Regimen

[Scarface]

Quaint was the word.

Gryphus cautiously stepped into the derelict training chamber of the Sith Council's base of operations with vicious intent. An interesting juxtaposition of emotion it was indeed. His eyes scanned every corner of the room. Gry was alone, for now. After a lifetime of social regression, it was finally time for the young Sith aspirant to learn and climb the figurative ladder of power. He was contacted just a day prior to arrive in this training epicenter at this very specific time. The man who reached out to him went by Darth Kentarch, an apparent Sith Master and the catalyst that would awaken a fury inside of Gryphus like no other.

He stepped into the central atrium and was immediately prodded by a sensor node on the inside of his chest piece. Curse this armor, it was his greatest shortcoming. The barbed sensor took an analysis of his body function and sent it to a popup HUD within his photoreceptors. His vestigial eye blinked the notification away. Elevated blood pressure, 140/90, just like it always was, wakefulness was at 92%, and his lung pump was operating at peak efficiency. Wonderful, he mused sarcastically.

For now he was meant to wait. If this man was serious about his offer, then Gryphus could begin training within the hour. This concept was the only thing that excited the man who had more depression packed into his cranium than a Gundark had testosterone. He was ready.

Because he had to be.

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Through the force Kentarch could sense the young apprentice. Strong in body and mind, he was chosen from among the others for his potential. And Kentarch did not choose lightly. Gryphus, stepped down into the training atrium and despite appearances was far from empty. He continued to study the man, his breathing apparatus and his photoreceptors, an apparent weakness, but all weakness could be turned into advantages. The man seemed ready, he was both stressed and excited. But who would not be? Especially when one was about to take their first steps to become a true Sith, to become a master at wielding the Force itself.

After several more moments Darth Kentarch decided to reveal himself. The Sith master released his hold on the force, a light bending trick, The Sith Lord simply emerged out of thin air, as if he materialized from out of the darkness itself. Dressed in a black robe, arms folded in front of him, and his face shrouded by an unnatural darkness that hid the Sith Master's features, Darth Kentarch struck both aa an intimidating and ominous figure. There were several more minutes where the Sith stood in silence, but finally it was broken.

"I have called you here to begin your service to me, as my apprentice. And to learn and master the power of the force." Kentarch spoke, his voice echoing off the walls of the atrium. "Today, you will be no longer be who you once were. In time even your name Gryphus Antares will be cast aside in favor of a Sith name. Today you are now truly a Sith. Do you understand?"

@[member="Scarface"]

 

[Scarface]

Gryphus remained unmoved as his new master suddenly materialized before him. It was an awe inspiring trick, no doubt, but Gryphus was unable to express his amazement anyway. This was not a matter of pride, and his disrespectful antics displayed when he originally introduced himself to the Sith Masters some days before would not go over well with this man.

He first removed his overcoat and gently tossed it to the shadowed corner of the chamber. This was followed by the armored plates on his thighs, again cast aside, and finally Gry detached the holster from his belt and added it to the equipment pile. The Apprentice was now clad simply in gray trousers, boots, mask, and his life support piece. He then knelt, bowing his head humbly.

"I am your tool, Master, devoted and at your disposal."

His sentiment was followed by a sharp moment of silence...

"And yours to teach."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Kentarch watched unmoved as the new apprentice tossed his overcoat into the corner. As the apprentice spoke slightly lowered his gaze and not that the man could see it, narrowed his eyes. "You are not a tool." Kentarch corrected. "You are your own man, while you will carry out my will and orders. But you will do so at you judgement and discretion. If I wanted a tool, I would have called for a maintenance droid." The Sith Lord pointed at @[member="Scarface"]. "You once said, in much defiance and disrespect to the Dark Lord, that you are here to seek the knowledge of the Dark Side of the force. I do expect such passion, with the occasional show of tact and etiquette for passing on such knowledge."

A red lightsaber blade came to life with a snap hiss in Darth Kentarch's right hand.. "You are my enforcer, and answer from here on out to me and the Dark Lord. Do you understand?" He pointing the tip of his lightsaber at the Sith Apprentice.

 

[Scarface]

Gryphus eyed the hissing lightsaber intently. With the few words that his master spoke, somehow he developed a greater understanding. Yes, he was his own man, he was his own tool, but moreover, his will was his own. Such freedom was a new concept to the young Apprentice. For as far back as he could remember, Gryphus was subjugated. His hand was forced, and he rarely had a say in his actions. In fact, since arriving at the Sith stronghold, he struggled to grip this new reality. Of course he came across as disrespectful-- these social nuances were so very foreign to him. He would learn though, and he would rectify his abrasive naivety.

"I understand, Master. I will exact your will with extreme prejudice. More importantly, I come to you with a mind which is prepared to receive your instruction."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

"Good. Now draw your lightsaber" Kentarch replied simply to @[member="Scarface"]. He then lowered his lightsaber towards the ground, again there was pause as The Sith Lord studied Gryphus. "As my enforce, you will learn the arts of lightsaber combat. Using half baked strategies and using forms you cannot implement properly will not suffice. You will master a form that suits your body type, the way you feel the force, and how you approach your opponent. Given your size, and rebreather I say you should focus on from V. Shien will allow to swat away pesky blaster bolts, and Djem So will allow to dominate your enemies who wield lightsabers."

Darth Kentarch stood in a Makashi stance. "When you faced that fallen Jedi, I noticed you were using a Juyo style on him..." He trailed off showing a slight hint of disapproval. "Quaint would be best to say how you preformed. You may have lopped off the man's arm, but that was a combination of luck and the fallen Jedi's inexperience. When we train, until you are ready, until you grasped other forms, you won't use it." Kentarch's tone reflected he did not have a choice. "Keep your blade and guard high, and use both hands in your swings. Use your height and gravity to your advantage. Remember when we train with Lightsabers, I will not set the blade intensity to stun. If you fail to defend yourself... You die." The Sith Lord gave a far warning.

Then, just as he finished speaking the Sith Lord surged forward at the apprentice. His lightsaber's came in hard on Gryphus for a quick stab to the chest.

 

[Scarface]

Gryphus studied @[member="Darth Kentarch"] and the gestures he made. He was dismayed to hear that his fighting style in the Sith Atrium against the pesky child was inadequate, sloppy even. The other part of him was at least grateful to be called out on his form, as it was the only way he would learn to correct himself. His master suggested Form V. While vaguely familiar with its principles, Gry translated his master's words through the movements of his blade. As Kentarch explained the intricacies, Gryphus' weapon ebbed and flowed, gently sweeping it from side to side away from the Sith Lord. He was pleased to note that his training would not be dumbed down. Gryphus didn't have a death wish, he regarded the prospect as if he were meeting a dear friend again, but not so dear to where he would not prolong such a rendezvous as long as he could.

Suddenly his master's blade swung at him rapidly. He recognized the nature of his onslaught as Makashi: the classic duelist's form. He could only assume that Kentarch's skill with a blade was far beyond his if he were utilizing such a form.

Gryphus raised his weapon to parry the attack, swatting his opponent's blade away from his chest. He placed his dominant foot in a tactical position, allowing him to place forward momentum in his riposte. He aimed for his master's center of mass.

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Darth Kentarch felt the blade get knocked away before it made short work of his apprentice. His blade was slapped aside, and @[member="Scarface"]'s responded with a counter of his own. Good at least least he knew the parry attack riposte combo that was the basic style that accompanied Form V. Although his parry had been hap-hazard, then Darth Kentarch responded by redirecting the parry and sending his lightsaber to stop Gryphus's oncoming attack. Instead of parry or swatting the blade away, Darth Kentarch pushed it slightly off course. "Knocking someone's blade like that aside may stop an attack temporarily. But its easy to redirect that energy and motion into another offensive. Push or guide and enemy blade away. Stop the blade. That way your opponent needs to reset his stance, and build moment into his own strikes. This will give you more time to launch another assault or take step back to get out of an unfavorable position." And Kentarch had done just that. Speaking quickly the Sith Lord stopped the apprentice's blade shy of the target and responded with another assault of his own.

This time as soon as Gryphus's blade was blocked, Kentarch rolled his wrist so his face down and swept clock wise from the position he blocked pushed his opponents blade to. This resulted in lateral sweep of the blade with tip of the lightsaber coming in on Gryphus's back first rather than the base of his lightsaber coming at his side. A wrap shot, as it was called, this attack was more deceptive as it gave less time for a opponent to respond to, for the tip reached its target faster than the base of the blade.

 

[Scarface]

Gryphus quickly regained his composure after heeding his master's advice. He was extremely used to putting power behind his attacks, when in fact it was more effective to swiftly maneuver his opponent's blade. Gry was beginning to feel more attuned to this new form, and he felt value in learning how to more properly operate his weapon. Kentarch was sudden in his next offensive, backing Gryphus into a trap where he could slash away at his backside. He had to act quickly, and just as he analyzed his surroundings, he saw an opening just to the left of his master. He had stepped into this attack, leaving a gap in the barricade.

Gryphus cocked his head and tucked his body downward. He rolled his entire body into a somersault and hopped to his feet with newly found distance from Kentarch. He turned his body, bringing his blade around. Taking his master's instruction in stride, Gry used the defensive stance he now had to his advantage. With his dominant foot behind him, the muscle in his calf contracted and he pressed himself forward at his master, sweeping his lightsaber at Kentarch's legs. His knee remained bent, so Gry raised himself to full stature, ready to bring the blade back up to parry his master's inevitable counter. He hoped this would at the very least impress Kentarch. It was certainly progress. But it was certainly bold.

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

While @[member="Scarface"] was able to avoid the more tricky move, his somersault was a little over the top. "Avoid moves that give your opponent time to react." The apprentice had reset his entire stance, and his foot work and position was sound, yet by the time Gryphus moved his blade, Darth Kentarch was almost on top of Gry. "Do not go for low attacks, unless victory is assured." The sweep to his legs was easily brushed aside and Gry's lightsaber down, giving Kentarch an opening for his apprentice's head. Granted Gry was already prepared for the riposte, Darth Kentarch respond by a feint slash at his head that he quickly changed into a thrust to the torso.

"Never take a low guard, or go for an attack below the belt. This is not because its dishonorable, but rather lowers your stance and blade position, and exposes your head and neck. The distance your blade travels is measured in time, and the time it takes to move a lightsaber from upper region from a lower stance or positions is longer than simply keep the blade up and defending your head and torso. Likewise it will make counters towards an opponents vitals quicker. You won't kill someone by taking a knee, you will if you take their head." Kentarch instructed.