Kaz Banefire vs. Jessoin Zarander

[Fromikeable]

Alrighty Rhyn Fosh and Dutch , grab your shaking metal rods and get ready to get freaky!

... by fighting in a gladiatorial death-match for the masses, of course. =P

Your arena is as depicted; a loading dock in the industrial portion of a cityscape, most likely within or just outside a mammoth factory. The docks, cubbied up into alleys such as shown below, are randomly filled or empty, with some ships in a slumber awaiting their loads due in the morning. People are scarce, the dark of night is plentiful, and the smell of imminent doom lingers like the iron scent of a lightning bolt.



Since Kaz here was posted up to the Challenges thread, he has the honor of the first post!

Ready? Fight!

[Rhyn Fosh]

The Force flows through all things, sentient or not, it connects them all in a web of energy. Each Creature, adding his own energy, and drawing upon the energy of others. It's a synergistic relationship that encompasses all, And Kaz was tapping into that web. Through meditation he was hoping to gleam insight on the nightmares that were plaguing his sleep. He never remembered them when he woke, just the eyes. Those damn haunting emerald eyes that seemed to taunt and mock him. Torturing his sleep and tormenting his waking moments.

It has begun when he landed on this industrial rock. The dreams, the nightmares that refused him sleep. He would wake with dread, damp with sweat, and not remember why. Those eyes were the only thing that stayed with him. Even after using the refresher they would haunt him. He'd catch glimpses of them everywhere out of the corner of his eyes, though when he'd look they were gone.

'Is this what going insane feels like? Am I truly this paranoid?' He pondered as he slipped into his meditative trance. He hoped the Force would show him more insight into his fears. He knew he shouldn't be afraid, that was the path to darkness, not that Kaz was a true follower of the jedi code but he did believe in some of their tenants. A fall to the dark side was something he feared, as he seen what could happen to those who fell. He walked a fine line between the light and dark with his own philosophies and ways. He was in many ways a vigilante out for the common man and not concerned with the galaxy as a whole. using his skills and the Force to battle evils that plagued everyone. common thugs and riffraff, scum that delighted in hurting others for their own pleasure and gain. these were his enemies and he'd stop at almost nothing to bring them down.

As his mind emptied and he opened himself up to the Force, he knew the owner of the green eyes, at the same time both jovial and malicious, was here. Not just here, but near as well. The Force was showing him that a Confrontation was coming and he'd finally face his nightmare.

Kaz bolted up, he was going to face this demon of his sleep, and he'd be ready for it. Hastily, he donned his grey padded and armored jumpsuit and black leather boots. Then came his black leather belt with holsters. Then a black leather band to throw his long hair up in a hasty shoddy bun, tight enough to keep his brilliantly colored hair out of his face but loose enough that prolonged wearing wouldn't give him an aching skull. Finally the weapons. Kaz choose to go with more then just his sabers, He checked the safeties on his Rev'Ant 62's before sliding them into their holsters, then checked each sabers power cells and engage action before stuffing his secondary in its special pouch on the back of his belt and clipping his main onto the front. He was ready, or as close as he would ever be.

Letting the Force guide his steps he made way to a seedier section of the town, mammoth factories that pumped putrid smoke day and night churned the worlds export out. it was still dark, dawn was not on the horizon yet, as he slipped into the loading docks. stalking as though he were hunting prey, Elusive prey at that. as Kaz ascended a ziggarot out cropping in the dark recess of the dimly lit dock spied a figure. It was tall and humanoid, glossy black hair and as it turned Kaz caught sight of it's eyes. Those eyes. those hauntingly beautiful and violent eyes. This was the creature that he was being led to.

He continued his way up the incline until he was on the second level of the columned dispersal area. Skulking his way into the shadows of the mammoth column, he peered around and it seemed as though the figure had not noticed his presence. Though he could not be certain. Kaz slowly drew one of his blasters, wishing they had a way to be silenced, but maybe surprise would be enough. He disengaged the safety, and set the blaster to stun. Surrounding himself with the Force he basked in its life as he sighted down the barrel and let loose with a quick succession of azure colored blasts. Three squeezes, three bolts, half a heartbeat. He watched as they sped to their target.

[Dutch]

Jessoin had lazily kicked about the empty export facility bay. Just as his Mistress had commanded the Sith had arrived at the rendezvous point, leathers freshly conditioned and boots polished. She had assured him that his target would be drawn to the Zelosian, so that Jessoin would be able to execute the Darth's payment. This boy had made a mistake, even if he hadn't realized that it was one of Darth Renata's assets the Mirialan had recently killed. Oh yes, Jessoin did know who his target was. His race, his skills, his name. He knew where Banefire frequented, who his contacts were, and how much the Hutt bounty was on his head. The Darth's intelligence network was more efficient than even Jess had guessed.

His ever vivid green eyes flashed at a motion in the shadows, the presence of something living in the Force nearby. The ancestral fear of monsters held within the shadows pushed an involuntary spike of fear through Jess' mind. Adrenaline would cascade through his veins as the Sith would grip his fear and let it fuel his next move.

With the Force Jessoin pulled whatever creature hid within, his saber flashing red in the gloom as it swiped through whatever wriggling bit of meat flew through the air past him. The Ugnaught had barely a moment to squeal before Jessoin's lightsaber cleaved it apart. The halved body fell in two separate, soft thuds. With a flourish Jess switched off and stored his saber, the cobbled together hilt now hooked back to his belt. The Sith sneered down at the dead beast, a boot lazily kicked the corpse before the Zelosian moved on.

Slowly the Sith ambled through the bay, boots clacked on the metal plating of the bay as he did so. A light whistle, the theme of a popular holosoap to any who would recognize it, wafted eerily in the otherwise silent building. Jessoin wasn't sure how long he had actually paced the area, certain it had been a couple hours at least by now. He half considered tearing the place down to try and draw Banefire out, enough damage would at least entertain him until the grey Jedi appeared. Jess let out a long, bored sigh.

It would be cut short as a whisper in the Force echoed in the back of the Sith's mind. Near-glowing green eyes would turn predatory as they swept around in the gloom. A wicked smile would spread across faintly green lips. With a casual wave of his hand and invisible bubble of the Force would bloom around Jessoin. A shield was never a bad thing to have up when death crept closer. The Sith jumped and snarled as the scream of a blaster echoed in the empty chamber, bright bolts splashed uselessly over the shield Jess had just cast. The shots had come from the left, but beyond that Jess couldn't tell where the shooter lay. His laughter would be light and cool as the night air. Jessoin lifted both arms slightly with palms upwards, long fingers curling as if asking for more.

"Come out, come out wherever you are~"

Jessoin would croon, his laughter continuing as he began to let the Force pour through his presence. With eyes that glinted hungrily he leered out into the gloom, waiting for the attacker to strike again. Yet Jessoin Zarander was not a man known for his patience. With a slow inhale the Zelosian channeled the Force within, bright arcs of purple lightning began to cascade across the Sith's form. His hands would rise higher, bolts of electricity began to lick and dance around them at a faster pace.

With a sharp laugh Jessoin poured forth the built up torrent of energy, it would burst forth in arcs of lightning that lapped and lanced across two of the nearest massive metal columns. He didn't know if his blind attack would gain any purchase, but Jess did use the sudden burst of light to scan for his opponent. 

[Fromikeable]

Round 1 of 5

Rhyn
Effort: 4/5
Fairness: 3/5
Detail: 3/5
Coolness: 2/5
Bonus: 1/12
Comments: Starting posts to duels are never easy, but yours did a pretty good job of establishing the scene and incentives to fight. By no means a bad post, and the only way it can go is up as things get more exciting =P

Dutch
Effort: 4/5
Fairness: 4/5
Detail: 3/5
Coolness: 3/5
Bonus: 0/2
Comments: Jess always has a knack for scaring me a bit (in the entertaining, "dear-lord-don't-leave-me-alone-with-him" kind of way). Alas, he never fails to deliver xD

Rhyn: 13

Dutch: 14

So the horses are off, and so far it's neck and neck!

Round 2! Start!

[Rhyn Fosh]

Kaz winced. He hadn't seen his shots bounce uselessly off the shield the dark force force user projected, but he heard the light mocking laughter as cool and calm as an anzat ready to collect soup from a hapless victim, and it terrified him. That laughter told him the shots hadn't found their mark, and his quarry was just toying with him.

Then came the taunting, the meticulously cultured crooning as if this were a child's game of hide and seek. Emerald eyes was calling for Kaz to come out of hiding, as if he didn't know where he was hiding, 'though, he might not know exactly where I'm hiding yet...' Kaz thought as he began to formulate a plan.

He ventured a quick glance around the pillar, barely the briefest of moments, but it was long enough to see the cascading energy of the force building for a lightning strike. If he didn't act fast this would be over before it began.

Calling upon the force that he had been storing up since he had taken the first shots, Kaz started feeding it into his body strengthening his muscles, increasing his reflexes, heightening his senses, as he became more in tune with the living force time seemed to slow down. He could see the swirling eddies of displaced air as he breathed deeply.

Now. He jumped. Moving as the force guided him, off of the highly conductive metal floor and pylon, as the purple lightning began it's consummate dance of destruction, rending durasteel to glass. Kaz twisted his body in mid air again letting loose a violent salvo with his pistols at Jession, though this time it was more for distraction. As he completed his rotation he dropped both pistol and drew his main lightsaber. He landed with a somersault, and sprang up igniting the blade in a low front guard. Classic Soresu, even though Kaz had no plans on using the style it might help throw his opponent off by making him expect something entirely different then Kaz was planning. It was a calculated risk.

Now he could see the man who eyes had haunted him so mercilessly and he almost hated him for it. Though Kaz didn't know why, this man shouldn't mean anything to him, he had never met him, but Kaz wanted nothing more then to just kill him there on the spot. To rip the roof down on top of him, or fling him into space, or use the for force and pull those pretty jewel eyes from his head and shove them down his throat until he choked. Kaz did none of these instead he nodded at the man and called more upon the force for assistance for the coming retaliation to the blaster shots.

[Dutch]

Then there he was.

Gracefully the Mirialan leaped from his nest, and Jessoin watched his target. The next flurry of blaster bolts would splash across the Sith's shield just as before. Green eyes gleamed gleefully now that Banefire had revealed himself. The man looked every bit as his description, clad more akin to a mercenary than a true wielder of the Force. Jess would chuckle softly, a light shrug given as his hand gestured to the air around him.

"Many of my Order forgo the art of creating barriers. Yet I never tire of its many, many uses."

Jessoin tilted his head as Banefire sprang to his feet and ignited his lightsaber, orange blade casting a fiery glow over its pale green wielder. The Sith blinked in curiosity as the stance was that of Form III, but it appeared sloppy and unrefined. With a coy grin long fingers would pull the mismatched and curved hilt of his lightsaber from where it was tucked in his belt. Long legs would spread into a confident squared stance, poised side-faced to his prey. Jessoin's free hand would shake out, a couple sparks would snap from his fingertips. Still not ignited the Sith pointed his weapon towards Banefire with an extended arm.

"Your form is sloppy, friend. Perhaps you should prepare to use Shii-Cho instead? Something more suited to a man of your... caliber..." At the last word Jessoin ignited his own blade. In a flash of red his flawless Makashi stance was bathed in crimson light. His smile would glow in the glare of his saber, laughing cruelly.

"Let's hope your stance there is a joke, Force knows I love a good one!"

The Sith barked a laugh and sprinted forward. With a leap he lunged towards his opponent, saber held high and angled low to drive at Banefire's neck. Cackling gleefully, a burst of sparking electricity would blast from his free hand while the other struck with lightsaber. The Sith would land fluidly, easily shifting stances with perfect footwork marking his expertise with Form II. With his free elbow tucked in for safety, Jessoin sneered and held his saber in an upturned Makashi guard. With a roguish wink he once more beckoned with pale fingers for Banefire to attack.

[Fromikeable]

Round 2 of 5

Rhyn
Effort: 3/5
Fairness: 4/5
Detail: 3/5
Coolness: 2/5
Bonus: 1/2
Comments: I can respect that Kaz isn't underestimating his opponent's strength, but as a small bit of constructive criticism, he doesn't do much in this post. The leap and the subsequent shots are definitely cool (especially described with the time element in there), but the feint and the waiting at the end seem less like him going in for the fight and more like him flinching and waiting for Jess to punish him xD Again, not unrealistic, but things ended on such a flat note that I had to shave a point or two off =/

Dutch
Effort: 3/5
Fairness: 3/5
Detail: 4/5
Coolness: 4/5
Bonus: 1/2
Comments: Taunting is always fun to read, and the two charges at the end gave me mini-shots of adrenaline x3 You do well in communicating that Jess has the energy and (dareIsay) the desire to get people dead quick xD

Rhyn: 13 + 13 = 26

Dutch: 14 + 15 = 29

Still very much anyone's game. The meat of duels, I think, is always the centers of them, so I'm really looking forward to the following rounds now that the action is in full swing. Be most bodacious, gentlemen!

Round 3! Start!