Malgus lifted his own blade slightly towards his own face as something of a salute. Not really in a mocking fashion as he did to goad the Jedi at the temple though.
While his own posture was not defensive, it wasn't aggressive either. He waited a few moments to see if the Jedi would attack first.
When he didn't move, Malgus went to make the first strike. He leaped forward with speed aided by the Force and intent to slash at Ben's midsection.
He deflected and evaded the slash, but he did so with the absolute minimum of motion necessary, and that really did set the pattern.
He evaded, he dodged, but he only very rarely did anything particularly... visually appealing or even visually anything much at all. Even when he 'attacked' it was turning deflection into an opportunity, and mostly using Malgus' momentum against him.
The suffocating weight of the dark-side around him certainly affected him. He was expending more effort, working harder, than he might have otherwise been.
He wasn't outwardly doing much but his hair darkened with sweat, but he also didn't fall off balance, become uncentered or sloppy.
He just... did his thing. Was himself. Quietly, undramatically, simply in a very particular kind of zone, doing what he did and fighting as himself.
"You fight defensively. There is little aggression in your movements." That actually was not a critical or judgmental statement. But it was a statement. Or at least an observation.
It was straightforward and lacked flair, but showing off rarely was a true testament of skill. Malgus' own attacks were aggressive on the other hand. He pushed with strength and while he was not opposed to acrobatic like movements, he did not utilize them in this fight.
No this was a far simpler one. If it were a real battle he'd have added other abilities into the mix.
"Do you want praise for noticing the obvious?" he asked, mildly. He isn't being insulting, and isn't angry even here and now. It's simply a continuation of their discussions - and the physical discussion happening in swordplay.
However, it's a controlled defense and when he's pushed as far as he intends to go - or indeed can go - by Malgus' offense, he abruptly and smoothly switches to an Ataru sequence, using it to change his geography - to literally move himself to a better position on the ground - and then slips right back to Soresu.
Which brings him to another observation as the Jedi switches styles. Now that is interesting. He's adaptable. But that isn't the only reason Malgus finds it interesting.
"You stance changed to one reminiscent of a Jedi I once fought. Said to be the greatest Master they had at the time."
Malgus own attacks stay aggressive, though even and controlled. He could make more abrupt movements but as this was a test of skill and unfortunately not a fight to the death, he did not see the need.
All things considered he was kind of holding back.
He could tell that Malgus was holding back, and it presented a mild sort of issue. Because now he was positioned where he wanted to be, had room to retreat if he wanted but no need as of now.
"Ataru was the first form I learned."
A pause: "You're going to need to either hold back less, or call this." Because he wasn't expending a lot of energy and Malgus could probably kill him, almost definitely even, but with this sort of test and primarily leaning on an form that was about patience, waiting, and minimal movement and momentum all conserving energy he could stay here forever. He was also entirely fast enough to deflect or dodge Griveous' four saber spinning nonsense. (Not a Master, the Master.)
The Dark weighting on him was making it harder, but he could still stay within a low stakes test for hours and it was just not that interesting.
Instead of stopping the fight, he surged forward. If the Jedi wanted him to stop holding back, so be it. He put more momentum into his moves, striking not only fast but hard. The focus to be to drive the Jedi back into a corner.
"Master Ven Zellow fought with your same calm. But he made a mistake."
The problem with him was not the speed, unless Malgus managed to use one sword at the crazy blinding speed of Grievous with four -
But the strength behind the attack was an issue. Because Obi-Wan was more than a foot shorter and at best half the man's weight. He could and did use the force to augment but every time their blades met it jarred his arms clear to the elbow.
So he adapted - more sliding Malgus' blade away with his own than direct blocking, more dodging and, yeah, a lot more work in staying away from him. He did not, however, allow himself the easy backing he'd been using. At least not immediately - he still retreated, but on his terms.
Which had this been some sort of climatic battle, Malgus might have caused a tree or something else to topple upon the Jedi.
But since this was not, he stopped his assault taking a small step back. Not in retreat but just giving some small space.
"He thought his actions gave him an opening to strike, but all it did was give me an opportunity. It was his apprentice that later attempted to hunt me down."
He also stepped back and he did stop the attack, even turned his lightsaber off and returned it to his belt.
"The issue with Soresu is that many of the practicioners lack the ability or willingness to either use defense as offense or to truly capitalize on openings that are present. It's very effective. It must be combined with other forms if your opponent is stronger or has more endurance than you."
"You are skilled, Jedi. I assume your former apprentice is the same."
As for the current Master of that apprentice ... that would be far more difficult to find out. He's fought other Sith before, but even he could not defeat the previous Emperor of his time -- not the false one that put him into carbonite but the one before was far more powerful than anyone else.
"This way." He waved lightly, turning to head towards the ruins of the Sith Academy. It was only then that he turned off his lightsaber returning it to his belt all the same.
"No. He is a skilled Sith." Important distinction. "And for what it is worth, his preferred combat style is the same as yours." Why was he being helpful? Was he trying to keep Vader alive or get him killed? He didn't know.
His saber was off and on his belt before he'd finished speaking and he started trudging the direction of the Academy, though he was not going to let Malgus out of his sight. NOt for fear of his continued life, but for fear the man would leave him here and he'd wind up insane.
"You speak as though lightsaber combat is that much different between Jedi and Sith. Our knowledge of the Force is what separates us, not the way we swing a blade." Though the comment about combat style was not lost on Malgus. He filed that knowledge away for a later time.
Much had changed over three thousand years. The place was barely recognizable and had almost been completely taken over by the planet. It seemed to be little more than a dead relic of the past.
Maybe he could rebuild here and create a new base of operations for a new order of Sith. One with new rules and teachings decided upon by him. And not foolish tradition.
He is very aware. He is also aware that Anakin is not Jedi and with this much dark energy that is a thing that makes him frustrated, angry, and deeply sad - all things he already was, but more.
"I am impressed that so much is so intact, here." Three thousand years is a long, long, time.
"It has changed much, though the structure still remains the same. I assume others have used this facility even after the fall of the original Sith Empire." Cultist probably. For some reason those sorts of things pop up around Sith areas rather commonly even in his time.
He briefly wondered if the Jedi ever had that sort of problem.
"Your thoughts are full of emotion. Does this place make you uncomfortable? Some Sith have gone insane on darker worlds. The Dark Side grants enormous power but can corrupt a weak mind into insanity."
Oh he remembered. He just wanted to hear the Jedi say it again. The suffering of a far light-sided person made this ... partnership or whatever it was far more tolerable.
That and he might find it somewhat amusing.
"At the Sith tomb in Korriban there was once a regular human who locked himself away inside because he believed he was actually a Sith lord. I'm told he gathered quite the following of others who equally fell to insanity."
Malgus made a few turns to the area where roughly the Sith Council chamber used to be. Larger than the Jedi's council room it was still similar, though one main difference was a throne straight ahead from the door.
Far light sided and reminded of a legendary Jedi who was also a powerful Sith. ...accurate, actually, for Obi-Wan.
"I'm not entirely surprised." He looked around the room, still uncomfortable but walked away from Malgus and the throne, actually, toward the walls. "Somewhat. Mostly that there was enough imbued into the place for someone force blind to notice."
"It is more that some Sith of the past refuse to leave even in death. I'm sure the echos of what remained of them is what infected him."
And as far as he knows the man and his followers stayed inside the tomb and probably died there. It wasn't as though there was anything in there to really sustain them.
Malgus himself walked up to the throne and sat down on it, reminiscing slightly over his failed attempt to usurp the entire dark council. Though his plan ultimately failed, he did manage to incite some change though it doesn't seem that it lasted over the years.
"I only briefly sat at this Council. Sith politics left much to be desired. So much arguing and disagreeing."
He found a wall to prop himself against, and then decided that, no, never mind, he'd rather sit.
"Ah, that does make more sense." Not the power of the human, then, but actual weakness allowing corruption, he supposed. He looked up at Malgus on the throne and snorted. "I was on the Jedi Council for a time. Until the end, in fact. We could have used a bit more disagreement, I think. Too much unity is... as deadly as there not being enough."
"I headed the Sphere of Military defense after the defeat of another Sith who formally held the position. Soon after, I defected to create a new empire." He waved a hand as he spoke. Stories of the past. Nothing more.
"I imagine the Jedi Council was nothing more than peaceful discussions." He said that with a bit of disdain in his voice. The Dark Council usually ended up in disagreements and sometimes those could be fatal.
"The Sith did not often openly murder one another. They resorted to backstabbing and other cowardly methods. An out right challenge? Oh those happened, but rarely in the company of others. This is why I did not choose to go for a seat. Their politics annoyed me and threatened to destroy us more often than not. My ideologies made me far too controversial to hold a chair long in any case."
And he preferred to be out there in the front lines of battle. Sitting in a chair and barking orders was not ... warrior enough for his tastes. Fighting drove him and helped keep his skills sharp.
"And yet you seem quite fond of sitting on a throne now. Will politics be any different if you're soley in charge?" That was not a challenge, just a clumsily worded question.
And clumsily worded because, ultimately, this place was killing him.
"A throne of a broken era, now it is nothing more than a chair to an empty room save for us."
Though he does not answer Ben's question, he does give him a look, studying him slightly. He rises from the throne, gesturing with a hand for Obi-Wan to follow as he moves past.
"Where is the current Empire stationed? Do you know where their main base of operations is located?"
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While his own posture was not defensive, it wasn't aggressive either. He waited a few moments to see if the Jedi would attack first.
When he didn't move, Malgus went to make the first strike. He leaped forward with speed aided by the Force and intent to slash at Ben's midsection.
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He evaded, he dodged, but he only very rarely did anything particularly... visually appealing or even visually anything much at all. Even when he 'attacked' it was turning deflection into an opportunity, and mostly using Malgus' momentum against him.
The suffocating weight of the dark-side around him certainly affected him. He was expending more effort, working harder, than he might have otherwise been.
He wasn't outwardly doing much but his hair darkened with sweat, but he also didn't fall off balance, become uncentered or sloppy.
He just... did his thing. Was himself. Quietly, undramatically, simply in a very particular kind of zone, doing what he did and fighting as himself.
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It was straightforward and lacked flair, but showing off rarely was a true testament of skill. Malgus' own attacks were aggressive on the other hand. He pushed with strength and while he was not opposed to acrobatic like movements, he did not utilize them in this fight.
No this was a far simpler one. If it were a real battle he'd have added other abilities into the mix.
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However, it's a controlled defense and when he's pushed as far as he intends to go - or indeed can go - by Malgus' offense, he abruptly and smoothly switches to an Ataru sequence, using it to change his geography - to literally move himself to a better position on the ground - and then slips right back to Soresu.
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Which brings him to another observation as the Jedi switches styles. Now that is interesting. He's adaptable. But that isn't the only reason Malgus finds it interesting.
"You stance changed to one reminiscent of a Jedi I once fought. Said to be the greatest Master they had at the time."
Malgus own attacks stay aggressive, though even and controlled. He could make more abrupt movements but as this was a test of skill and unfortunately not a fight to the death, he did not see the need.
All things considered he was kind of holding back.
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"Ataru was the first form I learned."
A pause: "You're going to need to either hold back less, or call this." Because he wasn't expending a lot of energy and Malgus could probably kill him, almost definitely even, but with this sort of test and primarily leaning on an form that was about patience, waiting, and minimal movement and momentum all conserving energy he could stay here forever. He was also entirely fast enough to deflect or dodge Griveous' four saber spinning nonsense. (Not a Master, the Master.)
The Dark weighting on him was making it harder, but he could still stay within a low stakes test for hours and it was just not that interesting.
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Instead of stopping the fight, he surged forward. If the Jedi wanted him to stop holding back, so be it. He put more momentum into his moves, striking not only fast but hard. The focus to be to drive the Jedi back into a corner.
"Master Ven Zellow fought with your same calm. But he made a mistake."
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But the strength behind the attack was an issue. Because Obi-Wan was more than a foot shorter and at best half the man's weight. He could and did use the force to augment but every time their blades met it jarred his arms clear to the elbow.
So he adapted - more sliding Malgus' blade away with his own than direct blocking, more dodging and, yeah, a lot more work in staying away from him. He did not, however, allow himself the easy backing he'd been using. At least not immediately - he still retreated, but on his terms.
"And that mistake was?"
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Which had this been some sort of climatic battle, Malgus might have caused a tree or something else to topple upon the Jedi.
But since this was not, he stopped his assault taking a small step back. Not in retreat but just giving some small space.
"He thought his actions gave him an opening to strike, but all it did was give me an opportunity. It was his apprentice that later attempted to hunt me down."
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He also stepped back and he did stop the attack, even turned his lightsaber off and returned it to his belt.
"The issue with Soresu is that many of the practicioners lack the ability or willingness to either use defense as offense or to truly capitalize on openings that are present. It's very effective. It must be combined with other forms if your opponent is stronger or has more endurance than you."
He's dizzy and nauseated.
That isn't normal exhaustion.
That's this place and whispers in his head.
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As for the current Master of that apprentice ... that would be far more difficult to find out. He's fought other Sith before, but even he could not defeat the previous Emperor of his time -- not the false one that put him into carbonite but the one before was far more powerful than anyone else.
"This way." He waved lightly, turning to head towards the ruins of the Sith Academy. It was only then that he turned off his lightsaber returning it to his belt all the same.
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His saber was off and on his belt before he'd finished speaking and he started trudging the direction of the Academy, though he was not going to let Malgus out of his sight. NOt for fear of his continued life, but for fear the man would leave him here and he'd wind up insane.
This place is... horrible.
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Much had changed over three thousand years. The place was barely recognizable and had almost been completely taken over by the planet. It seemed to be little more than a dead relic of the past.
Maybe he could rebuild here and create a new base of operations for a new order of Sith. One with new rules and teachings decided upon by him. And not foolish tradition.
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He is very aware. He is also aware that Anakin is not Jedi and with this much dark energy that is a thing that makes him frustrated, angry, and deeply sad - all things he already was, but more.
"I am impressed that so much is so intact, here." Three thousand years is a long, long, time.
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He briefly wondered if the Jedi ever had that sort of problem.
"Your thoughts are full of emotion. Does this place make you uncomfortable? Some Sith have gone insane on darker worlds. The Dark Side grants enormous power but can corrupt a weak mind into insanity."
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Yes, yes it did make him uncomfortable. It made him incredibly uncomfortable.
"I would be surprised if others had not used it as some point in the previous three thousand years."
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That and he might find it somewhat amusing.
"At the Sith tomb in Korriban there was once a regular human who locked himself away inside because he believed he was actually a Sith lord. I'm told he gathered quite the following of others who equally fell to insanity."
Malgus made a few turns to the area where roughly the Sith Council chamber used to be. Larger than the Jedi's council room it was still similar, though one main difference was a throne straight ahead from the door.
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"I'm not entirely surprised." He looked around the room, still uncomfortable but walked away from Malgus and the throne, actually, toward the walls. "Somewhat. Mostly that there was enough imbued into the place for someone force blind to notice."
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And as far as he knows the man and his followers stayed inside the tomb and probably died there. It wasn't as though there was anything in there to really sustain them.
Malgus himself walked up to the throne and sat down on it, reminiscing slightly over his failed attempt to usurp the entire dark council. Though his plan ultimately failed, he did manage to incite some change though it doesn't seem that it lasted over the years.
"I only briefly sat at this Council. Sith politics left much to be desired. So much arguing and disagreeing."
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"Ah, that does make more sense." Not the power of the human, then, but actual weakness allowing corruption, he supposed. He looked up at Malgus on the throne and snorted. "I was on the Jedi Council for a time. Until the end, in fact. We could have used a bit more disagreement, I think. Too much unity is... as deadly as there not being enough."
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"I imagine the Jedi Council was nothing more than peaceful discussions." He said that with a bit of disdain in his voice. The Dark Council usually ended up in disagreements and sometimes those could be fatal.
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Or, well, physically brawl.
...he can think of at least once he deeply wished he'd considered physically brawling with other Council Members. Namely Mace and Yoda.
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And he preferred to be out there in the front lines of battle. Sitting in a chair and barking orders was not ... warrior enough for his tastes. Fighting drove him and helped keep his skills sharp.
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And clumsily worded because, ultimately, this place was killing him.
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Though he does not answer Ben's question, he does give him a look, studying him slightly. He rises from the throne, gesturing with a hand for Obi-Wan to follow as he moves past.
"Where is the current Empire stationed? Do you know where their main base of operations is located?"
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