Rogue Encounters

[Darth Morgoth]

[member="Reverance"]
Melkor walked through the Dagobah swamps, his combat boots leaving tracks in the mud. He had heard of a Sith Lord who frequented this place, he wanted to test his blade and soul against the best and that meant him.

Melkor was wearing a leath armored vest with his chainmail underneath. He also wore commando style black cargos, and combat boots. His saber was at his side his vibro blade at his back, and his bolt blade in his pocket. It was rare that he went anywhere without his bow but he was trying to show respect.

As he approached the clearing he had been searching for, he could sense the power of a master. He stepped into it and saw his target. He bowed and said "Are you Reverance?"

 

[Reverance]

The universe followed a cycle of expansion and truncation, swelling and abridging. It gave Gabriel a sense, as he stared out into the emptiness, of his own brevity and succinctness. Each cycle spanned more generations than he could imagine, a single cycle but one breath in the grand scheme of its unknowable plan. It was here, on Dagobah, that he could have such thoughts and seethe in it, soaked in the idea that his efforts would have no true impact on the goals he longed for. He could realize that what power he had was but a drop in the abyssopelagic flow of the force, and it angered him beyond contemplation. His footsteps carved a berm in his path, a line never passed by his pacing shadow as the darkside boiled and sweltered within him.

The night was filled with an apollonian stillness, a piercing of the haze and fog that typically filled the world, leaving a brisk cut in the atmosphere. The clearing that Gabriel stood within was but a result of a dry lightning bolt, hitting the forest and burning everything up into the water line, where fibrous soil turned into slick mud. The land was scarred and marred by scorch marks and vegetation and vines burnt to crisps, friable and fragile and vulnerable to even the slightest breeze. His movements stopped as the Sith approached him and spoke words, spoke his name. The Sith Lord's skin shimmered in the darkness, his tan body covered in black tattoos with the slightest shade of emerald. He wore his battle armor and two lightsabers, the sith dagger strapped to the small of his back. The armguards could barely be seen against the almost black tribal markings that swirled and extended from his chest to his shoulders down into his palm.

“I could feel you before you reached this planet. This world is alive, but it’s different than you or I. This world doesn't care for titles or ranks, so we won't either. And we will find truth through our pain.”

He didn’t turn to face the Sith Knight, not yet, while he whispered almost inaudibly. He looked out towards other clearings in the distance, formed by additional lightning strikes. It was an unusual phenomenon, one he had not seen in a very long time. The hummock hollow macrotopography wasn't typically so obvious, but the flames often brought truth to such matters. He recalled the dragonsnakes and the fights he had spent here, stranded and betrayed by a mercenary group so long ago, long before he took up the mantle of flame and fire. He recalled the cave of evil, where he had first truly experienced the corrupting and carnal powers of the darkside. It was there that he had sought shelter for so long and felt the power of his inner psyche ignite into something more.

Gabriel turned towards [member="Darth Morgoth"] and gave the most subtle of nods. He knew the man, more than he would let on. He had read of the Sith, his ascent, and his ambitions. A seeker of knowledge and power, both endeavors Gabriel could respect categorically. His crimson eye fell upon Darth Morgor, his gaze lazy and wavering, as he inspected the one before him. He wasn't tired, nor was he bored, but he was quickly finding a need to recover from the catharsis brought about by his meditation. But the bite of the air and events to follow would be enough.

“I am Reverance…I don’t believe we have had the formal pleasure of introduction.” He knew of no reason in being impolite, not to someone who held value.

 

[Darth Morgoth]

[member="Reverance"]

Melkor bowed to the sith lord and said" I have come to cross blades with somone I have heard was the best. I am Darth Morgoth" He drew both of his lightsabers and activated them, the thin black blades crackling into existence. He smiled and said "On gaurd my lord!" As he waited for the dark one to respond.

 

[Reverance]

The Sith Lord smiled, the sanguine red eye almost glowing in the tenebrous and fateful night. He had come to the realization, a long time ago, that those with power within the ranks of the Sith were beacons of opportunity, a truth that he blissfully accepted. Despite this constant state of affinity and attraction, Reverance appreciated the effort that [member="Darth Morgoth"] put into this serendipitous meeting. It showed gall and it showed ambition, both requirements for a warrior and pursuer of knowledge. And the only way to truly know someone was to engage them, experiencing them in full. Reverance would oblige.

He lifted his arms and gathered the force within him, opening the torrent that he so often restrained for the sake of his own sanity and body. A gun fired in burst wore down slower than one fired in full. His hands ignited in red fire, one holding Reebas, one holding Roecnar. The crackle and illumination was instant, flooding his body with an unearthly hue that served to reveal his visage and body.

"No titles...no ranks!" He yelled as he lunged forward, the force at his back, a gale blasting through sails. In his blur, his speed sent burnt debris and ash flinging about in his wake. The sabers progressed, as he moved with the aid of Force Speed, from his outwards holding stance towards Morgoth in a downward swing, both sabers in parallel and unison, aimed to strike Morgoth on both of his shoulders. He wasn't looking to destroy this man, not just yet, but he wanted to push the battle forward. He imagined several options, the most likely being that his opponent would dodge out of the way, though his speed would need to match Reverance's, an expenditure of it's own. He could also deflect or block, taking the full force of the Sith Lord. Both were potential outcomes, along with a numerous varying forms in between, to which the force of his swings would be dependent upon.

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor smiled at this most straight forward of attacks, it was nothing less then what he expected from the master. He thought quickly and figured out his move. He raised his twin blades swiftly, pushing them outwards into the gap between his foe’s saber’s. He knew that this was a risk but if [member="Reverance"] decided to continue his attack then he would be impaled. Melkor would be happy to take the full brunt of this attack, if it meant a quick win.

 

[Reverance]

The beauty of fighting is that a thoughtful and strategic duelist never fully committed to an attack. They had confidence in the versatility of the body, in that for every point dedicated to strength, there was one for speed. For every point rigid, there was another for flexibility. It also helped that Gabriel had no intent for this initial attack to land, more or less goading the Sith Knight into fruitful purpose. Just as a gunner adjusts aim when their target moves, Gabriel plummeted from the precipice of determination to land upon different footing then what for he initially planned. That was fine to him, though, as those unwilling to bend often had a knack for breaking.

As his attack formed, finishing the very temporary burst of speed, his opponent went for the opening, conceivably sacrificing his body for an attack of inertia. But Gabriel knew better, knew better of this individual than to seek such unneeded risk. An attack from Gabriel, in such a form and unabated, would sever life forever. He concluded that his opponent had more defenses then what appeared before him and made mental note of such, likely something to do with his vest. He hadn't moved enough to make a sound, though armor of some sort was probable. The chink and chank and scrape of metal against metal would sound itself out eventually and lend logical to Gabriel's conclusion.

Instead of completing the swing, Gabriel pushed his elbows out and used the centrifugal force of the downward swing to energize his wrists, like electricity traveling down the conduit. The sabers spun downward, looking to drive a wedge between the attacking blades, as Gabriel planted his left foot to cease the charge and leave him just outside the reach of the strike. As he drove the sabers outward, potentially leaving [member="Darth Morgoth"] arms spread eagle, he popped his elbow and sent a harsh force push from the top of his palm, bypassing the thumbed rancor tooth hilt and potentially cracking hard against a vulnerable opponent. This wasn't the limit of his telekinetic ability, a mastered power that gave length to a blade that could often fall short, but it was enough to knock wind from lungs. If the attack hit, Gabriel wouldn't stand still. He had stood still long enough and would chase the potentially launched opponent, looking to never give rest. Like a bullet chasing its target.

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor was prepared for his opponents withdrawal, he was merely using this moment to concentrate, closing his eyes and immersing himself into The Dark Current of the force. As his foe spread his arms his eyes shot open, revealing in place of his normal red eyes, a pair of steely blue ones. With them he could see the ebb and flow of The Current. He had studied the lightside techings of the White Current and made them his own, learning to instead of drawing power into himself to simply allow his intent to reshape the current.

He smiled as he saw the Sith Lord try to use the force to knock the wind out of him. He focused his intent into forming a sharp force blade around his left saber. He then manuevered his blade till it was positioned vertically infront of him. The telekinetic blast was cutin half by the blade he had formed, passing on either side of him and cracking few trees.

Melkor smiled and said "I hope you can do better than that my lord." His eyes gleaming a bright blue. They were the eyes of a hunter. [member="Reverance"]

 

[Reverance]

Gabriel eyed the change, an astute learner of an adapting environment and opponent. The fight was his oyster, every nuance and fact collected to better know his opponent. He sensed the force draw of his opponent and his reaction to the attack that followed indicated something awry, a practitioner of a sensing method nearing the power of his own. He couldn't help but smile as he stepped back from the assailant, still within attacking range, as the Sith Knight looked to goad him into frustration.

But frustration was a weak and tertiary emotion. Why settle for that when he could feast on his hatred for himself, whittling away the useless to reveal the weapon beneath. His crimson eye drifted lazily to the trees behind [member="Darth Morgoth"], watching out of his periphery the damage caused by his small attack. And that was just telekinetic push, hardly a manifestation of his true ability. He imagined the potential of something far more devastating and smiled, not quite ready to release that attack. But his opponent took comfort in his own words, giving the Sith Lord just the moment he needed to recollect the force and fold it about him. It crawled out of him like a translucent beast, bidding to his master like the obedient dog it was. But Gabriel leashed it for the moment, focusing on the new and improved [member="Darth Morgoth"]. He charged, once again, focusing his powers for use in the moments ahead, and swung at the Sith knight with his right saber. His right hand held the rancor tooth in reverse grip and he aimed to drag the rod against the Sith Knights chest. The left un-ignited saber remained at the ready, prepared to counter and deflect.

 

[Darth Morgoth]

[member="Reverance"]

Melkor smiled as he saw through the current the Sith Lord gathering power, he knew that he was a master but he was not afraid. The Current was his to command and he knew that he just had to keep his mind focused. His eyes followed the saber as it rippled through the current. It was as if it was in slow motion. Concentrating on the molecules of the ground beneath the Sith Lord he began to force them to bow to his will, making them vibrate. As he did this the Sith lords foot would suddenly slip into the earth, letting the blade sweep passed him, leaving him unharmed, and hopfully breaking his opponents concentration.

 

[Reverance]

The surest sign of a duelist at heart is their focus on all aspects of their form, feet and hands included. Just as if one would be aware of the difference between striking a cement wall and striking gelatin, one would be aware of the texture change in the earth beneath them. Sure, he had not necessarily expected the ground to shift, but then again, the combatants were on Dagobah. The ground was but a floating mat is it was, ready to cave in with the improper step of a foot. Fibrious and woody debris had the tendency to absorb impact and swell around the foot, often encompassing it and drawing water around the sole. Peat and muck where known for it's plasiticity, easily molding and fitting in just the inconvenient way. All of these were things Gabriel had considered and had lived with on Dagobah, spending a large portion of his life fighting against the dragon snakes and the perils associated with a singular slip of the foot. If it was the Sith Knights attempt to break the concentration of a man that had planned for all these things already, then the intended results would soon find themselves crestfallen and rejected.

As his leading right foot sunk into the ground, his attack was poised to sweep just out of reach. However, at the right moment, Gabriel struck the end of his hilt, held in right hand, with his left hand and unignited saber and focused the power of the force into that left palm to accelerate it's movement beyond expectation. In doing so, it would push the attack into the a thrust, effectively changing the inertia and looking to switch from sweeping attack to stab. The right handed blade, while still moving in an arching fashion, would have been pushed upon a tangential plane towards dead center of [member="Darth Morgoth"].

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor grinned as he saw what his opponent did. It was easy to see through the ripple of the Dark Current. He stood like a rock letting the blade hit his chest, burning through the leather, and stopping on his chainmail. Using the force of the blade hitting his beskar chainmail he slid backwards, clearing space between himself and his enemy. He slowed his racing thoughts and looked for his opening.

He knew what he had to do. He put away his sabers and raised his hands letting the energy of his hate fill them. Pressing it outwards he created a field of energy, the echos of the black lighting's crackle echoing throughout the swamp. It would be suicide to try to get to him through that. He concentrated and in an instant the black lighting seemingly dissapeared. But he knew better, it has shrunken to a singurlarity. All of that power was condensed down to a single atom. He willed it forward directing it with two fingersas his left hand fell to the side. It was flying directly at the Sith Lord in full force.

[member="Reverance"]

 

[Reverance]

Gabriel had known of the armor and it's existence since the first attempt at attack, he just needed to effectively prove it. And as Darth Morgoth slid back from the strike of the attack, ostensibly unharmed beyond the blunt force of Gabriel's attack, the proof was in the pudding. At the precipice of countering and pushing forward, [member="Darth Morgoth"] began to amass a substantial collection of force into his body and frame with the disarming of his own weapon. Lightning crackled and grew loud, anger swelled but not uncontrollably, and the power showed a nondestructive force for the time being. It turned from large to small and seemingly disappeared, except for the presence of it in the force. To the non sensitive, it would seem to be gone entirely. But it would be impossible to hide such a thing from someone who had mastered sensing in such immeasurable ways. Beyond that, the telegraph of the force power and the telegraph of Darth Morgoth's hands was enough to prove to Gabriel, without a single moments doubt, that that energy was on it's way to the Sith Lord. Well, it was about to be and Gabriel couldn't help but be impressed by the control. Anger funneled into power was something inspiring.

Of course, Gabriel wasn't sitting still and dumbfounded, he was watching and learning in that split second where power was conjured and made dense. With an upward flick of his left hand and a rotation of his body, he aimed an potent force push against the telegraphed hand, looking to fling the arm up just prior to release of the singularity, sending the attack flying into the sky. And this wasn't the only thing he would do, having not sensed another aura around his foe. He powered up again, using the force to burst forward in a full onslaught of speed as he closed the distance, striking with the ignited saber (held in the right hand) upwards, from his low left to upper right (aimed at Darth Morgoths right thigh and moving across the body). His path, should the deflection not work, would be that of indirect vectors, avoiding the directly telegraphed location by Darth Morgoth for the unknown energy attacks trajectory.