[OPEN] Poetry In Motion - Saber Training

[Eugen Aker]

Jarael approached her from another place nearby, offering a small greeting. The Arkanian came off pleasant enough, but as always, Jyoti could feel conflict just bubbling under the surface, a woman at a crossroads.

"Hello there," she said with a small nod of acknowledgment. "I've been meaning to talk to you, actually. How are you today?"

It was an open invitation for Jarael to share and talk about anything troubling her. The Jedi Master always wanted to feel like she could be approached by her juniors.

Her silver eyes were drawn back to the Drystan and Allyson by the flash and hum of their lightsabers. Tracking them closely, Drystan moved quite gracefully, but more interesting was the unusual trick she employed with her lightsaber - Trakata. Bypassing the guard of her opponent entirely for open shot by taking advantage of the mechanics of the saber to switch the blade on and off at will.

For those unfamiliar with the technique, it could be especially effective, especially against overly aggressive opponents, but then it usually only worked once. If they survived the first time around, then it was much harder to be fooled again.

Indeed, the second time around, Allyson merely disengaged to avoid being struck. Jyoti was actually surprised with the proficiency on display by Allyson, even if both of them hardly had their heart into the spar. It seemed like har training sessions with Josh had proven fruitful.

There seemed to be a bit of joking between them at the end, then Drystan waved them over, Jyoti and Jarael finally acknowledged. Jyoti smiled and waved back.

"Why don't we go say hi?" she asked Jarael.

She sauntered over, hands held behind her back, expecting Jarael to follow her lead.

"Hey, what are you two doing? I thought I just saw some fancy saber work earlier."

As usual, Jyoti also had her hilt clipped to her belt, a sleek gleaming chrome, and enamel construction. "Are you two done, or could I jump in?"

[member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=10pt]“Ah you changed your tune so quickly.” Allyson laughed as she brushed aside loose strands of her brunette hair. It was a good feeling, to have friends people you could trust. “To be fair, I’ve been training with Josh.” Figuring that Drystan hadn’t met him yet, she continued to explain. “Josh Dragonsflame, he’s battlemaster and one of the head trainers here at the rest. You should spar him, I’d like to see that.” A nod and her eyes trailed to see who Drystan was waving at. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Her smile grew wider as she noticed Jyoti decided to make an appearance. As much as she would have enjoyed a private lesson, having others with her was starting to become something she craved. Isolation wasn’t good for someone for too long and she was realizing how isolated she had been previously. To answer the Echani’s question, Allyson shrugged and chuckled softly. “Drystan was showing me some stuff with the lightsaber, Trakata right?” Her eyes pulled away from the Echani and towards the blonde who was beside her. “Interesting technique.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Being asked if they were done, Allyson shook her head. “Not at all, well unless someone is tired.” A playful grin was given to the two women. “I’d like to see what you’re made of Jyoti.” Casually, the Corellian flipped the lightsaber hilt in her hand and smirked, she knew it wasn’t wise to challenge the Echani – but they both were competitive. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Looking towards the other woman ([member="Jarael Belaerys"]) that had joined them with Jyoti, Allyson nodded and smiled. “Are you joining as well?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Drystan Marakos"] [/SIZE]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

Drystan shared the laugh, and cocked her head at the mention of The Battlemaster... [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] was a name she'd remember. "It sounds like he's the guy to see." She said.

At [member="Jyoti Nooran"]'s & Jarael's appearance, Drystan was pleasantly surprised. She had yet to meet Jarael, who was a stranger to her. As they approached, Drystan kept her saber unlit and by her side. Her joyous mood was plain to see. "That's right... Trakata." She confirmed Allyson's question, pleased that the Correllian had remembered. Perhaps the technique would save her life, one day...

Drystan gave a warm smile to @Jarael Belaeyrs and introduced herself as Drystan, choosing her real name. With that, she grinned at the Echani woman, and caught her eye - Jyoti would have seen a fierce competitveness burning in the blonde woman's eyes. Drystan obviously thrilled at the feeling of combat.

"Please, join us. Perhaps we'll all learn something." She said.

 

[Jarael Belaerys]

As she was walking back to her accommodations, her mind was boiling with anger and the desire to cut something in half, to fight in the main lines, to achieve glory by doing it so. It was only then, that the Arkanian was surprised to meet a new face talking to her. With the pale hair, the Echani master came to her, Jyoti was her name, both of them were in the Siege of Commenor, and Jarael made a small measure.

“Master Jyoti.”, after standing up, with her only eye focused on the woman, the Arkanian smiled. “I’m great, one day at a time, they say.”, or said. A slave said that to her long ago, few days after being tossed to the vornskr to entertain the slavers at the auction.

As she requested the woman to go and meet others, the girl turned her head to look who they were. Familiar faces indeed, but she had no idea of their names, nodding to the jedi master, both of them walked in their direction, her face had no smile, it was a simple mask of politeness, while her eye moved around to see what was going on and what they were saying, until the words said by the one with dark hair were directed to her.

“Who? Me?”, it had been a long time since she had some proper training with a lightsaber. Neglectful, Jarael barely cared about doing it so and spend her days meditating, trying to find balance like Ronin once told her to do it so, for it was only through balance that she would achieve her goals in this life. "I don't think i am worth of such deed."

[member="Drystan Marakos"]
[member="Allyson Locke"]
[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

"Nonsense", Drystan responded to [member="Jarael Belaerys"]. The sun-haired Jedi Sentinel gave a smile, shifting weight from one hip to another. She was still holding her lightsaber, but kept it by her side.

"There's a reason you wound up here, with all of us... Perhaps The Force has something it would like you to learn. Or teach."

Drystan glanced at [member="Allyson Locke"], then to [member="Jyoti Nooran"].

"What do you two think? Another practice match, or an actual lesson?"

 

[Eugen Aker]

There was a polite exchange of greetings between the quartet. Allyson wasted no time trying challenging Jyoti to a spar, her hilt hand.

"Why certainly. Would make for some good exercise this afternoon."

She stepped away from the trio for a clear patch grass several paces away, then unclipped her lightsaber. With a snap-hiss, the saber came alive with a silvery blade of light.

"Show me what our dear Battlemaster has been teaching you."

She turned slightly on her side, extending her sword hand forward with her blade at chest level. It was a fencing stance reminiscent of Makashi.

[member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"] [member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=10pt]Seeing Jyoti settle in with her blade activated, Allyson looked over her form. Josh had spoken about some other forms of saber combat along with her own personal research. It was honestly the first thing she considered when she decided to train as a Jedi. Lightsabers were so iconic and despite Allyson’s like of the blaster to know sabers would be a good thing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The trick Drystan had taught her probably wouldn’t fool Jyoti, so Allyson filed it away in the back of her mind and kept it in reserve for the time being.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Allyson moved away from the group as well, she mumbled under her breath remembering the strike zones for the combat. A neutral stance came from the Corellian, saber raised with both hands on the hilt. A bright blue blade emitted from the crystal within. Impressed with the color of Jyoti’s blade, she wondered what other options there were. Though she was pretty attached the blue of the training saber.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Stepping forward, Allyson remembered the velocities she had done knowing that it was meant to increase the speed and comfortability of the saber. Exhaling, Allyson closed the small gap and swung over head from the standard right side guard that was taught with Shii-Cho.[/SIZE]

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Allyson had just spent time with Drystan being drilled over what looked like Trakata, so she planned on keeping her distance while taking advantage of her greater reach. She did just as Allyson opened with an overhead slash from a small charge.

Her legs coiled as Allyson closed, then juked to the side outside of the arc of Corellian's blade as she struck, waiting until the last moment to do when she was sure that there was a commitment to the action.

While juking she flicked her blade to the side to make a quick swipe at Allyson's cheek. There was no power to the strike, but it was blindingly fast and speed is what was really important when using a lightsaber. Unlike with a sword, all it took was a single tap of the plasma shaft to completely disable or kill an opponent, especially if they were unarmored.

Meanwhile, it appeared that Allyson was using Form I, an inefficient transitionary style full of needless windups and swings carried over from sword fencing. For now, she would hold the advantage from technique alone.

[member="Allyson Locke"] @Jareal Belaerys [member="Drystan Marakos"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Her commitment to the initial strike wasn’t the best idea ever. Though she knew Jyoti wasn’t going to take the first attack. She moved the moment Allyson moved through the swing, which left her open for a counter. Fully expecting this and having the reflexes of a fighter pilot, the Corellian adjusted her footwork and cross-stepped back avoiding the brush to her cheek.

It was still a close one, she felt the warmth of the blade against her face and decided she never wanted to feel that again.

Deciding against following the guidelines and such, Allyson deferred to doing what felt comfortable. Finishing the step back, Allyson brought the blade through with the momentum in an upward slash. There was power behind it as she remembered speed was the name of the game.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Jyoti didn't follow Allyson as she stepped away, only letting her blade fall to the side as she watched the Corellian make an upwards slash from her backstep.

Her blade met nothing but air.

When Jyoti had repositioned herself during Allyson's first attack, she had carefully maneuvered outside of the reach by the smaller woman while remaining just inside attack range herself. So when Allyson dodged she only put herself further away, meaning Jyoti didn't have to do a single thing to defend herself.

She held up a hand to pause the spar and offer feedback.

"Right now, you're only engaging me on a physical level. You will fail by attempting to do so. As an Echani, I find your technique as easy to read as a picture book, and as a cyborg, I find your movements as slow as molasses."

"Reach into the Force and engage all your senses. Let its power flow through your limbs and give you flight."

She lowered her free hand but raised her lightsaber in the same position as when they had first begun the spar.

"Let's try this again, but this time, close your eyes."

[member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson stopped seeing Jyoti’s hand. It was a pitiful display and the Corellian expected to have done far better. Instinctively she wished she had a blaster, but even then, when the Jedi made her points – that wouldn’t have done anything. There was a slight sting, not from the words, but from what they meant. She had come face to face with Carnifex and left nothing but blaster marks on his armor. If she didn’t retreat when she was told to, it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight for her.

That realization humbled the woman as she nodded. Never being able to rely on the force, this was something new. In most cases, Allyson would question and at times argue, but instead she did as she was told and exhaled softly. Remembering the meditation lessons, she focused on the Force. The buzzing of electronics still hummed, but she focused on another wavelength of the Force. Her shoulders rolled back as she focused. It reminded her of force healing in a way, feeling that out of body experience of something flowing through you. It was like becoming aware of it all over again.

Keeping her eyes closed, the blade raised again. She didn’t know how safe this was going to be. If she couldn’t see where Jyoti was or their sabers, someone could lose something. At least Jyoti could be rebuilt…

“So, keep my eyes closed?” Allyson tried to focus on her surroundings, just like with the instinctive astrogating. She’d find a way. With a neutral stance, she stood with the saber raised in front of her with both hands, she felt stiff with it, so instead she released one and hand it ready maybe to use force powers or something. Her dominate left hand, remained on the hilt tilting the saber forward slightly.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Drystan Marakos"] [member="Jarael Belaerys"]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

Drystan watched, standing beside [member="Jarael Belaerys"] as [member="Jyoti Nooran"] & [member="Allyson Locke"] engaged each-other in the mock-battle. Drystan's armed crossed over her chest, cradling her longer lightsaber between her arms as-if she were swaddling a babe.

Allyson's form was exceedingly simple; a classic display of Shi-Cho & its' dated techniques. The woman moved as-if she'd never wielded a lightsaber in true combat... Perhaps, after today, Allyson would feel much more capable against an opponent; more confident, more self-assured, and more prepared. The brief interaction & shimmering blades of light in motion entertained her, as it had the many times she'd engaged in such duels... both in training, as well as in true combat.

Jyoti's instruction, which Drystan heard, made the blonde woman smile inwardly.

"Do not think. Feel." Drystan added, directed at Allyson. It was all she would say.

 

[Jarael Belaerys]

The Arkanian was impressed. The way they fought, the way they moved, the way they achieved so perfect balance, it was like a dance unfolding before her very eyes. Slowly, but intensely, she bit her own lower lips, allowing her own lips to form a smile as she could feel herself taken by the voice of her old master, ‘Trying is not failing’, inside her mind, a voice that made her feel secure enough to stand forward and say in a calm tone of voice for all of them. Her voice held no lies, or no deception, for she was too blunt for it.

“I believe you are right.”, she did not remembered her name, or if they were introduced before, but the Arkanian allowed herself to be seen still smiling. “I want to try, if you don’t mind… Although I did not brought my weapon.”, it was no lie, she rarely left with her lightsaber when so close to the quarters of the Silver Jedi, for she never felt any need to do it so. She was, after all, trying to learn how to achieve such perfect balance by meditation, instead of actual practice with her skills with a sword.

In her own heart, she knew that there was no way she would win against any of them, but that was not the point, for knowledge and learning from her experiences was the real purpose in this, not winning or losing. Walking calmly through the grass, her hands took off the cloak around her body, as she walked towards them all, seeing the beautiful thing that was the way they fought with her only eye, the way their bodies moved so graciously.

[member="Drystan Marakos"]​

[member="Allyson Locke"]​

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]​

 

[Sko'saht]

Approaching the Verpine's black armour displayed a white mythosaur skull on the chest while the T-shaped visor with it's elongated face plate and eye bulges clearly marked him out as a Mandalorian. Despite the heavy armour he was remarkably quiet as he approached, not that it would help much with jedi. Lightsabers flashing in front of him he tracked the two duelists and his targeting systems brought up data as to the likely strength, armour, weapons, and body modifications the two had. It was always interesting watching a duel between force users. Their fast movements were hard to track even for one trained to do so. The energy of their lightsaber's meeting sent off enough energy that his bare antenna quivered as they registered it.

"Master Jyoti it has been awhile" he chittered out in basic. "Jate bah haa'taylir gar. Gar'ba'jur jetii?" Stopping a short ways away as a message flashed up on his visor he quickly dismissed it and nodded to the other jedi. Not being able to sense the force he was forced to rely on their body language and thermal readings to gauge their reactions. Feet settling into the grass he sunk ever so slightly into the soft dirt leaving boot prints.

(Translation: "Good to see you. Teaching jedi?")

[member="Jarael Belaerys"]
[member="Drystan Marakos"]
[member="Allyson Locke"]
[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

As the duel continued before them a short distance away, Drystan listened as [member="Jarael Belaerys"] suggested she'd be willing to train, but that she'd forgotten her lightsaber. The blonde woman noted, features unchanged, that her companion seemed remarkably... in-tune. At peace with herself, and with the outside world. She turned toward Jarael, "Perhaps we might train, sometime. I believe you'd enjoy it."

She was about to say more, when a new figure appeared at the edge of the green clearing - a Verpine, a species she was somewhat familiar with, had entered the area. Perhaps he'd been drawn by The Force, and just had not realized it.

[member="Sko'saht"] approached, as [member="Jyoti Nooran"] & [member="Allyson Locke"] sparred nearby.

Drystan gave the Verpine a smile in a friendly expression. "Hello," She replied, "Yes, and the training is just beginning." Her hazel eyes glanced in Jyrael's direction, considering fetching one of her own lightsabers for the woman's use.

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

It'd been a fairly uneventful morning and I'd decided to head to one other the outdoor training areas. Once I'd gotten there I realized there was a small group as well as a Verpine. Looked like Drystan was helping out with training. There was a young woman that as I'd approached had said she'd forgotten her saber. I had an older saber and recently I'd reworked and created a new set of sabers. Looking at the young woman I said loud enough so she could hear "You can borrow mine. Just get it back to me after training alright?" I smiled at the young woman and met Drystan's eyes before heading over to a corner and raised up area.

Breathing in I unclipped my new saber from my belt and ignited it in Djem So opening. Turning the power setting down I closed my eyes and for once just stood... Opening myself to The Force I simply waited...Then I moved, right leg back a step and braced under and imagined attack. Then the counter and attack. Recently I'd been trying to learn saber forms but most of what I'd learned had come from watching old holo-vids or recordings. Maybe here I could learn a bit more without being judged...It'd certainly help cut down on my scar count with using sabers versus normal blades...

[member="Drystan Marakos"] ~ [member="Jyoti Nooran"] ~ [member="Jarael Belaerys"]