Masters Final Round - Jericho vs Coci Heavenshield

[Coci Heavenshield]

As the combatants enter the arena, a silence falls over the audience of Jedi gathered to watch the final round of the tournament. They are guided to the raised platform in the center of the room, and each will turn toward the end of the room and bow their respects to Grand Master Thurion Heavenshield.

They are reminded of the virtues of a fair fight, of honour, valour and respect.

When this is completed, the sound of a gong echoes through the Dojo, a sign for the combatants to salute each other and take stance.

[member="Jericho"] v Coci Heavenshield

 

[Jericho]

One knock, No answer. Two knocks, still no answer. It was the third knock that caused Jericho's eyes to open. He was sitting in the middle of his floor, his legs crossed. The monks taught him a new technique that would help him with his focus and it would also help him control the balance of light and dark within him. His palms were open, and he breathed in and out. He had done this for a full three hours.

"Master, it is time for your match now." A padawan called out for him.

To be honest, he still wasn't getting anything out of it at the beginning, but this one seemed to have done something. It was like he was in a trance, and when the person who was knocking on the door knocked, it sounded far away, and it was quiet, even though he was a few feet away from the door. He quickly stood up and walked to the door. He was armored as he usually was and wore white robes, his mask adjusted, as he stood up and cracked his neck. The warrior walked out and padded the young one on the shoulder and made his way to the ring.

He faced Thurion and bowed then faced his wife, [member="Coci Heavenshield"]. Despite his recent meetings with her, he still knew little about her and her fighting style. But from what he has heard from the others she was quite aggressive and had to expect that. Regardless, he would have to hold back as he did for Maya. Instead of the Teras Kasi stance he went into an echani stance.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jericho"] has been around for some time, and as such he has seen much in the field of battle. A warrior blademaster and defender of those that require it, a finder of knowledge and a well respected man who associates with the Order of the Silver Jedi, for that alone, Coci respects him. A seeker of knowledge which would tell anyone, an intelligent man.

This was going to be difficult.

Coci closed the file on Jericho and put down the datapad. It was time to leave for the final round and so she dressed once more in her black body suit, this one fitted better as she had a custom made. She would only bring her saber to fight Jericho, it is a battle between fellow Jedi and friend. His profile also suggested he is the more calm of the two and would be patient where as she the agressor. But Coci began to think on tactics as she made her way into the arena.

She walked onto the padded platform once more, bowed to [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] as Grand Master and overseer of the combat. Without Jericho seeing, Coci puffed out her cheeks to Thurion, giving him the message that this fight would be a tough one. Now facing Jericho, she bowed toward him, ignited her purple blade before take soresu stance.

 

[Jericho]

He looked at her from her head to her feet, she stood in a strong but defensive stance. From the information he had gathered that wasn't like her. It may have been because the information he had was incorrect; he took a breath and steadied himself. She had the chance to make her move but instead went on the defensive. She was waiting on him to make the first move and see if she could land a counter-attack. He measured the length of her blade and the length of her arm to see her reach. With her combine length and movement the wheeling distance around her would be around 5 feet if she remained defensive and tight. If she decided to strike her distance of attack would be around 10 to 12 feet. But what would if he decided not to use his saber in his fight.

Soresu was a defensive stance, that focused on the minimal motions with quick parries mostly used to counter blasters. It was a form Jericho never took interest in but studied it all the same. Was she aiming him to tire himself out or making some sort of mistake before making some sort of counter? Or was she aiming to study his way of battle. If that was the case, they had the same idea coming in this duel. He switched his stance from echani back to bounce back and forth lightly on his toe, seeing as she had her saber, he wanted to see how well he would fair against another master unarmed using the element of wind.

Wind shaping was one of his weaker elements but was not to be taken lightly. Win or lose this would be a good way for him to train more in this element. He kept one hand to his face while the other glided gently with the movement he made bouncing lightly back and forth. The warrior kept an off rhythm so that he could remain unpredictable to [member="Coci Heavenshield"]. He took in a deep breath and made his move. He bouncing off his front foot sent himself back while throwing to punches unleashed two strikes of wind dense just enough to be seen and watch to see her reaction.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The force wrapped around Jericho in a way she had never experienced before, this set her mind racing and she tried to work out what he was up too. Although Coci was set in stance, her feet sat lightly on the padded platform and ready to move when needed. One would expect a strike with the blade considering the nature of the fight, but never take anything for granted, never and be prepared for the unexpected. Jericho had surprised her however.

The first punch of wind had caught her off guard, Coci felt it coming more than had seen it and moved to dodge but not quick enough as the punch of wind struck her shoulder and pushed her body around taking her off to the right, but that allowed the second punch to pass her without contact. She regained her footing quickly and retaliated with her own focused spear of force push, one directed to high on his blade arm and if it struck he too would twist so the second force spear went to the anticipated space his body would move too if unsettled and off balance.

If Jericho is to use the elements against her, this would be interesting. From the point of view of learning combat against a 'foe' that employees it and learning how to counter it, to intrigue in the application of it from a lightsider. This bout had suddenly turned into a Master Class.

[member="Jericho"]

 

[Jericho]

Jericho watched her movements closely, she was tight and defensive and reacted to his movements predictably from the defensive and reactive stance of Soresu. She was watching, learning, more about him as he did with others. Watching his attacks before making some sort of attack to take him down as well. Was she the type for short quick take downs? Or was she, deep down whether or not he wished to admit it, enjoyed a prolonged fight? Prolonged fights, for him gave him a thrill made his blood rush with excitement, it gave him scars and most of all gave him a learning experience.

She was smart and of course he put that in account. He noticed from her subtle movement that she was caught off guard from his attack but was able to adapt and adjust quickly able to dodge his consecutive attack. With her saber in hand was still able to sent a push to strike at his, what she believe to be his blade arm from his stance. A very wise move. Though she limited her movement thus far, Jericho was learning much about her and her style.

Jericho flowed the the attack and acted like the wind allowing the force to push him back then used the wind adjust his body and do a complete spin. He almost copied her reacted but with a twist, Jericho made his move and attack more aggressively. With his dodging spin he pressed the attack on her. He sent a "blunt" air strike aiming to sweep her legs, then following it with a full stance and sending a more powerful blunt strike to, if connected, knock the wind out from her chest.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jericho"]

There is a different feel in the force around Jericho, she had never come up against someone that used the elements in combat and she was searching for answers. Coci also searched through the force as she weaved the threads around him, this would give her a clue to his intentions and she could sense the build up of power. This fight was going to be a battle of wits and patience, sabers have not clashed as of yet and Coci would wait her time before she would move to remove his 'weapon' from him.

His first attack with the wind to her legs, she countered as she jumped to the side, the second however which was directed at her chest, hit but high on her arm. The momentum of her jump took her out of its target site. But the wind had struck her arm violently pulling her left hand away from her saber. Quickly she recovered and began to move around the platform, giving Jericho a Ooo expression with pursed lips and a slight grin.

Coci has many skills in the force, a couple of them would end this bout quickly but she did not wish to do that, enjoying the 'fight' too much and learning. Her fingers uncurled on her saber before gripping the hilt once more.

She decided to make herself a moving target, but her mind on a technique she would employ to surprise him she hoped. Still with one hand on her saber Coci feigned to take stance, bringing her free arm around her chest as if she was about to take a two handed grip once more, but as her arm pulled back to a required position, Coci stepped forward and threw her arm and her saber at Jericho, employing a telekinetic throw, a combination of skills to perform the move the saber arced around the strike Jericho on the upper body zone. Coci guided the saber with her outstretched arm, Jericho would need to block the strike, she anticipated this and at impact she force pulled her saber back to her hand.

She moved forward, her second strike swung low to the left leg, she is no longer in defense.

Spoiler

That is a fantastic sig!

 

[Jericho]

Jericho watched her every move, every step, and she made it obvious that she was nimble and agile; she had the build for it. Knowing this; she would most likely use swift combination attacks to try to catch him off guard and off balance. Watching her get hit in the arm by his strike and quickly recover, he saw she could take a hit but rather try to outmaneuver strikes when she could. For someone with her build that was the smart thing to do. From her light steps, he could tell that she didn't like to waste her movements. Which meant with every movement or strike there would most likely be a follow up without her wasting energy but meant for a more trained eye, she more predictable.

She made an expression followed by a grin, from her grin most would think that she was underestimating his ability and she just might be. But to him, he knew she was enjoying their little skirmish. Knowing that, he would have to give her something more to enjoy. He watched her movement closely once more, staying in a strong martial stance awaiting her next plan of attack, what would she do, what was she planning?

She went into stance lightly placing both hands on her saber, only to switch. Though it was good feign, Jericho was a master of watching the body for the feints hints of telegraphing movement, for as it was kinetic communication, was his first language and he applied it's uses in battle. Whether or not she realized this, but she was speaking to him through this fight. He watched as her hip position change with her step and the turn of her wrist. The warrior literally saw what going to happen next, the air around him began to form and became more dense to where it could be seen spinning furiously like a tornado. Air spun the opposite direction of that of her blade causing slow to an eventually stop thus blocking it.

With that she pulled her saber back to her hand and moved to attack him more aggressively. She aimed to attack low with a swift strike. In response sent a burst of air from his causing him to flip elegantly over her as he did, used one hand to propel himself fast over her to avoid an attack to his open body but in an slightly instant the warrior poke her forehead with his index finger. Heating her forehead with a small flame showing her what he could have done. He completed his flip behind her and send a burst of air at her back again not only to attack but propel himself back a few feet to keep his distance, knowing she was agile and fast enough to dodge that specific attack.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] Thanks! Sitara Qin gets the credit for it!

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jericho"]

He flip over her head surprised her, but only for a second. She felt the heated tip of his finger on her skin, she had to admit Jericho is good at this but one can't stand in awe in duels or battle and so Coci moved to counter him before he landed. She knew now he would employ one of the elements, he is using this duel to practice, which she approved of most assuredly, and so she jumped in a back flip as he had done over his head and rather than place a finger to his forehead, her saber lightly tapped his shoulder before she landed behind him in a low crouch.

From her open palm as she arm reached toward his ankle, Coci took hold through the force and pulled in an attempt to pull him over and on his back. She sprang upward and moved to the right saber in one hand and her arm still raised to counter his next move.

 

[Jericho]

This was more of a training game between the two masters but in the young eyes of the padawans that watched the smooth moves of the two combatants seemed like some sort of intense fight. The warrior watched as she mimicked his move of back flipping over him lightly tapped his shoulder with her lightsaber. To him, as a Lorrdian or rather more to him, mimicry was the highest form of flattery, it showed that they were enjoyed such an act or skill through body language. But also thought this action he could tell that she was being more playful than flattering.

It was time, he was able to learn about the woman he faced. She was good woman and able fighter, her fighting revealed much of her personality from her playfulness, her adaptability, and her willingness to learn. Thurion was a lucky man to find such a fine woman. Compliments aside, he wanted to his just how fierce this playful tiger could be. Thought he would stay with air shaping; as he wasn't one to show bode nor reveal any of his cards on the first hand.

When she used the force to pull him back in hopes of falling back. He did. Just not in the way she would think, at least from what he assumed. Using her saber as he spot, he looked back slight as he fell and went with the flow. He summon air to slightly push him from her blade and letting his body elegant drop. From that instant he spun his body aiming a kick to sweep her leg. Using a single hand to do a quick balance hop he did a horizontal spin aiming a kick for her face hoping for more reaction than an actual hit, mid spin he used his hand to send a burst of air aiming for her blade to push back just enough then ended with what he was truly aiming for.

With how close they were he propped his leg side by side ad used his other hand to send a another burst of air to send him into her like a drilling missile to her stomach. With the hand he used to one hand to keep a flow of wind from slow him enough to where he didn't any actual damage to her bones but enough to hurt. Had he actually let himself go full force, he would have broken her four lower ribs.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jericho"]

Because Coci was already in a stand position, she had the high ground. It was easy to see what he would do next in fact she expected it considering his position. She jumped backward and let his foot pass her leg and in the process using the force she attempted to flip him on his back as his momentum continue through passed her legs.

Two 'strikes' would come as she had done as well and expecting to receive another burst of wind, she remained on the move to be able to react with speed, his strike caught her however on the hip, pushing her sideways violently it had been a hard hit and she spun off balance and fell to the floor with a thud. Coci would have a couple of nasty bruises in the morning, she could already feel them forming, but she would self heal later and she pushed the pain of the strike away from her body.

She did not have position or time to counter strike, but jumped back to her feet, as he was still on the ground, she assumed he would regain his foot but she did not wait and with her arm extended and spotting Jericho, she released a powerful force push, in the form a wall directly to his body, she followed the push moving close to him and her saber gripped with both hands she arced at strike to his left shoulder, anticipating a block, Coci pressed the ignition button to extinguish her blade as his blade would make contact. Stepping sideways to the left, she reignited her saber and lunged for his torso.

 

[Jericho]

Lady [member="Coci Heavenshield"] turned from her defensive behavior and switched to her rumored aggressive style. She sent an powerful force push the sent him back flying, he though quickly and wind shaped once more to quickly regain his footing and stance. But he wasn't fast enough, the woman followed with the flow of her attack and came close with her blade. Ready to strike, what was he going to do? The warrior dip down to her hips just under her saber and moved to grapple but her blade disengaged and she move to the left.

Her first mistake in this duel, he had not been using his sabers for the entirety of the match. He knew not what she was thinking but if she read his movements he had been employing a mid distance style of fighting mixing close hand to hand and wind shaping for feign strikes without using his saber for the duration of style. Maybe she was hoping he would have an natural reaction to go for his blade when seeing the light so close to his person? He didn't know but he was use the close spacing between the two to his advantage.

He spun quickly counter clock wise and in that short time period; Switched his stance to K'thiri he summoned the wind to form around his forearms. It was then he took the blow; her blade burn through his a robes and arm and burned the left side of his torso narrowly missed and fatal blow. A dangerous gamble on his end.

Still, it was extremely painful, but the pain made him feel alive. From his stance he used force speed with the wind shaping to back his speed. He launched a technique known as the Rain of blows which was just a fancy name for a flurry of attacks. He clenched his fist tightly; His first two strikes aimed for her face, his third aimed a hook a low hook for her ribs, the fourth was a vertical strike coming down to her shoulder, ending with a knee aiming for her mid-torso, mainly her solar-plex, with a blast of win in hopes to send her flying back.