Open Invasion Eriadu Taking What Is Ours

[Darth Tempest]

.

THEME​

It has only been a short few months since Vahliri had led the assault on New Alderaan - and the half-Annfyn once more found herself at the helm of another Sith invasion fleet. A multitude of Frigates, cruisers and star destroyers - as well as their accompanying vessels - dropped out of Hyperspace and into the Eriadu system. They arrived without any prior warning, immediately unleashing a volley of cannonfire upon the Resistance fleet stationed in orbit, followed by equal amounts of return-fire in kind.

The Outer Rim world of Eriadu was one that had become hotly contested between the Jedi and Empire - repeatedly changing hands as each faction battled for control over the surface. It’s vast reserves of Lommite, and strategic position along the Hydian Way, made Eriadu planet far too valuable to lose control over - and it finally prompted the half-Annfyn to lead her next assault in the Empire’s name.

The battle in orbit was ferocious to behold - with flashes of laser-fire easily visible through the clouds of pollution that enshrouded its cities. Neither side was able to immediately edge out an advantage over the other, but the forces of Eriadu had been caught off-guard just long enough for a small contingent of shuttles to break through the atmosphere - carrying a payload of Imperial Marines and Sith to engage on the surface. Vahliri stood at attention aboard one of the shuttles - adorned in her signature red-and-black robes, hood pulled up to conceal the upper hemisphere of her face. She wore the Crystal Vambrace on her left forearm, while the unignited, curved hilt of her lightsaber was clasped in her right hand.

While the battle raged on above the atmosphere, Vahliri kept her attention strictly focused upon the Military District of the capital city. She had every intention of storming the command center and bringing the planetary leaders to heel - forcing a surrender from the ground before too their fleet sustained too many losses. Upon landing, the durasteel ramp of the shuttle hissed open - revealing a squadron of Imperial troopers and Vahliri positioned at the top. Only then did she glance towards Asher, giving the fellow Champion a solid nod of her head before looking back forward. There were no words spoken, and it was abundantly clear that the half-Annfyn was in an entirely different headspace in that moment.

As the soldiers rushed forth, the half-Annfyn slowly began to stroll down the ramp - the crimson blade of her saber ignited with a characteristic snap-hiss.

@Taz

Spoiler: OOC: READ THIS BEFORE JOINING

OOC: 48hr posting deadline. Open to 2 opposition. Equal levels heavily preferred.

 

[Asher]

For the half-Sephi is had also been only several months since the battle for New Alderaan. Even less so in the battle for the defense of Ossus. He had done more in his short time with the Sith, then he did in his many years "learning" from the Jedi.

Asher detested space flight, truly is was not the flying that put him on edge. Rather it was the need to be locked inside. Sealed off without the freedom to move. It reminded him of the pit Vex found him on on Belsavis, and that thought alone drove his emotions. Fear and anger quickly turned to focus, and strengthened his connection to the dark side of the force. To the side his former brothers and sisters left him to.

He would focus on that until the shuttles came to land side by side on the planet's surface. As the craft jolted, and the ramp started to lower. Asher rose with his men. The Champion was in his black and grey Sith armor, with newly fashioned helmet partially concealed by the hood of his cloak. Something inspired by his time with Venator's holocron. The black hilt of Vex's gift in his left hand, the force already coiling in his right.

Pointing with his hilt in the direction of the Command Center, the men before him started to march. Asher stole a quick glance over at Vahl, giving the half-Annfyn a nod of his own. She would not sense the boyish nature from him as she had before. Here he was all business, all revenge.

The Champion walked with cautioned focus. The Jedi were sure to arrive soon enough, he could sense as much in the force.

@Altaris @SlagathorTheUnknown @Faded

 

[Zerath Eblon]

[Intro]

In a strange way, Zerath reflected, both he and the Sith were trapped here. The Sith were trapped because they had given in to the Dark Side's subtle whispers, which promised that by controlling others they could make up for the control that they lacked over themselves. And so the Empire's war machine raged unchecked, greedily chewing up bodies and blood and battlefields. The Jedi were trapped by their duty and morals, which commanded them to stand against the rising darkness in the galaxy. And so Zerath found himself defending Eriadu alongside a diminutive Knight by the name of Fennex Fisto; a Jedi whom he'd heard of but hadn't worked with before. Fisto's sterling reputation, however, preceded him.

Fortunately for the Jedi, the Light Side of the Force shone brightest when it stood in defiance of the darkness, and by that measure the Mirulakan blazed like a beacon in the Force. Zerath knew it would inevitably bring the Sith their direction, but, as a legendary Jedi had once said, dealing with Sith was the Jedi's specialty. The Jedi didn't have to wait long, and like moths to a flame the Sith came to them; a pair of shuttles screaming down to disgorge their agents of death and destruction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Important bits]

For their part, the Jedi had chosen a battlefield free of the confines and collateral of the city- an open, mostly level field- standing approximately 25 meters away from where the Sith transports landed but well within range of the nearby city outskirts to allow the defenders to engage the Sith's ground troops. A withering hail of fire from the defenders met the initial Sith trooper charge, leaving several tumbling off the ramp and to the grassy ground. Zerath deflected a stray Imperial blaster bolt back at its source, but his focus remained on the Sith emerging from the shuttle.

The Force was flowing in him, around him, and through him. He wore his wanderer robes- a nondescript brown that still stood out amidst the troops dressed for war, and he'd eschewed his staff in favor of a more practical weapon. A green lightsaber ignited in his right hand and the Force already gathered within him, Zerath was ready for whatever the Sith might try. "May the Force be with you" he said to his fellow Jedi Knight.

@Altaris @Taz @Faded

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

Ahh, so the Sith believed they could take Eriadu? Not today.

As the Imperial war engine raged through the galaxy, its agents of darkness followed closely behind. Their crimson lightsaber hues were hardly unnoticeable, even in a rampaging field of battle. The Sith's forces would be met swiftly with Eriadiu's natural defenses. Well provisioned and well trained, defensive troopers would clash without hesitation against the Empire's assault corps. Within the midst of this chaos, arrived two Jedi Knights prepared to defend Eriadu against these unsavory hostiles.

Fennex walked to the right of Zerath, his diminutive stature shrouded in an ebony cloak, black eyes scanning the battlefield until they fixated upon his enemy. He paid attention to his adversaries, making mental notes of Asher's left handed preference as well as the location of Vahliri's crystal vambrace. Should these details come into play in the ensuing battle, it would enable the Amaran to make adjustments accordingly. A vicious snarl came from the Jedi, as he slowly lowered and removed the cloak to expose his figure underneath, grabbed in his usual armor and twin lightsabers at waist. An additional phrik vibroknife was also hidden at his backside.

Licking his lips, a devilish smile complemented confident laughter that escaped from the Amaran, his tail swishing excitedly behind him as he advanced in the battle field. The Jedi would come to a position about 25 meters across the Sith; Fennex allowed the force to flow freely through him, drawing on its power and imbuing every crevice of his body. It empowered him and provided warmth, but also bent to his will. The darkness was no longer an obstacle.

Fennex coiled the force around him as he ignited his weapon, the purple lightsaber screaming to life in his right grip. "Let's kick their ass."

@Taz @Altaris @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Darth Tempest]

Despite the chaos that unfurled all around them, Vahliri never quite broke from her measured gait - steadily approaching the Command Center while scanning the field. Naturally, it didn’t take her long to catch sight of the Jedi that stepped forth to opposite them - her amber gaze flicking first towards the Miralukan before settling upon Fennex. A simple, in the moment decision was made - one that was subtly relayed to Asher with the simplest jut of her chin in the Amaran’s direction.

While the Jedi didn’t immediately rush to engage, Vahliri took the opportunity to continue her forward momentum - closing that distance a bit further before finally lashing out at the Amaran. Without a single word spoken, Vahliri reached out with her left hand - the Darkness swelling within and bellowing forth at her command. Invisible tendrils of energy snaked through the air, coiling around Fennex’s throat like constricting, durasteel cables.

With a curl of her wrist and flexing of her fingers, Vahliri attempted to physically pull the Amaran across the field and towards her - all the while continuing to apply constant, growing pressure onto his throat, in an effort to constrict his airways entirely. All the while, the half-Annfyn continued her slow approach - intent upon moving into melee range regardless of what the Jedi did in response.

As she reached out with the Force, Vahliri’s kept her lightsaber - gripped in her right hand - in a protective guard over her body, prepared for whatever counterattack would inevitable come her way.

@Faded @SlagathorTheUnknown @Taz

 

[Asher]

Asher took notice of the two Jedi the moment the ramps lowered. It was hard not to. As the obvious Miralukan (@SlagathorTheUnknown) turned himself into a beacon in the force.

The eager Jedi quickly made his first mistake however. Choosing to engage the Imperial forces rather than prepare himself to the real fight. Since the Sith Champion was already prepared for the battle ahead, Asher would interrupt the Jedi's deflection of the blaster bolt. By reaching out with the dark side of the force to focus on the Jedi's green blade. Slowing, if not completely stop the Jedi's swing. Long enough to the bolt to meet it's intended target.

As the Mirulakan was committed to his attack, and the distance was fairly short at only 25 meters. It would be difficult for the Jedi to defend or counter before the blaster bolt likely impacted the torso area of the body.

Even so, Asher would also instinctively activate his crimson bladed lightsaber. Holding it before his body, ready to attack or defend as needed.

@Altaris @Faded

 

[Zerath Eblon]

If the Sith opposite him could get any kind of telekinetic grip on his lightsaber blade in the time it took a blaster bolt to fly 25 meters, the Mirulakan certainly could step back with his left foot and simply pivot his upper body so that the bolt sped by before harmlessly discharging into a wall... so that's exactly what Zerath did.

As he pivoted, the Miralukan was already planning his next move. The Force already gathered within him would be employed as he stepped forward with his left foot to return to a more straightforward stance; his feet shoulder width apart and his lightsaber on guard in front of his torso for incoming attacks. As Asher ignited his blade, Zerath waved his empty left hand and went on the offensive. As Zerath's use of the Force did not directly interact with Asher, the Sith would have no sense of what the Mirulakan was about to do.

Asher would, however, feel himself violently pulled to his left as Zerath used the Force to yank on his unresisting cloak; hard. The maneuver, owing to the cloak's position wrapped around the neck area ((going off of your armor picture here)), threatened to bodily throw the Champion to the ground; to say nothing of the trauma caused to his neck by the sudden whiplash of the maneuver.

His brief offensive finished, Zerath returned his focus to defending against whatever offense the Sith was capable of in the aftermath of the sudden attack. Around the Force-users the battle raged, but both sides appeared content to let the Jedi and Sith duke it out.


@Taz @Altaris @Faded

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

And so it began...

Fennex felt invisible tendrils wrapping almost immediately around his neck, followed by being hoisted in the air and swiftly pulled towards the Sith Champion. They had begun at a distance around 25 meters but with Vahliri advancing on her own pace and Fennex being pulled towards her, the distance between the two combatants rapidly began to close. The choke would take effect for a worrying moment before the Amaran used his own force energies to pulsate outwards, shattering the hold around his neck, and thus negating any further pull as well, allowing a rush of air to enter his lungs.

Feet touched the ground and almost immediately pressed forwards, bursting into a full sprint towards his adversary. Fingers of his left hand clenched together and wrist curled inwards, sending a gesture through the force as he attempted to yank Vahliri towards him. @Altaris A targeted and singular attack, rather than sustained hold, its sole purpose to facilitate closing the gap between them. Stepping to his right, Fennex came towards Vahliri's left, swinging his saber from his own right to left at below diaphragm level on the Sith. Force energies cackled across his left palm, poised for a close quarters strike. @Altaris

The fact that the Sith were invaders was irrelevant, as far as he was concerned, Fennex was the aggressor. As such, the Vaapad specialist opened his attacks with the fury of his aggressive fighting style, hoping to put the Sith on the defensive.

@Taz @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Asher]

Asher was not surprised by the Jedi's quick action. In fact he would have found it more surprising if the bolt had actually met it's mark. He was also not surprised by the man's next move, while he did not feel the invisible hand of the force at first. It was not that difficult to counter as it happened either.

So, when the blind Jedi pulled on the cloak, Asher simply twirled his crimson blade with a flick of his wrist. Cutting the armorweave fabric away from the rest of his armor. Letting is pointlessly grumble to the ground to his left before he could feel much more than a jerk and a little momentary tightness around the neck.

The saber once again before him, ready to either attack or defend him from the Jedi, Asher once more coiled the dark side within himself and strode forward at a run, but not yet aided by the force. Conserving his ability to the fight to come.

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Faded @Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Despite the chaos that raged on around her, Vahliri kept her gaze strictly fixed upon Fennex - staring down the Amaran with an almost predatory glint in her eyes. The half-Annfyn had become an entirely different creature the moment she stepped onto the battlefield, and it was abundantly clear that she wouldn’t stop until one of them was beaten bloody into the dirt.

Vahliri could only tighten her grip for a split moment before Fennex broke free from her Force choke, landing back on the ground and proceeding to sprint towards her. The half-Annfyn didn’t increase her gait - maintaining that calm, measured approach as she sought to close the distance between them. She felt the Force that began to coil around her, but rather than resisting the maneuver, Vahliri allowed her own body to be pulled towards the Amaran - stepping forth and allowing her boots to slide through the mud, rather than being yanked off-balance by the maneuver.

She didn’t, however, remain idle at that moment. At the same time, Vahliri’s left hand shot forth - the Force billowing forth at her command and wrapping tightly around the Amaran Jedi’s skull. Rather than attempt to choke the air from his lung, Vahliri instead attempted to use her grip to viciously hold the Amaran’s head in place and yank it backwards without warning - craning backwards and to compress into his own neck. The attack was timed just as Fennex broke into his full sprint - attempting to use the Amaran’s own forward momentum against him to worsen the injury.

If Fennex still managed to step in and swing from Vahliri’s left, the half-Annfyn would merely pivot on her right foot and turn counterclockwise to face him - rotating her left forearm down to meet his strike. Rather than cleaving through her arm, the Amaran’s blade would be halted in place by the Crystal vambrace on the half-Annfyn’s arm - blocking the swing entirely. For the moment, Vahliri didn’t follow up with another attack, her saber position to respond to whatever the Jedi did next.

@Faded @Taz @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

Fennex could tell that he was fighting a clever opponent, as she threw another obstacle in his path to getting to her. The Amaran felt tendrils of force begin to compress around his skull and gravitate it downwards to compress on his neck. Instead of changing his desired trajectory however, he simply rolled his trapezius muscles backwards to straighten out at the shoulder blades. The effects would be similar to two halves of a split bridge connecting, creating a muscular wall from which his skull couldn't pass backwards. It shot a sharp, tingling sensation down his left rhomboid and some soreness after, but it wouldn't be debilitating.

The attack did disrupt his timing slightly, as Fennex arrived into melee range a second later than he would have preferred, giving Vahliri a window for defense. His purple lightsaber met against her crystal vambrace, but his offense continued nonetheless. His decision to close into melee range wasn't an accident, and it placed him in a position for a follow up attack. Pivoting on the axis of his right foot as his saber and her crystal vambrace made contact, he rotated his body counterclockwise, once again angling himself at her outside left. With a quick burst of speed, Fennex stabbed his weapon towards her vulnerable left flank, underneath and behind the position of her left elbow. @Altaris

The Amaran was agile and snappy during the course of his movements, the force flowing through him with ease as confidence oozed from his demeanor.

@Taz @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Zerath Eblon]

The Sith (@Taz) reacted quicker than Zerath had anticipated being possible, not even stumbling to one side at the sudden yank on his cloak but instead twirling his lightsaber to cut off the Armorweave, like a dangerous Sith stripper. Perhaps the man would need to see a chiropractor after the battle was done, but if Zerath had his way a sore neck would be the least of Asher's worries.

The Sith then broke into a steady run towards Zerath, who simply smiled and repeated the hand wave he'd done before with the cloak; only instead of targeting Asher's now-discarded Armorweave, the Miralukan focused in on Asher's right foot as the distance between them closed to 20m. The man's unenhanced gait made it easy to read and predict the pattern of his stride, so the Knight used the Force to yank Asher's right foot to (Asher's) left as it passed its peak and began returning to the ground. With that disruption coinciding with Asher naturally shifting his weight away from his left foot towards his right as he ran, the end result would be another attempt to unbalance the Sith as the right foot could potentially be pulled to the left of Asher's left hip- significantly out of line with the rest of the man's body- just as Asher attempted to place all of his weight on it, and was already concentrating on gathering the Force within him. Adding to the possibility of the Sith falling was the muddy, slippery ground, which Vahl had skimmed over just seconds earlier.

Zerath predicted the outcome might be comparable suddenly slipping on ice while running; a swift, embarrassing fall with the chance to land awkwardly and perhaps tweak something... to say nothing of a bruised ego. Is there such a thing as a fallen Sith? Zerath wondered absentmindedly. He was about to find out.

By keeping his offense limited to short, quick bursts, Zerath was also able to keep his guard and his lightsaber up; ready for whatever Asher might try. The Miralukan remained where he was; if the Sith didn't want to skip cardio, Zerath wasn't about to argue.

@Altaris @Faded

 

[Darth Tempest]

Despite the multitude of obstacles she had thrown his way, Vahliri had no qualms about engaging Fennex in closed quarters. A trained duelist in her own right, there was an almost eerie sense of calm from the half-Annfyn in that moment - practiced finesse guiding her movements, even as streaks of molten gold began to swirl within her amber eyes.

Just as intended, Vahliri felt as the Jedi’s saber clashed against the Vambrace on her left forearm - the plasma blade immediately beginning to sizzle and hiss against the sleek, crystalline surface. She deliberately hadn’t followed up with a counterattack, and instead kept her focus entirely upon how Fennex moved in response - her gaze following as the Jedi began to shift back onto her left flank. Instead of remaining a stationary target, Vahliri immediately pivoted herself counterclockwise on her left foot - turning back to face the Jedi while additionally taking a half-step to the right.

The result would put Vahliri just to the right of where Fennex stabbed his saber forth - sparing herself from being skewered on the blade of violet plasma, and additionally keeping the Jedi off of her flank.

Only then did the half-Annfyn lash out with her own counterattack. Still positioned on the right side of her body, Vahliri swung her saber in a diagonal, downward arc from right to left - aiming to cleave right through Fennex’s left arm and continue on a molten channel through his ribcage. The Force flowed vibrantly through her limbs in that moment, enhancing the speed of her swing beyond natural means and leaving Fennex with little time to adequately react.

Naturally, she kept her left arm positioned defensively on the left side of her body - prepared to block any subsequent attack that the Amaran threw her way, while additionally gathering the Force within her grasp.

@Taz @Faded @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Zerath Eblon]

((OOC note: Taz dropped due to IRL circumstances, so I'm dropping as well. What follows is a cinematic sequence and has no effect on the outcome of the invasion))

The Sith stumbled, but managed to avoid falling and planting their helmeted head in the mud. A pity. Nothing quite made Zerath smile like those who sought to control others being publicly embarrassed, however, this battle would not be decided by master of the Force, but with their skills with a lightsaber.

Zerath's green blade hovered jealously, ready to defend as the Sith closed to melee range, and the Jedi Knight's arms shook with the force of the Sith's first blow. The smell of ozone became more prevalent in the air as their blades clashed, fizzled, whirled, and tangled in a captivating dance of death. Zerath found himself initially driven back by the ferocity of the Sith's assault, but after a few quick paces the Jedi switched to the offensive. Leaping over a swing that would've sliced through his ankles, Zerath brought his green blade slicing down towards the Sith's shoulder; only to see his strike deflected at the last moment. Back and forth the two combatants went, trading blows, parries, and attacks. So evenly matched were they that the battle for Eriadu was likely to be decided by whomever won the other duel....

@Altaris @Faded

/ThrExit

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

Fennex narrowed his eyes as he saw his stab claimed no purchase, the plasma blade impaling only air as Vahliri managed to maneuver out of his offense. The Sith was fast, but so was the Amaran. He snappily retracted his right arm as Vahliri moved, surmounting a defense of his own. With a quick burst of speed, Fennex immediately stepped backwards with his left foot and rotated on its axis, pivoting clockwise as Vahliri engaged with her downward slash. The result being, her attack whistled through the air in the position his left arm and left flank use to be. Regardless, his own saber was held defensively across his body to block and parry the blow should it be somehow reinforced.

Positioned to her outside right, Fennex lashed out abruptly; force energies coiled around his left hand as it attacked with an open palm strike. The attack slammed into her saber hilt as she was finishing her slash, its intention was to shatter the weapon's hilt and thus cripple her offense. Sun Djem, a punishing but simple and effective disarming technique. His own lightsaber remained held in his right grip, prepared to defend accordingly to the Sith's next move. @Altaris

As their fight continued, Fennex allowed himself to be consumed with the thrill of combat; channeling his inner darkness into a weapon of the light. The force flowed through him, empowering him and anointing him as the sole, remaining defender of Eriadu.

 

[Darth Tempest]

Even as she lashed out with her crimson saber, Vahliri kept her attention strictly trained onto Fennex - amber eyes narrowing into harsh daggers that bore into him with an almost predatory glint. As such, the half-Annfyn’s gaze followed as the Jedi shifted backwards and to the left - narrowly dodging her own saber attack and positioned slightly to her right.

Just as she reached the apex of her swing, Vahliri rotated on her axis to face towards the Jedi - her eyes snapping down towards the Amaran’s palm as it darted. It was an entirely unorthodox maneuver, and one that the half-Annfyn couldn’t have guessed at. Nevertheless, the distance placed by Fennex’s own step backwards and their natural height difference gave Vahliri the split second she needed to respond adequately.

Instead of attempting to dodge the open-palm strike, Vahliri merely pulled her elbow back while rotating her wrist - angling her saber so that Fennex’s incoming strike would slam into the plasma blade, rather than its hilt. With continued forward momentum, the plasma blade would piece right through his hand and run the risk of severing it entirely from his forearm. She deliberately didn’t lash out with her blade further, keeping the weapon positioned defensively.

Regardless of what happened with the open-palm strike, Vahliri’s left hand rose up from its position on her side - extending forth and towards the Amaran’s legs. Having previously gathered the Force at her command, the half-Annfyn unleashed a stream of blue-and-violet lightning from her fingertips at almost point-blank range - viciously snaking through the air and towards the Jedi’s lower legs.

@Faded

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

Fennex's decision to close with his opponent didn't go quite as he planned, as the Champion was quick enough to avoid the crippling Sun Djem and avoid her saber hilt being shattered.

The Jedi had not lashed out unprepared however, as a pulsatile orb of force coiled on his left palm as the strike completed. However, instead of allowing the scorching flickers of red plasma to touch his gauntlets, Fennex released the gathered energy as a focused force blast. The outwards push batted against Vahliri's saber and sword arm before the two combatants made contact and aimed to shove her to her own left.

With distance now created between the two, Fennex quickly stepped to his own left as well; the result was that as the force lighting corrupted forwards, it sailed harmlessly into the space where his right leg would have been. Regardless, he flicked his right wrist downwards to allow his purple blade to block the remnants of violet hue lightning that did make it to him, dissipating it onto the terrain below their feet.

"Shooting electricity at a man's feet, not very sportsmanlike.." He grinned, eyes predatory in nature as they studied her movements. Purple lightsaber held defensively in his right grip, he allowed the force to come to him and flow through his body, bending to his will as he prepared innately for what would come next. His figure slowly circled clockwise, moving farther to her right as it completed its turn.

"I opened us up last time, your turn."



@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

For all of his outward aggression, Vahliri wasn’t the least bit surprised to see the Amaran attempt to disengage in light of her defense. The half-Annfyn merely gritted her teeth, solidifying her stance as Fennex slammed the orb of Force energy against her saber - causing her to skid a few feet backwards and to the left. It was a maneuver that left her entirely unharmed, but nevertheless put the slightest bit of distance between her and her opponent.

Darkness poured through her fingertips, and suddenly ceased upon missing its intended target. Vahliri had no intention of wasting her own Force reserves by continuing the lightning attack once Fennex had moved, her hand instead lingering - palm facing out and towards the Jedi - close to her belt.

“As if that matters at all,” The half-Annfyn scoffed at the words, her gold-tinted eyes locked onto the Amaran with lethal ferocity. As he began to circle to her right, Vahliri once again turned her body to face him - bringing her saber up in a vertical guard, tip pointed at a forty-five degree angle in front of her body. The Force eerily began to gather within her left hand once more - building in preparation for another attack.

“You are wasting my time,” She finally said, stepping forth to close the distance between them. She didn’t lower her guard the entire time - meticulously observing the Amaran’s movements as she steadily moved back into dueling range. Only then did Vahliri lash out with her saber - stepping forth, body turned sideface with her right foot forward, and flicked the tip of her saber forth in an attempting to slice through the fingers of the Jedi's right hand where he gripped his saber.

@Faded

 

[Fennex Fisto]

.

Fennex wasn't expecting any response more cheerful than the one he got in return. She came to get her glory, and this little furry Jedi was all that stood in her path.

Good.

While Fennex was impressed with her defense, she still certainly had to earn her victory. He studied records of her previous fights with members of his order, and in almost all the situations, most of his fellow brothers/sisters had been defeated on the basis of silly mistakes. Fennex wondered then, how would this Sith fare in true gritty combat till the end? Then again, he could trip on a rock and so much for Eriadu, so he didn't grow too cocky.

The force gathered into him, empowering his resolve as their second wave of dueling inevitably began. A slight smirk came to his lips as she initiated the assault this time, fingertips twitched excitedly as he retaliated with his defense. With a quick burst of speed, Fennex moved to his left, planting that foot and pivoting in a clockwise direction on the left leg axis. The result was, that her slash passed through the air harmlessly in the position his right hand use to be. Nevertheless, his own lightsaber was held defensively during his movement, ready to block and parry should for some reason her attack be reinforced.

At this moment, given the basics of positioning with the result of the dash and pivot, Fennex would be essentially facing her backside should Vahliri not re-adjust herself. Lightning cackled across the surface of his left hand and as the two were still in close melee range, he lashed it forward as a violent torrent of electrokinesis at her exposed right flank and thoracic back. The intent of such an attack was to incapacitate the Sith.

Fennex thought that his opponent had limited defensive options at this time. Her lightsaber was out in front completing the slash and so pulling her elbow back wouldn't give her enough time to stop the electricity with her blade. Twisting or flicking her wrist backwards to block the current was also not possible as that joint simply did not have that range of motion. Maneuvering around to face him was also out the question, as considering she attacked with her body turned sidefaced and a majority of her weight on the lead right foot, she would be forced to pivot a full 90 degrees to counter. None of these options would work faster than his attack.

Nonetheless, Fennex had grown accustomed to not underestimating his foe and so he readied himself patiently for what would come next.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t help but narrow her eyes with irritation - amber gaze following Fennex as he, once again, rounded to her right side. At this point, the Amaran was starting to become painfully predictable - and she couldn’t help but wonder if pivoting was the only thing the Jedi academy taught their students these days. In any case, the half-Annfyn was - despite his predictions to the contrary - quick to muster a defense to his movements. The decision to merely flick the tip of her saber into a cut - rather than a dedicated slash with her full arm - was a deliberate one. It meant that her weight was evenly balanced on both feet, and she wasn’t overly committed to her own forward momentum - even as her saber cut through nothing but the air.

Just as Fennex circled onto her right, Vahliri merely drew her right foot backwards - taking a long step backwards and re-positioning so that her left foot - rather than the right - was placed forward. As a result, in addition to some added distance that put her out of melee range, the half-Annfyn was turned to face Fennex, now in front and slightly to her own right. Her saber, still positioned on the right side of her body, barely had to move. With a simple angling of the crimson blade, Vahliri met the stream of gold lightning against plasma - absorbing the attack and causing it to ground out against her blade for as long as he chose to deplete his Force reserves.

Rather than step closer to the Amaran, Vahliri opted to maintain that bit of distance - deliberately capitalizing on the advantage of her additional size and reach. While still just barely out of melee range, Vahliri rapidly carved her saber in a diagonal, downward slice - her blade positioned in alignment to pass in front of the Amaran’s shoulder and down through his chest. It was a deliberate feint - intended to elicit an elevated defense of Fennex’s upper left arm out of reflex, even if her swing came in just out of reach.

Instead of colliding with his shoulder, the half-Annfyn continued the downward arc of her blade - just until it was pointed at the center of his chest. Only then did the half-Annfyn click a switch on her saberhilt - activating the dual-phase function. The crimson blade of plasma extended out an additional meter from its standard length and to its maximum of two meters - more than enough to piece through the Amaran’s chest and leave the additional length of the blade impaled through the center of his spine if successful. It was an unorthodox and unexpected maneuver, and one that Vahliri doubted he would be able to defend against.

For once, pivoting was unlikely to be the Amaran’s saving grace - moving in either direction still putting the Jedi in the path of her blade, while it was incredibly unlikely that stepping backwards would put him out of the blade’s sudden extension of length.

At the same time as her saber swing, Vahliri lashed out with the Force she had gathered in her left hand - coiling her grasp around the Amaran’s saber hand. Invisible cords like titanium bound his limb in place - if only for a split second - in order to attempt to prevent any defense via his blade.

@Faded