Crusader vs Crusader

[Darth Victress]

.

Spoiler: OOC

This is open to all OE/IR characters however for spectating only. As this is labeled Open, this will be a Cinematic PvP, death and capture disabled

Sith Troopers from both Imperial factions were entrenched in heavy blaster fire; both sides sustaining casualties as they had arrived in Hutta to slay each other as well as the Hutt Uprising. Strongholds set ablaze, Pykes destroyed, and opposing encampments raided. Old Empire and Imperial Republica were slaying each other decadently in the streets and the carnage had become quite glorious. Despite the loss of the Empress, some loyalists were simply not accepting their fate to align with the victorious true Empire.

However, certain region of strongholds were targeted collectively by battalions from both sides, effectively led by Lady Crusader Arianna Marris and her rival, Saorise Kallig. A challenge had been delivered and accepted.

In the middle of the streets, nearly 25 heavy Sith Troopers stood in a parallel line armed with heavy repeaters and Gladius blaster rifles. A square platform ahead of them and attached to the pyramidal stronghold that lay aflame near. Single torch set ablaze to the square arena's surrounding perimeter, creating an arena of sorts and of ceremonial importance. A cloaked figure approached and walked through the Sith Trooper barricade and into the squared circle of fire. Darkness wrapped around her form as a red lightsaber hissed to life in her right hand while green eyes slowly shifted to golden.

Dressed in Black Hades, her ebony armored body was a terror against the silhouette of nightfall, made only partially visible by the shimmering moonlight and the orange fire that surrounded them. Her attention slowly focusing on the arrival of her opponent across from her.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Sent in to infiltrate and burn out Hutt resistance, Saorise's battalion had burnt through Hutt soldiers and guards, Vaykaris squad had been sent off to search and clear the side wings of the palace just as the enemy had been spotted, a new foe she had not expected to find today: The Old Empire.

With Lyanna dead, it seemed that the Civil War would heat up any time now, indeed clashes in Imperial Hutta had been reported with some frequency, though once one plunged into the holonet-dead space of Imperial Hutta, there as little way to know who you'd find around any corner, little chance to communicate, for diplomacy, as she was often want to do. That was her arena, not the one she found herself walking into, blade in hand and blaster by her hip, while her armour still bore the burns and blaster bolts taken from Corellia, worn now in the field once more.

Part of her longed to speak, but one could learn much from engaging like this with another. Perhaps she could learn a little of the Old Empire first hand now, her mind still wavering as to her own loyalties in it all. What strength they had, what skills, what honour. Perhaps they would help her decide, no matter the outcome.

No matter what though, she was walking out of here alive, she wouldn't let herself be wasted like this. Not when there was still so much to do,

"Come now" Saorise stepped into the ring, flourishing her blade, ready for the show as she drew the force to herself from the battlefield that surrounded them,

"Show me why the Old Empire will win this war" she said with a smirk, a little test for the woman who stood across from her. She almost wanted to see herself proved correct there, in spite of herself. This day would let her know the course of the war, and her own course in it.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna kept her focus upon the rival Crusader, dark energies swirling around her as the force wrapped itself close to the vile sorceress. A gust of cold wind emanated from her being, chilling and unwelcoming simultaneously. Wails of haunted souls carried on the breeze's wake, as the flames flickered and lights momentarily dimmed. She was the embodiment of the one, true Empire; her strength and focus channeled from her resilience and sheer hatred for those that opposed them. A sinister smile came across her lips, though unseen given the ebony helmet that covered her visage save for golden orbs that pierced from underneath. "Gladly.." She stated, right saber held defensively as she began her approach towards Saorise. A ball of force began to accumulate and gather within the palm of her free hand as her cloaked figure continued to slowly close the 15 meter gap between them.

@Nightfall

 

[Doz Noth]

The Zabrak perched within an open window of a large building with half its structure blown to pieces overlooking the street below. She had a good aerial view of the combat area marked out by the troopers bearing gladiator blasters. Spectator sports were really not her thing and yet what martial artist did not pause when two masters of the craft met to face in single combat? The ripple that ran through the force had been nearly as perceptible as the good old fashion grape vine of whispering voices that spread the news. Even with the HoloNet down it was amazing how fast word of mouth had been. A challenge had been issued, the same had been accepted.

Though she did not know Crusader Kallig the news feeds certainly had made her renown. Heinous crimes at the Kuat Drive Yards, the reporter had said. Seemed like the overblown whining of a rebellious man smearing the good name of a good woman. At least that was one thing Lysanna had gotten right before she had been foolish enough to issue a challenge to Darth Vrael, long live his glorious name. The death of Jacob Tagger had not been a severe enough lesson, it seemed, for his protegee had went on to further smear the woman. Touting the attack on Corelia as some victorious blow for justice, Doz had seen the woman’s face once more fighting the scourge that were the Jedi. Those perversions of the force had finally crawled out of the glurk of the Galaxy to reveal they were not yet extinct as was previously assumed.

This was a worthy woman to be sure.

Her eyes turned to Crusader Marris knowing her to be a good woman as well. Doz had worked with her a handful of occasions and there was no one who could say her rank came because she was born into the right family or knew the right people. She was a woman who had earned her status and through hard work obtained the power that enabled her to keep her place. Doz had no doubt she was looking at a Sith Lord in the making. In her short time working with the Crusader she had not gotten the impression she was one to suffer fools lightly. The power of both the combatants was palatable within the force and she could not fathom that this combat would have no import to the destiny of the Empire as a whole. That Saorise was still standing when two of the Drasts she had put her faith in had fallen by the wayside spoke volumes to the young acolyte. That Marris engaged in this affair spoke even louder. She couldn’t think that this was just a mere contest of who was the mightiest but what the real agenda might be alluded her grasp for the time being.

This day would tell its tale and Doz? Well she was merely spectating the passing of this momentous point in that never ending river called time.

 

[Darth Inheris]

And so it began.

The theatrics along with it, the whisper of wind that rode on the back of Arianna, all the grandiosity of the Old Empire she had been told about. Imposing, perhaps, to those enemies who did not walk with the force as other Sith did, to her they were but tricks of the wind. There was nothing to fear but the crusaders skill at arms, and Saorise prepared herself for that.

If the Crusader would embody the Old Empire, what Saorise might find herself beside, becoming, should the Old Empire's annexation succeed, if she helped it succeed. Then Arianna would be offered a view at what Saorise's time in the Reublica had shaped her too, some cooler, sharper, clinical, without such flash and circumstance.

Or perhaps that was just her, perhaps if it indeed occurred she would remain herself. Such things were yet to pass, useless now to focus on. Blinking such thoughts from her mind, her focus returned, and kept to the Sith before her.

She was ready.

Force building in her free right hand, she lifted her blade to a defensive position diagonally in front of her, pacing across to Arianna, circling to the woman's left (Saorise walking right), and closing the distance as she tried to move to her opponents flank. As she closed to five meters she darted forwards, precise, like a snake shooting out to its prey, slicing across from the womans left shoulder diagoinally down across her torso, making sure she did not do so until she was close so as to not overextend herself.

A quick, clean opening blow, that of a duelist.

Time to see what the Old Empire was made of.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

And so it began indeed.

Arianna was a theatrical mastermind and those who had the privilege of working with her on missions in the past knew that subtlety and discreet were not the sorceress' strong points. She employed a loud, distinct, and mesmerizing style, leaving impressions wherever she went. While she excelled in diplomacy, she would be lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to this duel. An opportunity to learn more about her opponent and those of the Republica.

Piercing eyes kept their gaze on her opponent and as Saorise darted inwards to close the gap, Arianna had ample time to prepare a defense. She quickly side-stepped towards her right and dashed forwards, meeting her opponent's strike high with her own crimson saber. The blade lock effective with her lightsaber layered underneath and since the block came at a high point, this undeniably left Saorise's left flank vulnerable. Simultaneously to the blade block engaging, her left hand curled into a fist and the spiked gauntlet smashed viciously towards the unguarded left ribcage. Concurrent to the melee hit, a telekinetic blast would release afterwards, carrying the wave of the blow with augmented power.

@Nightfall

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Daniel rode his half-tame Gundark as though it were a noble steed. His head was held high and he ignored the odd, terrified glances of people he passed. For it was not only a Gundark that he brought with him through the streets Hutta...he had found a produce stand--unattended, naturally--and looped one of the chains around a spiky bit that poked up from the Gundark's spine. He had been feeling hungry and, on his way to have a look at the battle that was taking place between two Sith that was lighting up local comm chatter.

Dinner successfully acquired and his mount fed--having snacked on the body of someone who'd died in the street--Daniel was quite looking forward to the rest of his day. He'd get to watch some Sith kill eachother without getting blood on his armor and he could have a snack while doing so! How awesome was that?! He was happy, thinking Dopey Badger thoughts as his unlikely steed plodded on. It was only about a quarter of an hour before he arrived at the place. People were running in terrified droves away from him as his mount snapped at them with gigantic teeth and grabbed with its many arms.

Daniel hopped off, in time to see the not-blond woman punch the blond one savagely in the stomach. It seemed a very Mando move for a Sith Lady. He wondered idly if she had crossed paths with one in the past, as he chained his gundark to a nearby fence. That done he went to inspect the food he had...procured. From a distance it looked delicious, a riot of exotic colors and shapes. However, upon closer inspection it proved to all be, well, off. Soft and mushy with odd patches of lurid turquoise fungus, Daniel was exceptionally put out. It had to be the Sith ladies doing. Just their presence was making everything he loved go bad. Something about vile magics, perhaps.

Whatever the case, he was unpleased and convinced it had to be them. He gathered a handful of the rotting fruit and vegetables and began to systematically throw it, hard at the Sith fighters. "I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING!!" He yelled. It was a line from one of his favorite holos and though it didn't really fit the situation, he wanted to say it anyway because it always made him laugh.

 

[Darth Inheris]

As Arianna’s blade caught her own, it was clear to her that her opponent had forgotten Saorise’s own free hand, one that had been building the force within it since the battle had begun, and she was in no mood to see herself cut down so quickly.

Reacting instinctively to the blade lock to try and break it, she flicked open the palm of her free right hand toward Arianna, a burst of force energy thundering into the Old Empire crusader as she swung for the punch, interrupting it before she’d have the chance to connect (the force push shooting at her from such a close distance), her opponent would be thrown back a fair distance back into the ring, their blades torn apart, ready to reengage.

Their opposing styles were clear, Arianna powerful, strong, visibly, impressively so, while Saorise kept hers more hidden, trying to outmanoeuvre. It was a tantalising duel, one that she could not help but enjoy.

It appeared, however, that their troops would not be the only witnesses to their little competition.

As rancid fruit crashes across and smacked her in the side, she didn’t dare let her gaze drop from Arianna,

“Vaykaris squad. If you’d deal with that” a simple gesture from her free hand as she began to draw force energy back to herself. She did not have time for such interruptions. Vaykaris would keep the harasser occupied anyhow.

Saorise kept herself occupied on the crusader across from her instead,

“Come now, why follow Vrael, why do you think yours will win out?”

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

The contrast in fighting styles was evident to both participants as well as likely those that were paying attention spectating. Arianna a natural aggressor, utilizing a more mesmerizing style while Saorise was clearly more reserved and relied on tactful counters to maintain balance. This would be an interesting bout, no doubt about that, one reason why majority of fighting on the perimeter had ceased as soldiers from different factions with Rebels and Mandalorians even coming to halt in order to watch.

The sorceress had kept her eyes fixated on her opponent and as Saorise made the clever interrupt, Arianna did not complete the full motion for the punch and instead released the force blast partially as it smashed against the push delivered by Lady Kallig, in order to dampen the effect of the counter. Arianna's armored figure skidded back several meters, both lady crusaders now separated by about 8 meters or so. A rotten tomato flew and smacked her in the skull as well, its fungoid juices melting and dripping across the surface of her recently polished ebony helmet. A snarl as she responded, yelling at her battalion to place an end on the disruptions. Attention now shifted and focused squarely upon Saorise; dark energies drew closer around Arianna as the presence of the force palpated within, showcasing a crackle of red lightning that cascaded down the length of her free hand while simultaneously radiating from the shimmering plasma saber.

Slowly, with right handed saber held defensively, Arianna made her advance upon the other Crusader. "You speak with intrigue but yet you know the answer. Centuries of indulgence have sullied the Republic, diluting traditions of Sith that began with the original royal line. Where rule of the strong can no longer flourish, Sith shall become weak." She smirked, "Such was evident when your Empress fell to the Dark Lord's blade.."

As the sentence completed, she attacked almost instinctively, coming towards Saorise' left flank with a tilted slash aimed at her opponent's left shoulder across downward to her right abdomen.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

As both their troops split off slightly to deal with the interloper (@Lucid), she watched, listened as Arianna responded to her query. That it was those traditions that had made them strong, perhaps she could accept something of that. But whether that was all their Empire had become? Something that merely consumed itself, too lost in its own history and practices that it could not see its way to a more stable, secure future, one where such a rebellion would not or could not exist? There was strength to it, she could see that bare before her. But whether that was all that was ever needed, that left her doubtful.

Still, now was not the time, as Arianna went for antoher strike, this time comnig across to her left flank, trying to cut her clean through. She couldn't let that happen.

Pivoting her feet to face the attack head on, she whisked her own blade, in her left hand, around with her wrist, swatting Arianna's blade down to the side as it came in to attack, simultaneously unleashing a bolt of force lightning at the witches now fully open chest,

"If we never change then we will trap ourselves with the failings that lead us to this!" she cried back as her lightning shot toward her opponent. A riposte in their verbal battle to match the one in their physical one. She would need to limit her force use now, but her blow would be strong. She could not underestimate her enemy, and was ready to break and counter if it was needed.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna had set the bait, a smile albeit hidden underneath the ebony helmet came to her lips as her opponent fell into the trap. She had woefully expected that Saorise would attempt a block on her saber with her left handed blade and thus as the systematic approach on a chess board were to take place, so did their engagement. Arianna kept her eyes on her opponent during the entire attack and as Saorise made the motion to swat down her blade, she merely snapped her right wrist in a counter-clockwise motion. The movement would catch Saorise' blade in its downward trajectory, deflecting it away and layering it in a lateral position compared to hers. Simultaneously, the sorceress pivoted outside with her hind leg, moving to a location on the exterior left flank of Saorise and thus avoiding a path of the direct force lightning blast. Dark tendrils reached out from Arianna's free hand, wrapping around the torso and arms of her adversary in the form of a tightened force grip. As Saorise was in the motion of releasing the lightning, she would need some time to conjure a feasible defense.

As quickly as the force grip took effect, Arianna yanked her forwards, maintaining the position of the blades as her crimson weapon slashed at the exposed exterior of Saorise' upper arm, the meaty portion of triceps and deltoid. She hoped the injury would cause the Crusader to drop her saber and bring an end to this enigmatic duel.

"There were no failings! Your Empress is dead! Your strengths belong under the banner of the one true Dark Lord!" She roared as she completed the attack.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Her blade stopped earlier than expected as her force lightning darted forwards, this Arianna following suit as they pivoted to the side and out from it. A clever woman it seemed. Part of her wanted that to have finished the fight, to have beaten out the Old Empire's champion and have her victory secured. And yet, to know that it was not so easy, that there was more to those followers of Vrael than simple brute strength was something she appreciated. A note though, to be considered later.

For now as he initial attacks missed, she felt the force wrap around her and yank at he body and arms, holding them in position as she was drawn forwards. She didn't have much of her body left to fight with, not traditionally anyhow. Instead, she would have to take a bit of inspiration from her more brutal, physical opponent. Force, maybe they'd both learn a thing or two from this fight.

With only her lower half free, as she felt the drag she kicked with her left foot, meaning to slam it into the Crusaders knee and kick her before her arm was torn up, seperating them apart once more. Even if the Sith pulled their leg aside, she'd be ready to follow or kick it out from under them.

Simulataneously she fought with all her strength on her blade weilding arm to turn her wrist over, it wouldn't move her blade on top but it would hopefully put the phrik on her gauntlet's on top, buying her some time for her kick to hit home before any injury could be done.

It was in this clear moment that she realised she might lose this fight. A fact that for now made her simply fight even harder. That it was so hard fought gave her some hope, that for when the Sith faced their true enemies it would be an easy fight for them. But if the Old Empire's crusader didn't think the Civil War a failing, then she didn't know quite yet how to reconcile that.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna felt her rival defend against her intended attack, Saorise placing her emphasis to prevent the slash that would have otherwise maimed her left arm. As the blades kept interlocked, the Sorceress suddenly had a change of thought and instead pulled the other Crusader forwards as Soarise' leg smacked against the side of her thigh. As the kick forced Arianna to backstep a few feet, the disruption meant that the force grip and subsequent throw did not go as fully intended and the separatation between the two duelists was not as wide stretched as the Old Empire Sith had wished.

Regardless, Arianna kept her single saber in a defensive position as tendrils of dark force energies bubbled around her figure in preparation of what would come next. The continued canon fire and heavy bombardments from ongoing onslaught as well as airborne reinforcements momentarily distracted her before her eyes quickly re-shifted their piercing gaze upon what seemed as the Republic's last defender.

A sinister smile came to her lips, "Do you feel that? The extinguishing fire of your comrades' life forces...what will you do when you have no further allies? Swear fealty to the one true Dark Lord and fight at our side...or Perish, like your Empress before you.."

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

"Not just yet, Crusader. Not just yet" Saorise had whipped her blade back to a starting position by her side, her hand pointed back as she stepped away from the Old Empire Crusader. She could feel the resolution occurring, the finality of it all, the deaths not only of her troops but of the one that stood across from her. Tonight was a night of destruction, of death, but not, she thought, of theirs,

Saorise, with a flourish, extinguished her blade,

"Today is not my day" she said with a smirk, as she backed off from the dueling ring, staring directly into the eyes of her opponent. Whatever she had thought of the Old Empire before tonight, they had changed somewhat. There was strength in the woman she fought, one she could not help but deny. One that would be needed, she was sure, in the fight against the enemies beyond their borders. With all that had happened, it was hard to think of where things were headed.

For now, she remained a Crusader in the Imperial Republica. But she could see the way the winds were blowing, feel the moves of the Force.

And they were not in its favour. Tonight had only confirmed that for her.

/EndThread

@Faded Truth