Archery: Who knew it was Dangerous!?

Vogue al'Deem, Written by Beth
Posted on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 00:43 am

 

Vogue listened to the next part of the lesson.  It was probably the simplest lesson she was going to take while here at the Tower. She'd done many days shooting at an old bail of hay.  Target practice was easy.  The hard part, at least for Vogue, as going to be the plates.  Sure she'd shot down birds and animals, but a plate controlled by an Aes Sedai would be difficult.  Vogue glanced at Allisse, the auras slightly muted and fuzzy.  Channeling. She must be holding the onto the source.  She'd learned with Kahti that when an Aes Sedai was embracing that their auras fuzzed and muted.

After Tal finished speaking and handed out the quivers, Vogue was directed to her lane.  Unfortunately, she had been unable to get the end stall.  She had one male to her right and a female to her left. She yawned, and stretched. After this is over, I'm taking a day long nap! She laughed slightly, gaining a dirty look from the male. I'm sure that nap won't happen though.  I need to take care of Alysheba.  The poor boy is spoiled rotten.  Her horse was in dire need of a good ride and rubdown.  Her dog, Joki, had hung around Vogue for the first few days, but hated being indoors and would be seen lounging around the horse arena.  The first few days the horses shied away from the large dog, but soon grew accustomed to him. Joki would come back to Vogue's room at night for dinner and be gone soon after breakfast.  At least he is well behaved. Vogue was sure if she actually did anything outdoors the dog would be by her side. He might be a large wolfhound, but he had the sweetest disposition. 

Vogue notched her first arrow, squaring her shoulders and drawing the arrow back.  She aimed down range at the target and gently pulled back just a little further, relaxing her fingers as she did so.  The string twanged and the arrow flew down range.  Vogue frowned, she'd hit low and to the left. She notched another arrow, trying to correct her aim.  The void shimmered around her and she happened to glance to the right.  The male's aura colors had darkened to dark brown and red.  Vogue took a deep breath, sitting down in the dirt with her head between her legs.  She'd seen this effect before.  Danger and death, hopefully just injury.  A small wet nose nudged her arm.  She lifted it up and Joki's head popped into her lap.  She didn't even know he'd been around.  Someone down range yelped, just as the young man had pulled his bow into the ready position.  The shout had surprised him, he jumped, the arrow flying wildly down range.  Vogue sighed a little bit in relief.  She didn't really want to be at a lesson where someone died.

She lowered her eyes, rubbing Joki's ears for comfort.  She was finally able to stand, shakily.  However, just as she was standing, the young man yelped, slapping at his neck. Vogue watched in horror as the man's neck swelled and he was gasping for breath.  Kahti was quickly by his side, the auras around her fuzzing and his breathing finally relaxed.  He had passed out, but at least he could breath.  Kahti examined his neck, where a large red insect bit was.  She placed her hands on him again, and Vogue watched.  The reddening lessoned and the swelling went down. Kahti motioned to the other yellow assigned to the range for injuries, with a young Gaidin, they were able to take the young man off the range.  Vogue could only watch.  Kahti was able to leave the other yellow's side and came back to Vogue. Her face, ageless and emotionless, nearly told Vogue everything.  Vogue had worked so long with Kahti she'd been able to read the subtle cues from the women.  Kahti wanted to know what Vogue's aura reading had been.  Kahti also knew many of Vogue's cues. 

"The man suffered from a reaction from a bee sting." Kahti said. "I know you saw something." Kahti went back to her seat, and scribbled in her notepad.  Vogue took a deep breath and was glad for the Yellow sister’s quick reactions. She continued with her lesson.  After about the 10th arrow, she hit one solidly in the bull’s eye. She was slowly starting to get a good grouping of arrows. They were still a little low and the left, but much closer to the center. Yes, I was rusty! She waited patiently until the other trainees were finished shooting and everyone headed down range to collect their set of arrows.  She caught Allisse's eye and motioned her over.  Allisse was just finishing up with another trainee, but the returned nod told Vogue she would be next.  She went back to the end of her lane, sitting on the bench next to Kahti.  There as an unsettling silence between them, and she knew the conversation later would be very heated.  She didn't look at Kahti. 

Allisse came over after finishing with the other trainee and Vogue readied herself in her lanes. "Ready." She said, waiting for Allisse to send the first plate into the air.  It was similar to birds, however, a little less of a pattern.  She took just a tad longer to actually release, and she missed.  The next plate went up and Vogue notched another arrow.  She aimed a little better, and managed to nick the side of the plate, but it didn't break.  By the third plate Vogue was able to shatter the plate.  After about another three good hits, Allisse changed up her tactics and Vogue missed again.  This time, she was able to hit the plate after that.  She nicked the next one, and when Allisse went to change her tactics again, Vogue caught the shift and hit the plate.  After all twenty plates were done; Vogue thanked the Aes Sedai for her time and went to look for Talaran.  She had managed to hit fifteen plates out of twenty.  She wanted to see how much he knew about mounted archery. She would definitely sign up for that class if the Master of Arms allowed it.  Course, Vogue had a funny feeling the Master of Arms would want her to sign the trainee lists the next lesson. She knew that all this couldn't be free, especially for someone who'd broken into the Tower impersonating an Aes Sedai. Kahti was sure to sign Vogue up for etiquette lessons that’s for sure.  Vogue knew once she was on the ranks of trainees that she'd end up in the Master of Arms office more often than not. She was frank and truthful, no matter who it was, even Aes Sedai.  Yeah they may deserve respect, however, many of their ranks were vile and rude to people.  As if they rule the world! HA.. they surely think they do, and I wouldn't put it past them to actually be behind every ruler. With the Dragon Reborn's attitude of Aes Sedai, she was sure most of them were ticked off they couldn't pull his puppet strings.

She found a group of trainees surrounding Talaran. She waited patiently for her turn and reported on her practicing. She didn't get a chance to ask about the mounted archery, but she went back to Kahti and sat down. She watched the other trainees finishing their lesson. Joki's head in her lap.  "I didn't know what would happen.  His auras darkened. I just . . . " she paused. "I just knew something would happen."  She spoke softly so only Kahti heard.  Kahti scribbled in her book, and closed it.

"Get some rest. We'll start tomorrow afternoon. I'll ask my questions then." Kahti left the range then, the book tucked under her arms. Vogue watched the Aes Sedai leave, tucking her feet under her.  She continued to watch the archery range, only a few of the newbies were still trying to aim and shoot.  She was at least able to ride Alysheba later, for that she was thankful.

In reply to Death From Above: Advanced Techniques (Part 2)[show]/[hide]

Tal watched patiently as the students practiced, drawing, releasing, drawing, releasing. Some of them had decent aim, others dismal. It was fairly obvious which of them had shot before and which others were getting their first feel of the weapon. The gathered students worked on their technique, mostly silent except for murmurs of trainees and the sharp, repeated twang of bowstrings. He walked behind the line, occasionally stopping to correct a trainee’s posture. By and large though, Talaban left them alone. Experiencing the feel of a new weapon first hand was the easiest way to learn and there really was no need to hurry. He had the whole day to work on the basics. Movement in the corner of his eye caught Tal’s attention. Her green garments billowed gently in the wind as Alisse Sedai made her slow, stately approach from the dank coolness of the barracks. He could see her squinting slightly as icy blue eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Long silver hair, unbound, wafted freely in the slight breeze. The Aes Sedai stopped just short of the yard, in the shade of a large tree, fingering the clay plates she would be using for the next part of the lesson. Finally, satisfied that even the slowest had achieved proficiency, he gathered the class again. Once they had all assembled, he continued, “Most of you have already grasped the fundamentals of the drawing and releasing of a bow. Posture and technique are particularly important when shooting but are only secondary to your accuracy with the weapon. The problem with bows and the human physique lies in the fact that, due to the angle of release, the arrow never flies straight where you aim it. It will skew, even without wind. How much it does, is another matter. To be accurate with a bow, you must learn to estimate and quickly correct the degree of skew.” Pausing, Tal picked up a belt quiver from the stack lying against the wall. “Each of you will be using a quiver of arrows like this. There are around twenty-five arrows per quiver, fresh from the fletchers. Unlike the arrows used in the previous segment, these are still tipped. You will arrange yourselves such that there are two lanes between each of you and each man will shoot in three lanes. The one he is in and the ones directly to the left and right of him. This will allow you to practice estimating your skew at angles instead of only forward. There are standard bulls-eye archery targets already set-up but we’re not interested in the score. Just get used to the weapon. Those who brought their own bows may proceed to use them.” Stopping momentarily, Tal turned and motioned Alisse forward before continuing, “I do not want to see people retrieving arrows while others are still shooting. If you exhaust your arrows, you will wait till everyone else has finished and go, all at the same time, to retrieve your shafts. Any damaged arrows will be replaced. Bring them to me. Anyone injured through his or her own folly, well, you can hope Healing reaches you in time.” As Alisse drew level, Tal introduced her, “This is Alisse Sedai. She will be assisting with the third part of your lesson. Once you have decided that you are able to estimate sufficiently well, each of you may signal her. She will start lofting thin clay plates across your three lanes in varying directions and speeds. Hit as many as you can. There are twenty plates per person. After that is over, report to me to end your session. Any questions?” There were a few basic queries from the students, particularly those who had not been able to fully grasp the positioning arrangements. Tal took his time explaining the whole exercise a second time, making clear the arrangements. When all were clear, he walked with them, assigning each to their lanes all the way down the range. Once all were in place, he watched as they started shooting. Occasionally, he corrected one whose aim was definitely out but by and large, he left them to their own devices. OOC: Ok, last part of lesson. This is a little more complicated. You can either post both parts (stationary targets and clay) in one post or separate them into two. Either is fine. The only requirement, is upwards of 800 words in both parts combined. If anyone is unsure about what the lesson entails, email me. Feel free to do funny things but don’t kill any other charrie. Lesson is still open for those who can rush in but I will assign credit on the 7th of September. Usual procedure for extensions. Apologies once again, for the delay in posting.

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