Duel For All That Is Holy…(Lady Hesper vs Lord Drakul Xarxes)

[Xarxes]

~†~For All That Is Holy…~†~

~†~Lady Hesper vs. Lord Drakul Xarxes~†~
Location: Gatalenta, on a high mountainside, in a secluded, long-abandoned, meditative temple.



Lord Drakul Xarxes sat cross-legged in the center of the temple proper. A simple bamboo mat had been laid out and served as his refuge from the cold wooden floor below. The temple, barely touched in a long time, was his current place of respite from rebuilding his new home on Arkania.

His armor was placed to the side. While useful at all times, he also found it to be cumbersome when attempting to meditate. He couldn't reach into the deepest recesses of his mind in a place of peace while wearing an instrument of war.

His mind at ease, he probed deeper into his conscience, attempting to grasp at the underlying concerns with which he was plagued with, and had been since before joining the Empire. Perhaps…well, perhaps he could use a guiding hand, which is why he had contacted some help.

He awaited Lady Hesper with great anticipation. He had never faced off with a superior combatant before, and he had longed to push himself to his limits. No doubt the ex-Tribune was the perfect candidate for this challenge. The former apprentice of the Emperor, leader of the Hesperians, and High Priestess of the Sith was one of the most formidable members in the Imperial rosters.
​

A daunting task, dueling her would be, even if only to prove to himself that he was capable of performing well against his superiors. But he was also well aware that the outcome could simply be even more self-doubt, self-loathing, a rejuvenation of his drive for utter perfection. He knew the risks, but he awaited her presence anyway. He wasn't worth her time, this he knew, but she was often gracious to those who had not provoked her, and he could not find in his memories an instance of himself committing such a sin.

​

RULES:
~Post CS below.
~The only weapons allowed will be basic Sith Swords, alchemized only to be saber-proof.
~No armor allowed. Non-protective clothing is all apparel that is permitted.
~The winner will be the first to draw blood, or first to be conceded to.
~Lady Hesper may nominate the GM at her discretion.
~Standard SoGM Rules for Dueling apply.

@corinthia

 

[Xarxes]

DARTH DRAKUL XARXES

Race: Dathomirian Zabrak
Level: 8
Class: Sorcerer (Inquisitor)

Height: 7' (no armor)
Weight: 360 lbs.
Clothing: Combat trousers, tied off around the calves; leather boots; belt with a sheath
Weapon: Alchemized Sith longsword
Gear: Mqaaq'it in his left eye socket

Skills:
TK: 4
Force Defense: 4
Mind Trick/Qazoi Kyantuska: 4
Fold Space: 4
Darkshear: 4
Art of the Small: 10
Sith Alchemy
Dathomirian Magicks

 

[corinthia]

Name: High Priestess Hesper, Dark Lady of the Sith, The Third Eye, Immortalis​

Species: Human
Level: 9
Class: Sorcerer (Arcanist)

Height: 5'1"
Weight: 104 lbs
Attire: Simple trousers and knee-length, long sleeved tabard tunic, belted at the waist. Barefoot.
Weapon: Sith longsword
Gear: None

Skills – Level 9 (40 points)
Force Push/Pull – 5
Force Choke – 2
Force Jump – 4
Force Avalanche – 5
Force Lightning – 1
Force Defense – 5
Ataru – 4
Niman – 3
Force Drain – 2
Dark Side Healing – 3
Shatterpoint – 2
Farsight – 3
Mind Shard – 1

 

[corinthia]

IC: High Priestess Hesper
​

The meditative temple was lovely; Hesper spent much of her time in similar spaces, and so as she stepped with bare feet into the room, she felt at ease. Even though it had been so very long since the last time she set foot in a dueling ring, she anticipated this meeting with excitement. She had chosen Drakul Xarxes from many to be a part of the Hesperians, and he was strong, staunch, and formidable. He would no doubt be a worthy opponent.

A modicum of worry stirred in her chest-- it had been a long time since she last fought anyone. She hoped that her skill would still be adequate when tested by steel upon steel. Which drew her mind to the heavy object which she grasped in pale hands far stronger than they appeared. It was a Sith sword, a beautiful, gleaming relic of a mirrored silver hue, a glimmering emerald gem set into its pommel. She came to stand before Drakul where he sat, and rested the tip of the sword on the ground, draping her elegant wrists over the cross guard. Her feet were set wide, and the tabbard of her tunic hung freely; her exquisite golden hair was bound in a smooth plait down her back.

"Hello, Lord Xarxes," she said, her voice plain.

TAG: @Makarov ​

 

[Xarxes]

IC: Darth Drakul Xarxes
​

The figure of Drakul hovered where it sat crossed-legged, rotating to face her and folding into a kneeling position. "Hail, Lady Hesper," boomed throughout the temple before he'd even opened his eyes. His gleaming mqaaq'it presently was a cool blue, likely the result of his current mood. He shifted position, removing his boots having noticed her own bare footedness.

He stood before her, stretching himself before the fight. The meditation had made some of him "fall asleep," which would be no good for a duel. When he had finished, he reached his hand behind him, his own weapon flying into it: the Sith Sword that had been given to him by his own Master, General Invadator. Its blade glowing crimson due to its natural hue, the hilt designed to fit into his hand perfectly, the crossguard, consisting of a few curved pieces of alchemized metal, just enough to protect the wielder. It was, in his opinion, a perfect weapon, and one that would help him for years to come.

But the task at hand was to draw a Dark Lady's blood, something very few below them had ever done. He had to force himself to think of this as a friendly duel, not as life or death, which it very well could be if he had miscalculated Lady Hesper's intentions even slightly. He breathed. In, and out.

He offered no smile, as was so often customary for him, and glanced at her, his singular golden eye catching her gaze.

"Shall we begin?"

TAG: @corinthia ​

 

[corinthia]

IC: High Priestess Hesper ​

"Let us begin," Hesper replied-- but she made no move to remove the tip of her blade from the bamboo mat, or to set herself into a ready position. She stood, calmly. Still as stone.

The corner of her mouth quirked into a tiny smile.

TAG: @Makarov​

 

[Xarxes]

IC: Darth Drakul Xarxes​

For a moment, all was still. Neither Lady nor Lord moved a muscle, the latter knowing that the former was well-prepared for whatever came her way. Drakul readied himself, the faintest breath being drawn in through the nose and exhaled past steady lips.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open, every muscle in his body ignited by the Force as he dashed forward, dragging the tip of his blade across the floor as he curved around slightly, aiming for her right side with the edge of his blade toward the hilt. He came close to her, close enough to take in the scent of her own blade. The cost of error would be high for either of them.

The duel had begun.

EDIT: Abilities: Force Speed (TK) 4

@corinthia​

 

[corinthia]

IC: High Priestess Hesper​

Drakul Xarxes dashed forward, swinging his blade towards Hesper's right side; still ever calm, she weighed her choices. It had been some time since she last utilized a true blade, and the weight of it would feel dangerously good in her hand. She could remain where she was, throwing her energy into the Force to counter this attack, or she could raise her blade and let the clash of steel on steel sing in her bones.

Then, with precision and clarity, as Drakul's blade tip lifted off from the bamboo beneath their feet, Hesper twisted. If one were to view her motions at a slower pace, they would see the following: Hesper lifted first her right wrist from the crossguard where it rested, then the left as she rotated her right hand to grasp the sword's hilt, energy coiling into the balls of her feet as she sunk, knees bending and sword tip lifting from the mat, silver blade arcing upward to parry Lord Drakul's swing from below. In reality, this would all happen in the blink of an eye. Hesper snapped into action, lithe and dangerous, bright eyes fierce.

TAG: @Makarov ​

 

[Xarxes]

IC: Lord Drakul Xarxes
​

The movement was so swift that the Sith Lord barely had time to react. His eyes widened as her blade flew to meet his, clashing with it in a song of cold steel. For a moment his eyes narrowed in on her, then he pushed off, using her physical strength combined with his own shifting weight to create distance and roll off of her blade, receding into a back stance, bringing most of his weight onto his back leg and keeping his guard up.

He focused in on her, analyzing her posture, waiting for the moment to strike or defend. In combat between experienced warriors. there were often few moves, and most of them were quick and precise. It was a matter of finding the flaw in the movement of the other, rather than brutally hammering away at your foe. This was such a match.

TAG: @corinthia ​

 

[corinthia]

IC: High Priestess Hesper ​

Drakul was hanging back, his sword before him at the ready. The blade in Hesper's hand was still singing from the momentary contact, and she could feel it travelling up her arm. She took a steady breath, steely eyes locked unnervingly on her opponent, and settled into a ready stance of her own.

For a moment, each one watched the other with the intensity of a snake watching its prey, until again Hesper drew energy into her posture; but this time, Drakul would see no lunge toward him, no riposte. She simply waited.

TAG: @Makarov ​

 

[Xarxes]

IC: Lord Drakul Xarxes

Her blade's song rung in his ears, and her intent to wait for his motion was clear, but the Tsis'ari had estimated by now that they were both formidable users of the blade, biding time until one would slip up. Patience was a Jedi virtue, but it would be necessary if one wanted to maintain the integrity of their life and limb.

Still, he considered his options. As the one to make the first move, he was the aggressor, but he felt that Hesper's expertise made this a non-advantage. Perhaps, he thought, the Force could alter this in his favor.

Extending a palm, maintaining his stance, he blasted the ground at her feet, calling to the spot a surge of telekinetic force to combust the wood and the mat on top of it, while simultaneously raising defenses around him for the aftermath of this move.

Skills: TK 4, Force Defense 4

TAG: @corinthia ​

 

[corinthia]

IC: High Priestess Hesper ​

It was as if she could see the attack before it happened-- Drakul raising his palm, calling upon the Force, and...

The floor beneath her feet exploded, but Hesper was quick, seeming to dance away from Drakul. With a flick of her wrist, she returned an attack to him in kind, a powerful display which instead of pushing, pulled Drakul nearer to her, closing in to melee range with her sword poised for a devastating upward slash. She brought it across his body, drawing it across forearm and chest, and prepared for his retaliation.

TAG: @Drakul_Xarxes
Powers used: Farsight - 3, Force Pull - 5​

 

[Xarxes]

IC: Lord Drakul Xarxes​

The power of a Sith Lord is considerable in comparison to that of most other beings. Not only is their range of abilities more vast, but their strength in such abilities exceeds that of lesser Sith. Higher still, however, is the might of a Tetrarch, against which a Sith Lord can do rather little. While the Priestess's powers of foresight allowed her to evade most of the shrapnel, some of it would inevitably find its way to piercing her tabard. Wooden splinters would do little, but they were indeed irritants as they darted at her skin, the slightly larger pieces causing a bit of blood to speckle her attire.

This did nothing to mitigate her attack against him. Xarxes felt the alien, invasive power of telekinesis yank his body from its position and towards the smaller, terrible Dark Lady. He shifted his focus in the Force towards her, attempting to push away as he raised his sword but a moment too quickly. Her blade found itself halfway through his forearm, halted by both bone and his sheer strength. He grunted, looking down in awe at her display of speed, before pushing off of her with his own telekinesis. He shot across the room, blood shooting from his now-wounded left forearm, splattering across her as it showered onto the floor.

Xarxes bit into the pain, quickly taking up a defensive stance, Rather than focus on it to increase his own vigor, he pushed it to the side, putting two thirds of his weight on his back leg, and leveling his crimson blade with her. Blood slowly now trickled from his wounded arm, the droplets forming a puddle at his feet.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, with nothing but the slight *drip…drop* of his blood breaking the veil of silence.

TAG: @corinthia
Powers used: Telekinesis - 4​