Sith in Training

[Raylan Aviar]

Ray gripped the handle and turned the training lightsaber on. He swung it at Gravis sideways. He had seen lightsaber fights on videos and in duels, but never in his life had he attacked someone with one.
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

Gravis countered the attack with ease. As Raylan came in with an attack at the Knights side, Gravis simply side stepped and slapped the training blade down and towards the ground. Mentor did not smile at the failures of an Apprentice. This was a true learning experience.

"Everyone, Jedi and Sith, start at the basics of lightsaber combat. The most basic form of lightsaber combat is Shii-Cho. This is the only form I will teach you. It will be enough to survive in a fight. It will also allow you to have enough skill to learn other forms of lightsaber combat in the future." The Knight explained.

"There are zones on the body that Shii-Cho teaches to aim form. Each quadrant of the main body, such as upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. Then there is the head and of course the entirity of the back." Gravis said as he pointed at each area of Raylans body. "It doesn't seem as though its important to know these but trust me; in combat you do not aim for a specific body part like a hand or a foot. You aim for an area. What you just did was correct but the way you did it was sloppy. Don't look at where your aiming. Choose a target zone before you attempt a strike, don't let your eyes betray you, and attack. Don't over think your moves. Let the force guide your strikes."

The Knight raised his training blade, "Now attack me again."

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

This time, Ray swung at the lower left section of his master, to proceed to quickly swing at the upper left. He didn't think about the second hit, it just occurred naturally and it felt like that was the right place to strike. It turned out that he wasn't hopeless with a lightsaber after all.
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

An attack that started at his lower left then just as quickly shot upwards to Gravis' upper left. The Knight twisted and turned from the attack, then smacked his training blade against Raylans.

"Always think two or three attacks ahead. You did good going towards my lower body then to switch and attack upwards. Once you have the advantage in a fight you need to press the advantage without losing your defensive prowess." Gravis explained. "For example..."

Gravis spun and brought his black towards the back of Raylan, "Anticipate a counter attack from an opponent before the opponent can enact it. Every lightsaber form, every lightsaber attack, and every lightsaber defensive posture has a weakness. There is some exploit in technique and it does not matter how good you are. There will always be a weakness. The deference between those who Master a blade from those that simply weild it is that a Master knows their weaknesses. That allows them to come up with secondary options in a fight."

Gravis came to stand behind Raylan, "Let us say everything just happened in one fluid motion. You attacked lower left then went upper left on my body. I twisted out of the way and brought my blade towards your back like so," Gravis again pointed the training blade towards the Acolyte, "how do you defend yourself?"

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

I could move my body out of the way, or I could quickly move my saber to block it. Ray moved his weapon behind his back, and then ducked, to imitate what it would look like.
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

“Very good.” Gravis replied to the Acoyltes demonstration. “We will use the basics of Shii-Cho. Nothing more. Nothing less. I will not incorporate any telekinetic or telepathic attacks. I will not wield any other forms I have been trained in. I will be as you; limited in what I can do.”

Gravis took several steps back, raised his blade in the traditional Shii-Cho attack stance then continued, “The most flawed logic about Sith is that we are attackers. All we do is pummel and suppress. Ensnare and enslave. While that is an aspect of our abilities and nature, it does not encompass everything. Sith also defend. Sith also anticipate. Sith lay traps. No Sith is the same. Shii-Cho may be used by every Sith but we go about its use in different ways. You must find your own niche’.”

Jake paused as he slightly bent his knees, “I will give you this one warning. I am going to attack you. I will not stop unless you stop me. You must learn to quickly think on your feet, anticipate your opponent and counter. Do not try and fight force with force right off the bat. Watch, learn, then counter.”

With that said Gravis suddenly charged at the Acolyte in a traditional overhead downward slash.

​

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

[member=Jake Daniels]
As Gravis said 'We lay traps' he stepped forward to attack Raylan, then beneath his feet, a trapdoor opened and he fell to his death. Ray jumped back to reality as Gravis struck at him from above. He remembered what he had said about Sith sometimes being defensive. Ray simply stepped to the left and swung his weapon at Gravis' lower left.

 

[Jake Daniels]

Jake watched as the Acolyte stepped to the side to avoid the attack. Raylan then brought his blade down towards the Knights lower left. Gravis blocked it with ease, knocking away the strike then... suddenly lowering his blade.

"You know the basics of Shii-Cho, Acolyte. Remember to protect yourself before attacking. Sloppy assaults will always end in your downfall. A strong defense is the beginning to good offense." Gravis said.

"Now, we will go back to dealing with the rocks." The Knight instructed. "Set your blade down and return your attention back towards them. Left the largest of the two and bring it to you. Set it down in front of me. Do nothing else."

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

Raylan turned towards the large rock. He concentrated and felt the rock lifting up and coming towards him. This time, after some of his arrogance had been shot down by Gravis, the rock did as he wished and gently landed before the knight.
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

Gravis nodded his head in slight approval. So starting with the blade built enough confidence in him to be able to use telekisis. All Raylan had to do now was practice with it. There was only one remaining piece of business too take care of before Gravis would sent the Acolyte off, "Tell me. Can you use telepathy? Have you been able to speak to another person mentally or even convince those with a weak mind to do as you command?"

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

Nope.
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

“Nope?” Gravis perked a brow. “What an absolutely rude response. Nope isn’t a proper word. Nope is not an acceptable response. When I ask you whether or not you know something you will say either ‘Yes Sir or No Sir. If you do know something you will explain to me, in detail, what you know.” The Knight suddenly stopped talking and spoke into the Acolytes mind. ‘If you don’t know something then that is fine but if you say ‘Nope.’ again I will walk about of here and remember, Boy, I’m your last shot at making it to Sith. Whether or not you live or die; I honestly don’t care. I’ve been assigned to give you the basics. Just enough to hopefully ensure you don’t kill yourself with your own lightsaber.’

‘This is telepathy. Weakminded individuals are susceptible to persuasion with the force. You reach deep into their minds. You plant an thought or command and they should, if you did it right, do as you said. For Sith, Jedi, and the unaligned there is no weak mindedness. You either have strong enough mental defenses to keep people out; or you don’t. You don’t. Not yet anyway. That is a skill I don’t want to teach you. That’s a skill you must learn on your own. ’ Gravis explained. ‘Now… I can speak into your mind. You need to learn to speak into mind. Reach out into the force and connection with my thoughts. ’

Spoiler

More than one word replies please.

[member="Raylan Aviar"]

 

[Raylan Aviar]

Raylan tried his hardest to hide his shock. He stood up straight, arms by his side and said "yes sir". How could he speak to his mind? It seemed impossible but it couldn't be if Gravis had just done it. Ray thought about how he had connected with the force before, how he had given himself over, and respected the force as a superior power to himself. He attempted to block all other thoughts out and directed these words to Gravis: "Hello, can you hear me?"
[member=Jake Daniels]

 

[Jake Daniels]

Gravis gave a polite nod, 'Very good. It appears you can catch onto things faster than many acolytes; in fact faster than I had ever been able to do so.' It was here, in this moment, that a thought crossed Jakes mind. He did not view Raylan as his Apprentice. Oh no. That honor was reserved until Gravis saw fit to give it. Raylan was an Acolyte though and one that seemed capable enough. It was time for a true test.

The Knight took back the training blade from Raylan and set them to the side. "I will not give you the honor of learning what I have learned from my Master. I will however test you like she did. You are to leave this academy and go into the galaxy. I want you to collect something for your future lightsaber. Bring it back to me when your mission is complete so that I know you did not die. I will not help you. Now go."

[member="Raylan Aviar"]​

 

[Raylan Aviar]

[member=Jake Daniels]
I am going to discontinue my Star Wars RP character. It's been fun!