Private Stab Them With The Pointy End

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit


Reina stared at the sheath in her hand for a moment, frowning at herself in thought. It felt different to having a Lightsaber in her hand. It even felt different compared to the knives she had used on the ship. It was an entirely different breed of weapon that the woman wasn't used to. The wind of Lothal blew through her hair as she unsheathed the blade from the sheath, gazing into her reflection. A face scarred by superficial cuts stared back at her. The golden eyes holding a new sense of determination in them. She had to widen her skillset. She had to learn more. Returning the blade to its sheath, Reina lifted her head up to look at her teacher for this session. Evidence to her growth, Reina had asked a stranger to help her. Someone she had never met before, but had caught her eyes simply because of the blade she carried.

"...Are you sure I'm not being a bother?"

Hesitant. It wasn't like Reina. She didn't normally care if she was bothering someone. They'd have to deal with it. But Reina had slowly learned to treat those who were taking the time out of their life for her with respect. She kicked her leg out for a moment, the sound of whirring emanating from the hunk of scrap. With her previous prosthesis destroyed, Reina was relying on some generic model. It felt wrong. After she had just finally started to get used to her prosthesis, it was once again ripped away from her. She could have perhaps got her original leg reattached now that it had been given back to her...but it was a lesson. She was learning from it still and she wouldn't take her leg back until she was sure she learned everything she could from her mistake.

"I haven't fought with a blade like this. I doubt it'll be similar to a Lightsaber. Though I will say, the craftsmanship is perhaps even more beautiful than a Lightsaber."

Reina could see the beauty in a weapon. Perhaps it was because of her more violent nature. The same nature she was trying to keep under control. She could have found some kind of trainer that would help her with brute force. With using some kind of club, or even some form of greatsword. Perhaps she might in the future. But she wanted to work on her finesse. It would not be a lie if Reina said her emotions lead her attacks more often than not. They were crude. Unrefined. It worked against people who were on a similar skill level of her own, but it was easily used against her when she went against someone more experienced.

Either way, Reina closed her eyes for a moment as she performed something she wasn't entirely used to doing. She pushed the Force away from her. It wasn't so much as her severing herself from the Force, that was something Reina didn't have any idea on how to do. It was more of a way for her to make sure she wouldn't instinctually use the Force to aid her in learning how to use the Blade. It would have been easy to figure out to see what Reina was doing if one was paying attention. The small winces of pain that racked through her body, the small little pants for air of a body that hadn't fully healed from her previous fight. But pain was the best way for her to learn. Effort and hard work.

She brought her attention back to Iria, giving the Zabrak a short and sharp bow almost. It wasn't something she quite gave to the Jedi she worked alongside. But Iria wasn't a Jedi. So in a way, Reina wanted to show her teacher for the day far more respect than she would normally. Her normal fiery nature had been somewhat quenched by her desire to learn. Her desire to grow stronger

"I am ready to learn, as your humble student."
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

"A warrior's evolution never ends," Iria stated. "Just as you seek to learn, I too wish to deepen my understanding of my craft. To teach is to learn, in a way. If both parties stand eager and open, no annoyance should be sustained on either side."

Iria ran her fingers along the bling edge of her songsteel katana, feeling the familiar grooves. It was a weapon which was invented in a time before the lightsaber, one forged in fires hot enough to rival the core of a planet. With meticulous care it was crafted in the way of her people, methods which they learned from a people much more ancient. She gave her blade a flourish before readying it.

"A sword like the one you and I carry now is not like the blade you are accustomed to," she stated. "It only has one sharp edge, while the other is blunt. Thusly your strikes must be in line with the sword's edge. It carries more weight than a blade of plasma, which brings with it more blunt damage. If you cannot deliver a clean slice, you will still cause bludgeoning damage. Even with the extra weight, do not underestimate the blade's speed. It is aerodynamic, made to slice through the very wind. If you allow your body to move with the sword, it's speed will become your speed."

She was reliving her youth now, the meticulous days she spent training to wield a blade. She had dreamed of becoming a renowned warrior as a girl, the best swordsman in her Noble House Gyukia. The Blade of the Patriarch was a prestigious position, one she was certain her father would have granted to her if he had still been alive. Alas, his life was cut short. Now her house was in shambles, and she alone kept the greedy from assuming power.

If only things could go back to being simple.

"One-handed wielding is better for those who have become comfortable with their control over their blade," the Zabrak noted. "For now we will duel with two hands. Spread your feet slightly, angle them away and dig in. Maintaining your control over the ground is key to maintaining a strong offense and defense."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit


"I can agree with that. No matter how well experienced a fighter is, they can always be surprised. The more you understand about the way you fight...It will become easier to apply in a fight."

Reina carefully unsheathed the Blade fully this time, resting the sheath carefully on the ground, making sure not to get mud on it. Another way she was showing how vital this lesson was for her. She didn't care about getting her own things dirty, but this wasn't hers. One sharp edge...One blunt edge. That would be useful. Even if she came across armour that she wouldn't be able to cut through, she'd at least be able to do some form of damage with the blunt side. A blessing in a way. She let out a long exhale of breath, wrapping her both hands around the handle of the blade.

"I purposefully designed my Lightsaber so that I could use it with one hand or two. But this is different. There's far more weight to this. It reminds me of when I used to wield a Harpoon as my main weapon."

Her harpoon. It hadn't necessarily been discarded, but the tool had picked up a lot of dust recently. It showed how much of a fool Reina had been to focus purely on her Lightsaber drills. Of course...she'd need to be able to train her sword skills against someone to keep them sharp in the future, but she could worry about that when the future came. For now, she had to focus on the moment as she worked on her stance.

It was...far more difficult than Reina would have cared to admit. Her flesh and blood leg was easy to shift, to adjust her stance, but it was always like there was a split second delay on the Prosthesis. Her nerves had to get used to it all over again. She could feel her frustrations bubbling to the surface already.

"I...apologise if it takes me a moment to get ready. I am...struggling more than I would like to. I'm trying to keep that under control. I don't want to lash out at you in my own anger."

She took in a few deep inhales and exhales of air to steady herself, as she finally managed to get into a stance that she was comfortable enough with. Heels dug into the ground, and the blade held at a slight diagonal angle.
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

"Do not be concerned," Iria insisted. "Zabrak by nature are... fiery. It is in our nature to lash out and butt heads. Peace of mind is not something learned overnight. You will lash out in frustration, but that is natural. It only becomes a problem when this feeling defines you. Your awareness is more than most who allow their anger to consume them."

The Smarteelian Zabrak, while a distinct subspecies, had the same instincts as their cousin. The grace and refinement of House Gyukia was created to quell the primal instincts within, and more importantly to turn berserk into graceful warriors. As such she had a great deal of practice fighting off the urge to lash out in frustration, even as her body seemed to crave to do so. It was better that way, she reasoned. More civil, and surely a healthier way to engage with the world.

"Now, we'll start with your guard," she decided. "Bring your blade up and keep it close to your core. The further away your sword is from your body the more area you need to cover to defend yourself against incoming blows. You block with the flat side of the blade if you can, the edge if you must. Your goal is to push the sword of your opponent back to shake their footing or weaken their grasp on their blade."

She held her blade in front of her, her two hands clasped around it tightly.

"Are you ready?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit


"Heh. I keep finding myself working and learning under species with fiery natures. Maybe the Force is trying to show me something, since I don't know what blood flows through me."

A small chuckle escaped Reina's mouth at that thought. She highly doubted that she had any Zabrak blood or DNA in her system, but it was an interesting thought at the very least. The idea that her frustrations and ger were purely her fault, but was something natural was encouraging but at the end of the day it was an excuse. She could still control those emotions. They didn't control her.

Defensive techniques weren't something Reina was used to. She was far more of a dodger. Someone who would try to parry as a last resort. Yet she brought the Blade closer to herself, keeping her eyes alert and ready. Her body was ready to jump into action. It was somewhat strange at the very least to have reduced her Senses through the Force however. Normally she'd be able to feel some kind of instinct to prepare herself...but it was absent. The only sign she'd have for when the attack came would be from watching Iria's body language.

"I am ready, Teacher."

Perhaps it was an unnecessary title for Iria, but that didn't stop Reina. Either way, this wasn't like practising with Training Sabers. These were sharp blades. There was a chance something could go wrong, though Reina had trust that Iria wouldn't go out of her way to go for any dangerous strikes. It was more on Reina's shoulders to make sure she didn't put herself in a risky position.
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

"Right. Let's begin."

Iria started off simple. She approached with grace and performed a series of telegraphed slashes. The important part was less about difficult and more about letting Reina get a feeling for the weight of the blade. There would be three in total: Horizontal, diagonal, then vertical. Something just to get a grasp on her instincts. That would dictate the pace they moved at going forward.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit


It was just like Saber drills. If anything, it helped that Reina had fighting experience even before joining the Jedi. Even if it was only something small like brawling or knife work, it still meant she could apply herself to other forms of attacks. So it was no trouble for her to move the blade to deflect the strikes, twisting the blade to deflect with the flat of the blade, fighting the urge to go out on a counter offensive. This was to test her defensive capabilities and basic control over the Blade. Not to see how offensive she could be.

As she deflected each blow, Reina could feel herself tensing up. As if storing the energy she was deflecting, to lash out with. Yet it stayed contained as her eyes were focused on Iria's blade. It was a key part of a fight. Don't lose focus on paying attention to every part of your opponent. Focus on what was important, their weapons, their movements. Reina just had to keep an eye on where Iria's blade was going to go next, whilst also keeping her eye out for any "surprises".
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

"Good. Let's try something different."

Iria struck again, but this time with the flat-side of her katana. The two songsteel blades locked, and Iria hooked the guard of her hilt against Reina's to keep the two swords together. A puzzle. The entire point of using a blade like the ones they carried was to end a battle quickly. There were many ways that such a thing could be achieved. Twisting a blade out of the grasp of your foe was one such pathway. They're flat shape made it easier for them to lock into grooves.

This was important if Reina ever came up against a sword-breaker.

"Oh dear," Iria lamented, though perhaps in a playful manner. "It seems our blades have become locked together..."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit

"...You're right about that. They're locked against each other."

Hm...It seemed as if it would be far too simple for Reina to just twist her blade and disengage it from Iria's. This was something she wasn't too used to. It was harder to hook a Lightsaber against another Lightsaber. Yet she kept her grip around her own Blade tight. Reina wasn't smart when it came to making plans or trying to switch things up. She wasn't much of a thinker. When it came to fights, she'd normally just bang her head against the wall, trying to come up with a way to get past...so that's what she was about to do. She was going to do what she did best.

Reina tried to drive forward to slam her shoulder up against Iria to try and get the Zabrak to disengage from the blade-lock. Perhaps it was unfair because Reina was using her own body as a weapon but it was the only way she could think of to get out of the situation. It was a risky move because it also brought her closer towards Iria's blade but it was better than just trying drag her sword out.
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

Iria's smile grew wider as Reina moved to slam her shoulder into her. The Smarteelian Zabrak didn't move back, but instead moved to shoulder-check her, meeting her actions with the same in response. And Iria, for what it was worth, was quite strong. Even without the Force, her biology and way of life made her quite fit.

"You fight like a Zabrak," the swordswoman noted in a rather pleased tone. "Sometimes kicking down a wall is the best solution. But, swordplay is an evolution. Dynamic, always in motion."

She maintained the lock, keeping Reina's blade fixed in place. Her expression grew more gentle.

"Now, tell me the risks of moving into the personal space of your opponent?"

A mid-duel quiz. Just to shake things up a little.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit

Reina let out a small grunt at the shoulder-check. She wasn't exactly weak herself, even when she wasn't trying to use the Force, and whilst her way of life before joining the Jedi had helped with that, her biology didn't match up that well against a Zabrak. She kept a small scowl on her face, even as Iria seemed...pleased that Reina fought the way she did. Reina wasn't going to let the small amount of pride she was feeling be shown.

"You put yourself more at risk. They can break out into a grapple. They can surprise you with another weapon before you can react. It can give you more control...but it can also give your opponent more chances to get at you. Knees. Kicks...even biting, if they wanted to."

And whilst Reina was perhaps someone who would knee or kick in this situation, biting wasn't something she'd do. She might be violent, and enjoy the thrill of fighting but even she had lines that she wouldn't cross...She just kept her sword pressed up against Iria's, trying to figure out a way to get out of the lock.
​

 

[Iria]

Lothal
Tags: Reina Daival

"Good. Now prepare yourself."

Iria wouldn't elaborate on what she was going to do, just that something was going to happen. Reina needed to be able to think on her toes in a fight and be ready to react. Getting up close and personal was what swordplay was all about, and you had to be ready for anything.

Such as, for example, a sweep to the legs, which is exactly what the Smarteelian Zabrak did.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Lothal
Tags: Iria
Outfit

It was harder to be prepared without the Force. It had always been something that helped guide her when she needed to avoid something. But she didn't want that unfair advantage for this training as she prepared herself. Which is when she noticed Iria moving, the sweep coming towards Reina's leg and she went to jump to avoid it!

Her normal leg managed to respond in time, but there was a moment of lag between herself and her new prosthesis which meant her foot was clipped mid jump. Throwing Reina off balance as she went to land, slipping on the ground and slamming hard into the ground. It didn't hurt much if she was honest. It was more the frustration and embarrassment that radiated through her.

"Stupid...Karking...Thing."

Reina slammed her fist against the prosthesis, taking out some of her anger on the thing. Having a new prosthesis was a pain. She had gotten used to the old one. It had finally felt like a part of her and now she was stuck with another bucket of bolts for a leg.
​