Private A clashing of blades

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

The darkness surrounding her meditative space had become something of a welcome sight and feeling for Xobos. It was the one place that Xobos could easily talk to the voices, and they could converse with her in a manner that was not as venomous as normal. It almost gave her a sense of ease and calmness that she couldn’t get anywhere else. The feeling extended most often to even after she had woken up, meaning it was a place she tried to go as much as possible, especially when the situation that she’d be entering into soon after might be stressful in any way.

It made sense then, that she took up a position, meditating on a stack of crates in her half renovated training center. The room was still in the throws of renovation, crates of equipment, training mats, and wall paddings were still strewn all over the place, with a few already open as Xobos had taken some small pieces to use. Eventually the training room would be best she could possibly make it. But for now, it stood like most rest of manor. Still in renovation, still being updated to meet the standards set by the new sieur.

She hoped that the guest of the time would not mind the manor’s less than clean current state. Xobos had invited Zlova to the manor as a sparring partner, one that desperately was needed. There was no one in this area that could even come close to matching her skills with a blade, though that wasn’t saying much. Zax was a good training partner, but he had gone back to the Captial for who knows how long. She needed someone that could stretch her. Make her even better. But this was as much of a training and sparring time for Xobos as a time to relax. The rigors of being a new Sieur was more than enough to drive someone unprepared for such a life crazy.

It helped a little bit that Xobos was already on the unhinged side.

The early morning sun rose and lit the training room through the windows, bathing the Knight in a golden, warm light. Having arisen early to have a small breakfast, she knew it might be a little while until the other sith made her way to their morning training. With the Twi’lek having arrived to Illyria late the night before, Xobos was more than happy to let her guest sleep in to whenever she pleased. There would be time for training once sleep was had. No sense in starting with either one of them half asleep while swinging a blade.

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova knelt in the center of the room with her eyes closed and hands atop her thighs. While the Twi'lek studied the teachings of Sith and Gray alike, the darkness that coiled about her form in these meditative states belied the abyss she'd been raised in. There were times she deplored the use of force and annihilating the innocent, but the red woman was far from a pacifist. There was nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a strong opponent; every ounce of reason and sensibility ripped away as the desperation to survive set in.

A knock at the chamber door caused Zlova's solid black eyes to pop open and immediately fix on the person beyond the flimsy wood that parted them. In less than a second's time she imagined tearing the wall and door apart with a gesture, leaping through the hole, and crushing the living being into jelly. Fortunately, the Twi'lek had control over her motor functions and kept the beast at by until she blinked and her golden eyes returned. She did enjoy flirting with disaster. It was far more exciting than acting like some crusty Grand Master.

She rose to her feet dressed in the form-fitting black exercise outfit. A light breakfast to get liquids, carbs, and protein in her before a good workout. Thankfully despite the 'Under Construction' nature of Xobos' house, she wasn't bereft of every luxury. Yes, Zlova could go get her own food, but she much rather spend the time basking in the darkness -- start the day off right.

Not long afterward, Zlova made her way down the hallway toward the training center. The two amethyst blades were crossed along the small of her back with little else weighing her down. Why would she need armor here? What use would she have carrying around a backpack full of gear? Zlova was confident enough in her own abilities that even without the sabers she'd make any hostile lifeform in this world or the next regret getting in her face.

"You ever have that itch to build a training pad on the bank of a river of lava?" Zlova called out as she entered the room. "It's always lava. Figure skating on an ice world is cute, but it doesn't get the blood flowing the same way." Or she could start off with a meek 'hello, how are you?' Why would she do that? Much more interesting to cut straight to something worth talking about. Before they tried killing one another and stopping just short.

Presumably. Wasn't like either of them were gunning for position here, but then Zlova had been betrayed before.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

“It seems as though out guest has arrived.” The light green orb, floating to her left spoke, catching Xobos’s attention to reach out through her mediation to feel that the Twi’lek had indeed made her way to the training center. She nodded to each of the orbs, smirking every so slightly as she did so. “Will I be able to count on you two for strength in this endeavor?” As the darkness began to fade from Xobos’s vision, the combined laughter of both the voices made her smirk increase by the smallest fraction. Just as the darkness faded, and the light of the training room replaced it, the ever so familiar voice of Lagos rocked through her mind.

“Are you ever able to not?”

Zlova’s question was answered by the same slight smirk from Xobos that she had in her meditative state, her gaze centering on the red alien as she walked in. She gave the words a little shrug, uncrossing her legs to hop down from the stack of crates. “Believe it or not, I’ve actually trained in both places. My master made me do so, and both present their own unique challenges.” Opening up one hand, she made a palms up motion while continuing to speak. “Training among the lava has the challenge of dehydration, of tiring ones self out before even having the chance to finally break down the opponent.” Now, her other hand opened up in the same motion. “Cold, on the other hand, especially the planet I trained on, has the effect of locking you up. It makes reactions slower. And I’m sure you know…a slow reaction can be very deadly.”

Xobos looked the woman up and down once, smirk disappearing, replaced by a look of firm respect for her partner. She knew of the other woman’s skill with a blade, and was ready to take it on as best as she possibly could. Walking over to where a few practice blades had been strewn about hap-hazardly, she reached down to grab one, and was about to grab another to toss it to the alien, but paused. “Shall we train with these..” She started, motioning to the faux, training blade.

“Or do you want to move onto something more..tangible?”

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova listened to Xobos, but began to smirk as she went on. "Obviously, your Master is an intellectual one. Not one given to theatrics or melodrama; otherwise you would have led with lava's threat of immediate harm or death is far more interesting." A soft laugh bubbled forth. "Can't say I had the same educational upbringing you did, Xobos."

"You're right, of course," the Twi'lek admitted. "About how it affects the body. The trick is to kill your opponent long before it matters, let the Force take care of the rest." A little protective shell to survive extreme temperatures and a quick blade did wonders. Of course you could always just drown yourself in rage and not notice the physical damage being done by the elements as well, but that was often the worst option.

When Xobos went for training weapons, the red Twi'lek tilted her head to the side with a slight pinch of her black brows over her eyes. "Tangible." Her hands drew both curved hilts out from her back. The blades flared to life as she gave them a flippant spin. Moment over, the blades collapsed back within the hilts. Not that she'd demand actual lightsabers, but Xobos' guest wasn't afraid of using them in the slightest.

"I admit I'm looking forward to this, Xobos. I haven't had a good duel...in quite some time. Well, there was one on a remote planet not too long ago," Zlova remarked as her host chose the method of their engagement.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

“Educational, yes…” She stared, looking down to the fake blade in her hand, turning it over. “But not without it’s very deep..deep rooted flaws.” Her eyes slowly started to fall to where the mark of Malphas still resided on her wrist. She had hoped it would be removed once she made her way into the aristocracy, but had had no such luck at the moment. Instead, the scarring mark remained on her forearm, a deep reminder of who her life was still owned by. Despite the new freedom she received as part of the Sieurship of Garde Noire..Xobos’s life was not her own.

Those memories were not for this time. Now, now was the time to focus on the dual in front of her. Zlova’s comments made the Miraluka smirk over so slightly, determining it be better to toss the fake blades to the side and bring her new, still shiny, saberstaff to her side with an outstretched hand. “I’m..afraid I do not know how much of a threat I will be with my blade. Even now, I am not the most skilled with it.” Pulling the hilt from her belt, she looked it over while walking to her edge of the mat. The silver and gold glinted in the early morning sunlight, reflecting it onto Xobos’s face.

Her smile didn’t falter as she looked up to the red twilek. “I’m very open to learning, however. I know I have plenty of challenges ahead of me as the new Sieur..” Her light smiles slowly morphed into a full smirk, just as she ignited both sides of the staff, the orange and black blade framing the light behind her. She gave the blades an experimental spin, and, when satisfied with the results, turning back to where the alien soon. “and because of that, I sincerely hope you don’t plan on going easy on me.”

Xobos slid the front half of her mask down now, the faceless visage covering where the fair face of the miraluka was once was. It was time to settle in, ready herself for the oncoming onslaught. Her dual blade spun into a defensive position while xobos made no motion to move forward. It was obviously Zlova’s first move to make, and the Miraluka was ready. It was time to get down to the dirty business.

 

[Zlova Rue]

"That's why we fight," Zlova replied casually as the Miraluka reflected on her lack of familiarity with the staff-saber. There was no substitute in learning how to be a better combatant than to actually engage in combat. Instruction was nice; it was a solid beginning, but inevitably if you had any hope of becoming more than a novice you had to leave the mannequins and droids behind.

The smile on dark lips didn't falter, but the Twi'lek was surprisingly still when Xobos spoke about the challenges ahead. Yes, the woman no doubt felt the burden on her shoulders, and the heady heart of the unknown. Mistakes to make, and lessons learned. All of it was something Xobos could do on her own without help... Except one. One which Zlova herself hadn't appreciated until it was thrust straight through her heart.

Her hands swept upward in an arch and as they passed her center the purple blades ignited once more until they pointed at the ground to either side. "I wasn't taught restraint, Xobos," Zlova replied before her lips spread out in a broad smile. What she said was as true as it was misleading. The Twi'lek had not been taught restraint, but she had learned it when the conditions were ripe for it.

"Nice mask." The instant the words finished falling from her lips, Zlova darted across the open ground between them. One blade would sweep up from the right at Xobos's neck while the left struck to catch her opponent's blade if she tried to pivot her staff in at the Twi'lek in response.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

For most dualists, perhaps the offhanded compliment the red alien launched at Xobos would have been enough to catch them off guard and make a misstep on the very first attack. It most certainly would have been enough for Xobos when she first started her training, as she was thrown off guard by the slightest of breaks of concentration, as her many duals with Cali Ziiva proved quite thoroughly. Now, however, with having years of training and the same amount of time dealing with the voices in her head, the only reaction to the compliment that Xobos gave up was a grunt of acknowledgement before launching into the defense of the first few attacks.

Her blade rotated to catch the slice toward her neck, while the lower blade clashed against the one designed to slice against her legs. Straining for a moment, allowing their blades to hold against each other. Even early in this fight, Xobos wanted to test just how strong her opponent was. And even in their first clash, she could tell that the other dualist was comparable, if even stronger that her. Not the best information this early in a fight, but it was just another piece of the puzzle.

With a grunt, she rotated the hilt in her hands to push Zlova’s blades downward and upward, respectfully, before bringing her hilt down slightly. It was suddenly brought up to slam their blades together, intent on pushing her back a step. Finding herself with her back to the alien now, her blade rotated back and forth, in a rowing motion, stabbing one of the orange and black blades repeatedly at her hips. It was a quick attack, the combination of forcing her to take a step back and the repeated stabs meant to through her off balance for whatever she might bring next.

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova stepped back as the Miraluka woman sought to reposition herself and press a counter attack. Easy arcs down and in batted at the offending stabs the first time. The Twi'lek's golden gaze was on Xobos' face rather than transfixed by the glow of her weapons, however. Follow your opponent, not their weapons.

In Xobos' second bout, the first was again knocked back. When the second swept in, however, both of Zlova's sabers crossed and caught the blow. The red woman immediately sought to pivot one end of the staff high into the air while encouraging it to continue it path of motion. If it went far enough along its original path and high enough, Zlova could step in around it to go shoulder to shoulder with her opponent. Perhaps long enough to step one foot between Xobos' legs in an effort to threaten the Miraluka's footing.

"Strong, silent type?" the Twi'lek quipped.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

With her back to the alien, it was much harder to see that the woman had stepped a foot between her feet. Despite the pressure she was putting on her opponent, she suddenly found herself shoulder to shoulder. Letting out a small growl of frustration, just moments before the foot swept up and knocked her to her feet, Xobos found herself suddenly on the defensive.

Her grip on her saber stayed strong, meaning that even once her back hit the ground, she was able to rotate her wrist to sweep the blade at Zlova’s ankles from behind, fully intent on either slicing them or forcing her to sidestep. Regardless of the outcome, the armored apprentice pulled her knees above her head, rolling until coming to a knee a few feet away. The Twi’lek’s words went unanswered, her mind completely focused on the task at hand.

 

[Zlova Rue]

The Twi'lek hopped over the staff that lashed out at her ankles. Golden eyes watched as the Miraluka rolled back and came up ready to resume the fight. As she should. "Give your opponent cause not to pursue," Zlova observed with a slight nod of approval.

With a flourish one of the two blades diminished before it was tucked back into place along the red woman's back. Her feet slid apart and at an angle ready for the inevitable counter attack. The lit saber was brought vertically before Zlova in a salute to Xobos; its bright light illuminated the smirk on her lips. More sabers were not always better, especially if the wielder lacked training. A single saber was more adept for dueling.

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

When the opposing dualist failed to make any move toward her, Xobos slowly rose to her full height, giving the dual blade a few experimental swings. So far, so good. She had pressed too far forward once already, but that would not deter her from attacking and staying on the offensive. What did, however, give her pause, was the alien deactivating one of her sabers and sliding it back behind her back. Her head tilted to the side, attempting to gain an understanding of what exactly the woman’s game was in this moment.

The voices focused her back on the attack in these moments, snapping her clear of whatever thoughts may be on her mind from the sudden change in tactics. “Keep the pressure on. She may be playing the defensive and wish to lure you into a trap, but take the opportunity you have.” “Do not forget the other saber, however. Don’t be tripped up by such a trick, little knight.” Xobos grunted a light response, gripped her saber, then belted forward, blade unchanged.

Unlike before, her blades swept instead of stabbed. One end rotated toward the woman’s shoulder, and if deflected, the other would come up along her outer thigh, She repeated the style of attacks, once again insistent on pushing the Twi’lek backward.

 

[Zlova Rue]

The Twi'lek smiled as Xobos engaged once more. When her body suggested where the first strike would come from, the tip of Zlova's blade lifted from the ground to block the sweeping assault. No time was then wasted in repositioning it to catch the follow-up strike. Makashi was an unforgiving Form when there were no distractions on the field of battle, and your only opponents wielded lightsabers themselves.

Xobos might be pleased that her momentum caused the red woman to calmly step back to ensure proper connection between their blades. Even if Zlova could block the saber strike, the Miraluka could take advantage of closing the distance between them. She took another step back after the second exchange only to thrust the tip of her saber at Xobos' midsection. Nothing that would cause her to overextend and be wide open for bisection, however. Just a kiss if the woman didn't block it. Followed by another at the shoulder.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

Taking and controlling space was one of the keys to combat that the grizzled old imperial Zax had taught her. Make it so that you understand the fighting ground much better than the opponent, so that when they began to attempt to counterattack, it would be all the easier to understand their next move. So her original attacks opened up space between the dualists, Xobos made sure to flood that space with a flurry of slashes and stabs.

Her overconfidence and over eagerness almost served to punish her in this moment, however, as a red blade was thrust at her stomach, only managing to miss by a few inches as she side-stepped. She was much less lucky with the stab toward her shoulder. The blade managed to knick her armor, glancing off the hard metal. Realizing the mistake that had been made on her part, Xobos brought one side of her blade upward to push Zlova’s to the side, opening her chest for a furious side kick that she unleashed. Whether or not it hurt would depend on how tough the alien fancied herself, but it would surely gain Xobos the smallest bit of space to reposition the hilt of her blade into a much more defensive stance.

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova smiled even as the Miraluka unleashed a barrage of strikes. Careful footsteps back or to the side to keep from hitting obstacles or getting cornered was followed by fluid twists of her shoulder, elbow, and wrist to meet each of them in turn. It didn't matter the other woman had an extra blade when only one or the other could strike at a given time; though it did allow Xobos to strike a little faster than if she'd held only a single weapon. A saberstaff didn't have the same flexibility of a quarterstaff or the Twi'lek might have found closing the distance a bit more challenging.

A slight uptick in an eyebrow followed the minor connection with Xobos' shoulder. About all the time there was before the student in the Dark Arts managed to deliver a physical blow that had Zlova pushed back. Not that it had really helped, of course. Pain blossomed and her golden eyes pinched at the corners from the blow. They were now parted a few feet in a brief moment of respite.

The amount of pain from the kick, however, was far from enough to deter a Twi'lek of her pedigree. Instead, the saber was tossed from her right into her left hand before the red woman stepped back into the fray. Alternating between Xobos' upper upper and lower left side, Zlova delivered her own flurry of strikes moving from one quadrant to the next in an effort to open up Xobos' defense for a definitive strike.

Harassing blows were quaint, but not the mark of a skilled combatant. Patience was one of the most important skills in a duelist. The ability to wait until the perfect moment revealed itself and the opponent was brought down in one, swift blow. Of course, Zlova wasn't interested in finishing Xobos -- victory was nice, but the loss of a skilled adversary was rarely worth it without a greater gain at risk.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

It brought her a small moment of enjoyment to see that her kick had landed with enough force to prompt a reaction from the Twilek. Even from their few minutes of dualing, she could tell how physically tough the alien was. To know that she had the ability to push the opponent back and gain some space was good enough to make a mental note of. If the move was needed again, Xobos knew that she could complete it.

She was given very little time to mentally prepare for the next phase of attacks before her opponent made her way forward once again. A low growl of frustration rumbled through the apprentice just before the blows began to land, pivoting her hilt to meet the oncoming strikes to one side of her body. Raising and lowering the points of the blades to meet the repeating strikes from Zlova. And as minimal of the movement that it took to beat back the attacks, it was still beginning to wear on her physically.

“You need to break it..” Even over her strained breathing, she could hear the voice of Ambrus roll through her mind. He was right, the longer she took this onslaught, the more opportunity there would be for Zlova to bring her other side wide open. Breaking the attacks was the only way to give her a break, and she did so by pivoting her hilt upward on a strike towards her head, knocking the blade of her opponent upward, then spinning on the ball of her front foot to launch a stab right toward the alien’s stomach.

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova felt the blade forced upward. The golden rings of her eyes shone in the light.

The Twi'lek leaped to the left, fortunate enough her stance had her right foot back to supply a launch away from the blade that would soon pivot with Xobos into a thrust. The blade descended from overhead as Zlova moved behind the Miraluka. "So many of us are prone to do it, but an opponent in full control of their senses can easily exploit a back turned toward them." Not that Xobos had intended to do so, but it was a fatal mistake many made especially if they were too accustomed to dealing with blaster wielding opponents.

As Xobos' guest had danced back a few steps to reposition for the next bout, she declared, "Let's change the music." Her free hand reached back to draw out the second saber, but didn't immediately ignite it. The butts of the sabers connected to form one leg of an fluid 'X' shape; only then did it ignite as an offset staff of her own. A casual twirl in the fingers of her left hand caused a plasma-fed whir in the air between the two opponents.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Zlova Rue |

Xobos was very, very lucky that Zlova had attacked in such a way from that side, otherwise she would’ve never seen the strike from behind coming. Instead, she had just enough time to reverse her grip on the hilt and pivot it high, clashing with the alien’s blade for long enough only to knock it to the side and let her step away. Zlova’s words as the apprentice struggled to catch her breath for a moment prompted a bout of laugher from Ambrus, and a knowing tone from Ora as she spoke. “She’s not wrong, you know.” She knew that her opponent wasn’t, but she wasn’t about to give the alien, nor her voices, any satisfaction.

Her head tilted to the side slightly when the second blade was brought out again. Zlova had been able to put so much pressure on the apprentice with just one blade, that her confidence now facing two wasn’t the most unshakable at the moment. Still, she had her own tricks, one of them being chosen to be pulled out now to counter. Finding a switch on the hilt with her thumb, she brough it down to it’s lowest setting, which in turn, turned the blade a much darker shade of orange as the blade itself shortened as well. “Lets,” was her only response before giving the shortened blades a spin, readying herself to meet another round of intensifying strikes, and to hope that an opportunity to counterattack showed itself.

 

[Zlova Rue]

Zlova smirked as the length of Xobos' blades shrank. An interesting strategy for a staff-wielder. The Miraluka had spirit, however, which the Twi'lek found desirable in a partner. Anyone that gave up easily didn't survive long. Adron must not be a terrible Master if he'd managed to instill a drive in his student.

With her partner's short acceptance, the red woman didn't waste time starting their next dance. Zlova sprang forward, launched off her left, then leaped high into the air off her right. As she began her quick descent toward Xobos, the makeshift staff spun along her left to throw off anticipating exactly where and when the tip would thrust.

Anticipating the thrust would be knocked aside or the woman evaded it, Zlova would follow up by twirling the other end around for a cut to keep Xobos from stepping in too close. With blades that short the woman would need to close the distance; which meant the Twi'lek's job was keeping the length of her blade between the two of them until the Miraluka's footing or guard were open for a heavy assault. She was quite interested to see how Xobos would use her weapon in combat now.

Tag: Xobos Yakieer