Private Familiar Foes

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko wasn’t really sure why the younger padawan was so enthralled with wanting to fight and spar with him. But if it was helpful to Braze he didn’t see much reason to decline it if he was able to help his fellow padawan. Then again the two have discussed this trip before outside of the temple. Even the responsible one Ko made sure to inform both their masters of what they were doing. Mostly because the Kel Dor didn’t really trust Braze to inform Jasper of their short trip and would conveniently forget to mention it to him.

Ko wasn’t familiar with the terrestrial world that orbited close by to Coruscant. It was hard to imagine such greenery could be seen so close to the galactic capital. The thought saddened the Kel Dor naturalists however. It was practically within arms reach of the capital yet so many who lived there would never see the sun let alone a forest.

Prior to the trip Ko had done a bit of research to find a decent spot for him and Braze to face off. With a bit of a hike once they arrived Ko led the pale boy to their destination. Passing a thick bush the two arrived. Coming into view was a shallow river. Stepping onto the bank the ground was rather soft from recent rain that washed over the landscape.

Looking back at Braze, Ko spoke up. “Here we are, figured this would be a nice area for us to practice. Won’t need to worry about collateral damage to the temple.” He said with a humored chuckle through his mask.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Braze's somber green eyes widened as they took in the beautiful surroundings, his excitement palpable. The gentle rush of the river and the verdant greenery seemed to infuse the air with a sense of life and energy. He turned to Ko, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

"You really know how to pick a spot, Ko! This is perfect. And don't worry, Jasper Kai'el probably appreciates you looking out for the temple. Knowing me, I might 'conveniently' put a hole in the wall or two."

He stepped closer to the river's edge, the soft ground giving slightly beneath his feet. The anticipation of the upcoming duel thrummed in his veins, the connection with his rival and friend adding to the thrill.

"But really, thank you for doing this. It means a lot that you're willing to spar with me. This practice, it's not just about the fight. And doing this with a friend makes it all the more special."

He glanced back at Ko, his expression more serious but still warm. "Shall we begin? I promise to go easy on you this time," he teased, raising a hand and placing another behind his lower back, holding an open palm upwards, and falling into a ready stance.

Instead of drawing his saber, Braze adopted an unarmed stance, his body language emanating a new and distinct energy. This time, something felt different about him, something beneath the surface. He seemed calmer, more focused, and more... composed. The reckless injuries from his previous training ventures had fully healed, and he had invested significant time in studying various martial arts.

Braze's recent studies had encompassed the elegant techniques of Echani martial arts, the disciplined forms of Zama-shiwom and Tae-Jitsu, and an intensive exploration of the history and methods of Teräs Käsi. He had undertaken this comprehensive study for several reasons, driven by both curiosity and vested interest in fulfilling his promise to try and learn how to protect others. His focus had been less on aggressive attacks and more rooted in self-defense techniques.

Now, standing on the lush riverbank, poised in a stance, Braze was ready to test what he had learned. This sparring session with Ko was more than a simple duel; it was a manifestation of growth, an opportunity to prove to himself—and to his friend—that his efforts had borne fruit.

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Of course Braze had to end their sincerity off with a teasing final statement. Which almost had Ko reply by asking who it was again that got flung into a tree last time they did something similar. But instead only a small laugh exhaled from his antiox mask. Braze’s teasing and demeanor have grown on Ko some for better or worse.

He watched as the young eager padawan assumed an unarmed fighting stance. Ko imagined that they would use their lightsaber. But wondered if they wanted instead to test their fighting without such a weapon. Something he could respect.

Taking a deep breath Ko reached out into The Living Force that surrounded the two. Like before the Kel Dor was in his element, even more so without feeling his connection to the Force dampened. With the river beside them Ko took a rooted stance on the soft and wet ground beneath them. Practically stomping against it with his boots before about a dozen smooth rocks launched out from the surface of the flower water. Pulling them from the river as they quickly floated over to Ko through the air before they orbited around his hands and arms. “Now I hope you’re still planning to show me that your training has been paying off. And that you’re not just blowing hot air.”

The whole reason the two of them had wanted to come here was to test and show off their elemental prowess. Ko hoped that Braze still planned to show off their aptitude for manipulating the winds. It is practically the total opposite of Ko’s more minerally preference.

The Kel Dor waited some to closely watch Braze. Opting to take a more reactive approach at the moment. Letting his partner set the tone for the sparring that was about to take place.

 

[Braze]

LOCATION: Rocking Ko like a hurricane
TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

Braze's eyes watched the rocks orbit around Ko's hands. He knew Ko was in his element here, drawing on the natural world's power, and he felt a thrill at the idea of meeting that challenge.


"Blowing hot air? Me?" Braze retorted, feigning shock. "Never, Ko. You know me better than that." His voice carried the familiar playful tone, but his eyes were serious, focused.

With a graceful motion, he extended his arms and began to summon the wind, feeling its force respond to his will. It swirled around him, growing in strength, a visible manifestation of his connection to the Force.

He sent a gust of wind toward the rocks orbiting Ko, a controlled but powerful force, aiming to disrupt their pattern and challenge Ko's control. It was a friendly spar, a chance to learn and grow.

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko caught himself from laughing over Braze’s words. Sensing some hypocrisy in them which he found mildly humorous. He couldn’t see the invisible winds that Braze summoned but he could sense them. Ko imagined it was going to be difficult to anticipate Braze’s attacks and manuverse.

The Kel Dor imagined this would start off a bit more slowly and measured before they increase their intensity and show off more and more of what they were capable of. As Braze unleashed a powerful stream of wind against Ko and his rocks he had them collected into a makeshift shield to withstand the force of their gust.

He was pushed back some from the pressure. Stepping with it to avoid falling over. Taking one of the smooth rocks from his improvised shield it floated next to his free hand before he sent it out towards his target like a speedy curveball. Aimed for his side to ruin Braze’s concentration.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

Braze shifted, his movements tracing a swift 'windmill' motion. In response, the winds around him surged, gathering intensity until they reached a frenzied torrential force, rivaling the might of a hurricane. As if sculpting the very air, a swirling wall of force enveloped him, cocooning him in a bubble-like expanse. The once-placid grass and nearby pebbles were caught in the relentless dance of the tempest, spiraling into the maelstrom's embrace.

"What now Ko?" Braze asked raising his voice to call loudly over the winds.

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko’s little maneuver didn’t seem to do anything as they covered themselves in what was essentially a shell of wind and air. He knew the small rocks he had around him wouldn’t get through it, he needed to think of something else. Thinking quickly on his feet he got an idea.

With ridged movement Ko shifted his stance before stomping his foot forward with a thud. Connecting with the soft ground beneath them as he pulled back with his free hand. Shifting the ground under Braze to overcome and subvert his defense from below by breaking their balance. Practically trying to pull the rug out from beneath them. Ko felt like the pale boy needed to be more mobile with their abilities. Being more rooted and unmoving would only make things more easy for Ko.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

Braze's eyes widened feeling the earth shift beneath him, "A good move, but…"

With a concentrated burst of will, Braze harnesses the swirling wind around him to lift him slightly off the ground.
In a feat of agility and control, Braze performs a light acrobatic flip, carried aloft by the whirling winds he's been manipulating. As he flips, his eyes quickly scan the environment, collecting fragments of sand, dirt, and rocks into the airstream. He lands deftly, his feet seemingly floating a few inches off the ground, held aloft by a cushion of wind.

"Let's kick things up a notch, shall we?"

With a swift motion of his hands, he sends a sharply defined buffet of wind toward Ko. The winds are now pressurized to the extent that they could cut through rock, carrying the particles he gathered with them, turning the gust into a razor-sharp barrage. The air is thick with the tension of their elemental energies clashing,

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko had somewhat underestimated Braze’s abilities. Managing to keep themselves up right from Ko’s ‘rug pull’. Moving with its momentum to perform a flip, cushioned by wind they manipulated. All the while collecting more debris from their surroundings within their cocoon of air.

Hearing Braze’s words Ko replied, “Gladly…” before reacting to Braze’s next attack. Ditching his orbiting rocks he pulled up a narrow wall of stone from the ground to tank the incoming attack. The wind acting like a flying belt sanding that Ko would much rather avoid getting hit by. Suddenly the Kel Dor quickly slid across the ground from behind a small pillar he made to shield himself. Reaching Braze’s 3 o’clock. Keeping his momentum Ko performed an acrobatic flip kick as a ball of compacted dirt raised up from the ground in front of him. At the apex of his maneuver he kicked it towards his opponent through the air. Hoping for one of two things.

The compact dirt had the benefit of being weighty while also being able to break apart on impact. He wasn’t looking to throw some heavy cinder block at Braze. Ko wanted the incoming ball of dirt to either break their windy defense or break apart into their cocoon so much it obscured his vision.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

With a heightened sense of focus, Braze recognized the need to conserve his energy, especially against an opponent as resourceful as Ko. As the compact ball of dirt flew toward him, Braze manipulated his wind cocoon to catch the projectile. For a moment, the dirt orbited within the swirling air around him. Then, with a sudden exertion of Force-assisted control, he expanded the vortex rapidly, causing the bits of dirt to be expelled outwards in a spherical 'explosion'.

The expulsion served a dual purpose: not only did it clear his immediate space of the vision-obscuring dirt, but it also created a momentary barrier of high-speed debris that could make approaching him directly risky.

Capitalizing on this brief moment of advantage, Braze conjured up a concentrated blast of wind, directed at Ko's feet. The intention was to momentarily unbalance the Kel Dor, to make his footing unstable on the soft and wet ground they fought upon. It was a calculated move, aiming to force Ko into a defensive position while giving Braze the opportunity to maneuver into a more advantageous position.

 

[Braze]

...

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

It seemed as though dirt didn’t get past Braze’s defenses. Instead just getting absorbed by the tornado he surrounded himself in. Ko would try to capitalize on the fact that they were surrounded now by dirt but was unable to do so before it all suddenly exploded outwards like shrapnel.

Ko reacted by holding out his hand, shielding himself and bringing the blasted dirt and rocks directed at him to freeze before falling back down to the ground in front of him. However, Braze was quick at pressing the advantage by blasting Ko’s legs. Which actually made contact. Sweeping his legs out from under him and causing the Kel Dor to fall onto his stomach against the ground.

By now Ko’s pride was a little hurt. He’d always been quite happy with his skill in The Force compared to many of his peers who generally took more martial focus. But it seemed the prodigal student Braze was still gifted. Looking up at them from their prone position Ko huffed and clenched his fists before suddenly sinking and burying himself into the soil. Propelling himself through the ground under Braze. A moment later he quickly emerged back up to the surface behind Braze, almost like he teleported behind. “Nothing personal kid.” Ko announced before pulling two walls of compacted dirt beside Braze and having them fall over and collapse on top of him. His words were a bit of a lie, it definitely was personal.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

Braze sensed the shift in Ko's emotional state; a hint of pride wounded, a dash of competitiveness inflamed. As Ko plummeted into the ground, Braze's instincts screamed at him to prepare for what could be a surprising maneuver. And sure enough, Ko emerged from behind him.

“Nothing personal kid.”

Before he could fully turn around, Braze felt the ground shift and sensed the walls of dirt rising on either side of him. He barely had time to react as they collapsed toward him. Instinctively, he used a burst of the Force to create a cushion of air above him, lessening the impact but still getting partially buried.

Gritting his teeth, Braze would gather his concentration. Expanding his cocoon of wind, he would forcefully expel the dirt encasing him in another spherical blast, aiming to free himself quickly. With Ko now behind him, he knew the tactical landscape had changed. Turning swiftly on his heels, he shot a rapid gust of wind in a wide arc, aiming to create a disorienting air vortex around Ko, swirling debris and winds to obscure vision and hinder movement.

'I guess we're making it personal now,' Braze thought, both amused and invigorated by the turn of events. His eyes locked onto where he believed Ko to be, ready to adapt his next move depending on how the Kel Dor would respond to his air vortex.

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Staying within the spirit of sparring, even competitive sparring, Ko held no desire within himself to harm Braze. Hence the use of mere dirt over rocks and stone. Mud and clay from the river may even be viable alternatives. While also providing more practice as well with different aspects of his chosen element.

Ko was glad to see that his little sneak attack was about as successful as it could be without actually burying Braze six feet under. But the younger boy responded with a potent blast of their encasing wind shield. Freeing themselves from the smothering dirt and retaliating.

The Kel Dor hadn’t yet managed to put himself in a proper rooted stance yet so as he got hit with another powerful and focused gust of wind he was knocked back off his feet. Flying back in the air into the river. His back stung as it harshly hit the surface of the water. “GAH!” Ko exclaimed after sinking under the current. His yell muffled the liquid. Soon however, he resurfaced from the waist high water. A clawed hand wiping off his goggles has him staring down Braze. Trying to regain his composure after taking a rather humiliating hit.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

Braze's gusts of wind gradually subsided, eventually settling into a calm ambiance as he waited for Ko to emerge from the water. With one arm positioned behind him and the other extended palm-upward, Braze adopted a martial arts stance, seemingly offering Ko a moment to regain his footing before resuming their duel. A subtle smirk tugged at the corners of Braze's lips, the young Padawan visibly satisfied with the shift in momentum. However, he quickly reined in his smugness, reminding himself not to grow overly confident. After all, his strategy hinged on accurately gauging and responding to Ko's emotional state.

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Taking just a few seconds to catch his breath. Ko stumbled his way back out of the river. The Kel Dor looked tired, his more ridgid composure lost as he assumed a fighting stance again. Instead his body swayed and shifted from a mixture of exhausted and growing soreness. Looking as though he was on the verge of falling over but he was too stubborn to not continue.

Taking a deep breath through his mask Ko tried to gather his energy in The Force. Which was gradually becoming a bit more difficult as he lost some of his more tranquil demeanor. Pulling one of his arms back before shifting his feet across the ground and pushing one of his clawed hands forwards and the unassuming piece of earth he was connecting to.

Suddenly from behind Ko breaking through the surface of the river and out towards Braze. A torrent of mud shot out towards the younger padawan, on a fluid collision course to knock them back.

 

[Braze]

LOCATION:
TAGS: Ko Vuto

Braze's eyes narrowed as he observed Ko's wobbling stance and readied himself for whatever the elder Padawan had planned. He could feel Ko channeling the Force, the energy gathering and flowing through the Kel Dor's fingertips. But that build-up felt somewhat jagged, not as smooth as before.

When the mud torrent surged forward, Braze was already a step ahead. With a nimble sidestep, he deftly avoided the muddy assault, the brown wave crashing harmlessly behind him. He held his ground, his expression morphing into a slightly smug grin.

"Ko, your form is off," he noted, putting an extra emphasis on the word 'form' as if to drive the point home. "It's not just about physical balance; it's about emotional balance too. You can't let exhaustion and frustration cloud your judgment. You become predictable."

Braze circled slightly, never taking his eyes off the Kel Dor. "It's like you once told me: being a Jedi is about more than just mastering the Force; it's about mastering oneself. And right now, you look like you're wrestling with more than just the elements."

He stepped back into a relaxed but ready stance, offering Ko the next move and forgoing an attack, "Your turn. See if you can find that balance again."

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko let out a defeated huff after Braze seemed to effortlessly dodge Ko’s muddy attack. Hearing their words was annoying but the more he actually listened the less he felt like he could actually disagree with them. Even the echo stone he had in his necklace felt off and offered less of its strength to Ko.

That alone would be enough to hammer home that he wasn’t quite feeling like himself. Letting his pride over Braze get the better of him in the moment. But the characteristic smugness Braze showed didn’t help much. “Earth can be a stubborn element, something I can share in common with it.” That wasn’t entirely a bad thing, as it allowed him to be more dedicated and less persuaded by temptation. But it also made him more reluctant to change when it was needed.

However, as he circled with Braze, some of it began to click some in him. Thinking back to the last thing he just did. The element he had an affinity towards wasn’t just ridgid boulders and rocks. But it could be more fluid too, like the mud and clay beneath his feet.

Keeping the more swaying and shifting stance he had before Ko summoned clumps of clay to himself similarly to how he had with the smaller rocks before. Having the soft earth mold around his arms almost like armored gauntlets. Ko then pulled up from the ground another wall of dirt from behind Braze before pulling it towards himself. Pushing his opponent along with it, once they were close enough the clay gauntlet around one of Ko’s arms expanded into a mighty fist before he attempted to strike Braze with it.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

​

The sudden push of the advancing mud wall caught Braze off guard, forcing a startled "Whoa!" from his lips as he was propelled toward Ko. The gooey wall pressed against his back, coating him in wet, slimy mud that made his skin crawl. "Ah, unexpected and unpleasant," he muttered under his breath.

He waited for the opportune moment, his gaze locked on the swelling clay fist, calculating its trajectory. Just as the fist lunged toward him, he fluidly sidestepped. Expertly avoiding Ko's lunging clay fist, Braze focused his energy for a split second. With a swift hand movement, he conjured a gust of wind, directing the trailing mud wall forward much quicker, spraying the mud right back at Ko. The earthy muck splattered towards the Kel Dor, making it a muddy affair for both.

Braze's face contorted briefly, still feeling the wet residue on his robe, but his smirk returned. "Ugh, this isn't the spa treatment anyone had in mind," he said, attempting to flick some of the mud off his robes to no avail.

Wiping his hands clean, he looked Ko in the eyes. "A stubborn element for a stubborn spirit, you said? But remember, even the earth erodes, shifts, and adapts over time. It's never just one thing. Stubbornness can be a strength, but so can adaptability and emotional balance. It seems you're starting to understand the latter."

His eyes locked onto Ko's as his expression sobered. "You possess considerable power, Ko, but power without emotional balance is like a river without banks—wild and destructive. Keep working on that balance, and you'll become truly formidable."

 

[Ko Vuto]

Location: Vandor-3
Tags: Braze

Ko somewhat thought he had this in the bag. Ready to knock Braze back onto his butt with a solid strike of his extra weighty fist. However, this was not the case as the pale padawan deftly avoided the hit as fluidly as the very air they wielded. To add insult to injury the mud was further pushed into Ko. Splattering across him from head to toe.

The Kel Dor sort of just froze there for a second. Letting the moment sink in some before his arms and shoulders slump down with a defeated attitude. Eventually bring his hands up to wipe his mask and goggles clear of mud so that he can see again as he listens to Braze’s words of wisdom.

Letting out another huff he replied. “You’re right Braze. Adaptability really is the name of the game isn’t it? Master Si has been putting me through some pretty serious Niman style training which is a very fluid form. The Force too is that way too, always flowing.” Even the sturdiest mountain will change over the eons.

“The hardest rocks are generally the most brittle aren’t they? We train ourselves to avoid ‘enslavement to form’ right?” Ko added, and reiterated on something he said to Braze before after he launched the boy into a tree. Stepping back a bit, Kel Dor seemed to whip his arms down. As he did all the dirt and mud on him suddenly shot down to the ground leaving him looking practically spotless despite being covered in the minerally coating moments prior. “Thanks Braze…”