Last Stand

It's just Zephrin and the grey armoured Mandalorian in the square. The soft 'thunk' as he closes his book echoes off the stone walls surrounding them. "Zephrin...Hayne, isn't it? An old name that, one born by your parents, and there parents before you. Do you still remember them? I don't remember mine, the temple doesn't like it when we maintain links."

Zephrin gave the squad a reassuring nod before leaving them and approaching the Mandalorian. They each had their own path. For good or ill this was his. ..

His force sight caught what seemed to be a brief echo of the previous rage. Maybe it was just his imagination. A blind man did not stare, but he perceived with a little more care. What did a Mandalorian know of the Miraluka?

"Yes, stranger, you are correct. Zephrin Hayn. I do not know your name, though you seem to know rather a lot about me." His fingers tapped the hilt of his lightsaber.

"I do remember my parents. They were warm and kind and taught me about the ways of my people. There have been many Hayns amongst the Jedi over the years."

There was a point to all of this. The longer it took to get to it, the more time he would buy for the mission.

The figure is silent for a few long moments. "I am Torvin Hollister. And yes, I have been watching you."

He stands and carefully places his book down on the bench before turning to Zephrin, his arms clasped behind his back.

"You're a brave man, Knight Hayn. That, you're allowed to feel. That's an acceptable non-feeling, I remember being taught that. Taught that our feelings cloud our vision and removes our control, that they weaken us. Do you feel the same way?"

"Well met, Torvin Hollister." There was a nod at the admission and Zephrin placed his feet in such a way that movement in any direction was unrestricted. He gave the question due thought.

Eventually he shook his head.

"Jedi are not machines. Feelings are felt. It is what we choose to do about them that defines us. And whether we are weakened by them, well, that depends upon the feeling, does it not?"

His head tilted a fraction. "Negative emotions can cloud our judgment, take us to dark places, so we strive to rise above them."

Torving looks disappointed for a moment, but not surprised.

"I see. You don't understand yet, but that's okay Zephrin, it's okay. I didn't understand either, not until the war. War strips back the little lies we pile on ourselves until only the truth remains. Lies like control, let me show you."
In a flash his sabre ignites, a crackling blue blade.

((Roll me cool of vigilance for initiative!))

Zephrin's own blade was readied as Torvin decided he was done with talking. Hopefully the squad was well on the way to completing their mission already.

---

Maturing assets. Vigilance roll! Net Successes: 1; Net Advantages: 3

Torvin vigilance initiative.

Net Successes: 2; Net Advantages: 1

Torvin was fast, dangerously fast.

Player note: Torvin is adversary 2 defence 1.

In this combat Zephrin can either channel his anger, or choose to calm the turmoil within Torvun. This choice is made each turn as an incidental.

If Zephrin channels his anger he may upgrade his attack rolls three times. If he chooses to calm the turmoil within Torvun he make make a hard discipline check ◆◆◆ as an incidental, success will downgrade Torvun's attack pool permanently for the rest combat.

Torvin moves to engaged with Zephrin and strikes him for 9 damage breach. He will use the advantage to boost himself next turn!

Torvin attacks Zephrin

Net Successes: 1; Net Advantages: 4

Your opponent explodes into motion, coming in fast and low across the courtyard. His movements have a near frantic energy as his lightsabers swirls, slashing from all sides! In a moment he has backed Zephrin in amongst the status, his blades slicing through the stone with ease.

Zephrin felt the rage.

He tried to calm his opponent. It failed. Instead he disarmed Torvin and tried to leap away onto a statue but only the dark side was listening.

"Why are you here Torvin? Who are you?"

Attack Torvin. Aim. Adversary 2. Defense 1.

Net Successes: -1; Net Advantages: 3
Miss.
3 advantage to disarm Torvin.
Despair for you.

Force Leap Maneuver.
Not spending the DS.

WT 4/17
ST 3/15
Defense 0/0
Stims used: 0

Note: Use a destiny to upgrade vs attacks.

Incidental: Calm Torvin.
Calm the turmoil within Torvun. Hard discipline check

Net Successes: -1; Net Advantages: 0
Fail.

Despair used


The two lightsabers clash in a flurry of blows back and forth, two skilled users trading strikes, parries and ripostes. All around them statues tumble broken to the ground as the fight moves rapidly back and forth.

Then, a saber lock! The two come face to face over the crossed blades.

"Who am I? I'm seeing clearly! I'm here to help you!"
The two struggle for a moment before with a grunt both of their blades fly off into the air!

((Zephrin is disarmed))

Torvin punches Zephrin in the face and then uses a manoeuvre to retrieve his lightsaber.
He will use 2 advantage to activate disorientate. Zephrin, you are disorientated for the next 2 turns (add a setback to your rolls)

Torvin straight up punching Zephrin in the face. Boosts from his last action. Zephrin spending a destiny to upgrade difficulty.

Net Successes: 2; Net Advantages: 2

-------
As the blades go flying Torvin wastes no time in slamming a fist into Zephrin's chest before reaching out with the force to retreive his weapon.

Well that was unexpected. He experienced the Miraluka version of seeing stars and it was most unpleasant.

"How exactly is all of this helping me Torvin?"

Zephrin grabbed his saber, tried to calm his assailant, and then took an opening. His blade flicked out and it felt as if the light side issued a rebuke to the Mandalorian.

"What were you reading? We could end this and talk about it."

Maneuver to retrieve lightsaber.
Incidental to Calm the Turmoil.
Round 2. Calm the turmoil within Torvun. Hard discipline check. Setback from Punch to the face.

Net Successes: 0; Net Advantages: 2
Fail.
2 advantage to Boost self.

Action to attack.
Round 2. Attacking Torvin. Adversary 2. Defense 1. Disoriented. Boost from self.

Net Successes: 4; Net Advantages: 1

10 damage, Breach 1.
Advantage to Crit.

Critical hit. | 1d100 ⇒ 29 Discouraging Wound: Flip a Dark destiny over to a Light destiny.

WT 4/17
ST 3/15
Defense 0/0
Stims used: 0

Note: Use a destiny to upgrade vs attacks.

(Despair Used)


"A wonderful treatise by an Ithorian philosopher on the nature of anger. It's said to be best understood through experience. Bravery and anger are just different sides of the same coin. You just need that little flip to understand."

He charges in one hand extended towards Zephrin. The young Jedi experiences a concentrated flash of the same visceral rage he had sensed throughout this journey so far. An anger so strong it threatens to overwhelm him!


((Next turn, Zephrin must choose to channel his anger!))

Torvin strikes Zephrin and crits him! Zephrin takes 12 damage breach and suffers the Minor Nick crit, causing 1 strain.

Torvin stabbing Zephrin again.

Net Successes: 4; Net Advantages: -3

Crit on Zeph from Torvin | 1d100 ⇒ 5

((3 threat for you to spend how you will))

The two meet again, Zephrin's strikes momentarily forcing Torvin onto the backfoot before he's able to recover and flick out a nasty strike at his opponent that left a painful nick.

Whatever dark trick Torvin had summoned worked. However, whether it was the desired effect remained to be seen...

Blades clashed as Zephrin parried much of the hit but it was a heavy blow that left the Mandalorian exposed (2 threat for a Boost to Zephrin and 1 for 1 strain taken). Anger rose unbidden. There was a deep sensation of his stomach falling into a well.

The Dark emotion only took him for a moment, but it was devastating. His blade cleaved through Torvin's defenses sending him slamming into the ground.

As his opponent raised his lightsaber to defend himself Zephrin changed the angle of his attack and neatly cleaved the hilt in two. The blade flickered and died. He spoke through clenched teeth.

"And now I understand. Is this what you wanted?"

A calm descended, but it was more like the eye of a storm. Zephrin could feel himself sweating although the dizziness had now passed. He took a stim rather than press the attack.

Action: Attack.
R3. Attack Torvin. Channeling Anger (thanks Despair). Destiny flip. Boost. Adversary 2. Defense 1. Disoriented.

Net Successes: 5; Net Advantages: 1

11 damage, Breach 1.
1 advantage to crit.
Crit vs Torvin. +10 from previous. | 1d100+10 ⇒ 42 Bowled Over: Knocked prone, take 1 strain.
2 Triumphs to destroy Tovin's lightsaber!

Incidental: Quick Draw stim.
Maneuver: Use stim to heal 6 damage.

WT 5/17
ST 7/15
Defense 0/0
Stims used: 1
Crits taken: 1

Note: Use a destiny to upgrade vs attacks.

Torvin desperately parries, once...twice, but he is simply nothing before the whirlwind of an enraged jedi. His severed lightsaber falls from his hands.

Zephrin's mighty blow had not only disarmed his opponent but had cut a long wide gash through his helmet and through it he could see...the customary blindfold of a Miraluka?

"Yes...yes this is what I wanted! Please. Let your anger take you, embrace it and free me."
Torvin makes no move to defend himself.



((Zephrin you can decide whether to embrace your anger and finish him, or have the bravery to look past him repeatedly trying to kill you.

If you choose to spare him make a hard discipline check but with two upgrades to your roll. On a success you quell the anger within through whatever means best suit you. On a failure you still spare Torvin, but there's still that spark of anger inside.))

A long moment passed between the two of them. It seemed to stretch out into years until...

"I will free you Torvin Hollister," Zephrin deactivated his lightsaber. "But not with this." The hilt was returned to his belt.

He breathed deeply. In and out, expelling the darkness that had been swelling around them. There was always darkness, but the light remained, patient, waiting to be found.

There it was. Finally. The anger inside Torvin. Zephrin reached for it, blazing a bright path to chase it away.

"Come. This is not how your story ends." Zephrin leaned down, and offered a hand. "Let me help you start a new one."

---

Sparing Torvin. Hard Discipline with 2 upgrades. Net Successes: 3; Net Advantages: 1
A rousing Triumphant success with advantage!

He looks with astonishment at the offered hand, his swirling internal emotions on clear display. Still some anger, confusion, regret, pain, thankfulness but behind it all an overwhelming cloud of sadness.

Slowly he reaches out and takes Zephrin's hand, pulling himself up into the light.

"Even after all of this? Even after I nearly killed you?"

Zephrin held onto Torvin's hand for a few moments longer. Firm but warm.

"Yes. Even after all of this."

Releasing the hand he walked over to collect the lightsaber crystal and held it up before offering it over. The glow of the force eminating from it was easily perceptible to his force vision.

"Be brave Torvin Hollister. This is the first day of the rest of your life."