An Icy Duel

[The Derp of Hooves]

Thelonious was restless. While he watched the Jedi tournament on holo vids, he wished he could've been there participating in the tournament. It was his own oversight that caused him to miss the deadline and he had been cursing himself ever since. This was how he found himself on Illum trying to cool himself off, so to speak. Training with his saber was, in a way, like meditation for him. The swish and hum of the lightsaber blade was constant and soothing as he went through the basics of Shii-Cho. While other forms existed, he preferred the simplicity the form offered. Experience had taught him that it was often the simple things in life that were the most effective. Thus he practiced the basics. While he practiced with a single blade, he was quite skilled with both dual blades and the saber staff. He kept his spare saber up his sleeve where it always was, ready to activate if needed.

@ItsUhTrap42

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

Jakt heard a sound coming from a large chamber in the ice halls of the Illum Jedi Temple. He had been sent there to fulfill one of his Jedi trials. Looking at his hands he reflected on his departure from Iziz. Was he ready to be a Jedi? What did that mean for him and his? He noticed a young Jedi practicing his lightsaber techniques. Jakt hadn't liked the lightsaber, too light, not enough heft. Sure, they had told him that you use the force to augment the power of your strikes to simulate weight in the weightless blade, but something felt wrong in Jakt's hand. After forty some-odd years of training with a Vibrosword, it didn't seem to Jakt that anything else would do. The forty-five year old student smiled as he strode passed the Jedi and bowed.

"You have good form young man. Perhaps though, discipline is not always your friend in a contest of blades. I have often found the unorthodox helps one gain the upper-hand in a duel. Fundamentals are well and good and of course, to be taken seriously, but do not be confined by them. My name is Padawan Jakt Utlanning. It is a pleasure. Might I have the honor of your name?"

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

Thelonious was going through the basic zone combinations with intense focus. He utilized quick diagonal strikes to go from the head to hip and sweeping zigzag as though he were painting. The simple movements were honed from years of training and he practiced with such skill and ease that it left his mind free to wander. As intent as he was on his technique, Thelonious didn't notice the new comer until he spoke. Sheathing his saber, Thelonious couldn't help but wonder as Jakt introduced himself as a padawan. The man seemed too old to not have been found by the order sooner, that or he was somehow overlooked for knighthood. In any case he seemed courteous enough and it wasn't in Thelonious's nature to not respond in kind.

"Often times, however, it is the simple movements that trump the over achieving," he replied to the older padawan, if padawan he truly was, "My name is Thelonious Knight and the pleasure is mine. Might I ask what brings a padawan out to Illum?"

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

Jakt took his time before he spoke again, considering the words. What he had learned on Onderon was a combination of a little bit of humility and also that there are many different roads to enlightenment and that certainly, ones combat prowess and ability cannot be judged by looks, or size, or age. Th Beast Rider examined how different the two appeared. Primarily the difference was in influence of dress. Jakt wore hides of multiple animals fashioned into a slap-dash myriad of plates, pauldrons, kama, and some very heavy boots. The Jedi was roughly of the same height and almost the same build Jakt except in that Jakt was slightly more barrel chested. They both had scarring, or at least Jakt thought it was scarring. He knew where his came from, he was curious about the other.

"True. It's a fine thing meeting you. I'm here to...er...find my center. The kid teaching me says it'd be good for me. I think it's cold."

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

As Jakt replied, Thelonious couldn't help but feel giddy inside though he made no outward showing off the emotion. It was good that the old padawan had a sense of humor, and Thelonious approved even if he didn't show it. Part of him wondered where he might be from, probably someplace where it wasn't a constant winter wonderland he thought to himself.

"Well, the best way to stay warm is to move. I take it you knew how to use a lightsaber?" Thelonious asked keeping his in his right hand.

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

Jakt grinned slightly when Thelonious mentioned moving, he understood what he was getting at. The Beast Lord rested his hand on the pommel of his vibrosword encased securely in its scabbard at his side. A family heirloom he had recovered from his dealings on Onderon, it had a certain menacing but noble purpose to it.

"Never had the need to learn. Besides I'm not a big fan of laser swords as it is. Too elegant, an elegance that defies it's intended purpose. I never understood why it was that the Jedi preferred them so. It takes an uneccesary amount of energy to keep from cutting oneself. Doors can be opened by knocking and men can be cut with steel just as well as a beam of nuclear reactant energy."

Jakt bowed, "care to test yours?"

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

"Well the blade is actually comprised of plasma and it's powered by the force, not nuclear energy, which would be dangerous. Anyways, a lightsaber is more than just a weapon. It is a symbol, and the building of one is a spiritual journey all Jedi take. The Kyber crystal in each individual lightsaber is a reflection of the Jedi who wields it," Thelonious explained to the old padawan. He was quite fond of lightsabers and lightsaber lore in general and he enjoyed teaching the younglings about the importance of carrying such a weapon, though it was quite different teaching such things to one who had not grown up in the order. He was quite interested to see what Jakt knew of sword play and activated the icy blue blade, keeping the blade on stun mode rather than full lethality.
Holding the blade on his right hand, Thelonious turned so that his shoulder and blade faced Jakt. Relaxing his body he took in a deep breath and said, "You may have the first move, padawan."

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

"Could not one just as soon demonstrate their journey by building a house for a beggar than a tool of destruction? What difference does it make what we build, just so long as we do it with patience and wisdom? Would not that be a reflection of the character of the particular Jedi more than a rock one found in a cave?" Jakt said as the Jedi produced his weapon. After he activated it and assumed his fighting position he stopped smiling and his eyes narrowed.

"No, young master Jedi, igniting your blade was the first move."

The Beast Lord closed the excess distance with two bounds and with both hands tightening around the Boma hide handle he feinted before reaching striking distance, juked right then left and performed a guard-testing flick pulling with his bottom hand and directing with his top hand toward the Jedi's neck. The maneuver was just close enough to force the Jedi to address Jakts blade but not so committed as to disable him from pulling it back. Jakt was no brash adolescent. He would not engage the enemy without first assessing his capabilities.

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

It was a fair enough question the old padawan had asked, and for the answer one needed to go no further than to look at the history of the Jedi. Thelonious was about to give his answer however, Jakt made his move. The older padawan charged at Thelonious with an intent not to strike, but rather to assess him. Thelonious would not be fooled by the simple feint, instead as the blade came towards his head he locked swords with Jakt with a flick of his wrist, metal clashing against plasma. With another turn of his wrist and a half step forward, he let his blade fall attempting to strike at his opponents arms trying to disarm Jakt.

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

He was precise and played the long game. Jakt let him check his weapon out of the way of the strike and used its momentum to pull with his back hand and allow his blade to intercept the lightsaber as he sidestepped sideways. The Padawan was now in a high angled guard with his hands over his head. and his blade ran along the lightsaber as he continued his sidestep. With a quick motion Jakt pushed the pommel of his weapon in a powerful punch towards the Jedi's collarbone followed by a hard kick to the outside of his leg.

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

Thelonious flowed with the ebb of the fight as easily as a river flowed its course. As he felt Jakt push back with his sword, Thelonious stepped back as well, keeping himself out of reach of his fist and even the kick that followed. With a switch in his grip so casual one would not notice unless they were looking for it, Thelonious grabbed his saber with his left hand and thrust out with his right, calling upon the force to push Jakt backwards.

He smiled at the old padawan, "It is a fair question to ask my friend, why indeed would a peace faring order build weapons meant for battle? The saber itself is not what is important but the crystal within that is. The kyber crystal within the blade is a focusing tool often so in tune with the jedi who holds it that if one were to try to ignite their saber, it would not work," Thelonious said powering down his saber while still facing Jakt, "The crystal acts as a focusing agent helping the jedi be more in tune with the force," He then put the hand holding his saber behind his back and held out his hand in challenge to the old padawan, "Now come and let me show you what I mean." Thelonious then gave himself to the force, willing his senses to be heightened above normal as he waited for Jakt to make his move.

 

[Jakt Utlanning]

Jakt felt an abrupt shove while his kick was finishing its follow-through. The shove forced him back and turned him harder and faster and he almost toppled backward until he drove his sword into the ground. His hand spun around the pommel as he pivoted back to his target and regained his balance, his opponent hadn't reengaged; instead, he stand addressing him. He set his foot hard into the ground and yanked his blade from it, casually closing the distance as he spoke.

"What you speak of is the relationship I have with my Drexl. Beast riders do not choose their animals, the animals choose them. In a way, yes we tame them and harness them but we could never do so without the animals permission. They are too powerful. Were she here with me, you would be facing a far more formidable opponent for we fight as one, just as you and your stone fight as one. Alas, she is not so I feel the need to honor your request to teach me, but perhaps I may have a thing or two to teach you my young master."

With that Jakt slid and stepped largely forward bringing his blade in a powerful downward two-handed strike that had the ability to make contact with the Jedi but was solely for momentum; his armored shoulder came following. His intention that the block be so necessary but also, following up with throwing all of his weight into a sideways jump throwing the entirety of Jakts mass into the air and flat into the Jedi, inside his block and guard. If he were successful, they would both fall to the ground where Jakts weight and sheer size would give him the upper hand and his own blade still in between the saber and himself but having fallen on Thelonious.

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

Thelonious moved with the force. As Jakt swung his blade, Thelonious swayed out of the way then as Jakt leapt into the air, he thrust out his hand with another push, this one more powerful than the last.

"Just as the rider and Drexel fight as one so to do the Jedi and the force. You must learn to use the connection you made with your partner on a broader scale. While your friend is your Drexel, mine is the force and with my ally, I am connected with the galaxy," Thelonious said then held his hand out to Jakt, "if you wish to learn more of our order, I'd be happy to help."