Ask Masters of War

[Perun]

Perun stood alone in the heart of the gladiatorial pit on Rattatak. His tall, imposing figure cast a solitary shadow on the red, rocky ground, a stark contrast against the arid, mountainous terrain that surrounded him. The atmosphere in the arena was suffocating, thick with the anticipation of the crowd and the oppressive heat that seemed to emanate from the very rocks themselves.

Disarmed, he felt an unfamiliar sense of vulnerability. His trusty vibrostaff and the unique dual-phase interlocking lightsabers were absent, leaving him to rely solely on his wits and the Force. His traditional Jedi dueling robes, though a comfort in their familiarity, offered little in the way of protection against the unknown adversary who was yet to reveal themselves.

Perun's mind raced, his usually unflappable demeanor tinged with a hint of doubt. "Perhaps this wasn't my brightest idea," he mused silently, his inner monologue laced with his characteristic snark. Despite the gravity of the situation, a cocky smile played at the corners of his mouth – a credit to his irrepressible spirit.

The crowd's restless murmuring resonated through the arena, echoing off the natural rock formations that had been crudely shaped into towering stands. The air was filled with the scent of dust and sweat, mingled with the faint, metallic tang of anticipation. His sensitive ears picked up the distant clanking of chains, the shuffle of feet, and the hushed, eager whispers of the spectators, hungry for the spectacle to come.

Perun closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. The dry, hot air filled his lungs, grounding him in the present. He could sense the raw energy of the crowd, their emotions a tumultuous sea upon which he floated, anchored only by his unwavering resolve. Despite the uncertainty of his situation, his heart remained steady, driven by a deep-seated loyalty and a fervent desire to protect the innocent.

His golden eyes snapped open, gazing into the distance with a fierce determination. He had walked the path of a Jedi with unwavering dedication, his journey taking him from the oppressed worlds under the Hutt Cartel to the mysteries of ancient Jedi temples. Each experience had honed not just his combat skills, but his understanding of the Force.

Now, in the gladiatorial pit of Rattatak, he stood ready to face whatever challenge came his way. Yet, in the back of his mind, a nagging thought lingered – maybe his strategy to rally the warlords to his cause was not going to plan? Only time would tell. As he awaited his opponent, Perun's thoughts wandered back to his adventures, to the allies he had made and the lessons he had learned, all of which had led him to this moment, standing weaponless yet unbroken, a true Jedi Master ready to face the unknown.

Open to one player for the opposition. Hand-to-hand combat only. No weapons, no Force powers. Death-disabled.

 

[Karys]

Karys had come to Rattatak with his Apprentice, Vossari as a Sith Champion. Through his machinations, the largest of the warlord clans had been culled and the rest were being subjugated. By every right, Rattatak was a part of his powerbase and like an ancient dragon, he intended to jealously guard it.

Karys would emerge from the other side of the arena, he wore the same armor he had during the conquest of Murzana. His lightsaber hilt was clipped to the back of his belt. Karys had no intentions of fighting fair if push came to shove. His golden eyes narrowed at the pathetic Jedi before him. Heavy footfalls brought him closer to the first Jedi he’d ever seen. The first Jedi he intended to break.

This creature had come to steal what his. Even if it wasn’t aware of who Rattatak belonged to. This disrespect of his territory wouldn’t go without a reply. The crowd began to roar at the appearance of one of their Lords. Gaze down at the simian creature and then took on a low ready stance.

This would be the beginning of the end for the Jedi.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

As the opposing gate creaked open, a towering figure emerged, casting a formidable shadow across the pit. Perun's sharp, golden eyes instantly assessed the newcomer: a Sith Pureblood, garbed in heavy armor. The creature's heavy footfalls echoed in the arena, resonating with the burgeoning roars of approval from the crowd. Perun's keen senses detected the distinct energy of a powerful opponent, one who commanded both fear and respect.

The crowd's favorite, as their fervor suggested, moved with a predatory grace, his yellow eyes fixating on Perun with palpable disdain. The Jedi Master's gaze darted over the Sith, seeking any hint of vulnerability, but found none immediately apparent. This was no ordinary adversary; he was a seasoned warrior, with a reputation that had evidently preceded him.

Closing the distance between them with calculated steps, Perun halted roughly five meters from Karys. His stance was agile and light-footed, a stark contrast to the Sith's more grounded posture. Perun's mind raced, contemplating his next move in this precarious dance. He knew the importance of maintaining a careful balance, staying just out of reach of the Sith's powerful arms.

The air between them crackled with tension, the crowd's roars fading into a distant rumble as the two combatants sized each other up. Perun's white fur bristled slightly, not in fear, but in anticipation. His every sense was heightened, attuned to the slightest movement from his opponent.

Though weaponless and unable to rely on his Force abilities in this confrontation, Perun's confidence did not waver. His training as a Jedi Master had prepared him for moments like these, where physical prowess and mental acuity were paramount. He readied himself, his muscles tensed, yet his demeanor remained as composed as ever. The smirk that played on his lips belied the intensity of the situation, a glimpse of his indomitable spirit, even in the face of danger.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys smirked beneath his helmet as the Jedi rushed towards him. It churned up earth as it quickly covered the ground between them. For a moment, Karys believed the rumors of Jedi being cowards were false. Perhaps this one was different.

And then he stopped, keeping just outside of Karys’ reach. How annoying. Karys kept his guard up even as his golden eyes turned to slits.

“Typical of your kind. To stay out of reach and do nothing.” Karys’ baritone voice tolled. “Act Jedi, if you don’t, there will be consequences.” It was a goad and thinly veiled threat.

Vaunted defenders of the meek, Karys understood how to goad them into action. Azar had taught him that much. Threaten the lives of bystanders and they’d leap into action. Ready to throw themselves onto their blades. As he spoke his guard remained high. He wouldn’t words further, the droids Karys had used to crush the larger warlords were still on world.

All he had to do was give an order.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

As the Pureblood' low-pitched voice began to echo through the arena, his words laced with provocation and veiled threats, Perun sensed the momentary distraction it created. It was a slender opening, but for a Jedi Master of his caliber, it was enough. The Sith' focus had momentarily shifted, his guard fractionally lowered as he spoke, and Perun was ready to capitalize on this fleeting advantage.

With a burst of agility characteristic of his species, Perun sprung into action. His left foot, previously planted firmly behind him, now served as a powerful fulcrum. Pushing off the ground, he closed the gap between himself and his opponent in a heartbeat. The arena's sandy floor churned under his feet, a consequence of the sudden burst of speed.

As he moved, Perun's keen mind calculated the trajectory and momentum necessary for his strike. His right foot, aided by the kinetic energy of his swift approach, would arc through the air towards the Pureblood' midriff. The aim was precise, seeking to deliver a blow that was forceful yet controlled, a display of his mastery over his own physical prowess.

Throughout this rapid assault, Perun's awareness remained acute. His head and arms were strategically positioned, kept well out of the reach of the Sith's formidable arm span. This was the dance of combat, one he had performed countless times, each move a delicate balance between offense and defense.

Even as his foot sailed through the air towards its target, Perun's golden eyes remained locked on the Pureblood, ready to react to any countermove the Sith might muster. His white fur, usually a stark contrast against the red backdrop of Rattatak, now seemed almost a blur, a result of the speed and precision of his attack.

The tension in the arena was palpable, the crowd momentarily silenced by the sudden escalation of the duel. Perun's every sense was heightened, his body and mind perfectly attuned to the moment, ready for whatever response his opponent might have in store.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys guard had never dropped as he spoke. His eyes never broke from the Jedi. So when the Jedi launched his surprise attack, Karys was looking directly at him. In response Karys threw his left arm into the kick, blocking the strike at the Jedi’s shin with the muscle of his forearm to avoid a break in his bone. With his other free hand, Karys would snap up and grab the creature by the back of his calf. Catching its leg in his claw. He would then tuck his left arm over the leg, securing it against his flank. This would occur in a practiced fluid motion and was largely possible due to the Jedi’s reckless attack and forward momentum.

With the Jedi springing forward and kicking with all their might, plus them leaning back and away with their upper body, it would be difficult, if not impossible to prevent this. Once Karys had his enemy’s leg in a secure grip, he’d drive forwards as he punched the side of the knee. The Jedi would only have one leg to stabilize itself on, something that would eventually fail him. The goal was to ruin the Jedi’s right leg while getting him to the ground, where speed didn’t matter but weight and strength would.

Once the Jedi’s advantage was eliminated, the real battle could begin.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

As the Pureblood adeptly countered Perun's initial attack, capturing the Jedi's right leg with a practiced fluidity, Perun realized he was dealing with a foe whose combat prowess was as formidable as his own. The Sith's grip was firm, his intent clear as he aimed to neutralize Perun's mobility and take the fight to a more physical level where brute strength would prevail.

However, Perun was not one to be easily subdued. Even as his foe secured the ape-man's leg between his left arm and his torso, and prepared to strike at the Jedi's knee with his right arm, the Sith also anchored and stabilized the Ma'alkerrite. Perun's agile mind was already formulating a counter.

Using the Pureblood's clutch as a springboard and engaging his core muscles, Perun utilized the momentum of his captured leg to initiate a rapid axial spin counterclockwise. This movement would bring his left back foot arcing upwards, targeting the Sith's chin with precision and force. The move was a blend of defensive tactic and offensive strike, designed to disrupt his opponent's focus in attacking the Ma'alkerrite's knee with his right arm and potentially loosen his grip. With both of his adversary's hands engaged, the action would be difficult to negate completely.

Subsequently, continuing into the spin to keep momentum, Perun's right arm would shoot out in a swift right uppercut, aimed directly at the Sith's head. The motion was fluid, a natural extension of his spinning motion, turning his body into a whirlwind of retaliatory strikes. The one-two combination of kick and punch was a testament to Perun's mastery of hand-to-hand combat, a skill honed over years of training and underworld encounters.

The air was filled with the sounds of the skirmish, the thud of bodies in motion, and the collective gasp of the onlookers as the Jedi Master executed his counterattack. Perun's golden eyes remained locked on his opponent, anticipating every possible reaction. His every sense was alert, his body a finely tuned instrument of defense and attack.

@Apollyon
Edit: Video of what Perun is trying to pull off.

 

[Karys]

Karys felt the Jedi’s turning motion in his grip. In response, he lowered his head and allowed for the top of his helmet to absorbed the brunt of the kick. He felt the force of the blow as it rippled into his chest. However, the ape’s fist would pass through the opened face of his helm. It would collide with his face. Several teeth were cracked or broken and black blood filled his mouth. But this wasn’t the first punch, Karys had taken. It wouldn’t be the last

Instead of releasing his opponent, Karys began to slam him onto the ground. He would slammed the head in particular. While he did this, he would stomp down on whatever limbs or body parts that sprawled closest to him and strike at the Jedi’s stomach with his free fist. The goal was to batter the Jedi into unconsciousness one way another. He would break this cursed Jedi and ensure his submission. He spat blood and grinned hatefully at his victim.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

OOC: Following Karys' timing out and as agreed between @Apollyon and I in this OOC thread, the previous post should be disregarded. Karys suffers critical damage in the form of a fractured jaw, a cracked skull, and a concussion and is therefore unable to continue to fight. Perun is declared the victor of the fight, but Karys escapes with promises of a more intense and larger-scale conflict to follow! Look forward to it lurkers!

In the sweltering arena of Rattatak, the duel between Perun and the Pureblood reached its climactic crescendo. Perun executed a masterful combination of moves that would decisively shift the tide of their confrontation. His left foot, propelled upward by a rapid partial spin, struck his opponent squarely in the chin with a force that resonated throughout the arena. The Sith Pureblood's head snapped back, a clear indication of the sheer power behind the blow.

Almost concurrently, Perun's right arm unfurled in a swift right uppercut. It landed with unerring accuracy on the side of his opponent's head, the impact echoing with a dull, ominous thud. The crowd, initially raucous, fell into stunned silence, the air thick with anticipation and the acrid smell of sweat and dust.

The result was immediate and catastrophic for the Pureblood. His jaw visibly fractured under the force of the backfoot kick, and the subsequent punch only compounded the damage, likely leading to a cracked skull and a severe concussion. For a moment, the Sith teetered unsteadily, his yellow eyes clouding over with disorientation and pain, before collapsing to the ground in a heap, utterly incapacitated.

Perun stood over his fallen opponent, his chest heaving with exertion, his fur matted with the sweat of battle. Despite the intensity of the duel, a sardonic smile touched his lips.

The arena erupted into cheers, declaring Perun the victor. However, the triumph was bittersweet. As medical droids rushed to attend to his opponent, the Sith managed to muster enough strength to escape, his parting words echoing with the promise of reprisal. It was a threat Perun took seriously, his golden eyes reflecting both the satisfaction of the victory and the gravity of future encounters.

As he exited the arena, Perun's mind was already racing, pondering the implications of what had transpired. The duel may have ended, but the conflict was far from over. The air was rife with the scent of looming battles, and Perun knew that he, and the Jedi Order, must be prepared for what lay ahead.