Morning Exercises [Hadrian, Open/Training]

[Nil'kayn]

Timestamps: Early Morning, 90th Day of Spring, 511 AV Thunk. Lowering his bow, Kayns eyes straying to the single arrow actually embedded into the tree trunk he had aimed for a few feet away. Kayn allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. It had been quite a while since he had picked up a bow, and from that time his skills had started to wear thin. He strolled forward to retrive the assortment, of arrows that had found there own targets as if they had a mind of there own. Last night Kayn had slept outside the walls of the city of Syliras. Having found himself a small clearing next to a small stream, he had created himself a comfortable campsite. He had prayed that it would not rain over night, and to his gratitude, it had not. In the early morning he had risen, wearing only his boots, loincloth, and pants. He had gather his weapons, and gone to find himself a place to train. Finding himself a reasonable sized clearing, he had dropped his weapons into a pile and started with his bow. Carving a target into a tree, he attempted to hit the mark, and finally he had. After retrieving his arrows and placing them in his quiver, he had walked back to his original spot. He went into his firing stance, he had pulled an arrow from his quiver placed arrow to string, raising his bow he drew the arrow until the string touched his cheek. Sighting down the arrow, he aimed, making adjustments according to wind pattern and such. He released letting the arrow fly away, he watched the arrow soar away, hoeping against hope it would hit the target, but against hope it had hit the tree far to the right of his target. "Petch." Your horrible. Shut up, like you could do better.

[Asara Willow]

Well, aren't you up early today.

Asara ignored the voice in the back of her head as she crept through the woods with all the stealth she had, wearing only her riding garments with her usual cloak slung over her shoulder as well as with her backpack on her back. The rattle of weapons was heard, and if that voice was more intelligent it would realize she was out to train before everyone in the castle-city were awake.

She went still, her head cocked to the side as she heard a mysterious thud and a curse. The word used was new to her, she had no idea what it meant or who was saying it.

Without thought Asara darted up the trunk of a tree, the bristles on her fingers helping her up. She found purchase with her booted feet on a knot hole halfway up or else she would have failed, horribly, until removing them.

Slowly creeping through the branches of the tree, the Symenestra peered down at the tall green-skinned male below her. His back was to her, which was ideal, and she had a good position to watch him... And maybe pull a few tricks.

Pulling off her backpack, Asara pulled out a slingshot and a handful of bullets, then she leaned back comfortably in her tree and took aim, the pupils of her eyes widening as she waited for what she felt were the perfect conditions before she shot and... Missed, striking the ground a few feet from him.

Muttering a curse she reloaded and took aim again. A mischievous smile curled her lips.

[Nil'kayn]

As Kayn fired away at the tree he remember the first time his father had shown him the bow. "Can I shoot it?" Kayn asked Kain nodded, "If you feel thats a good idea, go ahead." Quickly, Kayn chose an arrow from the quiver that had been in the bundle alongside the bow and fitted it to the string. He pulled the arrow back with his thumb and forefinger, aimed at a tree trunk some twenty meters away and fired. Whack! The heavy bowstring slapped into the soft flesh on the inside of his arm, stinging like a whip. Kayn yelled with pain and dropped the bow as if it were red-hot. Already a thick welt was forming on his arm. It throbbed painfully. Kayn had no ideawhere the arrow had gone. Nor did he care. "That hurt!" he said, looking accusingly at his father. Kain shrugged. "You're always in a hurry, son," he said. "That may teach you to wait a little next time." He bent to the bundle and pulled out a long cuff made of stiff leather. He slid it onto Kayn's left arm so that it would protect him from the bowstring. Ruefully, Kayn noticed that Kain was wearing a similar cuff. Even more ruefully, he realized that he'd noticed this before, but never wondered about the reason for it. "Now try it again," said Kain. Kayn chose another arrow and placed it on the string. As he went to draw it back again, Kain stopped him. "Not with the thumb and finger," he said. "Let the arrow rest between the first and second fingers on the string… like this." He showed Kayn how the nock-the notch at the butt end of the arrow-actually clipped to the string and held the arrow in place. Then he demonstrated how to let the string rest on the first joint of the first, second and third fingers, with the first finger above the nock point and the others below it. Finally, he showed him how to allow the string to slip loose so that the arrow was released."That's better," he said and, as Kayn brought the arrow back, continued, "Try to use your back muscles, not just your arms. Feel as if you're pushing your shoulder blades together…" Kayn tried it and the bow seemed to draw a little easier. He found he could hold it steadier than before. He fired again. This time, he just missed the tree trunk he'd been aiming for."You need to practice," said Kain said. "Put it down for now." Carefully, Kayn laid the bow down on the ground. "Now lets go get dinner." As Kayn thought about his father his mind hardened and he followed the same, form his father had shown him. He drew, and fired smoothly letting the arrow speed away to hit the target. Under his breath he said, "Thank you, Father." Don't get all sentimental on me...

[Asara Willow]

Asara hesitated in her next shot, seeing how impressive the green-skinned male was with the bow. She felt uneasy now, not sure if she should torment a person so well versed at a ranged weapon. She herself had close range weapons, some blades in case something went wrong in the city and she had to fight or die.

Don't be a coward. Snapped the frigid voice in the Symenestra's head. Chances are, if he gets riled he'll probably miss you and give you the chance to flee. You have an advantage he doesn't. Namely, Asara, you can climb and stick to things no one else can but for insects. Does that not sound good?

Asara lifted her slingshot again, but this time the giant male spoke, so softly the female was certain she was just imagining things.

Thank you, Father.

Asara tilted her head inquisitively. Such a curious thing to say. His father wasn't here to take the shot. In fact, she saw no one in the clearing but for himself. Perhaps... There was some invisible spirit accompanying him? How curious.

Strengthening her resolve, Asara took a shot again, ducking back into the sparse shadows provided by the great elm's massive boughs. She hoped he wouldn't see her, yet she armed another bullet in case he did come at her.

It'd be a bee sting to a rhinoceros probably, but if it distracted him enough for her to escape with her life for striking him, that'd be excellent...

And she could get him again when he turned his back...

What a fun way to train. Indeed.

[Nil'kayn]

As Kayn loosed his last arrow, he felt a stinging pain on the back of his neck, his hand flew to slap what he assumed was a bug. Finding no such creature he shrugged though, he growled something about 'stupid pests", as he went to gather his arrows. Once he had done that, he had placed his quiver and bow on the ground. He grabbed his sword, unsheathed it, gripping it in a two handed griphe started to go through his routine. Up. Down. Side. Side. Duck. Dodge. Side Step. Up.... He continued going through his rudimentary and crude routine that would help his reactions in combat. He started to work up a sweat, his well toned and muscled body, shimmering in the early dawn.

[Asara Willow]

After a few tense moments, Asara slowly relaxed. She heard him mutter, but the words were indistinct.

Peering out again, Asara watched the male work out. She'd never known people worked out with different stretches. The term itself meant nothing to her, except in reference to conflict. After watching for a while as he worked out, she lifted her slingshot again and took fire, this time waiting to see if he was hit by it before recoiling to the protection of the shade. A small laugh was stifled by pursed lips as she loaded yet another bullet in preparation.

This time she relaxed in the shade for a bit and stretched her long arms briefly. The thought in her mind was that she wouldn't be caught. She could pester him without being spotted and enjoy herself in an alien city.

[Nil'kayn]

Kayn spun around sword raised, as he felt the stingin feeling on his back. "The hell..." felt his back feeling the little welt, that had been growing on his back. Thats not from a bug. Its from something blunt. Grunting he went back to his practice now going back to his rhythmic actions, attempting to make them more fluid as he moved from one move to another, but as he trained his mind was whirling. What kind of weapon could make that kind of mark? A child's weapon, a sling or some such thing. Hmm so there must be someone watching me, and shooting me with a sling or something, but I don't think they are attempting to kill me with a weapon like that. Only thing you could do with that is create a bruise or two, though it is annoying. So they must just be trying to annoy me. He continued his moves for a time, but as he worked he talked suddenly his voice deeper and commanding. "I know your there. Please stop doing that."

[Asara Willow]

Asara scowled, quite annoyed that the game had come to such an abrupt end, but she obeyed... Only after firing off a last shot at the tall male.

Stowing her weapon and bullets back into her backpack, she slung it over her shoulder and began the laborious descent back to the ground, going feet first because of her backpack.

Once on the ground, the Symenestra went off much the same way she had come. She made little sound in the underbrush as she sought a friendlier place to practice.

[Nil'kayn]

Kayn growled as a single bullet hit him on the arse, but he heard the sound of someone leaveing. Nodding he continued training, after an hour he returned to his camp, and started to cook breakfast.

[Archon]

Illumination of Development Nilkayn +2 Weapon (Composite Longbow) +1 Observation +1 Weapon (Bastard Sword) Lores: Proper way to fire a bow, Sting of a sling Care to see more? : Weapon experience for your training with the two weapons, and Observation experience for noticing Asara. Asara Willow +3 Stealth +2 Weapon (Slingshot) Lores: Swears (Basic), Polite people aren't much fun to annoy Other: -4 sling bullets Care to see more? : Stealth experience for your various bits of being sneaky, and Weapon experience for your use of the Slingshot. Notes:This thread had some fun potential, but unfortunately a few technical problems hold it back. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have. Nilkayn: I would have liked to give you more experience for your work here, but a couple things held you back. Thinking about something, even a memory of doing something, does not net you any experience. The actual act of doing the action is required. Also required to get experience is effort put into writing an action. Most storytellers like to see at least a good paragraph of description of your actions in order to award experience. There were also a couple more serious problems as well. As of June 1st the season in Mizahar became Summer, per the Timestamping lore, and any thread created after that time needs to be in the Summer season. Also, as per the Rules for Posting in Syliras one or two line posts are not allowed. I let these slide for now as you are new, but please keep within the rules in the future. Asara: I would like to grant you experience for Climbing as well, but with no skill in climbing I don't think Asara could have climbed the tree smoothly or silently with her boots on. Try to keep in mind realism with your posts and actions, us Storytellers love seeing these and will usually reward you for the effort.