Jedi Dueling Tournament! Xeraic V Apollodor

[Coren Starchaser]

It was the day, Jedi were coming in from all across the galaxy for the dueling tournament. While a good number signed up, many more were showing up for the networking and rest-and-relaxation that such a tournament would provide for such an event. Setting up a number of arenas around the Temples on (Praxeum World), the Jedi Praxeum was hosting Jedi from all walks to duel for eternal glory.

Or bragging rights and whatever the Jedi Artisans could cook up in their labs. Coren Starchaser, one of the figureheads of the galaxy’s Jedi, was, almost obviously, at the center of the tournament’s idea, but would only be stepping in as an alternate. He had pieced together groups into brackets based on Jedi rank and not necessarily skill levels.

What he had were several rings set up for Masters, Knights, and Padawans to go toe-to-toe. Rules were simple, compete for the time allowed, and anyone who gets knocked down is out. Step to the side, and let the contest continue as others advanced. There would be a benefit for all who participated by the end, but those who rose to the top would earn a few items.

What was happening before the tournaments, was ensuring that armors were removed, any imbued items were removed, and general sparring outfits were granted. From bodysuits, to robes, to other workout gear. Rows of training melee weapons were set up. If someone had a preferred melee weapon? They’d find the mundane, training variant here. Jedi Sentinels from Starchaser’s influence were approaching of the outdoor combat zones. Each were set up to provide enough room to spar, but no real environmental challenge.

[OOC: This thread is is for the Match with [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] versus [member="Nylea Apollodor"]]

 

[WelshPsych]

A duel had been set up, it was comprised of Jedi from a variety of backgrounds and styles. Yuroic was curious to see how he would progress in such a tournment. He was a senior Knight of the Silver Jedi Order, training in Niman for over a decade. His combat skills were better than most but there was always room for refinement. This was one thing that could help him improve, duelling another person, someone he did nkt know. Before the duel could begin, Yuroic had to choose his weapons, this was important. Of course, he first selected two training sabers, feeling the weight of them in his hands. Strapping them to his belt, he picked a bostaff testing its weight and the ease of movement. Nodding his head, he decided that his selection was complete. It was time to duel.

Stepping into the tournment ring, Yuroic was dressed in simple dark green robes, his eyes turned to the sky as he soaked in the warm sunlight. Today was a beautiful day either way. His body was a little tense with nerves so he did a little bounce to loosen himself up. He couldn't let doubt takeover. He was a brilliant fighter, he could win this. All that was left in his mind was for his opponent to step out into the ring. Yuroic took a defensive position ready for any attack.

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

The news of a dueling tournament too had reached the ears of the Jedi that remained within the Order of the Sacred Lotus, and it was something Nylea simply could not ignore. Her echani descent had compelled her to answer the call and she was glad she could- it was combat that always most effective at clearing her mind and taking away that which weighed heavy on her. The Force knew she needed that with the tough times she had gone through. The opportunity to express herself in such a pure way without the edge of hostility distorting it was a rare one, so she would make the most of it. The outcome of the duel itself came only secondary to that.

Though Nylea would not get to use it, her own lightsaber still hung from her belt like it nearly always did. It was a source of comfort, not through the ability to defend herself with it, such a thought never crossed her mind, but through the calming presence of the crystal inside of it. It had also been the weapon she had used to get warmed up, but now she unclipped the silver-bladed saber to place it in her backback, which she then closed back up and set against one of the weapon racks. From there she took the hilt that looked slightly similar to her own and while she held it in her hand to feel its weight and grip she nodded to herself, confirming this would be the training saber of choice. She let it spring to life, revealing its blue blade, before extinguising it again. She needed no more than that.

When the echani arrived at the dueling ring, her opponent had already been waiting. She opened with a bow, a sign of respect. "I am looking forward to our duel. May be learn much from each other." With that, she brought up her lightsaber and activated it, before shifting into the makashi salute. In that short moment leading up to the first clash of blades, she focussed on her breathing. Patiently, she waited for her opponent to move.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic gave a polite short bow back to his opponent. She seemed skilled in combat, from her appearance there was clearly some Echani blood in her. If she had the standard combat training that Echani people got then this would be a very good fight indeed. Instead of a straight attack, Yuroic watched her take a Makashi stance. A defensive fighter it seemed, waiting to wear their opponent out and find an opening to strike. It was a fair Form to learn but Yuroic could see ways to pass it. No Form was perfect, most were too rigid in the methods that they were weak to spontantous and unique fighting styles. Yuroic lived on being spontantous as it meant that everyone was kept on their toes. Twirling his bostaff, he decided that he had to be the first one to attack as his opponent was refusing to be drawn in. Neither of them could just stand in defensive stances waiting for the other to attack.

As he push forward, closing the gap quickly, Yuroic feinted a high strike to her head before moving to an actual sweep of her legs. His eyes and body language never revealed his true intentions, feinting was only successful if the attacker gave the complete impression that the feint was a real attack, that was what Yuroic was doing. Fully believing his feint was a real attack, before switching to his actual intention of sweeping. Yuroic was prepared for the feint attack to be blocked but he doubted she would catch the sweep in time, if she did then he would be truly impressed but his mind was thinking out the next four to five moves ahead. Planning the long game of the duel.

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

The roots of echani culture were laid in combat. It was how they would truly understand and know one another and that meant traditional non-verbal signs such as facial expressions and body language made way for the movements of the body in a duel. Even though Nylea had adapted to the galaxy around her, this still rung true for her. To those who did not know her quickly saw her as naive, and perhaps to the standards of most she was, but all she needed to truly know someone was a spar.

So when Yuroic made the first move, Nylea did not attempt to read his eyes or assess his demeanor. Instead it was the way he held his bostaff, the way he dashed forward, and most of all, the way he sent out the staff towards her. The lightsaber would be brought upwards, but when the first showing of non-commitment to the attack the movement was suddenly interrupted. Yuroic's knees would then bend slightly to reveal his new target was much lower than the previous one and likewise she angled her lightsaber downwards, placing it in the bostaff's trajectory.

Yet, to Nylea, makashi did not represent shows of physical strength. Like water, it flowed with the tide and so did she, moving sideways and away from the strike aimed at her, guided by the force put onto her blade. She then swept her lightsaber back upwards, using the newfound angle to fire off a quick jab.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic studied the Echani woman once more. Seemed that she was able to maneuver herself to block his attack and then go into her own. The jabs were easy to deflect, as he parried the attacks and moved in for hard strikes to her stomach. His aim was to wind her, make things harder however he was making sure his stance was strong. His defensive mind was never far away, Yuroic could easily switch from hard aggression to passive blocks instantly. It was a big benefit of Niman's main focus. Try to learn it all to be able to counter your opponents. For now, he was being slightly aggressive with his attacks, striking at her stomach and legs.

His breathing was steady and calm, he relaxed himself into the match. While he was not Echani, he was similar in a few ways. He found duels like this, no danger of dying, oddly relaxing. It became meditative to him, the first thing he learnt when he joined the Order was to fight with a Lightsaber, it was all he practiced for weeks that turned to months and finally years. His skills with a saber were more pronounced that his early attempts with the Force. Now, his Force Powers were strong and engrained to him. But he was still better with a Lightsaber, his bow skills was the only thing to rival it.

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Yuroic was fast enough to pivot so he faced down Nylea once again and parry her jab, a maneuver he followed up with a series of hard strikes. A strong commitment to an attack that required an equally commited defense. In order to stave them off she would not be able to rely on the makashi form and as such she grounded her footing and moved her right hand hold the lightsaber alongside her left, shifting to a two-handed style to keep the strikes at bay. The attacks forced her to take a few steps backwards as it was made clear he had the momentum. It was important to find an opening to turn the tide into her favor.

Patience.

Nylea decided she would not be taking any risks. Instead of committing to small openings, with all the risks that came with it, she maintained her defensive stance. It would give her time to truly get to know the man and his duelling style, so that perhaps she could find a way to combat it. For the time being she paid attention to any opportunity to regain the initiative, but until then her strategy was to neutralize the playing field as much as possible.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

The Echani had gone more defensive, refusing to let a single attack hit her. It was interesting but gave away much of what her plans were. Yuroic could tell this was a bid in order to know his style, to know how to best combat his fighting capabilities. That didn't phase him, he was used to others thinking they could predict his fighting style and next moves. A younger Yuroic would switch things up immediately, moving effortlessly from one Form to another to show how unpredictable that would be. However, that was a reckless, needless move. Instead, his plan was going to be far more deceptive.

He had shown that he was an aggressive fighter mostly, only using Djem So. Yuroic decided to keep with that Form, let her believe that she knew what style of fighter he was while knowing truly nothing about his style. His attacks kept coming in fast and hard. Blows that were aimed at the arms and legs. His intent was to tire her limbs, weaken them so he could make stronger attacks to her body.

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]

 

[Nylea Apollodor]

Although she had hoped to learn more by stretching out the duel, Nylea was unable to pick up on anything she had not seen already. Strike after strike was sent out against her and she had little more to answer them with than to take steps backwards and sideways, to at the very least making him reach further before she would bring up her lightsaber to meet his bo staff. Perhaps an angle of attack would open up in time, but it was no longer a viable primary strategy. Still, there was too much uncertainty about the opponent she faced to transition towards another for a second time. For now, her focus was going to lie with conserving energy and staying in the duel.

Nylea's blade was angled downwards to cushion up the strike to her legs, then when bringing it back up to defend against the strike aimed at her arms she hesitated just a second too long to fully block it. It was a slight miscalculation that nearly ended the duel as her blade only partly redirected Yuroic's weapon, causing its tip to clash with her right arm. Had it been a more lethal weapon, it would have left a large gash in her arm. Fortunately it would get no worse than a sizable bruise, but it did force her to make a hop backwards to create space and regain a solid stance. The woman didn't doubt for a moment that her opponent would no keep up his aggression, but even if he did the short few moments were invaluable. Ignoring the pain in her arm, she lied in wait for his approach. Perhaps there was a way to turn the strength he put into his strikes against him.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

He could see the frustration start to etch across the Echani's face. His aggressive fighting style was hard to counter, Djem So worked that way but she wasn't showing much beyond defending herself. It was odd, he was expecting more resistance from the warrior people but he didn't think he was winning or had the upper hand, a single strong strike from her could turn the entire fight the other direction. When a strike bruised her arm, he saw a weakness in her defence, it was wavering and he was about to increase the pressure when the woman jumped away to compose herself. Yuroic shook his head and sighed.

It seemed that this would be a cat and mouse chase. However, that was going to tire him more than her, which was a situation he was not prepared to do. Instead, Yuroic decided to switch things up from the aggression and dominance of Djem So to the more acrobatic and fast pace aggression of Ataru. Switching to this style, Yuroic first threw his bostaff harmlessly to the side out of the way of either of them and ignited one of the training sabers. Yuroic then leaped forward and jumped in the air with a spin before striking at the Echani. His moves were fast and he was moving around, testing her defences all over.

[member="Nylea Apollodor"]