Faction The New Jedi Order - Saber Tourney

[Valor the Forsaken]

TAGS: Diogo Talon

Valor's smirk didn't fade as he watched Diogo step up, stretching like he was about to run a lap rather than step into a fight. Eagerness, brashness—oh, this was going to be easy.

He took his time, letting the tension breathe, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the weight of something heavier than Diogo's bitter little challenge. Then, he finally moved, stepping to the edge of the dueling area with a deliberate, unhurried gait. The borrowed training saber still hung at his side, untouched.

"That eager, huh?" he said, watching the blue blade hum to life in Diogo's hands. "Almost like you need to prove something."

He unclipped his own saber, not with a flashy flourish, just a smooth, efficient motion. The green training blade ignited with a sharp hiss.

"Hope you're as good as your mouth..."

And then, finally, he moved, lunging forward in a testing strike, not full force, not yet. Just enough to make Diogo react. Enough to see what he was really made of.

 

[Pan]

Coruscant
Tags: Vera Noble

​

Yes! A hit! That was a point, right?

"Okay, that was cool," she admitted, shaking off the sting with a grin. "Did not see that coming."

"Aw, thanks," Pan grinned, "I got all kinds of tricks up my sleeve."

Then everything seemed to change. As she charged ahead, swinging in a far quicker arch than her last attack, he felt himself become heavier. Gravity was changing, a pressure that Pan was admittedly rather surprised to experience. Was she doing that with the Force? Wicked.

Pan had just barely managed to bring his kendo back to block the attack, his wooden legs buckling a little under the amount of force that her little stunt had gained her.

"Fast... I'm real fast," he remarked through gritted... teeth? Gritted something. "Faster than a... uh... quick thing! Yeah."

Pan mustered up his strength, letting his battle sense guide his movement. He maintained the saber lock, beginning to push back against the weight of the gravity. His feet seemed to grow larger to assist in his battle against the pressure weighing him down, a larger surface area to support him.

He'd slowly try to push her back. He was surprisingly strong against this additional pressure, but it was clear that it would wear him out.

 

[Corin Trenor]

CORIN
JEDI TEMPLE | CORUSCANT
TAG: Valery Noble Iris Arani

His memories of that day had blurred - just another rooftop on Coruscant, a pack of students gathered to watch a fight. Some disagreement, though over what, he no longer remembered. It didn't matter. Not now, with one of them dead.

A faint smile threatened to crease his otherwise blank expression, but it vanished at the sound of Iris' voice. His attention snapped to her, his gaze lingering longer than it should have. An old… friend? If he could even call her that. He had never been sure of what they were - doubly so now.

She was different, yet the same. Changed in ways that mattered, but still unmistakably her. His eyes trailed after her, for longer than they ought to. To see her meet with some student, someone that may well be her student. To think of them both as children and now one of them was a master. It was confirmation that the world, truly, moved along without him. A fact he knew, though failed to confront until now.

"Is that Iris' padawan?"

He asked Valery in that same flat, even voice, yet evidently distracted.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

While Aadihr tried his best to keep his one-armed opponent at a distance, Drystan proved to be fast and acrobatic, leaping over a slightly overcommitted thrust from Aadihr and coming down with a slash that certainly had enough momentum to knock the Miraluka off balance if he tried to simply block with the haft.

Aadihr had to act quickly, and the minimalist movement of Soresu was not going to work here — with a blend of Ataru mobility and Makashi footwork, Aadihr stepped forwards, towards the origin of Drystan's leap. With an accompanying counter-spin of his pike and turn of his body, Aadihr managed to clear the brunt of the vertical slash in time and meet the Shadow's saber with the blade of the pike with favorable momentum.

The heavy clash of light caused a shockwave that cleared the dust of the arena with a buzz of escalation: Aadihr used the momentum of the strike to continue the pikes spin into a rapid series of rotational counter attacks consisting of horizontal slashes and swipes with the butt end.

The pace of the fight was increasing, beginning to distinguish itself from the Padawan matches - every probe, feint, counter, and beat, was met with increasingly impressive speed and precision. Despite the low self
confidence Aadihr held regarding his capacity as a duelist, the spectacle of the spar against Drystan revealed the truth of the matter.

Both combatants were more than capable knights, even with their respective ongoing debilities.

Aadihr let the force speed his mind and reaction time to keep up with Drystan's counter assault and tried to hold his own, but with the gap closed once more, Drystan gradually had Aadihr on the back foot.

Drystan Creed​

 

[Aris Noble]

She was coiled like a snake.

A part of Aris wanted to rush after her, but another more logical part knew that was foolish. With the challenge being to only use their skills with a lightsaber, his usual tactics had no place here. No destroying the arena, for example. He shifted his stance, glad that he hadn't actually broken the floor as he slammed his foot down.

She would get strikes on him. She should've already, given what he'd seen. The limit on them both seemed to be more hampering their natural fighting than anything. Both hands again lifted his saber overhead. The opening stance for Djem So, the Falling Avalanche. By study anyone here should recognize it, which was the goal.

He launched forward again, this time as if to bring the blade straight down in the same overwhelming strength he'd shown in his first strike. One hand did fall with it, as if all his momentum was being brought. It was a feint. He was relying on prediction of the strike to take advantage of Tigris's evasion, instead flicking the blade in a single grip to try and catch her off guard in the retreat.

Tigris

 

[Drystan Creed]

CORUSCANT

He's gotten better. Drystan noted as he continued formulating a strategy in his head. His body was fully engaged in the fight—reacting, striking, parrying, and deflecting what he could. Still, this was no easy contest, and the weakness of having only one arm was apparent. His blows lacked the same force, his defenses had less stability, and his attack angles were more predictable.

Predictable. Perhaps he should change that.

During his time in the Order, Drystan had seen his fair share of unconventional cadences and lightsaber techniques. And as he had seen them, so too could he execute them.

He carried on his assault, lulling Aadihr into a rhythmic pattern, conditioning him into expecting the same combinations—tells designed to create habits, patterns meant to be exploited.

And then, as Drystan brought down a heavy swing—he shut his lightsaber off mid-motion.

The sudden absence of the blade was meant to throw his opponent off, to bypass Aadihr's attempt to deflect, to disrupt the expectation of an impact that never came.

It was a risk. In this fraction of a moment, he was defenseless, his blade extinguished. Perhaps Aadihr would exploit this gap—but better to find weaknesses in a spar than on the battlefield.

Aadihr Lidos

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

If Drystan was at full capacity, Aadihr had no doubt the match would be over. The breakneck pace of the two became steadier, Drystan's aura planning something. Aadihr didn't know what, but he prepared for some trick, some disruption.

And then Drystan used Trakata to bypass Aadihr's parry-slash.

The unlit hilt went uncontested past Aadihr's guard, but also left Drystan's torso exposed - and even with his increased reflexes the Miraluka could not pull back the saber.

The plasma blade of Drystan's saber relit, piercing Aadihr at the same time Aadihr's slash carried through into Drystan.

If these were not tourney crystals, it would have been a mutually mortal blow - a breathtaking finale to the first bout.

Training crystal or not, it kriffing stung and Aadihr didn't hesitate to pull back and rub the affected to get the pins and needles feeling out.

Drystan Creed | Brander​

 

[Drystan Creed]

CORUSCANT

With the strike concluding their first bout, Drystan gave a short nod and a faint smile, stepping back to his side of the ring to reset.

"That was good," he said, rolling his shoulder lightly. "I had to pull a trick to break your defense. You know, I'm learning a lot from you… and I hope that sentiment goes both ways."

He casually tossed his saber into the air, catching it with ease—this time taking a reverse grip as he lowered into a readied stance once again, awaiting his opponent's reset.

There was a calm about him now. In another time, he might have been sharper, colder—his style more ruthless, calculated. But time spent in the company of others had softened that edge. Now, he stood not as a duelist out to win, but as one seeking to grow. To sharpen iron against iron—not for glory, but for growth.

"I think you've got a lot more in you, Lidos," Drystan added, his voice steady. "If there's any time to push past your limits, it's now. I can't think of a better place to go all out. And I think you should, for both our sakes."

Aadihr Lidos

 

[Tigris]

​

Outfit
lightsaber

The two combatants faced off again, the coiled serpent and the powerful predator. Aris could have been an easy target, the attractive teen was taller than Taam Moghul, taller than Master Vanagor even. But the boy's shimmering blade would certainly not allow hers to reach him. Aris readied himself again, stamping a large foot into the dust of the ring.

Tigris' eyes trained again on his form, seeking the tell of his pending attack. Again, so quickly, her fellow padawan's blade lifted high for a strong down stroke. The older padawan sprung out at an angle, expecting to easily sidestep the blow and again take advantage of Aris' momentum and strike from his side or behind. But the wily teen tempered his attack, switched to a single hand grip for more agility.

Tigris caught the maneuver, only her prime physique and former training could allow her to escape a full blow as her blade delayed in a blocking action. As she moved, Aris' blade grazed her shoulder, a touch she could feel instantly. Her escape required she go to the ground, and before she hit the dust to roll to her feet in one fluid motion, she thrust out with her training saber, hoping to get her own hit in.

Everest Vale Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr returned to his starting position, kicking up the end of his pike to spin it to rest in his should with a slight flourish.

His heavy breathing, however, betrayed his need for more endurance training. He focused on catching his breath.

"I had to pull a trick to break your defense. You know, I'm learning a lot from you… and I hope that sentiment goes both ways."

Aadihr nodded in reply with a slight laugh, gulping enough air to speak back, "yeah, I'm learning some things alright." Such as seeing Trakata in action - and from the lack of any negative feelings in the observer's auras, it must be less frowned upon these days.

Maybe something would come to the Miraluka on how to best use it with a pike, but his mind was too busy preparing for the second bout.

"If there's any time to push past your limits, it's now. I can't think of a better place to go all out. And I think you should, for both our sakes."

"Limits... I think I can make it worth our while."
It was not confidence in Aadihr's tone but unsurety - something he had practiced in private but not had the opportunity not inclination to use against an opponent.

He let a bit of the adrenaline rush feed into the wound wrapped on his arm. The heat flushed the skin, not enough to burn. A controlled release of pent up emotion to test its efficacy. It had gone haywire the last time he was training near Drystan, and he had learned of the need to temper it thanks to @Brander and Alexandros.

Now was the true test run.

Aadihr's left arm heated, the curse-burn fed a trickle of emotion - not enough to spiral out of control, yet enough to assist in bypassing his mental and emotional block with particular force uses.

He adopted a forward overhead guard, coalescing the force into the muscles of his legs, and waited for the signal to begin.

As the bout began, Aadihr dashed forward, with a feinting thrust - a seeming blitz forward of pure might and Ataru mobility before changing his inertia, suddenly cutting from a dash to a semicircular strafe while pulling back the tip from Drystan into an Overhead feinting strike aimed at where the Shadow's shoulderblade was at the start.

It was fast, tricky, and powerful, but the long grip of the polearm left Aadihr with less leverage if Drystan parried the blow in time.

Drystan Creed​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani Valery Noble Corin Trenor

Zaiya's skin flashed pink for the briefest moment before settling back into a soft rose gold, her mottled spots shifting between a pink and ochre. She rubbed the back of her neck, forcing herself not to glance in Aris's direction as he fought Tigris -- Stars forbid she made this more obvious than it already was.

"Oh… I thought I'd take notes on how others fight, cheer on a few of my friends, and see how a saber tournament worked before I signed up for one," she said, the words coming out a little too fast.

A pause. Her stripes deepened to a more solid ochre tinged pink. "Also wanted to get more practice in first…"

Because getting completely wiped out in front of half the Order, especially in front of Aris, was not something she was looking to experience. It wasn't that she didn't think she could hold her own, but there were some Padawans here who were really good. If she was going to step into the ring, she wanted to make sure she had a fighting chance to prove that she belonged. That she could be great, too.

Teenage angst was, apparently, universal. Even for Jedi.

But before she could dwell too much on that, she caught where Iris was looking and followed her gaze -- Master Valery Noble stood nearby, speaking with someone Zaiya didn't recognize. Straightening instinctively, she dipped her head in greeting, her bioluminescence flickering momentarily before settling into a soft, steady glow.

Her amber-striped gaze flicked back to Iris.

"Who's Silas?" she asked, tilting her head.

Because from the way Iris had said it, it sounded like he was someone important.

 

[Aris Noble]

A graze.

Aris blinked in surprise, but it was enough. A hit with an active blade like that was debilitating. He smiled faintly, just a little bit of pride. Which quickly faded as Tigris launched a counter attack. Another blink of surprise, but this time he caught the saber in his hand, bare and relaxed as he held the edge without any idea of personal safety.

The sort of reaction that suggested this was something he did regularly.

"That strike was my point. We reset first, yes?"

He didn't move to strike back, instead just giving a kind smile. Those were the rules.

Tigris

 

[Iris Arani]

​

She was.. Embarrassed? Iris tilted her head, clearly not understanding. Embarrassment was one of those emotions that the Knight actually didn't understand, even as she herself was clearly embarrassed being around Corin right now. Or conflicted. Or both. Not that her mind really processed it that way. Instead she let out a sigh, looking out the fights going on.

"These aren't just tournaments to show off. To cross blades with another is a reality you're going to have to face against those who will try to kill you. Here, you can learn what causes you to loose without getting hurt, or killed. These only make you better. You shouldn't hold back on learning hands on." There was a pause before she glanced back to Zaiya.

" Silas Westgard is a hot head. Or was. He mellowed out from what I heard. Why? Is he here?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: | Lightsabers

Valery followed his gaze without needing to ask, her eyes naturally drawn to the sound of the familiar voice — to her former Padawan, and then to Zaiya. The young girl stood with a spark in her stance, her posture bright and eager, even from a distance.

Valery's lips curled into a small, knowing smirk.

"That's Zaiya, yes," she replied softly, arms folding across her chest as her gaze lingered a moment longer. "Iris took her on a little while ago. She's a bright and clever girl. A good fit for Iris." There was warmth in her voice, pride not just for the Padawan, but for Iris too. Watching her former students become mentors of their own was still one of the most fulfilling parts of her life.

She glanced sideways at Corin then, catching the way his gaze had held a little too long — not just on Zaiya, but Iris. The silence that hung between his words spoke louder than the question itself.

Valery let it settle before humming thoughtfully. "Have you ever considered training someone?" she asked, tilting her head just enough to study him from the corner of her eye. Her tone was casual, but her curiosity was genuine.

She knew he wasn't exactly a typical Jedi, but perhaps he was still interested in training someone.

Corin Trenor ​

 

[Corin Trenor]

CORIN
JEDI TEMPLE | CORUSCANT
TAG: Valery Noble

He exhaled through his nose, barely a scoff. The temptation of a smirk creased his lip - there one second, gone come the next.

It seemed par the course now. His peers had taken students of their own, set to pass on their own lessons onto the next. It was a safe assumption, however, that the more atypical Jedi would have a similar method to forge another; with much of his own techniques self-taught, in the absence of Dagon, Corin had come to see that there was no finer teacher than raw experience.

Despite the suffered wounds.

"I doubt I'm suited to it," answered Corin, certain. "Besides, I doubt the students would be suited to me..."

Seeing those scattered across the training arena, none of these students were familiar to him.

How did anyone come to know when to take on a student, Corin wondered, or more importantly: which one to take?

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Braze was pleased to hear everything Ko had to say, and he verily wanted to converse with his friend and connect with him on such an intimate matter. However, it seemed Ko wasn't interested in casual chatter. Braze smirked at that challenge put forth. It had been so long since someone had given him a genuine challenge.

​

"A warrior's greatest weapon is not their blade, but their will to stand when others fall."
"A river does not fight the rocks—it flows around them and wears them down."​

"As you wish."

He said before spring boarding forwards, launching in to an aggressive barrage of rather aggressive Djem So is fuled by sheer tenacity and renewed sence of vigor. Yet he stayed light on his feet, using springing steps and body weight to add momentum behind his power strikes. Makashi footwork slipped in and out of the sequence accompannied by Ataru flourishes that flashed between attacks executed with sharp and acrobatic finessee.​

The young would be saber rake was weaving his knowledge of forms together, blending forms with a kind of practiced arrogance. Every movement was surefooted, deliberate, and refined. All of it was smooth and flowing with an exagerated acuity and ease that was almost... theatrical.

And perhaps, just perhaps, it was something he'd been waiting to show Ko for a long time now.

Braze surged forward with a sharp overhead slash, immediately followed by a heavy backhand aimed at Ko's ribs. He didn't pause as he fluidly transitioned into a low, sweeping cut meant to take Ko's legs out from under him, then twisted into an upward arc to force Ko's saber high. He pressed in close, blade crashing against blade, shoving hard before snapping into a flurry of tight, angled strikes; hips turning, shoulders dropping, each new movement adding weight and speed.

A sudden pivot came as he ducked under a counter, came up with a fierce diagonal meant to split Ko's guard, then spun on his heel to deliver a follow-up strike towards the opposite shoulder. His breathing was quick but steady, footwork relentless, drawing from Makashi's precision to bait an opening, then hammering it with the full power of Djem So. A downward slam came next, the raw blunt force followed by a lightning-quick stab that turned into a slash before it even landed.

But Braze kept coming without hesitation. Just movement layered on movement, as if he weren't truely conidering the next move he was comitting to seemingly giving his all to each attack that came. What force he could muster meeting finesse, pressure building like a storm against the Keldor.

​

 

[Connel Vanagor]

A Day Off

Jedi Temple

Coruscant

Connel was actually enjoying himself. He was just sitting there, relaxed, and giving his little buddy Buster his headscratches and chin rubs as the little “wiggle butt” was playing with one of his toy balls and getting an intermittent “treat” for not sending the ball outward and bouncing awa…

… and there it goes…

… right into the aisle.

Alright hold one… Buster waiting for his toy when “fetchies” was in order? UNACCEPTABLE! Wait WAITWAIT!. Buster was “off to the races”. Now one might wonder if he was just “clumsy” and hadn’t really learned now to bite a hold of the ball, or was purposely bouncing it off of his nose sending it further, but the Gallinorese Mountain Aak Dog was quite the silly little spectacle.

Of course there were sentients nearby. Sentients he might have met before, sentients he might not have met before, but you wouldn’t know as he ran up to each and every one, sat down (butt wiggling, and tail wagging excitedly) and looked up at them smiling.


Where was Connel in all of this? He was there, closeby, hoping Buster would stay “good boy” and not just jump into their laps, but wait for them to pet him.

The pup proved to be the “Bestest Boi” Ryana Mina always called him, always looking back at the Shadow for approval. What could Connel do but laugh and nod “yes”, in a way the pup would recognize.

Open to anyone who wants to bend down and say “Hiiii!” to this little guy.

TAGS • ARE • STILL • OPEN​

 

[Ko Vuto]

​

Location: New Jedi Order Temple, Coruscant
Objective: 1
Tag: Braze

Ko was put on the defense as Braze came at him once more. At first he couldn’t quite recognize what the echani teen was doing as he met him blow for blow. But soon enough he could make sense of it. The Perseverance Form, or at least Braze’s own adaptation of the form. Under Ko’s mask there was a bit of a smile that had formed.

“You dastardly little krayt dragon. Bold of you to try and use such a Djem So against me.” Ko said briefly as they locked blades. If given the time to speak more he’d try and advise the teen to switch their stance to the more technical Shien. But Ko found it interesting to see them use it against Jedi of his stature. Ko had always been rather brawny for a Kel Dor since working in the service corps. So he didn’t have much trouble in matching Braze strength for strength.

The strange blend of Makashi and Djem So wasn’t something Ko could tell was good or not. The two didn’t harmonize well when pitted against one another. Leave it to Braze to try and find balance where there might not be any.

As Braze hit his chest Ko stumbled back some from the sting of the attack. Noting the attack to his legs and where that might lead Ko jumped away with a dedicated backflip, narrowly avoiding Braze’s blade as it arched up.

Ko remained on the defensive and began to recognize it. Worrying that he was giving his teenage rival too much initiative. With a swift dash backwards he gained some distance and assumed another stance. Through his training as a jedi and echani Braze would instantly be able to recognize what Ko was doing.

It wasn’t that Ko was poorly telegraphing his attack. He was nonverbally declaring it. Almost like a taunt or a challenge to Braze. Ko’s posture was the opening to a velocity sequence.

Eyeing Braze for a second through his goggles he now started his own attack. His movements are fluid and deliberate. A predictable pattern for the two of them. But Ko was fast, frighteningly so as he performed the movements that had been drilled into the DNA of Ko’s muscles. Even if they were predictable they were done with dizzying speed, at the moment Ko was rejecting complicated moves and fighting arts. Stereotypical for someone like Ko.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Braze smiled, twirling his blade in a slow, deliberate flourish as he began to cross-step to the right, keeping careful track of the Ring's edge. He'd gained some ground on Ko, but the Keldor wasn't retreating. He was inviting him, and offering a kind of unspoken accord. An exchange that would build in tempo and intensity until one of them slipped up.

It was a bold and earnest challenge. Braze shifted left now, cross-stepping again, prowling closer like a cat with a mind to pounce.

There were no rules against it. Then again, there were no rules saying Ko couldn't suddenly break from the pattern and strike without warning.

There was risk, considerable risk, if Braze chose to engage him. But he didn't think on it much longer. He surged forward and initiated the velocity.

Pure technical skill against pure technical skill.
Endurance against endurance.

Strength pitted against agility and finesse. Braze felt a rush of adrenaline as he surged into the exchange, his blade slicing through the air with a confidence that mirrored the competitive fire burning within him.

They danced around each other, a blur of steel and speed as each strike was met with a parry, each advance countered by a deft sidestep. Braze's heart pounded, the rhythm of their duel echoing throughout the training hall as the world around them faded away.

With each exchanged blow, the intensity escalated. Braze found himself slipping into a state of flow, where time seemed to stretch and contract, and every swipe of his blade felt familiar and exhilarating. The sound of sabers clashing of one anouther so quickly building faster and louder with flashes of each clash. He questioned not if this silent agreement between them to push each other to the limits of their abilities would turn to a nasty trap... He trusted Ko's honor fullheartedly in this.

Time slipped away as they traded blows, each thrust and parry electrifying the air of their surroundings. Braze could feel the sweat beading on his brow as he pushed himself further, testing the limits of his endurance. He was caught up in the exhilaration of the duel.

As they danced the line between risk and reward, Braze mentally prepared for the next flurry, knowing that to falter now would mean defeat.

​

 

[Drystan Creed]

CORUSCANT

Drystan remained still as Aadihr launched his assault. To the Miraluka, it may have seemed as if Drystan was completely unaware of the semi-circular maneuver, his posture suggesting he was unable—or unwilling—to react.

But the widening of his smile betrayed any such illusion.

His body vibrated subtly for a split second before he pivoted sharply, turning to face Aadihr just as the strike came down. With a sudden swipe, he delivered a powerful parry—force-assisted and precise—the impact ringing out like a steel rod colliding with a speeding durasteel wall. Sparks flew as dust exploded from beneath their feet, the sheer force of it reverberating through the ring.

"Give me everything you've got. Don't hold anything back."

Perhaps his fellow Knight wasn't as inclined toward combat as he was, but Drystan knew the martial arts extended beyond mere duels or tournaments. His master had once told him so, as they sat beneath the shade of a tree, watching clouds drift across the sky.

"Train hard. Study well. Eat and sleep plenty."

He'd lived by those words since then—though the last half had often been sacrificed in favor of more training.

And just as he demanded his opponent's best, he would offer his own in return. His movements became heavier, more punishing. Each parry landed with the weight of a battering ram, each strike delivered with exacting force.

He was looking for something. Waiting.

A sign. A breakthrough.

He knew Aadihr had it within him—and Drystan would do everything he could to push him there.

Aadihr Lidos