{OPEN}Drop, Eternal Darkness

[Zach]

Ruthric gladly returned the smile when Kalira came on friendly. Those that are willing to be allies so quickly are usually trusting, viewing it as a close-knit group that can depend on each other in tight situations. Ruthric scoffed to himself in his thoughts, realizing just how nuts he was; after everything he's gone through and he still analyzes everything with tactics.

He glanced down to the training sword in his right hand and grimaced. "I have yet to obtain a lightsaber. I haven't been designated a master yet, and my own knowledge in the Force is, admittedly, below average. I haven't learned to hone the Force yet, even by simple means. Only thing I've sensed was you two sparring before I showed up," he said optimistically.

He kept a friendly grin, hopeful that neither of them would react aggressively or competitively trying to duel him. Or worse, rub it in his face that he was under-trained and take a lightsaber to his throat. Either way, he doubted either of them could take on the close-quarters-combat skills of an ex-Alliance Captain. Again, Ruthric scoffed to himself in his thoughts, feeling irony in remembering his recent memories from the Alliance.

 

[Black Noise]

OOC((Two things, I DID learn Drain IC, and I'm asking Xeno about becoming a Maruader, I'm not a new Acolyte, I've been around a while;)))

Smiling, Sogar nodded and said before leaving.
"Well, 'Ric', I hope to see you again, I'd like to fight you."

 

[Zach]

OOC((Two things, I DID learn Drain IC, and I'm asking Xeno about becoming a Maruader, I'm not a new Acolyte, I've been around a while;)))

Smiling, Sogar nodded and said before leaving.
"Well, 'Ric', I hope to see you again, I'd like to fight you."

((I assumed you learned the Force Drain from a holocron in a previous thread since you mentioned that in the post. 'Been around a while' being from August? In addition to that the new timeline only started just about a month ago, so all of us are technically 'new acolytes.' Usually it'd be about a month and a half to two. Then again, there is a new training system in play now. *shrug* either way.))

 

[Black Noise]

((I assumed you learned the Force Drain from a holocron in a previous thread since you mentioned that in the post. 'Been around a while' being from August? In addition to that the new timeline only started just about a month ago, so all of us are technically 'new acolytes.' Usually it'd be about a month and a half to two. Then again, there is a new training system in play now. *shrug* either way.))

OOC((learned from a Holocron, yes, but I TRAINED it IC. Also, it was the start of august when I began training him, really only about a month. I maybe pushing things, but technically I joined RIGHT when they started a new timeline, so bottom line, I'm not an expert and nor am I perfect))

 

[Zach]

((Oh, it wasn't my intention to call you out or anything. Also, yes, I had assumed it was RPed ICly, heh. I took a look at your other threads to gauge who all I should RP with to become the most progressive, lol. Speaking of which, I was hoping that you'd be able to show it to me and demonstrate it so I could mention meditating and practicing (honing) in future threads.))

Ruthric turned to Sogar as he parted and he inclined his head in both acknowledgment along with a due amount of respect. For first impressions and formally meeting, it hadn't gone too bad. He noticed that the other acolyte was still present and he turned to her with a smile. "Care to do some sparring for practice? I must admit, I haven't had much experience with a blade, let alone a lightsaber," he suggested, hoping that they'd have a chance to train their skills.

 

[Jax Vos]

Kalira was pleased that she'd be able to test Ric's skills. "Alright," she said as she picked up a training sword. "You're going to learn from Niman, form six, just watch my movements. It won't be that hard," she reashured him.

 

[Zach]

Ruthric nodded to her, grateful that she hadn't been a perfect molding of a pissed off Sith with a determination to have everyone afraid of her. He smiled and twirled the sword in his hand once before taking a stance opposite his new acquaintance. He studied her stance and adjusted his feet to mimic hers, looking at how she was holding the blade. He didn't know man of the forms, but from what he'd learned from watching the Jedi in battle before, he could recognize some similarities. 'Niman... Which form was that... The one about deflecting blaster bolts? Or was it wielding two lightsabers? Or was that Jar'kai?' he thought to himself, trying to remember which form was which so he'd catch on quicker.

 

[Jax Vos]

"It's called the diplomat's form and the Moderation Form. But it is also referred to as the way of the rancor," Kalira said because she sensed that Ric wasn't sure what she was doing. "Because you can be very vicious as well as surprising with this form," she said as she demonstrated the "Pushing Slash."

 

[Zach]

Ruthric braced himself when he sensed her body tense up, taking a quick lunge at him. He successfully parried the blow with his training sword, but sensed that hitting him wasn't her real target. Before he could do anything, he felt a wide impact in the side of his ribs that threw him from his feet. He flew upward to the ceiling, but arced outward and slammed into a pillar. He felt a grunt through his throat as he felt all the air being pushed from his lungs twice, before falling to the ground and doing it for a third time.

He clenched his stomach with his real arm and pushed off with the mechanical prosthetic, the sword still in hand. He rushed at her, putting all his energy in his legs to get him going, ignoring the fact that his lungs still clenched at his chest. Quickly raising the sword at an upward angle, he aimed to knock her blade back just enough so he could throw his body weight into her left side, throwing her off balance. She had the upper hand when it came to lightsaber techniques, not to mention that she'd already connected with the Force. If anything, he'd have to try to disarm her and try a different approach. If it came down to it, he could discard the sword and put her in a lock with his new mechanical arm.

 

[Jax Vos]

Kalira stood her ground and blocked Ric. The man was strong but not well learned in hand to hand combat. She pushed him back with her sword. Kalira smiled as she pushed him into the wall behind him.

 

[Zach]

As Kalira braced herself and held her ground against his blow, Ruthric quickly withdrew the blade at an angle with his left hand, throwing all his weight and momentum into his legs, leaning back into a slide. As he slid forward at a lower angle, he circled the training sword around Kalira's when she moved to push him back with the blade, but she leaned forward without his body to push against. Her side exposed, and his blade between it and her sword, he clenched his mechanical arm into a fist of steel and plunged it into her kidney, angling it upward so he dug under the ribcage. As valiant as pushing out with the Force was, it meant nothing if she didn't know where he was about to be, instead of where he was. Despite her strength, a punch that hard to such an exposed area would leave anyone breathless and stunned.

 

[Jax Vos]

Kalira sensed the man move around her she allowed him to move. As Ric was aout to attack her side she turned and aimed her sword at his head to show him he could not outsmart her. "I dare you," she challenged. She held the blade right at his eye level wondering if he'd be brave enough to try it again.

 

[Zach]

((The training sword was swiveled around from a lowered angle during the slide, pushing it away from your body. I'm a big fan of locks an close-quarters combat and such, only escape from that would be a roll to your right.))

As Kalira shifted her body an adjusted her blade past Ruthric's, he finished out the slide and spun on his hip, throwing both legs out to his left and back, sweeping under the acolyte's feet. Dropping his training sword in his left hand, he grabbed Kalira's wrist that held the blade and twisted it, clenching with his mechanical right arm. The train from leaning up was intense, especially as his chest was still sore from being thrown into a stone pillar, but the prosthetic felt no fatigue or weakness. He raised it into a full downward slug that would shatter the front of someone's face and stopped an inch away from the acolyte's nose. After a moment he pulled back and stood, offering his hand to her.

"You're good with a blade. Close quarters combat though, isn't just about who's better with a weapon. As a soldier, we were trained to be able to disarm or lock our opponents and take quick shots at the exposed areas. Like when I took the slide and circled the blade around yours, moving it to block between your sword and your side," he said. He obviously had a lot to learn in the ways of the Force and incorporating it, but he had to learn it from someone. If he planned on making any allies here, he wouldn't be able to simply ask for their help, nor would he be able to just take hi own skills and try to defeat them. If anything, perhaps if he tried an approach of mutual gain, they would become closer.

"I was a soldier in the Alliance military. Ironic, I know, that my allegiance falls under the Sith now. Regardless, that doesn't change the kind of combat training I've received. A lot of warriors don't seem to realize that in melee combat, a weapon is expendable, at least in most situations. Your own body will be the most powerful weapon you can use against someone up close, either sliding around your opponent to exposed and vulnerable areas, or even using your own weapon as a distraction to take the attention of your opponent's attack. When you pushed back at me when I swung at you, it was a feint. I slid forward because your side was somewhat exposed and I moved my blade only to make sure that you couldn't use yours," he explained. Maybe the Sith would take his words offensively, either striking at him in anger or tell him to piss off with his advice. Either way, he would respect her wishes if she didn't want to get a better insight on his style of combat. If she took it as positive constructive criticism, he'd openly say to her that he knew nearly nothing of using the Force and admit that he needed her help. If Kalira realized that they both had room for improvement, it would make training much, much easier.

EDIT: Spelling, punctuation.

 

[Jax Vos]

((Oh thanks I forgot our position so I wrote what came to mind))

Kalira smiled most men especially Sith wouldn't mention things like that to her as they viewed her as a woman with no real talent. Her first instinct was to lash out at Ric with anger for what he said but then she realized he was trying to help her. "Thank you Ric," she said. "I will improve on that. Is there anything you want?" she asked in a more than casual manner but in a way that it would be hard to notice.

 

[Zach]

EDIT: (lol, it's all good. Sorry, I was coming at it like a storyline thread against a Jedi instead of a training thread, lol.))

Ruthric glanced back at Kalira in surprise. He honestly didn't expect another acolyte in the temple to be open-minded. Of course any Sith would be ambitious, striving to gain power and skill, but most would be brash and down right mean. He smiled a little, glad that he'd chosen to attempt an alliance. At least they'd started off well together. "Admitting that there's room for improvement naturally improves your abilities. Always trying do better pushes you to your limits and eventually, you're viewing the ones that were once at your level as not even a struggle. That's something they pounded into our heads during our training. It's come in handy. I myself, though, don't have much experience with lightsabers. I expect that a lot of the same fighting styles come hand in hand, but there's bound to be some differences. I'd love to spar with you whenever you're looking for practice, sister," he said, now speaking as if they were already friends. He raised the blade a little, raiding his eyebrows as a silent gesture to continue sparring.

 

[Jax Vos]

((Do you not get what she's saying in my last post?))

Kalira knew Ric wanted to spar again or at least he made it seem that way but she was tired. Her session with Sogar had weakened her more than she realized. "Ok, well I think I need some rest," she said as she sat on the floor.

 

[Zach]

((Oh, my bad. Last few days I've been on a SWRP binge. LOTS of redbull and cigarettes, not a lot of sleep. Been kinda wired. I should probably make sure I fully read the posts though :CFuu))


Ruthric nodded to Xinn in agreement. He had to admit, even he was feeling a bit sore from the constant practicing and training he was doing with the other acolytes he'd met. Ruthric paced himself to one of the pillars and leaned against it, still within speaking distance of the other acolyte. "You asked if there was anything I wanted. Now that I think about it, there is. Your assistance, actually. I've been looking for ways to obtain prestige, or improve my lightsaber. Anything you can tell me about where to find lightsaber crystals, if there's anything you know of or find out about, the information would be greatly appreciated... and rewarded," he added, deciding to get back to the point. He considered asking her to teach him Force Lightning, but it would be foolish to take this opportunity to do a simple task when this could offer so many more possibilities.

 

[Jax Vos]

((Just a note it's Zihn not Xinn))

Kalira was a little surprised she would be asked that but figured a lightsaber wouldn't be too bad. "Alright, well I made my crystal," she said. "Most crystals that we Sith use are synthetic," she explained. "The best way to learn how to make them, without a teacher, is from Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious' Book of Anger." With that she headed to the room of holocrons.

 

[Zach]

Ruthric recognized the name. He'd read mentions and rumors of in other texts, but had never actually had a chance to read it. He listened to Zihn as she explained that the Sith mostly used synthetic crystals, a fact that he was not aware of. Perhaps they were more powerful, if they were able to be refined so precisely. After a moment, he began to wonder if a natural lightsaber crystal could be encased in a synthetic crystal, altering it so the natural properties are mixed in with the synthetic.

After a moment of brainstorming and thinking of ways to improve his power the most, he came back to the conversation. "I haven't been to the holocron room of the academy yet. I assumed it would have been off limits to those without masters," he said, musing on the thought of open accessibility. The Jedi holocron room was heavily defended. One would think for the Sith, they would keep the powerful information restricted to those that could prove their strength and worthiness of having it.

 

[Jax Vos]

Kalira smiled at Ric's statement. "Well some are accessable by everyone," she said. Others require you to either be a Marauder or a Lord." She paused thinking he may not heve understood. "But this is a book not a holocron," she said mater of factly. "The Imperial knights used it to learn how to create their silver crystals."