Jeh'rads "special" class - Officially, shi-cho

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

For years, Jeh'rad had kept returning to the temple every thrid month to stay for one month, and then return to his, for most people, unknown where abouts. Everytime he returned, he started filling in for the original trainers (so that they would also have time to advance in their own skill), or simply assist. Jeh'rad was indeed a black sheep, and that might just have been the reason why all the younglings really enjoyed his classes.
While they did learn what they needed to, he always found a way to make things a bit more interesting. He demanded discipline, but in a more playfull manner. The way he talked was different from the other masters. He did not care about what kind of words left his mouth, or the content of that which did. Also, his untraditional way of constantly reflecting back on his real-life experience fascinated the younglings, and made them listen.

This time, he had only just returned from the system he watched over, with two force sensitive children, that he had been asked to bring with him. Despite that he had hardly just gotten off the ship, he was already in one of the training rooms, watching the small younglings wrestling.

"Doing good overthere, hold his arm down... Right! Listen up..." All the younglings quickly got up, looking at him.
"Remember, in a fight between two equally gifted lightsaber combatants, vicotry often depends on who does the best job beating the other between the blows... Got it? "
Some of the kids laughed, while others remained thoughtfull.
"Go on, get outta here... " And so, he ended the lesson, waving them out of the room. They all quickly bowed and left.
Jeh'rad sat down with a sigh. "Youngings... "

[Dire Wolf]

Ryn was itching to go on a mission ever since he was knighted, but to his dismay, he was not sent on one after the ceremony. So Ryn naturally went around to various masters, attempting to learn from them and maybe pick up a better lightsaber technique along the way. He knew that eventually he would be sent on a mission, so he prepared for that mission to the best of his ability. He heard that a Jedi Watchman by the name of Jeh'rad Verai'cal returned to the temple for a month, Ryn decided that he would learn from this man as well, he needed as much knowledge as he could get for the mission that he would surely be sent on.

Ryn walked through a group of younglings rushing out of the room where Jeh'rad was teaching. The 'herd' of younglings just walked around him like he was an immovable object, children were definatly strange creatures. Ryn walked into the room and looked at man sitting there, he most certainly looked like a battle hardened man. Jeh'rad had a deep scar on the left side of his face, it looked as if someone tried to cut it out, he also had a multitude of tattoos on his face, presumably tribal. Ryn bowed "Master, I am Ryn Sundar, I was just knighted, I heard that you come back to the temple every once and a while teach younglings, but is there anyway that you could teach me something about the Way of the Mynock?" Ryn looked up at the man, who looked fairly surprised.

((OOC: Way of the Mynock = Soresu lightsaber form))

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Sun had broken Jeh'rads meditation. Jeh'rads face grew hard, yet not unfriendly. He held his responce untill all younglings had left the room. As soon as the last remaining youngling had left the room, the doors "magically" slams shut, and Jeh'rad yellow, tormented eyes, glares streight into Sun's.

he speaks in a calm voice

"I don't master the Soresu form, as of yet, but I am not far from that goal, the only thing I lack is perfection... And more experience. But I do believe that I can teach someone of your level.."
He looks at Sun's saber.
".. Assuming ofcourse, that you currently master the shi-cho form, and is focussing - mainly - on your double bladed saber skill... "

He reaches out, and uses the force to make Sun's lightsaber leave his belt and levitate towards Jeh'rads extended hand. he does this very slowly, allowing Sun to take back the saber at any point. Jeh'rad cleses his hand around the saber and inspects it.
"I always fancied these... But they are damned expensive to make. They require a total of 4 crystals..."
He looks up
"But ofcourse, you know this "
He smiles.
"Maybe in return, you will help me gain a little knowledge on how to use one of these? In that case, we'd have a reason to train often. "

[Dire Wolf]

Ryn instinctively grabbed for his lightsaber when Jeh'rad slowly took the weapon with the Force, but checked the motion. That little cylinder was his life. . . .

"Maybe in return, you will help me gain a little knowledge on how to use one of these? In that case, we'd have a reason to train often."

"It is a deal." The Young Knight said. Ryn walked over to Jeh'rad and shook his hand. I will impart what I know of fighting with the saber staff to you, right now if you want." With that, Ryn stepped backwards, giving the Jedi watchman enough room to ignite the lightsaber. "It is a dual phase, there are two sliders on the hilt that ignite the lightsaber and are also the length adjust for their respective end. The halfway mark is the length of a normal lightsaber" Ryn said while he looked at the hilt. Dual Phase lightsabers where amazing hunks of metal, they could go from off to about 2.6 meters in the blink of an eye, unfortunately it made for quite a complex fighting style when used on a double bladed lightsaber.

For some reason a thought hit him: "I want to be a weapon master" he nodded at the thought, he would begin working towards that title, learning from as many masters as he could in order to master most of the forms. He knew that he would get there. . . . eventually.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

They spend most of the afternoon training soresu with practice lightsabers. Suddenly Jeh'rad turns off hislightsaber, and Sun would feel an unseen force gently stopping his next blow.
"Your thoughts... You focus on something. Soething else than this training session. It took meseveral hours to read you, but now I see it clearly. You have a goal that you fear is unobtainable for you, and that is why you desperetely seek training. What is it that you seek?"

He looks Sun over and offershim a curious and helpfull smile, which is something Jeh'rad rarely offers anyone.

[Dire Wolf]

"Your thoughts... You focus on something. Soething else than this training session. It took meseveral hours to read you, but now I see it clearly. You have a goal that you fear is unobtainable for you, and that is why you desperetely seek training. What is it that you seek?"

Ryn was honestly surprised by Jeh'rad's question, he was at a loss for words for a few seconds "I want to become a Weapon Master. . . . to master most if not all of the 7 lightsaber forms" Ryn said, correcting himself mid-sentence. Sundar deactivated the training saber, as the green lance of plasma crept back into the hilt the young Jedi looked up at the Jedi Watchman. He spoke to Jeh'rad with his heavy Corulag(British) accent. "Now, lets continue. . . or do you want me to show you some of the aspects of saber staff combat that I have picked up?"

Fighting with a staff that had a controlled star burning at both ends was tough, fighting with a staff that had a controlled star burning at both ends without slicing yourself in half was even tougher. When Ryn first made the weapon he was forced to use a training staff so that he did not sear his arm off. He had gotten better since then, even becoming proficient with the weapon. "Maybe that is why few Jedi try mastering this weapon. . . ." Ryn thought.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Jeh'rad looks surprised and thoughtful as he starts speaking.
"A weapon master, huh? Those are very rare.. Most on the path perish in combat because they lack knowledge of the force, while others loose thme selves to the dark side in the heart of battle. I'f I cared to learn all of the 7 forms, I would still have plenty of time to do so, as my species live much longer than the avarage human does, but so far, I have learned those that I find effektive. Those, I can teach you. If we keep training on daily basis, while I'm here... I think that would speed you on your way"
Jeh'rad offers Ryn a vague smile and walks to a nearby closet, to get to light weight metal staffs and hands one to Ryn.
"Think about what I've said while we fight... "

[Dire Wolf]

"Think about what I've said while we fight... "

Ryn took the metal staff "I think that I will" he said and gave a smirk. The two practiced with the metal quarter-staffs for a good few hours. Ryn had noticed that he himself was begining to get slightly better with that form, he was getting a few of the more complex maneuvers like spinning the weapon in front of his body without nicking himself. (Think the crouch + walk + attack combo from Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy)

Sundar suddenly looked up at Jeh'rad "I would honored to practice with you when you are here" he said, his thick Corulag accent really coming through.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Jeh'rad was slowly picking up on the basics of this form. He had a very high pain tollerance, and for the most of it just laughed and found his lack of skill amuzing. He did notice that somewhere areound the middle fo the training session Ryn really started to show off.
"What, you like, need to warm up before practice? " Jeh'rad remarked while doing a parry. He forgets to use the rear end of the staff and Ryn (for the fourth time in these past 15 min) manages to wack him on the sid eof his head.
"Ah! Damn... But I'm getting better" Jeh'rad says while smiling. He puts the staff aside and looks at the time.
"We have trained for almost 7 hours now... We might wan't to keep in down in the future. " he says with a smirk.
"While you might still be young... " Jeh'rad winks to Ryn. Ryn knows that Jeh'rad is one of the oldest masters, still active in the field, yet he looks so young, and age cirtainly have not gotten to him yet.
"Every morning, I'm the one who runs the oldest of the younglings through their morning gymnastics. Then I have a one hour break, we can train in that. Then I have lightsaber lessons, right after the big gymnasitcs session, while they are still warm. After that, we might train again. How do you like that idea?
(( that means, in the future, two posts per person will make out one training day. How do you like that idea? ))

[Dire Wolf]

(Sorry for the delayed response, the idea sounds good, I will post one part as if it was the next day)

Ryn smiled "It sounds like a good idea" he paused, slowly taking the quarter-staff out of Jeh'rad's grasp with the Force. Once the staff found Ryn's hand, the young knight put both of the metal rods away and with a slight bow, he left the room.

For a brief time, he entertained the thought of being a weapon master and maybe, if he was good enough, he would become the temple's Battlemaster. The Battlemaster was a Jedi that tought students solely lightsaber combat, that idea sat well with him.

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The Next day
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Ryn waited for the 'herd' of younglings to thin out before walking into the room. It took a few minutes, but when he saw the last of the younglings leave he walked into the room. Sure enough, there was Jeh'rad "Master, What do you want to practice first? Soresu or fighting with a double bladed lightsaber" Ryn said, his tone was that of respect, for he had a lot of it for the old Jedi Watchman

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Jeh'rad awakened from his meditation and smiled when he saw that it was Ryn. The young boy amused him. By looking at him, Jeh'rad was reminded of himself as a young jedi. Back then he had also wanted to become a weapon master.
"Let's start with soresu... " Jeh'rad points at two training sabers on a table. One of them darts to his extended hand and the white blade ignites from the emitter.

After several hours of training ((You decide the outcome)), Jeh'rad turns ofthe blade again.
"Now, I have combat class. You may return once the younglings have their lunch break. Remember to eat today.. Food is important for a warrior" Jeh'rad smiles and bows lightly, then leaves the room.

Later, Jeh'rad returns and awaits Ryn.

((It's okay It seems the entire forum just stopped... ))

[Dire Wolf]

Ryn could not seem to get a hit on Jeh'rad, who was obviously better at Soresu than him. every single swipe and slash was blocked, parried, and quickly countered. Ryn was a little grateful when the Watchman turned off his training saber, becasue he had multiple bruises and burns on his arms and chest. (Training sabers do leave behind bruises and burns, a bruise is a hell of a lot better than dismemberment)

"Alright" was all that the young Jedi Knight said. Ryn gave a quick bow and left the Jedi Watchman, thinking about what he learned about the third form of lightsaber combat. As the knight sat at a table eating his lunch, he began to think about his future. "No" he thought, quickly throwing those thoughts to the back of his mind. Those thoughts were useless and often harmful, they could also lead to the dark side.

Ryn shuddered at that thought, the idea of him becoming what killed his master did not appeal to him in the least.

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A few hours later
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The young Jedi Knight again walked into the room, avoiding the rather large group of older younglings stampeding out of the doorway. "Ok, are you ready?" He said once the last youngling left the room.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Jeh'rad looks up from a letter.
"Ready as I'll ever be. " he says with a smile, and puts the letter aside. As the temple did not have any double bladed training sabers handy, he walks over and gets the metal staffs.
As they spar, it is obvious that Jeh'rad is not even mastering the basics yet. He get's seriously owned everytime they try something new. However, his bright mind allows him to catch on quickly, and he doesn't need to see anything more than twice, and he usually get's it right the first time he tries. He keeps relating to regular staff combat, which gives him an advantage, but also a disadvantage. Two hours later, he puts the staffs away again and as the leave the room, he comments their first lesson:
"You are doing much progress, Ryn, but you are getting an awful lot of bruises. It's not good for you, so either, you master the style to perfection in the following days, or we need to get some protection, or maybe use fiber practice sticks. If you are sen't on missions with those kinds of bruises and burns, you won't be able to do your best. Better head by the med-bay..."
Jeh'rad feels his head.
"I'd better join you... " he grins. "That last one you gave me could have knocked me out cold, if it wasn't for... " He drops the subject, and allows regular small talk to take place as he ehads for the medbay.

-Next -

One of the younglings must have requested it.. Or maybe Jeh'rad really was as untraditional as they said. The younlings were knocking eachother over, using force push. They had been devided, so that those strongest in that area of the force were practicing on eachother. Perhaps Jeh'rad found it important that youngling knew their skill, and didn't grow arrogant, like so many jedi did. He looked at the time as Ryn walked into the room and clapped his hands.
"Thats it for today! See you all after the great warm up... And no telling any of the masters about my classes, kay? " He grins, as they walk out fo the room laughing. He get's two practice sticks, and hands one to Ryn.
"If you keep advancing like you do, I'm gonna be glad I decided to use these instead" he grins.
"And don't worry, soon, you won't get hit anymore. And I'll stop hitting you, because it will stop serving a purpose... You know the drill, let's jsut get started. " he smiles and they being practice.

[Dire Wolf]

"That is fine, as long as you don't pull any punches" Ryn said with a small smirk on his face. The young knight was a fairly quick learner, he learned most of what he knew about the form from watching Jeh'rad parry and counterstrike with one easy motion. He was sure to keep his movements close to his bodyand only strike when Jeh'rad left an opening, but this was against both his nature and his primary form of choice, Juyo. Every fiber of his being still screamed at him to unleash a lightning fast flurry of swipes and slashes, but that feeling was the reason why he had so many bruises and burns.

That is when he saw it, an opening.

Ryn quickly slapped Jeh'rad's cain skyward and made a quick, decisive jab into the old Epicanthix's abdomen. Sundar pulled back and smiled "First time for everything" he said with a heavy Coruscanti/Corulag(English) accent. Ryn wiped the sweat off of his brow and ran his fingers through his short brown hair, he quickly droped back into the Soresu stance.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

A broad grins spread on Jeh'rads face.
"First of many more to come" Suddenly Jeh'rad looks like he got an idea, he laughs a little
"You know kid, that jab kinda hurt... An old man like me gotta get back on you somehow, so I'm gonna give you some homework!" He grins as he get's sometihng from his bag. I'ts a modified training remote. He activates it and lets it hover around.
"I'm gonna show you how to parry blaster bolts with this style, then youtake this here remote and practice before you go to bed. It was a gift fromtmy master... Which means the blasterbolts are full charge stun bolts. Hurts like a bitch, and can kill a rat. It's fast, you have to be aswell. My master knew my temper, so he gave it a layer of cortosis. To be affraid to hit ti or train with you own saber... Now let's get down to business... "
Jeh'rad shows him some different moves, and gives Ryn a recording of the jedi who, so far, is considered the greatest master of this style, performing the basis blaster parry's, after that, they do another round of sparring and then the younglings return.
"I'll see you later Ryn... Have a nice lunch brake. " He smiles and waves the knight off.

-later-

Jeh'rad returns to find Ryn waiting in the room, and realizes that he is 5 min. late.
"Sorry, they were serving meatloaf in the cantina. What can a man do? You have no idea how long I had to charm that annoying droid to get an extra portion.. " He grins and get's the staff.
Jeh'rad as usual does all right. He is still doing progress, though he is still working on the basics.

[Dire Wolf]

"That is for younglings, Jeh'rad" Ryn almost said when he saw the training remote, almost. He instead nodded his head and spoke in an unsure voice "Alright" and with that, he left. The young knight did not eat much for lunch, instead he practiced with the remote for most of the time. He had plenty of minor burns that the stun setting of the blaster caused, but he could take pain. Juyo, his preffered lightsaber form, required almost herculean physical conditioning and Ryn did not get conditioned that well to be offset by quitting when something 'hurt'.

Ryn returned to the practice room early to meditate, he sensed something odd in the Force, it felt as if he would be sent on a mission soon, this both excited and terrified the Jedi Knight. Jeh'rad's comment about droids and meatloaf derailed his train of thought. "Never have liked droids much. . . ." Ryn said as he stood up. When Jeh'rad got his practice staff Ryn used the Force to hurl a quarterstaff into his grasp, Ryn quickly spun the staff and brought it up to shoulder level.

He loved the dull sound of the bamboo-like wood bludgeoning through the air, it just screamed "GTFO" to him. Jeh'rad was certainly getting better. . . . and so was Ryn.

[Jeh'rad Verai'cal]

Jeh'rad had almt laughed when he saw the dissapointment in the knights eyes, as he handed him the remote. Ofcourse it flt like a set-back. but that was a nescesary evil, as you had to start somewhere. Soresu was one of the 7 forms that focussed more on defence, rather than lightsaber duels and kata's, so soon, the way they trained would change. Ryn would be fighting several remotes at a time and later he would be doing that, while avoiding to get hit by Jeh'rads saber. Jeh'rad had planned to work on perfecting this form when Ryn reached this stage of the training, which he soon would.

As they fought with their staffs, Ryn would notice a sort of hesitation in Jeh'rads movement. AS they kept training it was finally revieled to Ryn what was going on, when Jehr'ad suddely copied an advanced movement, that Ryn had performed som days ago, that smashed right thugh Ryns staff ad broke it in two, right between hs hands. Ryn would remember Jeh'rad asking about it, and was suddenly broguht to realize how open he was to this particular movement.
Jeh'rad grin and looks at Ryn.
"Wanna change weapons, or would you like to test your skill with two blades, against a novice staff-fighter?"
Neither of hem are trianed to stop fighting just because something unexpected happens, so the choice would seem obvious.
Jeh'rad, being a master with two blades now had an advantaeg as he knew what to expect, and with some difficulty, he finally mannaged to stab Ryn in the belly.
Jeh'rad chuckles. "That was unexpected and quite entertaining. Next time, let's use fiber staffs. They hurt hurt, but they do't brake, and I'm still learning the basics here. " Jeh'rad smiles and get's the fiber staffs, then they continue normal training, in which Jeh'rad is still doing progress.