ToTG:Darth Tsolan VS. Serian Loria!

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Demonsgate.​

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A world of fire, flame, and death. The planet was known as a world of constant volcanic activity, massive erupting flows of lava and huge spurts of magma were not an uncommon sight upon this world. Its polar region were naught but massive volcanic fields that stretched for miles and miles. Black rock etched with red rivers went on as far as the eye could see. Danger and death lurked around every corner, and it was here that the first leg of the tournament began.​

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The Tournament of the Gods, the Opening of Moross space. Twenty Four people had been rotted from hundreds of thousands, each one exceptional in some way, each one chosen to provide entertainment for the masses.​

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The God of Moross had created this tournament to turn the eyes upon their people, to show the galaxy what Moross had to offer, both through the beauty of its worlds, and the eccentricity of its Tournament. These battles were composed of everything, from deathly bouts in fields of lava, to the sands of a billion credit Arena. The Tournament of the Gods would be broadcasted to every home in the galaxy, and would be seen by all.​

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The First world was Demonsgate, the unrelenting Hell Hole of a planet so coveted for its ores.​

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It was here, in the northern volcanic fields that the twenty four contestants had been transported in pairs. Camera Drones hovered around them as they slowly gained their footing, and the match began.​

[member="Darth Tsolan"] VS. [member="Serian Loria"]!​

 

[Serian Loria]

To say he was impressed with where he would be fighting would have been an enormous lie. Nothing except blackened rock and molten lava, an altogether unexceptional place, unless one preferred to fight in extremes. He however wasn’t one such and disliked the environment immediately. One of the camera droids swung within reach and he caught it, crushing it, making the rest veer sharply away where he couldn’t physically reach. They’d gotten the message right quick, come too close and be a nuisance and he’d crush it. Undoubtedly someone wouldn’t be happy with his actions, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t thrilled that this whole affair would be playing for the whole galaxy, but then he was used to keeping his talents secret from others.

He’d taken part in the tournament to test himself, to see what the galaxy had to offer. From what he’d seen of the official roster none of the names had sounded familiar. He didn’t know who or, dare he ask, what he’d be facing, he just hoped the fight would be over fast so he wouldn’t have to spend any more time than he had to in this wasteland. He was dressed in clothing that would protect in all sorts of climates, but he doubted that the maker intended it to be used on the planet he found himself on. Still despite the heat he wasn’t overheated so that was a bonus. He wasn’t outwardly caught off guard by their present situation, he recovered quickly and moved away from the rest.

It didn’t matter where he went, the scenery didn’t change, but he wanted to find someplace that he wouldn’t readily encounter lava. The place he found himself in was a flat area, on either side there was a small rise, just enough to put him out of sight. There was plenty of room to move, it reminded him of a shallow bowl or pan, like someone stuck their thumb in black clay. His clothing was mostly browns, mainly leather and cloth, but designed to give warmth or aid in keeping cool. The camera droids buzzed around like a flock of ravens hungry for flesh. One started to move too close and he fixed it with a look, but it didn’t come closer.

The one advantage he had was that this area was suitable for fire, the element he had an affinity for. It wouldn’t take much effort on his part to spark it, but he wasn’t going to resort to higher abilities unless he was truly pushed. Caution would be better served for the start than fireworks, unless it would give him an advantage. He first had to see who he’d be fighting and study them before he would resort to more. His fight with Shorn was a reminder, though it was a pity the man wasn’t on that list. More than that he didn’t want to give anything away so that if he progressed to the next round his opponent would have much to study.

However he couldn’t come up with anything if he couldn’t study his present opponent. He moved to the center and waited calmly, eventually he’d meet this one and he’d either succeed or fail. If he failed it would give him much to improve on, but he wasn’t worried about either. In the end the Force would carry him where it willed, he but had to go with it and trust that the path would lead him somewhere he needed to be.


[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Another beautiful paradise. Lakes, rivers, islands, martinis, beautiful wom- wait... hold on, this wasn't zeltros. No, this time Vulpesen found himself in the deepest pits of Bogan's backside crevices. Currently he had found himself hiding under a rock, his fully equipped shadow fox armor shielding him from the elements. It was a good thing that he liked the heat, but that just meant that the flames were somewhat bearable. "Oh Ace, I wish you could see this." His saber went into one hand while his other brushed against the grenades at his side. Then again, perhaps Ace was watching right now. The wolf had been crushed to learn that he wouldn't be joining his bond-mate, but the last thing Vulpesen need was for his companion to get chucked into some sort of lava flow. So here he was, alone, armed, and quite dangerous.

In front of his little hidey hole a river of magma bubbled and popped, spraying its boiling contents across the rocks. If there was ever a time to be worried about playing with fire, this was it. Shrinking back farther into the darkness, Vulpesen focused himself through the force. His opponent knew he was near, and he knew the same. Now, he just needed to figure out how near. The force flowed easily from his body, spreading out into the world around him as it searched for [member="Serian Loria"]. The contact would only take a moment. But once it was found, Vulpesen would let out the smallest of smiles and focus his abilities into another area, one in which to hide himself as his presence was drawn in and away from being noticed.

[

 

[Serian Loria]

He felt the shift of energy, the feeling that someone was near, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, calmly, waiting. He was pretty sure that who or whatever he was to fight was either slightly below him or of the same level. They wouldn’t have pit them together so soon with such imbalances of power. It meant that he could just simply wait, which meant those watching might get bored. However this was how it was between those who had experiance, nothing was done in haste. Even if his opponent was standing in front of him the testing would be subtle, each waiting for the other to act or to show weakness.

As much as he hated the surroundings, he wasn’t going to rush and make a potentially fatal mistake. His aura was hidden, no hint of his power showed, he stood almost like a statue. He was watching the cameras, just not obviously so, they were giving away positions if one was willing to watch where they moved. Everything was televised, which meant the cameras had to watch the combatants. It meant that he could keep an eye on where the other was and ignore the things that might deceive him. Though even without them the shift of energy wouldn’t have made him stir.

He reached out with his mind, not to attack, but to do something different. He was going to speak to this stranger, mind to mind. You’re going to have to do better than that stranger.

And that was it. His mind-voice held amusement in the undertones, otherwise the rest of the flavor was flavorless. Serian wasn’t impatient, he was almost tranquil, he’d seen battle before and a duel was something one could take time on. In a way it was meant to draw the other out, just as his opponent’s tactic was. He didn’t expect success, but there was no telling what would come from initiating contact. Unless he used an aggressive ability his force signature could be hidden and telepathy was hardly aggressive unless he meant it to be. All he’d given away was that he was experienced, but that was hardly going to be a surprise considering.


[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen couldn't help but let out a small laugh as his opponent spoke to him. Right, this wasn't some simple nobody. The tournament wouldn't make it that easy. He rose from his place and stalked across the surface, hiding himself both in the force and in the light, becoming virtually invisible. His plan was simple, find a high point. Though, midway fro his walk, he stopped to focus himself into a speech with his partner in combat. "And better I can be."

If all went well, he would find his perch without too much trouble. Laying down on the warm stones, he would take his daggers and lay about ten of them in front of himself, preparing for the fight to come. The fight was yet to come, though he wasn't sure when it would start, he 'd rather be ready for when it did. From his belt he pulled his pistol and set it on his left forearm, using the appendage as a makeshift gun rest. He didn't know if his enemy was as prepared as he was, but he'd be damned if he didn't er on the side of caution.

And now, we wait. If he wanted to play this game, Vulpesen would play along. He just hoped he wouldn't fall asleep. One of these days I'm gonna install a gaming HUD. Maybe that will make these wars of attrition bearable. They were idle thoughts hidden under the force and away from his opponent. No, for Vulpesen they were no danger to either side, simply a means of occupying his thoughts.

[member="Serian Loria"]

 

[Serian Loria]

The response made a brief grin touch his lips, before it was gone. So then it was going to be a waiting game, he started to move then, picking up a few rocks. He didn’t leave the spot he’d chosen, but one had to wonder just why he was picking up stones. He turned his head to the sound of something moving over the rocks, his lit ruby gaze scanning the area around him. He didn’t see anyone, but he marked the location the sounds were coming from. All at once he whirled around chucking a few of the stones in that direction. It wasn’t an attack as such, but a test, to see what might happen. Would he hit anything? He didn’t have high hopes, but it would be rather amusing all the same.

As a way of taking action it was a laughable thing, hardly an opening move at all since it wasn’t an attack. He still had other rocks however, not that he’d be at a loss since there was plenty of stone around him. He didn’t have any visible weaponry, though he was carrying his collapsable saberstaff. The weapon had been with him since his first rise upon his path ages ago. His real skills lay in the force not physical fighting, he had nothing else, not even a knife. He did have pockets, what was in them was anyones guess.

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen let out a soft breath as he laid on the stone, his golden eyes scanning the area. The stone falls had worried him, but the tossed stone had missed him by several feet, bringing relief to his mind and allowing his focus to continue. He couldn't be seen, not yet. So with his travels successful (for the most part), he now laid in wait while his mind once again reached out to connect with that of [member="Serian Loria"]. "You can still surrender you know. There's no reason for you not to walk away without a scratch." He continued his slow movements with his head, turning to find his target. As a child of Amar, tracking and hunting were things that came natural to him, their need for stealth was large and the abilities enhanced on the street, as well as on the duty of a jedi shadow. As such, there was little if any chance he could be seen, cloaked int h e force with his body hardly budging. Now... where are you?

Assuming that Serian stayed in the open and didn't do anything to draw attention, it would only take about one or two minutes for Vulpesen to spot and confirm his location. He wouldn't do anything yet, but hiding on a small cliff, he was mostly covered naturally, more so with the a fore mentioned force cloak. No chances were being made here. If he was to win, he had to keep every advantage and hold his card as close to his chest as possible.

 

[Serian Loria]

His laugh would have carried, even from the noise of the molten rock. One could say the same for you, but...tempting as that is... I’ve committed myself this far regardless of our playing field, I will see it through. So then, I don’t suppose you’ll let me see who you are? Would be nice to see my opponent and to know your name.

In his own way he had honor, though it wouldn’t stop him from doing a darker deed if he had to. The only time he would balk is when it came to children and innocents, he hated collateral damage. He wouldn’t hesitate to strike a woman, especially if she aimed to kill him, but children and innocent people were different. The fact that his opponent was ‘playing fair’ meant for the moment he was being honorable too. It could be a ruse of course, so he didn’t trust it, but he would play along till it changed. He didn’t think the man would come out, but he just might. His own position would make it difficult to see him as well.

The location he’d chosen had no rises that could make him easily seen for they weren’t high enough. While he was in an open area, the rise around him would obscure him till he moved into the middle. He’d done this intentionally to force the one he was fighting into needing to get closer. It didn’t matter how stealthy one was when the whole area was scattered with rocks. He might not be able to see, but there was nothing wrong with his ears. This one could use powers to levitate, but that would give him Power to sense and thus mark him where he could better track.

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen took another long breath, slow and quiet as he stared out at his target, his hand resting behind a dagger. If I were to tell you my name, you'd know more than even those who have eaten with me. If you see where I am, then the fruits of my past have withered indeed. His golden eyes locked onto his quarry's head, watching carefully for any sign that he might be seen. Any sign that the man might turn. Even if he did, Vulpesen wouldn't panic, but it was nice to know how hard one had to focus on the illusion of invisibility.

Another long breath and his ear flicked under his hood, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Last thing he needed was for his enemy to sneak a detonator and lob it when Vulpesen thought he was hidden. While his ear moved, he was reminded of his tail, yet another thing he had to keep still. It wasn't hard but it was strange to think. Just a couple of weeks ago, there wouldn't have been such a worry on his mind. No wonder they prided staking over sitting.

[member="Serian Loria"]

 

[Serian Loria]

The flavor of his mind-voice was bemused I doubt it, the days where I once knew all those around me have long turned to dust. Even when I knew them, they knew me not at all save for the illusions I presented to lure them into thinking what I wished. Now, I am just another face with Power, I hardly have to work at all to keep my secrets. Its almost funny…

He’d been thinking more to himself when he sent that to the man. In his past he had to walk carefully, now all he had to do was use an alias or two. He had no enemies within the Crusade and as for the ‘abrion systems authority’ or whatever the former confederacy called themselves, they hadn’t started hunting him yet. It was a possibility of sorts, but he’d not been a big fish for all that Isley had placed him in a position of power. Even when he’d had it he hadn’t made any waves, stepping to take a backseat to the rest and watch. It seemed to have been in his favor to do so and he’d simply let them think he’d died.

Now of course with all the cameras around those who might have seen his face and or knew his name would know he hadn’t. However his service within the Crusade would, possibly, protect him. It might fuel conflict between the two, but such a thing for him? He doubted he’d rate such uses of resources. He moved closer to the edge, his head disappearing from sight again. He tossed another rock as he did so, same location just a bit more forward, a foot ahead of where his last rock had been thrown. It was a game almost, he’d either miss and have to try again or hit and hopefully hear something.

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Another click to his right. Worrisome at the moment but Vulpesen remained hidden. It seems we are alike, brothers in the shadows. Perhaps its time we enter the revealing light. As he spoke he picked up a dagger and shifted his body over the edge. It was a slow calculated movement. His arms and knees gently lifted his body and rocked him forward to place him once more on the edge of the cliff, blade in hand. Another deep breath and the force shifted under the shell of the cloak.

Thump.
His heart did a half-beat in his chest and he shifted the cloak. In a moment it was all redirected into his right hand, a blue aura surrounding the hilt of the black dagger. Had he done this before? hundreds if not thousands of times. Had he ever done it to this extent? Never. Years of practice in hurling daggers three at a time and he had never against a living person tried this with a single one.

Thump.
The next part of the heart beat and his hand released the blade. He could shoot ten daggers as fast as arrows with minimal effort. Now, all of his focus went into this one aimed for his opponents stomach. The sound was incredible, a sonic boom erupted from his hand,causing his ears a ringing pain. Hell it hurt, but if it went well, the pain would be worth it. A single black object, too fast for most if any eye to catch dashed from the cliff, racing faster than Vulpesen had ever done before. It was exhilarating to know what he was doing, more so to think of the result if he were successful. If all went well, the rock would be unnecessary. His enemy would know exactly where he was, but such knowledge would come at a steep price, a knife ripping through his lower torso, possibly even exiting out the other side. It was a power few recognized as being Darth Tsolan's specialty. It was always waved off as a parlor trick. Not this time. This time the galaxy would know just how powerful he had become.

[member="Serian Loria"]

 

[Serian Loria]

He didn’t respond to that, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. It wasn’t that he was Sensing anything, not at that moment, it was the fact the man had called them ‘brothers in shadows’. It was unsettling because he didn’t sense a lie, the man actually believed that and there was no hesitation. It was an odd thing, but just as he started to puzzle it out he sensed Power. It was a channeled ability of such potency and the intent was all focused on him. All at once his instincts screamed at him and he had just enough time to will the land to change forming a wall to protect him!

Even then the concussive blast was enough to send him flying, he was for the moment deaf, but not stunned. Years of training at cruel hands made it so that the impulse to lay stunned sent him instead into scrambling for cover. His ears started to ring as he did so and he rubbed them a grin forming on his face. It was less a smile and more a baring of teeth, his blood pumping. He reached into a pocket and tossed some seeds into the air, sending them scattered about. Oh, the landscape wasn’t the best for growing things, but he had Power to will the plants into life. He sent most of them into the vicinity of where he’d sensed his opponent. It wouldn’t look like he’d done more than say, tossed sand with his mind, but the seeds would stick.

Nothing more than a nuisance plant, just a type that when cut or burned would raise a mighty stink. He channeled his power as he moved, willing the smelly plant to grow. Weeds took little effort to grow because they evolved to survive faster than the things around it. Hence the saying ‘sprouting like a weed’ it was a truism, thus in combat one wanted results with little effort. The thing about it was that if say, crushed or torn, they stunk like foul dung, thus the name; dung weed.

It wasn’t a great use of his power, but it would hopefully mark the man and make him miserable. It was retaliation for offending his hearing, tit for tat so to speak. The plants sprouted all over the place, their cunning roots finding purchase in all sorts of crevices. He spotted an outcropping of thick rock and stifled his Power hiding it again. The plants would be fully leafed, looking more like grass than a weed. It would, hopefully have clung to the man inciting him to rip it off and get a full whiff of the rank smell. He just hoped it would infuriate him enough that he wasted energy trying to find him and, hopefully, made him less smart.


[member="Darth Tsolan"]

I want to note that he used alter environment and plant surge, though not to excess as he's trying to save energy. Just in case anyone was wondering, I also used a plant listed with not much info, but a person wouldn't name a plant like that if it didn't smell. I was hoping for something named 'stink weed' but I'll take what I can get!

 

[Vulpesen]

The shot did its work and fr a moment, Tsolan couldn't help but rejoice. However, his revelation was cut short as he found himself surrounded by the foulest smell he had imaged. He'd been blinded by flash grenades, and deafened by bombs. But NOTHING was as terrible as the scent that now entered his olfactory organs. The nose of a zorren was strong enough to track down a person though a day old trail. But now, now that trait was working against him and the LAST thing the sith wanted to do was track the smell.

"SON OF A KATHHOUND!" It was all he could do to keep from retching as his hand went up to his mask. A click later and the mask adjusted to his face, filling his lungs and nostrils with fresh air. OH SWEET RELIEF! The smell would linger, but a lingering aftertaste was better than what he had before. Still, his cover had been blow and now it was time for the main event. Leaping from his perch, he didn't even bother to try and rip them away, letting the energy f the leap do that for him. As he hit the sky, Vulpesen shot his remaining daggers into the air with him as he swallowed and prepared to land.

Once his feet could hit the stone of his opponents barrier, his hands would rise to his sides, preparing to launch the nine remaining daggers the second he caught wind of his quarry. With the usage for the force, he doubted his enemy had any chance to hide his presence and though he couldn't sniff him out for obvious reasons, there were still several other senses, both natural and of the force which could speed things along.

[member="Serian Loria"]

 

[Serian Loria]

The concussive blast had done more than temporarily deafen him, his whole body was telling him he’d just collected all sorts of pain, mostly minor, but his ribs had been where the main focus had been from the assault. He pushed it aside, but would have to be more careful, as opening moves went that had been rather brilliant. Points for his opponent, for now. The blast had opened up where he had been, it now made his foe visible whereas he was not since he’d moved and hidden his aura again. He studied the stranger, noting the mask, the heavy cloak, but also...a tail? He’d heard the cry of rage his attack had brought, so then he must have done more than he’d expected.

He was pretty sure that he’d blotted out scent, the mask might have tech to filter air, but the plant will have nulled that, so even if the filter came off all he’d smell was the stink. He’d discovered the plant when he’d moved into his home, the wretched plant had taken over one corner of where he wanted to build something and he’d had to resort to standing far and torching the whole area. However it cropped up again a bit later and he’d taken the seeds after clearing it away again. It was a very prolific plant and getting the juices on clothing made it impossible to wear them again after any amount of washes. He’d learned that the hard way and he didn’t envy his opponent, not after what he’d just done.

He hoped he was sufficiently riled up because he projected his powers in three different places. They were in random places, but it was a distraction because the man would sense a fourth, right under his feet just as the ground shook and lava spewed out. Then two of the power dots started to move away, Serian was one of them, the other a ghost, the lava had been allowed to come from beneath them and was filling the area. His hope was that some of the armor got hit so that he’d have to take it off. He was aiming for a more level playing field and ahead of him he saw an almost entirely flat place, this was where it would end, but it was still further off.


[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's ears pricked up as he felt the force moving around, thankfully catching the gush of lava in his mind which caused him to leap high in the air. It seemed as though there was yet another advantage of such a high perch. Rising lava took a moment to reach a person, and a moment was all Vulpesen needed to clear the area. "You are a tricky one!" He smiled he landed on yet another rock outcropping, hoping to stay off the main ground in case such an attack happened again. As he felt the two running force presences, he called upon the force to send his daggers in different directions, four in one, three in the other, essentially using the blades as guided missiles.

The fight had only lasted for a small while, but still he was finding it quite fun, even if he'd smelled the worse thing in the world and he had gotten a bit too close to the heat than he would have liked. This man certainly wasn't stupid and such a challenge was certainly welcome to the one who had been hiding in the shadows for so long.

[member="Serian Loria"]

 

[Serian Loria]

The same move wasn’t going to work on him twice, not when he felt the stirring of energy. Keeping his Senses trained on the man he felt it coming and halted them with his will. He wouldn’t have been able to do it with all of them, but his illusion was blown to pieces. However he still felt the man pushing it at, guiding it. He’d been in a similar situation like this, trying his best to hold off a force crushing his body. The projectiles were similarly strong, but the power was in them, not around his body. It took energy to ignite the air around the man, but not nearly as much were they not on a land where fire held sway. His hope was that he’d break the man’s focus, thats all he needed.

His opponent was like a man with a gun, he only had so many knives. He didn’t know what else he had, but if he got the rest of the knives it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. He knew the man had a particular knack with these blades, if either of them survived this he’d have to find him to learn this trick. That was the point of this, to fight and learn, hopefully he’d teach him because then he’d have more skills for later. Nothing in the rules said he couldn’t gain the knowledge of his foes, he might not be adept at the skills he learned, but little skill was better than nothing. After the tournament he could practice better, these skills could prove useful to the Crusade as well.

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen held mixed feelings about the destruction of the illusion. On one hand, it left him free to pursue his opponent wholeheartedly. On the other, he had lost the majority of his daggers. Still, the other three were more easily focused on as they were set at a halt. That is of course, until Vulpesen was shoved into the depths of hell as a fiery inferno started around him. Why? Why, why, why? Immediately he felt the increased of temperature in his armor and he growled as the flames touched the smallest placed of his skin. Most would have panicked, and Vulpesen almost did, dropping his daggers as the fear took control. However, he was smart enough to not wear any normal clothes. This was armor weave, a material known to deflect lightsabers. It would take more than a moment of flames to truly catch his clothes. However, there was one part of him that wasn't armored, his tail. A howl of surprise and pain left his throat as he Leaped away from the area of ignition, swirling his cape to put out the fire on his furry appendage. The fur managed to keep the fire off of the majority of his skin, but as they smoke of burnt fur raised to the air, Vulpesen felt himself growing EXTREMELY irritated. "Lets finish this!" He dashed off to find Seria. He was proud of his tail and noone could do that to him without severe repayment.

[member="Serian Loria"]