Second Sith-Imperial Tournament - Vandra Zambrano vs. Khonsu Amon

[Darth Carnifex]

The Shâsot Skyhook Arena
Lorrd

High above the world of Lorrd, and tethered by many reinforced cables and repulsorlifts, was a magnificent skyhook of glittering metal and sparkling reflective glasteel. Recently constructed at the behest of the Imperial Directorate, the Skyhook was made for one purpose and one purpose only.

To prove a warrior’s strength.

Inside was a massive arena, nearly a hundred meters across and almost twice that in length. Around it was high walls, taller than any beast or sentient creature, with an electrified energy field projecting all the way up to the ceiling. The field bowed in towards the middle, curving as it traveled up to form a sort of tapered point when it reached the secondary generator built into the skyhook’s ceiling.

Outside of the energy field was a miniature community, endless rows of seating, private boxes, concession bazaars, gambling hubs, and residential living. Everything was arrayed perfectly to ensure that those who came to witness the looming battles had every convenience at their fingertips. Nothing was more magnificent than the high-rising tower reserved for the Emperor and his entourage, which afforded them the best view of the entire arena and was equipped with multiple commodities not found elsewhere in the skyhook.

As the days counted down towards the grand start of the Second Sith-Imperial Tournament, tens of thousands of wealthy Imperial citizens flocked to Lorrd to partake in the spectacle. Members of the Empire’s military aristocracy were among the first to arrive, themselves afforded a special privilege in acquiring the private boxes closest to the arena floor. Imperial bureaucrats, lesser military, and others followed shortly after to fill in the remaining ranks. For those either too far from Lorrd or unable to travel for any means, the tournament was to be broadcasted live to every member world of the Sith Empire.

The day of the tournament arrived, and the arena was packed beyond capacity.

Anticipating hung in the air like a deathly pall, and a hush fell over the crowd as the massive floodlights dimmed until only one remained to highlight the announcer’s podium. And upon that podium was a sight to behold. A figure, clad in purples, surely a pinnacle of fashion somewhere, the remnants of a laugh as he stepped up to his post. His arms spread wide as if to welcome each and every audience member.

“Welcome, welcome, one and all. It is with my deepest pleasure that I welcome you to this test of ability.” Clasping his hands together, a few of the intricate tattoos that took up much of his arms began to glow. With it, images of the combatants cycled through, the details of each image a bit too exact to be holograms.

“We have quite the treat for you all this day, but enough from me. Why don’t we meet some of our contestants? In fact, why don’t we just cut to the chase? What say you, contestants? Ready for some sweet, sweet, bloodshed? A rush of adrenaline?”

“Let the games...begin!”

Contestants: [member="Vandra Zambrano"] | [member="Khonsu Amon"]
Terrain: Forest
Variables: N/A

 

[LT-137]

Equipment: Spear | Sword | Shield | Armour

The titian-hued blade betwixt his gloved fingers was a welcome burden. It had been some time since he fought without his gilded power suit, let alone within the walls of an arena. The galaxy was tearing itself apart at the seams and was forcibly being stitched together by the stellar nations that stretched across the stars. Entire worlds burned in the twinned fires of ambition and vengeance; leaving Khonsu and the Golden Company very busy. There was little time for such pleasantries when the drums of war beckoned them to the battlefield; for whenever this very sword was drawn, ashes and death followed after. Thus, when the tides of conflict ebbed and a tournament was proposed -- the newly crowned Thychani Commander couldn’t pass up the chance to earn glory atop sacred soil.

He was clad in the blackened vestments of his people, the Thyrsians. It was both a symbolic gesture and an act of compliance befitting the restrictions placed upon him as a combatant in this very tournament. The very stars themselves had all but forgotten about the desert-born, and the pages of history weren’t kind to their legacy. Khonsu sought to remind them of his people’s martial prowess; to share the tenets of his culture in the only way he knew how. Sure, the Golden Company had made a name for itself on the battlefield, but when it came to the grand spectacle of the arena? They were found wanting. Two Thyrsians committed themselves to the climb, yet were incapable of reaching the summit. This time, the outcome would be different.

Clearing his mind of the past, and replacing it with thoughts of the present, Khonsu turned his hooded gaze towards the thicket before him. Were the man adorned in his usual burnished panoply, it would’ve been a simple act to utilize the integrated sensors to search his immediate surroundings for his foe. However, the armour he wore lacked such intricate and delicate technology. He’d have to rely on his eyesight alone. Well, that and whatever boon the Force saw fit to lay at his feet. With the secret, and hidden addition to his flesh -- his potential was all but squandered. The Thyrsian wouldn’t be able to conjure the dark magicks of the Sith and bend the skeins of reality to his whim.

Instead, Khonsu’s senses were heightened akin to the heart of the beast that now thundered within his breast.

With the retracted spear grasped in his dominant right, the Thyrsian warrior clenched his opposite hand; forcing the gauntlet-mounted shield to spring forth from its aureate housing and locked into place. The armoured edges of the connected segments flared with crackling plasmatic fury, bathing his arboreal surroundings in a carnelian glare. He knew that this… Vandra Zambrano was here within the bounds of the arena. There was a part of him that caught her scent, but it was difficult to place amidst the thicket of trees. It was only a matter of time until they met and crossed blades. The man had to be ready for what came next.

| [member="Vandra Zambrano"] |​

 

[Vandra Zambrano]

She was excited for the tournament and even more so when he learned of her opponent being the infamous [member="Khonsu Amon"], She heard about him and his company and was anxious abit to face him, She leaped up to the trees to try adn keep a high point view as she was glad that the rules allowed light armor so she was able to slap together a small light durasteel set to allow for some amount of protection while letting her be mobile and quick which is what she needs the most. The jungle terrain provided a few things to her benefit, places to strike from or to perform some amount of hit and run tactics,she continued her quiet leaps using the force to soften her landing to produce as little sound as possible as she continued making her way to meet her opponent.

The adrenaline in her veins began toflow and increase as she was getting closer to where she was sensing out her prey, Reputation or not she will atleast have some amount of fun in this fight.

 

[LT-137]

Equipment: Spear | Sword | Shield | Armour

​

There was something that felt off about this Greenwood, something that Khonsu couldn’t put his finger on. The man saw many of it’s like throughout his lengthy career as a soldier, but this? It felt wholly unnatural. It was as if someone, or something, tore up the roots of a hundred trees and crammed them into the diminutive arena. While seemingly, and utterly inconsequential in regards to the larger picture, the lingering sensation of wrongness made the Thysian’s skin crawl with anticipation. With all the concentration he could muster, the man quashed that errant train of thought in the attempt to focus more on his surroundings.

Encompassed by the dense thicket of trees, the Sun Guard slowly moved towards what he believed to be the centre of the arena - where there would ideally be a clearing of sorts for him to do battle with his opponent. His eyes darted from left to right with almost every step; carefully searching the shadows for signs of an ambush. While there were plenty of dark silhouettes that were either banished or created by the light of his activated shield -- his focus remained in locating the elongated penumbrae. They would’ve been the trees that seemed larger than they had any right to be; where someone patiently laid in wait for his person to pass before striking whilst his guard was elsewhere.

However, the man saw nothing for what seemed like hours.

Just as he was beginning to think that this was some sort of joke, that he had been sent into the arena to fight a league of shadows, pressure began to build within his skull. Normally, the man would pass that off as nothing more than the cloying embrace of fatigue seeking to drag him into its embrace; but this was different. He was invigorated by the chemical cocktail of oils that blessed his skin and felt no weakness through his battle-ravaged frame. This was different. Much like the forest around him, something felt off and his enhanced physique sought to warn him. Of what? The man couldn’t tell. His senses were far too raw for him to pinpoint anything more than a direction. Hell, even the Thyrsian’s olfactory senses had trouble discerning the arboreal bouquet from the spiced cinnamon that emanated from his body armour.

That building pressure, Khonsu assumed, was his opponent. He couldn’t be sure until the woman revealed herself, but it was what his primal instincts told him. If such a gut feeling turned out to be true? Then perhaps he would have to explore this sensation further at a later date. It would be quite useful in hunting down, and inevitably slaying enemy champions on the battlefield.

With his shield, and retracted spear in hand, the Sun Guard moved towards what appeared to be a clearing - where the pressure in his head seemingly guided him towards - searching the shadows all the while.

Soon, the man’s instincts told him, the battle would be joined. ​

​

| [member="Vandra Zambrano"] |​

 

[Vandra Zambrano]

She approached the center but waited abit as she saw her prey enter the clearing first, She could tell a little that he was observing his surroundings no doubt looking for her she leaped out of her perch and onto the edge of the clearing to face her opponent after all itd be no fun if she started attacking right off the bat. Her sabers remained inactive but in her hands as she walked over, She prepared herself as best she could for the coming battle as her adrenaline kept pumping her eyes where wide and almost wild but she kept herself from letting the adrenaline guide her yet as the battle has not started officially yet. One thing was for certain though, from looking over her opponent this wont be a dull fight for her.


[member="Khonsu Amon"]