Plinking [Solo]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Placeholder for the 61st of Fall 511AV

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He was at the Suvai Pavilion waiting for Ildin. This was a first for him honestly. Usually she was here before him. But this meant she was likely setting something up in the forest. Maybe an obstacle course or another one of her insane contraptions to test his abilities. But whatever it was he was indeed ready for it. He knew as always that Ildin would test him to his limits, and she had a very interesting way of doing it. It was a calm morning though. Well every morning was calm here in Mura. He enjoyed it thoroughly and every single day was a fresh new beginning, At the slave camp every day just felt like an extension of the last one; but here in Mura every day felt like a completely new rebirth. The waves woke him gently and the sun was always calming. This inner peace was something he cherished. And he knew it would all be torn from him eventually.

His eyes scanned out over the serene glass of Silver Lake. It was beautiful. He closed his eyes and began burning this image into his mind. He started with the land masses around the lake, the forest trees and the calming blue sky. He added the rising sun to the picture and then accentuated the entire sky with warm hues of pink, red and orange..maybe a tinge of gold as well. The glassy surface of the lake was added as well as the wonderful reflection of the sun as well. He finally had a picture of the lake as standing from the first floor of the Suvai Pavilion. He smiled and continued to admire the wonderful picture before him. He would cherish this. And now that it was ingrained in his mind he would never lose it. He did want to keep the beauty that was Mura, it had helped him through a very rough time in his life. He wanted to keep it.

This was broken when a voice called out behind him. The voice was soft yet commanding at the same time. It was a familiar voice…it was Ildins voice. ”Morning Serrif, please gather your things and follow me.”

As usual he did as he was instructed, following the Archery Mistress out away from the pavilion and out into the forest. They were approaching a small clearing and Ildin spoke to him as they walked.

“Our relationship has been based on trust Serrif. What I have taught you up to this point is Zen Archery. You have centered yourself nicely and found yourself; of this I am proud of you. However it would be irresponsible of me to send you away without proper archery training in skills I hope you will never have to use. I must know you are able to defend yourself if I am to sleep at night.” There were a clearing up ahead and Serrif couldn’t believe what was in it.

Lined up at different distances were sackcloth dummies. They formed nearly perfect human forms with arms, legs, chest and head. There were no target markings on these dummies, they were just sackcloth brown stuffed with something maybe hay. He couldn’t believe it, was she actually going to teach him how to shoot humanlike targets? He looked to Ildin with a questioning gaze was this a test of some kind?

“I know this is different than all our training so far, but you need to know how to use your bow to defend yourself. And I will teach you.” She said as if that would re-assure him of what she was doing. But that didn’t stop Serrif from being skeptical.

But he did know that he would need to know these skills, and it was better to learn them from Ildin then to have to troubleshoot all of this on his own on the fly. The second would likely lead to him being killed. So he nodded confirming he understood.

“You won’t have much time to place effective arrows on target Serrif, especially if you aren’t taking the offensive. You will need to place effective shots quickly. ONLY place an arrow on someone if you intend to kill them Serrif, that is rule number one. “ Her voice was level and he could hear how very serious this was for her.

“Yes Mistress.”

“And only use your bow to defend yourself or others Serrif, do not dishonor yourself and me by using it lash out in rage or revenge.” She stepped very close to him and stared up into his emerald eyes. Serrif would know she was very serious. What she was about to impart on him was dangerous knowledge. She was about to teach him to kill. And she wanted to know that she wasn’t making a mistake in this.

“Yes Mistress, I will use it in defense of myself and others, not for rage or revenge.” Ildin continued to watch his face while he spoke. Every little micro expression told her he was sincere and would not readily defy her or her rules, nor her honor.

“Good, then we can proceed.” She handed him a quiver of arrows and then nodded.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

“Inside that quiver are twenty arrows. Five broadhead, five armor piercing and ten regular run of the mill arrows. Each arrow flies differently and is for a different kind of target. Experiment first with the normal arrows to familiarize yourself with the target types and distances.” Ildin stood aside and would watch her pupil as he readied himself.

Serrif knew this exercise was vital for his survival. But it still made him a little uncomfortable shooting at human targets. He pushed that aside for a little and focused on the task at hand. He would need this to survive. So he assessed the target distances. There were five targets setup from left to right each at a varying distance. The first on his left was what appeared to be only fifty feet away, then forty five, then forty, thirty five, then thirty. He was standing even with the target that was forty feet away. They didn’t seem like they were too far away, but he knew that each of these arrows would indeed act differently so he would have to take into account the type of arrow he was shooting when he started trying to hit targets.

“Where should I aim for Mistress?” He questioned as he looked out to the potato sac targets he was going to slay today.

“Believe it or not most hits into the chest area will kill given time, as will the throat or head. Shots to the arms and legs will maim and sometimes even slow down a target; but like I stated earlier aim to kill or don’t aim at all.” She said very seriously as she watched Serrif nock one of the regular arrows and look out to his targets.

He would start with the target that was forty feet away, being that it was the middle target it would give him a good feel for the kind of environment he was shooting in today. But as he looked out he noticed there was little to no wind, the targets were relatively on level with him as well, none of them lower than him and none higher than him. This would make the task slightly easier for him. So he raised his bow and pulled the string back taking aim at the target. There was no wind, so there would be no play to the left or right if he had a smooth release. The only thing he had to account for was drop over distance. Which he had gotten used to since forty feet was the usual distance that he was shooting at for some time now.

So he knew the drop and he accounted for it. Gently and cleanly he released an arrow to soar on target. And soar it did. Without wind and any extra effects the arrow hit just off center mass slightly to the left side, but it still bit hard. Serrif could see the target buck and shake as the arrow impacted. Something about that was almost eerie to him; he half expected the target to suddenly attack him. But nay, it stood still. Ildin nodded in approval.

“A kill shot, that arrow would hit the Liver maybe but more likely it would’ve gotten the lungs.” Ildin said offering the cold hard truth.

Serrif didn’t know that was the truth, but at the same time he would trust what Ildin had to say. She likely had experience in such things. In his mind he adjusted for the next shot. He was a little off left so he would adjust right some and maybe even up some to hit the heart. So he nocked another arrow and pulled back to his mark. He remembered how he was standing before and he adjusted himself accordingly. Then again he released cleanly and the arrow streaked across the distance closing into the target.

Again the target rocked a little as it was only being held up by a post. The arms and legs moved slightly and the head bobbed. This arrow hit dead center mass and up some as well, meaning it impacted the heart directly which Ildin confirmed with a nod. “That was the heart Serrif, instant and sure death.”

He nodded and then would move to the farther away target standing at forty-five feet. He believed the extra five feet wouldn’t add much drop with the standard arrow. But he would surely need to aim a little higher than he had with the previous arrows. So he adjusted and nocked another arrow into the bowstring and drew back to his mark. He took into account the extra five or so feet and then released cleanly. The arrow flew and hit the potato sac target in the chest but in the upper left area of center mass.

“That would be the shoulder Serrif, maybe just maybe it nicked the lungs, it would likely just be an annoyance. You would be better off hitting center mass. Try again.” Serrif nodded and nocked another arrow into his bow.

He had over compensated for the drop and made only a wound. If he was going to raise his bow it wouldn’t be to wound. It would be to kill. He couldn’t afford to just wound those that were coming to kill him or others. He was going to slay them where they stood. But killing would be a last resort. His mind again compensated for the drop and he remembered how high he had estimated originally, so he dialed it down some so he could get a center hit. Or at the very least a hit more toward the center of center mass.

The adjustments were quick and he again loosed another arrow to mark the target. It streaked and impacted almost dead center in the heart. But was it deadly. “Better, still a kill shot especially that close to the heart. You would either have gotten the heart itself or the lungs both deadly.”

There was almost no pride in shooting potato sack targets. It was increasingly eerie for him but at the same time he knew it was a very good training exercise. So he moved onto the next target standing at the fifty foot distance. It would only be five feet from the other target; but ten feet from the original middle target. So he would need to calculate distance and loose an arrow. His first would likely be more of a test then anything. So he nocked it.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Leveling his bow he took aim, knowing what he did about the forty and forty five foot targets he knew that his first estimate would likely be a little high and he would have to dial it down some to get a good hit. So he took that into account and lowered his aim a little, but only by a hair. Such adjustments were multiplied over distance. He went through his head again and figured better now than never.

The bowstring slipped and the arrow was sent. The potato sac target wiggled as the arrow impacted deep biting through the flesh of the dummy easily. He looked and it appeared his arrow was low off center mass and to the right. “That would be painful Serrif, a hit to the intestines wouldn’t kill instantly. You would likely have to put another arrow in him to finish them off. But they would definitely be incapacitated from fighting.”

That statement was gruesome indeed, and likely very true. He was aiming to kill and for as easy as Ildin was making this seem it sure wasn’t. Seemed like every other arrow was injuring or incapacitating but not killing. Maybe this was how arrows worked; so every target would need two arrows to kill then. Unless he hit the heart first go…which would be unlikely at best even under perfect conditions.

So now he was going to place a good arrow on target, he nocked it and pulled back. He needed to aim higher than his last arrow. So he did and released it. The target wobbled and jittered then settled allowing him a good look at where the arrow had landed. Center mass just to the right off dead center. Again another kill but Ildin didn’t need to tell him that, she knew Serrif learned quickly; especially when life and death hung in the mix. She knew this training was likely perturbing him, and she was glad he wasn’t growing to used to slaying people with his arrows. But at the same time she knew he would one day need to. And it was her job to train him responsibly.

Now that the far targets were over it was time for the two closer ones. These would be a little easier for him because they were so close compared to the fifty foot target. He nocked an arrow and took aim at the thirty five feet away, five feet closer than his first target. Meaning there would be less drop to count for. This made for an easier shot. He pulled back and let the target have an arrow. It shuttered but the hit was in the heart. Ildin didn’t speak but rather nodded as if to tell Serrif to continue.

So he did just that and nocked another arrow. He let it loose and it hit just to the left of his first hit. Again the heart, a deadly hit that would end a living beings life. It was odd knowing that he could be killing actual people right now. Yes these were potato sac dummies but they represented real people. They were the size of real people indeed.

He left that dummy alone and started to gage the thirty foot target. It was the closest target and he would be able to place arrows on it easily, if everything went according to plan. And if everything did this would be a first. He nocked an arrow and pulled back. He took his measurements and then released the arrow quickly and cleanly. It impacted the heart and the target seemed to wobble and jitter its arms and legs at impact. But it eventually settled back down.

Serrif nocked another arrow and released it. It landed almost right on top of his previous shot denoting that both were good kill shots. He awaited Ildin who nodded then spoke. “It’s different shooting something that is human like isn’t it?” she said as she had noted his apparent distraction as the targets wobbled and moved.

“Yes mistress, it is.” was the only really good reply he could come up with at the time being. But she nodded understanding.

“Your first human kill will determine what you are Serrif. All the training in the world will not prepare you for what you will or will not feel after you take another human beings life. It will be in that moment that you will find out who and what you really are. But I already know the answer to that Serrif, you just need to experience it for yourself.” That statement seemed like a very odd statement to him.

“I don’t understand Ildin.” He said somewhat perplexed by the statement she had made.

“You will find out if you are a cold blooded killer or not. You will find out where your morals are and what you are made of. You can only find that sometimes when you are looking at another whose life you have taken. It will determine what you are Serrif.”

“And you say you already know?”

“I have an idea Serrif, but we will find out when you come back from your trip now won’t we.”

“You mean if.”

“No you will come back Serrif, because it would be rude not to come back and see me in the very least.” Ildin stated as she motioned that the exercise would now continue.

“Now you will notice that you have several narrow tipped needle point arrows. These are used for getting through heavy armor especially at closer distances. They are extremely hard to manufacture correctly but they are commonly used in conjunction with poison because they lack the wound area that other arrows have.”

He noticed several things as he picked the arrow out of the quiver. It seemed to be heavier than the other arrows he had loosed before this one. Even compared to normal field arrows these were definitely heavier, however they came to a very pointed tip that was almost like a needle. He could see that the wound area wouldn’t be that great, but if you hit the heart it would still kill the target with or without poison. It just may take some time for them to bleed out all over the place.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He nocked an arrow and decided he would start at the center target again. There was no harm in it after all it would give him a good gage with which to judge the rest of the targets. So he took aim and then slowly pulled the string back to arm himself. Since the arrows were heavier there were several things he knew he would have to take into account. The arrow would likely fall less than a normal arrow, this would be because the arrow would be heavier and have more momentum behind it. However the arrow would be slightly slower than a normal arrow because if it’s heavy weight.

He let the arrow loose and it sailed, faster than expected and impacted the target. He did however note several differences from the previous standard arrow. The dummy didn’t rock as much as before and the arrow seemed to bite right through the dummy quite easily passing through the ‘flesh’ and almost making it though the dummy completely. The arrow impacted almost dead center of the center mass meaning the heart would be the target. Serrif was a little stunned that the arrow would have that much piercing ability at this range. But that was what the arrow was for. “It bites deep but it is best facing armor or when you require poison.”

Serrif stretched some and then nocked another arrow and was going to take aim at the next farthest target from him. These arrows seemed to fly a little slower than the other ones, and bit a little harder at close range. Yet at the same time he wasn’t sure if they would do any damage at great distances, but he would have to see this for himself through use of these brown targets. But again he couldn’t be sure until he tried it out on several targets at varying distances. Which was the perfect task for the exercise at hand. He was going to get a little more familiar with these arrow types since he was likely to encounter variants of them out in the realm; and he would need to know how they reacted and flew in order to use them effectively.

The next arrow was notched and he was going to take aim at the forty five foot target. He knew these arrows fell slower than normal ones. So he took this into consideration again and readied himself to fire. The string was pulled back and after making some calculations he loosed another arrow. It flew faster than he expected, however he hadn’t accounted for the arrows drop correctly. So the arrow hit a little lower than dead center. He knew it was likely another intestine hit. But there was another thing he noticed; the arrow lost some of its piercing ability. Not a ton but enough for him to notice. But then again that could be just archer error. He would know for sure when he hit the fifty foot target with one. Well if he hit the target that was. “That was another intestine hit.” Ildin commented. Serrif wondered if she critiqued him at times just so he knew she was there watching his every move.

“You are going to have to aim a little higher if you don’t want to have a flailing bleeding maniac for a target. Remember we are aiming to kill not torture.” Ildin then motioned with her hand for Serrif to continue which he did gladly.

“Yes mistress.” And with that he stretched his shoulders some and began thinking.

The arrows flight path seemed to be a little flatter than a run of the mill arrow due to its increased weight. But it was slower meaning if he was going to hit a moving target he would have to lead it more. And usually armored targets didn’t stand still like these potato sac dummies. However armored targets usually didn’t move too fast…unless they were on horseback. He believed under normal circumstances he could likely put a good two to three poisoned arrows in an armored target before it got within striking range of him. That would likely be enough to put it down or hinder it enough so he could escape and let the poison work. The farthest target would be his next victim. It would be the true test of how these arrows behaved in long flight. The target was fifty feet away, but he was sure he could manage to hit it somehow.

The arrow was notched and settled into the bowstring. The bow brought up and he took general aim, this way he would only have to make fine adjustments once he pulled the drawstring back. He took gage and pulled back slowly and evenly on the bowstring holding the arrow on the string the entire time. Then came the fine adjustments. The arrow would fall less of a distance but he was shooting at fifty feet. So if he over, estimated it would be better than under estimating. That way he would hit the lungs instead of the intestines. He made the fine adjustments and then released.

The arrow sailed and bit the dummy deep just below the neck. Due to the lack of stuffing in that area and the weight of the arrow the head pierced through the dummy and actually pinned it to the post it was hanging on. The arms shuttered as did the feet as the dummy was nailed to the post. “Well Serrif I must say that hit would kill. Right through the neck. But it would be a bloody mess.”

“Mistress why are you taking an interest in teaching me these things now?” He asked as he took stance to now try and hit the nearer target with an armor piercing arrow.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

It wouldn’t be a hard hit, especially since he had done admirably on all the other ones. He nocked the arrow onto the string and figured the arrow at this distance would pretty much go where it was aimed. Especially since at the mid range target he was only slightly off center earlier.

“Because the Akalak don’t value weakness Serrif. And you have to be willing to kill for what you believe, as well as to defend yourself and others.” She spoke with certainty as if she knew for sure this was the case.

“Do you know something Mistress that you wish to share?” He queried as he then leveled his bow and made rough adjustments.

He knew where to aim and how the arrow would generally behave, so he pulled back slowly and evenly on the bowstring and held the arrow back for a few seconds making final adjustments and then loosed the arrow on target. It hit almost above dead center at the heart. It pierced deep and the dummy shuttered some.

“My father is Akalak, and it was from him and his friends that I learned archery. I know that Akalaks don’t view weakness or dishonor favorably. I will tell you that you are not walking into another Konti Isle Serrif. You will have few if any privileges in Riverfall.”

Privileges? He was slightly confused by her statement as he felt for the final armor piercing arrow to loose into the last target. Did he have privileges here in Mura? He supposed he was treated better than a common slum cat. But at the same time he wasn’t like a dignitary or anything. No, he was just a man. So he queried her again.

“I don’t understand Mistress, what do you mean?”

“Here in Mura you are different and unique, even if you don’t know it many Konti women talk of you. But in Riverfall, you will be almost nothing. The hierarchy doesn’t look favorably on you because you are not an Akalak nor are you of Akalak blood.”

Serrif sighed as his fingers found the last armor piercing arrow. “Well, it is good to know what I am walking into…even if it is unfavorable.”

Ildin nodded as she figured she would give him a warning. “There will be those you want to help Serrif, but some people are beyond your meager reach. Take that as a warning.”

She spoke as if there was something horrible he was going to discover when he got there…she knew something and she wasn’t going to tell him unless he asked her directly it seemed. He pulled back and loosed it at the nearest target hitting it straight in the heart. The dummy bucked wildly flailing its arms and legs as the arrows inertia was dispersed through it.

“Care to clarify Mistress?” He said as he looked to her and read her very carefully. But she was cold as always when she spoke to him. Her words fell hard on his mind.

“The Akalak are in a dire situation. They can’t reproduce alone because they are a race of only males. So they use Nakivaks to strengthen the race. These women are usually captured from slave convoys that travel a little too close to Akalak hunting grounds. The women are cared for then required to sire a son for Riverfall. They are called Nakivaks. These women if human usually birth one child, and sometimes die in childbirth. But in the case of a Konti or Vantha these women can be contracted for two three maybe even four children depending on what the council sees fit to clear their debt.” her words were cold and fact where they hit Serrif like a literal ton of bricks.

He looked shocked, and disgusted. “Really, so the women trade one form of slavery for another?”

“In a way yes, but you have to understand most of the women the hunters rescue are destined for Zith territory. There they are usually brutalized repeatedly and eventually even slowly eaten alive. Being a Nakivak is a blessing for them.”

Serrif thought for a few moments on the subject. After the brutality that he had witnessed in the slave camp himself he knew that it would be best in a way for some of those women to have been taken from the camp. But to then owe your womb to Riverfall…That made him uncomfortable to say the least. He couldn’t imagine owing someone another life in exchange for your own. And maybe even owing them more than that depending on how the council ‘felt’ about your debt with them. It was a form of brutality in itself, but he knew deep inside that it was a fate better than death at the hand of anyone, better than torture for years at the hand of those who just wanted to see you suffer.

“I can agree with that. I may not approve of it but I understand it.”He couldn’t help but feel a sickness in his stomach as he reached into the quiver and pulled out a broadhead arrow to examine it closely. It was a little heavier than an armor piercing arrow, however the tip was far different. It was flat and very wide, it would definitely pack a dangerous punch to any that it struck.

“Continue.” Ildin said instructing Serrif as if to brush off the entire episode about being another’s plaything so you could procreate.

He nocked one of the heavy broadhead arrows and took into account several things. This type of arrow would indeed be affected by the wind; especially since it had a large head. But he wasn’t sure how much because the arrow itself was heavy meaning it would be harder to jostle around. But at the same time it would be in flight longer…meaning more time for the wind to move it about. There was no shortage of variables here in this equation. But he knew the only way to really test all of it was to give it a go and see in practice.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

But what Ildin had just told him still bothered him, and Ildin could see it in his stature. She knew his body language almost better than he did. She also knew his past the scarring said it all. She shook her head and spoke to her pupil. “Focus Serrif.”

Serif nodded and took aim at the middle target with the broadhead arrow. He drew back slowly and then made a few minute adjustments and then loosed the arrow. It didn’t drop nearly as much as he had planned being that the arrow struck the dummy right in the center of the throat with a sizeable amount of force. The impact rocked the dummy and the head of the arrow buried itself into the throat and the dummy flailed around wildly. It was surprising to say the least and Ildin spoke.

“Instant kill, especially with a broadhead. What just happened would be no different than taking a dagger across their throat.” She stated as she then again made a motion for him to continue the task at hand.

He pondered, these arrows did seem to fly a little straighter and impact with a greater amount of force than he had fist calculated. But that was a welcome surprise for him. He would have to invest in some of these as well as some more armor piercing arrows. He was better off having them and not needing them than needing them and not having them for sure.

“As you will note these arrows have a very different wounding pattern than any of the others. But they are really only good against unarmored or lightly armored targets. Otherwise you are better off with a narrower arrow.”

He took her advice to mind and nocked another one to be sent downrange. So knowing what he did now he would be able to make better judgments as to where these arrows would land. He pulled his bow up and took general aim. He pulled gently and evenly back and then made more final adjustments to the trajectory. After having a flight path in mind he released cleanly and let the arrow meet destiny. It closed the distance and buried itself past the brown potato sac skin. The dummy jolted as expected as the arrow buried itself in the left portion of the lungs. Ildin didn’t need to say where the hit was, Serrif knew.

“Well done, next one.” She commented as she continued to watch.

And move on he did, nocking another arrow and taking aim at the furthest target from him. This would help him get a better idea for just how much piercing power these arrows had. They seemed to be quite deadly when they hit correctly. He could bet if you just hit a target they could bleed to death eventually from the wound, these arrows were indeed deadly and were only to be used if you wanted your target dead. Which was what he intended to do if he drew his bow in the first place on a target. He took a few even breaths and then figured better now than never. The bowstring was pulled back smoothly and he made final last minute adjustments to the flight. And then with a smooth exhale he released.

It sailed and it seemed he had made good corrections between the arrow connected just left top of center mass, meaning it would obliterate the lungs. With a nod Ildin was beginning to notice the true potential of her pupil. He could do much damage or good depending on where he went and what he did. She had bred a weapon without even knowing it. But at the same time if his talents were used appropriately he would be a true gift to someone someday. Maybe he would single handedly handle a group of slavers or something. She couldn’t be sure but she needed to teach him a few other things before he left for Riverfall.

“Another Serrif.” She said motioning to one of the closer targets.

Ildin didn’t waste time, Serrif knew this. So he nocked another arrow and took aim at a closer target. Anyone that got this close while he was using broadhead arrows was indeed going to be in sad shape. These arrows got good piercing depth at farther distances. So at closer distances it was only followed that they would have even more strength and piercing ability behind them. Making them even deadlier than they were at the farther ranges. With a few adjustments he released an arrow into one of the closer targets.

The potato sac body shuttered violently almost like it was going to be shaken off of the pole. The arrow met with an extreme amount of force and actually passed through the dummy’s chest and pinned it to the pole sternly. The arrow had hit just below center mass but with the piercing depth of the arrow it would indeed be a kill. The wound entry was volatile and he imagined there would be a decent amount of blood and guts pouring out of the wound at this point. These arrows were indeed dangerous.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

So onward to the closest dummy. This was surely a worst case scenario for the attacker. At this distance though he had to be sure that his arrows would kill, because he would have little time to react if he didn’t drop the target quickly. He nocked the arrow and then pulled back figuring he could go for a neck shot possibly. So he released clean as he exhaled and the arrow was sent. It did the almost unexpected. On impact it ripped through the neck and the body jittered so much that the remainder material of the neck ripped and the head was left pinned to the pole by the arrow through the neck. The rest of the body dropped to the ground.

In a way this surprised and pleased Ildin. He could be a killer if need be, that meant he wouldn’t perish out there. And it also showed her that his skills were indeed comparable to any bandit or slaver that was out looking for an easy target, and Serrif would be no easy target for anyone. She was sending a well prepared student into the world. He was competent; but that wasn’t enough for her. She was going to send him away with every skill he needed. That way all he would have to do is practice to keep them sharp; maybe even hone them with other archers in Riverfall. She wanted to let all the men of Riverfall know that she too could turn out competent archers.

“That was a kill Serrif.” She said with that same cold indifference that she almost always spoke with.

“Yes mistress it was.” He replied as he moved to examine the targets.

On the closer target all the arrows nearly passed through it. But the armor piercing and broadhead obviously got the deepest bites into the flesh. The entry and exit wound for the broadhead was clearly unable to be assessed correctly due to the fact that it destroyed the dummies neck. But the armor piercing did indeed pass right through the dummy easily. He accounted this to the close distance and the pointed heavy tip. The normal arrows though even got a good amount of bite into the flesh. They would surely do a fair amount of damage at this distance.

The relative same could be said for the next closest dummy as well. The broadhead arrows definitely had a fair wound entry that would bleed heavily as the sharpened tip ripped through flesh and innards. The exit wound at the back was indeed also impressive causing what would be a relative blood waterfall out of the targets body. The armor piercing arrows pierced deep as well, but the entry and exit wounds were far cleaner than that of a broadhead. But the needle tipped arrows were for piercing armor, which the broadhead wouldn’t do easily or at all in some circumstances. The normal arrows however still got good penetration.

He was beginning to notice a pattern, if you were unsure of your targets armor use normal arrows and find out. If they made no penetration switch to needle tipped arrows. But if your target had no armor go for the kill, arm yourself with broadheads. They were sure to drop a target quickly and with relatively little effort, especially if the arrows hit in the chest. The middle target confirmed this again. The broadhead bit hard leaving a good entry wound, and the armor piercing got the farthest depth, but would leave a wound that might not be fatal unless an organ was touched in the path.

The furthest two targets told him much about the different arrows and piercing depth. The two heavier arrows still had good piercing depth just like they had before but they suffered some compared to the closest target. But that was to be expected at extreme ranges. In the back of his head he was wondering just how far until these arrows lost piercing capabilities against targets both armored and unarmored. That was something for a later day though.

“Each arrow has different capabilities. It is important that you know what target to use what arrow on. We will deal with this later. Come.” She said as she motioned for Serrif to pull the arrows and quiver them again. Which he did.

The two of them had a decent walk to the Pavilion. “What are the Akalak like Mistress?” He asked curious.

“They are proud and truly fierce warriors. Each one attacks whatever specialty or knack they are good at with ferocity. If that be a vinter, carpenter or hunter. But know this each Akalak IS a warrior at the core. Ready and willing to take up arms against those that insult them or pose a threat to the Akalak way of life.”

“And what are some values I should be aware of?”

“They value physical power, prowess, fortitude, and endurance. Each Akalak crafts their body through years of training and pain. They are proud of their strong physiques.”

“A race of all men though, that means they must seek outside sources for reproduction yes?”

“Indeed, sometimes women come to them to escape famine, plague or other unfortunate circumstances from which they come. These women are deemed Nakivak’s and protected by Riverfall law fiercely. They bear an Akalak child and are then either usually released from the Nakivak bond or marry the man they bore the child for.”

“But are they rewuired to bear a child?” Serrif inquired curious.

“By Riverfall law, yes.” Ildin knew this would write disgust all over Serrif’s face so she just continued. “that is Riverfall law. Most Nakivaks are women who would have suffered far worse at the hands of slavers, plague or any number of other variables outside Riverfall.”

That hardly made it better for Serrif to stomach but he could see the usefulness in it. Warriors raiding slave camps and claiming the women to bear their children. Well that seemed to combine the two most primal needs to him. Killing and sex. Proving victory over your opponent and then reproduction of the strongest. True nature at its finest he told himself quietly. He wondered how his camp would’ve been turned upside down if an Akalak raiding party came and churned the place over.

“Yes, I can vouch for that. I don’t like the method Mistress, but I agree. It is better then what I KNOW the women would suffer at the hands of slavers. At least in Riverfall they are cared for.”

“Remember Serrif, balance is everything. But knowing how to manipulate balance in your favor. Well that is art.”

Requests :

SKILLS
Longbow
Boyer fletching
Observation

LORE
Arrow purposes, broadhead armor piercing
Decapitating a Dummy
Kill areas on a body for arrows
Arrow Weight Matters
The Plight of the Nakivak

[Archelon]

Thread Award "..." And the Results!!!!: Serrif : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Longbow 5 Gonna be harder from here on out want to seea bit more depth on tactics involving shots; though that'll come hunting live prey =3; or slavers. I added a point due to the nice touch on the dummy decapitation XD! Observation 3 Bowyer/Fletching 2 to start you off. Lores: Arrow purposes, broadhead armor piercing Decapitating a Dummy Targeted Areas of the body for arrows. Arrow Weight Matters The Plight of the Nakivak Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Interesting, liked the decap on the dummy and the warnings about nakivak You hinting there will be trouble when Serrif is in RF? XD.