Private Learning is a way of Life

[Taiia Locke]

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Practice​

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Location: Knights Obsidian Citadel - Dojo​

Armament: Lightstaff​

Tags: Kyyrk​

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Taiia walked through the corridors of the Knights Obsidian citadel making her way to the dojo, it was very early in the morning and most still slept, but she like always was early to rise and the first to pursue her training. Even the Nightmother on more than one occasion had warned her to pace herself, it wasn’t that she didn’t listen but rather she enjoyed her training and was good at it, that along with seeking answers to the force was what she enjoyed so she pursued it fervently.​

Upon entering the dojo, she found a secluded spot where she would be out of the way and a danger to none who enter. Kneeling she laid her sabers in front of her before she quietly meditated for several minutes allowing mind and body to focus on the task she was about to perform.​

Once ready she stood pulling the sabers into her hands and igniting the blades she took a stance for Ataru, it was one of her stronger forms but it was still difficult for her each motion was fluid and quick and her speed was adequate but true mastery of Ataru was yet beyond her, it just felt off she truely didn't know what she lacked yet. She stopped a moment and reset her stance changing her mind it would seem.​

She stood still closing her eyes and moved into a modified Soresu stance opting for the more familiar form she began practicing blocking then striking, counter attacking and deflecting imaginary shots. She had always loved Soresu it was gentle and flowing it felt natural to her, elegant as well as precise. It was perhaps not the deadliest form, but it was one she preferred, and she was quite good at. The whole time her eyes were closed the movements precise, quick and meticulous as she tended to do when alone, focusing on the accuracy of a move rather than speed, and what her master had always instilled was accuracy in training and speed in battle.​

After several moments her movements ceased and she turned off her sabers her eyes once again open she took in a deep breathe before exhaling the amount of concentration she spent especially with Ataru was not insignificant she re-affixed her sabers to her belt and knelt down a moment letting her regain her breathe.​

 

[Kyyrk]

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T R A I N​

In the still morning air, all was quiet. A few studious individuals were already milling about, most seeking nourishment before the day ahead of them. Voph, however, hadn't slept. Instead, he had been deeply engrossed in work. Atrisia. Geonosis. Rishi. Christophsis. All attacks that could have...should have been prevented. So what were they missing? Voph knew the Viceroyalty would soon be assembled to address this failing. And he knew that he was expected. What would he say?​

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The thought ate away at him, even as he abandoned his work to seek solace among the training halls. A medical droid followed close behind. As per his agreement with Prenn, medical personnel were never far behind. But during the wee hours, Voph insisted on a droid. Let those who required sleep get it. The Droid was fully capable of stabilizing him in an emergency. And a living medic could take over during the humane hours. Just because Voph didn't sleep didn't mean others did not as well.​

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Voph strode into one of the Dojos, removing his cloak to reveal a simple black tunic underneath. The boots were solid, made of high quality leather, and the pants loose and sturdy, strong against tears. His tunic was sleeveless, revealing a number of scars and cuts across his arms and shoulders. A training droid stepped forward to greet him. One of Voph's personal droids, not a Knights Obsidian droid. The Droid stood at attention and requested: "Please state the nature of your training." ​

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Voph drew a deep breath. Training. A gauge of how fit he was, in actuality. He gestured to the medical droid to begin monitoring his vitals. It would signal if he needed to stop. "Load program K47-S2." The droid bowed, stiffly and automatically, and drew a single training saber from its waist, the holoprojectors shimmering around it until the image of an armored Sith stood before Voph. It dropped into a stance, and Voph drew a single blade from his own belt. Blades activated and clashed. The fight was on.​

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The program was a fairly simple one. All sabers, no force. A practice session. And though the Sith Program was a formidable combatant, Voph seemed to be toying with it in their fight. Blocks landed with ease, parries executed flawlessly, and ripostes dealt with decisive blows. It seemed that only when Voph tired did he finally end the fight, blade pausing inches from the head of his opponent. The droid yielded, and ceased the program. Voph turned to look at the students training around him as he reached out to call a bottle of water to him with the Force. Nearby, he noticed the all familiar face of Taiia Locke resting after her own drills. Voph strode over to her, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Taiia. How goes your training? You held your own on Bothawui, but I dare say, considerable room for improvement..."​

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[Taiia Locke]

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Practice​

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Location: Knights Obsidian Citadel - Dojo​

Armament: Lightstaff​

Tags: Kyyrk​

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She had seen Lord Voph make his way into the dojo and the program he had loaded, she had fought along side him many times but never had she truly had the chance to stop and watch and study his technique it was in a word masterful as one would expect, though even she could tell he was not being pressed at all by the droid she let a smile appear on her face as he approached and nodded as she took a drink from her own bottle of water.​

“Training goes well enough. Soresu is well easy, Ataru is moderately challenging, truthfully neither of those adapt too well to using two lightsabers anyways.” when he said ‘considerable room for improvement she smirked at him “Considerable room for improvement?” she repeated sounding slightly hurt as she said it back to him and huffed indignantly before she laughed. “Are you offering to instruct me then Lord Voph?” she tilted her head to one side with a gentle smile, she was of course half joking however another part of her relished the challenge, it was routine for her to challenge various members of her temple before she had left. With the knights however she had not yet brought this practice routine back, instead allowing everyone to become comfortable with her presence first.​

 

[Kyyrk]

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T R A I N​

Voph chuckled as Taiia asked if he intended to instruct her. "Perhaps. And perhaps not. I am on medical leave, officially." Voph set his bottle down, and stepped into the center of the training area. "The Lightsaber, as I'm sure your Jedi instructors have taught you, is a reflection of yourself. Some see it as just a weapon, but that, I feel, is not true." He turned to look at the girl, gesturing for her to stand opposite him. "Some are content to be handed a blade, and to utilize that until their dying breath. I believe that any true combatant must forge their own, if they are to truly master their chosen art." ​

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Voph held out his hand, and called a training saber to him, a humming sound issuing forth as the shock prod emitters on the blade activated. "If knowledge is to be gained, knowledge must first be assessed. Your task is to strike me at any point, by any means possible. You will have five minutes. Good luck." Voph knew the task was virtually impossible for the girl, but he wanted to see what she was already capable of. And, she may even surprise him. After all, he'd overcome similar odds before. Whether she hit him or not, that was besides the point. This was just a simple test of what she knew...​

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Taiia Locke

 

[Taiia Locke]

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LEARN​

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Location: Knights Obsidian Citadel - Dojo​

Armament: Lightstaff (Currently 2 Training Sabers)​

Tags: Kyyrk​

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She herself laughed laying her lightsabers down on the bench “Then officially I guess this lesson never happened” she smiled a bit at him and walked up to join him, she glanced back to her own lightsabers as he spoke of forging her own sabers. In that way she would agree where she had come from, they did not risk padawans safety in going out and finding their crystals but rather gave them what they needed it was not right, not personal. She turned her attention back to Voph and nodded calling a training saber to each waiting hand turning on each of them “For the record Lord Voph, if you hold back I will be offended” she grinned and nodded preparing for a moment Ataru was probably her best option against a skilled opponent but she would not be able to maintain for long, she spun each saber for a moment letting her arms and hands get a sense of the weight of the weapons before she took the stance for Ataru fortunately succeed or fail she didn’t need to endure for long.

She drew a deep breath and released closing her eyes for just a moment as she centered herself and all at once she kicked off the floor and launched herself at him, both sabers forward, but at the last second she shifted her weight to once side unbalancing herself just slightly and spun the saber in her right hand backwards pointing toward her before swiping the blade from low to high up toward Voph’s chest. It was an aggressive strike but only the opening move there was a reason she always tried to spar the masters at her enclave she was good and she had fun doing it.

 

[Kyyrk]

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T R A I N​

If he held back, she would be offended.​

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So be it.​

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Voph only held a single blade to his defense, opposed to Taiia's dual blades. But it was all he needed. And with the Force to back him, he hardly needed it. Voph stepped back and his own training blade slid into motion. Not a block, oddly enough. No, his mainhand lifted the saber to thrust directly into the advancing girl's chest. When she shifted off balance and began to swing her blades towards Voph's chest, He also shifted. Voph leaned into the blade, bringing his off hand up to knock the blade away with the Force. He continued on, bringing his own blade across the centerline of his body as he turned into the strike, then away from it.​

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His own blade was moving towards Taiia's neck now, seeking purchase anywhere from cheek to shoulder. Plus the added benefit of giving something to distract the other blade she held. Voph's off hand was already in motion again. He stepped into the attack now, pressing the full power of his frame into the blow. Physicality was often one of Voph's strengths, and it was one he knew how to exploit masterfully. But that never stopped him from getting extra help. The Force was gathering around his off-hand, preparing to follow his strike with yet another telekinetic blast...​

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Taiia Locke​

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[Taiia Locke]

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LEARN​

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Location: Knights Obsidian Citadel - Dojo​

Armament: Lightstaff (Currently 2 Training Sabers)​

Tags: Kyyrk​

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She was slightly taken aback by the aggressive counterattack from Lord Voph, she should really not be surprised she had to remind herself she did tell him not to hold back, after all, she would probably regret those words later but for now she was committed. The young woman found herself being expertly countered with an immediate follow-up attack against her, a clear difference in experience was visible between them however that would not mean she would not give it her all.

As Voph deflected her right-hand saber away from him it caused her body to turn somewhat, as she already had the momentum of the spin fighting it would be more costly so she embraced it turning into the spin her left hand flipped her saber upside down so the blade was pointed toward the floor and she quickly flicked it upward to deflect Vophs's saber up and away from her she would likely take the force hit but that in a real battle would not necessarily be fatal when a lightsaber would be she the impact of the saber be enough to dissuade from pressing with the force punch she would in earnest embrace the spin and bring her righthand saber up and across Voph's torso more to create distance than anything else.