Building Techniques and Forms [Ryn'Dhal]

[Kei Amadis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md110cym4WI​

Soresu|Force Sense|Ataru Class​

Doors opening out from the academy grounds, students arrived inside to be grouped with various Masters or Knights in the many rooms, and open, matted floors. Amadis rolled his as usual tense neck side to side, breathing out the tension through the muscles, and letting the force carry it to the ground below, absorbed and removed from his body. Ease tension, something his half brothers could certainly use a lesson in!

He stood ready, in a flexible but light suit of grey armor, because he himself needed to learn to fight in armor and better judge how the weight effected each swing, it was never quite the same in armor, even if it assisted you mechanically, it wasn't as fluid as the force.

“Greetings.” Amadis stood to the front of the small class, of about half a dozen padawans, one he knew but most he did not, “name’s Master Amadis, we’ll be learning force sense today, then pairing off into form study and how to apply it directly.”

The lights began to dim in their room but not too much to frighten anyone at first, they could still see each other for now, but only to begin with. “Won’t always have your eyes.” Kei looked at each directly, a serious but reassuring look on his face, “that time comes, you’ll need to learn this.”

In time these padawans would outpace his ability at force sense, Kei knew that, which is why he’d offered to take the class, to improve his own technique even by small amounts. "Eyes Open, see what's really there. Concentrate. What is around you right now."

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Ryn'Dhal arrived fully prepared for this lesson. He'd brought plugs for his overly keen ears, and a cloth-mask to impede his sense of smell. Being what he was, his hyperdeveloped senses would actually hinder his lesson, by supplying him with information of his surroundings that the rest of the padawans would be deprived of. After Master [member="Kei Amadis"] gave the command to close their eyes and feel, the padawan removed his mask and hood, and place his sensory deprivation tools into place.

He then focused. He willed the Force to reach out around him, to replace what he had temporarily lost. To 'hear' the movement of the air. To 'smell' the fabric he wore. To 'feel' the presence of those around him. He will for the Force to do this, to take all this information, to enable him to 'see' without seeing.

He thought that this was what Force Sense was. But to his amazement, it was more than that. He could "see", to an extent, those around him. Not with any real detail. But without his natural senses, he could tell that Master Amadis was directing his gaze momentarily at the furred padawan, and Ryn was certain the Master had given a possibly bemused shake of his head at the sensory deprivation. At least, the movement of the heavily distorted images revealed to the minds eye eluded to such.

He could "see" the padawan to his immediate right lose his balance for some reason, swaying and toppling. Ryn'Dhal swiftly pivoted, eyes still closed and scent and sound deprived, and managed to catch the youngling. ".....woah..." Was all the padawan could muster, as he opened his eyes wide, helping the youngling to his feet. He'd turn towards Master Amadis, eyes wide in disbelief. He pulled the plugs from his ears, and removed the nose covering, and just continued to stare, dumbfounded, as he waited the next leg of the lessons.

 

[Kei Amadis]

For Ryn... the next leg of his lessons had appeared behind him.

Eyes open lasted a few seconds, people pointing out the obvious around them, each other, the teacher, sharpening their senses as best they could practically, which was important to balance with force technique, so people didn't dangerously drift out of touch. Like [member="Sera Inkari"] or certain other Jedi Masters, force sense was often the basis of so much depth and possibility.

Moving to "eyes closed" as he could see [member="Ryn'Dhal"] had cleverly done, to match the others to where he was, Kei was impressed. Ryn had found his natural affinity, and skipped ahead like many of those finding their gifts did. Amadis slowly talked the others along the same path to finish "Gifted Ryn." typical Amadis encouragement, genuine too as the padawan made a kind gesture helping up a fellow student, “all of you must be mindful your gifts don't overwhelm you, keep a focus here in front of you, always.” Having a lost a good friend to such before now in Sera, he grinned and the lights raised again.

Myn Talus

Light, helping to reveal shadows that were moving? No just one spirit, and it was standing directly behind Ryn, very faint this far from her cave, even to the gifted. The Padawan Protector formed in the force as an all but invisible young woman with a beautiful but sad face, lonely, detached but happy to be here again. Her thoughts and feelings perhaps didn't need to be projected, for the extension of this kind of connection was telepathy, a sharing of thoughts, or just emotive understanding at the least.

Spoiler

You can feel free to pull any detail about the spirit you like up from her thread, or just run with it as is.

“How does force sense complement Soresu?” Amadis asked, oblivious to Myn's presence yet. Passing out the training sabers to each, set to sting rather than burn or pierce. He began showing the basics of the Soresu grip. Hand held high on the hilt, commonly used in one hand but possible in two, because power was rarely the focus of the form, firm leverage instead on the hilt was critical for the rotations or the often tight orbits it relied on.

Demonstrating a very basic orbit with the beam, it formed a circled around in front of Amadis, moving in an exaggerated circle high then low at first, “circular movements, often tighter, don't give up ground, you don't need to push or work to stop a blow, deflect rather than block.” Turning aside, parrying, subtle alterations, these things were critical for the form's main strengths to work for the user, all in good time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuRYp3l1UhQ
Orbit Demonstrations​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Ryn paid close attention to Master [member="Kei Amadis"]. He couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. All the discipline in the world couldn't prevent the feeling of gratitude at receiving praise.

As the Master continued, Ryn's ears began flickering. First one, then the other. He felt this.... tickle.... this tingle, on the back of his neck. But, he dared not turn away from Master Kei. He felt as though.... Was there.... Someone right behind him? He closed out the natural senses for a moment, and urged the Force to reflect the world around him, so as to 'see' what was behind him.

Yes, there was that padawan behind him. Brown haired girl. A few years is junior. But she was at least three meters back. He could have sworn there was someone right behind him. He focused further. He almost.... almost.......

His eyes snapped open with a start, uttering a hurried apology to Master Amadis as a training saber was handed to him. "Master.... I apologize.... I was.... distracted...." He quickly cast a glance over his shoulder, before looking up to the taller near-human instructor. "I have a quick question, sir...." A pleading expression on his face, as he tried to motion the Master nearer.

"Does the name.... Aja.... mean anything to you?" He would ask in a hushed tone, ears cocked at odd angles, his confusion incapable of being more obvious. The slightly distressed padawan gnawed on his lower-lip slightly.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Shen Rel
​

Walking to the side of Kei with a familiar and friendly nod, Shen Rel an academy regular and Silver Echani Knight, bowed to be Kei’s demonstration partner for the class.

Demonstrating tight turns of the body, spins sideways or fully circling around, using the momentum of the spin and angle of the beam to deflect with the minimum of physical exertion used, Amadis was no graceful or technical fighter sadly, so they came across as somewhat awkward but practically and clearly demonstrated, with twists of his hips clearly a mainstay of the style. To another lighter on their feet, for example from the Knight Shen Rel, these appeared fluid, and unbroken movements side to side rather than back or forth where possible.

Physical Technique was only half the form, knowing and then adapting it to an actual fight was a different matter, but it was an important part of it to start with.

“Please continue Shen.”

Waving Ryn over to the side for a private chat away from the others. His senses finally picked up a trace of Myn, “no, are you alright?” Amadis asked direct as he often was, with as usual a reassuring grin. “Have a visitor don’t be alarmed, she watches over the academy, and has done for many years.”

Myn had a penchant for the dramatic when it came to introducing herself, a bit like [member="Fyor Nayus"] Kei considered. The Padawan protector, a spirit-like match for Shen in her intent, only younger looking and less stern, soft features with a sad smile. It took some exertion on the forcespirits part till she appeared more readily.

Myn Talus​

“There, there did you know Aja well young one?” Myn’s voice asked! Pausing the class ahead of them, as each student turned around, till Shen got the rest of the padawans back into the routine with her usual commanding tone! Ryn could use this as a way of training force sense further if he wished or Myn would not mind departing, concern appeared on her face that she had upset him, a motherly tone came from the spirit almost.

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Ryn approached Master [member="Kei Amadis"] when beckoned. He was ever so startled when Myn spoke. This was the furry padawan's first encounter with a spirit of any kind. His ears stood bolt upright, directed at the apparition, eyes wide as he attempted to take in every detail. "N-no, ma'am." He stuttered, his tail flicking excitedly. He showed not one bit of fear or apprehension, only eagerness. "I just... felt... that the name held relevance, somehow. And, I never heard the name, until just a few moments ago."

The padawans ears fell slightly, cocked at odd angles, as he contemplated the significance of that fact. "Why would the Force reveal a name to me? Does.... that happen often? Names and information given? I... I know the Force will give us guidance through meditation, but... I never expected it to be able to give us concrete information about things we have no personal investment in." He scratched his head, confused, as he regarded Myn.

She was quite lovely to look at, if incorporeal. He'd heard of 'ghost stories', but those were supposed to be scary. She seemed anything but. A soft smile returned to that furry face, bright eyes glinting in the light. What a wonderful day of learning and discovery he was having!

 

[Kei Amadis]

Ryn had the wrong teacher for deep philosophical or meaningful debate, unlike [member="Taiden Keth"], or [member="Fyor Nayus"], his understanding of the force was practical by nature, acting rather than sensing. Myn however, especially given her nature, was the complete opposite of Kei’s understanding.

“Let me answer this young one.” Myn said to Kei, and Kei had to grin at the choice of her words, linking a wrist to a hand behind his back to allow her to time to share her words.

“Why would the force reveal her name to you?” Myn answered, her voice fading in and out, as her exertion caused momentary lapses in her connection to this place, “ask that of yourself, seek its answer or journey.”

Kei’s wide grin and nod, led to him offering to further their discussion with a thought of its own. “Force brings us to where we need to be, then down to you what you do with it,” or how Ryn interpreted the meaning, that was the point of the Jedi being here not just the word or name. Damned Amadis, you’d just managed to be philosophical, in a very direct action based way. Kei scratched the back of his neck, wondering if he needed to offer more.

“What does it make you want to do?” Amadis asked, encouraging as he often was, taking a cue from Myn actually.

While in the background the Soresu class progressed with Shen next speaking on the fundamental methodology of the form, to allow your opponent to wear down himself by conserving energy or inflicting minor wounds, and to look for small openings, to take their weapon hand or disable them with small glancing cuts. Lightsaber combat could just as easily be about finesse, for it only took the smallest of cuts to finish an opponent with a blade or sword quite often.

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

"I... Do not know, truth be told. I shall likely need to meditate on the matter further, to gain clarity." The padawan would rub his chin thoughtfully, agitating the direction of the fur there. "Perhaps, if this Aja is like you are, Myn, that would account for the Force connecting your presence with the name. And if that is the case, I should likely find further illumination on the matter by seeking her out."

His gaze danced between Myn and Master [member="Kei Amadis"]. "Does that avenue of thought make sense, or am I jumping ahead of myself into folly?"

Peripherally the padawan was catching glimpses of the Soresu class. Being the quick study he was, a lot of the basics he'd witnessed so far were matched together with data from holorecordings he had studied to fill in blanks. The theory was sound, it was the practice that the padawan was lacking most of all.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Kei wasn't a thinker when it came to advice, he went with his gut, force guiding intuition. “Seeking out spirit,” Amadis encouraged scratching his chin, following along Myn's train of thought, if Ryn concentrated on method he'd have his answers one day, practically motivated as always.

Myn's face flickered wistfully wishing Kei had chosen different noun. “How do you seek out anything?” A fragile smile colored in gaps of sorrow. “Sorry Myn.” Kei grinned, but she shushed him with a small friendly shake of her head, he had meant well.

"Similarities and Differences, both sometimes connect everything." A true Jedi's yin/yang view of the force, Kei couldn't have put it any better, not exactly a speaker most days. "You could maybe hold her name in meditation for answers," Myn suggested gently.

“Picture her name while you train” Kei offered a training saber to Ryn, with a grin, advising this to keep him practically grounded while he did so, Soresu was a state of mind often like any full form, in Soresu's case receptive, fluid and circling, coming full circle with a steady bearing. Amadis bent his back knee, and with one hand angled a blue training saber down from his head, pointing outward. “Brace your back leg ready to half step. Any distance you make will be exaggerated for you, reduced for the opponent. From a large full spin, to a twirl of the beam, all of it creates distance."

“Attack me with a swing.” the Master encouraged, “critical distance” Kei made a point of highlighting staying closer to Ryn, making Ryn's swing not only more awkward, but also making attaining any level of power behind the swing harder, often this close opponents became more anxious or in a Sith's case predictably aggressive to end the fight quickly. Jedi had to train the opposite when using Soresu, giving them a steady edge.

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Ryn nodded, taking it all in. Meditate on Aja's name while training. It did help to have a focus while training, and the spirit would prove to be a more than adequate one.

Taking queues from Master Kei, Ryn took a similar pose, back knee bent slightly, as he ignited the training saber the Master offered him. The snap-hiss was soothing in a way, the padawans pupils contracting as his senses seemed to sharpen. When the Master bade him to strike, Ryn was keenly aware of his training opponents exaggerated proximity. It would make a standard body-swing nearly impossible to execute with any real threat in a true battle. In this situation, a head or leg strike would be the more viable targets, the latter being more so. His understanding of the form Master Kei was attempting to teach him was about creating an impassible barrier using your light-saber, deflecting all attacks, so surely the most likely opening for a full forced strike, the legs, would be easily deflected by this form.

Having faith in Master Kei's prowess, and his familiarity with the form, Ryn used the most of the limited range of motion of their close proximity to make a swift swipe towards Master Kei's leg, inevitably bring his training saber down into his opponents deflecting sweep of his own blade.

Eyes widen, as ears perk forwards, at how smoothly his own saber was sent wide to the side. Had he not been prepared, at least somewhat, for the deflection, his saber hilt would have been clattering across the ground. An involuntary step back was taken in response. "So that is what the blade-orbits are for!"

[member="Kei Amadis"]​