ToC:Vulpesen VS Faroq Kela'ahim

[Lira Dajenn]

It was time for the Tournament of the Cauldron to export itself.

Try as hard as they did, there was just no way of perfectly replicating the different environments they required for round two of their grand event. They had made their unrealistic requests, demanding that they somehow replicate the climate and habitat of some of the most extreme planets in the galaxy. Mere simulations would not be good enough, it had to be real, it had to feel real and when enough slaves and scientists had perished at their hands for such impractical ineptitude it was only then that the Queens of Rattatak had decided that they were going to have to use the real thing.

The remaining contestants were to be shipped out, given the luxuries of celebrated gladiators and plenty of opportunity to rest and prepare for the next fights ahead.

Back at the Cauldron a multitude of screens were set up, surrounding the arena so that no detail could be missed of the now televised spectacle, the pit below for once completely devoid of action. Nothing would take the limelight from their glorious occasion.

The screens flickered to life...

Floating platforms, clouds, whipping powerful winds, and explosive canisters.

The whipping winds and powerful gusts seemed to push floating platforms from side to side. Durasteel swaying slightly and chains connecting them rattling as they moved and jostled about. Floating within the deep air of a gas giant the platforms seemed to be arrayed in a great ring. Some floating only 2 feet apart, while others floated twenty. Some contained canisters of clear explosive gas, and other contained naught but empty barrels. This was the scene of the third fight of the third round, floating platforms sitting above seeming nothingness.

It was here that the fight between @[member="Vulpesen"] the Jedi Knight who had come so far and @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"] the Khaleesh would take place. A dangerous battlefield where even a single fall could take one to their death.

The Crowd roared, cheered, and seemed to froth at the mouth for the coming bout. The buzzer sounded again, and the fight began.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned as he hung onto one of the chains, swaying easily with his platform. Now this was more like it! He already had his weaponry, but now he was on an unorthodox playing field. He excelled in such places and he was almost jumping with excitement as he watched his enemy. Already, the strategies were forming in his mind. Already, he knew how he would proceed. And already, he knew he could win. He stared up to where he was sure there was some sort of camera, keeping sure to leave @Faroq Kela'ahim somewhere in his mind as to not make the mistake of forgetting about him. "I've made it this far! I'm still alive! If you want me dead, you'll have to try harder than that! SO TELL ME GIRLS!" He grinned and gave them with a lopsided grin. "How do I look now?" He was referring of course the torturing they had given them as an introduction. His neck had the faintest of scars from that encounter, but overall, he was in very good condition from coming out of such an incident.

 

[wraithnobility]

Faroq crouched on the edge of a swaying platform that was elevated more than the others, his high powered, military grade Outland slug thrower rifle in his double-thumbed hands. The only visible part of his face was the orange flag from his left ear to the corner of his mouth, a black scar still healing streaking to outline the the mask and skin. He refused to replace the mask till the end of the tournament, a subject of honor for him. Looking at the environment, he could tell that hitting a target here would be difficult, especially with the winds. Good thing he had the force to aid him. His eyes sharp behind his mask, he spotted a human shouting to one of the skycams. Looking up to one himself, he stared straight to it as he loaded a round, dropping to a knee. Then, looking through his scope, he took aim, using the force to guide his shot. With a smile, he pulled the trigger. The hunt was on.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

The force alerted Vulpesen to the danger, long before the shot and he managed to leap up at the retort of the gun, allowing him to sail over the bullet. "Hey now!" Getting shot would sure be unfortunate right now, but as moved up, his hands gripped the chain, keeping him suspended in the air as he shot out his hand, sending forth his own dagger. He didn't intend to keep this fight ranged for long, but for now it was enough. Allowing his dagger to move with minimal guidance, Vulpesen leaped from his perch, swinging across the chains to quickly move in on @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"].

 

[wraithnobility]

Watching the man leap across the chains through his scope, Faroq saw the glint of something flash towards him. Eyes narrowing, he stepped to the side, the knife whisking by his head with an inch to spare. Watching @[member="Vulpesen"] swing on chains through the canister platforms, Faroq looked for the explosive symbol on the pill-shaped containers. Finding a couple on line with Vulpesen's path, he fired into the containers, watching the brilliant flame erupt into giant balls of heat and shrapnel.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulesen growled as the flames shot up to engulf him, releasing his chain in mid swing. As he flew through the air, the jedi ushed out his hands and let out a strong force ush, shoving the flames back in a small hole while the shrapnel slowed down just enough to cause only minor wounds. He was singed and he would need a watch jobs on his robes, but he'd be alright. As his feet thudded into another platform, the jedi tucked into a roll and launched himself to the next. He wasn't going to stop moving any time soon and he was getting close enough to lay his own tricks. "Hey mask man, catch!" Moving with the swing of the platform, the jedi launched himself towards @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"]. As he attempted to sail of the Kaleesh's head, Vulpesen activated one half of his saber staff with one hand and brought the other in a sweeping movement as the force picked up an explosive canister and slung it at the dark sider. Time to give him a taste of the flames.

To those watching the battle on their vidscreens, the display would be fairly impressive as the dark robed jedi leaped towards his enemy and burst through the flames with smoke rolling off of him. He might be a jedi shadow, but he was also a natural born showman adn he intended to give these people the best show he could afford. After all, how else would he advance if he was going to try and not kill his enemies.

 

[wraithnobility]

Watching the canister flying towards him, Faroq deflected the explosive projectile with the force. Unfortunately, it exploded when it collided with the wall behind him, and the only thing that saved him was putting up a wall of the force between him and the explosion, the force of the blast propelling him through the air. Reaching out for something to grab on to, his hands wrapped around a chain, and he swung to a nearby platform. Small flames lit the bottom of his cloak, and he could feel what was similar to a sunburn on the back of his neck. Ignoring the flames and the annoying burn, he took aim quickly at @[member="Vulpesen"] once more, flourishing his cloak before the three rounds fired in quick succession, leaving swirling trails through the smoke and fire of the smoldering remains left by the explosions. This man moved quickly, but Faroq would give him something just as hard to fight: A Kaleesh on the hunt.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned as @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"] found himself licked by the flames. So far, so good. As his boots thudded on the platform behind the kaleesh. Swirling around to face the man, Vulpesen's saber flicked around deflecting two of the shots while his body moved quickly to avoid the third. However, these weren't normal blaster bolts and it showed when the third slug pierced through his unbalance, cutting a nice gash in his side. "Son of a-!" The rest of his curse faded into an amaran growl as he through up his left hand, hurling three more daggers at his enemy who he started closing in on. Yeah, he was hurting but he'd been through worse. All he had to do was get close, and already he was getting within five meters. Just a bit more, and this kaleesh would be in for a very rude awakening.

 

[wraithnobility]

Watching with a small smile as his third round pierced the side of the jedi, Faroq did not have time to truly enjoy it as the man closed the distance, his hands blurring as three daggers appeared flying through the air. Eyes narrowing, Faroq turned his rifle to block the knives, and he felt their impact as they thudded into the hilt of his rifle. He misjudged the trajectory of the third, however, and barely brought his hand up to deflect the blade, a gash opening across the top of his wrist. Seeing @[member="Vulpesen"] closing in quickly, Faroq took the most logical path present. He lept off of the platform.

Falling, he reached out to grab a chain. Using the momentum of the swing from the chain, he flipped his legs up, wrapping one in the chain to support his weight as he aimed his rifle up at the jedi, hanging upside down as he began firing in earnest, trying to keep the jedi at a distance.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen leaped far away from the shots and the platform, taking on another battle plan, as well as a few more holes in his robes. "Next stop, bottom floor!" Before he even reached the next platform, Vulpesen was sending out two more daggers, aiming it at the chain of @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"]'s platform, and Faroq himself. If he didn't find another hold soon, then this would be a nasty fall indeed. There was more than one way to use the advantage. Vulpesen had used it defensively until now. Now was the time to use it on the offense, even if it did mean a bit of collateral damage. In a way, it was good that the Kaleesh kept Vulpesen at a distance. He didn't exactly want to be there when the thing fell out of the sky.

 

[wraithnobility]

Faroq saw the flick of the wrist, and knew the daggers would collide soon. Unwinding his leg, he swung just as the chain snapped, and took a desperate swing for a nearby platform, just as the second dagger slammed into his left shoulder. He slammed into the platform, rolling and grimacing with pain as the dagger pressed deeper under his weight. Aiming once more, he fired off the last few rounds in the magazine, sliding behind the empty container for cover.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned, using the boost in his morale to quicken his actions. With the activation of his saber's other end, the blades danced in front of him, intercepting the slugs headed his way. He was getting used to deflecting these attacks and was learning to let their weight push his weapon into position. "Surrender mate. You're pinned and you've become a one armed rifleman!" He gripped the container with the force and slowly started pushing it, and the Kaleesh behind it. "This isn't worth it! Just surrender and this can stop. But keep in mind, should you decide to fire one more slug, I will personally give you a new round of flying lessons. And honestly, I have no idea how far the ground is from us." Honestly, he really didn't want to hurt or kill @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"], but he was not intent to lose himself.

 

[wraithnobility]

Feeling the container slide forward, the Kaleesh rolled out of the way, dropping his rifle to the platform and standing to look at the jedi. The reptilian yellow eyes showed no emotion as he reached over his shoulder, gripped the handle of the knife, and pulled it from his scapula. Tossing it off the ledge in disgust, Faroq then gripped the handle of his vibroblade, and his voice sounded out, thick with a Kaleeshi accent, "In my culture, Jedi, surrender can only be given in a close quarters test of will." Pulling the blade from his sheath, he rolled his shoulders, "come, earn your victory, if you can."

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen watched @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"] carefully. Was he insane? Vulpesen was a fully trained jedi and this man wanted to take him on in man to man combat with a weapon that was likely, not even saber resistant. Still, he understood the honor of battle and thus he started his advance, leaping from platform to platform. "Your words are brave. I'll accept, but lets hope that it doesn't end with the loss of either of our lives." He would certainly try to disarm this enemy but if pushed came to shove, he would do what it took to survive.

 

[wraithnobility]

As @[member="Vulpesen"] lept closer, Faroq slammed the blade into the metal of the platform. Maintaining the illusion that his left arm was all but useless, he undid the clasp of his cloak with his right, and threw it away. Beneath the cloak, his armored vest was covered in rows of sheaths, as blades of different lengths and shapes were resting in their respective homes. On the small of his back, however, something else rested. A short lightsaber hilt was clipped in, and Faroq reached back for it. As he activated it, a bright green blade activated. Looking up to the jedi, he watched as he made his way closer. "I took this trophy from one who thought to strike me down on my planet, once. It is a beautiful part of the collection." Activating the blade, he dropped to the stance that his master had taught him, blade in high guard, "If you wish to make this to first cut made, I accept." He waited for the Jedi's response.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned as he finally reached the platform of his enemy. "Now what kind of jedi would I be if I did that. No, I'll leave that to you." Preforming a modified makashi Salute, Vulpesen prepared for the duel to come. If @[member="Faroq Kela'ahim"] wanted to hammer him with a plethora of blades, he would be prepared for it. "However, I'm afraid that I might have to relieve you of your collection should I win. We jedi aren't very fond of those who steal what belongs to the order." His tone remained friendly, but there was a certain feel to the words that showed the intentions underneath. Vulpesen had lost his first saber and it had brought him to unimaginable sorrow. That's where Faroq had made his mistake. He had shown the blade like a trophy. The sacred weapon of a jedi was not some golden cup. No, it was more than that and it was to be respected. That's why Faroq had to lose. That's why Vulpesen prepared to fight, and that's why Vulpesen was prepared to unleash all hell when his enemy made his first move.