[Sanctuary] We Will Pluck Yew!

[Razkar]

Razkar was rarely enraptured by anything. He was no longer a boy, awed and struck by beauty and grace. He'd seen too much blood, too much death... and while not exactly traumatized by it, it certainly limited his appreciation of the arts. But when he heard Vanator sing, often using words he could not follow, he stood transfixed...

And that would be the word he would use to describe himself.

"That was... good. Very good."

The Drykas bowed and Razkar rolled his eyes, but understood the gesture. Moments later, though, Vanator was straightened up and squinting at the distant target, a fierce determination all over his sun-stroked features.

"Now...give me a chance to redeem my wounded Drykas pride."

"Of course..."

The horselord notched and drew and aimed and fired, and his form was good, but still the bullseye eluded him. Razkar frowned. There was, perhaps, one thing that was missing, as far as he could see.

"Keep bow still after."

Vanator turned to him, frowning, and Razkar realized he needed to be a little more subtle. The Drykas were a proud people, and did not take criticism lightly. Still, the man was Razkar's friend, and if he could help in some way...

The Myrian held up his own bow, as if he were firing. He mimed notching an arrow and drawing it back to his cheek, then paused.

"When let go, keep arm-" he tapped his straight left arm, holding the bow "-straight and still. Um... follow through, yes? Words are follow through. Make arrow fly straight, little. You close, so "little" mean bullseye."

He lowered his bow and shrugged, regarding the Drykas for a few moments.

"You fight on horse most time. Not used to still. Too much moving. But might help."

Then he actually drew an arrow, notched it, aimed... and let fly. The arm holding the bow didn't so much as move, even after the arrow had thudded into the target, merely an inch from the bullseye. The Myrian grunted and shrugged again, scratching under his chin.

"Still... not always work..."

[Vanator]

Of course. Even the Myrian saw it. Vanator had forgotten one of the basic's of shooting a bow. Follow through. The Drykas was rushing after the arrow was released. He nodded to Razkar, unoffended by his friend's honest criticism. He watched as the jungle warrior drew another arrow and fired, emphasizing the fact that he remained in his firing stance until the arrow hit the target.

"Yes, yes, you are right." Vanator stepped to the line again, running down his mental checklist, the points becoming more and more automatic. He drew another arrow, setting the notch against the string and raising it again, the string drawn tight. Once comfortable that he was ready, his fingers let the string snap, sending off the arrow. Van held his stance, bow unmoved until he saw the projectile sink into the target, the shaft quivering as it protruded from the center of the bulls eye.

Then the Denusk lowered the bow, turning to his friend with a broad grin. "Thank you for your advice. Too bad you didn't share it before you won the bet!" He laughed loudly, happy to have finally found his mark. The contest had proven to serve its purpose, to allow the warriors to expose the weakness in their skills and help to overcome them. It also happened to help solidify the friendship between the two men.

[Razkar]

The grin that blossomed on the Myrian's face was genuine, that much was certain. Seeing anyone try and try again and be rewarded with success was always worth satisfaction. That it was a friend of his made it all the better. He clapped the Myrian on the shoulder and nodded firmly.

"Make archer yet of you yet."

"Thank you for your advice. Too bad you didn't share it before you won the bet!"

Razkar just shrugged. It could have gone either way, he supposed, and he was not so proud that he needed to crow his achievements. They had both learned and honed their skills. That was what mattered, so when they truly needed a bow in their hands, they would find their marks. The two men walked to the target and retrieved their arrows, and then shook hands in farewell.

But as the Myrian watched the receding Drykas, he felt the smile return...

Vanator was scarce sure he heard it, leaving Razkar behind as he was. But it soon dawned on him that he was, indeed, hearing something. Words so alien and indecipherable to his ears, guttural and harsh. And yet, in this context, to an unknown tempo and conjured in melody, they were... song.

"Come out, come out,
The shadows say,
When sun has died and moon doth play,

'Tis so sweet when they do entreat,
With shining fang and talon'd feet.

But keep the window barred, my child,
And trust not their words so light and mild,

For shadows do a body seek,
To whisk away in forest deep,

Wet their tongues with water red,
Drain and sup 'til vein is dead.

Stay in, stay in,
You must heed this call,
When the night shadows are abroad..."

Even as the Myrian sung those words, his eyes closed and he remembered. Saw bonfires in his village and his siblings on his parents' knees, the words crooned to them while uncles and aunts pantomined the monsters. His childish fear that first night, when he made sure his window was indeed barred, and his weapons were close, even at six years old.

When his eyes opened again, he was almost surprised to find he was not in Falyndar...

... but he was with a friend. So that was OK.

Razkar bowed and stowed his bow and arrow. The day was growing long and he had errands to run. Not to mention an upcoming appointment north of The Sanctuary, a place that was its polar opposite in many ways...

But friendship is not why you came here. Stay focused.

"Take care, friend," he said as Vanator led him back to his horse, "and keep practice."

The tiger warrior and the horselord walked up together to face the midday sun.

[Gossamer]

Character: Vanator
Experience: +1 Leadership, +5 Shortbow +1 Singing
Lore: Losing Gracefully. Spicing up practice with Contests.

Character: Razkar
Experience: +5 Shortbow +1 Singing
Lore: Winning Gracefully.


Additional Notes I really liked this thread. It was short but to the point and I could feel the budding friendship between the two men. The contest was a nice touch. I would have given you more techniques for short bow but you really didn’t go into detail on anything. PM me if there are issues.