her stance with grace, utilizing her Makashi training. Her hips faced away from Daryln, lead hip forward with her toe pointed. Her other foot went back, giving her a better platform of stability and she held the blade outstretched, elbow locked.

All he had for a target now was her side.

"Let's have a little hands on demo first. I like to get a feel for each form before I commit."

She nodded, letting him make the first move.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"Smart. I can appreciate that." He slowly lowered his weapon into a low guard, the blade pointed down, forward, and towards his left. It was more comfortable here, and it didn't betray his intent as he looked over [member="Karren Trask"] for an indication of her form.

Small target, was this Makashi? Damn, he usually had trouble against that form, its focus on bladework was an excellent counter to his lack of focus on bladework. However, the last time he'd faced off against that form, he was inexperienced in that form, having preferred to focus on his job than training. With his new focus, he was more prepared... he had to assume she either was using the form's basics or focused on the form based on what she did in response to his next act.

Very calmly, he let go of his saber with his left hand, flicking his wrist left to right, while in the same motion moving in and swinging upwards from his low guard, at her hip. A variant of the "draw closer" he particularly liked. Instead of pulling her into the path of his blade, his force attack was aimed at her legs, mostly her back leg, in an attempt to pull her legs out from under her and cut through her with his weapon (set to training, of course). Depending on her reaction he could judge how difficult it would be to offer a good training session.

It was common courtesy to do one's best, after all.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

She was not expecting the advance with the slash so low. This was something she had trouble with, which was parrying attacks she was not used to. As he slipped inside her range she tried to back up, but only got one step before she tripped. Flinging out her other hand she fell forwards, but still kept her other arm locked out.

Hunched over she blocked with a thrust in between the swings and then raised the blade up with a flourish to send his own away at an awkward angle. It bought her second to recover.

Her other shoved hard against the deck. As she came back upright she stepped back and then forwards, coming in with a counter. It was a downward flick and then a lazy flourish to the left, towards his right shoulder then neck, in an L shape. Her back foot shuffled in, followed by the first foot, closing their range.

With her opposite hand she kept it palm flat fingers extended and joined.

Just in case he went for her legs again.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

She quicker on the recovery than he anticipated, sending his weapon away with her defensive flick was a smart move. The bladework was superior to his, at least on a surface level, and had she more force behind the trick he might have lost his weapon. As it was, one hand wasn't enough to throw his weapon out of his hand, but it was very uncomfortable to keep his grip.

He had to take a moment of respite as well to bring his weapon back into a proper stance, this time holding it in front of him, angled slightly so he could see her. Unlike her he didn't lock his elbows as he held on with both hands, he needed that little bit of give, after all. He'd only just had the time to regain a stance before she countered, a swift pair of strikes. He smiled, and took a step to the left, letting her first strike miss entirely and catching the follow up swing with his blade.

The moment they connected, he reached out slightly to her with his left hand, sending a wave of telekenetic push towards her. He was immediately making it obvious that fighting him as he actively used Niman meant fighting him as he used the force as well. So far he hadn't used many of the combination techniques Niman was known for, just one, but if she gave him any leeway he could easily show her another few.

"Keep your mind open to the opportunities around you. Niman's versatility comes as much from the force as the blade, I wield more than the weapon you see."

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

Karrens own hand snapped forwards, clawing the air to send her own shockwave towards the Knights. the two of them were locked in a stalemate so far, though she nodded.

"You are open to utilize the force much more this way. But what about enemies that have force nullification going on?"

She released her hold on the barrier as the energies receded, and then snapped her saber into nothing. Then she stood upright, breathing slightly heavier than moments ago. The quick spar had given her a quicker pulse, building beads of sweat on her brow. she wiped it with the back of her hand.

"Niman seems well suited to you. Show me a few tricks and then let's spar again. I want to see your stance, opener and hear a bit about the technical variations of it."

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Darlyn stepped back a bit and chuckled, flicking his wrist in the smallest of flourishes as he made ample distance between the both of them once more. His mane of red hair was short, but already you could see a little bit of sweat condensing just behind its strands. "If you can't use the force, then you use something else. A second blade fits well, or a blaster, whatever you can get your hands on is a possibility."

Darlyn moved back into his low guard stance, letting her see how he stood, his legs close but not touching, leaving him enough of a place of balance to move swiftly from where he stood. "Most traditional opening stances have your blade held away at the ready, with a hand over your chest prepared to utilize the force. Personally I find the traditional low-guard stance useful, its very minimal in energy use to keep the blade ready, and my hands are close to my hips in the event I wish to draw another weapon, a blade or blaster. The start of a fight is much the same as any other form, looking, observing, searching for an opportunity you can exploit. For instance, when you took a very Makashi stance, I went about attacking a major segment of that form, your footwork."

"Most of the form, however, is simple enough. Drawing on Soresu, the form uses simple motions and acts to conserve energy, and limit the form's demands on practice. From Ataru and Shien we take the recognition of a moment to strike, and strike back when we are given the opening. However blows are not intensely reliant on strength. The world is where your strength comes from, the environment, the force, your mind. Two simple techniques are to pull your target into the blade's path, or knock aside opponents in the same motion as you cut them." To demonstrate, he pulled a dummy from across the room, calmly cutting across its stomach region, though it would be more accurate to say he moved his blade slightly forward while the dummy's momentum kept it going past.

Then he cut across a second dummy after pulling it close, and sent it back as his hand shot forward immediately after, the pieces flying away. "Personally I enjoy bringing a second blade or blaster into the mix, spices things up. Not to mention you'll catch many off guard when you choose to fire point blank into their calf. Much of what I do with Niman depends on the situation, I might use more telekenisis if the room is filled with objects or more.. direct powers if not. I might use more wide reaching abilities like repulses if fending off multiple opponents or I might be able to focus on one at a time. The point being, no matter what I do I am actively using the force or other tricks to compensate for my lack of specialization in any one field. I'll be overpowered by a Shien or Djem-So specialist and a Makashi master's bladework makes mincemeat out of me. And don't get me started on how hard penetrating Soresu can be in general. But, none of that really matters if they loose their footing or get tripped up because they got too single minded."

"Now then, round two?" He turned back to [member="Karren Trask"], blade in the low guard he preferred.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

It was a lot to take in but not overly complicated. Karren nodded, mimicking his stance from the beginning of the fight. Her right foot back just a bit, knees bent and both hips square to her opponent. This time she tightened her grip on the hilt of her saber and pointed it down in a low guard, point to the deck and left. Her off hand hung loose, ready to snap off if she needed it.

"Very well then. Let's try again."

She smirked, a tiny bit of arrogance showing in those features. Though she wondered, how did she measure up against him at his own craft? The beauty of the form so far was it's adaptability. If she could mix her Makashi and Shien moves into, that would be deadly indeed.

The actuator flipped and her blade emerged again with that snap hiss. Brilliant emerald casting a dull glow on the white walls and vines of the room.

"Your move."

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Was that arrogance in her lips? Darlyn almost wanted to laugh, she'd only just been given the basics and she already seemed sure of herself! Still, best not to make her think she had an opportunity where one didn't lay, after all he'd just told her to be on the guard for one. Instead, his eyes casually scanned around, looking at dummies and objects scattered around the little room, including those he'd just used for a demonstration. Yes, he couldn't go all out with his lightning for fear of damaging her, but a little pain didn't count as damage now did it?

He stepped inwards at [member="Karren Trask"], raising his weapon up in his right hand, bringing it down in a violent arc at her left shoulder. At the same time, he began to lift a pair of the dummies behind him with the force, his left hand still held up in the air to help stabilize their motion. He didn't do anything with them yet, he only wished to see how she would respond to the threat. Would she respond in kind? Attempt to push an advantage with him forced to minimize his weapon's strength of grip? Or would she take a moment to retreat?

No matter what, he had a plan in mind.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

"Unh."

As the strike came in she parried, swinging her blade parallel to her shoulders, and stepping into his swing arc, to deny him any room for a hay maker cleave. Her own blade met his with a spark and hiss and she shoved upwards, before taking a play from his book. The dummies made her alarmed, but she knew one thing.

His focus was split between blade work and levitating them. A split focus was dangerous. A faster attack might have sufficed. This she did take advantage of. As the parry flung upwards with a sharp snap, she let go with her left hand, and slammed it towards him, unleashing a woven barrier of ballistic air his way...

"Ughh!"

 

[Darlyn Excron]

The point blank blast did send him back, naturally, and he found his feet sliding back against the ground as he focused a bit more on holding his footing. Still, it brought a smile to his lips. His blade turned off, before igniting again in even more violent a hiss, as the two dummies moved between them. With a swift strike, the two dummies became four, and with another strike four became eight. He turned the blade off again, turning it to practice mode as he scattered the eight pieces, which were far easier now to grab hold of, around the both of them.

"A lesson. When the environment offers no advantage, make one." He grinned, before taking off into a full on sprint at [member="Karren Trask"], his yellow blade held pointed down behind him as he advanced. He pulled his left hand back, grabbing the piece directly behind her, and yanking it at her body, before pushing it out again to throw a second piece from behind him at her left side. Then he lifted up his blade, crossing his body before making another swing at her right side.

The purpose was obvious enough, in throwing both pieces he intended to force her to her right, directly into the path of his blade.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

She grunted again. this time he forced her hand and her movements, or so he could have. She was not one to retreat nor to try and evade. While other Jedi might have been less risky taking, she was all about risk. Charging in headlong had long been a favourite tactic of hers. Ferocity and energy usually off put whoever was expecting retreat.

"Yahhh!"

This was the case as her blade returned to the natural guard of her newly learned form, left and point down. Then it snapped up and left, vertically cleaving a dummy in half with both hands. The pieces clattered to the floor and she let go, swiping the blade left to right to parry the oncoming forward strike of Darlyn.

With one hand she locked his saber and then stepped forwards, gritting her teeth and growling as sparks ignited from the two blades.

The last dummy pelted her hard, drawing dull throbbing pain and pushing her harder into her adversary. She lifted two finger from her left hand, whipping whatever small dust particles she could find towards his eyes....

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Oh he liked her. Forward and direct, it was such an honest, primal way to fight. Very lacking in that Jedi sensibility, but honest. It was charming in a way, and as their blades clashed and ozone filled his nostrils, he held her blade steady along with his, moving his hand very slowly so not to draw her attention. He closed his eyes just a half a second as she flicked dust at him. "Remember when I told you Niman was partially based on a dual weapon martial art?"

The sarcasm was palpable, as Darlyn reached back towards his robes folded against the wall. From within, his second lightsaber, Exar Kun's blue blade, switched to practice shoto saber mode and flung towards his hand. The blue blade, shorter than the yellow one, ignited in a flash, as it graced his fingertips, and he swung at her midsection swiftly. He opened his hand ever so slightly, to draw yet another fragment of a dummy, and it too swung left to right at her.

Well from her perspective, it would be her right side, but the point would be made.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

She was best on all sides. As the dummy came in and the second blade ignited she growled, making a snap decision. She backed away, just as the blade impacted her midriff, drawing a crackling pain from her body. Through gritted teeth she reset her guard, blade at the low left position, hips squared. The dummy was warded off by a flick of her left hand, redirected towards her attacker, dead on.

Then she came in behind it, swiping the brilliant emerald blade up from left to right in a diagonal power strike. She let go of her saber with the left hand and cocked back, then drove her open palm into the air towards Darlyn, sending a wall of force energy towards him. As the wall slammed forth, she breathed deep shuffling, and then retracting back to the Niman guard again.

"No I had quite forgotten."

In the space she had bought herself she grabbed one of the dummies arms, letting it meet her hand with a smack and held it high in the left hand, keeping her guard with the right.

"Not exactly the best weapon, but it's something."

​

Is that Exar Kuns lightsaber?​

Her eyes widened a bit and she grinned. He was full or surprises and she loved history. Karren made a mental note to ask him if she could hold it later.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

A flick of the wrist with Exar's (Shoto mode) saber would send the power strike up over his head, the purpose of a parrying saber was to minimize the need to directly block after all. Yet again however this meant he was forced to take another telekinetic blast from Karren, pushing him back against the ground, though still managing to keep to his feet. His breathing picked up a bit, he was no master and so even her abilities were enough to give him some trouble, though she was far from adept in Niman as he.

He rose up into a new stance, the parrying saber in front of him, angled slightly to the side as if to cover him, and forward towards her. A perfect position to react to her swings, while his main saber was held down by his side, almost casually. "Your guard should adapt to the situation as it unfolds remember. A low guard is useful for its resting nature, but mid and high guards have their purpose too." Darlyn hummed a bit, his fingers over the dual phase mechanics in his lightsabers. How best to make an attempt to end this? Much more and he'd have to resort to low-voltage lightning.

In the end he chose to bring his yellow lightsaber, the standard sized one, up into a high guard, before igniting the second phase. The blade itself doubled in length, before he swung it at her head like a helicopter blade, all the way around, and back in a diagonal slash from his right to lower left. He stepped in, shortening the blade again as he swung immediately back the way it came, and stabbed at her chest with Exar's lightsaber, igniting its second phase if she attempted to back out of reach, which would return it to a normal length blade.


[member="Karren Trask"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

There was a lot going on. Karren tracked the first blade, angling her own over her head and down towards her back. It struck, swatting the first blow away and then she stepped left and forwards, trying to cross his line of leverage, and take his back. As she moved out of the way of the second strike, she countered with her own.

A sideways slash, flicked at his calf, and then pivoted, resetting her guard, low and left, now facing him from behind....

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"Good good, taking advantage of the longer blade. The problem is I can adjust it at will, so don't expect that to work again." So he did, resetting the blade's length and dropping Exar Kun into a low guard at his calf, lengthening the blade to standard length as well. Fortunately he did catch it, however it did accidentally cause her blade to push his slightly into his thigh, which was searingly painful even if it wasn't set to 'lethal'. Still, he could fight, so he intended to do so, as he pointed his weapon up forwards.

And engaged blade two, thrusting back at her with Exar's blue lightsaber, turning around to face her. He took a bit of an odd posture, holding Exar's lightsaber with it pointing down at his left side, his right turned towards her, yellow blade pointed at her. "You still got fight left in you?" He playfully flicked his weapon slightly left, and tossed a towel resting on the side of the room towards her feet.

[member="Karren Trask"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

Karren reset her guard to the low left position and then nodded. Ignoring the towel, but still eyes wide with wonder at the blade of Exar Kun.

"I do. Shall we? This time a complete duel, with no instruction. Your best, against my best."

Her hips squared to his front, with her right foot slid back about a foot.