On The Way To The Secret Base

[Collan]

Collan saw the saber and combat instincts kicked in. He immediately folded his left knee faster than he folded his right and took a rolling tumble that turned into a somersault. At the same time, his right hand went for his own training saber. He shifted his weight mid-roll and used the kinetic energy of the spin to boost himself upright.

At the same time, Collan flicked the activator on the saber. The silvery blade sprang to life with a shearing buzzing noise that crackled the air a bit. The quart crystals were far less efficient than true saber quality ones and the energies bled off more easily into ionization.

Unfortunately, Collan's skill at the Force meant that he really couldn't use it on a moment's notice to Sense the world around him and use the saber most effectively. At least, not yet.

He offered Niil a wry grin, "Sounds like a stimulating conversation. Let me guess how you replied," Collan went into Jedi Ready and proceeded with a standard though basic series of Shi-Cho attacks.

[Niil Spaar]

Niil chuckled as he met Collan's attacks, and countered with some of his own.  "All he said was 'Well . . . ' and then pulled the same stunt I just tried on you.  So yeah, my 'reply' was the same as yours.  After a few . . ."  Niil went silent for a few seconds as he dealt with a few strikes from Collan, " . . . exchanges, he said, 'First, don't expect your opponent to wait until you are ready.'  A very good point.  If we run into some dark Jedi  . . . or fate forbid, an Inquisitor . . . I don't think they're going to follow any tournament rules."

Another few exchanges, and Nill added, "Let's keep with this Shii-Cho free-for-all for awhile; we need to deal with unpredictability, and avoid developing predictable patterns at the same time."

[Collan]

Collan kept his footwork as tight as he could. Sweat beaded on his brow as he fought the better trained Niil.

"Well...yeah. It's not tea time after all. This is for keepsies. But that's the problem with most of the forms. They have established patterns and routines. If this attack; then this counter. It comes down to who had better training; who's stronger in the Force; or, even who got a little bit extra sleep the night before. Juyo is the only form where unpredictability is built in."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil shook his head slightly.  "True, Juyo can be more unpredictable than the other forms, but it relies almost solely on letting the Force guide you.   You're right . . . from what I've heard, using that form can be skirting a very thin line along the boundary between the Light side and the Dark Side.  It's already an aggressive form, and if you don't have near-perfect mastery of your emotions, it's easy to let anger or fear feed it."

He aimed an attack against Collan's leg, who in turn caught Niil's blade neatly, spun it around to deflect it, and countered in a riposte aimed at Niil's chest.  Niil was barely able to deflect the lunge with an rising inward block.  Their two blades locked for a few moments, and Niil planted both feet and shoved Collan back a  few paces.  "True, the other forms do have established attacks and counters, but there are also ripostes and physical attacks if you're quick enough to take advantage of an opening.  I suppose what also helps a great deal is your reflexes, and being able to direct your opponent into what you want him - or her - to do."

[Collan]

The crackle of the blades filled Collan's ears as he and Niil sparred. He was clearly Collan's superior with the lightsaber. By no means did Collan have a wild swing, but Niil still turned a parry of a zone three stabbing attack into a riposte and was somehow able to lock his blade onto Collan's and use the energy of the attack to pull Collan's forward to the side, leaving his left side exposed.

A tumble would leave Collan exposed on his back to a zone four strike. Not good. Niil still had his blade locked and would release shortly lest he be pulled along as well. Instead of tumbling, Collan pushed forward on his left and spun with his blade.  He turned into a spin leading with his right arm tight against his body to increase his angular moment. As his left side spun around, he kicked out his left leg to slow the spin and hop backwards. Hopefully out of Niil's reach or at least to outer ring.

This all happened inside a few hundred milliseconds. Collan's blade came around in an arc and found Niil's blade.

"So basically, it's a battle of attrition to see who can force a mistake first or see the opening left from an attack or parry. Or making an opportunity happen by manuevering your opponent into a trap."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil's eyebrow rose at Collan's maneuver, and he chuckled as his blade clashed against Collan's.  "Nice move.  But from what I've gathered during my training with Master Dhoresh and Ch'lana, yeah, in a broad sense.  If you're able, use the first few exchanges to watch your opponent and how he reacts.  Maybe his form isn't perfect, or maybe he telegraphs a certain attack before he launches it."

Niil winked.  "And remember that in a lightsaber duel . . ."  Niil launched an overhead chop aimed at bringing Collan's guard to the high position, then just as quickly dropped down to the deck to deliver a foot sweep, his free hand posted on the ground and his saber hand held in a high horizontal guard to ward against a saber strike. " . . . that it's not only the lightsaber you have to watch for."

OOC:  I'll leave it up to you to determine if Collan got taken off-guard by the foot sweep.   

[GM Craig]

[OOC: To help, the foot sweep would be a Brawling move, countered by Brawling Parry or Dodge.]

[Collan]

Collan saw the sweep coming but his reaction time was off by just a few milliseconds. He'd timed the kick slower than it was and it clipped his foot hard enough to send him to the deck on his back. He landed hard and had the air knocked out of him. His instincts said to roll left a few times and try to get up. In doing so, he'd lost situational awareness and instead clanged his head on a strut.

He'd rung his own bell and couldn't stand but only work to use control pain to shut it out.

"Ow!"

[Niil Spaar]

Niil winced as he both saw and heard Collan wallop his head against one of the ship's struts.  Taking a few steps back, he still kept his saber at an on-guard position, but said, "Collan?  Malf me, I'm sorry about that!  You all right there?  Do you want me to call PROXY?"

[Collan]

Collan laughed but that hurt too. His head throbbed and he could feel the muscles in his back tightening a little already. Combat sucked!

"Nah. Give me a second here," he was focusing on the Force and letting it slide his perceptions around. It took a moment but the pain was gone as Collan used the Force.

"Yeah...I'm gonna have a headache later, but I'm okay," he said.

[Niil Spaar]

Niil eyed The back of Collan's head, then reluctantly nodded.  "All right, as long as you're not sporting a concussion there." 

He chuckled as he gave his saber a few swings to loosen up his arm. "I, ahh, was thinking on whether or not to keep up my attack for the 'realism' effect, but not after springing that kind of stunt for the first time."  He gave Collan a salute with his saber.  "Actually, you're not that easy for me to tag.  I might have an edge right now with the Shii-Cho forms and a fraction of speed, but you have an edge in using the Force to sense my moves."

[Collan]

"You'd be surprised. It takes a lot of effort with the Force too. Defense is a lot simpler but if you want to attack," Collan shrugged, "It just stacks up."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil nodded.  "Oh, I know, believe me.  You've got a bit more of en edge with controlling and sensing through the Force, which means you're physically exerting yourself a bit less than I have to.  If you and I were equally proficient in Shii-Cho's forms, you'd probably eventually wear me down simply because you have a slightly better connection to the Force than I do.  Now . . ."  Niil swept in low and aimed a lunge at Collan's chest, " . . . mind your surroundings!  I'm a red-blade out for your blood!"

[Collan]

Collan ignited the saber and met Niil head on.

"Oh come on!" Collan said getting a little exasperated and grunting with effort to deflect Niil's saber.

"This is just getting cliche," he added. Collan let a few exchanges get a little more and more wild. A little too hard here. Then there. Always a little more power than precisely needed. After a few exchanges, Collan did a low swing aiming for Niil's left but the strike was deliberately soft so it would leave Niil slightly off balance on the parry. He'd have put more effort in, expecting a heavier attack. And that was when Collan swept out with his left leg to kick Niil's right leg out.

[Niil Spaar]

Getting frustrated?  Careful, Collan.  You're losing focus and putting more force than necessary behind your strikes.  You'll . . . hold on!  Oh, you sneaky son of . . .

A fraction of a second before Collan's leg shot out, Niil realized that he'd been played like an electro-harp.  Nightshade's training took over and Niil tried to leap over the scything kick.  Instead of catching Niil in the back of his calf, Collan's toe struck Niil in the heel of his foot.

It was still sufficient to bring Niil down hard on his backside.  Only a hastily-planted left hand and a desperate swing-over of his right leg stopped him from skull-planting on the deck or landing on his own lightsaber.  Without thought, he took a short, horizontal slash with his lightsaber, more of a warding move meant to discourage a follow-up strike than an actual attack.