The Archery Tournament

[King Uther Pendragon]

Now that the sign up thread is closed, it is time to start the tournament!

In the centre of the castle grounds, an area has been cordoned off for Camelot's archery tournament. A row of targets is set up 50 yards away, another at 65 yards and a final row at 77. Each participant will have to fire one arrow at each row, aiming of course for the centre ring.


Participants
Arthur Pendragon (will not be judged)
Selena Fireheart
Casalynn Laymont
Richard Cabal
Lady Morgana Le Fey
Evie Perroy
Selphia Dek
Agron Esa

Rules
Each participant must now write a maximum of 500 words describing their turn in the competition-involving three seperate arrows.
You can choose to do well, extremely badly or anything inbetween.

The winner will be chosen by admin and will not depend on how well you scored in-character. It will be judged purely on writing skill- so you can choose to have your character shoot themselves if you so wished!

This thread will be open for a week, and we (as Admin) will then choose the 3 most impressive posts. These 3 characters will then compete in a final round, which will be open for a few days (or until everyone has posted).
The winner will then be picked!

Let us know if you have any questions.

Let the arrows fly!

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Prince Arthur grabbed his quiver and had Merlin pass him his bow. He hadn't the slightest doubt in his arrogant mind that anyone would beat him today and he knew for certain that his skill would far surpass that of anyone else in the competition- especially the women.
"Right Merlin, any last tips before I make my first attempt?" Theservant opened his mouth to speak but Arthur cut him off, "Of course you don't,what am I saying? You're only a servant!" He flashed Merlin a cheeky smile and went to take his position.

He stalked up to the line that marked where the archers should stand and strung an arrow. He was the first contestant to shoot and was enjoying the excited frenzy that the crowd had whipped themselves into. The wait they had endured had been put in place to ensure when the competition did begin, they were all the more grateful, and it seemed to have worked. Arthur made a big show of lining up his bow and positioning his feet, loving the way the crowd "ooh"-ed and "aah"-ed as he changed his stance. He finally readied himself, checked his aim and let go of the bowstring.

As expected the arrow sailed seamlessly through the air in a perfect arc and collided with the very centre of the target. A new cheer arose from the crowd and Arthur turned to face them, holding his bow above his head and grinning wildly. The crowd, although many had come to support friends and family, loved to see their future king do well and Arthur knew and exploited it at every given oppurtunity.

"Thank you!" He bellowed to his supporters and bid them be quiet as he took his next shot. Again, he made a drama out of getting positions and aim correct, although in truth he wasn't doing anything special. He had quite a talent with a bow after his father had made him train harder than anyone he had ever met before and it was more of a natural thing than tactics.
He let the arrow fly again and as before it arced perfectly and collided with the centre of the second target.

Once more he turned to the crowd for a little ego boost before he took his third arrow. He made less of a show with aiming this time and squinted, lining up his bow perfectly.
"Go on Sire!" Merlin shouted suddenly, and in shock Arthur let go of his arrow, sending it soaring way over the target and even beyond the courts boundaries. The crowd errupted into bouts of laughter and Arthur fumed. He grabbed Merlin by one of his rather red tipped ears and stormed out of the grounds. This had probably ruined his chances of victory.

[Selena Fireheart]

Selena Fireheart dedicated her turn in the tournament to her mother who had sacrificed everything for her. She wore a long red dress, leather boots and a long hooded cloak. Feeling anxious at the challenge ahead, Selena placed her hand over the bow while entering the assigned area where all Archers had to begin their turns at shooting, knowing this was to be difficult.

Selena bowed to his Majesty King Uther. A soldier handed Selena three arrows and a quiver. She took them, nodding, as he returned to his post. Selecting one, placing the others inside the quiver. Walking towards the first target, just slightly, away from her. Selena pulled her cloak behind her. She felt the wood on her hand and knew it was time to begin. She lifted the arrow up towards the bow placing the end into the centre of the bowstring.

Placing her feet apart. Selena stood sideways, lifting the bow until the tip was pointing towards the target. She used her strength to pull the bowstring backwards and placing her fingers into position, the middle fingers held the bowstring together and the left two fingers held the edge of the nock behind the fletching. Releasing the grip so the strength of the bowstring, her strength and the hardness of the bow allowed the arrow to fly. The arrow piercing the air flew towards and penetrated the target. Selena smiled as the first arrow sat deeply within the centre.

The crowd cheered. Selena’s first target was a success. Acknowledging the crowd Selena was relieved. The second and third targets were the obstacles to conquer. Walking towards the second target, seeing it was even further back than the first. She stood sideways raising the bow while taking her second arrow and placing the nock end into the centre of the bowstring, pointing the bow so the tip was towards the target.

Using the strength in her arm pulling the bowstring back. Her fingers positioned as before. Selena released her grip letting the arrow fly. The arrow flew straight into the centre. Selena was amazed. Selena heard the Camelothians cheering. The final and most difficult of all awaited her. Walking towards it she gasped as the target stood much further away. Selena placed all her faith into her last attempt. Selena stood sideways, her feet apart, the final target within sight Selena pulled the bowstring backwards, her fingers in position one final time.

The tip of the arrow aligned with the target Selena released her grip allowing the bowstring to push forwards, letting the arrow fly.

The crowd cheered. Selena saw the arrow go straight through, slightly to the right of the centre. A successful hit. Proudly Selena turned and bowed to King Uther She returned her bow to the waiting knight. Knights removed the arrows embedded into the targets.

Selena looking heavenward thanked her mother. Wishing luck to her fellow competitors Selena quietly left the area. Relieved her turn was over. She watched the tournament from afar.

[Sir Agron Esa]

Sir Agron accepted his three arrows from a servant and strode out onto the archery grounds with confidence, purpose, and the honour of the knights to uphold. Amusing as it ordinarily would have been to see the great Arthur shoot wide due to distraction from that absurd if highly entertaining manservant of his, a tournament was decidedly not the place to do it in. Especially as next up had been a young girl, whom Agron was sure he’d seen busying about the castle in the attire of a servant, hit two perfect marks with astonishing competency, promptly beating the Prince of Camelot's score. That really would not do. Agron took his place, stabbed his three arrows into the ground until he was ready for them, and assessed his target.

Goose feather fletching whispered as Agron pulled his first arrow from the ground. Its tip came clean from the soil and he rested it on the gloved forefinger of his bow hand, fitting its nock snugly around the taught hemp bowstring. Agron set his sight on the target; arrow loaded but tip still pointed at the ground. Ready to be drawn. The target was a mere fifty yards away. No match for a knight. No excuse to miss. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the centre most pinnacle of the bullseye. Simply hitting a bullseye was not his aim today but hitting a perfect bullseye.

He slowed his breathing and faded out the sound from the stands behind. Not once did his eyes stray from the centre of the target.

Supple yew bent silently as he began his draw. Now that it was started the movement would not stop until the arrow was released. The tip of the arrow rose as it was drawn back against the taught bowstring. The muscles on his back rippled and tightened taking all the strain so that his shoulder and elbow could remain loose and relaxed. When he felt his hand reach the air by his cheek he released the arrow. His arm followed through, moving backwards until it was past his rear shoulder.

The arrow hit the perfect centre of the target. As did his second arrow, equalling his score to that of his predecessors.

Agron pulled his final arrow from the ground and stood before the target 77 yards away. It was still a relatively minor distance for the range of a longbow, leaving no excuse for lack of precision. Agron took a deep grip on his bowstring, the hemp chord fitting into the joint of his gloved fore and middle fingers. He felt for the target, pushing his bow arm forward towards its goal. He set his sight; slightly above a perfect shot and slightly to left, allowing for the spine of his arrow to bend the trajectory. He drew and aimed and released in a swift, precise and very practiced move.

Another bullseye.

His job was done and with a dip of his head to the king he left the field.

[500/500]

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

The day of the Archery tournament finally arrived and as much as Morgana was looking forward to challenging Arthur and the other men at Court who had registered, she was also extremely nervous. Being the lone child of the Duke of Cornwall and without her mother’s presence, she has grown up around weapons- even to the point of helping her father with his armour, playing with toy swords as a child and unknown to many a bow and arrow. Point of the story: do not underestimate her. She may be a woman, but women know that although they may not be able to fight in combat, they can still die in combat and that it is important to be able to defend yourself as much as a possible.

Gwen assisted Morgana into her deep emerald green with the wooden beaded embroidery at the top as it was a more fitted dress and therefore easier to shoot in. To ward off the autumn chill her cloak fell gracefully from her neck to her ankles.

A servant came and bowed before her. “Lady Morgana, it is your turn.” Morgana nodded and after a reassuring pat on the back from Gwen, she followed the servant boy out to where the targets were lined up. When she emerged the crowds went wild. In their eyes it was one thing to see Arthur perform- it was expected that he would participate but it was another to see the King’s ward participate. She bowed to the crowds then took the bow and arrow that was offered to her.

Morgana readied herself at the line and cast her gaze off towards the targets- there were three in succession- 50 paces, 65 paces and the final at 77 paces. She looked at the quiver in her hand and after carefully examining each arrow she determined which order she would use them in and selected her first arrow. Morgana slung the quiver over her back and turned her attention to the bow- it was light and springy in her hand and when she pulled on the string she could feel the power it contained. She knocked the arrow onto the string and took a moment to get her stance comfortable the fired at the first target. With ease it sunk into the center of the target and the crowd went wild. After allowing a moment for the crowd to settle she moved onto the second target. Morgana took a deep breath to settle the nerves as she set up the next arrow. The target was a little further so she took care to recheck her aim and then fired the second arrow. It pierced the center ring but just slightly off center. Finally the third arrow- She set up her bow, took her aim and fired... It hit the second ring. Three shots, three hits...and again the crowd went wild. "I thank you my Lord" Morgana bowed to the King and then to the crowd, then left the line.

[Richard Cabal]

Richard ran his fingertips over his bow. It was a short one but sturdy, packing a punch if not gifted with range like a longbow. He rarely used it on the battle field but could shoot game with it. Grace and he had lived off the game he had managed to shoot. He didn’t pay much attention to the other competitors, mostly to keep his own nerves down. They fluttered about in his stomach and made his muscles tense. One hand on his bow, Richard rubbed the back of his neck and then twisted his head around. It seemed a good day for a tourney, the wind wasn’t too hard to make arrows fly off course. From the shouting of the crowd, Richard guessed the competitor before him had scored well.

Silence descended on the field and Richard stood ready. Readying an arrow, he gazed down at the target for a moment, some what wishing he was just shooting for food. Not here to win even if any prize is good. Here just to look settled into Camelot. He took a deep and slow breath and suddenly swung his bow arm up. In one motion he had drawn back the string to his ear and released the arrow. The string whipped against his archer’s guards and the arrow hit the target with a solid thud. Second ring, he grimaced. If that had been an animal it would have been enough.

Richard strode to the next target as attendants measured his shot and marked down his first result. Now that the first shot had been fired, he was calm. In his calm he thought the second target was clearer. In the same smooth motion - without waiting for the crowd to pay attention - Richard fired at the next target. Bulls eye. He strode towards the final target, starting to enjoy himself. He would have to join archers in their training sometime. Or begin fencing with people. Perhaps there is a business there? Richard stifiled thoughts of the future. He did not know where Grace’s quest would lead them and besides, he could barely write and his reading was merely passable. Hardly merchant material.

At the final target he paused to test the wind and once again swung his bow arm up. Arm back, hand to ear. Arrow released. Bow string swiped his guard and his arrow hand flopped down. The wind got stronger and he heard the deep thump of his arrow striking the target. Three from the center. Richard grinned at the polite applause and strode off to watch the rest of the tournament, ready to unstring his bow lest the string become loose from the tension.

[Selphia Dek]

All the contestant’s skill with surprise and then shock, until they burst into applaud when the task was finally done amazed the crowd. Selphia slipped forward when it became her turn. Her heart was now lodged in her throat. Never had she felt her skill was anything then passable. She hunted wild game, but nothing bigger then a rabbit, though she often felt that these animals were more sacred then food.

~Selphia focus~ she utter in silence to herself.

She slipped her longbow from her shoulder. She had taken three arrows out, and placed them into the ground points down for a quick draw, as one under fire would do. Or so her brother had told her. It was for rapid fire namely, and Selphia did not wish to stand here being watched.

The bow was brought to her right hand, while her left took the first arrow and strung it. She was quick to find the center of the bow, balanced it in the most comfortable position. She held the fletch of the arrow behind her thumb, pinching pinched it against the string. Carefully balancing it upon the edge of her hand. She drew the string back it brushed her cheek. Her gaze focused on the target, 50 feet away.

Feet separated so they were shoulder width apart, hips squared, knees soft, as well as her elbow when she finally took her shot. Eyes fused on the target. Her lips parted as she whispered in old Latin before letting the arrow fly.

Her fingers pinched the arrow to the string, then released without budging an inch. The arrow flew through the air with such grace and precision, as it struck the target, bull’s eye. The second arrow was already plunked from the ground and flying at the target just as the other arrow had struck, she did not even repositioning herself other then angling her bow slightly up ward. The arrow was released in the same manner as the first bow, striking the target to the left in the second ring.

The third bow was drawn, she did not move. Though she paused, looked to a group of small birds upon a nearby fence. Watching as two fluttered away, while the third bird faltered in mid-flight and dropped off the fence. Wings fluttered to get momentum again. Selphia waited as she saw the two birds gain air, but then swoop down and to the right, a downward draft brought them up. The third bird seemed to glide up as the air current shifted. Selphia corrected her bow a notch higher and released it, uttering her Latin behind it. Squinting her gaze in order to see when the arrow came back down.

But like all things, what goes up must come down. It came down with such force that it struck the target, going through it on an angle, that it pierced the bull’s eye, and buried itself into the ground.

Selphia bowed to the king and left the grounds.

[King Uther Pendragon]

Uther watched proudly as the competitors each took a turn at shooting the targets lined up on the field. They all did remarkably well, save for Arthur who made quite a fool of himself.

The King stood up and announced the results."My friends, you have all shown me a great talent lies here within Camelot. Unfortunately and due to the unfortunate circumstances which meant two members had to pull out, only two competitors will be going through to the final round. The competitors continuing on to the next round are Agron Esa and Richard Cabal."


Agron and Richard please now post another post (up to 1000 words long) describing 3 final arrows. Admin will then choose the winner!

[Richard Cabal]

Richard scowled in Grace's direction at her noisy response to his making it to the next round. Lass will be wakin' the peaceful dead! Returning to the target with the shortest range, Richard took his time checking his bow. The string was still tense and the shaft still strong. It would be sloppy if he lost a tourney due to a loose string.

Hwicce! His arrow swung up, the string pulling back and this time he managed to check for the wind just in time. Release. His arm dropped down and the other hand moved as if to reach for the next arrow. Habit. The arrow he had shot quivered in the center of the target. After checking for himself that he had shot true, Richard strode to the next target.

Once again he took his time, not rushing or putting himself under pressure. The wind steadily picked up and he noted a bird wheeling overhead. Grass on the field bent under the wind. Richard kicked at the earth as if grounding himself and reached for an arrow. Before the wind could change its mind, Richard swung the bow up, shot and hit the second ring from the center. He moved to the final target.

Reaching the final target, he centered himself, balancing his weight and shifting his grip. It would be much better to be in the forest, with silence except for the birds. A deer in sight and both of them full of an ancient understanding. You must kill, but make it quick. Make it clean. Richard fired the last shot and it quivered just off center.