Knight Final - Sykes vs Cathbodua

[Coci Heavenshield]

The arena is set for the second annual Silver Sanctum Coalition Tournament.

Many Jedi have gathered to witness the ‘battles’ between the combatants, from Padawans to Knights and Masters, all battling to see who will rise to the top, who will be the cream of the crop?, the icing on the cake?, the best of the best?. It is early morning, the sun has risen to herald a bright new day, avian circle in the Voss sky, the flowers are blooming and the bees are buzzing and there is excitement in the air. And lots of chatter ..

In the arena there is a seat at the end of the room, on which Grand Master [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] will watch over the tournament. With brushed back golden hair, beard trimmed and a set of sapphire blue eyes, and a calming demeanour, the grand master will cast those wondrous eyes upon his Jedi charges and step in if and I say IF, the duelling gets ‘out of hand’.

Before the duelling shall commence, each combatant will acknowledge his presence with a respectful bow and so to, to your competitor, before they begin.

[member="Audren Sykes"] vs [member="Cathbodua"]

You may begin!

And may the force be with you both.

 

[Cathbodua]

There had been somewhat of a surprise in the confrontation, mostly her being declared as the winner while the jedi knight sat there in the one seat sipping through the straw so she could get some of the water for herself. She was going against a younger jedi knight and prepared for it touching her lightsaber and her lightwhip Amaretsu on her belt. The Iconiq bodyarmor making her look strange to some but she stood there at the ready to continue and duel. She had even taken some time to check in and see what the padawans were doing and had the #TEAMZAK banner located in the gift shops.

Refilling the grapples in her suits wrist weapons and the sheaths while letting the calming and force enhancement from the murr earrings along with her sigil of hope. The necklace designed to give the highest levels of force and mental protection compared to anything within the lightside Over all of the things while she was feeling the smooth channeling gloves. The force energy from all of them and the special properties of them she could feel while looking over many of the things. Prepared with the purified air from the circlet to protect from environmental effects.

With the rest of the things they could use in the duel but none was more important then their attitude for the duel. She was all for making sure the duel was impressive and gave a chance to show off some skills without no selling things for the others but she was also very practical and wasting time in building something up so she was up for anything as slowly checking the seals of the suit. The rebreather of her mask allowing her to prepare and handle most of the things in the room. SHe stayed there for a moment bowing while raising the hood of the bodyarmor up. "Ready?"

 

[Audren Sykes]

He was now paired against a Knight more of his age, this one with years more experience than he. And one that was all sorts of kitted out...it felt like his teeth should be humming from all the Force power that whatever she was wearing was putting off. He might not be able to tell what the devices did specifically, but he could 'see' where they were concentrated. Each had threads of Force power twisted around and throughout, after all. What he had to assume were earrings - they were around where ears were - and her necklace were two. The gloves she wore and some sort of circlet also added to it. So did the almost-skintight outfit she wore...definitely not standard issue for Jedi, that.

He could only shudder at what his imagination showed him to be the galactic reaction if they were.

Just like his previous round, Audren wore Jedi Robes and openly carried his lightsaber. Underneath the back of his tabard, he carried a collapsed baton, a reserve weapon he hoped that he wouldn't need. He'd also watched her fight from earlier; he hadn't singled her out, he'd watched all of the ones he could. Based on some of what he'd seen, her fight included, he'd visited the armory for a surprise weapon. He strongly suspected he would have to use it, but would hold off for now.

Like before, as he stepped onto the platform he formally bowed to Grandmaster Heavenshield, then turned to his opponent and bowed to her as well. She held a whip in hand; he had to assume it was at least lightsaber-resistant since she was knowingly using it against Jedi. When she asked if he was ready, his only reply was a slight grin and the ignition of his lightsaber. Ready? Indeed, that he was.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

Her eyes fell on him with the force and focused while reaching out. To sense and feel the energies around as the snap hiss of his saber activating was the indication of readiness. Good enough for her while the jedi knight focused the force energies. Slowly letting one hand go to her sabers hilt as the other touched the top of the lightwhips hilt before she was focusing on the other knight with her gaze more then her movements. She was debating how best to handle him and go after the duel. Deeper thoughts and focus while she was focusing more on him for a stronger opening move, something different then she had used against Theo though malacia would be something few really expected.... Instead she was focusing on the fight as her hand gripped the lightsaber on her hip The blade activating with a snap hiss as the yellow blade was in a reverse grip pointing towards the floor at an angle with one hand in front just slightly as she went into a Djem So stance.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Rather than starting with the Force as he'd watched her do with Theo, or even pulling her whip, the other Knight pulled a lightsaber and ignited it. The hilt bore a yellow blade, which could mean everything or nothing about her fighting style. As a result he would assume nothing from the blade. She held the blade in a reverse grip similar to what Boo Chiyo had done, but pointed at the floor initially rather than the elaborate pose Chiyo had struck.

While she did that, Audren laid out the same sort of grid that he'd done previously, narrow threads of negligible Force power. He'd not used the grid at all in his previous fight, so its purpose and potential remained hidden. Unlike before however, his lightsaber came up into a more or less standard position. It was held in one hand, blade pointed up towards the sky and angled slightly towards his opponent. Like before, he would allow the other fighter to make the first move. It was a thing with him.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

He wasn't moving or attacking.... he was.... waiting..... frak was he a soresu user waiting for her to attack to defend and wear her down? There were a dozen thoughts aside from the main one going through her head for the time, Djem So was for soresu users who wanted a little more umph in their style. Defending and counter attacking more then just playing that long game but it still relied on Soresu's basic need. Someone to do something while she focused and allowed the force energies to focus and build. Outside it would look like a beacon of energy throughout her making the suit brighter but it was more internal. The training with the holocrons and information that had been recovered was useful in learning techniques. Like how to keep acute focus and awareness of reflex and speed while in a heavy gravity room designed by the dark woman that makes your spine want to go through you. She could maintain her focus on the situation but prepared for his opening attack, defensive aura to block force attacks through sheer willpower and muscles under the suit to defend saber strikes.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Stalemate, again. For a very long moment, neither of them moved. Again, a rough reflection of his previous fight. She was gathering Force power just as he was, and if he continued to allow the reflection to progress he'd simply feint two steps forward to draw a reaction. This he did, except at two steps he added another half step and stabbed forward at the woman's torso. Given the simplicity of his strike and her defensive stance, the likelihood of her not blocking the attack was almost nil. That was okay, it was expected.

The strike, though very real, was itself little more than a probe. Determine her response, play on from there. Normally he would have called a game of stamina in his favor, but he couldn't be sure what the Force amulets or whatever they were provided. He needed to determine her responses quickly and move to counter her strengths while playing to his own. And even then this might turn into a battle of attrition. Wouldn't that be a kicker.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

The first move came and she was prepared, muscles tense and ready for whatever came as the force was working to guide her movements. Reacting on instinct rather then her brain processing it while the sound of her heart beating steadily in her ears. Her body moving with speed in the force to the side as she slashed enough to block and repel the saber but keep it close while her other hand came for a counter blast of force energy to try and knock him off balance while she focused her attentions onto his body. Blood vessels and muscles there work with blood pumping, she could focus on those while letting white noise and focus keep her body primed and ready to defend and counter.

 

[Audren Sykes]

There. That had been what he was waiting for, a Force-based attack. Quite literally a blast of energy no doubt designed to do something nasty to the Sephi. Couldn't have that now. With his left hand, the one he'd purposely kept free, he gestured. Fingers twitched, then he spread his hand wide and tensed the muscles of his entire forearm as if bracing for impact. The twitching fingers brought up a Force-based shield of his own, threads woven together for strength. Unlike his previous use though, which had presented a corner, this was effectively a flat surface. It formed into being in front of her blast of power and bounced it right back at her. Not only that, but he released the tightly held weave and sent the unraveling threads of Force power at her. Her attack was a slug, his was more of a scattershot. Less concentrated damage, but more area to cover.

He didn't rely solely on the Force though. He couldn't with this opponent. Her block of his blade had pushed it away slightly, but a flick of his wrist brought it up, around, and down at her face just about at the cheekbone level.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

She was paying attention to him and remained at the ready, saber shifting in her palm to a normal grip while it went to her face and she stood firm. Stopping and letting her stance harden like she did in the heavy gravity rooms with her padawans. Letting the shimmer of energy surround her when the blast was rebounded she raised an eyebrow wondering what skill that was with the force. She let the force energies there as her attention looked to some of the things letting her strength be there for a moment before kicking out with the force into a stomp to try and shake up the footing. She could let strength of her body and force work to her advantage in a duel where she got to use her djem so.

 

[Audren Sykes]

As quick as his rotation was, hers was able to match it, once again blocking his strike. His follow-up strike was subtle however, and all the quicker for it. His blade abruptly flickered, turning on and off as quickly as he could make it do so. In that extremely brief moment it was off, it shifted by mere degrees in another strike at her lower face.

He didn't expect the stomp, nor the accompanying circles of Force power that resonated from the foot along the fighting platform. This one he understood though, unlike however she'd blocked both his and her blasts of Force power. He could feel the Force rushing from her foot to the edges of the platform, weakening the bonds. Any physics teacher would teach about the whole 'equal and opposite' reaction, so it was no surprise that portions of the flooring rose up as her foot pressed down. Further away had more 'hop', and Audren - at the current distance from his opponent - didn't gain much, just enough to take his feet off the ground for a split second. It did nothing to deter his strike though, just shifted it commensurate with his vertical movement.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

He was fast and she was seeing a little trakata in there maybe... not like some of the masters she had faced but standing firm and letting the force vibrate through her body the pop came. Glowing and shimmering for a moment as the amulet built into the bodyarmor to protect in situations like this. Well the armor itself would but the energy shield designed for jedi and using the lightside to protect from lightsabers was shimmering an amber glow as the eyes narrowed a little for a moment letting the saber rest there while she stood firm even with the impact.

There was a moment and then a whirring sound while she left her arm and saber there pointing at him from close range making it hard to dodge and miss. The toolkit releasing a beam from the paddle beamer to paralyze and incapacitate as it was originally designed if it struck. The beam's design based on the dangerous lizards and beautiful for going around lightsabers instead of being deflected by them unless calibrated specially. Few she had seen in the order knew how to do that let alone made studs to do it on the fly.

Ashin was one of the few she knew had it and Sasori was working on one for the sabers to go in line with their gincho power cells she stilll needed and wanted to use. Exponentially increased cutting power on par with carrying a power pack made stuff like her phrik and beskar into warm butter. The jedi knight remained speaking softly while waiting to see if it struck him or not in the fight. Her follow up was to focus on using the overwhelming physical training she did or the force connection she could bring out to handle him.

The focus on his body though was still there to watch and learn the movements as she was reaching down. Into that pit she would be in to train with her master when he willingly ensured she was training through all the physical pain she could to maintain focus and a deeper connection to the force. It was unconscious, it was there always and she could multitask on his body's flow of life and energy while preparing a counter defense again. Deep into the flow of blood while constricting it to try and make him sick and pass out.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Standing still in an active fight with another Force user was a good way to be defeated. That was something he knew well. So when a shield seemingly manifested out of nowhere and imposed itself between his lightsaber blade and her being, he moved. His lightsaber went from aiming at her head to moving with him and incidentally down, possibly impacting her hand or wrist area. That movement also allowed him to mostly avoid the beam shot by her wrist doodad. The barest edge of it caressed his bicep, sending pins and needles running down his left arm as well as partially deadening his control over it.

He also felt the Force begin to affect him. The first sign was a mild dizziness, and that was enough to understand she was replicating what she'd done to Theo, or similar enough. His left hand made a fist in response, and a dozen tendrils of Force energy bunched up then burst from the floor. Some were designed to pierce, some to bludgeon, others to grasp. Some erupted from the floor without affecting the surface, others carried shards of the platform with them. And all were aimed at Cathbodua. They sprang from every angle, but there was method behind it. Those near her feet moved to grasp her legs and pull them down, they had cracked or broken the surface of the platform there with the intent of immobilization. Others moved to pierce her rebreather tank or the hoses connecting it to the mask, or to push the mask around enough to expose her to the air. The shards of the platform might possibly cut or bludgeon as well. And all of the tendrils were Force energy, those Rangers watching wouldn't see anything but the shards of the platform.

If he was going to lose to someone who's armor and trinkets did everything but cook dinner - who knew, maybe it did that too - he was going to put every scrap of effort forward.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

Her form remained unbroken and the force pulsed, then she was sensing and feeling tendrils of force energy but.... not the known kind. Darkside tendrils shredded everything they touched, force tendrils that were unknown were force energy and the force of will she practiced made her aura able to dissipate force attacks coming at her while she prepared with some stillness before she moved mentally to the second and third problem. The shards and fragments of the platform could be a problem as she moved.

Foot going up onto her toe of the boot and force energy rushing through her body with a surge. The small mechanical sounds of the lightwhip as it spooled out wrapping just barely the nine tails to make a wall of energy whips. The spin reminiscent of a falling leaf with the rotation but she wasn't jumping down to slash just dissipate projectiles while staying protected and defending. Her face focusing on the other knight while wondering where these mysterious abilities were taught when she had found one of the more exotic masters of the forces holocrons.

Hmm interesting... The thought was there in her mind while she pondered for a moment what would Boolon do? Well he'd say something and then find a way to peacefully handle the situation... A noble effort but she preferred handling it with the superior movements and thanks to the regiment her physical was made to give her more stamina and strength. Unbroken will was all she needed as the whip cords retracted and she was holding both saber and whip hilts at the read for a defense raising her eyebrows under the mask for a moment.

 

[Audren Sykes]

What appeared to be a cocoon of Force-based tendrils encompassed her. Somehow, impossibly, whenever the ones he'd manifested came into contact with that cocoon, they dissipated completely. The cracked surface of the platform didn't affect her at all, didn't even budge beneath her as if it were still solid. Still more Force energy sprang from her hand and manipulated her whip, the energized beams individually intercepting every physical piece that might come close to impacting her. End result: not even a graze or near miss with mystical or physical portions of the attack. The only positive that he could think of was that she'd been forced to stop whatever it was making him dizzy.

He couldn't let her try that again, and the only way to do that was to keep her too busy to focus on it. To that end, he took a step and pivoted, bringing his lightsaber back around in a full-on slash. No more pure finesse, no more fighting on a level he knew he couldn't compete on. Just fast, brutal lightsaber strikes, any one of which could end the fight.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

He seemed to go at it, getting a look while she raised the saber again. Watching and feeling the force coursing through her body while she stayed in harmony and let serenity wash over her. Very well then. The thoughts were there but she let her body move with instinct. Allowing the force to guide her saber in her one hand while she raised it to block rotating the saber in her hand back into a reverse grip with her feet planted. Her eyes watching him as the force vibrated off of her body to keep the serenity there as she moved to block it with her saber and counter attack instead with the gloved hand. No channeled blast of energy but her hand coming out to grab at the jedi knight and grasp his saber hilt with her free hand.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Once again his attack was effortlessly blocked. Rather than fire back a burst of power or respond with her lightwhip however, she reached over with her free hand in an attempt to grab at his arm or hand. He didn't allow that, having noted her gloves as one of those focal points for Force power long before. Instead, even while wondering how she had absorbed the force of the hit without effort, his blade bounced away and he allowed it to. That put some minor rotation into play, bringing his off side towards her...as well as the baton he'd pulled. It hurtled for her ribcage, charged with enough electricity to drop the average human cold.

[member=Cathbodua]

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Audren Sykes"]

When does a Djem So user stop defending? That was something a few knew the answer to but there was something fun with it while she was standing there and waiting for something. The jedi knight was skilled but he was also strange, his follow ups left plenty to be desired and the flow of the fight remained where she liked it to be. Within control of the scenario as the force continued to vibrate throughout her body and bringing her hand back the channeling gauntlet grazed the top of her saber whips hilt.

Her body reacted, muscles tense and ready to counter sprung into action with something else coming at her. The sound of electricity and her own speed before moving with a pivot to the side. Something her master had taught her and borrowed from other forms to get his point across. A quick flank where the pivoting spin used the force to increase for a moment the speed exponentially. With a skilled juyo user it was a way to end a fight, with a djem so user it was a way to dodge and build up speed for your counter attack as her hand moved.

Just like she had showed many times in the training room to her padawans and those who visited, your speed and focus was key with everything else coming from it. Focus would let your body survive the harsh punishment of a heavy gravity room when even a drop of sweat feels like a boulder falling from your face. It also built muscles in places you didn't know you had as you used everything to survive until you could move as carefully in it at high settings as if they were turned off.

Thanks to Ryn helping push her those setting were even higher and her bodysuit added more to it. So working to dodge lavenrok discs fired at high speeds when a mistake or slip could hurt you in ways few could image... Hell even the kinetic plate mesh that protected her from all but the heaviest impacts and glowed just under the armor's top layer couldn't protect... And those plates could stop verpine rifles from hurting as much if worn correctly. It gave her an appreciation for things... or at least the stamina to last.

In this case she was moving quickly with the move as the saber and whipe came around, the multiple snap hisses coming as the whips lashed out activating and sweeping across the floor with her rotation to go after and try to lash out taking his legs out from under him. The saber blade slashing in a blurred arc to try and slash from the back of the shoulder down towards the waist and hips as her body continued to rotate. Quickly pivoting with it while the foot left the ground popping off the platforms floor.

So when does a Djem So user stop defending? Right when they have the moment, her body rotating and tucking in the knee's. The pop of the shimmering shield as the instinctual movements brought her leg out and down. Letting the force energy expel into a kick with one leg to try and strike the head within a few heartbeats and the other tucked in until it was mid point to strike out and try to buckle the knee with a quick and powerful strike. The force letting her body move as the blood continued to pumping and rushing through her ears.

She wasn't certain of the time frame but the span of a few heart beats went by while she was coming in, to stomp on the ground again if the moves connected and crouch while looking up. Gaze narrowing and channeling gloves gripping tighter as the enhanced strength of her grip could keep them steady. Then she was off, lightwhips lashing out from a reverse grip that rotated the body to try and lash with all nine tails in a wall at the jedi and her body corkscrewing into a diagonal slash towards the shoulder to try and continue the onslaught.

Another pounding stomp to make a shockwave coming out of the corkscrew and channeling the gloves into a force blast towards the other jedi knight. It was becoming a rhythm almost and just like in her training room with her padawans you worked at making it all into something that flowed together more with the deactivation of the lightwhip and fast clipping it to her belt while bringing up the blade in a reverse grip and setting her hand on the hilt. The movement towards the center of the platform while she crouched prone and ready to defend quickly from the different angles and let her senses expand outwards to stop in a defensive stance.