The Liberation of the Tae

[Green Ranger]

Tae'Sha was a generally peaceful world, an idyllic world lush with vegetation and far removed from the troubles of the galaxy. It was here the mysterious Tae made their home, using their inherent mastery of the Force in everyday life to keep the world in almost constant bloom. For most Tae, life was peaceful, simple. Many remained unaware of the political struggle that had ravaged parts of the landscape.

Some years ago, a rebellion had displaced the old Templar Council, rulership of the world defaulting to the mysterious Templar King. Under such command the Tae had closed their borders once more, dedicating themselves to turning their powers towards the art of war and other questionable practices. Today, the foundations of this remarkable yet otherwise unimportant world would be shaken once more. Balance was to be restored.

High above the world, there was an enormous flash, signalling a ship dropping out of hyperspace. A small sphere-shaped craft seemingly built of glass and platinum rocketed towards the world, small wings ending in maneuvering thrusters rotating around the core and firing small measured bursts to maintain the vessel's course. In orbit around the world were countless masses of scaffolding, the enormous hulks of enormous starships under construction littering the atmosphere - the exotic Taen Skyships, artfully constructed and powered by the power of the Art itself. Elsewhere great construction efforts were taking place on a much larger mass. Through the maze of metal and scaffolding, what appeared to be a segment of an artificial planetary ring seemed to be taking shape.

As the fighter approached this wall of construction, it was increasingly dwarfed by the size of the leviathons assembled before it. Construction craft flitted in and out of the structures, the entire construction effort buzzing with activity. The tiny fighter flitted forwards again, drawing closer to one of the most complete of the Skyships. Suddenly, a light seared forward from the small ship, a tiny packet of energy firing forward into the depths of the vessel.

There was a moment of silence, and then all hell broke loose.

A massive explosion rocked the ship, very nearly splitting the vessel in half immediately. Other systems within the vessel went critical, small explosions erupting along the length of the hull, sending debris in every direction. The vessel began to break up, the two main segments careening towards other vessels under construction. Hundreds of construction craft swarmed the area, attaching themselves to the damaged hull segments, attempting to control the trajectory of the dying vessel.

The fighter flitted into the breach almost calmly. Suddenly it was joined by a swarm of other fighters - some of a similar make, other of more traditional Republic designs flying into the breach and taking up formation. As they descended into the atmosphere, the first vessel finally opened up comms to the other vessels. Beneath raven black hair, purple eyes glimmered dangerously.

'Violet One here - this is Indigo. Uploading co-ordinates of the landing zone now. Be careful, Jedi - this is going to be a battle unlike any you have ever faced before. I hope your Force is with you.'

 

[Will]

A dark fighter exploded onto the scene in a burst of light, the black hull almost disappearing in the void of space. It followed the flamboyant fighter of Indigo into the gargantuan skeletons of the Tae ships. It danced through the three-dimensional maze, through spaces that seemed to small for this dagger of night.

Huang pushed the ship to its limit, skirting around the colossi. He had the planet, the verdant Tae-Sha, in his sight. Such a Juxtaposition, these technological skeletons, hemming in a world of abundant, vibrant natural life. The Grand master had bid him to be part of the Jedi support for the Tae mission to reclaim their world from the clutches of the Templar king.

''We are ready, Violet One. The force will be with us this day.'' Huang intoned in reply, nothing given from his voice.

The ship darted through the Vacuum, rushing for the atmosphere. The ship began to shake, then rattle, then, finally, roar around him as he pushed through the outer atmosphere, forcing itself into the sweet, life-giving air of the planet. He pointed his vessel to the landing co-ordinates, flying straight at it. He engaged in final checks. His armour was secure. His sword, and pair of lightsabres, were all strapped in. He nodded, ready to join battle as he came into landing.

 

[JMocks]

Josh followed closely behind Master Huang as their fighters raced through the Tae atmosphere. They were sent here to reestablish Tae's government before the Templar King. It wasn't going to be an easy task. But the Jedi were up for it. As the fighter raced towards the landing zone, he prepared himself to land. All his gear was in check; lightsaber, comm link, etc.

Once the fighter landed he released the safety harness and released the hatch. He made his way out, cautious to the unknown world around him. He then made his way over to Huang's fighter and awaited the arrival of the three other Jedi Knight's accompanying them on the mission.

 

[Zach]

Taryn stood on the front steps of the Templar King's main office, cloak wound tightly around his body, hood drawn over his face. He'd come to meet with the governing leader about the revolt that's been kicking off recently. It seemed as though the civilians and workers of the planet had put together a kind of revolution against the government because of the way that things have been running since the war broke out between the Hutts and the Republic. He'd been sent on a simple mission; meet with the officials and perhaps persuade them to align with the Hutts. As a Bogan, it was in his own faction's best interest to gain support for the military that support them.

If anything, Taryn could always threaten the officials with abandonment in the future. If things got worse for their people with the revolt, and the Republic ignored them, they'd be left for dead when the Hutts invaded. His only worry was that the Republic or Jedi had already acted on the revolt. If so, things would get particularly difficult for him. A moment later, he heard a loud boom from above and he raised his head. Looking to the sky, he saw a handful of dropships and fighters burst through the clouds. On the sides of each ship bore the Republic symbol. Taryn narrowed his eyes and cursed himself. If he hadn't just been thinking about that, he doubted their arrival would have been so inconvenient for him. He sighed heavily and spat to the side. He stepped back under the shade of the roof top just above the top of the steps and watched intently as the Republic ships met with the ships of Tae'Sha.

He took a moment to relax, closing his eyes and focusing out with the Force. He wondered if there were Jedi aboard those transports, and how many. If anything, he might be able to get word back to his associates before things got out of hand. Taryn felt the Force presence of a few significant signatures, most likely a handful of Jedi Knights. He wasn't too worried until he felt a much stronger Force aura, that of a Jedi Master, if not a Council Member. He narrowed his eyes again and furrowed his brow, wondering what course of action to take. He decided to play it safe for the time being and hide his presence with the Force. Relaxing himself and focusing again, he masked his Force signature with Force Stealth, masking not only his alignment in the Force, but his presence altogether. He would surely fool the Knights, but the Jedi Master could be an issue.

 

[Garuga]

Piloting an assigned fighter, Lyzerg didn't feel completely comfortable as she guided her ship safely towards the landing co-ordinates. The planet was... wrong. The technology, the environment. Everything was foreign and exotic. Pre-assignment nerves at work perhaps, but she knew that she would feel much more secure once everything was underway.

Lyzerg knew that her own thoughts and beliefs will not interfere with the mission's progress, too much was at stake for her to be a liability. Though she was young, she was capable and ready to serive in battle. Lyzerg hadn't tasted real action since the victory at Denon, but was eager to get back into the mix. The presence of other Jedi were also reassuring, especially the presence of the Swordmaster of the order, who's capabilities Lyzerg had witnessed on Denon.

Her dueling vambraces were equipped already, her single lightsaber clipped to her belt, ready for use immediately.

Lyzerg sighed, allowing herself the final moments of peace before chaos. May the force guide my blade to strike swiftly and then pardon my actions...

 

[Rev]

"Why the hell am I doing this?"

Caed found himself in route to a planet he'd never heard of before being assigned to it. He had as much care for learning the name as he did for saving it or its people, but he was there never-the-less. It was an eruption on his viewport that brought him back to reality, but only for a second. The fighter he commanded quickly shot into a barrel roll, the thrusters decreasing in time for him to avoid more than a few chunks of debris.

"To get your mind off her you fool."

His fingers pulsed against the trigger a few times, a barage of blaster bolts ringing out from the wings of the small fighter. The large chunk shattered into pieces, the smaller ones simply deflecting off the metallic hull. Hitting the thrusters he began the proper trajectory to enter Tae'Sha's atmosphere. Following a rumble and an increase in the heat sensors on the lower hull, the ship would finally break free and a gorgeous view would greet him.

Hazelnut orbs would read over the area map, taking in the small screen for all it was worth. Punching in a few commands he began taking off the harness that held him in place. Moments would pass and the ship would be lowered in a small clearing just outside of the landing zone. The canopy would slide open with a hiss and the young Jedi would immediately veil himself in the black hood. Naturally the same type of shroud hid his Force Signature as he had naturally grown accustomed to while in the tutelage of the Bogan. A final check at his hip assured the only tool he needed as at his side and he'd make way to the Jedi Master whom was leading the mission.

 

[GABA]

The blur of stars suddenly stopped and the Knight came out of hyperdrive, her ship tearing through the planet's atmosphere. She could feel the energy radiating off the planet, her ship zig-zagging among fellow Republic ships as well as the blaster fire that tried to bring her and others down prematurely. Rehni was quick, but to anyone's eye, Jedi or not, slightly reckless when it came to flying.

Her ship received the coordinates of their landing point, already typing them in the ship immediately went on course, taking its spot among the clearing. She exited the ship, two blades at her hip and her senses heightened, easily finding the signatures of her other Jedi allies.

 

[Dmitri]

Albedo had been lounging outside when the Republic drop ships began to rain from the side. He quickly ran in search for his comrade, Taryn. It took him a while but he finally found the Bogan. After realizing that Taryn was masking his presence, Albedo did the same, remembering what Katarn had taught him.
"What shall we do?" Albedo asked his superior officer.

 

[Zach]

Taryn felt the presence of his comrade, Albedo, approaching. He turned to look down the steps just as he reached the top of the entrance to the building, gazing down at the Bogan as he bolted up the steps. A similar cloak to the one Taryn wore billowed behind him in the wind, the drop ships and fighters creating a gust with every maneuver. He could clearly see the hilt of a lightsaber at Albedo's belt, loosely jingling from side to side with each stride he took.

When the Bogan reached the top of the steps and masked his own presence in the Force, Taryn inclined his head in approval. He was glad that the Bogan had been trained in this ability. It would have been difficult to set up an ambush had the Jedi sensed only one Bogan and sought him out with the bulk of their forces. "For now, we wait. Let the Jedi fight the Templar King's forces for the time being. They have yet to meet up with the rebels and their leaders, not to mention actually working out a treaty with them. We have time to work our ways with the Templar King. By the end of this day, he will be allied with the Hutts," he said calmly. His attention was more focused on the Jedi, to be honest. He wondered how many had come, as he'd only had enough time and focus to sense out a generalized amount. Taryn could swear on his life that he sensed a Force signature that would match a Jedi Master, if not a Council Member, but he worried that it would not be the only Master on the battlefield.

If more were present, they'd more than likely be masking their own presence, just as a precaution. There was almost no way that the Jedi would have been able to sense their presence on the planet, with the commotion in the skies and having just entered the atmosphere. Perhaps the Jedi Master would have been able to, but even so, it would be difficult for him to locate their position. Taryn turned back to Albedo and beckoned him to follow through the massive double doors at the Templar King's palace. It would be in their best interests to alert the King to the Jedi presence and summon more forces to battle.

 

[Will]

Huang turned his eye to his Jedi. His. If he were a lesser man, he would be staggered by the heights he had risen, leading Jedi on the field. They would be facing force-powered foes on the field. They had to be the best of the best to be in this battle.

''We assault the twisted keep of the Templar king. There will be fierce fighting. Our foe knows the ways of the force. We shall beat them, and restore peace. For that is the very reason our order exists. To preserve the peace throughout the galaxy. I expect only the best from your all. Give no quarter.''

He drew his katana, the light shining off the oddly shaped blade, forged with the force with an esoteric method, an unbreakable weapon. He turned to the 'office', a formidable edifice. But they would crash upon it like the mighty wave, and tear it asunder. They would shed light on this darkness. He hefted his sword, moving for the forces scrambling to cut down the Jedi threat.

He rushed forward, leading from the fore. Orders were given. They were to cut deep into the enemy forces, splitting them into disorganised groups, before allowing the combined elite force of the Rebels and Jedi to destroy these groups.

 

[JMocks]

Josh followed Huangs' lead. He ignited his lightsaber, the blue energy jutting out the silver hilt instantly. He ran with Huang, at his right flank. As they ran, he deflected many blaster shots. They got closer and closer to the apposing force. Once he was within five yards of the apposing forces' front line, he used Force Speed while maneuvering his saber in the horizontal position, cutting through five soldiers. He was in the thick of things now.

He kept close to Huang, and kept a open mind. Everywhere he looked, another soldier. And like the soldier before him, his fate would be the same. Most of them died by deflected blaster shots. The ones brave enough to engage in melee combat were cut down. As the intense battle raged on, he saw a grenade fly through the air towards him and Huang. He quickly Force Pushed the grenade back, landing in a thick group of soldiers, killing almost all of them instantly.

 

[GABA]

The waves of emotion splashed bitterly against Rehni, she could feel the rage, the fear, sadness, the determination of her foes. She released the trigger of her lightsaber and the snap-hiss of her blue blade drowned it all out. The hum of her blade giving her a sense of calm and the Force, giving her clarity.

The Knight kept within eye-shot of the rest of her Jedi. She danced in the rain of blaster bolts, deflecting them out of her harm's way, some even hitting their creators. She could smell the burnt flesh as soldiers cried their last words and hear their bones crunch at a point blank force push. The curses laid upon her as she moved through did not phase her, she only listened to the Force as it guided her actions.

 

[Garuga]

Lyzerg allowed herself a brief chuckle before her fiery orange blade emerged, flicking away a blaster bolt that had strayed dangerously close to her face. Always like this. Nothing but apprehension and uncertainty beforehand, but when the action started... There was only you, and your instincts. Following the other jedi who had begun their assault on the enemy, Lyzerg adopted a position where she could cover their rear but at the same time be close to the forefront of the conflict.

These soldiers are but the beginning... Lyzerg thought as the combatants entered their dance of war. Bringing the blade around her body, the enemy would find no break from the Jedi assault. The order had played their hand in this engagement, and mercy would be the last things on their mind. "Haa!" Lyzerg cried out as she jumped into a group of the enemy, her saber forming a flaming wall of death to those around her.

Slamming her feet into the ground as she gathered the force within herself, a shockwave formed, blasting away those that still stood around her. Rejoining the main group once again, Lyzerg looked towards their targeted building.

We have come for you... Lyzerg hissed telepathically, all force-sensitives in the area would be able to comprehend the message.

 

[Rev]

Caed gave Huang a glance, the Jedi Master had a reputation for being one of the best if not the best in the Order when holding a blade. Today he would show if that legend were true. The former Bogan was surprised to see the Master give little speech before jumping into battle, and with no lightsaber. A smirk grew on young Ultors face as the wild man charged into battle. It was quite surprising the feeling of inspiration it gave the Knight, it was that or someones battle meditation elsewhere..

Watching the group break towards the stronghold Caed's eyes shifted to Lyzerg, she was holding back one might say. Keeping notice on her he respected her position in covering their backside and would make sure she made it with the rest of them. Reaching to his hip the staff would be withdrawn, and with one belted hiss the two red beams hissed to life. Cloaked in black accented in burgundy gave off the appearance of no Jedi; the blade only further built the dark character.

His eyes focused back to the front line where the Jedi Master led charge. Gazing out across the chaos that was a battlefield his legs began their first charge. Each step was movement closer to the Jedi's goal... his goal. Meters in front of him an explosion would erupt from artillery fire, leaping at the cloud of smoke that followed an enemy was caught in the chest by his crimson blade. Coming down on his right foot his body would fall into a counter clockwise turn before cutting a second Templar from shoulder to belly. The momentum would carry his body back into the charge, Lyzerg landing several feet away from his left as they would come together.

The former Bogan would look to where they had just come from, his blade rather tauntingly swatting away incoming blaster bolts. Staring back at the attackers he'd occasionally make an attempt to take out one of the shooters. Redirecting the bolt back at a chest or shoulder in hopes of dropping one.

"...I don't suppose you know a back door we can sneak in? I doubt they'll open the front..."

Caed's words went outward to all Jedi in the immediate area. After traveling further the message would be more than broken up, a common talent a Force user could master. Looking over his shoulder his eyes scanned the group of Jedi that had formed wondering if they even had a chance.

 

[Raif]

Disgusted eyes surveyed the battlefield from the Keep's highest tower. The Templar King - wait, that wasn't nearly grandiose enough, was it? How about...Templar Lord. Yes, that was it - the Templar Lord spat in disgust at the 'rebellion' washing up against his shore. How dare these peasants and laborers think they could stand up to his might.

Of course, the fact that they were here, on the literal doorstep of his personal Keep, was a bit disturbing. The Templar Lord was aware of the unrest that had been growing among the Taen since he had taken power, and as such had spread his military might out accordingly, ready to put out brush fires across the planet as they popped up. As such, he had a relatively small force here at his immediate disposal, but that would be more than a match for this upstart insurgency...

The Lord's thought drifted off as his Art-augmented eyesight focused on an energy-blade snapping to life down on the field of battle. First one, then another, then several...

"JEDI!!!"

The despot turned away from the window in fury, the word passing his lips with the fervor and hatred of a thousand curses. Those damn do-gooders! Why couldn't they just mind their own business and leave well enough alone?

This development changed things, that was for certain. The two hundred soldiers at the ruler's disposal were talented and devoted, that was for certain, but they were employed behind hastily erected barricades that would be no more effective than so many twigs and pebbles before the combined might of the Jedi and their Templar allies. No, this turn of events called for an escalation on his part...

"Ragnarok!"

The Templar Lord called out to the only other being in the chamber with him, a masked and armored Templar who was his right-hand man, and the leader of the Lord's so-called "disciples." The Disciples were Templars who held their devotion to their ruler above all else, including personal safety. As a result, they had twisted and tainted the Art into a weapon that was both powerful and deadly, but was extremely dangerous/painful to their own well-being. They took their torment and even death in silence, however, wishing only to serve their leader.

"Yes, my lord. What is thy bidding?" Ragnarok spoke in a harsh whisper, his tainted use of the Art having long-since damaged his vocal chords.

"Take the Disciples and confront those Jedi bastards! Leave a quarter of them here at my bidding, but take the rest and wipe that traitorous scum off the face of my planet!"

~~~

The gates of the Keep burst open, and seventy-five Disciples rushed forth, eager to do battle with the invaders. The majority of them (50-55) called upon the Art to create a blade of pure energy, which they would wield in melee combat against the intruders and would-be usurpers. The rest immediately got to work casting their "spells" in much more dramatic ways.

First, a group of five halted just outside the gates and combined their will to control the weather above the field of battle. Immediately the clouds rolled in and darkened, the wind picked up, and rain began to fall. The feeling of static energy was almost tangible as lightning began to crack down from above, striking friend and foe seemingly at random.

Another group of five headed to the left side of the battlefield, where they too worked their Art together to create a menace for the enemy. This group called forth the falling rain, combined with any and all moisture in the nearby air and land, and conjured a mighty tidal wave, which they sent crashing forward. The wave immediately overtook their own soldiers and kept rushing onward to the Jedi/Tae forces on the flank.

On the right side a group of Disciples was hard at work, again building on the weather conditions. This group of five poured their malevolent willpower into strengthening and then unleashing the power of the wind in the shape of a mighty twister, which they urged into the midst of the enemy on the right flank.

Finally, in the middle of the field of battle, the last group of Disciples began to work their will on the land itself. They ripped the ground asunder and began loosening mighty boulders and clumps of earth. These they telekinetically hurled towards the onrushing rebels.

((OOC: Please refer to the OOC thread for further OOC description))

 

[Will]

If there was, Knight Ultor, they have closed it to us.

Huang wrinkled his nose as the Tae began to twist the force to their own devices, shackling it like a slave, perverting it, the air taking on an almost oily texture. They took their mother earth, and ripped into her, without regard for her caring caress. They took her air, whipping up a storm, a maelstrom of wind and debris. They sucked at her moisture, forming a mighty wall of destruction. They tore at her very body, creating great gouges in her crust. They took the essence of the skies, calling down might bolts of lightning. The Tae took their world, and tore at it to rid themselves of the Jedi and the rebels.

The elements tore at the Jedi, dashing them apart. Huang was knocked aside by the mighty wind, before returning to his feet, blade in hand.

Huang Karasu met the ground forces of these 'Disciples' head on. His blade of metal, forged in the fires of his own design, and with the force, clashed with their energy blades. He swept into them like the storm they had created. His opponents had fervour, and no small skill, but it was nothing to the unharnessed Sword Master. He danced between them, leaving only death. The lightning did not strike him. It cascaded around him, deflected by his mastery of the tutaminis arts, turning him into a coruscating being, light in the darkness caused by the maelstrom. He leapt across the torn earth, braving the harsh wind, his will keeping the mighty wave from sweeping him away. Masses of small cuts covered his limbs and face, his dark robe tattered. His face was hard, concentrated on the flow of the fight. He had view only for those causing the storm and their dark allies. He would sweep the cancer from the earth.

Jedi, rally. The force is our ally, our counterpart. We work with it, to do greater than these...enslavers of the force ever could. Stay strong. We shall prevail here.

 

[Rev]

A disturbance in the Force rattled Caed down to the core, much like these Tae were doing to their own world. The Knight's eyes focused on the charging disciples before taking notice to the Jedi Master making work of them. The conjurers to either side were creating more than a ruckus for the imposing attack on their keep; something had to stop them. His legs began carrying him in the direction of those casting a storm upon them.

Their created haze stung when combined with the almost overwhelming winds. If it hadn't been for constant training of his own there is no doubt he'd of fallen to the environment alone. His blade diced an enemy in two, the pathetic blasters doing little to the Jedi; he required a mightier opponent. Seconds would feel like eternity as his Force aided speed brought him closer and closer to the conjurers before him. Preparing to leap something bit at the back of his mind...

His lightsaber would rise in defense, the staff flowing around his head and over his right shoulder to deflect one of the Disciple's energy beams. Fanning the enemy's blade away Caed's body would twist to avoid his own blade from piercing him, only a Force User trained in acrobatics being able to finesse the move. He'd swat the trained fighters blade aside with a powerful swipe from left to right at the chest. Caed's momentum would carry the other blade around, plunging into the man's ill-driven chest. Ultor would take the moment to move in closer to the Disciple, staring the man in the eye from mere centimeters away.

"Where do we rally?"

His golden brown orbs stared into the tainted eyes of the Tae. Reaching inward Caed began to call the Force to his body, a pulse growing at the inner swells of his being. The bottled energy would be blasted outward in all directions, the Tae that was once on his blade was sent rocketing into nearby troops; a domino effect easily being created.

His legs beckoned the Force once again, asking it's aid in a leap. Finally being in a clear area thanks to the Force blast he had just let off his body would jump upwards and towards the Tae in control of those rains. His eyes gazed across at the conjurers wondering if they even noticed him or if they were in some sort of odd trance. Dropping into a position to attack he prepared to wipe Tae'Sha clean of these... abominations to the Force.

 

[JMocks]

As Josh was making his way towards the Keep, the 'Disciples' decided to make life heal for the Knight. A mighty twister teared down his path. He had nowhere to go; the wind tossed him a few yards but not far. He used the Force to lessen the impact and quickly was on his feet; back into the battle. He ran at the 'Disciples', anger running through his veins. The inner Bogan in him was crying for release. He had fought the Bogan in him for ten years, he wasn't going to falter, or fail the Jedi.

He jumped high in the air, and came down with force. The magnitude from the impact flew seven 'Disciples' through the air. One rushed at him with his sword high, he met him with a high guard, then slicing him at the waist. Two more rushed him from both sides. He quickly jumped up into the air, making them clash into each other. Once he was on the ground he cut both of them in half.

Another one was quickly on his back. He managed to quickly maneuver his saber to a back defensive position just in time to prevent getting split in half. He then turned to face his attacker and engaged him. This one had alittle more fight in him. As he carried on the sword duel with the 'Disciple' another joined the fun, nicking Josh in his right leg. He didn't flinch. Didn't even make a sound.

He kept at the sword fight and used the Force to expel the other Disciple away. He caught the Disciple in a high guard, kicked him in a stomach, then slashed from his right shoulder to his left hip, from his left hip to right hip, then from his right hip through his left leg. Basically slashing at him like the letter Z.

The Disciple was no match for the maneuver, and ended up in pieces. If anyone has an idea, now is the time. He kept at the fighting. They just kept coming. It seemed as no matter how many he killed, there was five more waiting to kill him. This was definitely his toughest challenge by far. Question is, will he survive?

 

[GABA]

Rehni could feel the rumbling in the Force before she could feel it beneath her own feet. The earth shifted and pulled apart, she saw enemy and rebels fall below, the Force told her where to move as she leaped to what was safe for the moment. She could feel a sudden pull below her feet, the earth trembled again, Behind You, the Force shouted and her lightsaber pieced through their gut and spine making a quick kill; but the Force didn't shout loudly enough to her as a shadow of a large boulder overtook her own shadow. She leaped again, only to be hurled by the impact of the stone boulder across the battle field. Rehni found herself in a mix of other victims, some dead, some unconscious, some still struggling to pull out their blaster and shoot her.

The blue blur of her blade eliminated such threat.

Another large shadow weighed upon her, another boulder hurdling closer. The Force yelled at her to move again and she listened only to be within an eye shot of a Disciple conjuring the raining stones. With a wave of her hand the blue blade of her was back at her hip, the Disciple had thrown another stone at her. Rehni could play telekinetic too.

With both hands out she caught it mid-air, she could feel her enemy pushing as she pushed too. He caught on to her game and released his push seeing an opening as he attacked her with his blade. The stone hurled through the air, and the Knight dropped flat on her back as he sent the blade threw what would have been her own gut. The Disciple threw his blade down on her, tearing her shoulder as she rolled out of the way. Quickly leaping to her feet, her blade was back to her hand she spun out of his over hand attack and he was there to meet her again, this time locking their blades.

She continued to parry all his attacks, and Rehni was getting bored of the game. She flipped backwards giving her some space, he only followed full speed. Rehni took advantage of her telekinesis as she pulled his speeding body over herself and slammed him down into the hard ground head first with a loud crack.

Two more Disciples started running towards her.

 

[Raif]

The same eyes which had so confidently surveyed the battlefield before were now lacking their cool certainty. The Templar Lord was getting nervous, though he would die before admitting such a fact outside the sanctity of his own mind. His Disciples were more than capable in most situations, and in fact were doing a good job of driving back those rebel forces made up of native Taen. The jedi, though...

The Jedi on the battlefield were sweeping through his ranks like a scythe at the harvest. They seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. The Templar Lord saw more and more of his dedicated warriors sliced to bits or force-pushed to a pulp, and he felt a single trickle of sweat move down his brow. He had to act, and he had to act now.

"Ready my shuttle! I grow tired of surveying this silly skirmish. My attention can be better served elsewhere."

The disciple who had replaced Ragnarak as attendant in the Lord's chambers nervously cleared his throat before answering.

"Uh, my lord, there is some sort of maintenance issue with your shuttle. We can have another flown here, but it will be at least 10 minutes, possibly 15, before it arrives."

"WHAT?!"

The Templar Lord summoned the Art to his command and sent a ball of fire streaming directly at the Disciple who had just spoken. Ignoring the man's screams for mercy, the flaming man was hurled through the room's window where he plummeted to the ground below. Taking a moment to regain his composure, the Templar Lord strode to the door into his chambers and opened it, getting the attention of yet another Disciple who was standing just outside (and trying without success to ignore the sounds of death he had just heard).

"Summon the nearby shuttle. Tell the pilot I will meet him at the landing pad in ten minutes, and not a moment later or he will face my wrath."

~~~

Down on the ground, the Jedi seemed to wordless "divide and conquer" the various groups of Disciples who were casting their Art on the battlefield. On the left, Caed Ultor found himself in the midst of those who had been manipulating the rain into the tidal wave. Realizing they had a threat among them, the five force-users ceased what they had been doing and mobilized for combat. Three of them ignited their odd Art-induced energy sabers and leapt at the onrushing Jedi, while the other two manipulated the moisture in the air and launched high-pressure streams of water at Caed like so many fire hoses, hoping to knock him off his feet and end his life easily.

In the middle of the field Rehni was in the thick of it with the earth movers. One lay dead before her, having suffered a horrific head/neck injury at the hands of the female Jedi, but that still left four Disciples whose purpose at the moment was her destruction. Two came rushing at her full-tilt, energy blades lit and ready to rip her asunder. Behind, the last two continued their conjuring but in a different manner. Rather than focus on ripping up large stones and tossing them willy-nilly across the battle, they changed tactics to address the threat at hand. Grabbing all of the small stones and pebbles around them with the help of the Art, they began flinging them at Rehni with the speed of an automatic slug-throwing rifle, albeit without nearly the accuracy.

To the right, as Joshua Drake sent more and more of the enemy to their grave in melee combat, he found himself without range of the group of Disciple whipping and twisting the wind to their own nefarious ends. As with the other groups, these five broke up into groups; two ignited their blades and confronted Drake, while the other three turned their wind-manipulation directly on the ex-Bogan. The man would immediately feel as if he were in a wind tunnel, or standing directly behind a jet turbine engine, as the wind blew directly at him in the hopes of sending him tumbling into the distance.

Finally, behind all of these groups, Master Huang found himself in among the group that had originally created the maelstrom. Two were dead by his blade before they were even aware of his presence, and the two that attempted to engage him in combat died almost as quickly. That left one of the Disciples left to fend for himself, and in an act of desperation he called the power of the storm overhead directly into himself. A bolt of lighting cracked down and met the Disciple, killing him almost instantly but sending out a shock wave of electrical energy directly at the towering Sephi master.

Not far from this electrical display stood Ragnarak, who up til this point had stood motionless. As the lightning-bomb detonated, he realized he would have to deal with the blade-wielding Sephi himself, and so he unsheathed his own katana and moved to meet Huang. Calling the Art to himself in his own unique way, flame immediately engulfed not only his blade but his body as well. He became a towering inferno of rage with flaming fists and blade. Were it not for his ability to call the Art to heal his blistering skin he would surely die; as it stood, he was now a living flame-thrower, though he had the constant pain of heat and burning flesh to achieve the ability.

((OOC: Ok, sorry, I know it's a long post. If anyone has any questions, please post them in the OOC thread. Thanks, and have fun.))