|
Post by Kai Rose on Aug 9, 2021 22:57:41 GMT -8
The roaring of the stadium's crowd calmed as the archers took the field, ornate Hedgespun bows provided on a rack for the contest to allow equal parts flash and fairness. Kai Rose stood in the center on the firing line, Summer's heat pouring off her along with a compulsion to constantly improve oneself as the participants closed.
"Las Vegas, your competitors!"
A cheer went up through the crowd as the competitors stepped out. She raised a fist and a bow of pure light was drawn forth from the Sun.
"Archers! Your challenge today is simple: hit the targets."
Kai snapped three rapid shots off, tagging each light as it moved. The arrows were consumed as they went, one hitting a green light, one hitting a yellow light, and one hitting a red light. Each exploded as they were hit in a harmless flash.
"You have five arrows! If you hit a green target, you gain one point! If you hit a yellow target, you gain two! If you hit a red target, you gain three!"
The green ones were slow moving and fairly easy to hit. The yellow ones were actively evading and would be a challenging hit. The red ones were zipping around at remarkable speeds and would be a very difficult shot.
"The top two competitors will move on to the final round! Ready your weapons, and may the Wyrd bless your efforts!"
|
|
|
Post by Lucas Chevalier on Aug 9, 2021 23:31:27 GMT -8
Lucas reached inside of a pouch he had attached to his waist, pulling out a pair of archery gloves.
The first two shots sail past their targets. The Fairest laughs and shakes his head at himself. He draws in a deep breath to help steady himself. He soaks in the energy coming from all of the Summer mantles. When he opens up his eyes he embraces the spirit of Summer and the next series of shots all land on their targets.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!"
He moves over to Kai to give her a high five. After he's done with his mini celebration, he steps off to the side to cheer on the other competitors.
|
|
|
Post by Wayland on Aug 10, 2021 10:49:53 GMT -8
She's been looking forward to this. She's not going to win of course, though she'll plans to give it her all. It'll be fun. A fun challenge. And getting to see Kai put her skills on display here at the start, that's something she's been wanting to see since Ivory mentioned her skills. Wayland is smiling as she stands behind the firing line, stretching and rolling her shoulders, arms, back. Warming up.
Knowing she's not the greatest shot in the world, Wayland paces herself. She's pleased when her first shot strikes true, she might actually make a showing of herself here! Pleased enough that her second shot is a thing of beauty, for all that the target it hits is still green. Her third shot is on-target too, and the fourth is her first miss.
She pauses before her final shot, tracking one of the red targets as it moves erratically across the range. Time to put a little more effort into this competition. "I once saw a spider clinging to a leaf," she whispers to the wind. "A terrible storm shook it from the tree, and spider and leaf fell, blown by wind and rain. The leaf fluttered down to land upon a stream, where the spider would surely drown as the current pulled it's leaf down towards rocks and white rapids. But instead, the leaf started moving upstream. It had landed upon the head of a beaver swimming for it's life. And so the spider lived another day."
After reciting this miraculous turn of events, this incredible twist of fortune, at a whisper for the hearing only of the wind, Wayland draws back her bow and her arrow sails into a glowing red target.
|
|
Firebringer
.
Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
|
Post by Firebringer on Aug 10, 2021 12:03:15 GMT -8
Dani picks up the bow and gets herself steady. She can't remember the last time she shot an arrow genuinely. Which target first? Which order?
Welp. We get five shots. Green. Green. Yellow. Yellow. Red? Yep. Sounds like a plan. Making plans helped these days. Gave her a direction to go in when she got into those moods where she just didn't want to have to think to do.
She lines herself up for the shots to the Greens. Every single shot there was easy. Straight through. Next, Yellow. She misses her first shot, but recovers for the second. Finally, Red. She readies herself, staring hard at the target. She knows she could hit it, but something catches her mind at the last moment and she fumbles it.
She lets out a sigh, "Well, that could have gone better, but at least I tried." She says with a laugh.
|
|
|
Post by Blaze on Aug 10, 2021 12:05:02 GMT -8
Unlike her previous three competitors, Blaze is completely silent the whole way through, from the moment she took her bow from the rack to setting it down, five arrows spent. She takes her sweet time, too, carefully aiming each time. She preferred metal and scopes to wood and strings, but this was not unknown to her. And there is something zen about the whole experience, despite the heat and cheering crowds.
She wants to start big, with the red target that seemed to be mocking them by moving so quickly. The first arrow was released and, just as planned, embedded itself in the moving light. Two more followed into the easier green targets, hitting them as well; it is only the fourth shot that misses its mark, making Blaze almost curse under her breath. It was a small consolation prize to hit another green: the total score decent, but not exactly impressive.
She steps away from the firing line, observing any other Lost that would try their hand in the competition.
|
|
|
Post by Gavin Graves on Aug 11, 2021 20:21:57 GMT -8
Gavin had been watching as the others took their turns at target shooting. He gauged the speed of the moving targets and weighed his own skill with a bow. It had been quite some time since he had cause to use one. The changes he'd endured didn't make him more encouraged to try. What good is an archer with high likelihood of slicing the string with each draw? The ritual demanded he compete though.
Moving to the firing line, he eyed up the yellow targets for his attempts. The other Lost had already made a good showing and without the higher point value targets he wasn't going to stand much chance of winning. Archery not being his focus he was not intending to put himself on the line for this challenge. The MMA ring had his attention even as it caused him concern.
Holding the bow carefully he lined up the motion of his first yellow target. Having only distant memory of using one, he had not adapted how to properly anchor the draw near the corner of his mouth before the release when taking the claws into account. His shot veered hard landing well away from the target.
Eager to replace the impression he quickly followed his first shot with the remainder of his flight of arrows: yellow target--center mass, yellow target--missed, Yellow target--hit. At four points so far, his last shot had to go after a red target to possibly edge out some of the other competitors. With his rapid shooting the tips of his claws had frayed the bow string prior to the final shot. Upon release, the string broke mid-return, sapping it of its full power. The bow limbs harshly snapped to their vertical positions with a 'thunk' sound and a force that resonated up to his shoulder. Gavin grimaced at the damage to the bow. The shot had very nearly hit the target anyway.
Not near enough to land points on the scorecard though. He would not be advancing in that competition. It was probably best for the equipment that he did not.
|
|
|
Post by Lucas Chevalier on Aug 12, 2021 3:10:02 GMT -8
Lucas was Mr.Smuggity-McSmug as he watched Gavin miss most of his shots. If his mental math was correct then that meant that he came out on top and scored more points than Gavin. That in and of itself was a victory for the Fairest.
His attention shifted over towards the other competitors. He wasn't surprised to see Wayland hit multiple difficult challenges after her impressive athletic performance in volleyball at Beltane.
The Winter elemental caught his attention and he cheered her on after she completed her turn. He had briefly seen her during Litha but the two of them hadn't had a chance to exchange pleasantries considering all of the other activity going. He would have to introduce himself after the competition was over.
"Looks like you and I are out of the running for the finals." He grinned over at Fire.
"I have an idea to help us train for the next competition if you're planning on racing as well. Have you ever seen Scrubs?"
|
|
|
Post by Kai Rose on Aug 14, 2021 22:17:28 GMT -8
As the competitors concluded their efforts, Kai applauded them along with the spectators.
"Las Vegas! Your finalists: Wayland of Summer and Blaze of Winter! To the rest, thank you for competing! Please place your bows on the rack and take your seats. Let the field of battle form!"
Looking out the rest of the Freehold as rocks began to rise from the sandy ground, the Hedge spinning within the Hollow to form a rocky obstacle course, Kai explained what would come next. Two suits of Hedgespun armor were brought out, one for each. It looked like the kind of stuff that could take most, if not all, of the edge off a weapon strike.
"Wayland, Blaze, you face one another for Summer's glory. The Season requires tithe, and in competition, we grant it. Your task is simple. Use the obstacle course and your Contracts to enable yourself to shoot the two red orbs surrounding your opponent.
Once you have struck down both orbs, shoot your opponent once to become the champion. Put your armor on and take your places!"
The field of battle was finished, boulders in sand that competitors could move between. It was time to see who the champion would be.
|
|
|
Post by Wayland on Aug 14, 2021 23:04:55 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Blaze on Aug 15, 2021 13:20:34 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Wayland on Aug 15, 2021 15:00:54 GMT -8
Fairly certain that if she just starts taking potshots from behind cover she'll empty her quiver before she strikes her targets, the Ogre takes a calming breath as she waits for the competition to start. When it does, she immediately abandons her cover and walks out into an open area, as if daring Blaze to try to shoot her. Bow raised, she breathes slow, and focuses.
|
|
|
Post by Blaze on Aug 16, 2021 9:51:49 GMT -8
When your position is already compromised and you square off with a skilled shooter there is no reason to prolong engagement. If Blaze had any hope of winning, it'd be in ending the contest quickly, and so she moves out of cover and taking barely enough time to steady her bow the Elemental fires the first arrow.
|
|
|
Post by Wayland on Aug 16, 2021 11:35:07 GMT -8
The orbs are small enough targets, but Wayland expected them to be moving along with Blaze. It's still a shot that nears the edge of her abilities, but it's far more achievable than she'd feared. Concentrating only on her own shot even as one of her orbs explodes, she returns fire, sending her arrow through one of Blaze's targets.
|
|
|
Post by Blaze on Aug 16, 2021 11:56:25 GMT -8
Blaze barely notices one of her own orbs being struck down, being more focused on her opponent and their surroundings. She decides to move out of the open space, both to make things more difficult for Wayland and to provide some variety for the spectators - assuming their excitement plays a role in the ritualistic value of the competition. Unfortunately, this means she cannot properly focus on aiming and steadying the shot, which causes the arrow to miss its target, to the Sprite's frustration.
|
|
|
Post by Wayland on Aug 16, 2021 12:13:06 GMT -8
Wayland calmly draws another arrow and fits it to her string, keeping her sight focused on Blaze, without moving from her spot.
|
|