Going out on a cliff...

[Kian Karr]

​

Location: Jedi Temple on Correllia

The sun was starting to dip down below the skyline, indicating that there was only a few hours left until night. Kian sat in the middle of the cliff-face, his legs folded in front of him and several large rocks floating around him. Directly in front of him his lightsaber floated in several pieces. Slowly the pieces merged back together and the hilt settled onto the ground and Kian set the rocks back down. He leaned back and let out a breath, his masked face turning toward the horizon.

[member="Kylie Talor"] would be arriving soon and Kian was wanted to make sure he was centered and relaxed for his meeting with the young Jedi. Picking up the datapad before him, he perused what records were available on the young Jedi. It had been many years since Kian had worked closely with students, his duties as a Shadow taking him out into the field for some time. It would be good to get back to the most important part of a Jedi's work.

Closing his eyes, Kian centered himself once more as he awaiting the arrival of Jedi Talor.

"There is no emotion, there is peace," Kian began resting his hands on his knees, "There is no ignorance, there is knowledge,..."

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

She arrived in Silence, carrying only backpack, her twin blasters and lightsaber. She was clad in a long brown spacer coat, complete with a few morale patches sewn on. A laughing Jawa, A patch of the Falcon, and her favorite Grav-ball team.

There was nothing much to her. She'd been around the outback only a short while, fled the destruction of the New Jedi Order, and simply survived.

And now that time was over. Now it was time to Grow.

As she came upon the Kel-Dor Master she mustered a quick bow.

"Master Karr I presume?"

 

[Kian Karr]

"Greetings." Kian said rising to his feet and exuding warmth through the force. Kian had taken to doing that years before when meeting new people when he realized that smiling at others while wearing a mask was not effective. Kel Dor often had an offworld reputation at coldness and he couldn't help but wonder how much of that was merely because no one could see their faces....Although from his experience non-Kel Dor did not typically find their faces all that comforting either.

"Please call me Kian." Kian said stepping forward and extending a taloned hand toward Jedi Talor. "It is a pleasure to meet you Kylie. I've read and heard good things."

"I've also be very impressed by your archivist work." Kian said taking a seat on one of the large rocks near them and indicating that Kylie should join him on the rock opposite him. "Your guide to the lightsaber is very informative for younger Jedi and those just joining our ranks." Kian said referencing one of the texts Kian had come across when doing research on Jedi Talor.

"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" Kian suggested, wanting to start by getting to know the younger Jedi.

[member="Kylie Talor"]​

 

[Kian Karr]

- deleted double post

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

She exuded the same warmth back, dropped her back pack and took a seat criss cross, facing the Master.

"Thank you Master Karr. Yes those works are my main hobby. I'm something of an oddball. Born in Alliance territory during the Golden Age, Fled to the Outback when the New Jedi Order was destroyed by Taeli Raaf. Worked as a Judge and Freighter hand on an Ice Hauler for a while, then certain unnamed Jedi asked me to help them with the Bardic Jedi Publishing Foundation."

She paused, taking a sip from a canteen, and fishing for a ration cube.

"So later that naturally all that research led me-back to the Order, or whats left of it. The Jedi Covenant. What else would you like to know?"

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian listened as the young Jedi described her past briefly. He had missed so much. The fall of the New Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance. His presence would have made no difference, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe that, but he felt guilty none-the-less for not being there in those last days. Reaching up and stroking the spikes on his anti-ox mask, Kian considered what he wanted to know about the young padawan before they did some training together.

"There are many paths Jedi can take." Kian began leaning forward as he spoke. "I walk the path of a Jedi Shadow....but I do not expect those I train to walk the same path as me. What path do you see yourself focusing on as a Jedi?"

As Kian spoke, behind him the sun was dipping down further behind the horizon and shadows began to dance around them. When the time came, Kian would light torches, but for now the ambience was pleasant and the cooling of the air as dusk fell was good. While Kian began this meeting with a discussion, he had no intentions for that to be the sole purpose of it. Kian would want to test his young charge soon and gauge her skill for himself.

[member="Kylie Talor"]

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

She had to pause to consider the question.

"Well, I see myself more in the lineage of the great Jedi Consulars. My primary focus is to preserve Jedi Works and heritage, as it is fast fading in the galaxy."

She took another drink of water from her dull circular canteen.

"Most of my skills are focused around supporting fellow Jedi. Batttle Meditation is one that's still in its infancy for me. Thoguh I have been refining Enhance Short Term Memory. Very, very useful that one."

"Shadows.... those are closer to Sentinels yes?"

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian nodded as she spoke. He had suspected she favored a consular path based on her already impressive academic work. The fact that she was beginning to practice battle meditation was also impressive. It was a difficult skill to master and a vitally important once in times of war.

"Historically, yes." Kian said answer her question about the Jedi Shadows. "Though ultimately our ranks are made up of Jedi from all different paths. Our ultimate goal is to seek out and destroy the Sith and their artifacts." Kian said, wanting to be clear about that aspect of the path upfront. "Due to this, it can be a dangerous path and as we work together it is likely that my work will pull you along into that danger." Kian said smiling sadly behind his mask, though he was speaking the truth.

"We also serve as the, unofficial, intelligence branch of the Jedi. We focus on skills that aid in stealth and subterfuge and in that capacity, we often find ourselves working closely with allied intelligence communities."

"The path of a Jedi consular is certainly a notable one," Kian said returning back to her own interests, "And I certainly think I can be of service in that regard."

"I'd like us to train a bit together." Kian said rising off of the rock and smoothing out his dark black and green tunic. "But before we do, are there any questions or concerns you have for me?" Kian said, exuding that warmth once more as he smiled beneath his mask.

[member="Kylie Talor"]

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

She nodded.

"I understand. To tip the balance of power in the verse we have to disrupt the enemies acquisition of knowledge, while fortifying our own. At least that is my philosophy."

He spoke of danger. That was fine to her.

"I've faced down some of the terrors of the Outback as a Judge. I'm not so eager to take a life, but I can if it's a matter of absolute necessity. Danger I can handle. Shall we begin?"

 

[Kian Karr]

"Good," Kian said nodding, "none of us should be. Taking a life is something that should be done with conscience." Kian regretted just about every life he had taken in his long career as a Jedi. Even the Dark Jedi and Sith he had destroyed were examples of his own failure to come up with other means of neutralizing their threats. Jedi should always look for a peaceful solution to a situation, but should not allow that search for a peaceful solution to jeopardize the safety of others. It was a thin rope on which to balance.

"Of course." Kian said and motioned for Kylie to head to the center of the training area. Kian joined here there and unclipped his lightsaber from his belt. "I have always found that a sparring match is an excellent way to assess the skills of a colleague. I assume you have a lightsaber? If not a training saber can be provided." With a snap-hiss the green blade of Kian's lightsaber sprang to life and he assumed his typical opening stance. While many Form V practictioners utilized a high guard position, Kian's variant of Shien favored a low guard. He held his lightsaber hilt at his waste with the blade facing down and to his right.

"Please feel free to use both physical and force based attacks. And when you're ready!" Kian said, indicating he was expecting her to make the first move.

[member="Kylie Talor"]​

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

Kylie drew her own saber. The plain emerald blade sprang to life with a snap hisssssss.

Her footwork was atrocious. Both feet were planted square on the ground. The blade-work was even worse. She swished her emerald plasma beam up into a crossguard, shoulder to hip. She was not experienced at all. Her eyes couldn't find an opening in his defense, so she just went for it.

"Hmph!"

She trundled forwards and launched a sloppy spearing strike, right for his midsection...

 

[Kian Karr]

To say that Jedi Talor was experienced with a blade would be.....misleading. Kian could tell she was not comfortable holding the weapon as she stood in front of him and a part of him was glad to find that to be the case. He'd trained many different Jedi in his time. Some came to the temple with no combat experience and some with far too much. Those who had experience in combat were often the hardest to train, as you had to break down bad habits and rebuild. But those that were inexperienced with a weapon were like a blank canvas and ready to absorb knowledge.

Her thrust wasn't bad. Kian brought his blade up and across right to left and swatted the attack aside. Should he want to, he could have countered but instead he stepped aside and assumed the ready position once more.

"I get the sense you haven't had to use a saber much?" Kian said smiling warmly beneath his mask. "That is good. It means I will not have to make you unlearn bad habits." Kian paced around her, raising his lightsaber into the Jedi Ready Stance. "Please, my stance." Kian said stopping so she could see how he was standing.

"Tell me what you know about Shii-Cho, the first form of lightsaber combat."

[member="Kylie Talor"]​

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

She followed suit with the Master.

Her left foot slid forwards, right foot back and the blade came to a baseball bat grip on her right side. She was ready to swing, and released a small chuckle.

"You have to remember Master, I was not taught all that much before the New Jedi Order collapsed. To say I know anything of Form I would be simply a fallacy."

 

[Kian Karr]

"A blank slate is easiest to write upon." Kian said smiling and nodding his head. "Form I of combat, known as Shii-Cho, is the simplest form of lightsaber combat and the one that all padawans must learn and become adept at before moving on to the form or forms they wish to master later in their studies....unless of course they like it enough to focus on mastering it." Kian paced side to side as he spoke.

"It has its origins in the ancient Jedi who wielded swords prior to the development of the lightsaber." Kian said and had trouble imagining having to lug a sword around with him on missions. How different that would be! "As such it focuses on the basics of sword fighting techniques, attacks and parries and targeting specific zones of an enemies body."

"It is important to know these, but it is also important to keep in mind that Shii-Cho fosters strong emotions when fighting and therefore one must be conscious of this when engaging in combat." Stepping back, Kian dropped his lightsaber down in one hand and used the other to point to specific regions of his body as he spoke. "Zone 1 is the head, Zone 2 right arm and side, Zone 3 left arm and side, Zone 4 is the back, Zone 5 the right leg, Zone 6 the left leg."

"Attacks in Shii-Cho focus on horizontal and vertical attacks," Kian said as he drew a vertical line with his free hand from his head to groin and then a horizontal one from right to left, "Parries are accomplished by meeting your opponents blows with an opposing strike. If I attack vertically, you block horizontally and so forth."

"Ideally, a duel ends when you are able to strike your opponent's weapon and destroy it, thus forcing a surrender." Kian said, summarizing Form I in the most basic of terms. "Why don't we practice that a bit." Kian suggested lifting his lightsaber up into a Jedi Ready stance, his lightsaber hilt held parallel wit his chest and the blade pointed up.

"Take this stance," Kian said emphasizing how he was standing and holding his lightsaber, "spread your hands wider on the hilt, it will give you greater feel for the movements. When you are ready, come at me with a series of vertical and horizontal attacks and I will parry them. Let us not focus on striking at each other as much as going through the motions." Kian suggested and awaited his padawan's attack.

[member="Kylie Talor"]​

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

The form was easy enough to get. She slid her feet in an even stance, and gripped the hilt with two hands.

The blade came up high and she slid forwards just a hair. Then it crashed down in a sweeping attack, crackling as it met his blade. She grinned as sparks flew. That was the first successful strike she'd ever landed with a saber.

"Alright, let's do this."

She disengaged her blade, stepped back and nodded....

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian watched her get into the Jedi Ready Stance and was very pleased to find her doing it well. She mirrored well in instruction which was a good sign for their training together. "Very good." Kian said and brought his saber up to block the younger Jedi's strike. It was a good attack, with enough strength behind it that an opponent wouldn't simply be able to slap the attack aside.

"Now, defend against the attack. Remember the key to Shii-Cho is to do the opposite strike of what I do to counter the attack." Kian said and raised his lightsaber up to execute a vertical slash going from high to low. Then he followed that attack up with a horizontal slash from left to right and then another from right to left. None of the attacks were meant to strike Kylie, but were simply being done to provide her with the opportunity to execute successful parries.

[member="Kylie Talor"]​

 

[Kylie Talor]

[member="Kian Karr"]

Kylie nodded, and then followed the tracer effect of his Lightsaber.

As he struck, she swung upwards, with a hammer blow. It glanced off his saber and redirected her own. She hadn't much time to reset when the second one came in. She skipped back a bit, and swung another blow, this time less hammer like.

She managed to stop his saber, and lock blades.

She grinned.

"That's not a bad strategy!"

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian nodded approvingly, disengaging his blade from hers and stepping back. "Very good, very good indeed." Kian was impressed by how quickly the young Jedi was taking to lightsaber combat.

"You have taken your first steps into mastering lightsaber combat." Kian said bowing his head to her. "Form I, Shii-Cho, will teach you the basics of lightsaber combat against both lightsaber wielding opponents as well as blaster wielding ones." Kian said smiling beneath his mask at the thought of putting a blinder on her and sending several training remotes into the air.....soon enough.

"As time progresses and you begin to know the basics of Shii-Cho like second nature, a decision will be made by yourself about what fighting style you would like to adopt for your more advanced training." As Kian said this he lowered his blade down into a one handed hold. "Form II, Makashi, focuses on lightsaber dueling and uses footwork and precise strikes to win a duel but it tends to be very weak against blaster deflection. Form III, Soresu, is a highly defensive form, allowing for excellent defensive abilities but lacking in offensive." As Kian described the forms, he transitioned into their opening stances.

"Form IV, Ataru, using acrobatic and aggressive attacks to overwhelm an opponent but struggles in prolonged combat or confined spaces. Form V has two variants, Shien and Djem So. Both variants focus on strong defense with counterattacks, Shien focuses, typically, on blaster fire and Djem So against lightsaber wielding opponents. While involving strong attacks that overpower defenses, both forms have the weakness of limited mobility."

"Form VI, Niman, attempts to be a well-rounded form that draws from Forms I through V and incorporates force attacks. It is intuitive and each combatant's style is different, but because of the well-rounded nature, it is neither weak in nor excels at any of them. Finally, Form VII also has two variants, Juyo and Vaapad. Form VII is a much more aggressive form that focuses on chaotic attacks to overwhelm and confuse an opponent. It can be a dangerous form, as it can draw its practitioners toward the darkside of the force." Finishing, Kian lowered his blade casually.

"What form you ultimately decide to train in will be up to you, though I can provide input when the time comes." Kian reassured the padawan. "Some Jedi seek to master a single combat style, others augment one form with another. For example, Ataru and Makashi are often practiced together. Whatever style you decide to focus on will ultimately be for a number of reasons. Philosophy, physical attributes or limitations, or goals for your future as a Jedi."

"For example," Kian said pacing to the side as he talked. "Jedi who are small in stature, such as Master Morteg, often employ Ataru as it allows them to fight opponents larger then themselves more efficiently. I mastered Shien and Djem So because, philosophically, they are ideal styles for me. Some Jedi may wish to focus their attention on force abilities or diplomacy, in which case Niman often is a better choice."

"Some even decide that the basics are the best and they master Shii-Cho." Kian said, though he could not remember the last Jedi he'd faced that focused solely on the oldest of the Forms. "Do you have any questions about this?"

[member="Kylie Talor"]​