Open Taking time out

[Kian]

Timestamp: 20th day of Fall
Location: Wind Reach Archery Range
Who: Anyone


The young Inarta stood up and placed his hands on his hips; he stretched out his back. Another day of work was behind him now, but instead of walking off he grabbed the target he had just finished. His muscles became outlined by his skin with the weight of the hay target. He carried the bale target over to an empty frame at the end of one of the archery lanes. He took his time affixing it the frame.

His clear green eyes wandered up and down the range now that he was done with his task. The young Chiet had never been asked to perform maintenance on the targets at this particular range before. This area was reserved for Engal and Avora more so than the regular populace. Seeing that the archery range was hardly being used at this late hour, Kian went towards the back to retrieve his long bow.

The long bow while well used was also well taken care of. It was a five foot cherry colored bow. The recurves leather hand grip had been recently oiled and rested right below the arrow sight notch. The bows upper and lower limb had been recently waxed with a fine tallow and glistened in the available light. Kian set the bow stringer cord on both ends, and then when he was ready, he lowered the bow and stepped on the stringer and pulled up. This allowed for the actual bow sting to fit on the groove of the bow tips . Keeping the bow unstrung most of the time helped to keep both bow and string taunt.

Satisfied that the bow was well strung, Kian removed the stringer and headed towards the front of the firing line. The young teen picked out some of the available target arrows, and once he checked out the arrow's fletchings, moved to the ranges ready line. Seeing that he was clear he notched the arrow that had a colorful blue and red fletching array. He steadily pulled the bow string back, sighting down the shaft of the arrow as he did so.

Finally the bow string almost came to rest on his cheek. The honed arrow head had become blurry while the target Kian was looking for was crystal clear. He made sure his breath was steady and he let loose the string and the small glass bead attached to it that helped to steady the arrow on the string. He felt the bow string drag against his arm ever so slightly before it released the arrow. There was the sound of the reverberating string and then a solid thud on the target. The arrow had sunk deep into the hay target and hit the wooden support frame in the back. It was just about a half of an inch off of the bull's eye. All in all it was not that bad of a shot.

[Turrin]

After the incident in Kitchen a few days back, Turrin didn't want to practice in the Top Notch with the rest of the Endal. It wasn't like he was trying to avoid his brothers and sister-in-arms, but he wanted to relax and avoid the questions of his inquisitive peers. Walking down the Inner Warren, the Endal was given wide birth from a few Avora. However, he was stopped by a older Avora. The old man motioned him over to him, so Turrin frowned to himself and walked over to him. He looked at the man in his mid-forties who seemed to be littered with battle scars from mortal races to beast of the Unforgiving. Turrin stood in front of the battle veteran, crossed his arms, and nodded in respect for his duty of serving Wind Reach. Turrin asked with no emotion in his face, “Why did you wave me over, Avora?” The old hunter looked at him and said softly, “Endal, I don't want to bother you, but there is a Chiet in the Second Quiver. I know he is pretty good with a bow, but I don't think he has a Avora sponsor.” Turrin blink in confusion in why a Avora was bothering him this problem, but he had to ask, “Why do you bring this up to me? You are a Avora, so why don't you throw the Chiet out on his arse.” The Avora looked at him, shook his head, and said, “Endal, you have much more authority than me, so I thinking you.” Turrin cut the old hunter off, “So you are being a coward. Fine, I will get rid of your Chiet. What stall is he located?” The Avora stammered for a moment and said plainly, “It not cowardly to get involved, but he is in the tenth stall from the door.” Turrin nodded sourly as he brushed past the old man muttering to himself about troublesome lower castes and especially a irritating Avora who shall remain nameless. When Turrin walked into the Second Quiver, he noticed the place was mostly cleared out, but he heard a twang of bowstring, whistle of a arrow flying through the air, and a thunk as it struck the target. Setting the bow on the table, Turrin took off his quiver and took out ten hunting arrows. The Endal carefully checked each arrow for cracks, bending, or warping of the wooden shafts. After checking the shafts, he sees if the arrow hit is snug and secure on the wood shaft. If they were, he would replace the arrow with another one from his pack. The next inspection was the feathers on the arrows. He made sure each feather wasn't loose, frayed, or falling off the wooden shaft. When he was finished inspecting, he had to throw out two of the ten arrows. Standing up, he walked over to the tenth stall, and he noticed inside was standing the tall well muscled full Inarta preparing to shoot again. Turrin waited and watched him shoot. He was trying to engage mostly the talent of the archer. However, the arrow sailed true and hit the target with a thunk and right above the bulls eyes. Turrin was clearly impressed since he could barely hit close the bulls eyes on a good day. Turrin cleared his throat and asked simply in common as he walked into the stall, “I have to say great shot, Avora. You definitely are quite a shot. May I shoot with you?

[Kian]

Kian drew forth one of the other arrows and nocked it securely in his bow. With the same patience and practice he pulled back the bow string. He could feel someone behind him now and he had to close his eyes and steady his breath again, before he could sight back in on the target. Just pretend you belong here and then make a hasty retreat, he thought himself. When he was calm enough, he let the arrow fly.

The arrow marked the target right above the bulls-eye. Not a bad shot, if it had been his first. He had been trying to group it to his other arrows and this one was off from the rest. He had to tell himself to calm down again, but then that was when the person behind him spoke. The new comer had an accent and was speaking common instead of their native tongue. The fact remained that the second quiver was for Endal and Avora, so the foreigner obviously held status among the Inarta. There was no mistaking the way he had said Avora that somehow the person behind him was Endal. All the observer wanted to do was to shoot with Kian, so perhaps he was overreacting.

The young Inarta composed himself mentally and pulled out another arrow. Kain cleared his throat and spoke common, "You assume a lot on first impressions, my friend." The red haired teen turned to look at the man behind him. With the man's burgundy hair and golden eyes he was probably of Inarta heritage somewhere in his family line. The stranger was taller than Kian that was for sure and a little more solid. In common once again, "I usually shoot alone and the hour is getting late." He shifted slightly and noticed that the range was as empty as it had been before. The Chiet changed his original plan of retreat. "But it is not that late."

Kian stepped off of the firing line and moved to the side of the stall to give the new comer room. "Please, by all means."

[Turrin]

Pulling out a arrow from his quiver, Turrin walked to the firing line and said without looking at him, “So if you are not a Avora than I will assume that you are a Chiet.” He doubted the young man was a Yasi since he was to old, but the young man had no deformities that he could see and his common was as fluent as his, so he wasn't mentally slow either. This man was no Dek either, but he was risking a lot shooting in a range not for his caste. Second Quiver was made for Avora and higher, and he should know the rules before he broke them. Holding the short bow in his left hand, Turrin put his left foot out with his right foot back and placed the arrow on the bowstring. Raising the short bow, the half-myrian lined up the tip of the arrow with center of the target. He knew it would be nice to get a bulls eye, but he would just be satisfied hitting in between the second ring of the target. Pulling back the bowstring to his cheek, Turrin took a few ticks to line up his shot than he took a shallow breath and released the bowstring on the exhale. The arrow flew straight towards the target, but at the end, the arrow started to veer up and hit the target above the third ring Turrin frowned to himself and wished his arrow was a better shot, but he knew it was his first shot and back away from the firing line. He turned around and said with a laugh, “Maybe my arrows are crooked. It is your turn, Chiet.” Moving away a safe distance, Turrin asked, “I have to ask, but do you have a sponsor to be in here?” The Endal wasn't the kind of man who believed everyone has worth even the lower castes. If the teenager didn't have one, Turrin would gladly sponsor the young man for the night since he was quite talented with his bow. It would be a waste to stifle his abilities because of a silly rule. Leaning up against the wooden wall of the stall, Turrin waited for the young man's response to his question. The Myrian observed the young man and noticed that he was built for quickness and agility. It was a common trait in Wind Reach, but the young man seemed to have confidence to talk to him too. It meant that he was a brave young man too a trait needed to be a hunter in the Unforgiving. Turrin looked at him and said softly, “My name is Turrin Aponivi of the Twisted Vine. What is your name?”

[Kian]

The red-haired Inarta nodded in approval while watching the Endals's arrow hit the target. Kain was impressed with the discipline and patience of the other archer. The arrow did not mark the bulls-eye, yet either had any of his own. The young teen arched a red eye brow, they both seemed to be almost equals in the knowledge and precision when it came to shooting at targets. He was not sure where to take the conversation. He smiled a brief moment at Turrin's arrow comment, but the smile faded rather quickly.

This Endal, while not a true Inarta, was still chosen by a Wind Eagle, where he was not. Which also spoke droves about the person beside him. Which meant Turrin probably thought he was better than any non-Endal. Besides, the way he kept saying Chiet was to remind Kian of his place. He had broken a lot of rules when he was younger and he was paying for them now. The word, Chiet often felt like a weight that clung around the youths shoulders with the only purpose it served was to keep him down and remind him of his mistakes. Then the Endal turned around and gave the Chiet the courtesy of introducing himself in a formal manner. This had, at the very least, thrown Kian a little off kilter.

"Well, Turrin Aponivi of the Twisted Vine, my name is Kian." He said, responding in kind. Even though the Inarta was polite he never really let his guard down. "You are correct in thinking I am Chiet." The word dripped like venom on the way out of his mouth. He said, while he looked at Turrin with a cool stare. "I am afraid I do not have a sponsor." He said with raised brows, "but I work here. I am a target baler and, from time to time, I have to make sure that the targets I construct are good enough." While the last lined was a bit of an exaggeration, it was not a total lie. "I understand the rules, that is why I wait until the range is almost barren before I take bow in hand."

Kian's tone had a bit of an edge to it without him meaning to. He was not sure if it was the late hour or if he was exhausted from his days labor. Realization had finally set in and with that he took in a deep breath. After he managed to rein in his agitation he looked over at the Endal. In a much calmer voice and one tempered by his past he spoke to him again. " The lane is yours, Turrin of Aponivi."

[Turrin]

Turrin listened to the well manner youth explanation for his actions. The Endal was satisfied with his answers to his questions, but he seemed on edge by the end. It didn't matter to him if the young man was lying to him since he clearly had the archery skill to practice at the range. However, Turrin wanted to make the young man sweat a little for his actions. When he said his name was Kian, the target baler, for some reason the job description of him didn't fit the name. The Myrian saw a hunter when he looked at the young man and not a target baler. Turrin could tell he was as proud as every Inarta that he met since he came to Wind Reach ten years ago. When Kian said, he practiced here in the middle of the night. He raised an eyebrow because he could get in serious trouble for it. Turrin said simply, “Kian practicing in the middle of the night can land you in serious trouble especially if you use upper caste ranges like the Second Quiver or Top Notch. Why don't you practice at the Fletcher's Corner or the Bent Arrow. These archery ranges are meant for Chiet and Yasi to use?” Turrin didn't want to stifle the young man's talents, but he knew other upper castes wouldn't be as forgiving as him if they caught him using their range without permission. When Kian surrendered his lane to him, Turrin crossed his arms, looked at the young man, and said with a smirk “It is your shot, Kian.” Turrin walked to the end of stall to give the Inarta enough space to shot. The Endal looked at him and said with a smile, “I don't sponsor lower caste often Kian, but I can make a acceptation for you today. You have talent with a bow, and it will be interesting to see what you can do with it.” Leaning up against the back wall of the stall, Turrin looked at him and said with a smirk, “Besides I would like to someone to share in my victory when I finally hit that elusive bulls-eye tonight.” As Turrin waited for him to take his shot, he pulled out his next arrow to shot and waited for his next turn to shoot.

[Kian]

The red head of the Inarta nodded with a slow resolution of what Torrin had said. "Trouble and I are old friends." His voice but a whisper, but still audible, weighed heavy with past thoughts. As a Yasi, he had been unwilling to accept the rules of society. Sometimes it is the hard lessons that help shape and change someone until the point of breaking. Either you break or you can bend to the will of life. Kian had learned his lessons, but his arrogant youth had cost him. No Avora had ever came to see him shoot. So a target baler he was and he tried to be the best petching one there was. It was kind of an irony that fate now had chosen an Endal Foreigner to actually see him as more.

Kian blinked away his woes and laughed a little. His green eyes cleared and they looked over to Turrin. He shook his head in mock disbelief, "Have you been to Bent Arrow and you think your arrows are crooked." The Inarta actually had a light heart and had to laugh at life whenever he could. Perhaps that is how he survived through his tough years, these tough days. He just hoped that the Endal could too.

The Chiet looked at the Endal for a long moment and wondered how the foreigner had managed to fit in to Inarta society so neatly, when he could not. Kian decided not to question why Turrin had showed up at the range or his sponsorship. Instead, he just nodded and turned to find another arrow, because sometimes unsaid words were best in situations like this. Satisfied with his selection, the young aspiring archer stepped up to the firing line.

Kian took his time like ever shot before this one. He pushed the thought of everything else out of his mind and focused on the task at hand. He could feel the tension in the string, the vibration of its release and hear the solid impact of the arrow on the target. Kian took the time to peer down range and noticed his arrow had walked further off of the center more so then his previous shots. He realized he needed to clear his thoughts more and to have better concentration.

Then he stepped back and motioned to the Endal. "It is your shot, Turrin Aponivi of the Twisted Vine." That gave Kain pause and then he looked back at the dark skinned man. "Twisted Vine, what is that?" The Inarta asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. He hoped he was not being to forward with the question.

[Turrin]

Pulling another arrow out of his quiver, Turrin waited till Kian moved before walking to the firing line. When he mentioned the Bent Arrow, Turrin said with a smirk, “I noticed when I go there. It has a good mixture of the castes at the range except the Dek, but the lower castes give us a wide birth. It to bad because I not trying to insult my caste, but some of my Endal brethren sweat arrogance. It almost impossible to talk or have a conversation with them without wanting to hit them. Honestly talking to you is rather refreshing, Kian. By the way, it is just you and me, so you don't have to be so formal at the moment.” In truth, Turrin has been trying to work on his social skills because Aponivi been nagging him about being to formal to everyone, and nobody can get the chance to meet the real Turrin. When Kian was finished with his shot, Turrin walked up to the firing line and pulled out a arrow from his quiver. Holding the shaft of the short bow in his left hand, he placed the notch of the arrow on the bowstring. The Endal widened his stance, so the front and back feet were evenly away from each other. Turrin lifted the metal tip of the arrow till it lined up with the bulls-eye of the target. When he got his shot lined up, the half-Myrian pulled back his bowstring till it was to the front of his cheek. Turrin noticed his elbow wasn't straight, so he adjusted it accordingly. When he was ready to shoot, he lined up the metal tip of the arrow onto the bulls-eye, took a shallow breath, and released the bowstring on the exhale. The Endal watched his arrow soar towards the stationary target, but it started to veer left for some reason, completely missed the target, and hit the hay and feather wall in the back. Turrin growled at himself and muttered to himself, “Maybe I should take up basket weaving...” Turing to Kian, the Endal said with a laugh, “There no excuse for the last shot it was just bad. Your turn...” Turrin walked back to his place on the wall, and he decided to answer his question about his father's people, “The Twisted Vine is my father's clan in Toloba. In Myrian culture, the clans have their own cultures and traditions that make them unique to other clan's in the Queen-Goddess' Realm. Since my father mated with a Inarta woman, his children was still part of his clan. If my mother was a full blooded Myrian woman, I would have taken the name of her clan.” Turrin ran a hand through his burgundy hair and watched him shot and said with a smirk, “Think of a clan as a nation inside another a larger nation.”

[Skerry]

Grades

Turrin

Skill	XP
Intimidation	1
Observation	3
Socialization	3
Weapon: Shortbow	3

LORES :

• Kian (basic)
• Kian: Chiet target baler

Notes:
Not a lot I could give I’m afraid. A thread that was cut short far too soon but what can you do, eh?

Kian: If you make a reappearance then please PM me and I’ll sort out your grade.

Remember if you have any questions or problems with your grade then feel free to PM me.