[Flashback] Stand and Deliver [Zevlin]

[Kovac]

Timestamp: 10th Day of Summer, 508 AV Location: Bent Arrow Archery Range Purpose: Revlin's archery training Status: Closed, Tag Revlin Gods know what had given Kovac the brilliant idea of going to the Sanikas range to practice instead of the Second Quiver, where it would be less crowded. Thankfully, no endal had come to shoot that afternoon, snotty riders flocked to their precious private luxury range, only coming to the outdoor range on occasion to look down their noses at the lesser residents of Wind Reach. The avora had taken a lane at the left, A few hunters he knew were scattered about. Some yasi and chiet bunched up in the middle section. Kovac set down his quiver, strung his bow, and pulled the string back. After several tugs to loosen his shoulders, the archer figeted with the sontav on his left arm that served as a bracer and nocked an arrow the bowstring. With a slow, deep breath, Kovac raised the weapon, aimed, and released. The arrow struck the target one ring out from bullseye. His eyes strayed to a teenager plying a shortbow several lanes down in the yasi/chiet area. The archer could not see where his arrows were landing behind the walls separating sections of the range, but the boy's technique was atrocious. With a shake of his head, Kovac went back to his practice. Setting another arrow to the string, the avora compensated for the slight breeze and let his second arrow fly. It nicked the edge of the bullseye. Again, his gaze drifted to the youth. "Ugh." He muttered. He could not stand to watch the pathetic display. He stomped over the boy. "Stand up straight! And hold the bow straight." He barked.

[Zevlin]

Zevlin glanced nervously around the lanes as he walked, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, which probably just made him stand out more. He couldn't help it, he wasn't meant to be here. His master had given him the day off to do as he pleased (the man most likely wanted to use the day to spend his riches), though he was doubtful the man had meant for the boy to take a bow and go try it out. But the thrill of getting caught was what made it all the more exciting, wasn't it? Well, that had been what he told himself.

He took a lane more to the middle, wanting to avoid those in a higher status than he. Besides, being beside commoners was the easiest way not to get noticed, as those higher tended to go out of their way to ignore the lower class. A glimmer of excitement tugged at the corners of his lips, gripping on to his shortbow. Well, it wasn't really his...but that wasn't important to him at that moment. He notched an arrow, pulled back on the bowstring, and let it fly.

Fly? More like a flop. The arrow wavered and fell not four feet in front of him. It was rather pathetic really, but Zevlin was overjoyed by the fact that it had shot at all. With a triumphant smile, he readied another arrow, ready to release when the voice from behind startled him. The young lad looked over his shoulder, placing a face to the voice. It bothered him that the man seemed so upset by his lack of expertise. Who the hell was he to judge?! "Did I ask for your help?" He asked with a dismissive tone, hoping the man would just go away.

[Kovac]

As Kovac neared the youth's lane, he saw the poorly shot arrow laying on the stony ground. He shook his head. Hearing the teen's surly response, Kovac scowled. The kid had a bad attitude, the avora could hear it in his tone. Strangely enough, it did not overly irritate Kovac. After all, the archer had been accused of being aggravating and difficult himself. He knew his own kind. Kovac looked up at the small crowd of yasi and chiet in this section of the range, then back to the youth. He seemed quite content with his progress so far, which was just sad. "No, you did not ask for help, but you should have. I am sure you realize you are pathetic. Archery is not like making a sandwich. You just don't decide to do it one day and wing it. Now, if you want to get one of those arrows actually down to the target, I can help you. Or you can litter the floor with them. It really makes no difference to me." It actually made a little difference to Kovac, if only that it distracted him know the kid was over there fumbling around. Maybe he could get some credit for giving the boy a lesson out of the deal too. "If you are in, let me see you shoot one."

[Zevlin]

Zevlin could handle insults; he was apprenticed to a man who never gave praise. But being called pathetic irked him. His grip on his bow tightened slightly, deciding that he didn't like this man. At all. Yes he knew that he was no good with a bow- he had just started after all -but he didn't need some Avora with an attitude to shove it in his face like that. "If it didn't matter to you, you wouldn't be wasting your time on me." He pointed out flatly, giving the man an annoyed stare.

On that line of thought, why would someone in a higher class pay any attention to him in the first place? It wasn't natural for an Avora to speak to someone of a lower class unless they needed something. That or they are looking to apprentice, but that was impossible in this case. The man had already said that Zevlin was 'pathetic'. So this meeting was highly unusual.

But an offer to better one's skills, while not necessarily wanted, should be taken. Zevlin wasn't one to have opprotunities present themselves regularly to him, so he took a chance. With a soft sigh, he notched another arrow, pulling the bowstring back as far as he could, trying to keep his arm strong, but having a bit of difficulty. Archery required a different kind of strength that he didn't have yet. With a soft grunt, he let the arrow loose, it's shaky flight going just a few feet farther than his first few attempts.

[Kovac]

Kovac could see the angst in the teenager. The yasi chafed at the avora's harsh words, and the archer was sure the boy wanted to resist him at the least, tell him to jump off the Lookout at the most. In the end, the youth gave in and set his arrow to his string. Kovac watched as he took his stance and released the arrow. The arrow fell short again, but went further than before. There were a few basics that the yasi needed to learn if he were to ever get to the target, and Kovac was intent on getting him at least that far. Stepping up near the shooting line, Kovac brushed aside the boys attitude, seeing he was willing to listen. "Your back and shoulders are just not used to this load, that will come with repetition." He took his own bow in his left hand, set an arrow to it and raised it up, Pulling back on the string. "Posture is critical, make sure your feet are shoulder width apart, keep your left arm bent slightly, don't keep it straight. Keep your back straight, so you can use the muscles in your upper back to help bend the bow." Kovac continued to hold the string back. "Rest your hand holding the string, here, at your jaw." He paused for a moment to ain, then Kovac released the arrow, sending it sailing towards the target. It struck at a decent spot, not a bullseye, but decent nevertheless. "Now, you try."

[Zevlin]

Well, at least the man hadn't insulted his second attempt. He wasn't expecting the reassurance, catching him off guard slightly. It took a bit of effort not to let his smile pull on to his lips. He was still mad, Damnit! Zevlin watched as the man pulled back his arrow effortlessly. Obviously he had been using bows for a long time. A dedication Zevlin didn't know. He hadn't found something he had really wanted to dedicate himself until today. He supposed that was something he could admire in the other.

Zevlin watched as the Avora held the string back, talking about how an archer should hold their posture. The Yasi took it all in, making sure that he understood what the man was explaining. A low whistle left his lips as the arrow sailed through the air, burying itself in the target. He couldn't keep the fact that he was impressed off of his face. His master always said he was like an open book.

With a soft sigh, Zevlin stepped up, bow in hand. He took the instructions that the Avora had given him, keeping his feet shoulder length apart. He felt his balance improving just with that one step, now understanding why all archers held their posture in this way. He caught himself on his arm position, bending his elbow slightly. He gave a bit of a grunt at the difficulty of pulling the bowstring back to his jaw, muscles straining against the use.

Taking a moment, he took aim at the target, and let the arrow go. It flew a lot farther than anything he would have managed on his own, hitting the ground a few feet from the target. Zevlin blinked a moment, before a smile stretched across his face. He hadn't expected to be able to shoot that far. "So, how was that?"

[Kovac]

The youth's second shot was an improvement, as he heeded the avora's advice. Kovac tapped the muscles between Zavlin's shoulder blades with the end of his bow. "Feel the difference when you use these? Continue to work them, they will get your distance for you." Kovac drew his own bow again, this time without an arrow. "Most archers are pushers or pullers. Pullers focus only on the draw, pushers focus only on the arm holding the bow. A good archer focuses on both. This time, do not bend your bow arm, but make sure the elbow points sideways and not down. That will also help keep your arm out of the path of the bowstring." Lowering the bow, Kovac stepped back. "Now...do that, and concentrate again on using your back muscles. By the way...what do they call you?"

[Phoenix]

Kovac

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Weapon (Bow)	2
Observation	2
Teaching	2

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Giving Unwanted Criticism
•	Archery is not like Sandwiches
•	How to Properly Hold a Bow
•	Proper Shooting Posture
•	How to Properly Draw a Bow

The Order of the Phoenix

If Zevlin comes back, I'll grade his portion of the thread. Otherwise, great job, Kovac! I wish this could have gone further, but I gave you what I could!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.