Ask Onderon Practice Makes Perfect

Baldr Egilson

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Balder Egilson stepped off the transport in Onderon with a sigh of relief. Though he did have a private bunk in the bulky ship, it was so small it made him feel imprisoned. He could stretch his arms out and touch the walls on both sides - it was basically a closet that he was riding away from Naboo in! He growled at the thought of where he had come from, physically shaking off the anguish that had started to rise up within him.

The young Sith Legionaire wandered aimlessly through a crowded marketplace until his nose led him to a stall selling mouth watering morsels of meat skewered on small sticks and roasted over a fire. He bought four and kept walking as he ate them. Iziz wasn't the largest city he'd ever seen, but it did hold a fair amount of activity. Eventually, young Baldr found a semi-quiet little cantina and rented a room for the night.

Instead of retiring right away, however, he settled into a comfortable stance out in the small clearing behind the place. He brought out his sabers and activated the blood red blades. Closing his eyes, he began to pace through his practice routines. Conjuring enemies from his mind's eye, he thrust right then swung left with both weapons...

@Topher Ridge
 

Jago Haaldin

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Jago happily collected his credits up from his day of street performing. He happily thanked the small crowd that had watched him for the past few minutes and promised he'd be back the next day for another performance of his simple little act. An act that also acted as a training and meditation exercise for the Matukai. He smiled as he began to walk down the streets of Iziz, no harm in killing two mynocks with one stone after all.

He simply wandered for a bit before a rumble in his stomach began to consume him. Luckily he happened to find himself in the market and he had any number of food stalls to choose from. Protein seemed to be the best choice after a long day holding completely still and his nose led him to a stall selling some tasty looking seasoned meat. He paid and happily thanked the vendor and continued to walk and nibble on his food. After a few minutes he found himself on a wider street with numerous beings of all types wandering about. Though it did seem a bit slower than Jago was used to here in the city.

As he walked by a cantina his ears picked up on a distinct sound. He looked toward the place. "No it couldn't be," he muttered to himself. He heard the noise again, now becoming more constant and almost rhythmic. He still couldn't be sure, hell he'd only heard the sound once before, but Jago was sure it was the sound of a lightsaber waving about.

His curiosity far great to not investigate, the Nautolan slips down an alley next to the little cantina. The alley opens into a small clearing and Jago smiles as he sees a young human wielding not one but two lightsabers! He watched for a bit content to let the young man complete the motions of his practice while also taking a few notes for himself on some of the basics of the weapon. As he'd seen in his last encounter the genius of the weapon and it's forms came from the simple fact that the entire weapons surface was a cutting edge. The lightsaber allowed techniques and maneuvers that simply weren't possible with a normal bladed weapon. Though he did notice that the man's style was very different from the last saber wielder he'd faced. It was far more aggressive and in a word...lethal. Many of the moves were clearly aimed at ending life. Interesting.

He finally stepped forward into the clearing ready to finally meet the young man. "Ah, you've got some skills man...though I do think you should focus a bit more on your foot work yeah?" He smiled held his hands at his sides in the hope to show that he wasn't a threat to the human.

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Baldr easily found his rhythm in this daily practice routine, though he never played it quite the same. He knew to keep his battle senses sharp, he couldn't just fall into complacency by practicing identical moves every day. Indeed, such a thing could spell his demise in a real fight. Every day the enemies differed, their attacks changed and their strategies evolved. Yet still he cut them down in his mind's eye with ease.

Though engrossed in his bladework, the young Sith was not by any means unobservant of his actual surroundings. He heard the rustle of a thick leaved jungle plant that someone brushed past as they stepped into the same clearing that Baldr was using for his practice. He took note of the newcomer's location, but continued as if he hadn't noticed. When a casual voice spoke, he wasn't surprised to learn that he'd been watched a bit. Why else would someone interrupt a Sith with his blades out?

Before choosing to acknowledge the remark, Baldr intended to finish the battle in his mind. He punched a Force blast with his left hand still gripping his saber while fending off blaster fire from the right. He saw the human to the left slam into a rough barked tree trunk and fall limp to the ground. Last was the blaster wielding creature on his right. He reached the thing with a short roll, planting his feet as he neared and leaping into the air just as the blaster overheated and stopped firing. He swung each of his blades down and out, effectively decapitating the alien from both sides and ending the battle.

He landed lightly back on the jungle floor and deactivated his blades. After taking a deep, cleansing breath he opened his eyes and turned to greet the stranger. It was a green skinned alien he recognized as a Nautolan. "Footwork, huh?" he asked with a charming but overconfident grin.

@Topher Ridge
 

Jago Haaldin

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As the man finished up and acknowledged Jago he couldn't help but smile back. He was indeed intrigued, especially by that last move he did and that use of the force! Jago was happy to meet another force user, but only then did the thought occur to him. What if he wasn't a Jedi. He allowed the force to flow through his veins, to another force user, it would appear as if lines of energy were running through Jago's body instead of the typical aura that surrounds most. He allowed his eyes to focus and see passed the physical and force moved darkly around this one...but not too darkly. Even more interesting.

"Yeah man. You're so focused on getting the kill you sacrifice your footing a bit too often." Names Jago and it's nice to meet you." While he talked he'd walk into the clearing proper and take a look around and nod at what he saw. This was a good spot to train, away from the sounds of the street and secluded enough to not be bothered. Hell if Jago hadn't happened to catch the sounds sabers being swung around he'd never suspect this place was back here.

The Matukai then turned to Baldr and stated flat out, "So I'm assuming you're one of the Sith I've been hearing about yeah? Hmmm but you don't seem to be the brooding, power hungry type. What gives?"

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Young Baldr Sigurd was particularly strong with the Force - at least that's what his mother always told him. He'd never had any experience that would discredit her word either, so he fully believed she was right. He felt the Force move strangely through the newcomer and wondered what that was all about. It wasn't a sensation he was familiar with, but he assumed correctly that it must mean the Nautolan was using the Force in some way. That was interesting - Baldr hadn't ever met anyone that was capable of using the Force that was not affiliated with his order.

The stranger spoke about footwork again, and Baldr laughed good naturedly. "If the enemy is dead, then what does my footwork matter huh?" Then he reciprocated the friendly introduction, stating proudly, "I'm Baldr Sigurd Egilson."

The young Sith took note of Jago's actions as the man assessed the clearing. Did he think to spar with Baldr? Or attack him? Or was he simply testing the waters, evaluating Baldr's prowess, knowledge? No way to know without continuing the conversation. Baldr decided to tread warily, just in case.

When Jago named him as a Sith, Baldr wasn't very surprised. The Sith Eternal had been active in the galaxy of late and had been growing in power and numbers. Likely most of the civilized galaxy knew of them by now. He wondered how that affected this man's perception of him. He didn't seem to be afraid by any means. "Yes," he replied with pride, "I belong to the Eternal. Brooding isn't a prerequisite for membership." A chuckle and a wink accompanied his quip. "What of yourself? You can utilize the Force but haven't joined us? What gives with that?"

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Jago Haaldin

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He returned Baldr's little joke with a chuckle and turned back to face the man. He had obviously sensed Jago's use of the force, not that the Matukai had tried to hide it. Jago crossed his arms at the question and pondered it for a moment. The man had proudly stated that he was a Sith, which meant he probably shouldn't be trusted. Though he didn't want to just lie to guy.

"Let's just say I walk a....different path yeah?" He smiled wide at the Sith. "So no interest in joining your particular club if that's ok. Also fighting real opponents is way different than fighting shadows in the mind. We all tend to give ourselves the leg up when shadow fighting." Jago then dropped into the ready stance of Teras Kasi and went through a few basic attack patterns of his own. "The mind can't help it self, it refuses to let us lose." With one final elbow against his own shadow opponent he turned and smiled at Baldr. "That's why real sparring is the proper way to train. Can't always win against someone who has their own mind yeah?"

Jago didn't smile wider, and wondered if the Sith would take the clear bait he'd laid out. Would Baldr refuse a chance to get in some proper practice of his skills? He didn't know, but the Nautolan had a feeling Baldr would take the challenge and give Jago the chance to learn just a bit more about the Sith and other force users outside the Matukai.

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Baldr laughed outright at the green skinned Nautolan's remark about not joining the Sith Eternal - calling it a "club". If only he knew the truth! "The Sith Eternal is much more than a little boys' 'club', but if you wanna squander your talents by all means be my guest!" His tone was neither mocking nor mean, rather sincere and honest.

Young Baldr Sigurd was quite surprised to hear one of his mother's own mantra's from the lips of this stranger. She had drilled into him countless times in his childhood that practice must be had every day, but that sparring against one of equal or greater training than oneself was the only true way to grow as a fighter. He was also impressed with the moves that Jago showed him with a quick routine of his own. They were not the same that he had been taught and perfected, and he was intrigued to further his knowledge.

A charming smile lit up his handsome face. "I'd love to spar with you, man! But I can't deny I'd feel a little like I was taking advantage." He gestured apologetically at his saber hilts belted on either hip. He really didn't want to hurt this man, but he would truly love to see what he could do!

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Jago Haaldin

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Jago practically beamed as Baldr agreed to have a little sparring match. The Nautolan was honestly surprised by how easy going this dude was. So far Baldr was nothing like the Sith of old he'd heard about. Jago couldn't imagine the guy commiting some of the acts of carnage he'd been hearing about. Either way it seemed it was time to fight out for sure.

He laughed as the Sith thought him defenseless without a weapon of his own. In response Jago activated his gauntlets and slammed his forearms together to send a small shower of sparks flying as the imperceptible magnetic field surrounds his hands and arms. "Oh don't you worry about me yeah? I'll be just fine."

He kept up his smile and took up the same stance from earlier to confirm he was ready. Jago would let Baldr have the first move as he often did when was ready to try and learn about someone.

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Baldr was intrigued by the devices on each of Jago's arms. They seemed to form a barrier around each hand all the way up his arms. And then he took a stance, with nothing in his hands! Was he really going to try fighting Baldr with no weapons - just his fists? Preposterous! However... Baldr wasn't one to back down from a fight. If Jago really wanted it, he would give it to him!

So the young Sith took his own stance after squaring off with the Nautolan, saber hilts in hand. He ignited both blades and punched out with his left fist simultaneously, that fist sending out a powerful Force blast to knock Jago off his feet. His right blade swung in from that side, sweeping a wide arc to catch Jago through the middle as he would fly backwards from the Force push.

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Jago Haaldin

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Jago smiled wider as Baldr opened with a force push. Only a little while ago the action would have caught the Matukai completely off guard. Would have. A chance run in with a Jedi had revealed the technique of the "push" to him and ever since he'd been thinking of ways to counter the move. He figured now was a good a time as any to test out his idea. As the push came on Jago stepped forward and gathered the light into his hands. He knew what was coming wasn't just wind, but essentially a physical manifestation of the force, he'd realized that from his last sparring session. So with his hands infused with the force he clapped them together and formed a wedge shape. Baldr's force energy would impact Jago's hands first and as the Nautolan felt it he would spread his hands apart, splitting the energy into halfs. Jago could feel the energy quickly becoming unstable and he threw his arms to the side to send 2 waves of energy crashing behind him, harmlessly.

The Nautolan beamed and stepped forward to meet Baldr's charge. He'd move his left arm forward and bend it, with his fist facing down to catch the wide swing on his gauntlet. "Nice one man! Had a bit more umph behind that push than the last one I dealt with yeah!"

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Though fairly inexperienced in the ways of the galaxy, young Baldr Sigurd was a quick thinker and witty to a fault so he rarely found himself speechless. This green skinned, strange talking Nautolan's technique in dismissing the powerful Force push that Baldr had just sent at him left the young Sith with his mouth literally hanging wide open. After Jago had blocked Baldr's saber with his strange gauntlets, the Sith simply let his blades rest at his sides and stared boggle-eyed at the man.

"What in the frack did you just do!?" Baldr was completely at a loss and felt outraged, intrigued, furious, and curious all at the same time.

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Jago Haaldin

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Jago couldn't help but chuckle a bit at Baldr's expense. He'd never imagined that he'd be able to utterly shock a Sith! He disengaged as well as Baldr clearly too confused to continue with the attack. Though Jago remained ready to act if it was just a trick of the Sith. "What? Nobody ever counter a push like that?" He smiled and hoped the answer was yes. He knew that other force users had many more tricks up their sleeves than just "pushes", but he was glad that his technique had worked. It of course would need to be refined and honed to be put to proper use. Jago felt like it was a good start however.

"We're not done already yeah? Not that I mind...you were trying to kill me that saber swing after all." He would give a coy smile then, but his eyes told Baldr that he wasn't completely naïve to the nature of the Dark and those that used it's power.

@RedneckLoves
 

Baldr Egilson

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Baldr Sigurd liked to think he was a worldly young man, but the reality was he'd had very little in the way of interaction with people who were not of the Sith inclination. He didn't really get Jago's look, simply took it as the green alien feeling more serious about the friendly duel than he did. The young Sith was still reeling over the technique the Nautolan had used to completely deflect his Force Push. From training with others of his sect, Baldr knew darn well that his left hook was strong and powerful. Even though it was his favorite opening move and he used it against the same people multiple times, he still managed to use it to his advantage and best his opponents more often than not with it.

"I wasn't trying to kill you, man," Young Baldr responded to Jago. "I figured there was no way you'd face off against me if you didn't have some kinda trick up your sleeve to defend against my sabers. Heck, you'd be insane not to!"

The young Sith deactivated his lightsabers and clipped them back onto his belt with practiced ease - not even consciously registering the action as he walked forward towards the Nautolan. "Seriously man, how did you do that??? Where did you ever learn such a trick?"

Baldr Sigurd's frustration at being so easily thwarted lent fuel to the flame of his curiosity about the answer. If his signature move could so easily be defeated by some random stranger in the middle of nowhere, what good was it after all? Besides that, if he could learn such a move to defend himself against other Force users... Well many possibilities could open themselves up to him, that was certain!

@Topher Ridge

 
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