Public LOTS │ Tenets of the Lightsaber (Open to all Sith)

[The Asphodel]

MEET N GREET​

Asphodel's brow furrowed just a fraction between Maliphant's apparent frown and then partner assignments. It would've been foolish for him to assume he'd be paired up with Hyacinth - the two so often were since you know, twins - yet not being paired with the other seemed just as strange if not more so. Ah well, all the better to meet others.

Grabbing a training saber, he tossed a quick glance around for his apparent partner, he also found himself just a bit taken aback by the girl's small stature. If there was any physical manifestation of the surprise, however, it lasted maybe a moment, a wide, almost friendly smile, tugging at his lips when he was addressed. "That would be me. This'll be a pleasure, I'm sure."

His long limbs twisted in a quick stretch, with blade activated, testing its weight in his hand. Again, not a weapon he used primarily, but it would do. Holding out the blade to his partner as Darth Maliphant had instructed, an eager smirk was upon his face. "Show me watcha got."

Chasianna | Darth Empyrean ​

 

[Quintus Varro]

He'd been to war, and that experience kept his mind clear as combat moved jaggedly onwards. Nether was a master, but Quintus already had three good burns across his skin that were healing simultaneously. He'd need to eat tonight as much as the beast Grundark would protein wise to met his metabolism needs with this much healing. Still though better that then heal at the rate of a human.

He could feel the chains now for the first time, but it was difficult to get a bearing on them at the speed the spar was going. That momentary pause had been enough for him to find something, but since then his opponent had stopped little. It was at this searching moment he felt the push behind him, a push he should have seen coming if he knew how to pay attention to it. Instead he ended up seared across his chest, his shirt in ruins.

With a sharp cry he caught himself before he caught the ground, and stood slowly nodding to his opponent. "Well struck." Touching his chest he could feel it healing but now his stomach grumbled as his metabolism demanded more fuel. It would have to wait just a bit longer though it seemed.

This time he broadened his senses trying to feel all the chains, but the information was too much for him. He simply wasn't ready for it yet. Instead he narrowed his view down to himself and attempted to lighten his own chains. With sudden speed he burst forward swinging faster then he was prepared for he nearly fell in motion as he swung from his far left near his feet up towards his opponent's ribs. Rotating too far as the momentum carried him away he felt both a fool, and yet elated. He'd found it. There was still miles of learning to go in this race, and limitations to learn. None of that mattered though, he'd found his power, and the chains were his to command.

Arcturus Dinn

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

"You feel it, don't you?" he breathed, unable to keep the damned grin from his lips, in the aftermath of his lunge striking true. Thesh had backed up some after, giving the man room to breathe rather than capitalizing on it and hammering him with further blows. Perhaps his Master would see his refusal to take advantage of the situation as a weakness, but truly he was more intrigued with Quintus' progress than bothered about his own. Such was the mind of one like he... Ever hungry for knowledge.​

​

Apparently as hungry as the man whose stomach grumbled.​

​

The addition of the Force behind the man's next swing, bolstering the speed something akin to what Alina had demonstrated, caught Thesh off guard. If not for the way in which Quintus seemed to over-commit to it he may have been struck head on, instead it was a glancing blow to the ribs as the momentum carried his opponent a touch too far. Enough that Thesh winced and reached up with his free hand, certainly.​

​

But it had left Quintus in quite the predicament. Off-balance, turned aside, Thesh brought his blade up and performed another flourish - this time with the blade aimed at the man's side. Two slices in quick succession. Then he drew back, held his ribs some more. If only he knew how to rapid heal, too... Might have made for a simpler match, no?​

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"Excellent," he beamed, positively glowing with eagerness and pride as he looked upon the other man. "You're a quick learner, Quintus Varro... A damn quick learner."​

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Quintus Varro Darth Empyrean ​

 

[Darth Empyrean]

What was a sparring lesson seemed to turn into a full on duel for many - notably between Darth Arkanus and Alina Tremiru or the larger pairing of Velok Brokentusk and Grundark . Maliphant watched them dance about, slam each other with fireballs and fists, and quietly appreciated how in tune they were to the Dark Side. Even if they were frenzied by the amount of Dark Side energy that stuck to the air, the fact they felt it so fully meant they had quickly embodied his techniques.

The others, those like Arcturus Dinn and Quintus Varro seemed to take it slower - more carefully. Equally as much, Maliphant could appreciate their control; as despite common belief, lightsaber duels were far more the thinking mans game than not. With that in mind, he cleared his throat and tapped the impervium base of his staff onto the ground in three sharp moves.

All at once, the Dark Side energy they felt would be stripped from them - mostly to calm their senses, and Maliphant would speak over the sounds of sabers clashing;

"Acolytes, to me.", he demanded with authority. As though his words were the laws of the universe, each would feel the Force compel them into action - forcibly driving their muscles to look upon him and cease their violence. Those who didn't, likely the two beast mean, would feel something sharper - the slow electrocution of their muscles into strategic spasms until they looked upon Maliphant; painful and deep they would drive, and if they resisted this too they would simply be faced with the a spell of stasis.

A moment for them to calm themselves while Maliphant spoke, it would seem.

"Many of you have felt the pull of the Dark Side, and now understand what it means to fight as a Sith does. Emotion, power, violence - these are the things your styles must embody, channeling your potential in the Force through your body and your blade alike. In time, I wish to see all of you commit what Bane had done - to cut down the rain in the face of nature, or the dust on Korriban as it assails the academy.", he mused, knowing many before him would one day reach such a feat.

Or surpass it.

"However, there is more to lightsaber combat. The brutes, mindless as they are, who can only channel the force into anger are not trained at this academy. They are sent into the void to learn how to harness their anger to be berserkers - sith shock troopers who are not necessary for the further advancement of our Order. Everyone here has shown promise to consider combat something more - so I will offer you a simple question.", Maliphant offered them as the staff in his hand tapped gently on the ground once more.

"Darth Sidious once killed three jedi masters before they could react. Darth Zannah killed Darth Bane through her implementation of dark side sorcery. What these have in common in simple - the element of surprise."

"Consider for a moment what an opponent expects from you. For Grundark , Velok Brokentusk likely assumed he was large and powerful, capable of slamming into him with the force only an enhanced cragmaloid could. He would be correct in that assumption; but the duel between them was hard and fast from the beginning. If Grundark had instead pulled back from his strength, slowed himself, purposefully put his feet where they should not have been to create false openings - he could control the assumptions Velok would create. It is in that moment that Grundark could release his full strength in the Dark Side and overwhelm Velok in a burst of brutality."

"The same applies in many things. Lightsaber combat is not as simple as technique or strength, or even agility - it is truly the realm of the thinking Sith. Those that can outsmart their opponent can outdue a battle master with nothing but their thought - and that is what I hope to teach you all soon. That you may feel the Dark Side enhance your abilities - but so too must you control it, choke it back until you're ready, then release it with all the strength you have. It is a matter of importance that you control your connection - so that you may show your fangs only when necessary. Never lose yourself to your own power."

He cleared his throat and motioned between them;

"Change partners.", he said simply.

" Grundark and Chasianna .", he said quickly, knowing the size mismatch would only teach them how to fight differently.

" Velok Brokentusk and Quintus Varro .", knowing all too well how tired the latter was already. Maliphant wanted to test his limits.

" Arcturus Dinn and Rax Tremira .", Maliphant said to them, hoping the control Thesh had shown would give him a good idea of what Rax could do.

" Alina Tremiru , The Asphodel , and Darth Arkanus - you will fight me.", more to see how Alina and Dral would spar with a partner than anything else. Sometimes a moment with the teacher could feed their ego to improve - or turn them into an enemy for the others.

The Hyacinth │ Val Drutin

 

[Darth Arkanus]

He was mid-swing when the words hit his ears and he stopped ducking behind a few more of Alina's swings as he grabbed his lightsaber back from her. He took a couple of deep breaths allowing for his body to regain his strength as he made his way back towards Darth Empyrean . Giving a bow he watched whilst the Darth gave instructions to the groups. Taking his words in stride at how he could implment these teachings more into his combat and his everyday life as a member of the sith. He knew that Maliphant had years of experience with the Dark side of the force, and had heard many rumors and gossip about the man over the years., but all he knew is that anything that he taught the group would come to be important if they were to make it.

When he heard that Alina Tremiru , The Asphodel , and himself would be facing off against the Darth himself he widens his eyes slightly, a brow being raised, he was not expecting this, but as the Darth had shown previously he was more than capable and willing to take on the three acolytes. He took a deep breath as he went to make his way with the others to begin their spar with the Darth himself.

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Velok came to a shuddering halt mid-battle with Grundark . He obeyed Maliphant, not out of fear of punishment but because Grandfather was watching. He nodded in respect to his opponent. Ignoring his cracked rib and various burns, he went to join the rest and listen to the Sith Lord speak.

He had his doubts, frankly. He'd fought a lot over the bulk of the last century. Thought had its place, but anyone who could think quickly during a real fight wasn't fighting a real enemy, so far as Velok was concerned. It came down to drilling and state of flow and a split-second decision-making capability that didn't allow for much in the way of cleverness. But then again, Maliphant came from a legacy of big grand fights. If Velok wanted to rise, learning to do things Maliphant's way might be wise, after all.

 

[Rax Tremira]

Were it not for the subtle gesturing, Rax would've been confused as to who exactly he was talking about. Though as he spoke, the boy would look over to Arcturus Dinn quickly looking him up and down. As cocky as it may have sounded, Rax didn't need to learn that specific thing from Maliphant. Thinking was how he always fought, it was only recently he had become strong enough to match his opponents, which meant before he would have to use momentum to properly find victory. His physical training had become an addiction though, ever since he met Alina Tremiru . Her strength had left a mark of envy in the boy. He had been observing her fight at that, along with the others in the room.

The staff that Darth Empyrean held was indeed a powerful artifact. As he watched the sparring, he seethed. He would not bring shame to himself. The Sith in this room would not downplay him for his size, or age; they would all remember him after this. That was what he deserved. Too long was he just some nameless boy from the wastes. A bastard of the Omega War. He was strong now... The Dark Side had remade him, and eventually... He would enslave the Force.. Bend it to his will.

Now, he stood. the lightsaber that sat gingerly on his lap gripped tightly. Making incisions into his flesh, and bringing him that beautiful sensation of pain. It should be noted he hadn't actually shown any emotion since he had entered the room; albeit he had felt good seeing the woman from back then, all of that left as soon as that mangled saber activated, sputtering, and crackling with an intent that matched the terror he thought of. Everyday, Rax got a little further from who he thought he was, and who he wanted to be. Long ago, someone told him that the life of a Sith didn't always have to be doom and gloom, and he'd taken that to heart; but he also knew that anger was necessary for ascension.

Looking down at the weapon in his hand, he'd almost forgotten. Using a dial on its side, he lessened the intensity of the blade, it would still burn, but wouldn't kill unless it rested on flesh for an extended period of time. With that, he approached the other, raising the weapon in front of him, pointed in the direction of Arcturus Dinn . No words spoken, he would simply walk the blade into him, unless of course the other reacted, which Rax expected him too. Given the height differential, the point of Rax's blade would've ideally made contact between his navel, and solar plexus; that was in the unlikely event in did touch him.

 

[Chasianna]

Location: The Royal Academy of Korriban
Equipment: White Sith Robes │ Miniaturized Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsaber │ XXXS Training Saber
Tags: The Asphodel Grundark (Focus)

With the harsh and distinct noises of force containment fields filled with burning, yet thoroughly neutered electro-plasma crashing together, the two blades came together in a lock. Initially, the Sister found herself wavering as she fought against the Asphodel’s superior physical strength, forcing her to draw deeper within herself, harnessing more of the Dark Side’s energy to compensate. At almost the same time, she sensed the Dark Side energy permeating the air immediately after Maliphant spoke her name, filling her tiny form to the core with the corrupting powers, which she did not hesitate to embrace. In doing so, her eyes shifted color, the whites taking on a glowing cyan hue as the raging energies anchored her form.

Power, like nothing she had ever known, filled her body. Now, all she had to do was harness it.

Once she was past the initial phase of locking blades to test her partner’s strength, the Sister launched her body into the dazzling acrobatics of Ataru, intended to press the offensive in order to force her opponent’s blade high where he may have expected to have to defend low, all the while twisting and contorting her already small body to make for an even harder target to hit. From there, the duel erupted into a raging flurry of parries, strikes, and feints delivered from both parties, each presumably executed with the intent to outmaneuver the other’s defenses. Early on in the fight, her opponent’s blade found a mark, landing a painful blow directly on the sharp, strong, yet hypersensitive horn on the Sister’s forehead. By itself, the stinging sensation overwhelmed her nerves, forcing the Qilin to relent her acrobatic assault on the Asphodel as she reeled from the blow. However, it was immediately apparent that she had made a mistake in doing so as her opponent rapidly seized the advantage, as she had not yet fully learned how to channel her pain into power.

In a real fight, she likely would have paid for the mistake with her life.

Nevertheless, almost as quickly as it began, the duel was compelled to finish as Maliphant spoke. After giving a short bow to her opponent, the Sister turned her attention towards the Dark Lord, listening intently as he delivered his next instructions. Where she had assessed her weakness in her duel with the Teevan to be her failure to capitalize on the font of power pain could represent in a fight, Maliphant spoke of a different wisdom, one of a single cunning Sith who was capable of defeating opponents more strong, fast, and numerous than themself through creativity, imagination, and control. It was different from how she had been trained in Malsheem, where the harnessing of emotion into power and anti-individualist teamwork took precedence over other methods.

The difference in teachings was not lost on the Sister, but for the time being, she did not linger in contemplating on who or what was ultimately correct. Instead, she immediately readied herself for the next duel, moving quickly to find her next partner, a massive, ten-foot Cragmoloid who towered over her to a degree that was almost beyond comprehension.

“I am First Sister of the New Sith Order.” She spoke, her voice laced with anxiety as she glanced up at the colossal creature, assessing its strengths and weaknesses with sharp cyan eyes.

Then, the Sister gave the beast a respectful bow before performing a graceful Makashi salute and shifting into her opening stance, one that was a mix of Ataru’s primed explosiveness and Makashi’s efficient elegance. All the while, she focused the Dark Side within her body, shaping it into a focused point to wield against the Cragmoloid.

"Shall we engage, Grundark?” She added in an uncharacteristically light tone, surprising even herself and briefly disrupting her own rhythm as she readied herself to fight the beast...

 

[Grundark]

With a grunt the Cragmoloid extinguished his great saber as Maliphant called for attention. Feeling the pull he chuckled a bit, as he patted his opponents shoulder. "Well fought, Velok, you do your herd honor." As the battle lust drained out of him the pain came back in a flood, but the damage wasn't as bad as it should have been. Still he smelt like a Correllian BBQ and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Seeing his next pairing he shook off his pain and walked over blood dripping out of a dozen burns. He took pride in them though like all his battle scars, he'd learned something today, and met an opponent worthy or respect. Perhaps he'd met another still. Looking down he trumpeted in respect, but held off as she moved into a combat position. He could smell it on her though, not as bad as some, but it was there.

Shaking his head he held up a finger, "I smell some fear in you. That is good, but wisdom demands we use that fear to strengthen us not weaken us. Fear sharpens our senses, and brings wisdom so long as we rule fear. This fight for you is not against me, but yourself. Breath and face yourself. Master your fear and make it obey your will. Do so and you will have gained a strength no one else can teach you."

Taking a step back he nodded to his opponent and roared ferociously at his opponent. "Now embrace your fear, make it submit and show me your strength."

Chasianna Darth Empyrean

 

[Quintus Varro]

He ended short of breath and weakening physically as his body continued to heal a half a dozen wounds disregarding his own ebbing strength. When his next match was announced he looked over at one of the two monstrosities and couldn't hold back a sigh. Of course it would be one of them. Walking over he gave a short bow as he desperately moved through the chains looking for something, anything that would give him strength.

Raising his blade attacked clumsily as his strength just began to give, but he did attack. Among the chains of the force he attempted to focus on anything but he was fighting through exhaustion. Standing up straight he gave a chuckle as he held a slightly wobbly saber. "Better to die then be chained no?" It wasn't so much to his opponent, but it was just a statement of fact to himself. What a way to start training eh? Dozens of silvery lined scars and as weak as a kitten.

Velok Brokentusk Darth Empyrean

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Velok looked on Quintus Varro - smaller, more fatigued, more injured, less experienced in the Force, but still committed - with a rare spark of empathy and a decent amount of respect.

"You went hard against the other one," he rumbled, blocking Quintus' attacks with straightforward, economical movements of his great saber. His burns and cracked rib gave him pause but he soldiered on. "Always save a little fire for the second enemy, berserker boy."

Out of respect, he began to counterattack. The length of the greatsaber meant the end of its blade moved stunningly fast, and his default strength more than compensated for the saber's weightlessness to give it real momentum. He wasn't out to beat down or cripple, just give Quintus the genuine experience.

 

[Quintus Varro]

Another burn, this time from his own weapon as he couldn't hold back the strength of his opponent's blow. If this was a real battle he'd already be dead, but that's why they trained right? He hadn't left a drop for the second enemy Velok was right about that. Of course he hadn't thought there would be a second enemy either. Surely though he had something deep inside to throw at his opponent?

Reaching down he pulled at the chains surrounding Velok trying to telekinetically pull in as Quintus tried to spin inside of the man's guard. Nothing worked right though. Pain filled every sensation as he literally spun up the large great saber, and when he hit the thick body of his opponent it was more like collapsing against it then anything else.

With an exhausted shallow breath he managed out the only blow he could hope to land against a superior opponent. "Well, I hope you'll call me in the morning?" Holding onto the Whipid's chest he attempted to regain his feet with a shake of his head. The only thing that kept him up was that little bit of power he could pull through the force and Whipid hair he had clutched like a lifeline. What a sad sight he was.

Pulling on the first he sought out after the shut off valve in the staff trying to find that burst of dark side energy once more. Pulling at energy from the air itself he found his feet as he stood once more a bloody and wrecked mess. Well maybe if he failed out they would just let him walk away, but he doubted that. Who ever got to just walk away from the Sith? "Better watch out, it's coming at you now."

Velok Brokentusk Darth Empyrean

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

And just like that, his time with Quintus was over.​

​

Thesh had already been paused, so turning his attention to Darth Empyrean was an immediate response. No hesitation, just eagerness to see what else his Master had for them. He listened with the same hunger he had whenever another chose to speak, from the mightiest figurehead to the lowliest pawn there was always something new to learn. Here was no different.​

​

Deception, trickiness, fake outs, whatever they wanted to call it that was their next lesson. To paint one picture yet act upon another unseen song. He liked that notion, very much so indeed, and caught himself nodding along in admiration of the words, the concept. Though much of the adrenaline had begun to wear off, with the sapping of the Darkside from around them and the end to the various fights, that grin upon his lips had remained.​

​

As they were paired off once more, Thesh turned and glanced over his opponent. Rax Tremira was the smallest of the group, but the Lorrdian knew better than to believe himself more experienced than another simply due to size and age. He stepped toward the boy, made to bow his head and start up his flourish, to say something perhaps, but Rax wanted nothing to do with all of that.​

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No, instead he launched himself into the offensive immediately.​

​

It was an interesting decision, and an even more interesting approach. The lad simply pointed his blade forward, horizontal to the floor, and walked into Thesh. No great speed behind his action, no real strength due to the nature of it. Just an attempt at skewering him through the midsection.​

​

Though anticipating more on the horizon, that this was as Maliphant had spoke of, a fake out, Thesh for now took it for what it was and simply primed for the worst mentally. He sidestepped the blade, brought his own up to brush the length of it aside and locked saber to saber in a test of strength similar to that which he'd done with Quintus when they initially squared up.​

​

"Don't you hold back on me, now," he said, sincerity in his tone mixed with a little encouragement. Truly he wanted to know what the lad had in him, and he had a feeling he wasn't going to be disappointed with the results.​

 

[Chasianna]

Location: The Royal Academy of Korriban
Equipment: White Sith Robes │ Miniaturized Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsaber │ XXXS Training Saber
Tags: Grundark (Focus)

The Sister, owing to her distinct lack of any real sense of smell, had no idea what fear actually smelled like. Nevertheless, she could not deny the massive Cragmoloid’s observation. Fortunately, for the Sith, fear was not a weakness, but rather, a source of strength. Where the Jedi constantly sought to subdue their emotions, Sith did not have to suffer such anxiety in fighting the very thing that marked an individual as being truly alive. However, as Maliphant had said only moments before, she could not let such emotions control her. Instead, they had to be tempered as a blade, then harnessed when the time was right.

"What does fear smell like?" She asked, her expression taking on a playful aspect as the words left her lips.

Regardless of whether or not the Cragmoloid answered, the Sister moved to attack, embracing her fear and channeling the Dark Side within herself to catapult her body off the ground, before launching into a Sheev Spin™ with an ear-splitting cry on her lips. The spiraling movement was immediately translated into a foray to deliver a pair of strikes against the towering beast, aiming to strike at his presumably vulnerable trunks while evading the creature’s deadly-looking tusks...

 

[Grundark]

With a laugh he nodded as she came at him like a wheel of fury, and as the battle lust flowed he answered even as he took his first blow. "It's in the sweat, a bitter note for the trunk." She scored half a dozen painful strikes her spinning motion, but as the force reinforced his hide he took it in stride. Swinging in hard and low he knew she'd gain some distance before he struck but he had other plans in mind.

She liked noise eh? Good, let her try this focusing his power into his trunk he pointed it towards the little ball of fury and exploded it forward in a powerful force bellow. Like thunder it exploded out, but this thunder had focus and power. It would hit far harder then even his warhammer could if she stood still to take the blow.

Yes, he had accepted it now, embraced it even. This was now his destiny, and he would float along no longer.

Chasianna

 

[Rax Tremira]

The boys eyes were pointed more at Arcturus Dinn 's body, than his saber. Even though he had an idea, he had to see how he moved first. Rax didn't want the other to know how capable he was in regards to strength, not yet. His goal was to figure the opponent out, not the other way around. Past that, he had been making spot observations of the other. He seemed happy go lucky. Perhaps he was hiding his hatred? Was he like Alina, who managed to keep it bottled up? Or was he simply complacent?

As Arcturus Dinn made a move to bring Rax's saber up into a lock, what was quite literally a easy saber to manipulate suddenly became rigid. Rax used that momentum, caused from Arcturus's blade moving his saber up into a lock, and followed through; slamming both sabers into the ground on the other side. from where that move had started. Indeed, if Arcturus was expecting to 'easily' use brute strength on the boy, he would be in for a shock.

He had no intention of holding back, but he certainly wanted to take his time, all the same that comment would not receive a response; or even a change in his disposition. To even attempt the redirection of Arcturus's intent, Rax used as much strength as he could muster; though it may not have been necessary, his heart was pounding.

Suddenly, his elbow jutted out; aimed at striking Arcturus in his diaphragm a blood curdling yell released as he put his all into that attempt. Had he allowed Arcturus to keep a high lock, he would've been at the disadvantage, but bringing the sabers low to the ground against a taller opponent, that was where he had to take his prize. He couldn't let the other dictate.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

The boy put his all into pushing their sabers aside, and Thesh beamed in response.​

​

It was back, that adrenaline he'd begun to lose, and his heart pounded in response. It fueled him as he drew upon the darkness which was once more seeping into the room, strengthening his own grasp and pushing back against the younger boy's saber to try and regain a status quo. To bring his own up from the ground and more to a centered state.​

​

Quintus had opened up the flood gates earlier, and nothing untoward had come from it. Heck, Alina Tremiru had descended her own spar into a fistfight against Dral, and nothing had been said. Just a raw exchange of power, regardless of the capacity it took.​

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He could have done something more with that knowledge, pulled from his larger retinue of abilities. But for now he did not.​

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Lorrdian blood pulsing through his veins, he could see the coiling of Rax's muscles before he made his move. His people were renown for their ability to read the motions of another as though they were words spoken, a people enslaved and forced to communicate through motion not verbiage. For Thesh doubly so, for even so long after their freedom he too had known such a life. He knew the signs.​

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Even so the haste at which the elbow jutted out was impressive. Blades locked as they were there wasn't really any way back for the majority of his body so he did as he had with Alina back in the sparring room and leaned his head back to lessen the blow, pulling chest inches away with that motion. It struck him of course, there was no way it couldn't, but it did not knock the air from his lungs quite so forcibly as it could have.​

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And having put his all into it, the boy had left himself open. Thesh knocked his slackened blade aside, reaching out with his free hand to grasp at the elbow before it could make its retreat and using the rushed momentum the boy had built up to push him toward the floor. Once one was all in, it was nigh on impossible to change tracks mid way through, after all.​

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Thesh had learned that one the hard way.​

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Rax Tremira​

 

[Rax Tremira]

So then complacency wasn't it, but now he could feel it. Reactive... As Rax upped the intensity, his opponent matched him quickly. Rax's elbow glanced his stomach, and just that simple action of the other dodging the full blow was infuriating. WHY!? His elbow was grabbed, and instinctively he swung the saber again. Of course, the boy was no oaf. Accustomed to fighting off balance, or even putting himself in a situation where his balance was questioned if only demonstrate his dexterity.

In rendition, he loosened his elbow, to which Thesh would now be able to feel just how much muscle the boy had under those robes, albeit he had only grabbed the elbow, he would undoubtedly be able to feel the bulge of muscle that was just a few inches away at his bicep. It betrayed his height, but revealed that he was playing possum up until now. Rax had turned his body away from Thesh to deliver the elbow with arm closest to his opponent, and while Thesh's attempt to disposition Rax's lightsaber was admirable, the grin that formed on his face was telling.

When he had moved to attempt pinning Thesh's lightsaber earlier, he was setting the other up. Admittedly, he had wanted to drop him with that diaphragm shot, but as mentioned, Thesh may have been able to gather that the swing of the saber was coming.

As Thesh pushed, Rax growled with a mighty swing of his saber hand, he stumbled off his pivot, which would lesson the intended amount of force he wanted to send into that strike; the crackling saber now fast approaching Thesh's side.

Irregardless, Rax was still sent off balance to the point that he had offered his back temporarily to his opponent.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

In the moments that followed, saberwork did not come to mind. He held his strong enough, in motion with the boys, but it was a subconscious act, something his body did reflexively. No, instead he sought to further capitalize upon the unbalanced state of his foe.​

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Nay, more than that, capitalize upon the back which was presented to him.​

​

Thesh lifted his leading leg and kicked into the boy's exposed and defenseless back, ensuring he kept his stronger planted upon the ground. Adding further momentum into the boys motion toward the floor.​

​

He needed to put some space between them, to keep their blades from remaining locked forevermore in a Force-imbued struggle. To reset the scales, and begin anew with the knowledge he'd received about the boy and his deceptions.​

​

Rax Tremira ​

 

[Rax Tremira]

He deactivated his saber immediately, as that kick was definitely going to send him to the ground. He let out an oomph, of breath, but aggressively owned the fall; meaning, he extended his non-saber hand, slowing his momentum, and rolled into it. Turning on heel, the saber was held out to the right of him with poise as it was again activated. Eyes snapping onto his target. The boy stood to his feet, glancing down to brush a bit of dust from his robes. Then again, those hate filled eyes level on the other.

Just a bare moment ago, he was intent on locking sabers with Rax, and now he was creating space between them. There was a low chuckle that emanated from Rax briefly. Almost a maniacal cackle, though it didn't travel very far, only the closest would've heard it. For just the briefest of moments, the very notion was hilarious to him. He approached him again, this time his step was quick. the blade held down at his right side, the blood dripping from his hand periodically causing tufts of smoke to rise from the unstable saber in his hand.

"Don't you hold back on me now..." he repeated the words, though it was clear there was malice to them. He had no personal issue with Thesh, but in this moment, he needed to break him. After the gift Darth Empyrean had given him... He had prove his worth!

Once he got to the point where, if both had extended their sabers fully, they would barely touch at the points, Rax allowed the blade of his weapon to drag briefly across the floor, causing a series of sparks and cracks to emanate, before lifting the blade from the ground and stepping into Thesh's guard with a swing that emanated from the ground, and moved to slash diagonally across the others stomach, though, it should be noted that if Thesh attempted to block it, Rax would attempt to initiate that lock again, this time, he wanted to control the angle of it; maintaining a low posture that forced the other to fight at his height.

Arcturus Dinn