The Next Step

[Xanthis Revenas]

Occurring chronologically directly after Getting Started.

After officially claiming Arian as his Padawan learner, Xanthis's first thought was that he needed to learn what his new student knew. He needed to know what Arian had already been taught, and how well he had absorbed his previous lessons. Did he know the basics of lightsaber combat? Was he fluent in the use of Shii-Cho, the most basic of the styles? Or did his knowledge perhaps extend into Forms II through VII? And how did he fare in matters concerning the Force? Did he know the basics of telekinesis? Could he use the traditional skills of pushing, pulling, and gripping physical matter through the Force? Finally, what were his philosophies concerning the Force? Was he a more conservative Jedi who believed in the doctrine of No Emotion, Only Peace, or was he similar to Xanthis in believing in the doctrine of Emotion, Yet Peace? These were all things that Xanthis hoped to learn by the end of the day today, and there was plenty of time to learn.

Securing a moderately sized training room that seemed to be unoccupied at the current moment, Xanthis entered and bade Arian to follow. Stepping to the center of the room, the Knight removed the great grey outer robe that he had been wearing thus far and set it aside. "Alright Arian, I think that the first thing we should do as Master and Padawan is having a little spar. I want to see what you know." Xanthis took a moment to look Arian over after speaking, seeking a lightsaber on the Padawan's person. If he did not see one, he would offer one of his own for the moment, unclipping it from his belt and tossing it to Arian. "Care for a round?"

@Arian Korzak

 

[Arian Korzak]

Arian looked at the training room trying to picture it in his mind so he wouldn't have to see where he was going the entire time, or feel with the force. He grinned when Xanthis suggested he spar, an interesting idea. He expected to lose obviously, he was an excellent combatant but he was no master. When Xanthis would look for the lightsabres he would find not one but two dual-phase sabres that could connect at the hilts to form a sabre staff.
"Certainly," He said removing one sabre and taking a Makashi pose. This did not in fact mean it was his best learned style, it was merely the pose he took if he would not be using Vaapad. He would be utilizing mainly Makashi, Ataru, and shii-cho, techniques in that order. If things were getting worse he'd be switching to ataru, if even worse then to his vaapad.

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

Makashi? Xanthis felt mild surprise at seeing his Padawan take a Form II stance, as Makashi was rarely the form of choice for a Padawan or even most Knights. He would be interested to see how well Arian had learned the duelist's form. He was also curious to see how it would interact with his own style, considering that he hybridized Djem-so, Niman, and Juyo during lightsaber combat. 'Niman is vulnerable to Makashi, which is itself vulnerable to Djem-so and Juyo. This should be educational for both of us,' Xanthis thought to himself before a thought occurred to him.

Arian was probably not a Makashi specialist, considering the fact that he had two lightsabers at his belt. Having never encountered a dual-bladed Makashi style before, Xanthis assumed that Arian's former Master had probably taught him more than just Form II. 'Well, I'll just have to find out. Let's start with Niman.' Removing a lightsaber from his belt with his right hand, Xanthis ignited the indigo blade and dashed forward at his Padawan. While moving forward, Xanthis kept his lightsaber trailing behind him until the moment before making contact, at which point he brought it around in an arc aimed at Arian's left shoulder.

 

[Arian Korzak]

Arians blade seemed trained on Xanthis's lightsabre arm as he moved forwards but he was really focusing on precognition and strategy. He'd lose if it came to skill which was why cleverness and tricks would be the way to go if he wanted to last. As Xanthis's lightsabre swung around Arian slid backwards continually left hand near his face, clearly a method used by fencers to swat away the blade but not usually used on lightsabre because of the clear fact it would likely burn through their hand. The attack was not easy to avoid with makashi, as Xanthis clearly must have known, which meant he'd have to change forms to get around it. He switched to his favorite form, ataru, seeming to turn to liquid as he dropped to the floor and propelled himself sideways opposite the direction of the sabre trying to tag Xanthis's hilt on the way as he flew high into the air to land as if he was made of a bunch of vines. He had very nearly gotten hit by the blade but that was a chance he had been willing to take if it meant he just might temporarily disarm Xanthis. Upon landing he would revert back to Makashi lengthening his blade a bit to make it far harder to reach him without getting stabbed.

Arian eyed him a twitch of a crooked sinister smile at his lips. He loved his ability to change forms on demand, it was the main reason he fared well against many different opponents. Sudden changes, combined with his dual phase sabres, made him the perfect candidate for finding some way to get around another persons style. However it also meant he was not a master in very many forms. For Arian this was a battle of the mind, not the sword. As every battle was to him.

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

There were many things that Xanthis was expecting at the moment, but a sudden shift into Ataru from Makashi was not one of them. Instead of striking his student on the shoulder, the Miraluka found his lightsaber being knocked out of his hand. 'Huh. Now when was the last time I was properly disarmed?' The question came to Xanthis and he gave an appreciative little nod towards Arian's maneuver. "Clever, Padawan, very clever," Xanthis said even as he reached out with the Force and gripped his blade telekinetically. With a gesture, the handle would return to his grip and his indigo blade would emerge once more.

Not taking his eyes off of Arian for even a moment, Xanthis noticed the little twitch of a smile and gave an equally sinister grin in response. "Let's see if you can do that again." Placing both hands on his lightsaber, he would raise the blade above his head at a ninety degree angle; the traditional opening stance of Form V, Djem-so, Xanthis's base form and the most favored aspect of his overall lightsaber style. With a little charge forward, Xanthis would attempt to bring his sword directly downward in a vertical slash that was known as the Falling Avalanche, a principle technique of Djem-so and a typical starting point for offense. 'Round two!'

OOC: Sorry about the super slow response. Got a bit sick and couldn't really get into the RP for a bit, but I'm back.

 

[Arian Korzak]

Crap! Arian thought as the attack came in. His second lightsabre entered his hand and both activated their white beams to form an X to halt the attack. Arian felt his legs nearly buckle beneath him and his grip nearly break. In brute strength he was usually outmatched if facing someone bigger than him who was skilled in combat. He tried to leap backwards using his sabres shortening as he attempted to preform an enormous leap onto the cieling where he would essentially stick for a few moments. He's simply too strong for me too fight head on without using Vaapad. And even if I use vaapad I won't be able to hold it as long or as well as he can. My stamina is already depleting because of that block. Well, my inferiority is one of the reasons I have to know multiple styles after all. Might as well use that to my advantage. I have to to into offense. I can't survive on defense. He contemplated moving with incredible speed back to the ground and seeming to bounce right and left as he came forwards, his sabres were moving in such a fashion as to be coming from two different angles at once when he closed in. This worked more effeciently against someone who would be slower or who had only a single lightsabre because they'd be forced to retreat or have to move extra fast. He would leap up and to the right when he got close attempting an attack for the stomach with his left sabre and the back with his right sabre. Perhaps using that cold personality would be the best course of action. If I suddenly become my cold self and switch from swordplay to force powers I might be able to catch him off guard. Of course, he is a Knight. The probability he's weaker or less skilled than me in the force is low.

Overall the only hope Arian had for this encounter was learning. He didn't need to win and was only just taking a little joy in the fact he'd disarmed Xanthis, not something he was sure would work at all.


Ooc:
Sorry to hear that man. Glad you're feeling better then!

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

And there was the second lightsaber, which was clearly not meant to be used as a mere replacement weapon but was a part of Arian's style in full. Xanthis was paying attention to every move Arian made, though not to pinpoint weakness as much as to study how he fought. Dual-length sabers, Jar-kai used as a reflexive defense to support Makashi's shortcomings, the rapid changing of styles from one to the next; separately any of these elements could be used to make a fighter far more versatile in combat. Together they created the potential for a frightening degree of variation.

Even now, Arian dodged away and retreated to the ceiling for a moment, to which Xanthis's response was simply to pull back and release his two-handed grip on his lightsaber in preparation. Though Djem-so was his base form, he did not particularly relish the idea of facing a Jar-kai infused Ataru style with the fifth form as he would move far too slowly to avoid getting hit. Xanthis's foresight would swiftly be proven correct when Arian launched an assault from the ceiling, leaping down and then surging forward. Mildly surprised by the sudden shift, Xanthis leaped backward as Arian came forward in order to keep some distance between them. When Arian launched his actual attack, Xanthis would reverse his momentum and perform a Force-assisted leap upwards in a somersault over his Padawan's head to land on his feet behind Arian a few meters away.

"Damn you're fast," Xanthis commented to his Padawan with some haste, as the spar was still continuing. At least Arian would not have the momentum from his ceiling-leap to aid him now, but still caution would need to be maintained. "And nice use of Sokan!" The words were said even as Xanthis was pulling back his left hand for the classic combat telekinesis application: a Force push to the torso, meant more to unbalance than to harm. Regardless of whether or not the push actually did anything, Xanthis would charge forward once again. He was fairly curious to see how Arian would deal with a short burst of Juyo tactics, even if Xanthis could not effectively use the seventh form without tapping into a lethal mindset that he was unwilling to use. Continuing forward even if Arian charged him right back, the Knight would bring his lightsaber across from the left in an arc aimed at the Padawan's chest level. In a normal duel, he would have aimed for the head, but without truly tapping into the style Xanthis's first thought would not be lethal blows.

 

[Arian Korzak]

"Thank you." He replied gratefully at the compliment. He dodged my assault. I know for a fact I can't win like this. I have to change styles again, no, I definitely have to change personality. Well. Here it goes.
When the attack came Arian had to think quickly. His face seemed to become emotionless and his stance seemed to become more stiffened but also more likely to suddenly dart in one direction or another, as he stood to his full hight. He was focusing on precognition and the force above swordplay, which is why his right sabre deactivated. As Xanthis's lightsabre came in he attempted to use the force shield around his right arm to try and block the sabre, a method he was unbelievably happy that he could have even learned. If the force of the sabre was strong enough the force shield might simply break but he hoped it would halt the sabres progress long enough for him to use a force pull against Xanthis's legs followed by a push aimed at his chest using his left hand, hopefully enough to knock him over to allow Arian to aim his sabre at his chest. Not an actual attack but a movement that could quickly be followed through.

The main flaw with this personality was when used it nearly negated any probobility of him using Juyo because that required a certain mindset, one which this personality was found to be almost the exact opposite of. While it had speed and excellent force abilities the strength of its physical blows decreased a lot more. This personality was the most likely to utilize makashi on offense but ataru for overall movements and defense. Interestingly, it was also the least likely for him to have shatterpoint vision in.

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

When Arian's arm flew up, Xanthis hesitated for a moment and his blade slowed for just that fraction of a second. It was not that he was unafraid of striking his Padawan, considering the fact that lightsabers on their lowest settings did little more than mildly sting. No, he hesitated because he was confused by Arian's throwing up his arm in that manner. At least until his sight saw the Force gathering around the arm, and he then understood that the Padawan was attempting to erect a barrier around that arm to block the lightsaber. Xanthis was going to have to remember to tell Arian not to rely on Force Barriers placed on the body, as even a training lightsaber would likely break the defense. At full power, he might well lose whichever limb he attempted to protect in that manner.

Xanthis would have little time to think on that however, for he soon found his legs yanked out from under him. His off-hand instinctively flew up to the back of his head to protect it from a direct collision with the floor, and he landed without the risk of a concussion. Being on his back was still not a good position to be in during a lightsaber duel however, so once Arian's lightsaber blade came downwards towards his chest he jerked to the side to avoid the blade before extending his right hand toward the Padawan. A wave of Force energy erupted from it, the intention being to send Arian a decent distance away in the training room so that Xanthis could rise without risk.

 

[Arian Korzak]

Knowing an attempt to block the attack would be fruitless he settled wih stabilizing his flight backwards and landing in a crouch to stand back up lightsabre blade extended and pointing more the the ground than up. While it may have appeared a bad stance it was merely one designed to swing the lightsabre upwards towards the limbs of any attacks.

Arians free hand was waiting to preform a force pull at Xanthis' lightsabre followed by a force push. The combination was meant to send it and/or Xanthis flying so he could keep Xanthis off balance for a sudden fast barrage of makasashi strikes. He wasn't sure it would work but it was worth a shot anyway and he wanted to try it.

(OOC: Just in case you see this as no selling I pretty much fully intend on having him lose. I just need the right circumstances to make sure it happens.)

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

The kinetic wave of energy had the desired effect, being that it put some space between Xanthis and Arian. Even while the latter was flying, Xanthis was leaping back onto his feet and straightening himself and his stance. Though he had originally intended to press his attack, his hesitation a few moments ago had broken the string of sequences that he used in Juyo. Such an interruption in a duel to the death would have caused him to change forms, and he did so now from sheer force of habit. Habit would not dictate his actions totally however, and so instead of reverting to his base form of Djem-so he would hold the blade in a one-handed Niman grip. It would turn out to be a fortunate idea, considering the fact that Arian's next move was to make another attempt to use the Force. This time however, Xanthis would be prepared for the invisible assault.

His own powers would be enough to keep his lightsaber from slipping from his right hand, his physical grip on the handle tightening even as his grip through the Force kept it in his possession. When the push came, Xanthis would extend his left hand directly into the path of the oncoming kinetic energy and invoke a defensive technique of his own. Using Tutaminis, he would absorb the impact of the push before attempting a push of his own. Aiming the kinetic wave squarely at Arian's chest, Xanthis hoped to knock the Padawan into the wall behind him to throw him off-balance. If successful, he would follow-up by attempting to pull Arian's lightsaber from his hand using the Force while he was still disoriented.

 

[Arian Korzak]

Arian grimaced before it actually hit him. He already knew what was happening but he had not technique to counter it. Another force push would just have been 'absorbed' ans used against him.

It was the push itself that caused the most difficulty for Arian. Forcing the air out of his lungs and loosening his grip on his sabre already. When he hit the wall and his lightsabre flew from his grip he figured he was just about finished. He dropped to the ground taking a breath, "Goodness gracious." He said to himself breathily. He was considerably wearied, much to his annoyance, by all of the action. He took another deep breath before standing up and grabbing his other sabre but not activating it. He had to go on defensive now. With this much exhaustion clinging to the cieling using the force would be difficult which meant one of his biggest advantages was almost lost. Now it was just a matter of what Xanthis did to determine the soon coming time before defeat.

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

Xanthis held both lightsabers aloft for a moment before assuming a Jar'kai variant of his Niman stance, displaying the promise of proficiency with that lightsaber art. Just as he went to step forward however, the Knight relaxed his stance and straightened. He was smiling and nodding in appreciation towards Arian, pleased that the Padawan had opted to pull out his second sabre rather than surrender when his primary weapon was taken. Considering how hard that telekinetic wave had hit, Xanthis had to give his new student credit for getting back up quite that quickly.

"Alright that's enough. I'm forgetting that this is an exhibition." Xanthis tossed Arian back his lightsaber before clipping his own back onto his belt, his breathing becoming more steady with each moment as he focused the Force towards recovery from fatigue generated during the sparring match. "And as far as exhibitions go, that was remarkably well done Arian. You're fairly proficient at switching between styles, and your usage of Sokan is natural instead of being forced. All in all, I'd say that we can at least skip the basics and skip straight into more advanced training. Unless you'd just prefer to start at base zero?"

 

[Arian Korzak]

"Oh thank goodness." Arian said catching the lightsabre and leaning against the wall. That was a rather tiring match. He clipped them back on taking deep calming breaths to speed up his return to less fatigue.
"Thank you very much, Master Xanthis." He responded gratefully to the compliment on his skill. To him it was as much an intellectual battle as a physical one, and he despised failing on intellectual matters. That's why he had to admit it was great to receive compliments on things like that. He took one more breath standing up off of the wall. He couldn't recover quite as fast from all out sparring even if he did do well during one, this was because he hadn't learned that skill quite as well as he would have hoped.

"I would like to move into more advanced training, sir. It would be nice to progress." He answered to the question.

 

[Xanthis Revenas]

"Advanced training it is, then!" Xanthis beamed when he spoke, a glint in his eyes betraying excitement at the prospect if his attitude had not conveyed that message. He was a man of action, who enjoyed self-improvement as a pastime. Training to him was less of a chore or a mandatory practice as much as it was an entertaining necessity, and Arian had answered in the 'correct' manner. 'Then again,' Xanthis thought to himself, 'it is also true that today has already been quite eventful.' Reaching out with the Force, Xanthis pulled his overrobe to himself though he did not drape it over his shoulders and instead simply held it loosely in one hand. "And progress you shall, though in fairness we already have done quite a bit today. Go ahead and take the rest of the day to rest, practice, or enjoy yourself as you will. Meanwhile, I'll be composing an actual training...regimen...scheme..." After a few moments of attempting to find the word, Xanthis sighed and gave up with a dismissive hand wave. "I need to think about how to properly train you with what I now know of your skills."

 

[Arian Korzak]

"Yes master. Thank you." Arian said placing his black over-robe more comfortably and taking a glance at his sabres to be sure they were fine in their place on his belt. In his mind he was already thinking about where he could improve on combat efficiency. Arian had enjoyed the fight no doubt about it, nevertheless it was always worth improving and learning new methods afterwards. He walked at a more leisurely pace towards the exit, before he would bow towards Xanthis and depart to the outside to think over it all. That and and some questions he waned to ask Xanthis once they got back to training.