Learning how to Lightsaber [OPEN]

[Ral]

(OOC: Due to pacing this thread will have a 72 hour timeout, after 72 hours if you haven't posted you will get skipped.)

Jedi Master Kai Sera walked down the corridors of the Galactic Evolution to where some of the training rooms were located. While he had recently taught a class of basic Force abilities and lightsaber usage, he didn't want to overwhelm the many new Padawans by having them practice too much of the advanced techniques, and so he had chosen not to go into too much detail about the advanced lightsaber forms. Now, however, he had chosen to host a class focusing on Forms III and IV as those were his most experienced forms. Perhaps in the future he would be able to expand his repertoire to Forms II and VI, but he wasn't learned enough in those to feel comfortable with teaching them to a large class without assistance.

Walking into the training room he had reserved for use of such a class, Kai looked around the sparse training room. It had all the basic necessities for teaching a lightsaber class. Making his way over to one of the nearby control panels, Kai pressed a few buttons and entered a command routine. Several platforms rose out of the floor at varying heights creating uneven and broken terrain. Perfect, the Jedi Master thought to himself before pressing the reset button and walking over to inspect the training droids. There were plenty there to service even a very large class, and remotes to match as well. This would do for Kai. Taking his own lightsaber off of his hip, Kai got a grip on it and felt the Solari crystal resonating inside. It still felt strong and aligned to him. "Good," he whispered with a smile as the first students began to arrive.

@CJ Solo @AuroraRogersSkywalker

 

[Maya Whitelight]

Knowing that she still wasn't complying to the dress code. By the grace of the force those robes was making her skin crawl as if it was alive. There could be the fact that she never worn much as the form of real clothing in her life more leather skin from animals or little clothing at all. Even shoes bother her from time to time. Just like today before coming to class, having that free time gave her time to go out into the fresh air. Even then she brought her sweet creature to hunt and feed themselves. They was just misunderstood was all they wouldn't hurt anyone unless she let them, they was totally under her control will for the most part. There was that mess hall when they first got here, well how she saw it they was just cleaning up food that wasn't wanted how did she know that one wasn't done eating was coming back to finish his Nerf stew.

Not wanting to come empathy handed to class as remember how training worked in heart of the jungle with her mother or any of the elders. I"m here Master ...oh wait I think I can remember.. Kai or something like that.
Yep she was getting names down some what knowing that it seem the Masters have learn her name quicker with the few runs in she had another one being the man eating plant keep in her room. How was she to know that one of the younglings would wonder into her room almost get eaten by planet Seemore. Again there was lots and lots of things that her mother hadn't prepared her for before finally wanting to be trained as a skilled jedi healer. Yea so she been told over and over basic first before those really cool skill powers could be taught.

Hear Master Kai, I brought you one of those dead flying birds thought you could enjoy cooking it up for a meal, it took all morning to get my throwing skills with my knives right on the mark, maybe a little force help, not use to being on something solid for to long.

Knowing that Kai would remember her mother or at less heard of her being of great skills in the healing arts but also with her way of stealth more and more stories she was hearing for those that remember or what little she could find on her. Finding it harder to believer that she wold left all these behind when she felt a pull in the force the way she had then she came along.

Putting her hips on the Akk armor as her own warrior tattoos showed those being that she was a true warrior hunter but also a half moon and blazing sun that told that she was also a plant healer using both light and dark plants to heal with.
@Ral Aran

 

[Algarus]

Adun looked around the room uneasily. He still didn't know some if any trainees other than Rayla, and he also had never handled a lightsaber before. In fact he wasn't even sure if he even wanted to learn, he was training to be a jedi healer after all. Still he felt given the state of galaxy it wouldn't be a bad idea, he just hoped he would never have to use it on another person. Seeing one of the instructors enter he bowed in respect and await for the session to begin. His thoughts wandered to his former teacher once again. If only Master Tera was here....

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

Jahairal Val Kharon entered the room with his tan cloak pulled around himself, Bone Mask obscuring his face with its red markings, and head-wrap covering his black hair, as his golden eyes glanced around the room. The Kaleesh was not a normal student of the jedi, in fact he was not a jedi at all, but rather an Imperial Knight. He didn't look much the part of the traditionally uniform and prestigious group that had once been, but he was a knight nonetheless, and a part of him wondered if that would matter during his training.

He needed help to make himself stronger, to become a more capable tool of the empire, the True Empire; not the corrupt and rotting husk that the sith had turned it into, like so many things their influence touched. He needed skills to full-fill his role as a knight, to live up to the title of Imperial Knight, set forth by his predecessors so many centuries ago. And, one reason he'd probably never admit to the others, was that he needed guidance. He desired to learn more about the force, about the light, having felt the cold touch of the dark side once before, he wanted to know all there was to combating it.

The fact that there were few Imperials who could teach him such, left his decision to seek the jedi to help him with this plain as day to him.

He glanced to the other two who had entered, giving the slightest of nods at the both of them. Fine warriors he was sure, capable of holding their own most likely, and probably bearing the scars to prove their survival, as he did. He approached the jedi master, the short and slender human male who would be teaching today, and gave a bow to the man. He stepped back silently, keeping his eyes shifting from one person, to another, to the door, and back, mindful of his surroundings as he waited for them to begin.

 

[AuroraRogersSkywalker]

Saerina Avrikana, thanks to her awareness of time and fondness of having a strict schedule, had gotten there a little early. There wasn't much she had been obligated to do earlier anyway. The small and slender girl was glad to have some more official practice with Form III, one of the two forms she had decided to study. She and her master Kai had started it already and she had been practicing it diligently, and now felt ready to move on to the next level.

As always, once she stepped into the room she was very conscious of the people around her and what they might have been thinking. There were three other Padawans she didn't know. One of them seemed very confident and didn't, unlike Saerina, seem to be worrying about what the others were thinking of her. Then there was the one who seemed more shy and tentative- a bit more relatable in Saerina's opinion. He seemed nervous, just like how she had been her first time learning Soresu. And the third apprentice, Saerina didn't know exactly what to think of. To her he had a mysterious presence, cold and calculating. They probably didn't notice her, she figured, since she came in quietly and didn't just strike up a conversation with someone. That just wasn't the way she worked anyway. Besides, she didn't mind not being the center of attention. That only meant less pressure.

Saerina bowed to her master upon coming in and watched the others quietly as they waited for the lesson to begin.

 

[CJ Solo]

Saana had been learning so much since she had first come to the Jedi and she had taken it on willingly. However, there were times when she worried that there might be something she missed or might forget. It was for this reason that the Togruta Padawan spent a lot of time studying and practicing what she had been taught so far. Some things had been more difficult for her to get a grasp on while others were rather simple. Regardless of the challenge, she always felt up to facing it even when she did fail. Master Kai was always supportive and patient and when there were questions, he was always willing to answer them. The other senior Jedi she has met have also been kind and open to giving her advice and encouragement where she needed it. So when she heard that Master Kai was doing a follow up class for some of his padawans with the lightsaber, she knew she wanted to be there.

The Togruta female entered the training room at last and paused inside after the door closed behind her. "Hello, Master Kai." With the greeting, she gave her Master a bow. Saana's yellow eyes passed over the other gathered people, only one of which she recognized. Serena, she knew was also Master Kai's apprentice. Barefooted as she moves across the floor, she moved to stand with the others. "I apologise, Master Kai, if I kept you waiting."

 

[Ral]

As the students started to enter, Kai watched silently and I'm passively until they had all entered. A young Zeltron whom he recognized as a newer Padawan by the name of Maya entered and offered him a bird she had killed. While some might have taken offense to such a thing, and while Kai certainly thought it to be a faux pas, he didn't appear to be offended. Kai was friends with Asheek, a consumate huntress whose food he had enjoyed immensely. So with a slight nod, Kai accepted the bird and placed it off to the side before motioning for the Padawan to join the others present. There wasn't any time to eat at the moment, so the bird would have to wait.

There was another young Padawan, a male Kai also recognized as someone who was relatively new to the Order. Then there were Kai's two students, Saerina and Saana. And lastly there was the Imperial Knight, a Kaleesh, and a person Kai was particularly interested in teaching as he felt this would be an excellent experience to learn and share. Once the five students currently present had arrived and gotten a little settled in, Kai smiled and looked to each one. "Welcome to this lesson on lightsaber combat. This will be covering more advanced applications rather than the basics, and by advanced I mean we will be covering the forms known as Soresu and Ataru, or at least some of you will be covering one while some of you will cover the other. Now, if you need a training lightsaber, or if your lightsaber doesn't have a training setting please get a lightsaber from the crate nearby."

The Master motions to the large black crate near a wall that contained many training supplies for this room before continuing on. "If you want to introduce yourselves to your companions please feel free to do so now. Once you've done that I'd like to get an idea of who would like to learn what today. Which of you want to learn Soresu and which of you Ataru?"

 

[Algarus]

as he looked around at the other students line up, Adun exhaled. Before looking around at the rest of the students he took in a breath. Might as well get this over with.... "My name is Adun Umari, and I am the padawan of Jedi Knight Reukli. I've come here today to learn Soresu." Without another word he went to crate and retrieved a lightsaber from it before returning back to his place. He keep his left arm concealed within the pockets of his coat, hoping no one could see the prosthetic limb.

 

[Maya Whitelight]

A sense from her knowing that no one really care who she was just a new padawn someone that will be nothing more then seen as a pink skin Zeltron. Even so she let the first one say what needed to be said. Even so she bowed toward Adun, as it seem everyone been paired with a master. This she hung her head to the fact that this might be the only change she got to have a Master or at less to have it pass on in their Master circle that she was in need of a Master then having just in fact having more trainers to teach her this and that.

Might as well just get it over with right then she could fade back in the background and do what needs to be done that was to learn what he had to teach her today among with the other students. "Greetings, I Maya Whitelight of the jungle tribe in the heart of Hurran Kal, I came to learn more where my mother left off from." Hanging her head down a bit to the last part of where her mother left off of her teaching. Doing what she thought best to keep her away from the others as long as she knew how to. No she wasn't one of those party type of Zeltron for her she was compex to understand. Being able to spend all her time out in nature, with plants and animals is what made her happen having the fresh air kiss her skin. In a way she was warrior from a jungle not from a city, only coming into the skills needed from her father to have a few credits to live off of. I"m here to try and learn Soresu, for purely defense, seeing that I don't know if this one has a safety as you said I will take one of those.

Taking from her hair the clipped lightsaber that had jewels embed deep with in the handle with a emboldening blazing sun at the end cap. Turning it over and over in her hand it was smaller then a regular lightsaber and if one would active it would see a shorter blade and one that had a yellow blade.

Picking one up that seem to fit into her hand being that of smaller in nature.

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

Jahairal had walked up and taken two of the training sabers, noting it was the second saber he'd ever picked up in his life. He did not possess his own, not yet at least. But he would not let that stop him from being all that he could be. A Knight was more then just his Weapon, and so too was Jahairal more then just the equipment he had. Approaching the groups once more, he noted the two other jedi students to arrive, eyes glancing to them. Introductions appeared to be in order, and so with a bow of his head, he gave his own.

"I am Jahairal Val Kharon, of the Imperial Knights. I am grateful for this chance to learn with the whole of you..." He said as he gave a head tilting bow of his shoulders to the group, and to Jedi Master Kai Sera, "I am here to learn how to better use a lightsaber...I will leave the judgement of style to yourself, Master Sera." He said simple, honestly not sure which style would suit him, or what the differences between Soresu and Ataru were. He just knew he wanted to get stronger, and be a benefit to the knights.

"...If it is of assistance...I would much prefer a style with two blades...I am familiar with using two blades into battle..." He said looking away a bit, a slight blush on his face that he couldn't give a better explanation then that.

 

[CJ Solo]

Saana remained where she was as the others introduced themselves. The only one that she recognized, aside from Master Kai himself, was Saerina. Since she had kept the training lightsaber from the first class that Master Kai had instructed, as Master Kai had given it to her himself, Saana did not move to the indicated box. She did, however, step forward to introduce herself. "I am Saana Tai. I am pleased to be training with new faces." Her voice was soft, her words holding a gentle accent to them indicative of someone who learned basic as a second language.

"Master Kai, perhaps you could tell us more of the unique characteristics of the two forms and in which situations they are most beneficial?"

 

[AuroraRogersSkywalker]

Saerina listened to the other students introduce themselves. It was always interesting to her to see where all these various Jedi came from. Some of them had always known about the Order and it had been their family's goal to make sure the child became a Jedi, while others had never known much about all this and seemed a little hesitant. A few of them here already knew a bit of the advanced forms, but others (including Saerina) had already done some work in the advanced lightsaber forms.

After the others introduced themselves, she said quietly, "My name is Saerina Avrikana, and I am learning Soresu." Of course, this was only for her classmates' benefit- Kai was her Master and obviously knew her well already.

When Saana, the other Padawan she knew, spoke up and suggested that Kai explain the lightsaber forms in more detail, Saerina thought this would be a good thing since some of the others didn't seem to know what the various forms of lightsaber combat were.

 

[Ral]

With a little sigh, Kai listened to some of the new students introduce themselves and what they wished to learn. It seemed there was a large desire to learn Soresu, something he found rather odd as most beginners lacked the ability to properly employ the style against other lightsaber users as it was designed to block blaster fire, not blades. In truth it required a slight modification to the style and the cadences to make it remotely worthwhile against another blade wielder. And with the Jedi going on the offensive against the Sith again, it made the Master wonder why so many Padawans would still wish to learn such a passive and defensive form. He only hoped they all learned to augment the purely defensive style with something more useful against a Sith warrior. The Kaleesh Imperial Knight, who seemed rather new to the use of the lightsaber admitted to his ignorance, and Kai gave the alien warrior and accepting nod. When Saana suggested giving them a lesson on the forms characteristics, Kai frowned, this was a lesson for another time.

After a quick moment of silent contemplation he answered. "I would advise all of you to avoid falling into the trap that one form is superior to another in a particular situation, or is more beneficial than another. Lightsaber forms, like true martial forms, are more than capable of serving you in any situation if you dedicate yourself to its mastery. Soresu is known for its excellent defense against blaster fire, even from multiple opponents. It is known for being weak against opponents against a blade, in fact it requires some modification to be employed effectively against a lightsaber wielding opponent. This of course assumes you have yet to master the form. True masters should be capable of defending themselves from the blade as well as the blaster perfectly. Ataru is the opposite of Soresu, it's intended to be aggressive. Where Soresu prefers grounded, simple motioms, Ataru favors energetic moved and acrobatics."

Turning to Jahairal, Kai continued, "Ataru also has a dual form style. So if you'd like, I can instruct you in the use if Ataru's two blade style and combine it with a few of the other lessons I have learned. Hopefully, we'll be able to find a style which suits you the best by the time we finish here today." He motions to the nearby crate to make sure the Imperial Knight knows where to get his training sabers. Looking to the rest of the class he would say, "For those of you wanting to learn Soresu, activate your lightsabers and prepare to defend yourself from the training remotes. We'll start easy, two for each of you on a low setting, then we'll bring it up from there. This will be an excellent way for you to get accustomed to Soresu's basic concepts and for me to get an idea of what I'm working with."

Once Jahairal had gotten his blades and decided on what he'd like to try, Kai would begin with him on his own personal lesson. The Master figured he'd give the Kaleesh some more one on one treatment as he seemed to want to learn something different from the rest. Kai already had a lesson plan for the rest, with Jahairal he'd have to make it up on the fly.

 

[Algarus]

Adun nodded as he ignited the lightsaber, glad that he had settled with Soresu rather than Ataru, being aggressive and preforming acrobatics were two things he was not good at doing.
He understood that at some point he would need to be aggressive in order to fight against sith, but he wanted to protect others first. He was interested in the Kaleesh however, as he had never seen one before, but then again there was still much he had still not seen.
It felt odd holding the weapon in his hand it had been some time since he had wielded one, he dreamed of the day when he would create his own, forge his own identity within the Jedi Order. His master had always said a jedi should make his blade personal, as they strike out at dictators and criminals with it. In a sense the blade was merely an extension of their arm, and it was up to the wielder to decide what kind of blade they would carry, one of justice and peace or one of atrocity and war. He brought his mind back to the present, once he learned this form he would use it to protect his loved ones, and make sure no one would ever take them away again. It would also help to defend from Rayla's temper tantrums, but she seemed to have improved greatly since the first training session . Angling the blade at the closest training remote, he focused on the small orb, waiting for the force to guide his blade, to deflect the bolt away.

 

[CJ Solo]

Saana thought about what Master Kai said, noting that the others already seemed set into what they wanted to learn. Her own brow furrowed a little. "Master Kai, may I learn aspects of both?"

It did occur to her that though she might prefer a more defensive style in order to better protect herself and those around her, that such a way of fighting might not be entirely effective against other lightsaber users, such as Sith. However, with knowledge of other, more aggressive forms, then perhaps there could be a balance. Saana stepped back a step to ensure she had room as Master Kai instructed them to prepare themselves for a remote exercise; multiple remotes. She was a little uncertain about using a second one, as she had only started to get accustomed to exercising with one. Perhaps, though, that was why Master Kai had asked her here. Saana took a breath, ignited the blue blade and readied herself.

 

[Jahairal Val Kharon]

Jahairal listened to the explanations, nodding as he did so and holding the two sabers in his hand, shifting them in his grasps to get a feel for their weight and grip. They were odd, to say the least. Odder then the shorter blades he was used to wielding, and the kaleesh found himself holding the blades nearer the ends then the tops, in order to get a good solid grip and a nice axis for his wrists to work with. Soresu, a defensive style it seemed designed to block projectiles. The idea was interesting, and he knew a few others practiced a similar style. Djem so, he believed it was called. Perhaps Shien? He was never certain.

With many having that style however, Jahairal came to a simple conclusion. Just as a fighting unit needed multiple types of fighters, so too would it be best to have more then 1 type of style in the imperial knights. Uniformity and Unity had their place, and it was key that such things did not become stagnation or enslavement-to-form. Besides that however, Ataru's fast acrobatics and aggression had an appeal, the usually sniping Kaleesh preferring to end fights quickly and use terrain to his advantage already.

"If the functions of the style are as you say...then I will be learning Ataru, Master Sera..." Jahairal said with a bow of his head, surprised so many of the others desired to learn Soresu together. The pacifist form, he supposed, was just another difference between their two orders. Jahairal walked over to Kai, examining his two saber hilts as he did so, before he stood before the master, and bowed. "I will do what you ask of me. Anything you wish..." He replied a bit stiffly, sounding formal as he spoke.

 

[Maya Whitelight]

Maya picking up on Kai underlining behavior of how he felt about the class so wanting to speak her mind but held her own voice back at less for the time. Even those her empathy was being let out knowing this wasn't the time to reach out to any of the others in the class. Remember that this was training that her mind had to be clear to be able to learn from the listen before her.

Not that being of older age would play a good part of why she choice the form she did far from it knowing where her strength was in the force itself. It was the snap his that brought her to where her mind was focus on the task at hand. Seeing that it was time for her to get the feel for the weapon. Letting her wrist twist it to the right and left. Now came the part. It was how to defend against the balls that was put into play. Remember the game her mother played with her as a child letting her use her mother lightsaber. Even then mother could see that wouldn't be strong with the weapon of the jedi, her special laid in the force. Voice of her mother coming to her once again you must learn this my sweet child, don't be afraid of the saber as it will be the weapon that keeps you alive.

Shaking out her hair now as if trying to get her center in the force to reach out to feel. Knowing what would happen next. Even then she couldn't help herself but to feel as if something more deeply would happen as she let herself thinking go and let the force with in take her. Even deep with in the warrior that wanted to be uncage to get out keep deep with in her.

As the first shot came she turn the blade the way to blocked as she let the next few even then the last one she wasn't bad. Letting herself fade all others out around her only one that could break it would be the teach of the class himself. Even then she let herself fully go as if she was back in the jungle flying freely.

 

[AuroraRogersSkywalker]

Of course, Kai had helped Saerina decide quite a while ago that a form like Soresu would suit her best. She had a tiny build and got tired easily; a more aggressive form wouldn't be good for her for this reason. Soresu was a good choice for her because it was focused on saving energy. Makashi was the other form she was working on a little, to make up for Soresu's lack of emphasis on defense against opponents with blades. She hoped to learn Ataru as a Jedi Master, but she felt she wasn't ready for it yet. Saerina, watching her master, could tell that he was concerned that everyone seemed to be uninterested in Ataru, and the others seemed to be a little ambivalent about which form they wanted to learn.

Saerina was relaxed when Kai brought up the first training exercise. She had done a little Soresu already and knew the basics of the form, even if she hadn't used two remotes yet. But they would still be on a low power, so she wasn't worried. It would be a good thing for everyone to start on the same page, and for her to warm up, at first. The small Padawan activated only one of the two blades on her lightsaber. She loved using both her blades, but felt uncomfortable at the idea of showing off both of them when some of the others didn't even have their own lightsaber yet.

 

[Ral]

Smiling at Saana, Kai nodded in response to the question she posed him. "Of course," he started to say as he stepped toward her giving her a pat on the shoulder. "I'll show you what you want to know, my Padawan. Go over your basic Soresu drills with the others while I warm up Jahairal here. I want you to get as much practice in as you can Saana." Looking to the Kaleesh, Kai motioned for the Imperial Knight to move a little ways away from the rest so he would have room to practice without having to worry about hitting others. "Call me Kai, Jahairal, no need to stand on formality with me, plus it's shorter and it saves time to just call me Kai."

Kai started to walk away letting the remotes do their job when the idea hit him. "Ah yes, I almost forgot!" He ran over to the the training crates and withdrew training helmets. Passing them out to each student he said, "Wear these. They will inhibit your vision, but that's the point. Today you rely on your ability to use and trust in the Force rather than your sight and reflexes. This is an important aspect of any lightsaber form and of combat with the ancient blade. Do not underestimate or belittle this one key aspect of it and of the Force. It will save your life in a battle. Now, let's see what you all can do." Kai stood back and viewed the Padawans for a few moments while they started with their drill with the new handicap emplaced upon them. He'd take mental notes of who was doing well, or two well, and he'd raise the remotes' difficulty. Turning to face the Kaleesh Knight, Kai nodded at him. "Alright, Jahairal, you know what do to for the basics? If not, know worries, I'll go over them with you so you're ready for the advanced stuff." The young Master said before leading the Kaleesh warrior in the basic lightsaber drills and velocities so he would be ready for what followed next. Half way through he'd ask, "How'd do you feel about them?"

 

[Algarus]

The loss of sight during a training remote drill was strange at first, as Adun could hear the two remotes swishing and humming around him. Bringing his blade in front of him, he at first tried to listen to where the small contraptions might be, only to rewarded with a series of stinging bolts to his knees and neck. Wincing from the numbness that still lingered, he remembered what Master Kia had said about relying on the force instead of senses. Spreading his feet apart, Adun entered a trace, as he let the force guide him. This time both remotes fired at him in quick succession. With the force controlling his actions, Adun stopped both shots, and felt a feeling of accomplishment as he broke his trance. Sadly, this moment was cut short as another shot soon followed and tagged the young human in the groin. Hunching over, and now in a great deal of pain, he recalled one of his earliest lessons from Master Tera;
The rays of a sun do not burn until brought to a focus, the same applies to your mind.
Okay....not to self...no celebrating until....training is over.
Getting back into position, Adun was hoping the other students had not just witnessed what had occurred. Banishing the pain from his mind, he went back into his trance as he put every ounce of concentration into the exercise.