PAO: Scratching the Surface (Jason Black's Specilization Training)

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Malice paced along the long inner wall of the training room of many training rooms to the enclave. Being of the founders, Malice had taken a special interest in their design and decoration... or lack of one. He didn't much care for anything but utilization of the rooms themselves. Though his collection had piled so high, that each room and each wall was completely lined with layers of weapons of more than one could count.

As he paced there, he swirled around him the chain of his desires; his favored weapon and own design, as this he did create with much intensity and care. The large axe blade flourished about him, attached to the chain that he held onto in two positions; his elbows lifted over the whirling chain of incredible mass and weight, using the Force to manipulate its ease in motion. Altering sides and placements of the chain as he flourished the blade, with the silver shoto lightsaber not ignited at the moment, he stepped and pivoted with leaning tilts of his torso to bring the chain up over his neck and back under his arm. It would swirl about him like a possessed serpent with ludicrous speeds, a blur of chain and silver steel that could carve through a Krayt Dragon's hide like butter. Today he'd meet his newest Neophyte, to train in the art of weapons.

 

[Zach]

((Sorry the post took so long))

Jason Black was quietly escorted through the halls of the Enclave. This was his first time entering the hidden temple, and he was slightly on edge. He wasn't used to being in unfamiliar territory. Any mission, any objective he'd had to accomplish, hours of research and planning were put into a plan before he even went near the targeted location. These halls were a mystery to him. He'd have to deal with it, however. It was hard enough for him to concentrate on using the Force to communicate. He'd recently been taught the ability to communicate telepathically through the Force, as it was a requirement to join the order, and a rule to only use that form of communication within the walls of the enclave.

When he'd been approached by a member of the pentacle Athame Order the week before, he'd been taken by surprise. After a mission gone wrong, when Jason had been set up, he made his way back to his ship and found someone awaiting his return. At first the stranger spoke in riddles, until Jason realized he was speaking of something he was not allowed to speak of directly. Since then, he'd learned the existence of some type of organization, one for those who are sensitive and trained in the Force. After agreeing to join as an neophyte at the enclave, before he'd been taken there, he trained for several days, needing to learn telepathic communication. It was difficult, but he managed to practice it enough to be able to hold a steady conversation, as long as he wasn't focusing on anything else.

When he'd arrived at the temple, he was given a robe and a mask to wear. It was said within the cavern of his mind that it was a requirement to wear the uniform within the walls of the enclave. He nodded to them and pulled the robe over his head, slipping it over his torso and legs. The sleeves were slightly too tight, and the hem of the robe touched just over his toes, even with his shoes on, but he decided not to be picky. Worst case scenario, the robe was torn and he'd get a new one. He took the mask from his escort's hand and was about to slip it on, but he hesitated. He closed his eyes and through out to the other man, asking a question.

Does the dress code allow me to wear clothing and armor of my choice beneath the uniform?

Jason asked, reluctant to remove his protective helmet. The escort nodded to him and Jason nodded back in relief. He took the mask and slipped it over his red helmet, careful to make sure that it was properly attached and would not slip off during training.

They made their way down through the halls and eventually came to an open door. When he had a clear line of sight through the opening, he saw a single hooded figure standing in the center of the room, awaiting their arrival. The escort stood beside the door and extended his hand to the room, implying that Jason was meant to go alone. He nodded once to the escort and approached the hooded figure, bowing as he came to the center of the room. Unfamiliar with the customs of the Order, he decided to stay telepathically silent, as he wasn't sure if he should speak when spoken to or if the man was of much higher caliber and ranking than the average teacher.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

AH! Malice projected his thoughts as second nature, perhaps too loud for what the Neophyte expected. Malice's monstrous weight carried into pounding steps, enhanced by the Force to compensate for all the mass of steel he carried. The chain-blade swirled about his arm and into his cloak, thrashing the material about his waist to wave and claw at the floor with each shredded end tail like violent fingers grasping for life. It was untold how many times the chain had already been wrapped around his body, let alone how many more times it took to fully retract from sight. And Malice turned to face his newest student, awaiting his success to be proven.

The blue hue of light drifting through the room in particles and blackness cutting across it in harsh slashing lines seemed a smell of space in the vacuum, or perhaps it was simply all the metal and cleaning agents used for them. Malice's hand stretched out with telekinetic power to clutch a single vibrosword from the wall's choices into the overly veined flesh of his palm. Once caught, the blade fell over the back of his hand as he switched to catch it upside down; then tossed it to his student. He then repeated the action, catching another sword of similar simplicity and connected one statement in Jason Black's mind: GO!

Malice dashed forth with a single crossing right-handed slash to cut down Jason through the chest. He'd give no time to talk at this point. War and battle does not wait for talk, and neither will their training!

 

[Zach]

Jason caught the sword and immediately shifted his weight, ready to move. When he heard "GO!" in his head, he dove forward and slid to avoid the stranger's slash and kicked out both legs at the man's ankles. While on the ground, he swung his own vibroblade upward at the man's wrist from his extended slash. With his other hand, he reached to the side and pushed against the floor, ready to roll to the side if he was attacked again.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

The heavy Master's legs were kicked out only slightly (though they were close in height, Malice carried tons of weight through the Force) yet with a simple shirking twist of his wrist, Malice caught his student's sword with his own and fell to a single knee that would both trap the rotation of Jason's rolling up to his feet and add to the momentum of Malice's incoming attack. As Malice caught the swords' short hand guards together in lock, he punched Jason's own hilt right into his forehead even as he tried to get up moving his face right into the attack.

Malice was surprised at the lack of questions as well as quick obedience to simply jump into action, literally; the lesson had begun to unfold, but first Malice would know his student.

 

[Zach]

Jason narrowed his eyes when the heavy-set man took a knee. When his blade had turned downward, catching his own strike he understood. The extra force would push down harder, and he headbutted his head into the hilt, preventing his sword from losing its position. The blow knocked against his helmet beneath the mask and didn't phase him, but his sword hand was caught. The man's knee between his legs, he didn't have much room to maneuver, so he lifted his right leg and kneed the man in the ribs, trying to knock the wind out of him and roll them both to the side. This way he wouldn't be at a disadvantage by being pinned to the ground. It would also give him a feel for how much armor he was using, and if his hand-to-hand combat would do him much good other than just slowing him down. His left hand still bracing his impact against the ground, he pushed off slightly and grabbed his opponent's sword, twisting the blade through his armored glove to it wouldn't hurt him to yank it from Malice's grip.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Malice leaned into the knee to his ribs, the layers of thick chain over and over itself taking the hit easily. Reaching over the leg, Malice gripped onto Jason's hand upon his sword's hilt and twisted it down upon him. As well, Malice released the handle of which Jason attempted claim, only to reverse his grip upon it. He now had hold of Jason's hands more so than the swords. He lifted a pinning shin over the retracting right thigh of Jason's last attack, no doubt feeling hurt from the steel it hit. He now scissored the two blades down upon Jason's neck. He would not end the student, but figured he would have to hold his attack as Jason had no way of stopping him... or so the doubting distrusting Malice had thought. It was just who he was, believing everyone to fall short of their potential with little to no exceptions. Just as possible as it was that he was wrong, Malice believed the initial duel... over.

 

[Zach]

Jason suddenly panicked, his eyes slightly widening. He hadn't anticipated such strength and weight from a single opponent. He hadn't had to rely on the Force in a very long time, but it seemed it was a necessity at this point. As the swords came come, he tucked in his neck and jutted his chin out to meet the blades, blocking them as they cut through the mask and banged against his helmet. With one one free leg that wasn't pinned, he tucked it in and braced his foot against the man's stomach with as best of a placing as he could manage. He wouldn't be able to push the massive figure off with his own strength, so he pushed out with the Force as he kicked the man's stomach, throwing him just enough into the air above Jason so that he could roll to the right, coming to his feet.

His knee was sore, and he slightly limped to one side, but he kept his footing. He held the saber with both hands, point facing the man. He was panting slightly, knowing that he wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. He decided that this was a duel of melee weapons, so he would refrain from drawing his projectile weaponry, but he didn't expect the use of the Force to be disallowed. As soon as he'd come to his feet, he started building up as much Force energy as he could; it wasn't a lot, since he wasn't used to using the Force unless it was a sudden need to use it.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Sprawling his arms and legs out, Malice was forced back; as well as allowing the push, Malice simply lifted back onto his feet a couple feet away from where he was kneeling over Jason before.

Calmly standing with a judging eye, Malice tossed aside his blade. Reaching out with the Force, he'd now rip two staffs from the wall as he had with the swords earlier; tossing one to Jason. The student would toss the sword away or be forced to catch the staff awkwardly. Malice was testing his student's limits, doing well so far. He'd move on to different weapons to understand Jason's physical strengths behind each weapon. He even thought to judge Jason's skill with the pistol eventually.

For now, Malice whirled the staff two-handed to his right and over his center, to come down hard with a diagonal bash from upper left (Jason's right). His feet staying balanced, Malice kept the starting attack simple; utilizing condensed oak staffs with metal bearings. He'd give little time to react, as the initial test would move along quickly!

 

[Zach]

Jason saw the two staffs shoot from the wall, one coming at him. He threw the sword at Malice, confident that it would not even scratch him, but it might catch him off balance and buy him some time. He extended his right arm to throw the sword and continued turning his body with the momentum to grab the staff with his left hand. He took a knee, his left knee raised, and gripped it with both hands when Malice swung at him from above and he raised the lower end towards his right to block the incoming attack. Just after the staffs made contact, he retracted the block and extended the other end with an immediate counter, aiming to smack Malice's lower side between the layers of armor. He'd thrown his weight to the left, making the blow a little harder, but it was intended to allow him to roll to the side at Malice's next attack.

Jason needed to get a feel for how much armor Malice was wearing. It was incredible how fast and coordinated the man was, considering the weight and limited maneuverability that the kind of armor allowed. He was thoroughly impressed, and a little frightened at how quickly the man would be able to move without the extra weight.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Having batted the sword down and away into his then blocked attack - Malice, now tight on his student, jammed his staff into the floor beside him and slid that end into and underneath Jason. The jam blocked Jason's low attack, as the end then aggressively caught up against the underside of his thigh between his legs. Malice wrenched a push of a twist with great leverage, tossing back the student most likely onto his back. And as quickly as he's been able to move, in a constant state of telekinetic combat, Malice lifted a jab of the same end of his staff into the soft of Jason's solar plexus just below his sternum.

 

[Zach]

Jason's eyes widened at the staff plunging between his legs, setting up to flip him around. On one knee, he pushed off with the foot that was still braced against the ground to the left, raising off the floor before the staff was raised. He barely avoided the attack, only having the end brush against his right leg. The strike to his solar plexus grazed between his ribs and his right arm, throwing him a little off balance, but it didn't knock the wind out of him.

As he jumped to the left and had the staff lightly push him in a twirl, he spun backward to the right and gripped the staff, pulling it with him and attempting to disarm Malice. When he turned far enough in the spin, trying to pull the staff from Malice, he snapped out his own staff at his opponent's head with his left hand, not intending to do any damage, but just to shake his helm and throw him off balance. As he made contact with Malice's head, he leaned back with his full weight to try and disarm Malice while holding his staff.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Malice was surprised at the pull of his weapon, yet never unwilling to go where the fight took him. And so, Malice leaned left and down with the pull and to the side of Jason's jutting attack. Pivoting with a single planting right foot, Malice swung around his left behind Jason as well as throwing over his left grip of the staff. His own weapon, still holding a two handed grip, lifted over the left side to horizontally meet Jason's throat with the center of the staff. Malice's chest clenched tight the student with a pull of both hands to choke him out. Having let Jason's staff spear outwards in the maneuver and past any attempt of sticking up in between to intercept the attack, Malice positioned his feet and legs accordingly to keep his captive immovable. Malice's feet walled in Jason's, as Malice's bent knees held just inside Jason's; as the massive Malice feared no strikes to his ribs in wrapped chains. Any attempt at attack and Malice would pull Jason with a twist of body motion, to re-situate again and again.

The clinch was sealed, as any attempt at ducking the trap would have not succeeded as Malice brought up the staff in a scooping motion, after reaching over in the ensnaring act, to catch just underneath the jaw and into the Adam's Apple.

 

[Zach]

As Malice slid around his body and set him up for the headlock with the staff, Jason released his grip on his own staff and shot his hand to his neck, barely catching the attack. He was strained in that position, unable to keep it up for long, but his neck didn't have the pressure against it. He released his other hand and tried to pry the staff away from his neck with both hands now, one on either side of his chin.

Malice's grip was too strong for Jason to break by just pulling on the weapon, so he crouched down with his knees, pulling Malice will him so he was crouched over his back. He quickly pushed up and threw the momentum forward, trying to flip the massive man over his head to the floor. Just as he extended his legs so they were upright, he used the Force to increase his strength momentarily, being able to push such a massive weight over his back. He flipped the man over his shoulders, able to pull the staff away from his throat at that point, but thoroughly exhausted. His vision started to black out a little from exerting that much strength and using the Force. He didn't see how Malice landed, but he backed up immediately with his hands raised defensively, still missing his discarded staff.

Jason's stance was wavering a centimeter from left to right, and his wrists were sore. His right knee was still aching, but he was no longer limping on it. He scrunched his nose and cursed his recklessness, knowing that he couldn't strain the joint too much. His knees were bent, left foot closer to Malice than his right, and doing the same with his fists. They were bent at the elbows and raised almost to his face, about six inches away from his mask. He didn't know how long he'd be able to keep this up.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Slamming onto his back, the chains jingled loose for a moment; as Malice had let himself go for the time being, enjoying the visible effects on his student. It meant that his limits were being pushed. Simply rolling up to a stand, he noticed the strain on the student and immediately knew which direction to go next in their training.

Discarding both staffs off to the walls with the Force, Malice threw out both arms in the act. Stepping a right foot forward, Malice stretched out an open right palm. Slowly spinning up to meet his focus in the air, four average sized throwing knives lifted up out of his robes and gathered about his hand hovering in the air. Still rotating over and about his hand, Malice's keen eyes clearly found the sharp shimmering along the fold of the metal before refocusing his gaze to the student before him.

Now is the time to test your skill with range. Projecting his thoughts critically to Jason, Malice knew that in exhaustion - Jason would show his true skill's extent, and what would need the most attention.

Controlled levitation navigated the knives over just before Jason to be taken on convenience. Malice's head jerked right to designate a target. A ringed board hung at the center of the wall to Malice's right, Jason's left inbetween long metal pikes and swords. Malice indicated Jason was to begin throwing them physically without Force's aid at the target. Each blade would await Jason's use next to him, Malice would hold them there until reached for.

 

[Zach]

(I'm really sorry for such a long wait. Work and school.)

Jason straightened himself and smiled from beneath the mask. He saw the knives floating in front of him and gave a light sigh. Finally, something he was more proficient with. Hand to hand combat and bo-staff combat was all good and well, but the conventional weapons such as projectile and bladed weaponry was more his style.

He extended his hand carefully, gripping the short hilt of the dagger from the air with his right hand. The weapon fell limp from Malice's grip with the Force at the touch of his palm, but he already had a firm grip on it. It was light, but well balanced at the same time. It was curved for aerodynamic purposes, rather than spinning. It was his preferred style of trowing knife, but had some slight differences on the grip. He was used to a rubber-like substance between the finger grips, whereas this one had a leathery texture to it.

He flipped it over in his palm a few times before he glanced to the target, swinging his arm up over his shoulder and extending his arm, throwing the knife with half of his body weight behind it. With his shoulder thrown forward, he continued the spin and grabbed a second knife with his left hand just as the first sunk into the target dead in the center. Coming out of the spin, he extended his left arm horizontally, letting the blade slid from his fingertips, just as he grabbed a third dagger, throwing it over his shoulder again. They hit right after each other, each right next to the first inside of the center marking.

His weight thrown forward again, he finished the spin just as he had the first time, grabbing the final dagger with his left hand. He let it slip from his fingers as he extended his arm again, the blade flying straight and hitting just below the other three. Each of the points were inside the center marking on the target and he smiled to himself underneath his mask and helmet. The entire attack had been a single fluid motion, his body in a constant series of movements to ensure quickness.

He straightened his posture and turned to look at Malice. He waited for approval, constructive criticism, complimentary body language, anything. He was also on his guard and ready for the next thing he was going to throw at him. It seemed like he was a very fast-paced individual. Jason would have to stay on his toes around him.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Malice lifted to a stand, a reassuring acceptance in his physicality. So, therein lies Jason's skill. Malice began to understand but gave little time to lapse.

Reaching out with his right hand, Malice turned his head the the knives upon the board so that Jason might watch. A single knife began to wriggle free. He gave it no force of mastery, as Malice wished Jason to know what it felt like; his hand showing the way. Malice did not move. His head did not lower. His arm did not further reach. This was his specialty, and would but begin Jason's.

Feel the handle as you would know its weight before throwing it. Know how you would know any object before using it. Get to know of its texture and shape intimately ...as you already have. Remember it.

The knife detached and flew in spiral at Malice's hand to slap in place of his palm's strong embrace. The closed fist twisted to release the single index finger that pointed to the other knives upon the board. Malice would have it done exactly as he demonstrated, to begin with the most basic control. To immediately grab all of the knives, if he was capable, would not fulfill Malice's lesson; nor would it prove as skillful as telekinetically acquiring but one knife.

 

[Zach]

Jason watched Malice as he extended his arm, feeling a surge of the Force as he felt the grip on one of the daggers. He listened to his telepathic thoughts as he explained how to fully work with a tool, or a weapon with the Force. To fully understand the weapon as what it is, before using the Force as an extension of the body to use it. He nodded in understanding, extending his own arm towards the target. The second dagger he'd thrown began to shake slightly, as he was careful to focus his Force grip on only the one hilt.

He remembered the slight curve to the blade, the feel of the leathery texture between finger grips on the hilt. He remembered how it had shot straight instead of flipping in the air when he'd thrown it. He felt the balance of the blade as he took it from the target. The blade had sunken deep and took a bit of effort to take it out. He twirled the blade in the air, his arm staying still, but his mind working with the weapon. He turned it back and forth until he was completely familiar with not only it's physical attributes, but the feel of it through the Force as well.

He turned to Malice and thought back to him in the echoes of his mind, "What is my next lesson, Master? Do you wish for me to train with telekinetic combat? I must admit, Telekinetic Lightsaber Combat has always been an interest of mine, along with telekinetic projectiles, such as throwing knives with the Force."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Indeed... As it is mine, as well.

Malice took two steps back, the chains of his constant telekinetic mastery would have no doubt shown for what it was to Jason by now. After their first fight, it would be obvious to those paying attention that not many could live with so much weight upon themselves at all times. As it was Malice's focus of art, to have mastered telekinetic combat. Malice could already see it in Jason, to become such a master as well. Yet, Malice was skeptical of the manner in which Jason's liking towards projectiles would influence his potential. He would allow Jason to prove him wrong however, and would see his talent nurtured to the fullest.

Malice let go of the knife in hand and mirrored both hands in bent position before him, open palms facing each other in front of each side of his ribs. Knifes from the target board, as well as dozens more from both sides of the walls about them, flung into an orbiting sphere of blades. Malice thought this would be a good exercise for himself for what he had planned later, but for now he would make sure Jason was up to the task. As the knives gathered and began orbit between the two force sensitives, Malice continued the minds' conversation in lesson.

I want you to begin by taking one blade from the sphere, and begin your own orbit of control. In this, you will feel the blades churn as your own heartbeat; to pulse through your mind's will like the blood through your veins. Do not hesitate! Rip the blade from my control, then still its harmony in beginning chaos!

Malice would talk even as Jason began the task, his own concentration keeping the slow stir of the sphere at ease as the first blade was torn from the ball of blades.

Now! I want you to take two at the same time; then three, then four!

After Jason would have taken the first knife, Malice began pushing him to up the increment after each attempt until all was in his possession; one, then two at a time, then three at a time, and so on. Once, and if, Jason had succeeded - Malice would evaluate the orbiting sphere to evaluate where Jason's weaknesses lie. The sphere would mirror his own state of focus and connection to the Force. Malice was indeed a skilled Force user, never believing in names or theories but rather feelings alone. He would feel the chaos of Jason's sphere, and judge it as if it were a simpler breakdown of Jason himself.

 

[Zach]

Jason took a similar stance as Malice did, focusing on the blades surrounding his master. He focused on one blade in particular, the first that had flung to Malice's side from the target board. He focused on gripping the Force around the hilt of the knife and attempted to wrench it from malice's orbiting sphere, flinging it from side to side. He gained control of it a moment later and it took a steady rhythmic path around his body, spinning in time to his heart beat.

He closed his eyes and focused, thinking of the other two blades that were taken from the target board as well. He tried to focus on both of them at the same time and removing them from the paths they already took, to move them around him, but he was still concentrating on the blade already spinning around him. He wrenched both the knives from Malice's control and slowly hovered them over to himself, spacing them with the first blade evening around his body. The three knives circled him in a horizontal path, not yet on a three-dimensional plane.

Jason struggled with the concentration, trying to put himself in a rut so it would be easier to control, but so many things on his mind at once was slightly overwhelming. He was able to focus on three more blades surrounding Malice, inching them outward, but not able to pull them from his grip as he had before. The three knives slowly extended from the sphere that twirled around his master and he flung them towards himself, trying to change their direction as they approached him. Jason stopped them before they hit his leg, but took much longer to align them in the orbiting path as the others. A minute and a half later, the six knives were spread out to the point where it was almost spherical.

Eyes still closed, he thought out to Malice, trying to keep his primary concentration on the knives. "I am unsure if I will be able to take another four blades at once, Master. My concentration... It will take several minutes for me to focus on all of the objects at once," he said, knowing that he wasn't trained well enough in the Force to have that kind of precision and speed in doing the task.