Solia Tala versus Ardeo Sophos (Kenobi Padawan Tournament)

[Ardeo Sophos]

She halted. "This is my chance!" I thought to myself. Her momentum has dissipated, so it's time for plan B. Plan A would have been to simply put her in a check mate, with a saber pointed at her throat when she fell, but since she had managed to keep her balance well enough, it was time I took the offensive.

Allowing the force to flow through me, I bolted at her. I held my lightsaber pointed directly at her, but to the right of my head, ready for a jab. There was a good chance she would counter given her offensive nature, but I couldn't be sure. She was wild and unpredictable. I let the force in again, and shrouded myself I a thin layer of energy. I had used this once before against A sith, and it had given me the edge I needed. It was really a simple telekinetic ability, that required little concentration so it is easily used in battle. It would also significantly surprise my opponent. I was ready. I had to make this count. I had trained for countless hours for this tournament, and I was not going to go down here. If I go down, I am not going without a fight, and i'm sure Solia is thinking the same thing.

I close the distance between us with great speed, and jab out as fast as I can, aiming for right below her neck. I watch carefully for a counter, I had trained my speed and agility to be my greatest strengths, which is why I hated to block. for the most part I wasn't equipped to take heavy impact blows.

[member="Solia Tala"]

 

[Solia Tala]

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

Solia saw Ardeo come for her the moment her momentum was disrupted, she could feel his presence touching upon the force again as well. Her sour thoughts continued wishing it was as simple as just coming down to pure technique in a tournament of swordsmanship. All the same, she tried to encourage herself by imagining how much sweeter victory would taste if she didn't rely on extra help from the force beyond the bare minimum. So with a breathe, rather than continue her own motion Solia held her ground and readied herself for his attack, feeling in the force his movements as she also watched him closely with her eyes as well.

For her the concern was whether he would thrust forward like he appeared to be preparing to or if he would feint again like before. WHen the jab came she knew what to do, as she threw herself to his far side from the blade, her own lightsaber held defensively swept to the other side quickly to bat his jab aside away from her as well as prevent it from swiping at her. Then she would let his own momentum and charge work to her advantage should he indeed be countered, and flick her wrist so her blade would strike his left arm near the shoulder. Hopefully if all panned out she would numb it at the joint and render the arm much less effective.

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

She reacts, with incredible speed after just having been completely still. She dodges to the side of my strike, and hits my saber with a slice that pushes my arm and saber down, until the tip of my blade touches the ground.

As quickly as this happened, she got behind me, and my speed carried me by her. I could see the blade out of the corner of my eye, and sense it coming, but moving like I am, i can't sufficiently dodge it. It's a good thing I don't have to. The blade comes down on my left arm, not a direct jab, but a cut. Perfect. She did exactly as I had hoped. The thin shroud of energy I had built up moments before did it's job to the letter. It ever so slightly directed Solia's blade off it's intended course. I was no master at force protection, and I knew that, the shroud's purpose was simple. my shield could easily be penetrated by a direct jab, but a slice like this, while it will advance through my protection, is at the same time being directed away from me. So as her blade fell it was pushed away and her momentum took it downward towards the floor, but as it fell There was a slight sting as the blade grazed me. It wasn't perfect, but my arm wasn't that numb, not nearly as much as it would have been.

This was exactly what I had been waiting for, and wasn't about to waste time. I quickly bring my saber around, and in a fluid motion point it at her head, and pierce with all the speed I have. If she doesn't react fast enough I'm not about to plunge my saber into her face, she might go so numb she'd pass out. I would pull the blade, but if she does, then I can't help but go for the attack.

If I win I admit I used the force, but the force is a jedi's asset, and I don't believe there was a rule against using it. I could tell from the beginning she hadn't trained in force powers, and had focused on saber skills. I admit those skills are very good, but I made sure I was well rounded in both fields, and I trained hard at my saber skills, for speed, and agility. I put in just as much work as anyone else. I have to win this!

[member="Solia Tala"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Solia Tala]

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

The white haired padawan was taken aback as she felt the course of her blade be deflected by an unseen force as she struck at her opponent as planned. Having knocked Ardeo's lightsaber aside as intended she had expected to land a solid blow on her fellow padawan, however, it seemed this was the effect of the force she had felt him gather upon himself a moment ago before they exchanged blows. Throwing more of her strength and weight into her attack though, Solia was determined to at least make brief contact, as well as to provide herself with momentum to carry into her next attack once she got clear of this one.

Feeling her lightsaber graze Ardeo's arm lightly made Solia soar with elation as she grinned at her success, and she wasn't about to let up just yet either! Even as her blade was directed downward by the other padawan's hidden barrier she used the momentum from her strike to swing her lightsaber around, bringing her into a spin on her feet to add even more power behind her attack as she turned on Ardeo with the intention of following up feeling his presence behind her still from his recent force use. However, the last thing she expected was for her opponent to suddenly become aggressive himself, seeing Ardeo's blade coming for her face as she swung upwards.

Making the decision to surrender the blow on her fellow padawan, Solia turned her swing closer to herself aiming to strike Ardeo's lightsaber rather than the boy himself. If she just kept swinging at him and him at her then the match would likely end in a draw and who knew if that would disqualify them both or what. So that only left one option, to hit Ardeo's lightsaber with the power swing instead and hopefully knock it from his grasp. To her advantage was the momentum from her last attack and her spin on her feet behind her blow, so hopefully his hold wasn't prepared for a hefty force hitting what it was holding onto. At the very least she would divert its course from her face.

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

My left arm was numb, but that wasn't going to be a major problem. I was dominantly right handed, so my saber hand wasn't incapacitated. Solia carried her momentum from her previous attack into her next. At first I almost thought she was going for a counter attack, which would make sense given her offensive nature, but she changes course. Her blade is now quickly heading to intercept my attack. This is the reason I chose a jab over a cut.

I divert my blade down towards Solia's leg. I need to inhibit her speed. If her momentum causes her to over shoot her attack I may even have a second attack opportunity. This will be a fast exchange of blows. There won't be much time to think.

[member="Solia Tala"]

 

[Solia Tala]

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

To say the least Solia was a bit surprised when Ardeo practically handed her the exchange on a platter. For whatever reason her fellow Padawan had decided it was a smarter move to change his weapon's course so that it was struck by her blade sooner. To be truthful she had expected him to either try and pull back his lightsaber or attempt to increase the speed of his jab which would both reduce the effect of her own attack and avoid knocking it out of his hand. Turning his jab downward though. . . .left the white haired girl a little disappointed. After all, her attack was a swipe, a swing, her lightsaber horizontal as it moved upwards and struck his blade aimed straight toward her.

Just because he moved his own strike down made no difference, aside from meaning his weapon made contact with her own a second sooner and that his attack was that much more unlikely to reach its mark. Solia had no mercy as she carried her lightsaber up in her swing, hammering Ardeo's own as the two jedi blades met. In fact Ardeo made it worse for himself really. While it wasn't much, moving his blade down meant he added a little of his own momentum to the motion, increasing the weight of the initial contact between the lightsabers when they met, but considering Solia put a lot more power, had the better angle, and was prepared for the blades to strike each other, it was quite clear who would really feel the jolt through their arm and who would lose their grip on their weapon.

Carrying her attack through, Solia stared fiercely at her opponent, letting the other Padawan know his mistake over the concepts of inertia and swordplay, before reversing her swing, seeking to bring a heavy downward stroke across Ardeo's exposed torso.

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

My saber was wrenched from my hand. It flew into the air and fell down a few paces behind Solia. As quickly as her blade had gone up, it was coming back down. I needed to think fast. What could i do. I had to resort to hand to hand combat. I pushed forward and crouched down next to solia's left leg. I grabbed down hard on her ankle, and once again moved forward while at the same time standing up, bringing her leg with me. This caused her to become off balance. I could see my light saber just a little ways away, emboldening me, and filling me with the urge to press on. With this new sense of purpose I swept Solia's other leg, and pushed her away with her left foot. With her momentarily taken care of I called on the force, and channeled it towards my hand. In just over a second I found my saber in my hand.

With my weapon back with me, I ignited the green blade, and turning around headed towards Solia in attack. At first I positioned for another jab to her back, but once I was just a meter and a half away from her I veered to the left, not decreasing speed, but putting my body to the side of her, and my saber extended out on the right side of my body, with the blade level to her neck. Even if this attack didn't find it's mark I would go into a barrage. I would use the force to increase speed, and move around her striking at different point to try to decrease her ability to block. This entire match I had refrained from using force foresight. I could only use it in a battle situation. It would allow me to quite accurately predict my opponents next move. I couldn't see any farther into the future than that, but that didn't matter. It had just allowed me to focus all my time on in battle predictions. Even though I felt it would be a cheap thing to do in this competition, this match had made me want to use it many times.


[member="Solia Tala"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Solia Tala]

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

Of course Ardeo wouldn't be stunned by the loss of his lightsaber, so Solia wasn't too upset that her attack wasn't as effective, still it was a fair assumption that even though her opponent got a hold of her leg, her downward swipe had to at least have grazed him lightly, not that it actually meant anything since it wouldn't actually do anything from barely touch his robe. That is, before she was put off balance as he stood back up bringing her leg with him. If her lightsaber had been aimed at him and she missed because he ducked low, then him coming back up was going to result in him brushing the blade, even if just a little as Solia fell to the ground with his sweeping kick. Not that it would slow him since the cloth of his robe likely protected his back from feeling anything, but she definitely counted it herself for good measure.

Throwing an arm back though Solia caught herself before she hit the ground and threw herself back up, turning to face Ardeo as she did just as he pulled his lightsaber to himself and came for her. Holding her weapon in front of her, Solia held it vertical to the other padawan's attack in a defensive stance ready to move for anything he pulled hopefully.

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

I suddenly cringed as I moved towards my opponent. I felt a slight numbing sensation in my right shoulder, and my back. I must have gotten lightly hit by Solia's saber during my moves. Darn not good. it won't effect my running speed, but my saber shoulder is injured now. Hopefully the numbness will wear off soon since it wasn't too bad of an injury.

I follow through with my attack, but make it fast. "let's see if you can handle this." With a flick of my wrist my blade lashes out at her right leg, I let my momentum carry me behind her, going around her left side and with another flick strike twice, once for each shoulder. Even if she blocks I need to keep up this attack. I send out one last strike for the back of her left calf. I have now struck out at all four of her most important parts of her body. I finish with an arial backwards, which was a stupid idea. The landing causes a small shooting pain in the spot on my back where I was touched my Solia's blade. I have to sink onto one knee, and hold my saber in one hand on my right side, so to force and attack to come to my left so I know where I will be blocking.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus stepped in at this point - this bout could go on indefinitely and that's when there is the risk of serious injury.

"I would like to thank both parties for such an interesting and entertaining spar. Please give me a few moments to confirm my decision who is to be the victor - never easy in such a close contest."

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] | [member="Solia Tala"] | [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

I let out a heavy breath, with sweat dripping down my face. After all the force I had been using to augment my speed left me, I felt a wave of exhaustion flood over me. This was what came from using Shien, and Ataru. I had actually barely used Makashi. I deactivated my green saber, and clipped it on my belt. I left my second saber still hidden behind my back, so to not draw attention from any other competitors who may have watched the fight.

I come shakily to my feet, and slowly but surely move to stand by Solia. "You ok?" I say as I offer out my hand to her. "You did great. I'm honored to have had the chance to face you. You fought extremely well."

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Solia Tala"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

"When I said it was too close to call, it was not just words. People who know me understand I always tell the truth. So there can be only one outcome. This bout has to be declared a draw and you will both go into the next round. Congratulations to you both, you deserve it."

[member="Ardeo Sophos"] | [member="Solia Tala"] | [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

I bow to master Corvus, but a smile breaks on my face as my head is down. I can't help it. It was a draw, but I am moving on. I won't make the same mistakes next time. "Thank you master Raaf," I say with a smile. " Congratulations Solia, you fought extremely well, and gave me a harder time than I originally thought. I was an honor to face you, and I have a feeling we may meet again in this tournament. I will fight even harder then, and I hope you will do the same."


With that I began to head out of the circle to get my wounds healed and to rest for the next match. Many thoughts ran through my had. My mistakes, my triumphs, all coming together to form a strategy for next time. As this competition progresses I may even be forced to use my second saber, or force foresight. In these next matches I won't hesitate.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Solia Tala"] [member="Kian Karr"]