Closed Rolling winds, Unsure arrows.

[Alexander Faircroft]

5th Winter 515 AV The clouded blue sky rolled with soft wisps of white, the streaky winds pushing the faint clouds through the sky. The winds whistled lightly through what little remained of the leaves on the trees. The cold breeze rattling it's way through Alex under his coat and against his bones. His flesh goose-bumping at the chilled winds, His numbed fingers gripped the belly of his bow As his left ones softly caressed the symbols against his chest. Puffs of white mist snaked out from the corner of his moth as he stayed low to the ground. Trying his best to both keep his heat within him and reduce his visibility in the wet murk that was the forest floor. A small shake crept into his left hand as he gently caressed the icons, lingering on the hammer of Izurdin and the blackened triangle of Akajia. Asking for the patience and stillness to allow him to do this. The slow wet sucking sound of his boots freeing themselves from the mud was making every step exhausting. Combined with the frigid wind, he felt his stamina waning. Still he persevered and kept low before the snap of a twig drew his attention, no sharp nor sudden movements. A slow hiss of breath escaped him again this time a wispy thin line of steam rising from him as he caught sight of his quarry. A lone deer, middling in size yet still enough to take back with him and share amongst his fellow squires. A small smile drew across his face as his fingers shifted to the triskelion and scythe at his chest. Thanking Caiyha and apologising to Dira for sending her another soul so soon, before firmly grasping the icon of a small sapling asking kihaya's forgiveness for this deed. His breath slow he shakily slid the arrow free of it's quiver the large arrow knocking and sitting waiting for a pull. His breathing shallow now attempting to quell the tremors in his hands. It was helping but not entirely. Alex stepped closer slowly his footing careful not to slip as he stepped closer a hidden twig cracked beneath his boots, he winced at the sound. Clearly akajia was not granting him favour this day. He slowly sighed and watched the deer skitter away at pace. With not a moments hesitation his element of surprise already blown, he traced after the deer his eyes following it like a practised archer. He hefted the bow up pulling the arrow back and lining up the shot with the deer. A deep inhale followed by a slow steady exhale, every moment that he took the further the deer galloped as his lungs emptied and his breath steadied he took his shot, it flew true but despite the furious speed of the bow and the sureness of his shot he'd waited too long as the arrow veered off course at the distance a stray burst of wind knocking it off it's path and sending it piercing into a thick oak tree. He grit his teeth firmly and grunted. Pulling free another arrow he took a soft breath filling his lungs again with frosty air. He knocked another arrow and Lined up another shot drawing the string but it was for naught, the deer had already fled too far for an accurate shot from his meagre skills. Slowly releasing the tension of the string he slid the arrow back into his quiver before making his way slowly to retrieve the arrow. After a solid minute of wrenching and groaning he finally managed to pull the arrow free from the tree, easing it out with slow rocking motions. "If only I was a better shot." He grumbled to himself and slid the arrow back into his quiver. Breaking off a smaller tree limb now no need to worry Alex nestled into the crook of the bows of the tree using the length of his bow to push a low hanging nest free from it's moorings causing the empty thing to tumble to the ground and spill several feathers. Chipping away bark from the tip of the branch and wedging the knife into the back end of the twig , this was now true arrow merely a test to see how rusty his skills had become. And truly to rust they had fallen. He could barely fashion the shape of an arrow let alone bring himself to call this failed attempt one. He sighed heavily now. As he sank back into a low form to minimize sight and sound, his feet pressing lightly into the sodden mud. Sore and tired he was not returning empty handed.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Alex brought his hand to his face wiping the cold moisture from his close beard. Several days of growth had caused a layer of thick face fur. He plunged his fingers into the mud and slowly covered his face with it, hoping to better mask his form from any animals that lay near by still. The deer long gone, He tried to control his breathing again but it was failing him, the cold weather had robbed him of steadiness, and the weight of his bow combined with the thickness of the sludge like mud had robbed him of stamina. Still he pressed onwards stepping through the darkened mire listening, waiting. His fingers brushed over the icon of Wysar asking for the diciplin to hold himself together. He was not leaving empty handed, this was no longer a matter of a hunt, nor training. It was a matter of pride he'd said he'd come back with something and he was going to be true to his word. The mud squelched and sucked his feet into it with each step. He could feel his body fighting to keep warm. Still even shaking he stepped forth the cold light of the sun usually warm and radiant on him, felt distant and hollow. The worst of the chill he felt on his legs, almost unable to halt the tremors. His legs shook like mad as he stepped forwards. I'll return a man true to his word or i wont return... He trudged forwards, listening and waiting. Again the loud snap of a twig broke the silence, He closed his eyes and calmed his shaking to little effect before turning slowly in the direction, mirroring his motions from hours earlier, albeit this time with a greater difficulty to maintain some if any stillness. The cold shorn ache in his arms withered him as he lifted the bow again, slowly sneaking through the sucking and cloying mud. Eventually with great difficulty he managed to slip into a secluded position masked by some low foliage that thank caiyha still had some leaves to help mask him further. He hefted his bow up and slid his arrow to knock bracing it on his hand to prevent rattling against the wood. He steadied his breath for a second time trying not to hiss in pain from the sheer bitterness of the cold. His arms quaked as he pulled the string of the bow back lining his shot, his arms barely holding though the lack of energy and the strain of the bow. One shot, make it count. Alex swallowed before letting his breath hiss out again. Slowly. Quietly. Steady, ease into the shot. He relaxed his muscles as he heard his fathers voice in his ear. His moment shone bright as a jewel as he loosed his arrow. In the split moment of a heart beat the arrow left his bow string and split the stillness of the air, above a loud crack of thunder roared out as the arrow pierced the chest of the deer. A small whisper left him, not of joy but respect. He slowly stood and hurried to the dying creature slipping the bow over a shoulder and drawing the dagger from his boot brace.He slowly placed his hand against the soft fur of the deer and whispered to it. "Shhh, it'll all be over soon. Shhh." With a single swift motion he slit the poor beasts throat releasing it from it's pain. If he had been a batter archer he wouldn't have had to slit it's throat. As the beasts life's blood began to pour free from it's neck, he knelt next to it. Comforting the beast untill it's passing. At which point he flipped his blade and began to slowly skin the beast. His skill with a blade was poor at beast given the shakiness of his hands he placed the blade at the deer's throat and slowly began to carve down splitting the skin not without having to stop multiple times to split free a caught point on his dagger. Taking his time to peel the skin clean from it's flesh A shoddy but passable job for the skins purpose. After freeing the skin from the flesh Alex set to carving the joints and breaking down the main body. Slipping the dagger between the joints and finding the occasional resistance he could feel the heat of the only recently stilled life radiating from the carcass. Shaking the thoughts from his mind he placed the four legs onto the skin alongside what other little meat he could free from the body. Folding the skin over the meat he placed it into his pack securing it with a little string. Shuddering and hissing against the virulent cold he stumbled lightly in the thick mud before trudging back towards syliras.

[Dove Brown]

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Alexander Faircroft

Skills

• Stealth 1
• Weapon: Longbow 2
• Endurance 2
• Observation 1
• Hunting 1
• Butchery 1

Lores

• Stealth: keeping low
• Longbow: slow and steady makes the shot
• Butchering a deer
• A man of my word

Miscellaneous30 pounds of fresh venison. In Syliras, butchers buy meat at 1/4 of the sale price.

Comments:A nice little thread. Please be aware that the max width for box codes is 700 px (your CS code is 900 px and that makes it hard to read). Enjoy your grades.