Elevated over a ravine, the Massassi Arena has withstood the tests of time. It is arranged in a circular formation and made by a slab of stone that connects the opposite slopes of the ravine. On its eastern side, the floating arena leads to a staircase and into a near-vertical cliff face. Because of its nearly unsupported vantage that overlooks a several hundred-meter fall, even the smallest creatures can feel the occasional motion the platform makes as the breeze brushes across its cold surface.

Adding to the adrenaline rush of standing within the slab’s concentric patterns carved into the rock, barriers and obstacles echo the Massassi’s commitment to taking every advantage over their opponents. Pillars ring the outer edge without guard rails between them, some remaining intact and others having toppled into the arena or over the perilous heights. Weeds and other fauna cover each surface as nature seeks to reclaim the ravine and eventually send the arena itself to the depths.

A creaky rope-bridge leads away towards another ancient suspended platform with the same weathered, upturned stones. Mossy footing, and uneven ground make each of these platforms unique in small subtle ways. While there is no seating for formal spectators, the ancient stones of the Massassi Arena hold an omniscient, aged wisdom that speak to the things they have seen and the battles fought through history.

A third rope-bridge leads to yet another platform, completing the triad of battlegrounds that make up the Massassi Arena.

Armad, the Umbaran Battlemaster of Naga Sadow turned to the familiar sound, his eyes managing to pick out the black Seeker Droid even during the Kalsunor night.

“Report,” Armad asked the droid, but all he received in return was a string of what could only be described as angry droidspeak.

“Denied, this is not the time. Just download what you have.”

The droid twittered another angry retort, but Armad’s datapad lit up as the information was downloaded. It was a video, shot at dusk, showing the image of a man with long, green hair moving away from a Imperial Gonzati-cruiser and up what appeared to be a very long staircase.

“Wonderful,” Armad muttered to himself, Denied twittering a question as it floated next to his head.

“It appears my mission is to kill one former Deputy Grand Master, Halcyon Taldrya.” Armad had received orders from the Inquisitorius with a time and place to go to. Details on the target had been left out, other than that he would be dangerous, but that he needed to be removed by any means necessary. The Gonzati-cruiser would be that means.

“Did he come back to his ship?” Armad asked his droid, this time receiving a simple negative. “Good. We’re going back now. I don’t know how much time we have.”

Armad moved through the forest as quickly and as quietly as he could, his droid leading the way as well as acting as a second pair of eyes. He knew he had no real chance in killing Halcyon directly, but he could ensure his death utilizing his true skills.

Denied floated back to him, a sign for him to stop. They had reached the clearing, and just beyond would be Halcyon’s ship. Armad slowly made his way up to the edge of the clearing. Although still night, he could clearly see the ship, as well as the staircase that Halcyon had gone to. Looking up he saw that it went to a series of old platforms that almost seemed to float in the air.

Armad saw a R2-unit make its way close to the ship, bringing a smile to his face. With a brush of his hand and the assist of the Force he rustled the leaves nearby loud enough to be heard by anyone close-by. The R2-unit’s domed head swiveled in the direction of the noise and it began moving in its direction.

Waiting until he had nearly reached the forest’s edge Armad threw the Force into his legs and closed the distance between him and the droid in an instant. He quickly laid hands on the droid and instantly a red-tinged burst of electricity seemed to envelope the R2-unit before disappearing in the same moment.

“Good boy. Now, go open your Master’s ship.”

The R2-unit twittered in the affirmative before rolling away towards the ship. Armad had forced the droid to follow his commands. He followed closely behind it, ensuring the droid would stay under his command. The droid made a beeline for the entrance hatch, it's scomplink extended and opening the hatch for Armad. All he needed to do know was quickly go in and work his own brand of mechanical magic on the ship, ensuring that Halcyon would never leave the system alive.

A sudden shrill mechanical cry made all of his plans go up in smoke. He knew it was his droid that made that noise, and the reason why it would make it in the first place.

“Show yourself!” Halcyon yelled out as he made his way towards his ship after having crushed the unfamiliar droid that had been floating nearby.

“Attack your Master,” Armad hissed at the R2-unit, infusing all the power he could into the command. The R2-unit rolled away at top speed, twittering out its version of a warcry as all of its various tools came popping out of its body as it neared Halcyon.

“Sparks, what the hell is wrong with you?” Halcyon asked. From the corner of his eye Armad could see Halcyon having some difficulty in handling his droid, trying not to destroy it, but also not get hurt himself.

Doubling-back, Armad pushed his legs with the Force, pumping them faster than they had ever gone as he made his way for the staircase and began the long ascent upwards. He needed a new plan, and maybe Halcyon had left something at the top he could use.

Having finally reached the top of the staircase, Armad released the Force that he held onto that had aided him in ascending the stairs so quickly. Fatigue rushed through his legs as the Force dissipated, he had forgotten what that had felt like. He knew that he would have to be careful from now on, especially against someone of Halcyon’s calibre. The Umbaran bent over and placed his hands on his knees and took a couple of deep breaths, as he realized that he would need every ounce of his strength and power to complete his mission.

Armad took the chance to survey the area for what Halcyon had been doing up here earlier. Not immediately seeing anything on the main platform, he stood up and started walking to the center. As he neared the center, Armad looked across at the other platforms that were connected by old weathered rope bridges and didn’t see anything that stood out. The Battlemaster then focused his attention to the cliff top that overlooked the platforms. Not seeing anything at first, Armad was about to turn and make his way back down to Halcyon’s ship when a flashing green light caught his eye.

The Sadowan crossed the platform and started to ascend the steep staircase. As he crested the first landing, his suspicion was confirmed. It was a comm unit of some kind, but he was still too far away to know which kind. He continued his ascent and was about to walk through an archway when his body instinctively reacted to the Force telling him that he was in danger. Jumping backwards, Armad watched as a broken pillar pierced into the archway, partially destroying both itself and the archway. Dust and debris exploded outward pelting him everywhere, some giving him cuts on back of his hands and face. Armad landed awkwardly on his feet and fell backward onto his rear, hitting the ground hard. The Battlemaster was glad for the dust cloud that had formed from the attack, as he did not want Halcyon to have even the smallest of victories.

Quickly standing up before the cloud dissipated, Armad brushed himself off and looked down on the platform below. Halcyon stood in the center with his arms crossed, glaring up at the Umbaran as the dust finally cleared. Glancing back at the archway, Armad was able to see the comm unit beyond. Taking a moment to gather the Force, Armad looked back at Halcyon, “I’m guessing that you want me to leave that alone.” He looked back at the comm unit and with a twist of his hand sent the Force towards it to tweak the insides, although he wasn't quite sure what he was doing to it as he was still quite a distance from it.

Halcyon felt the young Umbaran when he started to gather the Force and knew that he was going to try something. When Armad made his gesture toward the comm unit he’d set up earlier, Halcyon quickly reacted. Throwing his hand up toward the Umbaran, he managed to sever Armad’s connection to the Force.

Armad was only able to pull on one piece of circuitry before he felt the Force being ripped away from him. With the abrupt separation from the Force, Armad felt anger swell up from within. He immediately pulled his blaster and started wildly firing down on the platform. Most of his shots did not come anywhere near the human Jedi, instead they all landed in a circle around him. On the last shot that Armad made, he had it aimed enough that it went straight for the Prophet. Armad heard the snap hiss of a lightsaber being ignited as Halcyon easily deflected the bolt. Luckily it was enough of a distraction that Armad felt the Force rush back into him as Halcyon’s concentration was broken.

Armad risked a glance back at the comm unit and was rewarded to see that the green light was now red, and hoped that Halcyon hadn’t noticed yet. Armad figured he needed some time to formulate a plan to either kill Halcyon or maroon him on the planet, so he pulled his lightsaber off his belt, ignited it with a flourish that ended in him bring it up before him in a salute to his opponent, and leapt across the expanse separating the landing he was on and the main platform.

Darting forward, Armad began a flurry of quick attacks meant to keep Halcyon on the defensive while he came up with a plan...or the opportune moment came that he could actually kill his target.

Armad has been DQ'd from this fight by going over the word cap with his post. Match closed.