3. In the Wake of Battle

In the Wake of Battle


  • **After the massive coordinated attack of the demons, fel orcs, and blood warrior armies Hen would find herself listening to the Generals Tenday upkeep report. The air was thick and moral clearly low as all gathered to monitor the report slowly faded from the meeting. In the coming hours Hen finds herself just beyond the inner walls looking over the wanton destruction of the outer, once strong, Peltarch wall before she started to slow and careful collection of the Fel Orc longbows.

    Though the Attack had mainly consisted of warriors there where still plenty of bows in the thousands of dead bodies that lay strewn across the battlefield and when opportunity presented hen was not far. The stick fingered rogue gathering what she could and slipping them into any number of magic bags they had no place fitting into, slowly stripping the battle field barren of Longbows and arrows alike that she could reach within her safe zone.

    With her collection she now waded her way slowly to the Peltarch tourney grounds and dropped off the bows before she inspected them and tested them for pull. Those to warped, chipped, or burned where cast aside and ones passing inspection where leaned carefully against the red and white back of the jousting stands. Filling every quiver full she then did her best to match up two full quivers for every bow she could, thinning her numbers towards the end with one and half before she looked over the supply and nodded slowly.

    Gathering up a single longbow she then walked to the temple stepping in to look over commoners before she walked to the front and cleared her throat. If it was not enough to catch all the attention in the room she would raise her voice and the longbow before she started to speak.**

    Listen! and listen well. You felt the rattling of the battle no doubt in this very temple, however beyond these walls brace men and women layed down the lives and we survived. We Triumphed as a whole, everyone of us.

    She motioned around the room then an poped the bow up and down in her hands before she spoke once more. Hen was hardly the most charismatic or hopeful person in all of Narfell, however she hoped genuine words would be enough now as she spoke plainly.

    With every victory comes loss and in my years here in Narfell much has been lost from friend to home, I am sure everyone in this room has suffered from it without exception. However gods willing, all gods, we have always come through to withstand the torment and chaos that plagues us and come out better than before, stronger as a people.
    Hen smiled some and displayed the bow to the people This was taken from just beyond those walls every defended, they where not ours, however they are now and they need people to use them. Every deffender of this city will be needed in the days to come, and those of able spirit and body I plead to you as a fellow citizen. As someone who does not wish to see the wanton destruction of this city, that you come with me and learn to use this bow. For in the times to come every single soldier counts.
    With her words said, she places enough trust in the mouths and gossip of the people and solider of Peltarch that her offer might spread to ears untold from her own mouth with relative accuracy. Her parting words as she walked through the crowd directing them to where she could be found.

    To any who would take up cause to aid the city, I will be at that Range behind the Jousting Stands. I will not train children. Men, Women, and Teenagers with brothers and sisters to carry your family name. You will learn to use a bow properly, and you will help this city more than you know.


  • With the Siege over, Hen quickly goes from her post and watchful eyes to find all her students and citizen archers to ensure their safety.


  • _As the new recruits come forth Hen would set to getting them with weapons and sorted out accordingly, sending halflings to Marty with Slings, and bows to others and sending them to her side. Once she had sorted out the new comers she would always keep her eyes fort if more showed up immediately going to get them sorted as well as time drew shorter. With Mark and Elvewyn With all the makings of archers now she would have them working and training with most of the squad now as she slowly introduced the new comers personally. She wasted no time getting them to observe and practice the motions of the others before her showing them that in truth it was not hard to make a big contribution.

    Its simple, but it requires great focus, Take some of the blunt headed arrows and join in with the drills for long range combat. If you find yourselves confused, step back come to me and receive direct answers or approach one of Mark or Elvewyn between drills. Both of them are excellent archers and the two Squad leaders so get to know them well.

    Be sure to keep them focused and give breaks with moderation, arms will be tired but they will come to get used to the pull. She spoke softly with Mark and Elvewyn Basic problems I am confident both of you may solve however keep me updates on anyone struggling with the drills, if they struggle to much at this point with the bow I will ask Marty to teach them the simple sling. Look for talent, and nurture it, those who show promise pull it out of them slowly to give them confidence.She nodded some to them and motioned for the days training to begin.

    Once the Training for the day started to go in full swing running through multiple drills from the long ranged arcing shots, to short range practice and precision shots hen would make the rounds. Correcting stances, draws, and giving tips on aim and coordination. She often consults Mark and Elvewyn with the drills, getting feedback from the two on their respective squads and attending to the personal and individual needs of each archer as she can. The constant days up, mental fortitude of her notes and upkeep on all the citizens weighing on her but she seems unusually determined to keep her pace._


  • The initial squad of 30 men and women seems to be working adequately together. The remaining ten volunteers are still very clumsy. Furthermore, another group of ten join the training grounds, inspired by the quick progress of their friends. Free education is always nice.

    Archers:
    Squad 1
    (1) Aristocrat 4, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus: Longbow
    (1) Warrior 4, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus: Longbow
    (8) Commoner 4, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (20) Commoner 3, Martial Weapon Proficiency

    Unassigned
    (10) Commoner 2, Not Proficient
    (10) Commoner 1, Not Proficient

    Slingers:
    (12) Commoner 2, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Good Aim


  • With the new addition of the bows, the lack of death by fiery impact, and the bolstering of recruits Hen would set Mark to introducing the new people to bows, arrows and basic training. Meanwhile Letting Marty do her own thing with the Halflings and slings.

    _I have some excellent news on two fronts for everyone, first of all it seems all your hard work has been recognized by not only your fellow people She would wave her arm over at the ten new recruits being looked after by Mark.. Not on that they have been recognized by General Del'Rosa himself and by his good graces I give you~ She would step to the side to reveal the new batch of defender quality bows with a happy smile. Bows, of better quality than the ones I scavenged and each of us is able to now have one!

    Now, each of you take a new bow and its time to start the last of our training. We will be down Mark today as he will be introducing the new folks while I set you guys up however I am confident he will easily catch up and for now I will fill his spot within your squad. As of today All 30 of you are one single squad of archers and this is where trust within you all must be unbreakable. Now if each of the 15 members from the individual squads from the last dew days would line up. Mark's in front with me, Eve's in the back. Stand one pace back and one half step offset to the right.

    Hen Would let then step out of her own line and go to instructing the other 29 archers she had before her, getting them all to rise their bows. Showing them the finer points of not shooting one another in the back instructing them specifically on the benefits of shooting as a team, reloading as a team, and focusing as a team instead of an individual.

    Alright, now it's key that first the front row of archers in the squad She motioned to the front row of archers. fires first then takes a quick Knees just like I showed you while you Knock a new arrow. Once the front has Knelt to reload the back row will fire, This will give us two volleys of consistent pressure towards the Enemy. This will slow, wound, and kill many an enemy before they ever reach the front of the fight and greatly help the individuals before you. Hen would then rejoin her temporary squad in the front and took her own bow in hand.

    Knock… Draw... Release!The Front Row of archers loose their volley before Hen would kneel down with her front squad before the same Orders where ushered to the back line from Elvewyn. This practice keeps up all day, Hen substituting herself for Mark half way through however so she can go attend and more expertly help the new arrivals with the basic training once more._


  • Bows are delivered to the volunteers from the Defenders. Some of the volunteers show improvement, and even more people join the practice range. Everyone has a bow for themselves.

    Archers
    (1) Aristocrat 3, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus: Longbow
    (1) Warrior 3, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus: Longbow
    (8) Commoner 3, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (20) Commoner 2, Not Proficient
    (10) Commoner 1, Not Proficient

    Slingers
    (12) Commoner 2, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Good Aim


  • With Several days of practice now under the Archers belts Hen looks for ways to acquisition more bows, as they improve it seems she is finding it hard to keep progress with such limited supply. Her first stop would be to General Del'Rosa submitting a request for any bows still within the armory that used to belong to now dead soldiers.

    (( Emer, Wyv Or Anyone able to reliably respond requested IC or Forums it doesn't matter to me just let me know thank you!


  • After Marty begins the sling training, dozen hins join the practice range.

    Archers
    (1) Aristocrat 2, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (1) Warrior 2, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (28) Commoner 2, Not Proficient

    Slingers
    (12) Commoner 2, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Good Aim

  • Legion

    For those having trouble with bows, Marty steps in and provides some training with the sling. Her thinking is that slings are far easier to use than bows (simple prof.) and ammunition is easier to find.


  • The men and women of Peltarch seem to put great effort into their training. Some seem to have more natural talent with archery than others. At the end of the first couple of days, two archers stand out from the others, consistently hitting the target at short range: Mark and Elvewyn.

    (1) Aristocrat 2, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (1) Warrior 2, Martial Weapon Proficiency
    (28) Commoner 2, Not Proficient


  • Coming into the second day of training Hen would greet the training commoners as they showed up at dawn once more with some tea inviting them all to Gather around and make small talk before the dusk of the red morning settled. As the red take took its focus Hen began her instruction once more.

    Welcome back everyone I am glad to see you all so enthusiastic and willing still to learn, today we will begin practicing our shooting as one unit. Everyone will need to be able to work together as one to achieve the greatest effect for all of you. Yesterday two of you stood out to me and each of you will take leading roles with fourteen other people each. These are small groups however I am sure in time when everyone see's your growing improvement more will come and you all will have to take responsibility as them so be sure to pay attention and always work together.

    Hen would then hand One elven women and One human a bow and nods to them slightly as she motioned them to the front before the tapped people on the shoulders and split the small group in two.

    Each group will get Eight bows, in the coming days all of us will be able to work with a bow however for now the team leader for each squad will rotate their teams in seven for each drill three times. If you are not firing make a point to watch, learn, and help your follow man.

    Motioning the two groups to the range then she would take the time to set up the first seven in each group with bows herself, lining the groups up parallel to the targets and sixteen long across the the firing line. By no means where the archers close to the targets, and with all vision hen has set them at impossible range all the way almost back against the stone wall.

    Do not fret about the distance, for it will not be your only challenge however I am confident you will all find this much easier and less daunting the more you practice. As archers you will never be at the front of any battle, before you will often be a wall be it of stone and earth or Metal and Allies. Walking over to The Team one leaders Hen would demonstrate with them two shots, the first she has the archer level her bow at the target and fire coming up horribly short of the long range and skipping across the ground.
    At a long distance, and with allies before you firing straight ahead will almost never hit it without a powerful Pull however even with it You need excellent aim not to hit your allies. However with a whole squad of archers you can change the need for firing at the front, for firing at the mid line of the enemy. Hen would then direct the archer to her stance once more raising her arm slightly as she spoke getting the archer to draw back into position and letting the arrow fly up and arch down just beyond the targets.
    Thinning or badly wounding the enemy before they reach the front line with an army this size will be the job of you citizen soldiers. Your faith must be put in the men and women before you to hold the line, and their faith will be put in you to thin out and cause injury the enemy before they ever reach the line. This still requires a good deal of sense and accuracy however it allows us to focus more acutely on rapid squad attacks to overwhelm the enemy instead of individual skill. Now, aiming like this will be based on instinct, if your arrow flys over the wall your aim is to low, if it falls short of the targets its to high. Hitting the three targets is not important however getting your arrows to land tip down into the ground along the line of the tagets is. Everyone will get 10 shots, and will draw, and fire on their sqquad leaders order. Hen would motion to the Eld and human at the end of each line. After ten Shots, the seven who are not squad leaders will step back, swap the bows to the others and they will fire.
    Hen would then step back and sit sit upon the wall slipping out her notebook and nodding the them     Begin.


  • @65fdcf03dd=Mhilan:

    @65fdcf03dd=Scout-Hen:

    Gathering up a single longbow she then walked to the temple stepping in to look over commoners before she walked to the front and cleared her throat. If it was not enough to catch all the attention in the room she would raise her voice and the longbow before she started to speak.

    Listen! and listen well. You felt the rattling of the battle no doubt in this very temple, however beyond these walls brace men and women layed down the lives and we survived. We Triumphed as a whole, everyone of us.

    She motioned around the room then an poped the bow up and down in her hands before she spoke once more..

    At the abrupt display, the usually humble Ilmatari Allestor Hollins approaches Hen with an affronted look and a surprising intensity in his bright blue eyes.

    I will ask you to respect the fact that you are standing within a temple, a place of prayer and sanctuary. While I understand your intention, this is not the place to conduct yourself in such a manner. Lower your weapon and your voice, and take your recruitment speeches to the commons or the rant stand else you will be escorted out.

    The events having transpired in character and documented on the forums it was likely Mr. Hollins was perhaps out tending the wounded at the time.


  • @358ca681e8=Scout-Hen:

    Gathering up a single longbow she then walked to the temple stepping in to look over commoners before she walked to the front and cleared her throat. If it was not enough to catch all the attention in the room she would raise her voice and the longbow before she started to speak.

    Listen! and listen well. You felt the rattling of the battle no doubt in this very temple, however beyond these walls brace men and women layed down the lives and we survived. We Triumphed as a whole, everyone of us.

    She motioned around the room then an poped the bow up and down in her hands before she spoke once more..

    At the abrupt display, the usually humble Ilmatari Allestor Hollins approaches Hen with an affronted look and a surprising intensity in his bright blue eyes.

    I will ask you to respect the fact that you are standing within a temple, a place of prayer and sanctuary. While I understand your intention, this is not the place to conduct yourself in such a manner. Lower your weapon and your voice, and take your recruitment speeches to the commons or the rant stand else you will be escorted out.

  • S

    _Dodger can be seen watching the practice with an expression that varies between amusement, dismay, and physical pain.

    After a while she clearly can't take any more and goes in search of a tavern that's still operational._


  • As Hen managed to Rally a few dozen archers she would let them test out the bows at first, watching them for a short time firing three shows to see what kind of basic knowledge the commoners have of the weapon. Scribbling notes down from time to time she slowly step foreword motioning the group at the range to ease down their bows as she addressed them now.

    _Thank you all for coming, it is clear a few choice individuals among you will excel and will be needed to help assist your peers. The first few days of training will be basic, however just like growing a crop or building a wall you will only bear as much food and protection as your foundation allows.

    Today will be all about your weapon and stance to allow for for the widen range of movement and learning. Now, for now we have a shortage of bows however in time we will have plenty so at this time I would like you all to get a partner and meet me at the end of the range._

    Making her way to the range she would take one of the mundane bows, sparing the commoners the confusion of her magical string-less bow. and she would take up careful movement before them with the Bow and arrow.

    _The Longbow is a elegant weapon that needs to be treated with as much respect, as it should be feared for its capability. However just as a blade can be dull taking the wrong stance can cause your aim to waver and your draw to lack proper power. Now Pay close attention to me, follow along if you need, and once I finish I will come around to assist you personally.

    One: Your feet should be placed shoulder width apart
    Hen would emphasize her point carefully stomping her feet on the ground and squaring her feet to her shoulders.
    This will give you a solid easy base for you to draw your bow, always stand with your bow arm towards the direction you're going to shoot.

    Two: Take a comfortable grip on the bow, it's not something to be crushed and gripped with all your strength. The stronger you gold it the more you will find your bow shaking, throwing off your aim. Just enough pressure to keep it in your hand.

    Three: Now, take an arrow and knock it so your arrow rests naturally straight upon your bow just above your hand. Raise the bow even with your shoulder and bring your arm straight but do not lock your elbow. Draw back as you breath in, its important to note a draw is not a yank a nice slow and even draw as you draw in all the way though.
    Hen would audibly take in a slow breath as she pulled back on the bow string and holding it then as she spoke.

    Four: Take aim at your target, adjust for your distance off the arrow, breath out and release.
    She let the arrow fly into the target down range
    When you go to release the arrow, release it slowly as your breath out steadying yourself. Yanking back is an excellent way to send your arrow off target, think of it as relaxing your fingers and letting the bow string do all the work.

    Now, have your bow to your partners and practice your steps, I'll come around and adjust your stance and answer questions. Remember we're all only as good as our weakest archer, help your allies and they will help you._


  • Roughly 30 commoners begin training with Hen at the archery range. Many more are indecisive on whether to join them or not - and there's not enough bows or arrows for everyone.