A More Elegant Touch

[Deloi]

Deloi was talking about a Jedi Master that died a thousand years before they were born. The Jedi Master was the most well known user of Soresu which was still being downplayed by Lamia Kressh. The form even reflected the very essence of the Jedi: patience, pacifism, and knowing the way of harmony.

"The reason that one of them won is because they were smart enough to know they could be more flexible with Soresu than just block and dodging. While they did know other forms, Soresu was their main form. However the one I am talking dueled a cyborg with four arms and an equal amount of lightsabers and defeated him through the use of Soresu. He even dueled one who used Makashi much like myself to slightly less favorable outcomes, but that Makashi user was one of the greatest duelists of the time. That man only defeated his opponents including one of the most powerful Jedi in history through tactical analysis and Soresu's fundamentals. The point of being a Jedi is not to eviscerate your enemies, but to keep the Force in balance and peace; something that requires inner peace as well."

 

[Fusion]

Ah, you reference the Jedi who showed me what my path would be if I fully followed the light... It is claimed that it was not the Soresu that gave Kenobi victory, but Grievous's blaster, the one in the Galactic Museum. His strike against Vader was more due to him briefly switching to Shii-Cho when he saw the opening to literally disarm him. I would call it tactical analysis more then Soresu.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi scoffed at Lamia Kressh's inability to see that the use of Soresu was what gave Kenobi the ability to survive, the blaster was just the finisher. His strike against the latter opponent followed on the way of Soresu to strike when an opening was critical. Whether Kenobi had utilized the blaster or Shii-Cho to finish a duel was irrelevant. The blaster and the supposed use of Shii-Cho could not have been made possible without exploiting an opening such as the way of Soresu.

"It was not a blaster that held off four lightsabers at once and removed two of them. Nor was it Shii-Cho that found the opening. You are missing the whole use of Soresu through those entire duels. Soresu is far more intricate than simply blocking continuously. It requires timing and perception. Those core focuses is what finished those duels."

 

[Fusion]

I will admit that Soresu provides an excellent defense, and that those capable of mastering it are nearly invincible, but it just is not an aggressive enough form for me. I would say a form that balanced offense and defense, and of course being one I would enjoy using, would be Niman. Excellent combination of attack and defense. Users of it rarely seem to have trouble adapting to an opponent skilled in an aggressive or conservative form.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi thought about Niman and remembered it had no glaring weaknesses but also no strengths either. The form was a balance of all forms except Deloi's form, Makashi, and the seventh form. Why Makashi was not added incorporated, Deloi would never know. However there was one class in the history of Jedi that Deloi remembered about users of Niman about one thousand years ago.

"I believe a thousand years ago a man Jango had... Never mind it is not important. What is important is that you find a style that will help show you are more than competent, but not on the verge of falling to darkside. I chose Makashi because of my limited strength and nimble hands. However choosing Juyo because you are close to the darkside continuously is like picking the deadliest poison to take yourself. You need a different style that reflects your status as a redeemed or at least lightside Jedi."

 

[Fusion]

I must maintain balance between the Light and Dark Sides. And as Niman is a balanced form, I feel it would suit me well as a neutral form. I don't suppose you could help me, perhaps with a spar?

 

[Deloi]

Deloi thought about the possibility of a spar. He had not sparred in quite a while and his brother had been gone for years. Deloi figured it would be a good idea to spar with Lamia Kressh and perhaps show her something. Deloi had also not practiced with combining the forms Ataru and Makashi together, so the fight would probably be a good idea.

"I will spar with you if that is what you wish. Mind you that I will be using both Ataru and Makashi. It will be a good exercise if you utilize different tactics to see what works for you."

 

[Fusion]

Lamia positioned herself in a Niman stance. She hadn't learned that much of it from Matsu, but her bond allowed her to adapt to it relatively easily.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi grabbed out his lightsaber while taking a stance that was shoulder length apart. He Force pulled his lightsaber into hand while facing Kressh. Deloi held his lightsaber at his side with the blade pointed down; his thumb was made parallel to the length of the blade. The Jedi Knight altered the damage of his lightsaber to non-lethal limits with the Force so that he could act freely with it and not be worried about killing Kressh. Deloi finally brought the lightsaber up and in front of his face and then back down to his side in a traditional Makashi salute.

"When you are ready..."

 

[Fusion]

And I am.

Lamia began to move towards Deloi before activating her saber and slashing with her left hand at his left side, the spot she knew was his most vulnerable.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi rotated his hand to face downwards and then moved his lightsaber to parry the slash headed for his left side. He deflected the blast and moved his hand, which was still facing downwards, to slice at Lamia Kressh's legs in an attempt to hinder her speed. It was more tactical than straightforward which was what Teline Deloi commonly did.

 

[Fusion]

(ooc: I aimed for his left side. Read: left. Doesn't matter now though)

Lamia saw the blade coming for her legs and jumped up and over Deloi with a front flip, releasing her left foot back towards his head as she tried to Force Push his legs out from under him.

 

[Deloi]

(Sorry, I meant left or I wouldn't have flipped my character's wrist.)

Deloi had used an old Makashi tactic that was commonly used on Ataru users on Kressh. He wanted Kressh to jump over his head so that he could get the opportunity to swipe at her from below. When Kressh went to jump over Deloi's head, Deloi sliced up twice in an attempt to slice arms and legs. It was an old trick that dated back at least a thousand years before Kressh or Deloi were born.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia saw the blade coming and it barely nicked her outstretched leg. Were it fully powered, it would've left a survivable, but painful gash, though in this case it was simply a burn. She focused on the Crucitorn techniques she had learned from Matsu to block out the pain as she charged toward Deloi at tremendous speed, saber pointed directly at him. What he did next would determine her reaction. If he blocked, she would try to use sheer strength to overwhelm him. If he held his blade out for her to fall upon it, she would turn to the right a bit and slash at his hand.

 

[Deloi]

Kressh was charging right at him with her blade pointed in his direction ready to impale him. Deloi faced her, turned his lightsaber off, and closed his eyes to concentrate. He was left completely defenseless, but was still eerily calm and unafraid. Suddenly, a blue sphere of swirling blue energy surrounded Deloi. Deloi had used his focus and concentration to create a protection bubble around himself. This changed up the circumstances significantly because now Deloi was completely safe from harm while if Kressh came into close contact with the bubble, she would be hurt instead.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia stopped a few inches short of the bubble surrounding Deloi.

Thank you for the reminder to always expect the unexpected.

Lamia held out her hands and focused as yellow lightning began to build up before she released it towards the bubble, testing his resolve. Of course he would know she was using Electric Judgement... Or would he?

 

[Deloi]

Even though the barrier stood strong in the face of the lightning, Deloi was taken aback by the technique that Kressh used. He again saw the lightning as another reason she was passed over for taking the Jedi Trials. Deloi recognized the technique as used by a man he had the privilege of knowing, but the use was still highly controversial.

"Did you just use Electric Judgment? That you use that technique only makes your potential knighthood more controversial. I would hide that ability if I were you."

 

[Fusion]

I typically do, but it is the light-sided equivalent of another technique we are known for using. Besides, I feel no hatred or malice as I use it.

Electric Judgement... Found by Plo Koon, used by many Jedi thereafter. Controversial, yet effective.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi lowered his protection bubble to discuss more about the technique almost like had completely forgotten they were in a fight. Deloi turned his lightsaber off, leaving himself visibly vulnerable to a second dose of electric judgment. He wondered about why a Padawan would have such information about that.

"It seems you have talents normal Padawans usually do not have."

 

[Fusion]

Lamia saw his apparent vulnerability, but decided that for now, the fight was over.

Blame me having a Master most Padawans don't usually have. Master Ike is... something else when compared to other Masters I've seen.