Completed The Art of Range

[Ellen Ansgot]

45th of Fall, 513 AV Already around mid-day, Ellen prepared herself to learn a new type of combat. This was something that the Knights required before earning knighthood, but something that she had no experience with. Her birthday was coming up quickly though, and it was her goal to receive her knighthood quest that same season. Therefore, her practice must be relentless, especially in the upcoming days, where she must first learn how to use some of the skills required. The only one she had no experience in was a ranged weapon, and that's what she was hoping to learn today. She had arranged for another squire to teach her how to use a crossbow. He was someone she had seen around a few times, and lived in the same suite as herself. After observing him at the training grounds a few times, Ellen finally asked him about teaching her to shoot. The guy was fairly good at shooting, at least from what she had seen. Archery was never something that had interested her before now, and as the time of her quest grew closer and closer, the skill became ever more relevant. Though she knew it felt like a long ways away, her quest would be here sooner than expected, as time always seemed to fly by when you least expect it. The squire that was teaching her walked fairly casually with his crossbow in his right hand, swinging by his side. With short brown hair, and a scar that went down most of his arm, he looked rather rugged, but relaxed, as if he hadn't a care in the world. He really wasn't the kind of person Ellen would talk to most of the time, but he had a skill that she needed to learn. They exchanged greetings, and Ellen realized that she didn't even know this squires name. He didn't seem to care though, or notice for that matter, and brought her right over to the shooting range. The crossbow was completely foreign to her ensure that this lesson would be the most difficult. Even holding the crossbow properly was a concept she hadn't learned. Being the first of all required to use the weapon, that must be the first part of knowledge the teacher must impart on her.

[Ellen Ansgot]

Nothing like a sword, not even close, and expectations were not at all off. The crossbow was different, not really relate-able to any weapon she had used before. The tiny bolts resembled arrows, but even they had a slightly different look and feel. Crossbows were surprisingly heavy, more than she expected anyway. Watching her teacher shoot, he looked as though the crossbow were weightless, and moved it in very fluid precise motions; nothing like how she was maneuvering herself. Attempting to imitate the other squires posture and grip on the crossbow helped make no significant progress. Firing her first bolt wasn't much of a success either. The process of loading the crossbow was, so far, the easiest thing about the weapon. Ellen had no problem following procedures, so long as the end result was a guarantee. Loading a bolt yielded the same result every time, a loaded bolt, no variant, so this part came easily to the squire. Bringing up the crossbow, and releasing the bolt however, did not always give the result she wanted. Landing nowhere near her intended target, the bolt actually missed entirely, and stuck into the dirt somewhere behind it. A bit embarrassed by her pitiful first attempt, Ellen quickly went about loading in another bolt. The second attempt was no more successful than the first. Every time a bolt was released from her weapon, her aim wavered drastically. The squire teaching her came over to assist her this time, telling her to spread her stance more, and not to allow the crossbow to sway so much. Taking deep breaths, aiming down her sights, Ellen put the bulls eye in center view. Preparing herself for the inevitable shake when the bolt released, her confidence was overflowing with this shot. Even the release felt solid, and as that bolt flew off of her weapon, Ellen felt good about the shot. Which missed the target again.

[Ellen Ansgot]

Today would be a long day, with the training it entailed being highly detrimental to Ellen's focus on training. After the first bell of practice, the young squire was ready to quit this infuriating weapon. Bolts never went where she wanted them to, and the crossbow seemed to get heavier every chime she held onto it, with every miss quickening that process. Ranged combat was obviously not her strong suit, as she couldn't even hit a still target. Maybe she would be better at hitting a moving target, since she never seemed to hit where she aimed anyways. Her luck might be better, considering by the time she shot a bolt at her moving opponent, he would be where she wasn't aiming anyway. The squire teaching her was patient with her, always correcting her, never shaming her. Ellen felt like a fool trying to use a weapon like this in front of someone who was so well versed in it's workings. Her teacher tried to explain what she was doing wrong with the weapon, but none of it made sense to Ellen. All she could do was point, shoot, and miss. The worst part about the crossbow was that no matter where she seemed to aim, whenever she released the bolt, the crossbow changed it's course. How infuriating. Her shots were getting better, somewhat. Some of the launched projectiles found their ways into the edges of the target, only occasionally though. It was enough for Ellen to keep hope in her skills, and continue the practice. Bolt after bolt flew from her crossbow, her skill seeming to improve and decay at any given time during her practice. One bolt had eventually hit the outermost ring of the target. Excited by her seemingly improved accuracy, she started to listen to her teach more, taking in the tips on her stance and positioning. Apparently, it all mattered.

[Ellen Ansgot]

Spreading her legs to about shoulder width apart, left foot forward, and crossbow at the ready, Ellen began to realize that everything about your posture mattered. If she slouched or stood too far back, the bolt went awry. The same was true when she leaned too far left or right. The aiming was all based on perspective, and was only truly aiming if you aligned yourself perfectly with the arrow. Her teacher was getting excited for her, pep talking after every shot. Telling Ellen how to improve, what she did right, congratulating her on landing a bolt somewhere other than the dirt. Whenever her confidence reached a peak, she would miss the next shot. Crossbows were still awkward for Ellen to hold, and she was nowhere near mastering any kind of shooting technique. Another problem was just herself, over-confidence would simply make her careless, causing her to miss shots. Almost never able to chain multiple hits, her aiming was still terrible. Even though she knew the trick to it, finding the right spot was difficult. Centering herself on the crossbow was something that would take plenty of getting used to. Snapping bolts into place were the only thing that got easier and easier. Her speed for reloading the weapon continuously improved until her shots were beginning to suffer from it. Speed obviously wasn't a key in learning to use a crossbow. As her speed increased, her accuracy decreased. Frustratingly enough, Ellen began to pick up on this, causing her more strife. Pacing her shots felt like a waste of time, but she knew that rapid fire shots weren't helping improve accuracy at all. Accuracy had to come first in a weapon like the crossbow, that was something she was beginning to pick up on. The speed would have to come second, because her bolts meant nothing if they didn't strike home.

[Ellen Ansgot]

Slowing down everything made Ellen feel much calmer with herself. Taking deliberate and slow breaths, her shots felt much more accurate. Aiming was still a problem, but that would improve with time and practice. Taking more time to aim, and bracing herself properly from the shot made her feel as though her time with the crossbow may not have been entirely in vain. She was determined to hit at least one bulls-eye today, but her time was quickly running out, as the day faded away into night. Her teacher had left her a couple bells ago, allowing her to practice on her own while he left to eat. Ellen however, wouldn't let herself leave the training grounds without a dead center shot landing. Each bolt that left her crossbow flew with anticipation, and anxiety. Few bolts looked as though they would actually hit center, but even most of those came nowhere close to the center. Most of her bolts were at least starting to land on target. Either through luck, or routine, her shots were starting to find the target more than dirt. Each thud of a bolt landing on the target was more satisfying, and more inspiring than the last. Crossbows were far more complex than Ellen had thought originally. They seemed easy, a point and shoot type weapon. She was proven very wrong though, and her initial ideas of the device were thrown away. Perhaps once she was more skilled with the weapon, her movements and accuracy would improve. It would take much more than one day to learn this weapon, but she had hope. Position the feet, aim the weapon, align for sight, brace and release. Ellen repeated this in her mind over and over again, perhaps not fully understanding why every step was required, but knowing that each was important to a successful shot. Continuing this process for a few more chimes, it was beginning to get too dark to continue shooting. One last bolt though, one more. If this one wasn't a bulls-eye, she would call it a night. Feet spread, a few deep breaths, and loosing of the bolt. It sailed through the air, and for one final time that night, Ellen missed the target entirely. Disappointed, but completely expecting of the results, Ellen left the training grounds to eat and sleep. Enough time was spent working today, so tired and upset, the squire went in search of a meal.

[Radiant]

Ellen :

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+2 XP
Weapon: Crossbow	+4 XP

Lores

Lore Earned

The Difference Between A Crossbow And A Sword

Crossbow: Reloading

Crossbow: Aiming And Firing

Crossbow: Speed Versus Accuracy

Loots

+1 Shield Point

Notes :

Nice solo, Ellen.

Though I would appreciate it if there are some spoken dialog in it to spice things up, make the thread feel more 'alive', you get what I mean?

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.