Test Yourselves [Padawan Training Session]

[Josh Dragovalor]

He never thought he would take Padawans again. The mere thought of it before would make him sick. Many just wanted to be quickly promoted, as though it gave them power, gave them strength. But their true strength came from their heart. It came from working hard. And if he was going to take on apprentices again.. He promised himself, that he would not let them take the easy way out.

This would not be easy for them, but it would shape them into the Jedi Knights they needed to be.

Jedi Master Joshua DragonsFlame had called his two new students, [member="Mark Sage"] and [member="Douglas Starwind"] to the training chambers on the planet Lothal, out in the Outer Rim, the new headquarters of the Jedi Order. He wanted to get a good glimpse of their abilities and see where they could improve.

He waited, meditating in the center of the chamber, for his Padawans to begin their training.

 

[OriginsoftheJedi]

It was strange, bouncing between Yavin IV and the new temple on Lothal for training. But, with clashing politics in a galaxy forever locked in war, he wasn't one to complain.

Master Dragonsflame sat in the center of the training room meditating. Mark walked in quietly, hoping not to disturb him, but also unsure of whether or not he should formally adress his presence. In any case, he stood silently not too far from the doorway leading into the chamber. He honestly wasn't sure what his new master had planned for him today, and contemplated what that might be. He held his robed hands behind his back, gazing upward in thought. What could be in store for him now?
[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Douglas Starwind]

The arrival on Lothal was quite an interesting experience for the young, flaming haired man. Doug was fascinated with the new setting and the training that had already commenced for him. He had not expected or even knew that he was going to be having a "Padawan buddy", but he didn't really complain about it as it'd be kind of pointless to do so.

Soon after Mark had walked into the room, Doug slowly walked on in as well. He glanced over at Mark, who appeared to be aimlessly staring upwards, before he looked over at his new friend and now-Master Josh. The somewhat eerie silence in the room made him feel a bit uncomfortable, but he knew Josh was probably going to say something now that they both had arrived.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He could sense it... He could feel it. His two apprentices, his two students... Had arrived. He had been sitting, cross-legged, facing away from them when they had arrived. But when they came in, he stayed in that position for a moment, before he would finally rise to his feet, still facing away from them, cloaked in his Jedi Master's robes. He lowered his head and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a gentle breath before turning to face the two. He gauged their reactions, didn't say a word. Then finally, after a long silence fell, he would speak.

"You two are here in this chamber, at this very moment in time, because you have been chosen" The Jedi Master would speak calmly, never leaving the high ground perch that he had been meditating on. "It has been a very long time since I have taken Padawan learners under my wing. I am sick of pretenders, of Padawans wanting to be just given rank and a lightsaber and expecting to succeed. I am sick of greed and lust for power and success. That is not the Jedi way. A Padawan is ideally eager to learn. I expect this of you" He would explain. "I have chosen you two because I see the potential in you both to succeed in the Jedi Way. I did not pick rashly, and I have high expectations of you both."

"Now..." He began. "The first test.... Stand in the center of the room and face one another" The Jedi Master would command, his tone remaining calm, unbiased and stoic. "Sage. Your lightsaber. Turn it's power down low, as though it were a training saber" He would remark, before holding out a hand. One of the training sabers from a nearby rack would fly off and end up in the hand of the Jedi Master. Josh would spin it a little on his finger before tossing it to [member="Douglas Starwind"] in turn. It would already be low powered, to the degree that Josh had commanded for [member="Mark Sage"] as well. "Padawan Starwind, you used my lightsaber during the battle. While you were impressive against the slavers... Wielding it like a normal blade will not suffice as a Jedi. If you are to become a Jedi Knight, you must learn and master the art of lightsaber combat."

"I want you two to spar one another. This is not a competition. I don't give a damn who wins or who loses" Josh would remark. "I want you to spar as though you were fighting a real enemy. This is for me to assess your abilities, and to give you pointers about how to improve your game. Many lightsaber wielders don't tend to notice the flaws in their strategy until they are pointed out directly after a battle. I also think Jedi learn better by experience then by me showing them step by step... For Starwind, this is your way of learning how to use a lightsaber. For Sage... This is how you will be improving your lightsaber game and continuing on from where your Master left off" He would explain.

"Oh, and Douglas?" Josh would single out the redhead, before a small smile would cross his lips. "Happy Birthday" He remarked with a light chuckle, apparently having remembered that today was the redhead's day.

"Now.... Begin!"

 

[Douglas Starwind]

Doug would listen in as his now-master arose and began to speak to him and the fellow Padawan Mark. It seemed a bit routine, but it interested him a little. He had complied when Josh had asked of the two to step to the center of the room they were in and would then take the training saber when Josh had tossed it to him. Looks like this is going to be a combat exercise to practice with the rather epic way that Jedi tend to fight when utilizing lightsabers.

He nodded a little as Josh explained the reasoning behind this spar... But then he had suddenly pointed out that this day was his birthday. Had he actually mentioned it to the blonde prior to today? Probably, but now was not the time to dwell on that as they were commanded to start. He would raise the training saber up and grasp the handle with both hands. He figured that this simpler stance would suffice for this exercise as he was not entirely aware of all of the intricacies of lightsaber combat yet.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Mark Sage"]

 

[OriginsoftheJedi]

Mark was slightly surprised, though not disappointed, that Master Dragonsflame would have a second padawan. Douglas would be someone new to share his experiences with. Maybe they could be friends? There was no time to think of how to not be awkward around a possible friend now, as Master Dragonsflame was asking the two to spar.

Mark removed his lightsaber from his belt and turned the power knob down near as far as it could go, about equal to a training blade.
"That should do it." he muttered.

He took it that Douglas didn't have much experience with a lightsaber. Even so, Mark wasn't about to let up his guard.

On his new master's command, Mark activated the weapon's dark emerald blade with a flick of his wrist. Out shot the blade with a sparking hiss, characteristic of a weapon built by someone of his age back when he'd built it. It wasn't anywhere perfect, but Mark had never intended it to be. He'd grown fond of the duet of the few sparks from the base of the blade and its insistent humming sound.
In a second or two, Mark had decided to take a defensive stance, lightsaber perpendicular to the ground. He decided on this for two reasons: he was most comfortable on the defensive, where he could easily take advantage of an opponent who liked to attack first, and second, because he was confident that someone inexperienced like Douglas would charge in first.
"Your move." He thought to himself.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]
[member="Douglas Starwind"]


Sparring Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPd1TwL8YV8

 

[Douglas Starwind]

Doug stared down at Mark and squinted his eyes as the other Padawan raised his own lightsaber once he activated it on low power. He has definitely had some experiences already given how he had his own lightsaber to use. What those experiences were exactly was not known to him, but it was nothing to worry about for now. Bonding time can come later perhaps.

While maybe it was not the best strategy for the redhead as Mark was anticipating it, he figured that he should initiate the sparring as he saw that Mark was not making a move and just keeping up a defensive looking stance. Doug started to cautiously circle around him, slowly moving in closer as he did. He would then make the first strike, slashing the training blade downward in a diagonal manner at Mark, still keeping a two-handed grip on the training saber as he did.

The highly anticipated spar was now under way.

[member="Mark Sage"]

(Notice: [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] has given permission to be skipped in terms of posting until a time that the duel is ended for whatever reason.)

 

[OriginsoftheJedi]

Waiting until the last moment, Mark sprung into action from his previously motionless stance. As Douglas struck down diagonally at him, he quickly brought his own emerald blade up to parry the blow and move into position to block another inevitable attack on the area left unguarded by the previous block. Mark moved with a swiftness that could only be aided by The Force. It could be a powerful ally if you knew how, partially obeying your command, but equally controlling your own actions.
Mark continued to maintain a tight form, looking for any sort of lapse in Starwind's defenses that might appear, but also keeping a watchful eye over his own defense. He wasn't sure what to expect from his opponent next.

[member="Douglas Starwind"]
[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Douglas Starwind]

Mark had moved with a rather uncanny quickness to guard the strike and the two blades would meet. Doug was still rather inexperienced in the usage of The Force, but his sensitivity did still offer some aid in his perception and aware nonetheless. He was not sure what to expect from Mark next himself, but he figured that he had to keep up the offense and hope that he might find an opening in his rather tight defensive stance.

Doug reeled back and spun around, quickly swinging the training blade horizontally towards Mark. He hoped that he wouldn't be left open for an attack, but his interesting choice of movement left a slight delay in his strike.

[member="Mark Sage"]
[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]