Xierra Zalq vs Silas Isao

[Neology]

Neology: Mara will be 1
*Neology rolls 1 die, with 2 sides.
*Results... 1

Mara has first post, and this duel will be 5 rounds. By request, Force abilities are disabled for this duel.





The world is dying around you. You stand on scorched stone that streches toward the horizon and smoke stings your eyes. Orbital guns continue to fire, tearing the earth asunder and leaving your ears ringing. Since your arrival on this planet, be your purpose good or ill, you've felt strangely bereft of the Force.

[Mara]

(((Thanks for waiting patiently.))



That old familiar feeling was back, and Xierra Zalq, Jedi Knight, didn't like that feeling. Besides the fact that it brought back memories of an almost failed mission on the planet of Metellos, what she was most focused on was the fact that she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was strange to admit it, but the Falleen actually felt dead, in a way. Without the Force to guide her or her ability to tap into its power she felt almost lost.

The circumstances that had brought her to this warring planet no longer mattered. She had other things to thinking about. Like how to regain the Force. Or how to survive long enough to depart this world before it exploded around her, leaving her to die a second time, a real death.

She pulled the hood of her brown Jedi cloak up around her head and face, trying to guard against the fumes as best as she could without being able to throw up a Force shield. Thankfully the rest of her was also clad in her Jedi attire staples; the thick clothing would protect her somewhat from whatever reactions of this dying planet would be tossed in her way in her search for a space-going vessel.

As she walked on through the hard surface of the planet her arms outstretched to help balance her body during the rumbling earthquakes, she quiet unspeakably began to think of her old master. The human had been with her her entire padawan years. Master Revisc had been the one to guide her in the ways of the Force and start her on the path she was now on. Besides increasing her lightsaber combat skills, focusing in Ataru, he had also taught her a lot of hand-to-hand combat techniques, something that was handy in the acrobatic Ataru. But he had also taught her because he believed that the Force shouldn't be a crutch, and neither should one's lightsaber. Master Revisc wanted his padawan to be able to defend herself if ever caught without her Jedi weapon.

Xierra had to smile at this a bit wryly as she braced herself for another shaking of the earth. Her master would have had no idea she was training her to be able to defend herself without the Force as well, as she had done, or tried to do, back on Metellos. There, it had been just little lizards creating bubbles absent of the Force. But here on this planet... it was everywhere. She saw none of the animals, nor anywhere they could hide, but yet could not feel the Force. And her only weapon was her lightsaber and her body; earlier on she had found her fighting rods to be missing. Without the Force to aid her, she rather pessimistically thought her two weapons would be helpless in her hands, despite the years of teachings her master had pounded into her head. She only had to hope that she had no resistance when trying to escape. If she could find a vessel.

The reptilian Jedi continued on in her search of any way of getting off this rock before it was so unstable that she couldn't leave. Her eyes were always flickering back and forth as she walked, boots thudding against the surface, for any sign of another being. She had long threw out the idea of avoiding any enemy that was obviously helping this planet to implode on itself and was now eager to find anyone else besides herself that was still alive on this planet. Perhaps they would have transport.

With the smoke growing thicker and only the strikes of ion cannons lighting up the way, Xierra had to pull out her lightsaber. She preferred not to use the weapon as a glowstick, but right now she had no choice. Without the Force, she couldn't guide herself that way. And with no other supplies on her besides her clothing and the weapon, the pale green blade would have to suffice as her light through the smoky haze.

Coming over a ridge, she almost cried in relief but settling for a gasp that later turned into a cough after she inhaled too much of the changing atmosphere and air. Down below she had spotted a shuttle of some kind, and her enthusiasm for the possibility for escape didn't allow her mind to think that it might be broken or incapacitated in any way. Xierra hurried down the slope, keeping her lightsaber blade held out in front so as not to accidentally slice off a limb. It didn't even matter now that she had little piloting experience. Right now anything was a victory.

Nearing the vessel, the Falleen started looking for a hatch or a way in, scouring the outside for any sign of an opening or control panel. Little did she know that someone else was coming from the opposite direction, perhaps also thinking of escape or maybe the owner of the small shuttle. But without the Force, she had no idea of the incoming stranger. Though, even if she had it, her eagerness of escape so close probably would have clouded her awareness somewhat and made her slow to react. Either way, she was so intent on finding a way into the ship that it had given her tunnel-vision.




(((I hope the way I set up your entrance is cool with you.)))

[Silas]

(You started it well :3 And here we go!)

Darkness like ink swirled around him. It blotted out any form of sun which might try to borrow into his skin as he lay there scared, and tattered. Suddenly a flash screamed all around him as a light ripped through that darkness, through what he thought had taken over his world. For a brief second he inhaled a swift breath through his teeth as he pushed up with his hands on the fine, gritty sand under his fingers. As he pulled himself onto his knees he looked around silently, but to little avail amongst the smog which surrounded him. One hand pulled across his mouth to find a fresh streak of blood on his hand, and quietly he growled at this planet. As he stood a tremor shook the ground beneath his feet, and he quickly reached towards the Force for stability, but it simply wasn’t there. A few times in his past he’d been suppressed of the Force, and each time he’d felt it just beyond his finger tips, but this was different. This time there simply wasn’t any Force at all, it was as if the Universe itself had abandoned him. Tremors shook his body as he took a step into the dark sand beneath his feet; a feeling of loss wracked his soul.

This wasn’t right, none of it. How had he even gotten here? Oddly he should have been more worried, he should have been scared for the next breath he took, or frightened by something waiting for him, but he wasn’t. It seemed as if this was meant for a reason, and while he could not feel the Force it was as if something tugged at him. There was no brevity in this next step, only stupidity, and yet he took it. This Sith took the step for he knew there was no other path which he could follow, and so he sold his soul to a fate completely unforeseen.

Upon a structure, like a tower he had found himself. On an outcropping which was thankfully flat, but as he approached the side he noticed just how difficult this would be. With a deep breath he knew he’d simply have to take it one level at a time, but the next one looked so far. For just a second he considered just jumping, and using the Force to glide, but he remembered quickly that this would only lead to death. Sadly he was almost willing, if just for a second before he reprimanded himself, and began to climb down. Each foot hold would bring him a step closer to the ground, and step by step he found himself close enough to jump down to the nearest platform. With a slight kick off the wall he fell through the air for less than a second before he hit the ground fairly gracefully for not having the Force. With a smile he began to go towards the edge to start again right before another small quake hit, and the mountain began to shake. Already slightly practiced at this he braced himself for the shake.

For just a second his mind went back to a time long ago when he’d been aboard a small freighter with his wife…wife, it was odd to think that now, and it had shook like this occasionally. When they exited hyperspace, that’s when it happened. With a sigh he remembered just how good those times were, and it was odd how well your muscles could revert back a reflex which it had been accustomed to such a long time ago. Nostalgia on his mind he hoisted himself once again down the large precipice, once again finding footholds, and once again jumping to a flat outcropping below. Before he knew it both his feet were planted on the ground which had been so far below just moments ago, and only a little exhaustion had come out of the whole thing.

Before him stretched out an eternity of flatland, destroyed by orbital bombardment and as he took another deep breath he brought his foot down one more step towards the inevitability stretched out before him. Time passed by like an hourglass, always moving, and the less he paid attention the faster it all seemed to go. Whilst Silas travelled upon this journey, he brought himself to a universe of pure imagination, a world of thought and that alone. Alone like himself, upon this lonely path which no one else might be willing to travel, and yet here he was. Like a leper cast upon the dark dismal parts of life which no one else dared to find themselves he tarried, and thought, and moved with a seamless grace.

Soon, though, that grace was broken as in the distance he saw something, almost when it was right upon him he stumbled upon the shape of a crater, and down in it brought him everything he wished for. Some sort of ship, no matter what it was that didn’t matter for this Firrerreo could only think of escape at the moment. A way off this barren planet and back to whatever version of reality he liked to call home loomed just seconds from his grasp. Without the Force even his run was slow as he began to half sprint, half jump down the side of the large crater towards the ship. Then he saw her.

Along the other side of this large enclave there was a person, and at first he wasn’t sure what to think of this woman, but then he saw the glow of her lightsaber. With a growl he pulled his lightsaber from his belt, and ignited the yellow blade in a second. It hissed as it hit the air around him, and hummed with excitement as he came closer to the ship. Instincts had already set into the Sith’s system, and he jumped up to leap onto the ship, his inability to use the Force forgotten until he was only able to grab the side of it, and pull himself up on top of it. With a slight narrowing of his eyes he ran across the top of the small fighter only able to hold one, and as he jumped off the other wing he pulled his lightsaber across to hit the woman. From one high ground to another he jumped, and as he hit the sand on the other side he rolled a bit before he turned to look at her. The shoulder he fell on hurt a little, but nothing more than he could control.

Right now he only knew one thing: she threatened his escape, and he couldn’t have that. Silas didn’t know who she was, why she was here, or what they might have in common. Those petty things didn’t matter at the moment, this woman could be the Dark Lady of the Sith herself and he would still attempt to strike her down. With a surprising vigour he didn’t quite expect he brought the lightsaber down upon her with all the strength he could muster without the Force.

[Deleted]

Ooook, here we go. Sorry about the wait.

Round one

Xierra Zalq - Mara

Effort: 5
Fairness: 5
Detail: 4
Coolness: 5
Bonus: 0

Comment: Very solid piece of writing Mara. You're off to a good start.



Silas Isao - Silas

Effort: 5
Fairness: 5
Detail: 5
Coolness: 5
Bonus: 0

Comment: Very impressive Silas, you really went out of your way to paint a picture of the planet.

Mara: 19
Silas: 20

Ok, Silas has a 1 point lead, but I don't doubt Mara can close the gap.

Ok, Round two. Blow my mind you two.

Go!

[Mara]

Frustration was starting to build up in her body as she trying to find a way into the vessel she had come across, hoping it would be functional enough to get her off this self-imploding rock and away to safety. But so far she hadn't had any luck. Plus, without the Force to aid her, Xierra was feeling tired, much too tired than she normally felt. The trek across the shaking landscape and through the acrid air was taking a toll on her body. Something that never would have happened, not this quickly. The Force was more than a weapon; she relied on it (but not too much, obeying her master). It was her life. Without it, she felt empty. A shell. A normal sentient being.

For the first time in recent memory Xierra felt like just falling to her knees, curling up, and crying. It would not be like the tears of grief she had shed for her fallen master. They would just be there, without reason, borne out of her fear and tiredness and frustration. She had been around the ship more than once and still couldn't find anything that looked like a control panel or even hatch. Even if the transport was fully operational, there was no way to get inside. The Jedi leaned her back against the durasteel and stared dully at the sand beneath her feet, braced wide against the vibrations of the planet, a green glow mixing with the dusty brown.

Suddenly she had it! Her lightsaber. Even without the Force, she could still wield it. Perhaps not as effective in battle, but it would still serve its purpose. The Falleen spun around to face the side of the ship, her hood falling down in the process. She no longer noticed her surroundings, the explosions, the thick air, the earthquakes. All her focus was turned to creating her own hatch into the side of the ship. And she would have done so had she not been interrupted.

Her pale green blade had been poised over the surface, ready to throw her weight behind it, and press through the metal. Xierra had just seen something in the corner of her black eyes, reflected off the dull, worn vessel. Instinctively she moved her lightsaber to a defensive position, not sure what was coming after her, animal or higher being. The thought that she might not be alone of earlier had disappeared along with most thoughts when she had discovered possible escape. But the weight of the attack was heavier than she expected, and she fell to the sand.

It was then, as she was getting up, ready to look for whatever had come after her, that she noticed it--a lightsaber. That had to have been the object she had deflected, not well enough, with her own blade. This other was yellow, though, and its carrier was not someone she recognized. That was not a huge matter; Xierra had no way to know all the Jedi who had ever come through the Temple. And without the Force, she couldn't use that to aid her either.

She jumped to her feet, holding her weapon in front of her, and her eyes narrowed. The look on the other's face was not a friendly one, and even without contact to the Force, Xierra knew a fellow Jedi would never mean harm. This had to be a fallen Jedi, or a Sith. And now he obviously wanted the ship she had just been trying to enter, if his stance was any clue. The Falleen knew there was no way they would ever been able to work together and share the spare and depart the planet together. They would have to fight, to the death, leaving the ship to the victor and survivor. All without the Force.

Thoughts turned to actions as the man she almost certainly was a Sith or at least a dark Jedi came after her again with his yellow blade. Luckily enough her master had drilled in her the importance to be able to defend oneself without the Force, not relying 100% on the life-giving essence. But still, she had had little practice lately using her lightsaber without the Force.

Xierra threw her pale green blade in front of her to block the attack, sparks flying at the contact. Her long black hair blew around her face in the smoggy air slowly engulfing the planet, her robes flapping against her legs. Without the Force, she could not sense an inkling of what her opponent would do next, could not formulate a counter attack ahead of time. This would be a test of brute strength and skill with their blades, and that was all. She was glad she had started training in Niman; without the Force, her Ataru skills would be almost useless, as she used it to emphasis her moves. Xierra was agile and flexible enough, but not enough with the emptiness surrounding her.

Letting the blades sit there for a moment between them, locked in a stalemate, she thought of her next move, something she would have to decide on her own, without any outside influences as to how to react. She knew she could fight and duel ably enough, but had never put it to practice in this sort of situation very often. As a Jedi, it was hard to pretend to lightsaber battle without the Force. If she had had her fighting rods, it would be much easier. But she would have to make do.

With a groan she pulled her blade away and took a couple steps back, keeping her weapon in front of her, defending. She looked through the strands of her hair at her opponent, trying not to cough or breath heavily, to show weakness, in this harsh environment. With every increasing minute the air seemed to grow warmer and thicker; her reptilian blood screamed for cool relief, but she could not appease it. All she could do was toss off her cloak into the sand, keeping her eyes on her enemy, deciding to go with keeping herself focused and not bothering about the protection her robe had given her. Trading one con for another.

Not sure whether she could trust her waning strength to help her fight effectively with Ataru, she plunged into the opening moves of Niman infused with the less acrobatic touches of the former form. She ran at her opponent, ready to strike at him, feigning for his head, but following through at his midsection. Not bothering to see if she connected or not, she ran beyond him, and spun on her heels, prepared for another attack, or a counter-attack from the stranger.


(((Sorry if it's sort of rambling and sucky; trying to get back in the mood of this setting, lol.))).