Private Prove Your Worth || Rann Thress

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | @Anyone else who wants to watch

There were several among the Knights Obsidian Gerwald had made it a point to visit, but none seemed more important than this meeting. Rann Thress had been on Naalol when Sergei died. He had assessed the situation and determined that in his own mind the actions Gerwald had taken were those of weakness. Gerwald was well aware he blamed him for the deaths which occurred. Gerwald did as well, but not for the same reasons this fledgling Knight seemed to.​

There was an arrogance which Gerwald had felt from the man, also a conflict. The wolf wondered if it would be the case this time. Internal conflict was not something the lupine could tolerate among those he would send into battle. Conflict made one hesitate, created indecision. It was the enemy of every soldier, and Gerwald would have none of it among those under his command.​

Indecision made one weak.​

Gerwald sat in the center of the sparring ring. It was a makeshift structure as the Knights Obsidian were still working on the construction of their new headquarters on Naboo. As with anything in the Confederacy, grand plans were in place, but the project itself required time to complete. The lupine was okay with this as he preferred the simplicity of what they had now. The ring was nothing more than a dirt circle open to the elements around them. It would suffice for what Gerwald wished to achieve.​

He wore the new armor gifted to him by the former Lord Commander Kyyrk , the helmet remaining at his side for the moment. His eyes briefly turned to face the blonde woman which had joined him on this outing. Lunara Azure was a good friend. There was certainly enough banter between the two of them to justify calling her such. She had proven herself in her own right as a capable Knight Obsidian, force user, and a trusted ally. That was why Gerwald had asked her to accompany him.​

“I am hoping we are removed enough from the events of Naalol that he can see past what took place. Of anyone who was there, I fear he will be the one to try and use it to goad me into actions I should not take today. Do not allow me to give into the wolf should its rage be provoked.”​

Gerwald trusted Lunara to do whatever it took to ensure that did not happen. It was not that Gerwald could not control the beast within. Both of them were simply aware of what lines Gerwald would be willing to cross when it came to the subject of his loss, and the pain which still remained fresh. Eyes closed as he gave Lunara a mental picture of what had taken place that day. He had not talked of it much save with his new friend Palm-Imer . Even then he did not speak of it much.​

“I would have destroyed it, but it seems the tether cannot be. I was willing to let her go. I told her.”​

Gerwald wished things were as simple as the idea that Naedira had died and was simply lost. The ring around his neck told a different story.​

“He thinks I am weak and worthless. I will have to show him otherwise today.”​

Gerwald stood as the man he was waiting for came into view. A slight nod was all he would receive in greeting for now.​

 

[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S​

Tags: Gerwald Lechner Lunara Azure​

Spoiler: Theme: Where is Your God Now?

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Rann walked with deadly purpose towards the training room Gerwald had summoned him to. As always, Rann was shrouded in his black robes with golden patterns adorning them, the hood pulled up around his red and gold Mandalorian-style helmet, an homage to his father. He’d long since sworn off any real protective equipment in favor of the challenge to dirty up his ornate clothing.​

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I wonder if he knows I plan to kill him. he thought to himself as he approached the door and it opened for him.​

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“Lord Commander.” He called out, his voice metallic and cold, and he stepped further into the room, closing the distance between himself and his Commander, the Wolf Gerwald Lechner.​

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“I see you brought a friend. Good. Good.”​

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He clenched his fist and stared daggers into both Lunara and Gerwald. ​

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“That’s. Good.” He seethed.​

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“A wonder you still have those. Friends. I imagine they’d all be dead now.” He cast a glance towards Lunara, “Give it time. If he leaves here alive, you’ll soon be dead I’m sure.” ​

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He returned his gaze back to Gerwald.​

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“I trust,” he gestured a hand at Gerwalds armor, “You know my intention here?” He exhaled hard and grunted angrily, beginning to pace back and forth. “It won’t save you.”​

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“You’re weak. A mistake. You’ll lead what remains of our order into ruin.” He extended his arm and pointed a gloved finger at Lunara.​

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“If you don’t know why I’m here, you’re a fool. If you do know, that means you brought someone to protect you? To help?!” He dropped his hands and withdrew both of his lightsabers, igniting then to reveal he had replaced the once beautiful amber and green color with blood red crystals.​

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Psheeeeeew ​

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“No no no.” He began breathing heavily, pacing back and forth quicker.​

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“No. You don’t deserve that loyalty. And I won’t let her or anyone stop this. You’re going to die, today, Mutt. Draw your weapons. DRAW THEM!”​

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He screamed, slashing at the beautiful well maintained ground with angry, furious arcs.​

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“You will FIGHT ME. AND YOU WILL DIE. You will join those you were too weak to save! That’s how this ends! That’s the ONLY WAY IT ENDS!”​

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[Hazel Scheler]

Hazel most certainly was not part of the Knights Obsidian, but she'd spent the last several weeks traveling in one's company. Her excursions across the stars of Confederacy space alongside Var Talon had lead her here, of all places, on a short interim break from the confines of her ship to stretch her legs and let Biggs get some fresh air.

She had some reports to file for Mr. Black and a six pack of fizzy lum to kill, now all she needed was a quiet place to kick up her feet and get to work. Walking the halls of this place (where was she and why did she keep letting Var navigate?) found her at a broad corridor filled with the echos of distant shouting.

“You will FIGHT ME. AND YOU WILL DIE. You will join those you were too weak to save! That’s how this ends! That’s the ONLY WAY IT ENDS!”

Well, that sounded interesting.

Hazel cracked open a bottle of lum, took a swig, made a face, and followed the sound of imminent drama.

 

[Lunara Azure]

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Location: Being a wall flower
Wearing: This
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner | Rann Thress | Hazel Scheler

The blonde let her eyes drift back and forth between the two men squaring up across from one another, the verbal blades already slicing through the air. If words could truly cut she had no doubt that Gerwald would have been flayed by the barrage, left reeling by Rann’s words. Only…they were angry, unfocused, lashing out rather than controlled. A cold smile touched her lips as she bowed her head to the side, ice-blue eyes resting on the challenger’s face for a moment before glancing away.

“I’ve been on borrowed time for years now. If my ‘luck’ runs out, it runs out. But I rather think yours has already.”

The loss that she carried with her, like chains wrapped around her soul were never far away, never far from her thoughts. How could they be? The constant reminder that she’d escaped the fate of her family and friends through sheer luck, that they’d been cut down in the street because she hadn’t been there.

The man thought that she was afraid of death?

The truth is, it would have been a welcome relief for her, an end to the misery of living with guilt and memory from which she could find no escape.

The woman turned, resting one hand on the wolf’s shoulder as she raised her head to catch his eyes, watching them closely for a moment before nodding.

“I’ll stop you if you get too far out of control but…don’t hold back on this one. He lacks…control. Feels like a sea in a storm, lashing out but spending his energy unnecessarily.”

She could feel the anger boiling off him, like a black miasma filling the room, an oppressive heavy feeling that seemed to fill the atmosphere around them. Or…it would have been oppressive if Lunara hadn’t stood in the same room as Darth Omnia, as Darth Metus. These towering presences in the force that seemed to fill the room with a dark controlled presence. This was like smoke she could walk through, settling her back against the wall as she looked back and forth between the two men.

“Are you waiting for me?”

A pale hand rose, falling to rest on her thigh.

“Begin.”

 

[Palm-Imer]

Objective: Spectator.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Wearing: XxX.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner ~ Rann Thress ~ Lunara Azure ~ Hazel Scheler

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A Lord Commander was bound to face countless challenges during the time he served as the head of the Knights Obsidian. However, it came as a surprise to the geminaie that the most explicit and direct form of challenge had risen so quickly before Gerwald.

Not long ago she had promised she would follow him, and the Ambassador was nothing if not true to her word and loyal to those that had earned her respect and care. The lupine stood among that reduced group of people. So, she had made her way towards the agreed upon location to bare witness to this defiance - and hopefully to see it brought to an early end.

Palm had heard of Rann Thress only in passing, but she did not need to know more at the moment than what he was making abundantly evident by the time she set foot on the arena. No matter the reason, this man carried a rage that was rarely seen. It was overwhelming and untamed, ravenous. She had only known that pure and unhinged anger once before. On Velmor.

Her hand instinctively rose to her chest, covering the scar that laid hidden beneath the gray fabric of her tunic in an absentminded gesture. A gift from one Joycelyn Zambrano . Her concentration was occupied elsewhere, amber eyes going over the figures of both rivals. She remained silent and expresionless as the contender growled about his motives, and a faint smile curved the corner of her lips when the woman standing next to Gerwald replied.

The time to stop making threats and start taking action drew near. It was then that her gaze seeked the wolf's icy one. She only gave him one firm nod., it was all that was needed to convey her support.

Then her eyes shifted towards the blonde haired woman who now neared her, extending the same silent greeting to her. They had not formally met, but both were here for a similar reason. There was only one other person on this duel grounds, but if her assessment of Hazel Scheler was not wrong it did not seem as though she had any personal interest mixed into this. She was a true neutral spectator, probably with no allegiance to either men. Which meant that Rann Thress, in all his anger, must have been singing the war chant of a one man army.

And if his truly was a lonely rage, then Gerwald stood before the chance of putting an end to this little war now.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

Rann Thress announced himself and his intentions in a rather boisterous manner as he approached the ring. Twin blades arched and cut into the ground below as the son of Darth Metus made idle threats toward the Lupine. His attentions shifted to Lunara which caused a guttural growl to escape Gerwald’s throat. The wolf was not bothered by the personal attacks aimed at him, but Rann Thress had now threatened a friend. Already the young Knight showed his ignorance in regards to who Gerwald was. There was nothing Gerwald would not do for his friends.​

“You are here because I summoned you, and she is not here to help me. She is here to stop me.”​

The words carried a sense of authority behind them. While leading the Knights Obsidian was new to Gerwald, leading soldiers was not. The Knight that stood before was nothing more than an insolent soldier, and while Gerwald’s intent had been to evaluate the man, it seemed he was now facing a challenge to his worth. Today, Rann would understand, as would all those watching, why Voph chose him as his successor.​

While the miraluka had told Gerwald it was because he still cared for those under his command, Gerwald knew there had been more to it. His record spoke for himself. He had been under the torturous thumb of Darth Prazutis , and survived. Had Gerwald been weak, he would not have survived that encounter, he would not have recovered, and he would not be standing in the ring to face this challenge.​

Others seemed to be gathering as the shouts and threats which came from the challenger rang about the air.​

“It seems there will be witnesses,” he said so only Lunara Azure could hear.​

Her words came to his ear next. They were a caution and a command at once. What Lunara had said could be parsed in many different ways, but the intent behind it was clear. She wanted Gerwald to put this one in his place. The lupine had no choice in the matter anymore. Perhaps he could have let the anger slide, the disregard for the Lord Commander which coated every word spoken by Rann Thress, but with witness, Gerwald had to make a statement.​

Eyes fell to the only other person Gerwald knew among those who currently gathered to watch this fight. Palm-Imer was a friend, a trusted ally, and confidant. The Ambassador had quickly endeared herself to the Lord Commander, despite the mystery of her past and the doubt which raged within her. She too was another in conflict, but so far she had been willing to accept Gerwald’s guidance, even with how unorthodox it had been. A nod was offered to her as well as a look indicating he needed to speak with her when this challenge was put to rest.​

With her usual flare and attitude, Lunara raised an arm. Gerwald took one final opportunity to speak, this time entering the blonde’s mind so she alone would hear what Gerwald had to say.​

“His mistake was threatening you.”​

When her arm fell, Gerwald’s lightsabers flew to his hands as the force called to them. The yellow and black blades ignited upon impact as Gerwald took up the opening stance of Djem So. If Rann was angry, he would soon find that Gerwald’s form of choice would only harness that anger for his own purposes. The passion and emotion Rann thought was his ally, would soon be counted among his adversaries.​

The wolf would let the pup make the first move.​

 

[Hazel Scheler]

Whatever she walked into, it looked serious. The mercenary walked quietly, so as not to distract the men from their quarrel.

She found a seat somewhere off to the side and kicked her feet up. Datapad in hand, pack of lum at her side, she gave the group a cursory glance to size up the competitors. A younger man with something to prove, or perhaps a chip on his shoulder seemed to be challenging his superior. Those fights always ended well.

The datapad booped gently, Hazel took another swig from her bottle and began plugging in inventory shipment numbers.

 

[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S​

WEARING: Black with golden trim robes

TAG: Gerwald Lechner Lunara Azure Palm-Imer Hazel Scheler

Spoiler: Theme: Where is Your God Now?

“She is here to stop you? Ha!” Rann laughed and reversed his grip on one of his sabers, dropping forward into his Jar-Kai Ataru opening stance. He would end this fight quickly, outmaneuver the lumbering Oaf and strike true with one of a billion attacks. “Spare me your embarrassing mercy. It’s pathetic.”​

“If you’re smart you’ll let him Kill me.” He said to the woman with a quick glance before fixing his eyes on Gerwald. He meant it too. As he was sure all present knew, if Rann, inconceivably, lost this fight he would never rest until victory was his. Gerwald was weak, and he would prove it. It was inevitable. And now... it seemed like he wouldn’t be proving it to just Lunara.​

The fact that there was an audience growing did start to eat at Rann. All these people who would be getting their first impressions of him now. It wasn’t a pretty sight. He began to become acutely aware of the scene he was causing, but it was much too far past the point of no return now. He had in him righteous purpose. He was right about Gerwald. He had to be.​

For a brief moment, the two remained picture-esque opposite eachother in a climactic scene. A few beats, and nothing was wrong.​

But it couldn’t last forever.​

He doesn’t deserve loyalty. Friends. He doesn’t deserve anything. ​

A few more beats, then...​

Rann roared, just a small little war cry as he pushed off his back leg, into a couple steps and summoned the force around him.​

Like a torpedo, Rann launched himself at his opponent, right saber held straight and true right for Gerwalds heart. The left saber held back in reverse, waiting for first contact to be made when it would then follow through with an over handed slash.​

At long last, the duel had begun.​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: @Rann Tress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

Embarrassing mercy? Gerwald laughed at the young Knight.

“Fool.”

It was not the first time Gerwald had used this word to describe the young and impassioned son of the Vicelord. Something had happened which had seen the young man give into the darkness that had plagued him. The lupine could see what it was doing to him. Rann Thress was not in control of his passions, rather, they controlled him.

Passion. Emotion. These things were powerful, and could push one to great exploits. They could also lead one to a devastating ruin from which they would not recover. The question of which outcome Rann would find himself running toward remained to be seen.

The wolf waited and observed. Rann thought himself the hunter, but because he was on the offensive it did not make it so. Gerwald Lechner was patient. The wolf within a wild master of his domain. A natural predator, the lupine knew there were times to chase your prey, and the moments when you laid bait. There had been a resentment in the young man, but Gerwald had not expected to confront a challenge to his life, not one so boisterous or demonstrative.

“You would waste your youth on what… hubris?”

Why did Gerwald have a following, because those that followed him did not offer blind loyalty. They were devoted to him because he had demonstrated his faithfulness to them first. It was not his skill that inspired leadership. Certainly there had been more capable Lord Commanders, but it had been his loyalty to others that had led Voph to name him as his successor. The wolf had already been humbled. It had nearly cost him his life in the process, but Gerwald had learned the lesson that had remained.

If Rann needed to learn the same lesson, then Gerwald would be the instructor.

The Knight sped toward Gerwald, using the force to amplify his speed.

Gerwald smirked as he matched the man’s speed in the force, and pushed past it enough that it seemed time stood still around him. One step and a pivot was all Gerwald needed to find himself out of the path of a predictable attack. A stab that missed, and a downward slash that would only cut the air.

“You missed.”

A verbal strike.

Rann was angry, and if he was lost to his rage then Gerwald had already won. The question that remained was whether or not Gerwald had the endurance to outlast the pace of battle. If Rann wanted to push this speed, then the fifth form would have to be its own counter.
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[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S ​

WEARING: Black robes with Golden trim

TAG: Gerwald Lechner Lunara Azure Palm-Imer Hazel Scheler

Rann flopped forward, using the momentum of his slash to rotate his body and land back on his feet. He looked at Gerwald and exhaled heavily before shaking his head. Gerwald was proving him right so far. He was weak. The rage inside Rann continued to grow now.​

“I get the feeling...defense is going to be your theme here. How awfully Jedi of you.”​

He scowled and backed up from his opponent. What he was about to do would require at least a little time for the proper reaction.​

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“This...is a two person sport Commander. And if you’re not going to play...”​

He disignited one of his lightsabers and returned it to his belt then lifted the now empty hand into the sky, commanding the Force around them.​

“Then I’ll make you.”​

It was now that Rann, finally, was happy for the audience they had acquired. Some of these people were Gerwald’s friends. Now they’d pay for it.​

As Rann began to squeeze his hand shut, the Force he commanded began to enclose around the throats of the Onlookers, Lunara Azure Palm-Imer Hazel Scheler Rann would choke them. Kill them, if he could. Unless Gerwald attacked him.​

“Prove how worthless you are to me, Commander. Save your...”​

He gestured with his lightsaber at the three around him.​

“Friends. If you can.”​

 

[Hazel Scheler]

Hazel had been in the process of sipping lum when the first inklings of the offending sensation hit her.

She coughed. Shit, shit - down the wrong tube. She coughed again, harder, only this time air refused to come in. A pressure formed around her throat like an invisible serpent moving to make the squeeze on its prey. The woman sputtered and gasped, her bottle smashed to the floor and her datapad toppled from her lap.

Can't breath.

The feth was in that lum?

 

[Lunara Azure]

The force was a slippery tool, you never knew what you were going to get, where you were going to end up. In the hands of a master who was on guard and prepared it was a weapon without equal.

If you were prepared.

The truth of the matter was that Lunara wasn't.

The blonde had been more concerned with watching the fight, with maintaining the air of cool aloofness while cheering for her friend than protecting herself. A lesson well learned for the future. If she survived what was happening right now, which wasn't a guaranteed thing.

The woman had never wielded this power herself, using the force to choke the life out of someone. For a moment pale hands scrabbled at her throat, almost expecting to find a hand there, trying to squeeze down on her neck. Only, those delicate fingers ended up clasping at nothing, there was no hand, no physical manifestation. just the force.

The woman's eyes blazed with anger, the temperature of the air around her dropping rapidly. She hated this, every second, everything this stood for her own weakness.

Rann Thress Gerwald Lechner Palm-Imer Hazel Scheler

 

[Palm-Imer]

Objective: Spectator.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Wearing: XxX.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner ~ Rann Thress ~ Lunara Azure ~ Hazel Scheler

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Honor.

Palm could not say, in good conscience, that she had always abided by it. The life of a warrior could take many unexpected turns, and it was only if luck smiled upon one that the time would never come in which survival demanded a price one would rather not pay - values and morals. Palm had broken that pact before, but what she could say without remorse or guilt was that her own honor had never been sacrificed needlessly.

Of course, this were only the reflections of someone who aspired to be honorable, even if flawed. Yet as she saw the contender raise his hand into the air and realization shot down her spine like lightning bolt, came the grim reminder that not everyone had honor.

And she was vulnerable.

The Force was not with her, not since the day her unconscious body had been retrieved from Roon by the very man she was here to support. To protect herself from her own Darkness, from a Darkness that threatened to consume her just as it had done with Rann Thress, a cage of her own making had been built. The geminaie had cut herself from the Force, and now in her hour of need it would not come to her aid. Helpless.

The only thing she could perceive from the attack was the pressure that suddenly built around her neck before collapsing her throat, barring her lungs from getting air they suddenly needed desperately. She clenched her fists, feeling how those inner walls keeping her from the Force shook and cracked as the need to reach out to it, to fight back, tried to take over. The outrage at this cheapshot, the anger towards the one who dared attack idle bystanders roaring to be channeled into a retaliation of her own. The need to protect.

She could not allow them to break free, not even as the searing pain began to settle in her chest. Not when she was staring at the very fate that awaited her if she failed to stand against it...Not when she knew there would be no controlling it if it was allowed to rear its head, and it was not only her life the one at risk anymore.

So all she could do was struggle to breathe, and hope that her will was the stronger foe in this inner battle. That this was not the last thing she saw before life was over. Her eyes then abandonned Rann Thress, knowing that no amount of wishing would push away his influence for she had none of her own to oppose his, and instead they went to seek Gerwald's. Palm knew what this could lead to, and fear shined in her golden eyes.

But it was not herself she was afraid for.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

Jedi? This Rann Thress knew nothing of Gerwald. Form V was about lulling the opponent into a trap, and using their own attacks against them. Gerwald’s chosen variant of the form relied on powerful counters, counters the crystals in his lightsaber were designed to enhance. If the wolf wanted defense he would have opted for the third form, rather than the chosen style of Darth Vader himself. Oh the lessons this young one needed to learn. Sith or not, there was room for him among the Knights Obsidian, but his arrogance was the thing which held him back. He would learn the hard way, just as Gerwald had.​

His threat was not idle. While Gerwald remained quiet and refused to answer the young Sith, he did not take his words lightly. He knew better than to underestimate an opponent that was fueled by passion. Eventually he would tire, but he would be strong on the outset because of the power the emotion yielded.​

Gerwald had not anticipated he would attack those watching. As the hand raised in the air, the lupine knew what was coming. There was nothing he could do to shield them directly. Lunara Azure was a force master herself, she would not be defenseless. Hazel Scheler was an unknown. Gerwald had to assume she would not be able to defend herself from such an attack. Then there was Palm.​

She should not have been defenseless, and in fact she was not. Yet as he heard the women gasping for air as the force choke came, his eyes fell to Palm-Imer . She had given into a darkness that threatened to overtake her in order to save his life on Roon. They had managed to kill the beast which would have threatened those sleeping after the long celebration to honor his ascension to Lord Commander, but it came with a price. She now refused to access the force for fear the darkness would overrun her, and for as many times as she had told Gerwald it was not his fault, he could only think this time… it was.​

Their eyes locked. Gerwald could read the fear in her amber gaze as though she were pleading with him to fight the rage building within him. He turned his gaze away from hers to find Lunara’s. Her words rang in his head this time.​

“...don’t hold back on this one…”​

This was the voice he would follow today, why? Because if he did not, the others, Hazel, Lunara, Palm, would be the ones to pay.​

As his eyes found Palm’s again the rage had nearly overtaken him. The ice blue gaze that was familiar to all who knew him changed hue, yellow, corrupted. Darkness had filled him, and as he turned back to face the Sith before him Gerwald was not the same wolf Rann Thress had chosen to underestimate.​

“This is not their fight,” Gerwald said as his right hand extended. Tendrils of electricity shot from the tips of his fingers toward the heart of the man before him. “Release them now, or surrender your life.”​

Gerwald’s left hand jutted out next, more lightning flowed with it. This time it was directed toward the man’s face. Perhaps the mask would protect him, and perhaps it would not. Either way, the lupine was determined to force the attention back toward him. If Rann wanted to fight him, if Lunara wanted him not to hold back, and if Gerwald wanted to keep the others out of this fight, he had to embrace the thing he rarely allowed anyone to see.​

The wolf that preached balance did not lean to the light, but rather he lived in shadow.​

“Let. Them. Go.”​

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[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S​

WEARING: Black robes with golden trim

TAG: Gerwald Lechner Palm-Imer Lunara Azure Hazel Scheler

Rann was prepared for a counterattack. However, pride had dictated he continue to hold the choke instead of push all of his focus into defense. He was expecting Gerwald to rush him with sabers in hand, where Rann would outmaneuver and dispatch him quite easily. Not... not this. He should have. But...



With his right gloved hand still raised, still closed, Rann held his left hand out defensively to intercept Gerwald’s incoming attack. The attack was...strong. Stronger then Rann thought Gerwald possible of.



The force of the lightning attack shook Rann’s hand, he could hold this. He could hold him back. He squeezed his hand tighter.



“EVERY. SECOND. YOU WAIT. THEY...S-SUFFER.” Every fiber of Rann’s being was telling him to dedicate his full power to defense.

Let go, let them go you’ve proved your point.



NO.



Rann struggled to hold his saber steady, to focus all his pain and anger towards not retaliation or defense, but to killing Gerwald’s friends. They didn’t deserve it. But he did. He had to die. He had to.



One final defiant roar as Rann continued to hold fast.... then... the power was too much. The lightsaber was blasted from his hands, flying away several yards just in time for Gerwald’s next attack. An independent blast of Lightning struck him directly in the face, coupled with the blast to his chest. The power behind it knocked Rann off his feet and back several others. Blue lightning like crooked fingers snakes throughout his body, while the lightning illuminated his skull inside his helmet...



It was meant to deflect the odd lucky blaster. Not repel Force lightning. It was for intimidation. Not actual defense. Now...



It was conducting electricity, amplifying it directly into Rann’s head.



“AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!”



Rann wailed and screamed in complete agony, if he could have spoken he would have begged Gerwald to stop, to show mercy, to forgive him. But speech had abandoned him, giving way to pain and terror. Giving way to suffering... and the dark.



With one, single coherent thought. One desperate move to just have the pain stop, Rann reached out towards his lightsaber that lay oh so far out of reach... and he begged the Force to aid him, and flicked a finger. The Lightsaber shuddered and flew like a missile with deadly purpose towards Gerwald before igniting it’s beautiful crimson red once more.



Please kill him. Make it stop, MAKE IT STOP.



​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

Gerwald did not wish to relent. His inner darkness had been unleashed and allowed a brief semblance of control. The man that had challenged Gerwald had made the mistake of attacking those the wolf cared for, and as any wild beast, he was territorial. He wanted to make Rann pay. It did not matter that his opponent was the son of the Vicelord, he had crossed a line, one that would push Gerwald over the edge he did not allow himself to fall from. A grin tugged at his lips as the lightning was only made worse by the conductivity of the mask Rann wore.

Lunara’s voice echoed in his mind. He should have pressed the attack right away. The others would not have been subjected to Rann’s attack otherwise. Regret, second guessing his own decisions, this was normal for Gerwald. It was rare that he did not make a decision without wondering if he should have gone the other direction. In an effort to push past his indecision, the lupine had learned to act quickly, but that did not mean his decisions did not haunt him. Each one came at the expense of the other.

He would listen to Lunara now. Palm had not wanted him to give in, but Gerwald knew it was the only way to keep the rest safe.

If Rann Thress wanted a fight, then Gerwald would give it to him.

The screams which resonated inside the helmet pleased the wolf. An act of desperation would force Gerwald to stop the lightning, however. A crimson blade fired toward his chest. Gerwald batted the saber away with his own, lifting it at the last second possible. Pushing off the ground with his feet, Gerwald took to the sky. His blade came down, the tip of it directed at the man’s throat.
​

 

[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S​

WEARING:
TAG: Gerwald Lechner

After what seemed like an eternity of pain, the lightning attack ceased. Rann was thankful, even as he continued to writhe on the ground. As blue lightning continued to arc across his body, fizzling out, he rolled over into his hands and knees, throwing his now charred helmet off and vomiting on the ground. Another thing to be thankful for. Any longer under the assault and that helmet might have been permanent. Stupid that he didn’t make it insulated. As he cursed himself silently his mind returned to the task at hand, and he turned back into his back facing Gerwald again.​

He knew better then to hope the Lightsaber would kill Gerwald, and he was proven right as it seemed the Lord Commander was now inches away from Rann, saber poised to remove head from shoulder.​

A third thing to be thankful for, adrenaline. A fourth, the Force. Adrenaline fueled desperation summoned his lightsaber from his belt to his hand to deflect the attack, while his spare hand reached out forward. He needed distance, he needed to catch his breath.​

So, with the power of the Force as his servant, he summoned the Force around him to form a wave he’d use that waveto pushGerwald back​

With a defiant, yet desperate roar, Rann launched his force Push at Gerwald, hoping and praying that he could get some distance, some time, to recuperate and regain his momentum.​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

It had been a mistake to take to the air. Gerwald should have known the force push would come considering the demonstration Rann had given earlier with the force choke. That kind of mastery did not come without investment. A force push would be nothing for him, and when the energy hit Gerwald, the lupine went back flying.

It was fortunate he was not just a human, but a wolf also. While it gave the young Sith the distance he wanted, Gerwald was agile enough to use the momentum to roll back into a flip. Using the force to slow himself, the wolf landed on his feet with one gloved hand on the ground to steady himself. The strength of the push caused Gerwald to slide in the first a few feet more before finally stopping.

His nose could smell the vomit even from the distance between them now. It caused the lupine to smirk. The kid was allowing his own hubris to get in the way of the task at hand. If he wanted to kill the wolf it was not going to happen because of his taunts. Rann wanted to bring the force into the battle, and Gerwald had met each attack and countered it thus far.

“If you would spend more time attacking me, and not trying to goad me into a fight by trying to kill my friends perhaps your breakfast would still be in your stomach,” he said as his hand turned upward.

Gerwald’s eyes would glow a sickly color of yellow once more as he called upon the force once more. A wave of energy was summoned to his hand and, as Rann would have seen on Naalol had actually watched the lupine battle the Nocna Mora, thrust it into the ground. Shatterpoint was effective for many things, and Gerwald found its best use in combat. The lupine was confident he would not catch Rann of guard, or cause him to fall into a crater, but making the ground they fought on uneven would make the man’s chosen form require more concentration.

The ground would shake and rumble as it broke apart along the vein of it’s weakness. Palm-Imer had seen this skill on Roon right before she thrust Gerwald’s lightsaber into the beast which attacked them. The others, Gerwald was not certain if they had seen him use that skill. Too many people had told him lately that he hesitated, that he held back. Perhaps he did, but now, today, they would all see what he could accomplish when he did not.

With his saber extended, he began to run toward his opponent as the ground around him still quaked.
​

 

[Rann Thress]

W O R T H L E S S​

WEARING:

TAG: Gerwald Lechner

The effects of the lightning were still being felt as Rann struggled back to his feet. His force push had granted some distance between them, enough so that Rann allowed himself a second to rest, to process what had happened. He wiped his mouth and breathed heavily.

Control. Breathe. Stop making this easy for him.



“Breakfast was only slowing me down. You put your friends in danger by having them here. As for her, why is she even here?” He pointed his lightsaber at Hazel, and reached his hand up to recall his other saber.



“Your friend there, with the pink hair, she’s here to make sure you don’t go to far, yes? The other? Also here to make sure you don’t go to far? What don’t you get about why I’m here? Why I’m doing this? Why I tried to kill them?” He ignited his other lightsaber and clashed them together twice, producing beautiful red sparks. After a moment, he thought about it and deactivated one, returning it to his belt.



Ataru worked best with one lightsaber. His own additions to the style were meant for flash over substance, but despite his initial misgivings it seemed Gerwald was deserving of substance. With a deep breath, Rann gripped his lightsaber with both hands and entered Ataru’s opening stance, holding his saber with his right hand dominant over his left, and facing right. He continued his breathing exercises with his eyes closed as the ground began to quake, carefully and methodically stepping to maintain his balance, but not exert much energy or change his positioning too much.



This was exactly what he had planned for. Minus the earthquake. But Rann had seen Gerwald attempt this maneuver before, yet he could not recall how effective it was against the Nocna Mora.



Rann was too busy killing a friend.



Because of him. He opened his eyes as Gerwald closed the gap, and with a single step forward, he made his move.



Rann spun to the right and dropped to his knee, making a wide left to right slice at Gerwald’s leg and following through the slice with a forward roll behind him, saber pointed directly at Gerwald to strike with a quick lunge.

​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

W O R T H​

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: xxx and xxx
TAG: Rann Thress | Lunara Azure | Hazel Scheler | Palm-Imer

Rann was determined to kill the wolf. He had not let go of the fact that Gerwald was the reason for some tragedy he had recently experienced. He could blame the wolf all he wanted, but the truth was Rann had become a slave to his own rage, insecurities, and weaknesses. His anger would not be quenched just by gaining revenge. In the end he would have to live with the thing he had done.

“Why should I give you the satisfaction of killing me, and why do you think I would allow you the alternative? You would waste your life in killing me, dying if you fail. How would either solve the real reason you are here?

It was all Gerwald could ask before Rann came after him. This time both blades were set toward the wolf. Gerwald pushed the force to his legs and leaped over the attack. He landed with the man’s blade pointed directly at his chest. His own saber came up to bat it away before he stepped forward and brought the second blade up in an upward slash. It if connected, Gerwald would slice the man in half from groin to skull.
​