Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

THE SET-UP: The final confrontation of the plotline is now upon the players. On the remote, dying forgotten planet of Zeiton- battleground of the Sith Wars, and quarantined in secret milennia ago by the Jedi, lest the remarkably force sensitive Zeitonians tear themselves apart with knowledge of the Force that is so lethal to them- Kuylen has found his target, the Mausoleum of Demnos, where Darth Demnos once led his cult and, so the legend goes, sacrificed himself to become one with his tomb and teach future generations of the Sith. The truth of the legend, no-one yet knows.

Deep in the bowels of the Mausoleum, the huge double doors in the wide circular room that lead to Demnos' tomb are the final obstruction between the Dark Siders and the power they seek. These doors do not yield to any conventional means, but the tablets from, the planet Avalar Kuylen recovered in the first story have given him the means to open the doors by ritual.

Gundark's Jedi team has penetrated the Mausoleum at the final moments, and now she, and the Knight Roan and the Renegade Jedi Xeth, confront Kuylen, backed by Galder and Rah, at the entrance to the tomb.

As the Mausoleum starts its death throes due to Chion's activation of the nearby vengeance device, that threatens to wipe out all life on the planet, the final duels begin as the Jedi make one last attempt to stop Kuylen's seemingly unstoppable destiny.

HOW THIS WORKS: Well, everyone knows how to duel by now. But the stakes are now too high. There is no retreat from this duel. However, a loser will still be able to retreat as normal.

Another twist to this fight is that I will be inviting variable speeds, rather than making sure everyone has to duel at the same speed. Therefore, regularity of posting will make some duels faster than others!

ANALYSIS: Evens. Galder's youth and talent and flashy style versus Roan's concetration and professionalism. However, observers may give Galder- now well experienced in duelling- the metagaming edge...

Also, the pressure is more on Roan. Nearby, Gundark fights Kuylen- a fight she has little chance of winning. One of the Jedi needs to dispatch their opponent and aid their Master very quickly, or all is lost.

The Jedi have come to engage the Dark Siders, so they go first.

Score: Roan- 0, Galder- 0

Roan to attack.

(WHAT?! The Jedi go first!? That's breaking tradition, Ush. )

"You shall never succeed."
*I pull off my outer robe and drop it on the floor, then I jump and aim a spinning kick at Galder's head, While Ignighting my lightsaber*

"You have never fought me. You do not know what you are up against."

Galder simply ducks, keeping one of his lightsabers above his head and swinging at Roan's leg with the other.

Not your best timing, Galder. Roan's kick catches the hilt of your sabre, and you have to bring the other awkwardly across to maintain any form of defence...

Score: Roan- 1, Galder- 0

Galder to attack

As Roan lands, Galder rises with one lightsaber tucked into his secret compartment. He edges towards him cautiously.

"So you got the first blow. You will not get the last..."

Galder feints an easy blow for Roan's neck then spins and slashes for his side.

(My fourth duel in this episode, and eighth duel in this campaign! )

I feel that Galder is up to something with the obviously false Neck blow. Then when he spins adn slashes, I piviot and Turn my blade so It faces Downward to parry the blow.

Damn it, Galder, what is wrong? Roan read your blow like you were a child, and he sends you almost sprawling away with ease!

Score: Roan- 2, Galder- 0

Roan to attack

((wow, you learned alot from all those duels...))

"You cannot win, I have the experience and Peace that you so obviously lack."

As Galder stumbles to keep his balance, I Charge at His Left side, trailing my saber behind me. The when I am just out of range of his saber, I leap into the air Bring my saber up from his left lower-midsection to the upper right side of his body, slashing across his chest.

Galder rolls forwards and under Roan as he comse down.

Oooh... I think you made him mad, Roan... you are surprised when your sabre hits nothing- Galder moved so fast, it was almost as if he teleported. Now instead he is standing behind you, smiling...

Score: Roan- 2, Galder- 1

Galder to attack

Galder grins. "You missed."

Using both blades skillfully, he aims a scissor-like strike at Roan's back, bringing his lightsabers across Roan's back aiming to cut him in two.

"Hmm, a chalenge, It has been some time..."
Opening up to the force to sence Glader's strike, I dive forward, doing a half-roll to a front handspring twisting around again to face Galder.

Hmm, the old Galder scissor strike- but it seems Roan's athleticism is the superior of that attack, he avoids it easily and regains his advantage.

Score: Roan- 3, Galder- 1

Roan to attack

The room shakes with a discharge of power from the Vengeance device, and a great crack suddenly forms througfh the centre of the room...

The Mausoleum is starting to shake to pieces.

Great...

Galder begins to get angry. "Bring it on Jedi! Give me your best shot!"

I Smile "Don't mind if I do."
I come at Galder so it looks like the move I just pulled, but instead of jumping a make to side step across Galder's front slashing at
his weak side, but just before I slash/sidestep, I stop, and move quickly back, turn my saber horizontal and stab at Galder's side.

(Got that? Fake side-step, to a jab)

Using both blades, Galder bats away Roan's jab and tries to lock blades so that he can twist his opponent's lightsaber around until his grip on it loosens.

Oooh! Your instincts serve you well, Galder. THis time it is you who completely predicts Roan's attack. Roan, you get stuck in a lock of sabres with Galder... and he knocks you back with a roar of effort, as you stumble over a crack in the ground.

Score: Roan- 3, Galder- 2

Galder to attack

Debris starts to rain down from the ceiling.

Galder takes advantage of Roan's stumbling and comes at him with a strong slash for the midrift and a jab for the kneecap, then rises with a powerful kick to the chest.

I wanna Jump straight up flip and land behind Galder

(Oh no you don't! )

Roan makes his jump- but Galder spins without much difficulty, and meets Roan's blade again...

(Round drawn- goes with attacker)

Score: Roan- 3, Galder- 3

Roan to attack

Another great CRACK as the floor starts to come asunder. This whole place is destroying itself around you!

I Jump, Flip, and Bring my saber down upon Galder

(Jeebus, could our situation get any worse?)

Galder rolls out of the way, seeing Roan's attack as easy and simple.

Oooh, getting blase there, Galder- Roan's jump is well controlled and he shifts direction in mid-air, to bring his sabre crashing down upon your guard, leaving you down, vulnerable, and having to make this once chance count...

Score: Roan- 4, Galder- 3

Galder to attack. Match point to Roan.

The ground beneath you splits! One end starts to raise into the air as the other sinks into the ground- you two are on the raised bit.

(Part of me is hoping that Roan wins, so that Gundy doesn't die. Isn't that odd? The rest of me is going to outright kill him though... )

Galder comes at Roan with many swift blows from his right hand lightsaber, aiming for Roan's right side and arm and leg and possibly head. Suddenly, he tries to force Roan's blade downwards, then brings his left lightsaber into play by aiming a powerful thrust at Roan's gut.

"You will die, Jedi! You will not bar me from my destiny! Not you, not anyone!" Galder rages as his swift blows fly in, his anger elevating.

I am suprised at Galder's sudden frenzy. But I also can see in his eyes that he is up to something. So when he tryes to force my saber down,. i take a small hop back, and let my saberbe pushed out of the way, but then quickly bring it around and broad side Galders othersaber while takign another leap backwards, so I knock his attacking saber out of the way and jump back from his thrust.

Roan- doh! You had a winning chance there, but two jumps back when balancing on a jagged piece of scenary raising into the air? You nearly fall off! Galder's aggressive swordplay easily undoes your defence.

Score: Roan- 4, Galder- 4

Roan to attack.

The raised piece you are on is going higher and higher... you will BOTH fall soon!

ahh crap.
I Jump into the air, flip, and try to strike at Galders back, then land off the rising peice of whatever.

Galder flips off of the rising bit of floor, away from Roan, remembering his duel in the Avalar Sith school, where he fondly remembered running from Lance Windu while the floor exploded.

Good times... Galder thinks. Very good times...

Galder lands and spins to face the Jedi.

"Well, Jedi, what do you plan to do now?"

Is that actually a defence, Galder?

Er...I think it was supposed to be one.

Well, looks like I didn't miss anything then! Probably should have mentioned that BB and I and the rest of my family went camping in Big Sur! Beautiful scenery, but VERY VERY cold. Wake up to find myself frozen solid, the usual...

(Basically, he's coming at me, so I do a bit of retreating to get off the rising floor to more level floor.)

Very well. Moving with his momentum, Roan gets the advantage of an otherwise even exchange...

(Round drawn. Goes with attacker.)

Score: Roan- 5, Galder- 4

Galder to attack.

But now THIS floor is not level either. Both of you are raising again as another length of floor starts to come adrift...

To your side, a change. Rah and Xeth fought an even fight but the scenery has been Rah's downfall, as Xeth backs him into a chasm, and turns to join Gundark against Kuylen...

Galder eyes Xeth with anger, then turns to Roan.

Galder comes at Roan with a few simple blows, then strikes with both blades side by side at Roan's midrift, then two quick jabs.

I parry Galder's Blows but when he attacks my side with both his sabers I lock sabers with him and try to push him off ballance with my shoulder and the force.

Dead evens... so I will simply rule that in the sabre lock, it is Roan who first stumbles due to the break-up of the floor...

(Round drawn. Goes with attacker.)

Score: Roan- 5, Galder- 5

Roan to attack.

Galder braces himself for Roan's blows.

"You look somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before? Or maybe killed your mentor? Or a Padawan? You'd have to run that by me, I lost count of all the hopeless Jedi I've killed. Remember that Lance Windu character you heard about from the others? He's been traveling with Kellan for a long time. I nearly killed him once, and he would have joined his mentor, who I killed when I was only a boy..."

"Maybe you'll get to meet his mentor before he does..."

Galder glances over at Kuylen, who easily batters away Xeth's and Gundark's blows as if he were doing it in his sleep.

"Master Gundark never told you how powerful Kuylen was, did she? His skill with a blade is unmatched by almost everyone except maybe Mace Windu or Yoda. But even then, they'd find themselves in trouble."

Galder begins circling his prey, his grin menacing, sweat dripping down his forehead. The servomotors in his prosthetic arm hum as his twirls his lightsaber about in that hand, then deactivates the blade and lets it slide into the secret compartment.

"Kuylen is unmerciful as well. He killed his own Padawan during our stay on Damagran. Poor soul didn't stand a chance. Right through the gut..." Galder made a stabbing motion with his lightsaber, then began grasping the hilt in both hands.

"And now, Jedi, he is going to kill your leader very soon."

"Unless, of course, you unleash your anger towards me. There is no other way, Jedi. You will not strike me down if you do not flow with your emotions. It is why the Jedi have already failed. But maybe you can save Kellan. The wimpy Jedi Xeth cannot stand against Kuylen. Kellan is too old to be taking him on. But you are in your prime."

"Just let your emotions guide you, and your master will be safe..."

Galder continues to grin menacingly, then lets out a cackle as Roan comes at him...

"Words before blows then is it? Very well. I will not be so foolish as to fall into your little ploy. I, unlike You will not be destroyed by by my emotions. I will not fall victim to the trap you have already set for your self"
I take a step back an take a deep breath, letting my emotions fly out of me like the breath I just exhaled.
"You say Kuylen is merciless and he killed his own padawan. If this is true how long do you think you will last? Do you really think Kuylen will share power with the likes of you? When I was still on Correllia, that waas the easiest way to catch a criminal, wait for him to get suspicious of his allies then when he starts to kill them off we rush in and get him. What makes you think that Kuylen will be any different."

With that I close my eyes and open myself fully to the light. Suddenly re-invigorated, I rush towards Glader, Using many quick accurate slashes to push him back, then I make three progresivly harder strikes at his side, then his Head, then twisting my saber aound to cut the hand that Galder is holding His saber with.

Galder gets slightly annoyed by Roan's retorts. "Yes, he will share this power. I am not a threat to him. His Padawan was."

Galder uses his own blade to batter away the light blows, then ducks and jumps over the harder strikes. Galder then pulls his hand back, the one holding the lightsaber, and pushes his mechanical hand past Roan's guard, firing the blaster in his arm at his opponent's chest.

The final flurry of blows begins...

Roan hits back hard. But Galder's duck under his opening blows is followed with exquisite timing by his jump, and Roan suddenly finds himself outflanked and off-guard! On a solitary outcropping of rock now surrounded by chasm on each side, Galder has a chance to strike his opponent down!

Score: Roan- 5, Galder- 6

Galder to attack. Match point to Galder

Though out of the corner of your eye, Galder... you see Kuylen stumble backwards, tripping after a blow from Gundark.

Galder's eyes go wide. Kuylen, tripping? That's something unusual.

Then he turns to his opponent. He rains down blows on his opponent's head, then knocks his guard away with a powerful blow and brings his blade back across Roan's shoulder and upper arm. Another powerful blow keeps the guard at bay and he spins out his second blade, activating it past Roan's guard.

I cannot lose! Master Gundark needs me!
I Easily parry all of Galders blows to my head, but when he tryes to knock my guard away, I simply move with my blade, and flip sideways and out of the way of the rest of his strokes.

As the two of you exchange blows, events to one side are in progress. With a sudden stunning move, Kuylen flings Gundark away from him and in a half-turn, he runs Zeth through. Falling debris seperates him from Gundark.

"You will excuse me," he says. "It seems time is running against me." He steps over to one side, pas the raised platform where the two of you are fighting, and picks up the black Sith robes he was wearing when you came in. Deactivating his sabre, he dons the robes ans strolls to the as-yet undamaged lectern on one side of the room- and speaks twelve more words in the obscure ancient Sith dialect the tablets from Avalar were written in, his voice booming around the room as it starts to dwarf the destruction all around.

And the doors to Demnos' tomb give one last shake and start to open...

The Sith Lord Kuylen strolls on towards the doors, his cloak billowing behind him, and he disappears into the darkness beyond.

Gundark spends a little time checking over Xeth's prostrate form, before racing in after Kuylen, just before a large piece of debris falls and blocks the doorway.

-

Galder's blows rain furiously down upon you, Rah. You meet each one evnely. but when he brings his secondly blade around, you flip out of the way but, again in this restricted environment, you half lose your footing on the edge upon landing... and a smiling Galder smashes you clear off the ledge.

Roan lands heavy on the floor below, conussing himself badly. Galder is then sent tripping backwards off the platofmr as it collapses, but he is upright...

(Round drawn- goes with attacker)

Score: Roan- 5, Galder- 7

Match to Galder.

Roan is done for the game on the whole, though both players can return to the threads.

crap!
Nice duel there Galder!
Happen to notice that we went at it for longer than anyone else??

yea (still I won from Galder )

A) this is my first duel EVER.
and B) You a flippin master!

A) Galder was my first duel EVER
B) masters aren't necessairly better in lightsabre combat

aww shaddup!

I didn't try very hard with Fire, though. I wasn't Duel-smart.

Nice work Roan, you got knocked out rather than stabbed.

yea yea yea (you aint smart at all rex :P)

mwahaha....thumbs up galder!

I've only got one real one, Dexx...