Speedruns - Pawaro

[Charity Luckless]

Voss - Silver Jedi Campus Sparring Facility​

It was a typical routine. Charity presented her statuesque, violet-capped figure in the center of the white sparring room. She was a quiet one, and she remained quiet in her stillness, the cloak of her set of robes enshrouding the majority of her figure. She gripped the hilt of a training saber in her left hand. No need for pleasantries. She was simply here to try a new Padawan's swordsmanship and bring her to an understanding of the classic defensive form of the Jedi.

Though her expression remained as neutral as usual, Knight Luckless felt a tinge of pride in finding her niche with the Order, her willfulness to assist in dueling instruction giving her a sense of belonging. Maybe this was how she gave back what she had received in kindness.

 

[Kaiza Pawaro]

Swordfighting wasn’t one of Kaiza’s hobbies per se, more like a necessity all Jedi had to come to terms with. Rating her skill with a lightsaber poorly due to the Padawan’s pacifistic tendencies would be a mistake, though. If anything, the yellow skinned student did not have to worry about picking the right form. It all came naturally. Better yet, as Fate would have it, she was to practice under an experienced Jedi today. The opportunity was most welcome and the Mirialan’s pace betrayed her eagerness to get started as she slipped into the training room, suddenly realizing her hair probably looked like a mess. One motion of her hand proved otherwise, declaring the raven black curls safely tied into a practical bun.

Removing the robe that was so impractical in combat, the young Padawan smiled at the instructor. Emerald jewels finally landed upon the confident and obviously strong pose her “opponent” had assumed. Although not worried, logically knowing there was no real threat or danger, Kaiza suddenly sensed the all too familiar pangs of anxiety. All eagerness went out of the window. Naturally uncomfortable in combat, she summoned a grin to mask her worries. Quick steps brought her closer, deep breaths saw her chest rise and fall, another attempt at erasing the inner imbalance that threatened to generate mistakes.

Calm, peace. Embracing those meant half the battle.

“Knight,” chirped the Padawan and thus broke the silence, standing at an arm’s length from her fellow Jedi, “Shall we get started?”

Gloved fingers curled around the silvery cylinder hanging on her belt and unclipped the traditional Jedi weapon. More deep breaths followed and she assumed the footing often found on Soresu practitioners, a dead giveaway. Her thumb hesitated still – igniting the weapon meant no going back and Kaiza took such things seriously, even during training spars.


[member="Charity Luckless"]

 

[Charity Luckless]

"Padawan," Knight Charity returned in salute, bowing just slightly in acknowledgment of her younger comrade. She sensed the hesitation in Miralian's approach, though her gait broadcast a swiftness to her character. The tall Jedi supposed that such composure might translate to her combative habits. Oddly, the human might have to push the offensive in this little drill--something she was not entirely accustomed to.

She did not answer the Padawan directly, but her actions would prove a sufficient reply. Her thumb twitched after Kaiza had retrieved her saber, and the gleaming blade of electrified plasma sprang out from the gunmetal cylinder like an electrified beam of sunny nectar. Charity neglected to remove her cloak, per usual. It simply felt more dignified to be in her full garments at all times, even at the risk of inconveniencing herself. But then, Soresu was not the most flagrantly active of the forms, so she could usually get away with it. Perhaps it was vanity, but the violet-haired Knight appreciated the nearly regal flow of her full robes.

Raising her blade away from her body and nearly parallel to the floor, Charity shifted her right leg just slightly forward to face down her 'opponent'.

[member="Kaiza Pawaro"]

 

[Kaiza Pawaro]

Establishing her instructor’s style wasn’t the hard part – the hard part was coming up with ideas on how to fight a Soresu practitioner with Soresu. This discovery promised the impending spar to be a waiting game, a strange test of patience and wit. Perhaps even without a winner to emerge at the end – though that remained to be seen. Achieving inner composure, Kaiza moved her thumb ever so slightly, stroking the hilt’s ignition button.

Another snap-hiss so characteristic to lightsabers filled the sparring chamber as a blade of blue plasma sparked to life, bathing the two in soothing azure light. The young Padawan knew she had to place herself within the eye of the storm, find a calm centre that would remain undisturbed by distractions. No hint of aggression or lust for battle poisoned the Mirialan’s aura and her actions corresponded with that – she merely held the blade back in a one-handed grip, angled forwards with the blade arm held parallel. Nothing other than mirroring what the knight has done, emerald eyes locked with the opponent’s topaz orbs.

Waiting, muscles tense and ready to react, the entire body of hers turned into a nearly motionless figurine that would move only when her opponent did, endlessly adapting and persevering.


[member="Charity Luckless"]

 

[Charity Luckless]

Charity approached with another step, bending her elbow until her saber was angled behind her shoulder. It was a more dominant form that the tall Jedi was not as skilled with, though she found it quite useful when combating someone who utilized the purely defensive form she preferred. It had offensive capabilities but was still not entirely aggressive.

The violet-haired woman shifted her stance even more, her right side facing the Mirialan. This would indeed be interesting: lefty versus righty. Oftentimes she found that she could take advantage of her opponents, as they were used to fighting in kind with right-handed bladesmen. Bringing her right hand to wrap its fingers around the bottom of her raised hilt, Charity assumed the full opening pose of the Djem So form and brought her blade around with a sideways slash, hoping to force an awkward parrying position at the offset of their duel.

[member="Kaiza Pawaro"]

 

[Kaiza Pawaro]

Kaiza failed to register the sudden switch in her opponent’s style, resulting in poorly judging the woman’s next move and thus not adapting in time. Caught by surprise, she went for a standard block instead of a parry as she simply rushed her azure bladed weapon to meet that of the instructor, stopping the surprisingly strong swing dangerously close to her body. Without delving into complex defensive techniques to break the momentary lock, the Padawan retreated by taking a step back and finally positioning herself better, hilt held in both hands for additional stopping power to match the strength behind the instructor’s strikes. True to the ways of Soresu, she waited for another attack – ready to dodge rather than blocking, keeping in mind the necessity to stay energy efficient and outlast her sparring partner.


[member="Charity Luckless"]

 

[Charity Luckless]

It was quite the paradigm shift for Charity to push the offensive. Sure, she had experience with the fifth form, but it was not often she utilized it. Soresu was not as 'flashy' as other styles, and many a Padawan had instigated clashes in their youthful impatience. But Kaiza simply backed off of the first strike, assuming a purely defensive attitude. She was playing against type.

Charity wanted to make her move as much as possible, for smoothness was the goal to Soresu. She needed to keep the Mirialan on her heels and provoke awkward saber blocks to provide an easier takedown. It was best to make assuredly direct blows rather than allow the other duelist to deflect her energy entirely. Pressing forth, the tall Jedi stepped and sliced her blade in an arc in front of Kaiza's torso, bringing the blade into a curving swipe for the shins of her opponent.

[member="Kaiza Pawaro"]

 

[Kaiza Pawaro]

Well-travelled boots never rooted down to the mat, always in partial motion and ready to move. Staying light on her feet was paramount – the ability to dodge incoming strikes often offered greater advantage than parries or blocks. Energy efficiency. Kaiza could not afford flashy, powerful manoeuvres. Let her opponent employ wide swings and rapid strikes. Outlasting the instructor, however unlikely, gave her the only chance at prevailing over the aggressive form. At the same time, the Mirialan Jedi remained acutely aware of her opponent’s knowledge concerning Soresu. In a way, the amethyst haired woman wielded everything she needed to defeat the younger Jedi and more. Any and all evidence pointed towards inevitable defeat Kaiza was destined to suffer. A firm believer in Fate, perhaps she would have listened to the voice in her head if not for following the core tenet of the Way of the Mynock; calm composure.

Slightly lowering her blade, ready to change its position if needed, the student defiantly stood her ground upon seeing her opponent about to push forward and deliver a broad swing at the cost of exposing herself. To deny her opponent's saber the taste of her body, Kaiza lowered her azure bladed sword further, allowing it to rush against the instructor’s weapon for a flash-eliciting tap. Immediately after, she broke the short-lived connection, hurrying the blade away at first, only for it to make a swift, arcing return headed towatds the purple-haired trainer's wrists.


[member="Charity Luckless"]