Way of the Lightsaber

[Negative Blessing]

Grima stood in the centre of a clearing that had been fenced in outside her palace on Dantooine facing her Apprentice, Trayzan. Today the girl was going to learn about lightsaber combat and the form she had chosen to study and eventually master, Makashi. "The second lightsaber form is called Makashi or known as The Way of the Ysalamiri or The Contention Form. It was designed for lightsaber versus lightsaber combat relying on precision and efficiency. This form will allow you to defend yourself against an opponent with minimal effort, while placing a heavy focus on avoiding disarmament."

Removing one of her lightsabers from her side, she holds the unlit weapon adding, "Makashi is both an elegant and focused form that is based on balance and footwork to outmaneuver opponents. Its fluidity and economy of motion is relied on, rather than strength; with the bladework heavily utilizing jabs and light cuts rather than hack and slash movements. However, Makashi is not without its weaknesses Apprentice, being relatively ineffective against multiple opponents and failing to address the issue of blast-deflection. Though Makashi is superb for one-on-one lightsaber dueling, you will need to learn at least one other form to compliment your swordsmanship and address the issues I have mentioned associated with Makashi."

Grima ignites her lightsaber and begins a brief demonstration for her Apprentice. Her footwork is superb keeping her in full balance while she makes quick jabs and swift cuts with her blade. Lowering her weapon now yet keeping it ignited, she orders her Apprentice to demonstrate what she just did.

When the demonstrations is done, Grima says, "Words are just words...its actions that make you understand. Attack me!"

 

[LadyM]

I listened to the words from my wise Master as she told me about the Makashi form, both its strengths and weaknesses. I began to think of what other form I wanted to learn after getting the concept of Makashi down first. Even though my path was that of a sorceress, I knew that combat against my enemies be that of the Jedi or rival Sith would most in part take place with the lightsaber. Once I had the free time I would practice religiously on this form until I was both comfortable and confident in my skills.

When my Master had completed her demonstration for me, she shocked me into reality when she ordered me to attack her. If this situation had taken place years earlier I would have hesitated but I was stronger, more powerful than I once was, and was Sith. I withdrew my weapon from my belt and ignited it. Recalling how my Master moved, I tried to mimic her movements and attacked, blindly.

I charged Master Volitu and as I got in range, I struck at her left side with my blade forcing her to parry or block my left sided thrust. If she parried my attack I would then cut my blade across toward her chest in an attempt to either force her to block or parry that attack or cause her to step back. However, if she blocked my first attack then I would follow it up with a high slash designed to hit her left shoulder making her take a step back or react to the strike with another block or a parry.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima powered down one of her lightsabers and returned it to her belt using only of her blades against her Apprentice. She wanted to teach the girl not kill her. So Grima watched as her Apprentice charged her and readied herself for the forthcoming attack.

Grima blocked the first attack from her Apprentice that was aimed for her left side and followed that up by locking the two sabers together when her Apprentice struck high at her shoulder, holding the two sabers in place. "When all possible Apprentice...always parry an attack against you. Blocking takes more physical energy than parrying. A well timed parry is nothing more than a flick of the wrist. Also, try to saber lock to negate your opponents attacks. But know this, if you are facing a more physically stronger opponent than be careful when locking sabers....you will give them a slight advantage at close quarters. One more thing, be aware of the weapons your foe possess. I use two weapons and that gives me a greater advantage over those that wield one weapon. Now lets see how well you listen."

Grima, using her free hand, Force Pushes her Apprentice back putting a gap between them. Grima then attacks her Apprentice by aiming her attack at the midsection of her Apprentice. With the impending attack coming, her Apprentice is forced to either parry, block, saber lock, step back, or get cut in half. If her Apprentices blocks or parries, Grima then spins her blade in a downward motion in an attempt to sever her Apprentice's left leg forcing the girl to parry, block, or saber lock for Grima is close now that if her Apprentice does move backwards she will leave herself open and vulnerable since the Sith Master has a longer reach..

If her Apprentices steps back from the previous attack, Grima lunges the tip of her blade at the chest of her Apprentice attempting to pierce the girl. When this happens, her Apprentice must either parry, block, or lock sabers. If she attempts to saber lock, Grima will quickly produce her second blade holding the tip of it at her stomach letting her know she failed in her lesson, but still lives. If she does parry or block, Grima again uses the Force and slams her back against the wall.

 

[LadyM]

I stood with my lightsaber locked to my Master's blade. I knew she would not find it difficult to bat my attacks away but I was learning. After my Master finished speaking, I felt a strong wave of Force energy hit me square on knocking me nearly off my feet but at least causing me to stumble backwards. The moment I recovered I witnessed my Master attacking me, forcing me to play the role of defender.

I parried the attack from my Master as her blade came toward my midsection then watched as she quickly swung her hot blade toward my left leg. Once again I parried the attack, knocking my Master's blade aside and then force Jumped over my Master to prevent myself from being pinned between her and the wall behind me.

Soon as I landed, I swung my blade around aiming it at the back of Master Volitu forcing her to parry, block, or lock sabers. If she parried or blocked, I would aim my blade at her right leg forcing her to parry block or lock blades.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima watched as her Apprentice parried her first attack and then her second attack. She snarled as she watched her Apprentice attempt to jump over her head and when she was in mid-flight, Grima reached out with the Force and caught the girl holding her there for a passing second. Then with anger, she slammed the girl hard to the floor knocking the wind out of her and forcing the girl's weapon to skitter away from here.

Standing over the girl, the tip of her blade hovering inches from her face Grima said,"Never....never try a foolish stunt like that again. Especially when you are facing some as powerful as I. You have seen the end result from your foolishness and had I wished to kill you....this conversation would not be taking place." Grima powered down her weapon and placed the hilt on her belt and then motioned for the young girl to stand up.

"We will practice this again later but for now....go and reflect on all that you have learned and think hard about not making such errors again. Also, think about another form you wish to learn. Now leave my sight," Grima said letting her anger to override her normally calm voice.

 

[LadyM]

I felt myself caught. held, and trapped in the air when Master Volitu reached out with the Force and caught me as I attempted to jump over her head. When my body slammed onto the ground, both my air was knocked from my lungs and my lightsaber slid away from me. When my eyes could focus, I saw the tip of Master Volitu's blade inches from my face and I felt shamed after she chided me for my careless move.

I stood up, called my weapon to my hand, and after listening to the instructions from my Master, I left the training room for my own personal quarters. I sat on the floor, my lightsaber next to me, and began to reflect on my mistakes during my first lightsaber combat. I learned never to leap over another Force wielder cause the result would be the same. I also thought about everything my Master had taught me about lightsaber combat and the next time i had to use my weapon in a lesson with her or against a foe, I would use that knowledge to protect myself from my own mistakes.

As I thought about all this, I began to think about another lightsaber form I wished to learn. My mind began to replay all the different forms i had read about and came to the conclusion which form I wanted to learn next. Soresu.

I fell into meditation and waited until my Master called for me again.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima stood in the centre of her outdoor training circle looking at her Apprentice as she stood across from the Sith Master. Earlier in the day her Apprentice asked to learn the form Soresu, one she knew herself but rarely used. Grima removed one her lightsabers and ignited it.

"Soresu was developed during the widespread emergence of blasters as an offensive weapon. Soresu relies on tight bladework and subtle dodges to provide maximum defensive coverage, minimizing exposure to ranged weaponry. Like Makashi, which I have taught you, Soresu also relies on the economy of motion and energy efficiency, keeping up constant blade-movement to build up momentum and minimize energy-expenditure. This form focused on strong defensive technique to essentially outlast an opponent, waiting until he or she began making mistakes due to frustration or fatigue, before taking advantage of these lapses and countering. As a master of Soresu, the focus on long-term survival will allow you to take stock of and control of the situation, choosing to kill or disarm your enemies."

Grima raised her humming blade up and gave the voice activation for one of the training droids that had been brought out here. The droid attacked on command and Grima, elegant and graceful, began to demonstrate the form for her young Apprentice. Grima allowed the droid to attack and she simply knocked, batted or parried the attacks using quick and tightblade work and dodges.

Grima hit the droid with a quick counterattack that left the droid incapacitated. "Now you will demonstrate for me...mirror what I did. And do not attempt to jump over the droid's head."

 

[LadyM]

My eyes watched Master Volitu move around as she faced off against one of the two training droids that had been brought out for us to use. When she was done and the droid no longer in service, it was my turn to demonstrate what i had learned and watched.

I fell into the Soresu form and when I was ready, I issued the activation command. The droid powered up and moved toward me. Just as my Master did, I dodged a few attacks, parried some, and batted a couple away. Then I moved into my attacks using the tight blade work my Master spoke of and demonstrated for me.

In two quick slashes I managed to sever the droids arm and its head. I powered down my weapon and looked over at my Master. "I like this form, Master. It feels smooth and balanced. and i didn't jump over the droid's head."

 

[Negative Blessing]

When the Apprentice was done with the droid, Grima clapped her hands together. "Very good....very good indeed. But fighting against droids and fighting against live opponents are quite different, child. Droids fight and react to their programing while live opponents are more....aware of what is transpiring around them," Master Volitu said moving toward her Apprentice while looking at the droid her Apprentice just disassembled.

"You know have the basics and a foundation to build on from using two separate lightsaber forms. Also, the form Soresu will allow you to not only repel blaster shots...but redirect them back to its previous owner. We will touch on that after you have returned from your test," Grima says exchanging her glance from the droid to Trayzan.

With her legendary haunted smile, the Sith Master rests her left hand on the right shoulder of Trayzan. "Though you will not find many lightsaber wielders here on Dantooine, you will have to make do with the Kath hounds instead. Go into the Krag Valley and there you will encounter a pack of Kath hounds. Hunt them down and eliminate the pack. Use both forms so that you may grow comfortable in them. Now...go!"

Grima removes her left hand and steps away from her Apprentice.

 

[LadyM]

I took leave of my Master making my way to the Krag Valley to hunt down these Kath hounds. I had encountered these wild and vicious beasts once before when I was new to the use of the Force. I had struggled against them but I did prevail unscathed. This time around I would be more than a match for these four-legged creatures. I will be the predator and they will be my prey.

It didn't take me long to find the pack. From atop of a hill that looked down into the valley, I saw the pack lounging about basking in the day's sun while others were walking about the pack acting as sentries. I removed my weapon from my side, ignited it, and called on the Force to enhance my speed and agility then charged down the hill toward the hounds.

The first group of sentries in my path turned to address me but I cut through them quickly leaving their corpses to feed the scavengers as I moved to the centre of the pack to face the pack leader. I stood my ground with my lightsaber slashing left and right, up and down killing every beast that got close or try to counter attack me as I killed their fellow pack members. I had to fight the urge to use the Force as a weapon since I was told only to use my lightsaber.

One by one, and sometimes in twos or threes, the beasts fell to my blade leaving me and their pack leader to square off. The hound, saliva dripping from its mouth and rage in its eyes, growled menacingly at me then charged. I dodged to the left of its snapping jaws, swung my lightsaber blade down across the nape of its neck removing the head from its furry shoulders.

I looked around to make sure all the Kath hounds were dead. To my satisfaction, none lived so I went back to my Master. "It is done, Master. The pack is no more," I said stopping a few yards from my Master, waiting for her next lesson or instructions.

 

[Negative Blessing]

By the time her Apprentice had returned, Grima had ordered her servants to remove the broken droids and bring out two more. The lesson on Soresu was not over yet. There was one more aspect of this form Grima needed to teach her Apprentice. "Very good, Apprentice. You are understanding the importance of using a lightsaber. With that said, I will tell you about the other application of Soresu."

Grima stepped away from her Apprentice and produced one her hilts. She pressed the stud on the side, the black and purple blade emerged with a hiss. "Though you have knowledge of Tutaminis already, there will be times that you cannot rely on that ability when faced with multiple foes. So....while using Soresu you can effectively redirect blaster shots back to their previous owner using the Force to guide you. By that, I mean the Force will show you where the line of fire is coming and eclipsing that with Soresu you can prevent the shots from hitting you. Other forms will only bat them away but this form, as I have said, redirects them."

Grima utters the command word and the droid, equipped with a blaster rifle, raises its weapon and begins to fire off a series of shots. Grima, dropping into Soresu, bats the first couple of shots away then focuses on the shots through the Force and the next series of shots are sent back toward the droid, hitting it in the chassis destroying it.

As she powers down her weapon, she returns to her Apprentice saying, "Now you."