Private Shadow and Soul || Oleander Webb

[Gerwald Lechner]

T E S T
​

Wearing: xxx
Weapon: xxx
Tag: Oleander Webb

Darkness.​

Gerwald was attracted to it. Life had created circumstances which had led the wolf to allow the darkness to seep into him. There was a time when some would have called him a Sith, even Naedira had taught Gerwald the Sith Code. Passion, Strength, Victory, Freedom, these were things Gerwald valued. What Gerwald struggled with was keeping his passions in check. The wolf often took control, leaving Gerwald lost in the desires of his more base instincts.​

Today, Gerwald was meeting with another who shared a similar affinity toward those things which were dark and macabre. The Anzat had impressed the Lord Commander, and while he had been able to show great skill in battle, Gerwald wanted to test it personally. It was no secret times were changing. The Confederacy was changing. Gerwald should never have been named Lord Commander, but different times called for a different leader. It meant work, but the lupine would see to each that called themselves a Knight Obsidian.​

The lupine stood at his full height at the mouth of a cave. Naboo offered much by way of landscape, and while Gerwald was still exploring the planet Naedira had once called home, the wolf had already found many interesting sights. This one called to him. Something about it drew him in. Perhaps it was the mystery of it, or the cold and damp atmosphere of the interior. Whatever the reason, Gerwald could think of no better place than to test Oleander’s skill.​

The Anzat’s future among the Knights Obsidian depended on it.​

 

[Oleander Webb]

C H A L L E N G E​

Wearing: X
Wielding: X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner ​

Oleander was well-acquainted with existing in shadow. It had become almost a second nature, long ago in a time where only the hunt mattered. It was a tool and a comfort, with the former being advertised far more than the latter. In the dark, no one could see you coming or going. The perfect opportunity to cause a little entropy with an exit strategy. But the shadows also made for a solitary existence. Only recently (though more recent to him than the waking world) had he drifted away from his solo trade. Only recently had he taken up arms with a group rather than stick to the individual.

A part of him had feared he'd gone soft. Never so soft as to turn his back on the hunt. No, there was a big difference between soft and suicidal. Nevertheless, the spark of bloodlust (or was it brain lust?), while he certainly wouldn't complain about the ability to restrain it, didn't shine quite as much as it did in his prime. Something to be rectified, no doubt. A part of him wondered if that was specifically why the Lord Commander had requested this meeting. Though by that same token, his prime and the present were a ways apart to draw a quick comparison.

The Anzat's curious gaze was quick to map out what he could see of the cave when he did make his way in that direction. Naboo had many sights to see (and people to mysteriously disappear) yet the Lupine's selection of this cave, in particular, had Oleander curious, and dreadfully so. "You wished for a meeting?" it was a statement more so than a question, a far more appropriate greeting lost on him in the moment. "Nice venue you have here. Any particular reason why?"

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

T E S T​

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Oleander Webb

Gerwald smiled at the Anzat’s observation. It was a rather interesting venue for a meeting. It had been chosen specifically for what the Lord Commander had in mind.

“I have a theory. I wanted to test it.”

The answer was most likely not what Oleander would have been looking for, but it was all Gerwald would give the Knight for now. He had observed the warrior for some time, had seen him in battle on more than one occasion. Webb more than had potential. What Gerwald was after though, was how skilled the warrior was. The wolf fully intended to push the man to his limits.

The lightsaber hilt that hung from Gerwald’s waist flew to his right hand. The blade ignited on impact as Gerwald took his opening stance. No words were needed anymore. Oleander would understand what Gerwald’s intentions were. While he still hid the motive behind the reason for the test, it was a test nonetheless. With a nod, Gerwald indicated for the Anzat to prepare himself.

“Show me what you are capable of. Do not hold back.”
​

 

[Oleander Webb]

C H A L L E N G E​

Wearing: X
Wielding: X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner ​

A brow rose at Gerwald's response. "What theory would that be?" the Anzat wondered aloud, his head tilting to the side. His eyes widened maybe half a fraction as the Lord Commander shifted positions, lightsaber gliding to his hand. Oleander's look of distant interest shifted to that of an amused smirk.

“Show me what you are capable of. Do not hold back.”

That got more out of the Anzat. A chuckle, deep, unheard since he'd woken up perhaps months ago at most, followed by a sharp inhale. The proboscises hidden within his cheeks writhing as if they could smell the prey ahead, their movement causing the skin on his face to move ever so slightly. "You don't want that," he said, the remnants of the chuckle still in his voice. His own lightsaber's hilt flew to to his hand, blade translucent, the telltale snap hiss of ignition just barely audible.

A quick glance at his surroundings and he was moving, eyes locked on Gerwald like a hunter would their prey. That was, after all, the nature of things, especially if the Lord Commander truly wanted him to not hold back. His boots were silent as he moved, not quite approaching Gerwald just yet but rather circling the other, moving further into the cave where visibility, or lack thereof, would be his ally. Tell me then, he started, leaning toward the telepathic speech over than vocal, beginning his weaponized mind games. It wasn't time to strike physically, not yet. No, fear would come first. Then the blade. When you join the silent voices, who then will lead?

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

HIDE AND SEEK​

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Oleander Webb

Mind games. The Anzat took to the shadows and moved deeper into the cave. The wolf smirked, his ears listening for any disturbance that his feet or movements could cause. Words came to his mind in the voice of the Anzat as he taunted the wolf.

A question of death.

The Anzat’s mistake.

Gerwald spoke aloud as he answered his prey. Yes, Oleander may have thought he was hunting the wolf, but between the scent Gerwald had already picked up, and the fact the Anzat had used the force to communicate, the lupine knew where he was. Of course he did not have to give that away just yet.

“There will always be another, but what makes you so confident I will not survive? Have you forgotten I am a hunter also.”

The wolf muted his signature. Until he was ready to use the force any further, there was no need to give the Anzat that added advantage. All things being equal, neither would be able to use the darkness as an advantage. Gerwald was counting on his as he pressed further in. He had other senses that would warn him if his sparring partner made his move.

All that was visible now, the yellow and blue hues of the sabers which hummed their song through the cave.
​

 

[Oleander Webb]

H U N T​

Wearing: X
Wielding: X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner ​

You said yourself not to hold back, no? He turned the question back toward Gerwald, answering first telepathically then switching to speaking aloud himself. "My kind don't deal in survivors." Only death and memories, both of which Oleander was exceptionally acquainted with, and often under the guise of professionalism. He'd done well to monitor his hunger, keep the specifics of just what he was hidden from all if he could help it. A couple disappearances here and there, no one too important, with the Anzat disappearing into shadows before anyone would think the wiser.

This time, however, things were slightly complicated. There was a key aspect of the usual hunt was the fact that the prey often didn't know they were being hunted. It already put the Lord Commander at a slight advantage over others Oleander had hunted, doubly so if the Lord Commander lived up to his title (which judging from the times they'd both been on the battlefield, Oleander expected as such). Yet with higher risk came higher reward.

He kept a constant motion as he moved throughout the caves, noise only to be heard when he explicitly wanted it so. There was no heartbeat to be traced, no heat signature to be tracked. The leathers he wore both supplemented moving in silence and aided in shielding him from the force. Whatever light his blade gave off was minuscule, easily concealed. There were things he couldn't help, of course. His silence couldn't mask a scent, only supplement a freedom of movement, an attempt to make that scent appear from any and every direction.

His skills were situated in surprise but could only do so much without action. When at least he did strike, it was quick. A jab to the left, meant to rid his adversary of his arm, with eyes alight with focus, the smirk that had been plastered on his face smoothing to that of cool calculation.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

D E F E N D​

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Oleander Webb

“I have seen what your kind do,” Gerwald answered simply. “Did you forget to eat before meeting me today?”

He would not judge the Anzat for doing what came natural to it. The lupine understood how nature worked. There was an order to things. To it, Gerwald was as easily nothing more than its next meal, yet the wolf could say the same of his opponent. He was larger than most hounds, and while he had never hunted something not natural to the forest, it did not mean he could not enjoy something a bit more exotic. They were matched for different reasons, their strengths did not quite align, but they would be formidable one to the other.

Oleander was trying to mask his scent, fill the cave with it. It was an ideal tactic, though the subtlety of distance was something the Anzat could not hide. There would be little time to react as it came for his left, attempting to rid Gerwald of his arm. A barrier was created, the force protecting him at the last moment. A wave of his hand sent a wave of force energy in the direction the attack had come from, but Gerwald was more than certain the Anzat had already moved on.

Oleander was quick. Gerwald would need to find a way to even the odds, and soon.
​

 

[Oleander Webb]

C A T A N D M O U S E ​

Wearing: X
Wielding: X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner ​

The force barrier was expected, almost preferred. It would've been a shame if the contest of ability were to be over so soon. And just as the strike was blocked, he retreated back to the shadows. Such was the game when hunting a fellow hunter. Stay quick on your feet and keep aware lest the hunter becomes the hunted. Which could very easily become the case, Oleander imagined. His kind were sturdy, no doubt, built to last. But those strengths relied on surprise, meant to overwhelm mentally before physically.

A contest of muscle, if a civilian were involved, would not be so terrible (and likely quite doable). But Gerwald was no civilian. Yet Oleander also suspected the longer he waited to strike the less likely anything would go in his favor (or perhaps more if he really wanted to wait this out). Scents be damned, he reached out with the force, first aiming to toss rocks across the cave floor. With their sound as a distraction, he reached out once more, aiming to swipe Gerwald's legs out from under him before Oleander pounced in earnest.

An animalistic snarl tore through his throat as he brought his blade down upon the other, harmless smoke emitting from his boots in an almost cartoonish puff as they made contact with the ground. Hiding would only get him so far, now was as good a time as any to strike.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

HIDE AND SEEK​

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Oleander Webb

The sound of rocks was the only reply. A brief moment of distraction was all that it took before Gerwald could feel his legs swept out from beneath him. There had been no scent, but the anzat had taken advantage of one of the other Lupine’s sensitivities, his hearing. There were moments when it was useful, an asset. Now, it proven to be a liability, exploited by the same man that had been with him when the high pitched bellow from Adron Malvern had left him defenseless on the ground.

Gerwald fell onto his back, and had little time to spare before Oleander pounced. The lupine rolled, pushing the force into his own body to quicken the pace of his escape. This time it was Gerwald that would take to the shadows. His lightsaber darkened as he suppressed his force essence. The damp nature of the cave would prove to be an advantage for the wolf as he used the moisture in the air to form a spear from the water.

A flick of his finger and the spear would launch at the Knight. Gerwald would produce more water spears and launch them. His hope was to drive back the assailant, making it harder for it to get close to him. This battle was best kept to a distance.
​

 

[Oleander Webb]

We all fall down​

Wearing: X
Wielding: X
Tag: Gerwald Lechner ​

Knocking Gerwald to the ground brought forth a cruel, tight-lipped grin pulling at the edges of Oleander's mouth. It'd been a bit since a hunt was a challenge. Battlefield snacking for the sake of information was a thing, certainly, but such situations often required little more than brute force. Just as the typical hunt required little more than a bit of subterfuge. Having to use both brains and brawn, even if this wasn't so much a hunt in actuality, served as an invigorating exercise.

With his adversary now out of sight yet far from out of mind, Oleander took the moment to compose himself once more. He inhaled deeply, senses more focused on catching a signature in the force than actual scent. A suppressed essence was smart though not unexpected.

A flurry of movement was just warning enough for him to avoid the first ice spear. The onslaught that followed was another story, succeeding in driving him back if only momentarily. A flurry of translucent blade coupled with heightened reflexes worked well in his favor, though one did manage to get through his defenses, leaving a gash on his cheek. He hissed as the spear cut into him, not quite animalistic though the hints of such were certainly there.

Battle from a distance did him no good. The nature of his trade was very up close and personal, as was his skill set. But as the ice continued to fly in his direction, he maintained a disadvantage. For now, at least. A clawed hand grasped at air, a physical manifestation as he reached out in the force, aiming to wrench the ground below them in motion. with an emphasis originating in the direction from which the ice spears originated.