Why 'Rancor'? They're not exactly moderate...

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

It was time to expand his lightsaber skills and Niman was his best bet. The Bith knew exactly who to contact about training. Master Vulpesen had offered to teach him previously. Now he'd take him up on it.

So, Dune awaited his arrival in a training hall in the underground Temple at Lothal.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's tail flicked behind him as he entered the hall, the golden orbs casting his gaze around the room. "Its not Coruscant... but it'll do." So much had changed and it hurt to think about how much the Republic lost since he left. Shaking away the melancholy, he walked over to Dune Rhur and called Ace out of his robes. "A pleasure to see you again padawan Rhur." He handed Ace a piece of chalk, with which the wolf leaped of his shoulder and started to draw on the ground of he training room, starting with a wide circle around the two,

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"] entered the training hall, accompanied by Ace, and Dune inclined his head respectfully. "It's good to see you too, Master."

Observing Ace, the little wolf began to draw a circle around them with the chalk he'd been handed. The Bith found it equally endearing and interesting. Such intelligence the little creature had. He watched Ace finish his work before looking up.

"A remarkable being," he said with a smile "Of course, I'd suppose Ace drew this for reasons besides the appreciation of the circle."

Remarkable how well done it, he thought with an appreciative nod to Ace.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen nodded and drew out several more pieces of chalk. With a bit of help from the force and the wolf, who continued to draw circles, he formed a pattern on the ground. It had been burned into the Coruscanti temple by his saber, but apparently, the renovations had decided not to bring his personal flair. "Its called a master's wheel. We likely won't be using it to its full potential today, but its nice to have familiar things around." He walked to a smaller circle near the edge and motioned for [member="Dune Rhur"] to stand on the opposite ring. What do you know of Niman?

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]
Dune observed the master's wheel with some interest as it came to life. The Bith obeyed the request silently standing opposite Vulpesen. Perhaps the esoteric circular design was a focus point, he mused. Surely there was something to it beyond a touch of nostalgia. The Master didn't strike him as the interior decorating sort.

"Niman is the sixth form, the 'Way of the Rancor'. Allegedly the weakest style, but I don't see how, given that in encompasses many forms of lightsaber and unarmed combat, not to mention Force powers. It seems like it would present many options in many scenarios."

Options were always good, indeed the staid approach many Jedi took to combat struck Dune as unimaginative. Supposing you encountered an opponent multiple times, they'd be able to anticipate your actions. Not a good thing.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled a bit and drew his lightsaber, lowering the power setting so that should he hit the padawan, Rhur wouldn't go missing a limb. "Very good. Sadly, its strength is also its weakness. Niman is prepared for every situation. But it is specialized in nothing. This lack of specialization is what causes its high mortality rate." His saber swirled before coming to rest in both of his hands. "I suppose first thing you need to learn is the starting stance." His body shifted to the side, and both of his hands held the blade in a downward guard. "Copy as much as you can." Ace would drop his chalk and run over, ready to correct any errors in the padawan's stance.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/0/07/Form6Niman-SWGTCG.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110901004651


[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

Nodding, the apprentice copied Vulpesen as best as he could. The stance was at least passingly similar to a Shii-Cho low guard. The blue wolf came over to him, nudging him in order to adjust the Bith's stance. Ace was essentially a Niman adept himself, being linked to his friend as he was.

In the end, the difference was subtle but it was felt. There was the proper balance on his toes but his shoulders were shifted a few degrees. As such, his weapon was in a more trailing guard. He wasn't uncomfortable but it would require time to adapt.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled a bit and shifted his head a bit to the side, an gesture which Ace followed by moving to the edge of the ring. "One of Niman's charms is its use of the force. Not so bodily as Ataru, but just that it is used with Niman to add to its adaptability and power. Such as, force pulls and pushes are used to put an opponent off guard for you to strike." He started towards the student, his his saber held at the ready. "For instance..." His left hand made a quick pull back, exerting the force on [member="Dune Rhur"] and pulling the padawan towards him, allowing for his right hand to make a lunge at his midsection.

Had the blade been set to full power, it would likely stab right through him, skewering the poor bith, but as it was, he only meant to demonstrate the attack, always preferring a safe trial by fire in which Dune could experience for himself what his attakcs could do should he follow this route. Such was how he himself had trained, though the sabers he sparred with wee a lot more deadly and angry, belonging to real enemies with no qualms of running him through.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

Dune was silent as he listened to Vulpesen speak about the advantages of Niman. His train of thought was suddenly broken of as he felt himself being seized as if by a huge hand. As Vulpesen's saber stopped centimetres from impaling him, he cursed in surprise. The Master grinned like...well...a fox in a henhouse.

"Ah," Dune managed to nod as he eyes the weapon "Useful especially for a smaller being like me. Also far less costly in terms of stamina compared to Ataru."

 

[Vulpesen]

He smirked a bit and swirled his blade before resuming his starting stance. "Niman is a diplomat's form, not suitable for open combat, or against a force user, especially a makashi duelist, but against thugs and sour diplomatic guards, it works perfectly. Much of this is do to its reliance on your improvisation. You must be prepared for everything." One of his hands made a small movement, exerting the force on some of the surrounding equipment. "A lesson you may learn from this style is that whether or not you're a jedi, honor is best observed before and after a fight. But during it, anything goes."

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"] extinguished his weapon before he continued to elucidate upon Niman. Dune was somewhat more relieved than he'd care to admit. The Master's words caused him to be thoughtful of the uses of the style. His eyes shifted as he felt Vulpesen gathering the Force. He threw up a Force barrier as the objects hurled towards him...

 

[Vulpesen]

He smiled widely as he saw the barrier shoot up, just as a training bolt lanced through the air towards the student, only to bounce off harmlessly. "Very nice, trusting your instincts." His fingers snapped, flipping the switch on the machine to cause it to continue shooting at Rhur while Vulpesen dashed forward, bringing a cut forwards his left side. "Now, combine what you know of the forms to handle the threat."

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"] charged him and brought his lightsaber to bear faster than the eye could see. The Bith instinctually brought his blade up to deflect the attack. His hilt stayed close to his centre line as the flurry continued. Soresu was his natural fallback and allowed him to not simply wilt under the onslaught.

The apprentice was playing it very conservative, not sure of the Master's next attack. He was just as liable to throw another Force attack or kick as he was to cut or thrust. Dune had to keep trusting his instincts and the Force. Otherwise, he was karked....

 

[Vulpesen]

"The force, your blade, the area around you, it all needs to blend into one." His blade turned to a quick slash to the right, then a diagonal cut from right shoulder down to the left hip. As his attacks continued, it would become slightly apparent that he was holding back. Yes, he believed in trial by fire, but ensuring failure in training would make it commonplace. He knew to give Rhur a chance. "Though you are a jedi, remember that while your duty is to defend, and an attacker will usually stop only when he is disarmed or incapacitated.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

The lesson had been much more hands-on than his usual instruction. He was being pushed though not quite to breaking. Certainly his current instructor could run him through with minor effort. But to what point?

Something in Vulpesen's words sparked an idea. With a deft twist of his wrists, he attempted to turn a redirection into a disarming manoeuvre. Would it work; time would tell. But, as it had been pointed out, a disarmament would end it.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's grip tightened on the aft end of his saber, though he allowed it to swirl with the apprentice's blade. While a master of Niman, Vulpesen's mastery also went into the second form of makashi, and using hi knowledge of the duelist form, he swiftly escaped the blind and leaped back. "Very good. Now, try to find time to use the blaster bolts in your engagements. You must remember your environment." As he spoke, his saber swirled beside him, batting away the continuing spray of blasters from the training turret.

[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

The disarm hadn't worked but it had bought him space and time. Almost as good. Vulpesen had brought along some extras which gave Dune yet another idea. He leapt and slashed, sending one of Vulpesen's deflected bolts back at him. The Bith sent a quick shove at his chest while he came in low with an upward sweeping slash.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's blade swung up, batting away the bolt by instinct alone, though the action admittedly left him fairly open to Rhur's follow up attack. Impressive. As Rhur came within his guard, he moved with the shove, using i for a bit of extra time. Seeings the blade come up for him, he threw his body to the side, the unsteady twirl sending him into a roll from which he rose up a few feet away. "Well, you're certainly a quick learner."
[member="Dune Rhur"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Vulpesen"]

"Thank you," he said.

He chose to take a ready stance, hilt held up near shoulder height. Some called it a Jedi ready position. Perhaps Vulpesen expected a continued assault. Dune wasn't going to recklessly throw himself into some trap. Many Padawans would but the Fox was wily and unpredictable.

The Bith smelled a trap waiting for him. Part of combat was anticipating your opponent's actions. This opponent was not an ordinary Jedi and would not act in expected ways. It could be argued that he was letting his teacher control the rhythm of the match. In fact, it was to the Soresu-favouring Bith's advantage to conserve energy.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled and stood straight, his saber deactivating. "Trust your instincts, but don't jump at shadows. As far as the basics have gone, I've taught you the philosophy, uses, and the basic techniques of Niman. Unless there is a specific detail, or something else you wish to learn, I believe that's enough for now." His tail flicked behind him and he called Ace back to his shoulder, the silent command heard loud and clear through their telepathic connection.

[member="Dune Rhur"]