Post by The Drowned God on Oct 16, 2008 7:47:02 GMT -5
The morning after the betrothal dinner, Lord Wencel cleared a space within the Hawk’s Nest and created a temporary archery range and training circle. Though he did not care for the pomp and ceremony of these meaningless events, he had no great desire to see Dorne humbled again before the baying mob. After everything has been taken away, pride is sometimes all there is left and he intended to do everything he could to build on that. He was helped into some light leather armour and walked across to the training circle.
Robb Waters stood nearby, already outfitted for the bout, his large frame and bushy red hair and beard making him conspicuous even in the murk of the early dawn as he patiently waited with his sword in hand. Wencel hefted the blunted spear he carried, gripping it tightly until the leather in his gloves squeaked. It’d been a long while since he’d taken the time to reacquaint himself with his martial training – too many long hours with traders, lords and other distractions. He stepped smoothly forward into the circle and crouched, presenting a low target to his opponent as Robb came in to meet him. He jabbed once, testing his foe but Robb easily parried the blow. They kept at this for a few more minutes until Robb took the offensive, firing in a series of strikes – high, low, high, high, low, hi-. Wencel grunted with pain, as the expected high blow did not come when Robb twisted his body to side and hammered his sword into the leather plating on his side. Wencel winced and cursed his foolishness. He retreated swinging his spear in an arc almost like a staff. Robb was expecting this move however, and rolled forward coming to his feet within its reach and grasped Wencel’s jerkin as he placed the sword point on his throat. Wencel dropped his spear with disgust “The match is yours” he said, turning on his heel as he stalked off towards the archery butts, muttering to himself. Robb spent the next hour continuing to spar within the circle with some of the more skilled household guards but never once looked like being bested and Wencel began to allow himself the idea that perhaps they would do well in the tourney after all
As Robb fought in the training circle, Wencel stood by the archery range and picked up a strong yew bow and tested the string’s tension, hoping that his skill with it had not deteriorated as rapidly as his aptitude with the spear. He plucked his first arrow from the quiver and took a deep breath as he sighted along its length towards the targets at the other side of the yard. He calmed himself and took several more slow breaths as he focussed on the feel of the weapon in his hand and the mark on straw circle some 200 yards distant. The target seemed to enlarge as he stared at it and he released on the exhale as he’d been taught those many years ago. The arrow sped across the span and thudded into the target, just a whisker away from the centre. He grunted in satisfaction as at least one ability was still as he remembered. He spent the next hour or so getting used to the feel and weight of the bow in his hands. He was glad of the excuse for a break later in the day as his wife and children came out with some breakfast for himself and his men and he spent the remainder of the afternoon watching as Wyvar and Wylla tried themselves with varying degrees of success
Results:
Robb Waters improves from Noteworthy to Expert with the Sword
Lord Wencel Fowler improves from Noteworthy to Expert in Archery
Robb Waters stood nearby, already outfitted for the bout, his large frame and bushy red hair and beard making him conspicuous even in the murk of the early dawn as he patiently waited with his sword in hand. Wencel hefted the blunted spear he carried, gripping it tightly until the leather in his gloves squeaked. It’d been a long while since he’d taken the time to reacquaint himself with his martial training – too many long hours with traders, lords and other distractions. He stepped smoothly forward into the circle and crouched, presenting a low target to his opponent as Robb came in to meet him. He jabbed once, testing his foe but Robb easily parried the blow. They kept at this for a few more minutes until Robb took the offensive, firing in a series of strikes – high, low, high, high, low, hi-. Wencel grunted with pain, as the expected high blow did not come when Robb twisted his body to side and hammered his sword into the leather plating on his side. Wencel winced and cursed his foolishness. He retreated swinging his spear in an arc almost like a staff. Robb was expecting this move however, and rolled forward coming to his feet within its reach and grasped Wencel’s jerkin as he placed the sword point on his throat. Wencel dropped his spear with disgust “The match is yours” he said, turning on his heel as he stalked off towards the archery butts, muttering to himself. Robb spent the next hour continuing to spar within the circle with some of the more skilled household guards but never once looked like being bested and Wencel began to allow himself the idea that perhaps they would do well in the tourney after all
As Robb fought in the training circle, Wencel stood by the archery range and picked up a strong yew bow and tested the string’s tension, hoping that his skill with it had not deteriorated as rapidly as his aptitude with the spear. He plucked his first arrow from the quiver and took a deep breath as he sighted along its length towards the targets at the other side of the yard. He calmed himself and took several more slow breaths as he focussed on the feel of the weapon in his hand and the mark on straw circle some 200 yards distant. The target seemed to enlarge as he stared at it and he released on the exhale as he’d been taught those many years ago. The arrow sped across the span and thudded into the target, just a whisker away from the centre. He grunted in satisfaction as at least one ability was still as he remembered. He spent the next hour or so getting used to the feel and weight of the bow in his hands. He was glad of the excuse for a break later in the day as his wife and children came out with some breakfast for himself and his men and he spent the remainder of the afternoon watching as Wyvar and Wylla tried themselves with varying degrees of success
Results:
Robb Waters improves from Noteworthy to Expert with the Sword
Lord Wencel Fowler improves from Noteworthy to Expert in Archery