Not as clumsy or random as a blaster...

[Kian Karr]

Spoiler

Open to all Jedi of the Republic Remnant. I tagged everyone, if you are a Knight/Master you can help to give the lesson if you'd like!

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Once more Kian knelt upon the ground of Nadiem and allowed the sun to warm his face. He was growing very comfortable here on Nadiem, which was an unusually feeling for Kian. While he had considered Ossus his home, he had never spent much time at the academy there, opting to spend most of his time with the Jedi Shadows aboard the Gnost Dural. But with the Order rebuilding, this was the place Kian belonged, and truth be told, in his older age he felt like a break was not necessarily a bad thing.

Rising from his kneeling position, Kian removed his dark outer robes leaving him in his interior Jedi Shadow robes, the dark grey material of the clothing absorbing the sun and making his body warm up. It was a beautiful place. Unclipping his lightsaber from his belt, Kian turned it over in his hands. It was a simple build, the dark material built to now give away his position when in the dark. Kian had not instructed students in quite some time and was eager to see how the class would go.

"Gnost," Kian called out and his young padawan came running over.

"Yes, Master?" Gnost Karr asked and Kian smiled. The young man was always so eager to be of use.

"Why don't we begin while waiting for the others?" Kian said reaching into his bag and holding up a training remote.

"Yes, Master." Gnost said smiling broadly and unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. Kian set the training remote to its most basic setting and stepped back to allow the training session to begin.

[member="Mereel Vaun"] | [member="Inas Reut"] | [member="Belizarius Krusi"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] | [member="Lokthra Dawning"] | [member="Orn Pharr"] | [member="Avin Starfire"] | [member="Tyrena Kaia"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"]​

 

[Avin Starfire]

Nadiem Jedi Enclave​

Dueling Courtyard​

Avin strode out of the temple, his meditation for the morning being complete. The warm late morning sun cast a bronzed orange light through the trees and clouds keeping the temperature within the pleasent range. he thought back to the temperatures on Imahalayan and how the people had struggled this winter after the droid's sneak attack causing irreplacable damage to their infrastructure. His mind seemed to wander about how they were doing now he had gone to protect the fledgling republic's rebuild and put the betrayal of the previous one behind him. As his mind continued to think of home Avin found himself in the courtyard to where he had been summoned by Master [member="Kian Karr"] to instruct on his own experience of lightsaber combat.

On the approach, he could hear the clashing and dancing of saber's before he saw them. The distinctive hum and drum of idle blades before the screech whence a clash is brought about echoed throughout their peaceful enclave. As Avin further rounded the next corner he caught sight of the two Kel dor already mid-dual. The Master weaving his weapon in and out of defensive positions before poking holes in the padawans counter offense. Although the youngster was inexperienced to the martial forms his technique was well practiced his own weaving of blade building from a staunch and solid position of feet and body.

Avin found a ledge at the side of the dueling area on which he sat himself down, taking off his cloak and folding it neatly into a square before placing his own weapon onto his lap and lowering the power settings to the training tier. He sat patiently and watched as the two went back and forth as if a practiced dance the dueling much lighter and cleaner than most real fights Avin had found himself in yet that is why they trained.

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

Belizarius had spent that morning repairing the Watchman, he had finally managed to fix the shielding so now the thing could resist more than a handful of shots before blowing up into small pieces. After washing his hands he decided to take a stroll outside the temple, this slower pace was a relief for the young Jedi who was used to sleeping rough and hunting for food for sometimes weeks on end before returning back to his ship. He remembered that he was summoned for a bit of friendly dueling in order to show his skills.

He believed that his skills had improved in the last year but reality is, he was still quite anxious about his abilities when placed against another force user. Doubt clouded his head as he approached the dueling cirlce where [member="Kian Karr"] and his padawan were dueling. The strange thing is in his academy he didn't even receive a master until the age of 18, all that other time was spent at the enclave learning from multiple different masters and all of them had their favorites. Even though Master Yokuna was trained at that place, she seemed to heavily dislike their methods of training since it favored the naturally talented and did little to improve those which need the extra attention. Quite often she told me that my original lack of skill was due to them not taking the extra time to train me... not just because I had no interest.

As he adjusted his lightsaber to get ready for training, he smirked as he saw the padawan slowly deflect blasts from the training drone. It reminded him of his first lesson where he got so frustrated he used the force to slam the drone into a nearby wall, he had quite the temper as a child.

 

[Micah tol Powl]

The Nadiem Temple was very nice.

There were some nice rocking chairs that were set outside, allowing the old Jedi to enjoy the sunshine and good weather with her knitting.

She was at it now, the white haired matriarch working a pair of crochet needles in her hands as she lounged in the rocker with a bundle of yarn in her lap and a sewing basket by her chair. Blue eyes, weathered with age but no less bright than they'd been seventy years ago, peered up over her needle work as she watched young Jedi gathering out doors for training.

It was a sight that could not but bring up memories of a long time ago in a galaxy not so very far away.

Ninety years, and she'd have sworn that only yesterday she'd been sixty. Forty. Twenty. At some point, she must have blinked and missed the moment when she'd become old, because it was hard to pinpoint the point at which the youth had run out.

When she'd been twenty, forty had been old. Then, when she'd turned forty, sixty had been old. Each step, each successive decade, another in which she'd re-defined her perspective on life. Never had she ever felt old. Not as she did now.

A different time, a different Kory... she'd have taken her double-bladed lightsaber out there to join them.

It was almost strange to think of it now, the double-bladed lightsaber she'd constructed. The onset of arthritis in one hand had caused her to set the familiar weapon aside when she'd still been in her forties. She hadn't held it in so long now, it was like trying to recall a distant dream.

[member="Kian Karr"] | [member="Belizarius Krusi"] | [member="Avin Starfire"]​

 

[Nimeni]

Reut wrung her hands as she approached. She'd gotten a message that there would be lightsaber classes at this time. It hadn't said that she had to come, but it also hadn't said specifically that it was optional. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to learn how to use a lightsaber. It was the most recognizable tool of a Jedi it was true, but it was also made for the sole purpose of lopping parts off of beings, and she couldn't really condone that.

On the other hand, having a weapons sometimes kept people from picking fights with you. Plus there was the standard argument that you could use it to defend those who could not defend themselves. Or if you were good enough just to deflect blaster bolts. The problem was all of those arguments, while good points, were nevertheless justifications to abandon a moral ideal. And if you went about just giving up your ideals because you could justify doing so, then did you really have ideals or morals at all? Wasn't that a bit of a slippery slope?

These were the thoughts that plagued the young gran as she approached the dueling enclave. At the very least, she decided, she ought to know how other people used lightsabers so she could better dodge if she really needed to and it was a good chance to meet her contemporaries.

Speaking of.. The Gran perked up and waved happily to a finger knitting away in a rocking chair, calling out "Good morning Matriarch Kory!" before continuing to to the others to wait quietly as the younger Kel Dor continued skillfully deflecting bolts from a training remote.

[member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] [member="Belizarius Krusi"] [member="Avin Starfire"] [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

Belizarius after a short amount of time grew a little bored, he decided to stand up and walk a few paces away from the others so he could start doing some training on his own. It ignites his yellow lightsaber and gets into a classic soresu stance, as he did this his eyes closed as he was training himself to rely more on his instinct. This came very unnaturally to the young Jedi since in fights he was used to constantly using his senses to look for anything that could be used to give him the advantage in a fight. Like the time that he used the force during a sparring match to lift a small rock up with the force and ram it into the side of another Padawans leg. Making them lose concentration as Belizarius was able to hold his saber at his neck.

As he stood in place he got into a traditional Soresu pose and started twirling his lightsaber around in a pleasant display of flowing yellow light as he kept the lightsaber close to his body, using the force to constantly be aware of everything around him. He was trying to adapt to using the force more to look for things to give him an edge, for example at one stage he senses a mound of loose dirt on the ground so used the force to quickly lift it up and fling it away from the crowd.

Many of his old masters tried to stop him fighting this way, they saw it as not quite in the Jedi way to be fighting quite dirty in most situations but in the end his skills with a lightsaber were not good enough on their own to achieve a victory and what got many Jedi killed was a over reliance on their lightsaber when other weapons and tools are available too them. At this point his moves started more reflecting Djem So as he started doing more wife and powerful strikes through the air, this was a style that his original master thought might also serve his interests and also played off his skill in Soresu.

He was quite tall for a human at 6"2 and was actually quite decently built, you could tell them the strikes he was practicing with the Djem So did have a lot of power behind them but at the same time you could tell that it wasn't his natural element and the moves were quite a bit more clumsy. This definitely was not his strongest form but sadly it was the bet offensive form.

[member="Inas Reut"] / [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] /[member="Avin Starfire"] / [member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian watched as Gnost went through the motions, blocking a fair amount of the training bolts, but also feeling the biting sting of those that got through his defenses. Kian was proud of the young Jedi. He was progressing well in his training for one so young. He was not combat inclined, but Kian was focusing on this for now to prepare him for his future and focused on the defensive style of Soresu as it complimented the young Jedi's pacifistic tendencies.

Waving his hand, the droid stopped and went to standby mode. "Why don't you rest, Gnost." Kian suggested and turned to face the others as Gnost found a spot on the side of the training mat to kneel down and collect himself. There was a nice assortment of Jedi forming up and a nice teacher to student ratio.

"Good morning everyone." Kian said stepping forward to stand before him. "I am very glad you've come today."

"Before we start, we start why don't we get to know a little about what we would like to gain from class today." Kian said and felt the familiar force presence of [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] in the distance. Kian did not know the Master well but hoped she would join the class. She may not actively engage in combat training, but her years of wisdom would be greatly beneficial.

"[member="Avin Starfire"]," Kian said turning toward the Jedi Knight, "I hope you might help me in the instructions for today. The more perspectives the better."

"For the class today, I would like to start with a discussion of the philosophy of combat, an overview of the various forms of lightsaber combat, and then move into actually saber training, with remotes and in pairs." Kian said, wanting to make clear his intentions. "We of course can deviate from this plan if it is desired."

"Who would like to start off?" Kian said looking around the group, "Tell us a little about your experience with a saber, your goals for the class, and if you have a Form you believe you would like to focus on or already do?"

[member="Avin Starfire"] | [member="Belizarius Krusi"] | [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] | [member="Inas Reut"]​

 

[Avin Starfire]

Nadiem Jedi Enclave​

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Dueling Courtyard​

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Avin sat patiently as the young Padawan Gnost continued to deflect and dodge around blaster bolts being fired at him from the training droid. The young Jedi's saber moved around him in arcs and orbits familiar to Avin as the third saber form or at least a learners form of it. Avin had himself become learned the basics of most forms soresu especially as it made up the basis for which his own form was built upon. Avin continued to watch even as the various other Padawan learners and Jedi Knights filtered in from around the compound to join the class for today.

As the droid ceased and Jedi Master Kian Karr stood up and ushered it aside with his hand. Avin had learned a fair amount about this Jedi Order's de-facto leader since he had arrived at the temple or at least as much as he could. It seems that the older Kel Dor was a master long ago in the old republic the one before all these issues and troubles and he had been scattered much like the rest of the remnant. Alas, his guidance and own experience seemed to be for the best. Good leaders were hard to come by in times such as these yet the Master had much strength to have survived the past few years.

He had barely had the time to finish his own thoughts as the Master stepped up and started speaking. Avin used the time to swiftly look at the others who had gathered before hearing his own name being spoken by [member="Kian Karr"] and replying in turn.

"Of course Master."

Avin took the summoning to clip his saber firmly to his belt and stand up from his position sat aside of the area to walk beside Kian and stand looking out to the rest for one of their replies.


[member="Belizarius Krusi"] [member="Inas Reut"] [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"]

 

[Kolbacca]

Walking and clearing his head while looking around the enclave he stumbled apon the training class and figured it would be fun to see what was going on as he walked up the steps and sat aside watching [member="Kian Karr"] walk to [member="Avin Starfire"] he repositioned his weapon as he sat down holding it in hand not worried about this class as he was a Jedi Knight he had been so for many years only being denied master because of his Wookie genes which didn't make sense to him but he never argued now focusing back on the classes he patiently watched.


[member="Kian Karr"] | [member="Avin Starfire"] |

 

[Ikki Ike]

Head down, hands clasped in front of her. Ikki moved around the room, she was not really intimidating compared to others and few actually knew for the most part that she was a jedi. When her family had heard that Kian had returned, that the Republic was returning they were curious and a family of jedi artisan's who made equipment... who had been friends with Corvus and a number of jedi in the republic. It went deep. If this was Kian then all the more power to try and help him. So she had come in with civilian workers and compared to many of the others. She moved around in the maid outfit, with her hair short and water there in a pitcher. "Water?" She asked the question towards [member="Avin Starfire"] and [member="Kian Karr"] bowing her head to hide her face. THe petite atrisian was not well known as a jedi even in the republic. Serving more with bodyguard duty to a few of the lesser senators. So she doubted she would be recognized, she was also good at locking down and making her persence in the force seem minimal to not there for stealth purposes.

 

[Nimeni]

Reut glanced around to see if anyone else was going to speak first. There might have been a loose heriarchy already worked out for this sort of thing to ensure conversations flowed peacefully. When no one spoke for a moment, she steeled her nerves and shuffled forward, one hand raised.

"I am Padawan Reut and I have no experience with a lightsaber or any other weapon. In this class I hope to observe how others fight with a lightsaber so should I find myself facing one I know what to expect and hopefully how best to avoid and protect myself and others. I am afraid my knowledge of the forms is imperfect, as it comes from what information we had available on Kinyen, rather than from actual instruction at this point, but I feel I will focus on Form Zero. In all cases I would wish to find a non-violent means to resolve a situation."

Three black eyes darted nervously over those assembled. Reut cleared her throat once before bowing once more offering a "Thank you." and stepping back out of the limelight.

[member="Kian Karr"] [member="Avin Starfire"]

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

"I am Belizarius Krusi, I am a Jedi Sentinel. My main strength with a lightsaber is Soresu since it was believed to most match my preferred method of fighting but within the last year i've been trying to develop my skills in Djem So so that I can be more offensive" he switches his lightsaber off and continues to talk "The main reason I am here is to try and develop my skills with a lightsaber so that my skill gap between defense and offense isn't so vast"

Belizarus in terms of force sensitivity was average or if anything below-average but he more than made up for this by his intelligence and resourcefulness. This transferred into his fighting, he didn't need to be more stronger just smarter than his opponent.

 

[Diysuperguy33]

[member="Kian Karr"]

Lokthra somehow overslept. She has never done that a single day in her life. Maybe the latest developments were just getting to her in the end. She ran out to the courtyard Kian had said the training session had taken place in.

"I Hope I'm not too late" Lokthra said as she bowed.

Since Lokthra was in such a rush to get to the session, she lacked the time and concern to gaze at the sights of the localè, perhaps afterwards she could explore a bit. History always interested Lokthra, and ships. Always ships.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian nodded as he listened to the Jedi answer his question. Upon seeing the Jedi Knight [member="Kolbacca"] approach, Kian inclined his head towards him as an indication that he was more than welcome to join in if he'd like. Kian turned to return to the lesson when a voice asked him if he would like water. Turning toward the young women, he found her standing before him in a .....maid's outfit. Kian was confused for a moment, glancing at the young girl. He felt no malice at her and waved a hand to decline the offer....still a maid in the Jedi Enclave....what was the Order coming to.

"Jedi Reut brings up a very good point." Kian said smiling and bowing his head to the younger Jedi. "It should be the goal of all Jedi to resolve a situation without violence. Form Zero dictates that non-aggressive resolutions to a situation. As the Skyjudge Culoph once remarked, 'The best swords are unsheathed ones.'"

"That being said," Kian indicating glancing around at each student, "there are times when Form Zero is simply not tenable. And for a Jedi to seek out a peaceful solution when failing to act can result in significant harm to others does far more harm than good." Kian said, not negating the importance of Form Zero but simply trying to paint as accurate a picture as possible. "We should always strive for peace solutions, but be prepared to act in the defense of others when that is not an option."

"There are traditionally seven forms of lightsaber combat." Kian said noticing his padawan [member="Lokthra Dawning"] had arrived and nodding toward her, "Jedi Krusi mentioned Soresu, the third form, and Djem So, the fifth form of lightsaber combat."

"We will certainly get to each of these shortly, but let us start with the first form, Shii-Cho." Kian said, igniting his lightsaber and holding it in the Jedi Ready stance. While Kian preferred a low guard opening stance, Jedi Ready was the most common used with Shii-Cho. "Shii-Cho, also known as the Way of the Sarlacc, is the oldest lightsaber form."

"It is even older than the lightsaber, having been forged when Jedi fought with swords. It is a simplistic fighting style, but its simplicity is in many ways its strength. It focuses on attack zones and target areas," Kian said pointing toward target zones on Jedi Knight [member="Avin Starfire"] body, "using horizontal and vertical attacks."

"Why don't we pair up and give it a try?" Kian said smiling. "Jedi Starfire, why don't you pair up with Jedi Krusi," Kian said and turned toward the padawans. "Inas Reut with Lokthra Dawning."

"Make sure your sabers are set to training mode." Kian said disengaging his lightsaber and returning it to his belt.

[member="Belizarius Krusi"] | [member="Korynn Sol-Syna"] | [member="Inas Reut"] | [member="Ikki Ike"]​

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

Belizarius smiled at this, Shii-Cho is a style that he hasn't had to fight with in a very long time. As he turns to Starfire he ignites his lightsaber again and gets into position. One thing he had to remind himself of is that even thought he was confident in Shii-Cho... he still usually lost fights. He moved his lightsaber to the front and got into a ready position.

"Well Starfire, ready to feel like Padawans again?"

[member="Kian Karr"] [member="Avin Starfire"]

 

[Diysuperguy33]

Lokthra only had bad memories of lightsaber training with her first master, and none of her next. Not that she hadn't handled a lightsaber or sword before, she still felt butterflies in her stomach. A quick breath, remembering the texts she had read on the lightsaber forms, and instantly she felt more relieved.

"Are you ready to begin?"

[member="Inas Reut"]

 

[Avin Starfire]

Avin, although well versed in the Jedi's martial styles listened intently out of both respects for the master as well as the revision to the first form of lightsaber combat of which he had not practiced in almost what must have been four years. As the Jedi master continued to demonstrate the arcs of Avin's body his instincts told him to flinch only to be suppressed by better nature of training the mind to his command. The topic of arcs and strikes clicked back into his mind the way of the sarlaac that had become the very cornerstone of all saber fighting styles including his own ways of Djem So and Vaapad.

The Jedi were paired off he was given the man who looked maybe five years younger than himself yet maybe two inches taller his hair already starting to grey in wisps.

Avin let his hand extend out to the side with an open palm using the force to levitate the weapon from his belt up and into his grip. The larger weapon of the saberstaff spanned twice the length of a regular weapon yet still sat in his hand with a relative grace and familiarity before igniting one of the blue blades.

"Of course." He moved his feet into a dueling stance. "Your move Jedi Krusi."

[member="Belizarius Krusi"]

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

Belizarius tightened the grip on his saber, he walks up to the point that their lightsabers can finally meet. he quickly moved his saber back and then over his right shoulder making it come down on Starfires left-side. These were basic moves of Shii-Cho and attacking the shoulder seemed to be the best first move. He knew that they probably wouldn't stay with just Shii-Cho for long but it was a nice warm up. Belizarius hadn't fought against another person with a lightsaber for months.

[member="Avin Starfire"]

 

[Avin Starfire]

Avin took a more classical stance as the other Jedi Knight edged forward towards him. His feet shifted from standing to the right foot leading and the left at a right angle about six inches away. This foot positioning forced his body side on to his opponent and with a slight bend in his knees he felt relaxed in the ready position and levelling the saber pointing outwards.

As they came into range, the two weapons gleamed their own separate colors as their energy powered blades shimmered. Avin's senses had flared before Belizarius had made his strike yet still the speed of the man caught him whilst still checking his stance. The weapon seemed to dart back over his shoulder before making its way down towards Avin's left side in a traditionally used vertical arc of the first saber form. Although still warming up to another unknown opponent Avin's innate training and dedication to lightsaber combat allowed for him to maneuver his own weapon into a block by pushing his left elbow up and moving the blade into a horizontal block.

As the blades clashed Avin actively tried to assess his opponents next move whilst holding off from attacking himself and allowing himself to let out a word of advice to his adversary as his block held them face to face.

"Try not to make your backswing as pronounced, it gives your opponent ample opportunity to anticipate the strike."

[member="Belizarius Krusi"]

 

[Belizarius Krusi]

Belizarius smiled at this, he had to admit that it was quite pronounced but at the same time he wasn't taking this particularly seriously but he had to remind himself that was his problem from his childhood.... he never really was that interested in this form of training and part of that had to change if his abilities with a lightsaber were to be improved. Sure he could slice computers, disarm mines, picklocks doors but when it came to the actual fighting he was always behind. He had grown better with Soresu but that's simply because the nature of his job had forced him to become better.

Lightsaber fighting though? he usually only drilled with other Jedi and the one Sith that he ever went up against only died because of split second thinking and not his skills with a lightsaber.

"Alright, let's see what we can do"

Belizarius took the lightsaber away from the block and with far faster movement than before moved the saber down and slice upwards towards Starfires lefthand side towards his thigh at the last second he moved his blade away and spun around to attempt to hit Starfire at the right arm.

Starfire seemed more than capable of blocking these movements. This wasn't surprising... they were both Jedi Knights and this was not only the most basic form but the form they were asked to use. Shii-Cho was a good choice though since he was guessing it would give Kian a good understanding of our skill levels. Keeping this in mind, Belizarius had to resist the urge to try one of his tricks to end this fight. He was trying to become better at fighting with a lightsaber for real... no cheating

[member="Avin Starfire"]