The Test [Solo]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

2nd Fall 511AV Serrif woke as usual. It wasn’t anything spectacular, he merely stirred some and came to gently. He knew that he hadn’t been sleeping well. That much he was perfectly sure of. But he knew also that he still had a training session with Ildin again this morning. She would be waiting and he wasn’t one who was fond of keeping her waiting. Especially since she was his best Mistress in the pavilion for archery. She picked him; he wasn’t sure why but he knew she did it for a reason. She did almost everything for one reason or another. He gripped his bow and quiver as he made his way out of his tent. He looked out and saw the boat out floating in the water with the target on it. But if his eyes weren’t fooling him the target had been adjusted. It now sat upright instead of laying down on the boat. This would make hitting it a little easier for him. But nothing…well almost nothing was easy with Ildin. Or in the very least nothing was as easy as it first seemed. Ildin had a way of taking very seemingly easy tasks and adding her own flair to them making them a true test of skill and will at the same time. But he was looking forward to this session with Ildin. He knew she was planning something; something beyond this simple training. Almost like she had been bringing his training to this point and had been guiding him here all along. But the purpose…he was still unsure of. He scanned and saw Ildin approaching the boat. He knew she had likely already seen him, so he donned on his shirt and walked down the beach bow in hand and quiver on his belt. Unsure of what Ildin had in store; but he was sure he could face it. His mind was going gently as it had just been woken up. Seemed Ildin liket to train during the night or morning to really test one’s endurance. He stretched and Ildin looked to him as he drew close. “Good, now let’s begin.” She was always a woman of action. Never just sitting around for no reason. She always had something to do. “You see I adjusted the target since we will be doing something a little different.” She grabbed a quiver of arrows and handed it to him. “You’ll be firing these.” She said as Serrif took the quive from her. The arrows were normal at first glance. But as he pulled them out they all had a small amount of cloth wrapped around the arrows head. Not a ton but a small amount. Serrif was interested. Why would someone do this to a good arrow? He was unsure but he knew Ildin did indeed have a reason for this just like everything else. “Yes mistress.” He said as Ildin then nodded. “Go ahead hit the target, remember the arrow is a little heavier than usual and may react differently than normal.” She informed him while she watched. Today was pivotal in his development. This would show her if he was ready, or if she would need to really lean into him hard with extra training. But every day she had been meeting with him, training him more and more. Serrif picked up an arrow and felt its weight. He wasn’t sure what she meant by it acting different. It was still heavy yes, but it wasn’t that different as far as weight distribution. Yes it was slightly heavier in the front than any other of the arrows he had used. But he believed he could compensate for that easily. He figured he would either have to put a bit more power behind the arrow or arch it a little more. Maybe he would have to do both…yes that was more likely. He knocked the arrow and then locked into his mindset. Looking again for wind, he looked out to the boat and the ribbon wasn’t moving. Then the beach, none of the sand was kicking up…perfect. No wind, well for now anyway. He took aim and drew the arrow back. He held it and then made his fine adjustments as always. He then released the arrow and it flew straight to the target hitting it. It marked the target in the lower area. That meant he was underestimating…but only slightly.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif nodded. He was underestimating the effects of the little extra weight on the front of the arrow. The cloth did add a little extra weight. But besides that the arrow behaved relatively normally. He had estimated rather accurately the amount of drop the extra weight added. He believed he could place the arrow more accurately toward the middle of the target. Yes this may hurt his precision but his reason for this test seemed to just be able to accurately hit the target. Well and just put arrows on target in the first place. That seemed like it was Ildin’s mission here. And this being true he was doing pretty well. He nodded and then Ildin spoke. “I am going to need you to put most of that quiver on target.” She said as Serrif nodded as he felt the butts of the arrows. There were six more arrows prepared much like the first one. He believed he could do this easily. If all he had to do was put arrows on target, well he could manage that just fine. He knocked another arrow and watched again for wind. The ribbon on the front of the boat showed a little bit of wind. Just slightly toward the south. He nodded and then pulled up his bow and further dug in his stature. Again he checked closer to the shore and he saw that the wind closer to the shore mirrored the wind out toward the boat. He pulled back and smiled inwardly. He knew he could do this. He just KNEW he could. He did his fine adjustments much like he did the first time, but this time he had to adjust for the wind downrange. That was relatively easy for him to do he figured. He had done more complicated procedures before. All he had to remember was that since it was the same breeze all downrange the arrow would drift slightly toward the south. So he would have to offset the arrow to compensate for this. Again an easy thing to do for him. He made his adjustments and then released. It sailed and well was pushed about as much as he had estimated. The arrow struck a little above and to the left of the first arrow. He hadn’t completely nulled out the effects of the wind. But nevertheless he had hit the target; which was good news to him. “Again” Ildin said as she was becoming a little more confident in Serrif’s abilities. He was indeed showing her that he did know what he was doing. That her teachings were just what he needed and he was indeed showing promise. His skills were on display for his teacher. He was doing well, Ildin was smiling internally and becoming a little more relaxed. Serrif knew inside she would say that. She wanted him to show that he could be consistent. She wanted to take luck out of the equation. She wanted to know he was skilled rather than just lucky. She wanted to know what he was made of. And he was going to prove to her that her teachings haven’t fallen on deaf ears. He knew that he would do so today, and every day from now. He didn’t know she had plans for him. But he did know that she did seem to have something nagging at her.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif looked downrange again. The wind was getting to be difficult to judge, especially at sea. The boat would be easy to hit if there was no wind. But where would the challenge be for that? He continued to gage the wind. Waiting for maybe a moment when the wind would die down some so he could make a far easier shot. But if it didn’t he would be in a very interesting circumstance. His fingertips found the butt of an arrow and he continued to hold his archers stance that Ildin taught him. His feet planted firmly in the sand of the beach. He watched the ribbon on the boat, it was changing directions every now and then. Seemed the wind just couldn’t make up its mind as to where it wanted to go today. Sometimes life was unpredictable that way; his life sure had been. He knocked the arrow and continued to watch the ribbon on the boat. It was still billowing in the wind and switching. This was not going to be easy. But then again what was? He sighed and figured now was better than never, just like several other things. He pulled back and adjusted. He released smoothly and the somewhat weighted arrow traveled to target easily. However the hit was just barely on target having hit in the lower right corner of the target. His concentration was slipping and he was beginning to make mistakes. That and the wind seemed to be getting more and more vicious. He shook his head and figured Ildin was likely disappointed in him. But he was hitting the target. He just couldn’t let his arrows wonder too much farther than they already were. He knew that he couldn’t miss target. Ildin would surely be sore if he did. He knew this and he decided he would be a little more careful. He was learning how to adjust in unruly winds. But now wasn’t the time to be learning this. He was supposed to be decent at this. But for some reason he was not doing as well as he wanted to be doing. It was actually pretty frustrating for him. Ildin on the other hand was beginning to see that her student may be a little stretched as far as shooting in the unruly winds was considered. She knew that by testing him she could bring out the best in him. He needed the challenge. It was how he learned the best. But she also knew that if she let up on him his skills may just fade away. She needed to advance his skills. Bring him to where she felt comfortable with his skillset. He was performing…for now. But if he slipped she would be very nervous. She strove for perfection in her students. That was likely why so few people stuck with her as long as Serrif had. He was admirable in his stamina, he had surpassed any of her students in the past. Most of them didn’t understand what this man did. They didn’t see that they had to push themselves to better themselves; break their boundaries to find them. But she had seen Serrif break and remake his boundaries moving them farther than they had been to begin with. That was the process; she had seen the broken and beaten Serrif slowly gather himself and his strength. He was becoming something great, he was going to do great things. She just needed to work on him a little more.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Again he noted that he was spotty with estimating the effects of the wind on his arrows. He wasn’t perfect and he knew it would be a long time before he was. But he knew he could hit this target if he really wanted to. If he put effort into it he could hit it, but not easily. The wind at sea behaved differently than anywhere else. The wind wasn’t easy to predict by any means, it seemed to vary more than it did on land. Also the wind gusts were a decent amount stronger than on land; meaning his arrows were thrown more off course. This made things uneasy for him to estimate; and made hitting this target a little more of a challenge. He remembered when the target was laying down he had easily struck it…well not easily but he could strike it. If he really focused on this he believed he could do it. He closed his eyes and gently threw everything away, every last little thing went away. First he faded his senses. He started at his legs until he couldn’t feel the weight of his own body. He knew his legs were still supporting him fully, but he just couldn’t feel it anymore. He then started at his arms and gently threw away the feeling of the arrow butts in his right hand, and the feeling of the bow in the grip of his left hand. He then started with the feeling of the wind gently caressing his body, he threw that away as well. He rid himself of everything until the only thing left was the sound of the ocean…the crashing waves on the sea shore. Ildin was curious. He was centering himself, a good practice. She knew he likely needed to do so because his senses were overloaded. He likely needed to clear his mind in order to focus. She was glad he knew when to do this. He could take his time; she wasn’t in any rush to get him to hit the target. She merely wanted him at his best. She needed to know exactly what he was capable of, and having him at his best was the only way she knew of doing this. The task at hand was tricky she could admit; but it was exactly what he would be facing here very soon. And she needed him to be accustomed to this exercise. She wanted him to be well trained for various reasons. She knew what was coming; she had been informed only a few days ago by Lym. And she wanted her student to be prepared; for not everywhere was as forgiving or peaceful as Mura. And she wasn’t going to waste all the time she had spent training him only to have him die because he was inept. She was going to prepare him well. And when he made his way off the Isle he was going to be ready for whatever awaited him out there. She would see to that. Eyes opened and saw the bobbing target. It moved with the waves like a giant machine. All he had to do was pick it apart into its separate pieces and he could easily do this task. Gently his senses came back, he looked out watching the waves, forecasting what they would do to the boat. An angled wave was coming in. It would lean the boat slightly to the rear corner exposing the target to him better. The wind would be easily discerned from the ribbon on the boat. It was pointed south west meaning he would need to offset his arrows a decent amount for the distance to be closed to the target. The arrow was gripped in his fingertips and brought smoothly to the bowstring. He then knocked it and brought the bow up. Evenly and mechanically he brought the string back to his draw point. He could feel the pull of the string against his arm and he held it for a few seconds while his head worked out final adjustments. The wave was about to hit and everything had remained the same since he first began to make his adjustments. So he released. The wave hit the boat and it rocked just like he had predicted, then the wind took his arrow to target, nearly dead center on the target. He nodded but didn’t get cocky. He knew everything could change in a moment. So he merely began to wait for another opportune wave to show itself so he could hopefully copy what he had just done.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He continued to focus. He had a major success but he couldn’t let that override him. There were still three more arrows to be placed on target. Three more chances to make a mistake. And he didn’t want to make any mistakes. He continued to watch the waves. Timing them out and estimating a few closing distances before they rocked the boat. It wasn’t exactly easy to do but he kept a count in his head and timed them out rather accurately. The wind was staying unpredictable as ever. It seemed the beach was going to remain that way as long as he was here. A real pain but what else could he really expect? He watched some more making small but concise predictions about how everything was going to work; again slowly picking apart the machine little by little. He knew that if he could get his prediction down he would be able to put more arrows down range with greater accuracy. Precision didn’t really matter here as long as his accuracy was intact. He had to keep reminding himself that Ildin said the objective was to hit the target; no precision needed. He just had to hit the target. And so far he hadn’t missed. But there was time for everything. But he focused again…trying to channel his concentration to the task at hand. Serrif’s good hit helped ease Ildin a little more. He was doing fine, and her teachings had clearly made a good impact on his ability to score hits on this target. He had focused and brought the full force of his mind to meld and meet with his body. He was becoming more and more aware of how his body functioned. How his body reacted. He knew his habits and how to counter them. He was becoming better at knowing how he worked. And melding what he wanted with how he was going to accomplish it. His body had become hardened, his own personal fortress. She knew Serrif didn’t have much, he had no real home, no family and little in the way of material possessions. But he had knowledge, and he was gaining it at a stunning rate. He was finally coming to realize that not everything was about what you owned. And that there were some things that were more valuable than simple possessions. She watched her pupil intently. Wanting to see him excel, that would put her at east. She wanted to know he could continue to do well under pressure. It was this pressure that she knew he was beginning to feel. With only three arrows left he had been doing so well up to his point. And she knew that he didn’t want to do any less than perfect. That was what really drove him; the drive to succeed at something. The waves were getting easier for him to predict. Each had a different force and direction but all enacted similar forces on the boat at sea. Toppling it and rocking it side to side. Moving the target with it. He was beginning to question what all this was for. But to him it was just another one of Ildins strange contraptions of training. Something for her to test his abilities and skills. He had to have many of his skills synchronized and in order for things to turn out well. He had to be able to predict the movements of the target and boat. He had to judge the wind and how it would act on the arrows in flight. He then had to judge distance and then account for the drop of the arrow as it traveled downrange. All this together constituted a good arrow shot; when it was in order. However if he miscalculated to much in any or all of the areas he wouldn’t hit the target. It was much to take into account, and that was all before he even drew back the arrow on the bow. He had to judge pull and navigate a smooth release or all the other measurements didn’t matter at all. His right hand found another arrow and he moved it to the bowstring knocking it gently. He then looked out another time judging all of the concurrent forces that would act on his shot. He had them all in order and was going to fire in sync with another wave that would rock the boat in his direction favorably. He brought his bow up and pulled the string back nice and even. The wind didn’t change, and the wave gently impacted the boat. He then released sending the arrow to meet fate and the target…hopefully. The arrow smacked into the target and was off center just to the left some. In all pretty good for not having a perfect measure on the wind. He hadn’t let the success of his previous shot rock him too much. Getting cocky usually just lead to making mistakes.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

His hand fell to the knocks of the arrows. They were really loose in the quiver, rolling around inside the nearly hollow quiver. He felt only two arrows left inside the quiver. He had been doing well so far. Every arrow was hitting target. And so far that was showing himself that he knew what he was doing. He picked another arrow from the quiver and knocked against the bowstring. His eyes focused on the movement of the boat. It bucked back and forth in the ocean. He watched the movement of the boat; the waves were rocking the boat and his predictions were getting more and more accurate…or were the waves becoming more and more uniform? He wasn’t completely sure but he knew that he was getting a little better every time he practiced. He was able to predict better and the world was making more and more sense to him every day. Every time he practiced he was able to place arrows in the target. His precision was lacking right now…but his accuracy was much better. He closed his eyes and cleared himself of all his doubt, he didn’t really have much doubt but he did know that he was really starting to feel the pressure. He could feel his muscles tremble, but not from fatigue. It was all from the sickness…the sickness that was still coursing through his veins. It was horrible that even now his body was betraying him. He focused and tried to calm the trembling with his mind. He tried to calm himself…but he was failing. He would feel himself sweat some, why was he sweating? Why did he feel weak? He felt his blood slowly start to feel…warm. He could feel himself slowly start to sway back and forth. These movements weren’t major, they were hardly noticeable…but Ildin would indeed see them. Only because she was watching him closely. He could feel his stomach churning, slowly. He was feeling pretty ill right about now. He cleared himself and discounted all the sickness. He wouldn’t let it do this to him. He wouldn’t let it bring him to his knees. He would push through it; he made up his mind and decided that he would do whatever he had to so he could perform. He set the pain aside so that he could function. But he wasn’t sure how well he could do with the sickness. He sighed and looked out to sea again. He was watching the boat rock to and fro. It was still being predictable in his eyes. He watched and was making assumptions about where it would be next. Little forecasts to keep himself sharp. He pulled up the bow and then pulled back the bowstring. He could feel himself trembling and it was making a difference in how he could hold the bowstring back. He went back to the ready position. He only had two arrows left! He pulled the string back and then readied himself. He gauged everything…right like he thought. He released and the arrow streaked to the target burying itself in the target. It hid but it was nowhere near where the rest of the arrows landed. Which meant he was off from where he had been; but the point was just to put the arrows on target. And he could do that. He knew he could do that if he really wanted to. If he could just push past the sickness. Ildin saw him tremble. She knew her student by now and she knew that he was faltering. She could see him waver and his accuracy and precision took a hit because of it. She still wasn’t sure where this trembling came from. But what she did know she had learned from Lym. She knew that Serrif was experiencing some sort of sickness form his past. Something from the intensive poisoning that wreaked havoc and chaos on his body. He wasn’t naturally weak. He had learned how to deal with it more and more day by day. She had seen him push past it and excel even though he was in great pain. She knew he had it in him. And so far he had proved her and Lym correct every single time. All she wanted him to do was finish strong. And she was sure he could do that. She knew he had it in him to finish just as good as he had started.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif gathered himself for his final arrow to target. He knew he could do this. Ildin didn’t place faith easily; this he knew from others. He had heard that some trained with Ildin only days then quit. And he had been training with her for seasons now. And still he stuck with it. Because he didn’t want to quit. He was going to stick this out if he could. He was going to see this through to the very end. Ildin had plans for him, and he knew that he would want to see what these plans were in the end. He knew he would want to see what Ildin had in store for him. He had thrived under her. His skills grew immensely and he had become a completely different person. And now he was on the precipice of proving all of it. He looked out over the waves and noted any differences in the glassy surface of the sea. It was a little chaotic right now. The waves tilting and moving the ship around but in a more gentle manner now than before. The boat would move only slightly compared to the drastic movements it was making before. It seemed things were going to be a little calmer for him right now. Seemed that the ocean and wind were going to cooperate with him. He had his reasons to be skeptical of this though. He wasn’t really all that sure if the outliers would continue to work with him. He reached down and felt the final arrow against his fingertips. He knew he could finish this strong. Even through his sickness. Even though his body was screaming for him to just stop for a moment and breathe. He was going to push past. His arm trembled some, but he needed only one last arrow. One last arrow to prove that he could do this. To finally mark in Ildin’s mind that he was worth her time. That he was worth her effort to train to where he was now. He still didn’t understand why she had picked him for this training. He had still to this day given her nothing. No gold, no services nothing at all. And yet she still trained him relentlessly. Harder and harder each time. He still swore he broke under her but she built him right back up. He wasn’t the same man who set foot in the harbor all those seasons ago. No, when he set foot in the harbor he was a broken man. A tortured pathetic thing from a place he didn’t want to be. But now, he was stronger, fortified and had a skill set that even he could be proud of. He had learned how to push past everything and keep his eyes on the goal. He learned to heal and help, and above all he had healed himself. There was still much to be rectified; and some of that would only come with time alone. But he knew that one day he would be better. One day he would finally be who he wanted to be; where he wanted to be. But right now he wasn’t. And he still wasn’t sure why. Serrif knocked the arrow. The ocean was still being calm for him. Completely calmed. Like it was holding it’s breath waiting for him to just take the opportunity. He took aim and pulled back on the bowstring evenly. He adjusted and then released the string evenly through his fingers. It traveled and hit the target just like all the other arrows had. He nodded and then Ildin spoke. She laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him obviously relieved. “Meet me here just as the sun sets three days from now. I have something I need you to do.” She said as she then pulled the rope tied off to shore and motioned. Serrif helped pull and set the boat on the shore. Ildin nodded. “I am glad to see you made such strides. Lym will be waiting for you go ahead.” She said dismissing him. Requests : Skills Longbow Observation Social stuff? Lore Shooting at a target in a boat Shooting against the wind

[Archelon]

Thread Award "The ninja turtles told me they were taking a rest today. Something about too many mojitos." And the Results!!!!: Serrif : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Longbow 4 Observation 3 Socialization 3 Bodybuilding 1 Lores: Archery: Corrections for different arrow types and weight(Basic) Archery: Shooting into the wind. Archery: Knowledge of floating targets Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Go shoot some creatures .