Training Duel: Phoenix v Darth Serratus

Darth Suspiria · Training Duel: Phoenix v Darth Serratus

Where: the Dojo
Weapons: Lightsabers and the Force

{{I will GM unless someone else is willing.}}

EDIT: Just saw your posting Prophet Crozeus. Thank you for volunteering. I surrender GM duties to you.

High Prophet Crozeus

((I think it would be better if I do it, as you are the master of one of the duellists. Not saying you would be biased.))

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus calmly entered the dojo. He was wearing his usual attire and grasping his lightsaber tightly. He acknowledged Darths Suspiria and Crozeus before settling back into some practise attacks. He was immediately surrounded, in his minds eye at least, by a multitude of Phoenixes. The young one would not be able to flee this time.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix entered the dojo, with one motion he cast aside his cloak, it would only hinder his movements in the coming duel. He already noticed Darth Serratus, who practised in the center of the arena. This is going to be one tough fight, better to expect the unexpected. First off Phoenix greeted his master and the other sith that was with her, one Phoenix never seen before, although judging from the power this man emanated, he clearly held high rank.

"Darth Serratus, a pleasure to see you again. Shall we?" - the young sith spoke to his opponent, detaching one of his lightsabers from the belt. He still did not ignite it, waiting for the masters to give the signal to begin.

High Mage Serratus

"Indeed we shall."

Serratus quickly ignited his lightsaber and launched straight into a low Makashi strike.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix activated his own saber as soon as he saw Serratus charging. Parrying the initial attack with relative ease, the young sith answered with a series of quick thrusts, testing his opponent's defence and searching for a weak spot in it.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus parried each of the jabs with a quick block. The boy was obviously prying for weaknesses but he was going about it the wrong way. He used a Force-augmented jump to flip over him before switching to Shien and quickly spinning into a powerful backswing.

Darth Mortis

As his opponent leapt into air Phoenix simply darted forward, leaving the reach of Serratus's lightsaber. He quickly made an about-turn and charged at the other sith. Their lightsabers locked for a brief moment, which Phoenix used to push away Serratus's blade and immediately after this he flicked at his left leg.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus did a small sideflip that let the lightsaber pass beneath him and also let him land in the same spot. With that small advantage, he blasted Phoenix with Force lightning.

Darth Mortis

Arcs of lightning struck Phoenix's body, hurling him backwards. Althoug it didn't hinder him for long, in a few moments the young sith leapt to his feet. He ignited the second lightsaber and charged forward, accelerated by the Force speed. His sabes twirled so fast they seemed a single blur of red and blue, Phoenix pressed the attack viciously, each time striking at a new angle. Suddenly Phoenix made a powerful swing with his saber, aiming at his opponent's left side

High Mage Serratus

Serratus saw the swing coming and unleashed his secret weapon. His chain-shoto slid from his sleeve and he parried the blow with the chain, which was gold-plated phrik. Now also dual-armed, Serratus swung the chain-shoto in a wide arc before using the momentum to leap into a spinning strike with the shoto and his saberstaff.

Darth Mortis

What Serratus did might come as a surprise, but Phoenix already expected him to have some nasty trick in store. The apprentice ducked to dodge the swing Serratus made with his shoto and dashed aside to evade the next attack. Things weren't proceeding good, never before Phoenix met such a weapon, which meant he would need to adapt quickly. Perhaps in the close quarters he would have a chance. With those thoughts he charged slashing his saber at Serratus's right arm.

High Mage Serratus

((Sorry to be bothersome but I don't really get what you're doing. You've blocked a spinning slash in the air by blocking with your sabers crossed and now you're transferring the spinning momentum into a forward thrust? Forgive me, but that doesn't make any sense, neither in terms of physics nor swordplay.))

Darth Mortis

[Whoops, sorry didn't notice the the part about leaping in the air Embarassed

I'll edit my post now.

There, done. Again I appologise. (At least now I know why one shouldn't post when sleepy Smile

)]

High Prophet Crozeus

((Leave any OOC like that to me. Direct queries to each other via PM.))

Lord Aequitas

((Why? They shouldn't need to PM each other to fix things like that easily. You have done it too))

High Prophet Crozeus

((Sorry, didn't see Phoenix's post.))

High Mage Serratus

Serratus twisted quickly, dodging the attack on his arm while simultaneously flicking the now-deactivated shoto around to hit Phoenix in the back.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix felt a painful jolt as the shoto striked his back. He winced, this will surely live a mark. Ignoring the pain he quickly swung his saber aiming at the chain attached to Serratus's shoto.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus had not been expecting the move and the lightsaber pulled on the phrik chain, sending him stumbling and sending the shoto flying. He quickly restored and led a vicious two-handed Djem So assault while Phoenix was momentarily off-balance.

Darth Mortis

Obeying his instincts Phoenix moved his second saber to parry Serratus's attack. Because of his timely reaction the apprentice managed to block the strike, but as he was not fully prepared this block couldn't counter the raw strength of Djem So. Phoenix's lightsaber was pushed back by the power of the strike, singing it's wielder's upper arm.

Phoenix retreated step by step, making considerable efforts to block Serratus's ferocious attacks. Knowing that Jar'Kai has weak defensive capabilities the young sith counter-attacked as soon as the opportunity arised. Phoenix sidestepped to evade another strike Darth Serratus made and quickly slashed at his shoulder.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus decided to employ something he had barely practised, let alone utilised. He dropped to the floor, held just off the ground by his hands and feet and let Phoenix's lightsaber pass over him. Then he pushed his legs up and flicked into a flip. He just about landed on his feet but his balance was thrown off considerably.

Darth Mortis

Using the moment Phoenix charged at his opponent, thrusting his blue saber at Serratus's sword arm, but keeping the second saber in defensive position to counter possible ripostes.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus spun whiddershins and unleashed a massive Force push at Phoenix. Combined with Phoenix's forward momentum, it would have the effect of a durasteel wall being tossed at the young apprentice.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix felt a distrubance in the Force barely a millisecond before Darth Serratus unleashed the wave. Without anywhere to run he raised his arm, sending the Force puch of his own in a desperate attempt to halt the onslaught. He succeeded, in a way. The Force wave did not bring Phoenix down, but it pushed him several metres backwards and teared away a good part of his tunic. Taking a moment to regain his balance, Phoenix leapt towards his opponent, and while in flight he used the Force to tug Serratus's legs.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus felt the pull on his legs and did nothing to stop it. Phoenix thought he had been very clever but because Serratus let himself fall, he was able to put himself in the perfect position. As Phoenix leapt over him, he simply kicked straight up at the apprentice, sending him almost straight up into the air.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix did not expect Serratus's manoeuvre, but this was of little consequence. Even though his chest hurt because of his opponent's kick, surely Force-aided, as it sent Phoenix flying up, the young sith was not about to give up. As he was about to fall Phoenix Force pushed himself away from the ground, making a somersault in the air and landing on his feet. The young sith had a plan, he remembered one particularly nasty move Darth Suspiria shown him, if performed correctly this could easily disarm one's opponent. Once again Phoenix charged at Darth Serratus. He feinted to the left while closing in to distract his opponent and unleashed a flurry of thrusts at the older sith. Then catching a moment Phoenix shoved his blade under Serratus's and flipped it.

High Mage Serratus

The lightsaber was knocked from Serratus's hand. He did not falter, however. He raised his other hand and summoned his chain-shoto with the Force, making sure to strike Phoenix on the back of the head with it. Once he had it hand, he pushed a small button on the hilt, revealing a function he had never used before. The chain retracted into the hilt, binding the two sections together tightly. He pushed another button and four metal clasps flipped up and linked them even tighter. Now with another saberstaff, he switched to Shien and launched a furious back-handed assault.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix's triumph was cut short by a strong hit at the back of his head. The young sith stumbled, and when he regained his stance he saw Serratus with his bizarre shoto which now somehow transformed into a saberstaff. There was no time to marvel his Serratus's ability to utilize strange, yet very effective weapons as he charged. Phoenix leapt back, cruving his body, that helped him evade the attack, his opponent's blade passed so close to his stomach that he could feel the heat emaneted by it. Immdediately returning into defencive position Phoenix waved his hand, using the Force to hurl the saberstaff that layed on the floor to the far end of the arena, outside Serratus's reach. It would be very unfortunate if he got to his primary weapon again.

For about a minute Phoenix stayed on the defence, parrying his opponent's attacks. Then he ducked, dodging Serratus's slash and thrusted his saber at his opponent's leg.

High Mage Serratus

As Phoenix's saber slashed through his shin, Serratus winced. Now fueled with anger and pain, he did something very unorthodox. He clubbed Phoenix over the head with the hilt of his saber, kicked him and knocked him through the air with a Force push.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix got up and wiped the blood from his face, even though he saw double for a few seconds the apprentice quickly pulled his weapons back to his arms with the Force and went back into the offensive. Both opponents clashed in a ferocious combat, their sabers collided time and time again, the sparks singed holes in their garments. Phoenix decided to do something really risky, using an opportunity he rammed Serratus, they both fell down on the floor, Phoenix dropped one of his lightsabers and it rolled aside. Wasting no time the apprentice flinged at his opponent, pressed his knee to Serratus's chest and grabbed his sword arm with the left hand, denying his opponent the ability to use his shoto. With another hand Phoenix began pounding Darth Serratus.

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus laughed. The boy was in over his head. He raised his hand and punched Phoenix squarely in the jaw, sending him sprawling. Stoping to wipe a little blood from his lip, he raised his right hand and used it to Force choke Phoenix. With the other, he pumped volts upon volts of lightning into him.

High Prophet Crozeus

Crozeus stepped in. "Serratus, enough. Release him. You are not here to kill him."

High Mage Serratus

Serratus nodded and released the boy. He summoned both his sabers with the Force and took a defensive Jar'Kai stance.

"Shall you continue boy?"

Darth Mortis

Phoenix stood up, caughing after the Force choke. He spat some blood on the floor and wiped his mouth. "I shall" - he said and Force pulled his weapons into his hands. Drawing upon his anger and pain Phoenix charged forward, unleashing a flurry of ferocious attacks at Darth Serratus forcing him to retreat. Then in a Force-aided somersault he leapt over his opponent, spinning in the air and making a strong downward slash at Serratus's back upon landing.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus spun and parried the strike. He took a step back and laughed.
"Maybe now I can get a little fight out of you."
He joined his two saberstaves together into an unbelievably long doublesaber. He then launched a vicious Vaapad assault, occasionally utilising his fists by punching with the saber in hand.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix stepped backwards, parrying the oncoming attacks and dodging the punches. He felt his anger giving him new strength to fight on. Parrying another strike Phoenix made a feint attack and deployed a compound riposte, thrusting his right saber at Serratus's upper armas soon as he had the opportunity.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus turned but his arm was nonetheless cut. Serratus whinced as the flesh was burned before launching into a dervish-like spinning assault with his doublesaber, changing direction at random intervals to prevent a pattern being produced.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix was taken aback by the assault and missed a quick slash of Serratus's saber that that left a light burn on his chest. Judging from the seemingly chaotic attacks his opponent utilized Form VII, this did not make Phoenix very glad. This style was rightfully considered one of the most effective and it's users where very dangerous opponents. But he had no chance rather than stand and fight, surrenedring was not an option. As Serratus attacked again Phoenix made a circular parry with his right saber almost immediately thrusted his second blade at his opponent's stomach.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus twisted ever so slightly to avoid the blade before leaping into a spinning sideflip and landing directly behind Phoenix. Before Phoenix could turn, Serratus rushed him and held his lightsaber to Phoenix's neck.
"Checkmate."

Darth Mortis

"Okay, you win" - Phoenix said grimly and Force-pushed his opponent's blade aside. The apprentice stepped away from Serratus and wiped the sweat from his face. "So what now? I guess I did not pass the exam" - he grumbled and spat some blood on the floor.

High Prophet Crozeus

Crozeus smiled. "Don't hold bitter feelings, apprentice. You fought bravely against a superior foe, and you carried on when faced with the possibility of giving up. You should be proud with what you have accomplished, and learn from what mistakes you made. You both fought very well." With that, he turned and walked from the dojo, heading for his quarters. He needed sleep.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix slightly bowed to the sith master as he spoke. Still he was not satisfied with the outcome... On the other hand it was predictable, fighting against a fully-fledged sith was not an easy thing. "Bah, I need a drink" - he muttered and Force-pulled his cloak. It might be a good idea to hit the nearest cantina, of course after tending his wounds and taking a shower.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus saluted Crozeus as he left.
"Nay, Phoenix. Failure to win does not mean you have failed in your apprenticeship. I myself failed in my apprentice duel. Mine was against Darth Crozeus and he knocked me unconcious for four hours. But anyway, you have done well. I look forward to working with you in the future."
Then he turned, and like Crozeus, departed.

Darth Mortis

Phoenix nodded to Serratus. Perhaps they are right, anyway there are more pressing matters at hand. He still wanted to go to the cantina, but first it would be necessary to speak with Darth Suspiria.