Knives Out (OS vs GR Skirmish on Ruusan) PM to join

[Viktor Noali]

Objective: Support the Ewok!
Location: Spaceport
Allies: The Sith - [member="Vengeance"] - [member="Warok the Defiler"]
Enemies: Jedi - [member="Micah Talith"] - [member="Aela Talith"] - [member="Sabena Shai"]
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The feint attack with his lightsaber worked perfectly and Aela positioned herself right where he wanted her. Without stopping his momentum Viktor spun and delivered a kick to the Jedi. Her defense was solid and her reaction time was better then he had anticipated. Managing to move her hands in time she was able to absorb most of Viktor’s kick without taking any substantial damage. As his feet found the ground once again he noticed the Jedi still clinging to his boot.

Really, what is she doing? This is getting ridiculous. Tell her not to beg, it’s unbecoming of a Jedi.

With murderous intent Viktor lunged forward, errrr, attempted to lunge forward. It came as quite a surprise as his legs refused to move. As he tried to look down he noticed that the paralysis wasn’t only located in his legs. His entire body was frozen. Shifting his eyes around Viktor quickly realized he was helpless, frozen solid in the Jedi’s Force stasis.

Oh no, this isn’t good! VIKTOR DO SOMETHING! Don’t yell! You’re giving me a headache! Focus… Focus…

Viktor closed his eyes and began to focus on his connection with the Force. Fueling that connection with his anger he concentrate on breaking the statis the Knight had placed on him.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Objective: Do what’s necessary
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: Meh…
Enemies: [member="Zylah Dvale"] (claimed)
Theme: This is black, this is white…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU-aSylZoz0

‘Cage it up, let it free
This is you, this is me
When it ends, we begin
Say a prayer as we sin

Follow rules or rebel
Keeps secrets, live to tell
Once a false, but it’s true
Where’s the line, me and you

This is life, this is death
This is right, this is breath
This is true, how I feel
This is raw, this is real.’

The duel had begun. Granted no saber had been drawn, but only a fool would believe the fight hadn’t already started. Even a short while ago, Melori would have rushed into combat. But those neeks on Ambria had taught her something – other than they tasted awful. She’d learned patience in a tried and tested method. And now it was second nature to her.

They were alone – her ‘sister’ was otherwise engaged it seemed, and suspected she was more of a distraction than Taeli was to her.

Another time, another place, they could have been allies. Circumstances could be blamed, but Melori didn’t believe in luck or chance – just facts. She was here and she was a Sith. Anything else was superfluous.

Melori smiled as the Padawan spoke. “I have not chosen battle. You have jumped to a conclusion. I have not talked of killing or even fighting – you have. I find that…curious.”

“And I may have met your Master, perhaps not. But I doubt she could show me anything more than any other of your Order. No…I don’t doubt, I know for a fact. But once more, you have jumped to a conclusion. How unlike a true Jedi. Are you sure that’s your bona fide calling? You see I am dealing in truths way beyond your level of knowledge. I know so much more than you can even imagine.”

“But I haven’t come here to taunt you, oh no. That would be foolish and a waste of time. No, I have come to allow you the insight to unshackle yourself from your chains of obedience. For they are chains and when has a chain ever done anything but make you a slave?”

Melori was planting sufficient thoughts to make the Padawan reflect – which was the whole point of the dialogue. But she could of course simply shrug off the Acolyte’s words. She needed something more…and of course she had it.

“But I am being so rude. I have not introduced myself. I am Melori. Melori Raaf. You may recognise the name, no?”

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Objective: Seek and destroy.
Location: Approaching the Jedi Academy.
Allies: OS Troops?
Enemies: Any takers?

Saiah hated being late for a party almost as much as she hated the sleezebag in the Mindabaal Custom Yacht who had cut off her exit last time she stopped, causing her current state of lateness. She had noted the ship's number on a special piece of flimsiplast reserved for just that kind of people. Her Phasma Class Interceptor glided into the atmosphere of Ruusan soon after the last few dropships, and she parked it in the back. Reluctant to scratch her relatively shiny new ride already.

It would seem the festivities and dances had started and were well on their way. Already from the distance between the ships, she could see the occasional glint of lightsabres activating and clashing together in glorious animosity. She could feel the presence of the Force like a scent on the air flavoured with the immaculate seasoning that is frightened Padawan. The dances seemed fairly evenly placed already, but she hoped she could still catch a swirl with a partner as she moved through the crushed foliage towards the main body of the would-be Academy. A golden coin flicked back and forth over her fingers idly as she walked. Her right hand rested on the front of her sash, inside which she kept her lightsabre. She would not draw it yet unless directly confronted.

Spoiler

Sorry I'm late, and for the brief introduction. Anyone left for a duel?

 

[Elijah Black]

Objective: Ohkark, it's a Raaf
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: The Force
Enemies: [member=Melori Raaf] (claimed)
Theme: Little Liar
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3CHhNBNQio[/media]

Zylah's lips formed into a frown without her realizing it, as she turned her words around. While she had not mentioned fighting or killing, there was no doubt that was why the Sith were here. They were attacking a Republic owned planet, and raising their weapons with killing intent against the Jedi...right?

The tenseness of the situation was getting to her, allowing her to be more easily stirred up. She didn't know why, the thoughts of a Sith shouldn't matter to her, but when she said she was unlike a true Jedi, it affected her. In a second, the hilt of her lightsaber was firmly placed within her palm, and it hissed to life. Yellow this time? Interesting. "You're so quick to dismiss what you don't know. Now who's jumping to conclusions?" she countered, but she failed to say it with the same conviction as the Sith girl. She was so sure of herself, so utterly convinced she knew the whole truth... It wasn't that Zylah doubted the Jedi cause, she just found the person challenging to deal with. Calm, Zylah. Don't lose your sight on what's important here.

"Within the Light, I am free. You are bound by darkness, a slave to the Dark Lord, to the Dark Side." this time, confidence had returned to her voice. She even managed a smile, for a moment thinking back to the little kitten back on Ossus, probably roaming the halls of her right dormitory now. She was fighting for Prudence too. "This is my calling, I am sure. I stand here because I wish to, to protect others. You see only yourself. You may think you're strong, but you are alone." that could be a prison of its own. Though she seemed to have regained some measure of composure, the question was had she lost the minute she entered into an argument with the Sith? Would could she possibly stand to gain? Zylah twirled her blade once, before stepping into a Jedi Ready position. It wasn't that she was eager for battle, she just wanted to show the Sith that she was prepared for it, that she would not be broken or intimidated.

Then her focus shattered. "No...!" she muttered, her facial expression and entire body language betrayed her thoughts. It was an instant reaction, and she bit down on her lower lip now in regret, for showing the Sith weakness and letting her know the comment had hit its intended mark. Her resolve took a hit. Her mind wanted to reject it, but somehow she knew it was the truth. She was related to Corvus? How could this be? "What... Why? Why are you doing this?" it came out as a kind of exhausted question, as she tried to make sense of this. Did Corvus know? She probably did... Zylah's head became a very confusing place, as she tried to make sense of all this and connect the dots. Was it something Corvus tried to hide? How would she react when learning Melori had been part of the attack on Ruusan? A more immediate question, how should Zylah treat her, now that she knew she was a Raaf? Could she truly kill her now, or did that option become impossible? Of course she didn't enter a fight with the mindset of delivering a killing blow, but she remembered something Seraphina had told her. If they don't seek redemption on their own, forcing them to the light is a lost cause. If they refuse to surrender, before the first blows are exchanged, I will hold nothing back. She hadn't been entirely sure to what degree she agreed with that statement, though it held a valuable lesson here. Melori's last name wasn't what was most important. Could she be redeemed? While life left you difficult choices, ultimately, every individual are responsible for themselves. If Melori raised her blade with the purpose of killing a Jedi, Zylah was forced to return in kind. Whenever a Jedi activates her lightsaber, she must be prepared to take a life... The dim yellow light cast upon Zylah spoke of her decision. Only the Force knew what would happen next.

 

[Darth Vaildra]

Location: Jedi Enclave Courtyard
Objective: Kill or capture [member="Taeli Raaf"]
Enemies: Republic
Allies: One Sith

There were many things Valdra had seen in his life time, but this, this was something he had never seen before which took him by surprise, suprise that he would be punished for having. He spun his lightsaber using his speed to unleash back at her, countering her blows, but finally one got through and slashed his face. He jumped back into a back flip and landed in a crouched position with his free hand holding him up and his blade behind him. His face felt like it had a thousand suns burning on it, curtsy of his race's low pain threshold. He had to close his left eye to lesson the pain at least a little. He looked at her lightsaber with his one right eye. As he stood he put his free hand over his burn scar wishing the pain would go away and using the Force to heal it enough that he could continue for at least the fight. It was clear he was fighting someone skilled with the blade.

It was a curious lightsaber, the middle hilt stood still, but the blades rotated on a circle guard. Valdra thought this through a bit on how to approach. In reality it was merely a lightsaber that could spin faster than a normal double bladed lightsaber. The question was, could it spin faster than Valdra could move and should he continue with a double blade or return to duel wielding? He smiled while he thought, 'finally some worthy of all his years of training.'

One thing was clear though, Valdra was much faster which meant with her blade able to spin it still would have issues keeping up. Valdra twisted his blade and unhooked them. After this he deactivated one and put it away. The key to his style was to master the body and not lose control of the mind. Ideally Vaapad was a form best used with a single lightsaber, but Valdra always seemed to use two of a double blade to put a handicap of sorts on, but if he continued like that he might have to find someone else to fly his ship home while he made a grave for himself. He leveled his blade with one hand holding it in a lower guard position. He focused his mind, but due to his steady fall to the Dark Side, Vaapad was no longer what he could fully perform so Juyo was a more appropriate form to use right now.

He harnessed the dark side and smiled as shot forward. He unleashed his aggression and love for fighting by flashing at her chest, then twisting to return for a slice aimed for the neck. He dropped low to aim for the legs and then spun sending a stab with the power of Juyo and the dark side aimed to run his blade through her stomach.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Objective: Win at all costs baby…
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: Trust no-one
Enemies: [member="Zylah Dvale"] (claimed)
Theme: You can't handle the truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uao73FefA4

‘Ever dance with the devil baby? Oh no
Make my day
Do you feel lucky? Oh no
Tomorrow's another day

Can you walk on water maybe? Oh no
Turn water into wine?
Can I buy you a drink there lady? Oh no
Can you tell me another lie?
So be my Devil Angel
Be my shooting star
Be my Devil Angel
Be my shooting star

Stop the car there baby! Oh no
You can't handle the truth
So what's the point then lady? Oh no
If ya can't stand to play and lose

Bye bye Angel
Be my Devil.’

“Oh dear oh dear. If a Jedi ignites his saber, he must be ready to take a life.” Melori tsked loudly. “Whatever happened to honour life? You tell me your Master was so perfect yet she failed to teach you this. Listen to the Force Padawan, a Jedi’s first concern is to preserve life. This is no life-or-death struggle. You should be using the Force for knowledge and defence, never for aggression.”

She looked up at the old building behind the Padawan. “Perhaps all of this is not for you. Your natural instincts are more Sith than Jedi. I suspect even now you are angry with me for saying what I did about your Master. That is good, that is right. Give in to those feelings – they are natural after all. They are your feelings.”

“You talk of freedom – yet even our Codes tell the truth. Mine set me free, yours talk of obedience, to servitude. Think of the words you were taught and tell me that is not so.”

“And your spirit is something to be admired. To be nurtured and fed, not shackled and repressed.”

“Oh…does the fact that I’m Corvus’ little sister upset you?” She put on a mock pout and sad voice. “Is the little Padawan upset? Shocked? Disappointed? That your GrandMaster could have not one but two Sith sisters. I admit the weak one has turned to the Light-side – and I suspect that’s not universally appreciated, is it?”

“And can you kill me little Padawan? Could you face Corvus and tell her you killed her little sister? Could you? She loves me so much she was prepared to lay down her own life for me – even though she knew I was a Sith.” Like most good lies, there was enough of a semblance of truth in there to carry it off. “How do you think she’ll take the news?”

“Because I suspect this fight will be – for you – a lose:lose situation. Die or live your life in the knowledge that you killed the one thing your precious GrandMaster holds most dear.”

She shook her head. “You see, I think you deserve to face that dilemma, so I’ll grant you the fight you so passionately desire.”

She stood with her left shoulder facing the Padawan and the single hilt in her left hand came to life with a snap-hiss. She performed the Makashi salute and pointed her blade to the ground, the crimson light bathing the ground below. “Ever dance with the devil little Padawan?”

 

[Micah Talith]

Objective: Protect Sabena and Sis
Location: Spaceport
Allies: [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Sabena Shai"]
Enemies: @Vengence | [member="Viktor Noali"] | [member="Warok the Defiler"]
Focusing on the the one wanting to chop me in half. RUDE


Pain went burning along his back as the Talith went moving round from the position he was last, barely missing the blast from the Sith over where he had once stood. Oh there was plenty of sting with a training saber; a real one was hella different.

Yeah, that was gonna scar.

It took his concentration to focus on keeping the bent light wrapped around him. Pain would reflect in his eyes, the guy talking about people dying and temples being destroyed. Well he wasn't a Jedi. That was his mother.

Thankfully, revelation was one of the few methods of seeing through Bent light cloak, which would give him a bit of time to come round towards the Sith.

He would move to get closer, hopefully to flank him, to come up from behind. No attack for now, but patience was a boon that he was starting to learn more and more of.

 

[Aela Talith]

Location: Spaceport
Objective: Take Sith
Allies: [member="Sabena Shai"] | [member="Micah Talith"]
Enemies: [member="Viktor Noali"] | [member="Vengeance"] | [member="Warok the Defiler"]

She grinned.

Never before had Aela been so thankful of her mothers teaching. The Sith boy was stuck, completely and entirely frozen, now was her chance to strike. A grin spread across her face, wide. Her hands unraveled from around the mans boot, freeing themselves.

Aela winced slightly as she felt the stinging pain of her bruised ribs, though she ignored it. Half a second passed, and then she struck.

Her leg would each out and try to hook under the mans calf, grasping and pulling so that he would be thrown onto the floor. Next she would jump atop him, striking him hard in the face, hard enough to stun him, and maybe even knock him out.

Simple, effective.

The way her father had taught her.

 

[Elijah Black]

Objective: Get the Sith out of my head
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: The Force
Enemies: [member=Melori Raaf] (claimed)
Theme: Bundy
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKgNMiy2p5Q[/media]

What Zylah said, Melori took, twisted, and sent right back at her. It was a verbal spar that felt hopeless, and the more she struggled, the deeper she fell. Melori had mentioned something about a web earlier, and Zylah could feel it now, starting to stick to her skin. "Stop talking!" her words were like daggers, and she spoke with the conviction of a Raaf. They were so precise, so effective. Even though Corvus had trained her mind, taught her how to keep others out, the silver-tongued Sith got to her so easily. It was one thing knowing how to do something, performing under pressure was another matter entirely. Even now, envisioning Corvus Raaf, she saw Melori standing by her side, with a twisted giggle.

"I am a Jedi!" was she crying? No, no tears were dropping yet. Though the winds of Ruusan seemed to have picked up. Suddenly there was lots of sand in her eyes. Yes, that had to be the reason. Totally. It was hard to be lectured on how to be a Jedi, by a Sith no less, her every flaw pointed out. Beneath the confident and social shell, there was a very insecure girl, that just wanted to do the right thing, make other people happy and help them. She wanted to be accepted, be a part of something. It almost was as if Melori was inside her head... Come to think of it, was she? "Get out of my head..." Telling a Sith to stop was a bad idea, as that only informed her that what she was doing was working. Now she'd probably push even harder. But Zylah was tired, so tired.

When she mentioned a second Sith sister, Zylah looked up. Taeli Raaf. Of course, this had to be the woman from Corvus' memory. Did Melori know she had turned to the Jedi? She mentioned that a weak one had turned to the Light, but she couldn't be sure if she was talking of Taeli or Corvus. Did she know Taeli had abandoned her? Left her, and the cause she believed so firmly in, for the Jedi? For someone to have seen the Dark, danced with it, embraced it, only to leave it behind... Was there not a lesson to be learned there? It was a small comfort, but one she sorely needed.

Now the Sith ignited her blade. She was ready for battle. Zylah had been too, once upon a time. But her resolve was shattered. She desperately wanted to be in the company of another Raaf entirely, to hear her council. Even though nothing had happened yet, she felt like she was letting everybody down. What would Corvus have done? What would Seraphina? She imagined the two Jedi Masters would've dealt with this entirely differently, but at least they would deal with it. Zylah planted her legs into the ground, holding her saber in a vertical guard, assuming a Shii-Cho defensive position. Jedi didn't feel very Ready.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Objective: Defend the Academy
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: Galactic Republic
Enemies: [member="Tanek Santii"]

(OOC: Apologies for the wait – I didn’t get the notification)

The only sound in Setzi’s ears was the deep, heckling voice of the Togruta and her own shallow breathing coming from her nostrils. She tried to concentrate on pulling in oxygen to her lungs through her stomach muscles like she was taught in the Academy, to force her body into a more peaceful place, especially if the mind wouldn’t go there. But Setzi was finding this quite difficult.

The Sith came closer, taunting her with each step. A walk towards her. Another taunt.

“I do not know what bloodlust is,” she said honestly. She tried to remember the words of Master Hinata, that she had the tools with her to triumph over the evil that approached her. But those words and her courage were escaping her.

“I am not the one inflicting terror on the innocent,” she said in a deceivingly calm voice, her blade still drawn. Only a slight shake her hands would visually betray her fear. Inside was another matter all together and most likely the Sith was feeding upon her terror. If only she could get her emotions under control. The urge was there to swing at him, but the Padawan could not bring herself to lunge forward.

She merely kept the lightsaber up in a defensive position and watched him, drawing upon her meditative breathing to stay calm as the Sith was now less than three feet away. She could feel the darkside energy closing in, suffocating her and causing her almost physical distress.

“You cannot hurt me with your malevolence,” she warned, not really believing it herself.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Objective: Go a little crazy
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: Me, myself and I
Enemies: [member=Setzi Lunelle] (claimed)
Theme: Killpop
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJh5_6MuCk[/media]

The Padawan struggled to find peace, to find calm. The Acolyte desired war, chaos. Peace is a lie. If she was retreating into a more peaceful place in her mind, Tanek was determined to make the journey long and arduous. She was his, as he was hers. It was likely that she would rather avoid this confrontation, but right now, there was no other place Tanek would rather be.
Locked in their little struggle, the rest didn't seem to matter. He didn't care what happened with Ruusan, he only cared what happened to her. He did not approach her with pure intentions. All she had for him, he knew, was pain, but he would embrace it, as he embraced the Dark Side fully.

I do not know what bloodlust is. The Togruta flashed a grin, revealing a set of sharp, predator-like teeth. I am not the one inflicting terror on the innocent. He laughed. Ok, so she hadn't quite bought into that lie. That was fine. If he couldn't make her see herself as a monster, he would be sure to let her see him as one. "You're right" his laugh echoed, hollow and sinister. In some strange way it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once, as if bouncing off invisible walls. "That would be me. My mistake" his widened grin revealed he was not sorry about this little mistake at all.

"You should stop me, before I do some real damage. Do you know how many younglings I've killed?" he was trying to provoke her, trying to awaken those dark emotions that he relied on so much, but the Jedi seemed to be afraid of. Truth was, he had never touched a single youngling. She didn't need to know that though.

The young Togruta menace continued to walk. He was starting to get dangerously close. Yet, he was at a clear disadvantage. Her lightsaber was ignited, and she was in a ready position. He had yet to draw his blade fully. Despite this, he seemed so confident, so sure of himself. Almost as if he had some trick up his sleeve. Or perhaps he enjoyed playing with death? He did not feel fear, if anything, he was attempting to become it.

"You cannot hurt me with your malevolence" his imitation of her voice was surprisingly uncanny. If not for the whole murder of the innocents business, he might've had a career as some stage performer. The next time he stopped, he stopped so close in front of her that the most subtle flick of her wrist would tip her lightsaber and have it dig into his skin. He didn't want to imagine what would happen to him if she sneezed. "Can't I?" she could feel his breath on her, be able to look deep into his dead eyes. His smirk faded in an instant, the evil playfulness substituted with an immense rage. "CAN'T I?!" right up in her face, he shouted at the top of his lungs. He was a mad Togruta, and the Dark Side seemed to radiate around him furiously.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Objective: Defend the Academy
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: Galactic Republic
Enemies: [member="Tanek Santii"]

The Togruta flashed a mouthful of canine-looking teeth, curved, sharp and dangerous. A lump of fear formed in Setzi’s throat, and she visibly swallowed it. And then in an auditory hallucination, she heard his gravely voice in her head with more taunts. The padawan sent a blast of Force energy into his mind, not a physical blast at all, but a searing, white light to try and blind his evil thoughts. No idea if this will work or not, she thought. But Setzi needed him out of her mind.

But strangely, he came closer, and whether he was brave or foolhardy, the tactic was extremely disarming. Her knuckles turned white with the strain of holding her weapon so steady. She was still learning how to wield a lightsaber, and even rigorous nights of training had not prepared her for this.

Suddenly, he became enraged, and Setzi’s self defense mechanism kicked in. There was a difference between standing there with her mouth agape at him pressing closer to her, and him being directly in front of her face, screaming at the top of his lungs. Unconsciously yelling out herself, which honestly sounded like a herd of mewling kittens compared to the wicked shriek of rage from the Sith, she swung her lightsaber at him with both hands attempting to cut into his left shoulder in a diagonal motion, but also to ward away the oppressive darkness she felt enveloping her.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Objective: Stop being crazy
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: @nobody #foreveralone
Enemies: [member=Setzi Lunelle] (claimed)

Her uncertainty, her fear, all emotions he tasted, feeding off of them simultaneously as his less than sane demeanour encouraged them to be elevated to new heights. Then, the Togruta flickered, as if threatened to be pulled away from existence. He raised a hand to his head, his expression becoming one of strained focus. This happened in conjuncture with the blast of Force energy she had sent at him. His body seemed to struggle to remain in the physical world. Instead it appeared as if he was turning into some fluid, or smoke. It must've been a bizarre sight.

By the time she drove her lightsaber through him, his body split and seemed to fade away, becoming more and more transparent until he was gone. What remained, was Tanek Santii, kneeling at a distance from her. His eyes were closed. It had all been an illusion, albeit a basic one. He had based it off of what she'd already seen, what she knew and what she'd be more likely to accept. It was a projection of himself. While in this state, the illusion could do her no damage, its purpose lay in psychological warfare. It had required his full attention. It had been effective, until the end, although he had grown careless, and prompted her to react by blasting him with the Force, breaking his concentration, and as such, the illusion with it. It had robbed him of the grand finale. Similarly, that oppressing darkness she might've felt closing in on her, threatening to choke out all light had faded.

His eyes suddenly shut open. They no longer seemed dead, but burned hot with the fire of the Dark Side. Slowly, he rose to his feet. He seemed much more calm, much less... Crazy. Yet his focus and seriousness were lethal. This time he didn't hesitate, and the hilt of his lightsaber dropped into the welcoming grasp of his palm, and hissed to life. The crimson blade matched the skin colour of the Togruta.

There were no words, what he wanted to say he had said through the illusion. Now he sought to become a different kind of menace. He didn't have time for a slow approach this time around, nor did he desire to give her too much time to recover and reflect on what had just transpired. The Togruta Acolyte rushed forwards, blade ready to strike, eager to close the short distance between them. Assuming he made it, he would open with a diagonal slash aimed at her left shoulder. It was the same attack she had designed for him, now returned in a hastily wrapped crimson package.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Objective: Defend the Academy
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: Galactic Republic
Enemies: [member="Tanek Santii"]

As she swung her lightsaber, the padawan was still filled with doubt and terror, but this time, she wasn't the one manufacturing it. The Sith Knight's darkside energy was starting to affect her mind. He was inarguably stronger than her and more advanced in the Force, therefore she could no longer prevent his influence from seeping in. You are playing right into what he wants, she thought, immediately regretting that she had been the first one to attack.

But in a way, these unwelcome emotions were liberating. Of course, Setzi spent a lot of time in her own head, fretting and second-guessing every decision, every turn of events, even down to when she smiled at someone she admired, but the act was not reciprocated. To embody these emotions, but not be in control of them... to not long fight them... it dawned on her that this was how the darkside of the Force felt. Perhaps all the time.

Freedom. From the relentless punishment of the self.

As it beckoned, like a sip of fine, sweet wine, she could see just why it was so tempting.

But your will is stronger than this, Setzi, she told herself, and she attempted to again drive him out of her mind using the Force.

The padawan blinked as his form dissipated like an apparition. The Togurta was now about twenty meters away and no longer directly in front of her. He had been an illusion which caused her even more grief inside that she was so fooled and so rattled by something that was conjured by him and implanted in her head. As he rose, almost gracefully now, his eyes blazed with anger and determination. The crimson lightsaber ignited in his hand.

The powerful Sith sprung on her like a leaping animal. Setzi swung her blue blade up to parry his attack, the sonic sound of their sabers droning, and then the clash of pure energy as their blades struck each other.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Objective: Distract Jedi.
Location: Entering Jedi Enclave Courtyard.
Allies: OS Forces. [member="Darth Valdra"] ?
Enemies: [member="Dair Cotarin"] [member="Taeli Raaf"]

It's funny, the chances one get when arriving late. She skirted around various duels and downright massacres on her way into the Enclave. While generally the odds were equal or in the favour of Sith, she spotted one confrontation that stood out. A white haired Sith -His presence felt like that of a Lord, but she did not know of him.- versus two Jedi. One of which she recognized as the former Darth Arcanix, the other one was unknown. It was time she evened out the odds for the white-haired Sith Lord. While Saiah would love to dispatch of the once Assassin Quartermaster herself, she knew it would be suicide at her current level. Instead she aimed for the male Jedi with the frosty sabre. Perhaps the Sith Lord could then dispatch of the traitor. She had heard there would be a handsome sum in addition to that for killing a master.

She mustered the Dark Side of the Force to her and reached both hands out to a fallen collumn of twisted and corroded durasteel to her right. It shook as it was torn from its bedding and rose into the air. Saiah's eyes glinted with an intensity and hatred as she aimed it like a spear, pointing the sharp and twisted end at Dair. With a violent swiping motion of her hands she launched the makeshift projectile. She exhaled through her nose like a bull, it was far heavier than she had anticipated. However, that would only make for a more devastating blow if it hit. Regaining her posture, she plucked her sabre-hilt from her sash, her eyes focusing in on her new opponent.

Her black-painted lips twisted in a smirk as she beckoned for him. She slipped her lightsabre out of her sash and into her right hand. Was this a direct confrontation? No, not really, but Saiah was Sith, and Sith lie.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Objective: Wining isn’t the most important thing - it’s the only thing
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: Trust no-one
Enemies: [member="Zylah Dvale"] (claimed)
Theme: I am the fire…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_1__C-K-vM

‘Am I strong enough?
To follow the desire
That burns from within
To push away my fear
To stand where I'm afraid
I am through with this
Cuz I am more than this
I promise to myself
Alone and no one else
My flame is rising higher

I am the fire
I am burning brighter
Roaring like a storm
And I am the one I've been waiting for
Screaming like a siren
Alive and burning brighter
I am the fire

I don't believe I'll fall from grace
Won't let the past decide my fate
Leave forgiveness in my wake
Take the love that I've embraced
I promise to myself, me and no one else
I am more than this
I am the fire…’

Oh she was getting under the Padawan’s skin - of that she was sure. But now was not the time to gloat. The lessons she’d learned of Maul showed this was his undoing. His arrogance blinded him when he should have taken the killing blow.

“You say you are a Jedi, but those words sound so…weak.” Now Melori was hoping to goad her opponent into losing her cool - to give in to her anger. To being the inevitable path to the Dark-side. Her own irises were now yellow, ringed with crimson as she drew the Dark-side of the Force to her.

Melori started with simple moves, looking to see how strong her opponent was with a saber. A few quick combinations. She used Makashi’s naturally longer reach and quite literally danced in, either stabbed or performed simple slashes and danced back out of range. She’d been criticised by her first Master for being too predictable, so she mixed it up. A flick with her wrist at her opponent’s left knee, a stab at her opponent’s right elbow, a stab to the ribs, a slash to her right hip. There were no feints yet, nor the Form she’d most recently worked on with the head of the Assassins with the help of her implanted memories.

This was - to Melori - just the overture. The flame was lit but soon she would turn up the heat. After all, she was the fire!

 

[Sabena Shai]

Location: Spaceport
[member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Warok the Defiler"] | [member=Vengeance] | [member="Viktor Noali"]

Immediately, Sabena looked up. She kept the fingers of her left hand fully extended. She began to move her feet - firmly pushing off her left leg to move to her right. Her move was more of a hop into the air. In the instant after, lightning tore through the ceiling. The lightning then struck the ground near where Sabena had stood. The tremendous energy of the strike ripped apart concrete and threw more chunks all around the room.

The ensuing overpressure tossed Sabena even further. She deactivated her lightsaber. She seemed to be in heavy concentration as her face winced. Several small bits of concrete struck her before she landed on the ground.

With great urgency, Sabena pushed herself up with the arm that gripped her lightsaber. She continued to keep her left hand relatively frozen. She looked up to see Viktor with his eyes closed and nearby. When she looked up, it would have been revealed that a bit of concrete sliced her right cheek to her mouth. Blood seeped from the wound. She glanced at the distant Warok for but a moment.

Once on her feet, Sabena rushed toward [member="Viktor Noali"]. She reignited her green lightsaber. As the distance between Viktor and Sabena closed, so would the danger of friendly fire if Warok repeated the same attack.

Rather than staying silent, Sabena screamed at Viktor, “Hey!”

Then, she would attempt a light slash at Viktor from her right to left.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Objective: Challenge the Jedi to a dance off
Location: Ruusan entrance
Allies: @nobody #foreveralone
Enemies: [member=Setzi Lunelle] (claimed)

The two blades met. Like so many times before, Jedi and Sith were locked in battle. It was an eternal war, one that was unlikely to see any end. To kill an idea was a hard thing. Both orders had reached the brink of destruction before, yet they had endured. As long as they lived in a galaxy producing beings attuned to the Force, the lure of the Dark Side and temptation of the Sith would forever be present. While Tanek accepted this, he would always seek the Jedi's destruction, to ensure that the Sith remained in a position of power.

"You have the potential to defeat me." After the first clash, Tanek followed up with a few signature moves of his master's preferred style, Djem So. He unleashed a series of powerful strikes, aimed at her shoulders. "But you will not do it as a Jedi" provided she hadn't countered, he would finish the combination with a strike aimed at her right waist. "Unleash your anger, let your rage drive me away. Then we shall meet as equals, as free warriors of the Force" he chose to say warriors of the Force, rather than Sith. 'Sith' seemed to awaken so many negative connotations in most Jedi.

He was trying to attack her resolve, her will to fight. The best case scenario was that she gave in to the temptation of the Dark Side, and started down a path that would have her join the ranks of the Sith. Tanek subscribed to the ideology of One Sith completely. The more blades they could recruit in the war against the Jedi, the better. If one of those blades had previously been a Jedi, victory would taste all the more sweet for it. History told of many Jedi who'd left their order, and become great Sith.

 

[Elijah Black]

Objective: Handle the truth
Location: Outside the Jedi Academy
Allies: The Force
Enemies: [member=Melori Raaf] (claimed)

She knew Melori was right. Her words did sound weak, and under the crushing weight of Melori's words, she did feel weak. What was wrong with her? The battle had just begun, but she already felt as if she was failing. She wouldn't fall to the Sith, that she knew, the Dark Side didn't seem to have its famous pull on her. What she felt was not anger, for not being powerful enough to silence her opponent, but sadness, for not being the Jedi she ought to be.

As Melori advanced, Zylah was put on the defence. It wasn't something she was comfortable with, but her fire burned low. It was as if she possessed neither energy nor confidence to push the offense like she so often did. She knew she needed to find a way back into the fight, but right now, Melori was offering her little time to work on her own inner problems.

Zylah found herself stepping backwards, while Melori danced in, trying to stay out of her deadly reach. She moved her blade to block, for the moment sticking to Shii-Cho. Melori was fast, however, and with the simple, yet elegant moves of Makashi she seemed to be able to dance into any attack from any angle she desired. The blade singed into her clothes, at her right hip, she felt its heat upon her skin. No counter had been made, the Padawan's response to the hit had been to jump backwards, trying to gain some ground between the two.

 

[Valintyn]

Objective: Kill the halflings
Location: Spaceport
Allies: One Sith, [member="Vengeance"] | [member="Viktor Noali"]
Enemies: Republic, [member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Sabena Shai"]
Gear:

Spoiler

• Chain Whip Lightsaber
• Gauntlets
• Clay Totem
• Wood Totem
• Brassvine Seeds
• Acid Root Seeds
• Cacta Bush Seeds

Warok's eyes narrowed, their depths burning with malevolence. The girl seemed to be enjoying quite a bit of fortuitous serendipity, avoiding his lighting strike like that. The spirits would not be so kind a second time. There was a balance in everything. Warok just enjoyed tipping that balance with his own hand. Controlling it.

Withered vines were scattered all across the spaceport floor thanks to the previous whirlwind. Most of them were severed now, cut from the roots. That did not matter.


The Ewok gestured.

"Tsaiwinnoka hoyakut."

Three lengths of the dead brassvine nearest the pale faced girl came alive, their spirits reanimated. Warok twisted his paw and they moved as serpents, though these wore thorns instead of scales, snaking across the ground and attempting to wrap around her limbs. They came from behind, two for her legs, while the last moved for the wrist of her sword hand, as Warok sought to arrest her strike toward the dark-haired Sith in its infancy. The thorns might impale her flesh, but they would not be fatal. Not long enough to pierce an artery.

All the while, the rain came down.