Practice [open]

Subject: Practice [open] Mon Jun 12, 2017 8:30 pm

Svanhild breathed in deeply. She let her breath out, aiming for her target once more, and loosed her arrow. She hit her mark, in the center of the shield she had been aiming for. Svan loved archery, almost as much as she loved her family. Having been born in Uddevalla, she had never left and had no desire to travel outside the walls, unless it was to raid. She was one of the best archers in the Uddevallan army, and the hours upon hours she spent practicing ensured that fact. If she was not practicing, she was manning the walls on guard, or spending time with her family. As she retrieved all of the arrows she had shot, she thought back on the discussion she had with her siblings earlier that day.
Astrid was a gifted healer, taking after their mother, and Valdemar was a fierce sword viking like their father. She had fallen somewhere in the middle, being interested in fighting more than healing after she had picked up her first bow. She resumed her position, and decided she needed more practice in quick firing. She grabbed an arrow from her quiver and knelt down. She nocked her arrow, and then rolled, keeping in mind where her target was. When she popped up from the roll, she fired immediately, and loosed two more arrows directly after. She stood and saw that she had hit a little to the left of the center with her second and third arrows, and that was not good enough. She needed to be perfect. Svan stood up, intent on retrieving the arrows, when she saw someone in the shadows.

Subject: Re: Practice [open] Mon Jul 10, 2017 12:10 pm

Training warriors and children were all around him. Concentrating on the goal they wanted to obtain. It had been a while since Svipday last came to the training camp. Not that he didn’t want to… But the long days in the iron mines made it hard to make free time for training. So most of the days he trained by himself at home or with his adoptive father Mac. What was always fun as he still had no idea how an old man like Mac still could be this good of a warrior. He would have thought that the man would have lost some of his strength already, but that was not the case. Probably because the man was living as a Blacksmith and his work kept his muscles strong and flexible. Not that Svipday would complain about that. After all it was better to fight against a strong opponent, where you didn’t know if you would win or lose. That against a weak one, were victory was assured. You could learn more of the strong ones and Mac had thought him everything he knew after all. Well almost everything. Today was one of his free days. One he was thankful of. He would normally help Mac some with his work, or try selling stuff. But… Mac wasn’t home this morning. When he asked others were he was they told him he was getting better metal to work with. But no one had any idea where the man really went. So that’s when he decided to take a look here at the training camp. He could always observe and learn from sight. Or maybe he would find someone who actually was up to a fight. He wouldn’t mind one at all. He could use the distraction now that he didn’t have to work.

As he walked through the training camp he greeted some of the people he knew. Though he did not join them in their training as it seemed they already had someone to keep them busy with. He always could see if he could help one of the children. It was always fun to teach them things that he knew and see them use them as well. Gave some satisfaction. But just as he was planning on going to see some of the younger ones, he could see movement from the corner of his eye. Movement that got his attention even more after he heard the matt sound of an arrow hitting it’s mark. He turned and saw how an arrow was sticking out of the target right in the middle. What was proof of excellent skills. His eyes soon moved to the shooter. A young maiden is seemed with burning red eyes and forest green eyes. Svipday himself was not much of an archer. Though he could shoot of course. But he wasn’t especially specialised in it. So he could always learn more. He decided to observe the lady for a while as she took in her position again. He stepped back somewhere in the shadows. Crossing his arms and leaning against one of the pillars with his shoulders. He watched how she took another arrow and lent down on one knee. One arrow was shot, before she rolled and quickly took two more arrows, shooting them in a blink of an eye. What was very impressive indeed. His silver blue eyes moved back to the target. The first shot was perfect. But the other two arrows were a little bit more to the left. In battle it would still make sure to kill an opponent. He stared at the target a bit longer. Before he could feel a gaze on him.

His eyes moved back to the maiden. Seems she had noticed him standing there. He didn’t move for a while as he just looked her over. Well it would be rude if he just kept standing there wouldn’t it. And he should show respect to the lady. At least that would be what Mac would tell him if he was here. But he did have respect. Respect for her skills that was. He didn’t know the lady herself. Though it seemed she wasn’t too happy with her shot. Again Svipday wasn’t a very skilled Archer. But with days of observing people and things he knew some things at least. He pushed himself of the pillar and let his arms fall back to his sides as he walked up to her. ”If you lean back a bit more after you’ve rolled, you will be able to hit the target.” He said as he stopped a few meters away from her. He stared into her eyes. Before he walked over the target and took the arrows out. Looking over them for a second. Just a habit he took up from Mac. Before he walked back and held the arrows old to her so she could take them back. ”It will reduce the force of the roll that pulls you forward.” Naturally when you rolled and got back up the force of the roll would make you move forward more. Even if it was just a little. So even if you had the target in mind, the shot wouldn’t go where you aimed for at first. If you leaned back a bit in that moment, it should normally reduce the force and the shot should be more true. At least that was what he had seen other archers do. He never tried himself and he wondered if it was true or would help the maiden. At least that was the least he could do after watching her without permission.

Subject: Re: Practice [open] Tue Jul 11, 2017 8:10 pm

Svan had noticed a presence in the shadows, and calmly waited for the person to make themselves known. She had learned patience from constantly being around her family, and today she drew upon those lessons. It did not take long for the man to make his way in to the light, exposing his tall form before he spoke. 'If you lean back a bit more after you've rolled, you will be able to hit the target.' Svan looked down, imagining the scenario in her head, then looked back at the man with a smile. She had seen him around the mines, and with Mac, as well. Looking down towards the target, she listened as he continued giving her advice. Turning her to look at him again, she nodded once before kneeling to focus on her target. She rolled, and keeping his tip in mind, leaned back a bit before firing two arrows in rapid succession. Both landed in the center of the target, and as she stood up, Svan let out a whoop of joy. After retrieving her arrows, she walked up to the stranger and held her arm out as she introduced herself. "I am Svanhild. Your advice proved true, and I greatly appreciate it. I have seen you around the mines, but I do not know your name." Svan was comfortable with her family, but often had trouble interacting with those she did not know well, as her mouth often ran away without her mind. However, she owed this man for helping her become better at archery, and wished to get to know him better. Perhaps there was more to learn from him.

As she let her eyes roam his face, she noticed he had blue, almost silver eyes. She found herself wondering more about him. For all of her social awkwardness, Svan was a very curious female, and loved hearing the stories of other's lives. She knew Mac, since her father used to drag her to the blacksmith when he needed one of his swords repaired. With a hundred questions rolling through her mind, she waited for the man before her to speak, reminding herself that the conversation might not flow as easily between them as it did between her and her siblings and parents. Svan felt that she fairly vibrated with excitement at the prospect of making a new friend, and had to press her lips together to keep from bombarding him with admittedly nosy questions.

Subject: Re: Practice [open] Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:24 am

He watched the maiden smile and returned that smile with a smile of his own. Before he backed away a bit so she had room. Seemed she would heed his advice and directly try it out. Not that he had a problem with that. After all he wanted to know for himself if it would work. After all he had never tried it out himself. He had only said what he had seen. So he was curious to see how good his gift of observation was and if his advice would prove true. He crossed his arms as he watched her take her position again. His blue grey eyes didn’t let go of her for as she shot the arrow, rolled over. He narrowed his eyes and watched how she leaned back ever so lightly. But enough. His eyes then cut from her form to the arrows as they shot towards the target. Hitting the death centre. He closed his eyes and nodded. Seemed he could really trust his observation skills to be true. Or maybe he and she were just lucky that this one hint he had given was true. But then again even without observation if you thought about it with some logic. Then you could see how it was true. His eyes moved back to the maiden. He had seen her before. At least if his memory wasn’t playing tricks on him. But he was as good as sure that he had seen her at Mac’s. With another man. Maybe her father? He was sure because red hair like that was hard to forget. He gave her a smile when she turned back around to him and walked up to him. Soon looking down at her as she held out her arm to him.
"I am Svanhild. Your advice proved true, and I greatly appreciate it. I have seen you around the mines, but I do not know your name."”

He took her arm and looked into her eyes as he spoke. ”I’m glad it proved true.” After all he rather stand beside someone who had perfect aim. Then someone who’s arrows could go lost and a lost arrow was no one’s friend. Though even if her arrows had been off just a little. In the battle field the target wouldn’t stand still. So it was impossible to say if the arrow would hit it’s mark. So perfect aim was… appreciated by everyone. He still held her arm as he gave a nod. It was possible that she had seen him around the mines. After all that was where he worked almost every day. ”The name is Svipday.” He paused for a moment ”Knútrsson.” he then said before letting go of her arm and letting his arms fall back to his sides. He nodded with his head towards the target. ”You have a good for and perfect aim. Also a fast learner.” She must have practiced archery day in and out for years to get this good. Probably her favourite weapon as well. He looked back down at her. ”Impressive.” It truly was. Archery wasn’t easy and not many had the patients to get through the training of becoming one. Or at least such a good one as Svanhild before him.

He walked past her towards the target and looked over it. However… ”But everyone can hit a target that isn’t moving.’ Maybe not dead in the target but still. He turned back around towards her and placed a hand on the target patting it a bit. ”Maybe you would be interested in practicing on a moving one?” He gave her a light smile. That would be more difficult, but also more affective in improving her skills. He looked around the training camp. Of course he wasn’t planning on carrying the target and running around. That could prove difficult, even if it might be a good training for him. His eyes fell on some chopped would they used to make the fires around the camp at night. They wouldn’t mind it if they borrowed that for a while right? He looked back at Svanhild and walked up to her again. ”I can help you with that. If she would allow him to. It would give him something to do. And he had a feeling he could learn some things from the maiden. So they would both get profit of it. He looked into her green eyes. That and it was always a pleasure to meet new people. After all in these times… The more friends you had the better it was for you.

Subject: Re: Practice [open] Sat Oct 28, 2017 8:54 pm

Svan looked over the man before her as they gripped each other's arms. "Svipday. I am Svanhild Tryggrsdóttir." He released her arm and stepped back. He nodded towards the target and she looked as he commented about hitting a moving target. Looking back to him, Svan let a huge smile split across her face. It was not often that she had the chance to practice with moving targets, and his idea intrigued her. She often practiced alone, not having much time to make friends around the camp as she was always practicing, standing watch, or spending time with her family. She was excited at the prospect of making a new friend, especially one as smart as Svipday seemed to be.
"I would greatly appreciate the help." Curious as to what he had planned, she continued talking. "I assume you have an idea for this? I'd prefer not to shoot someone that isn't trying to kill me." She chuckled to herself, hoping that he did not take offense to her statement. She let her eyes travel to his face, exploring the fine features before she did the same to his body, sizing up his strength. He was tall, and well muscled, hinting at the fact that he was a fighter as well. And his tip for her aiming out of the roll showed his intelligence as one too. Bringing herself back to the present, she looked around eagerly for a target.
As she glanced around, she saw stacks of wood nearby. Svan swung her bow to her shoulder and walked up to them, grabbing a couple to bring back to Svipday. Handing them over to him, she said,"These would be easy for you to throw, I imagine."

Subject: Re: Practice [open] Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:39 pm

As soon as he thought of the wood it seemed that Svanhild had the exact same idea as him. She looked at the fire wood and made her way to them. He got an amused look in his eyes. Seemed they were on the same line. What was good, better than that they would fight because they did not understand each other, though if that had been the fact he would have soon walked away. After all he had his free day and was not looking for trouble. Only for something to do. He watched her in silence as she took a couple and brought it back to him handing it over to him. He nodded at her words. ”You’ve read my mind.” He said before taking the fire wood in his hand. Throwing one up so it made a twirl and then catching it again. He nodded again before looking back into her eyes. ”Should be easy enough.” And he would get some extra movement out of it as well. What was a win-win situation.

He started to walk backwards and throw one log up again, still looking as Svan. She was quick with a bow and she had clear talent to hit it’s mark. But that mark hadn’t been moving. So he was considering how hard he should throw and how fast. He didn’t want to make it too difficult but also not too easy of course. She was here to train, it didn’t have to be a walk in the park. But also it shouldn’t feel like it was hopeless. He wanted to adept himself to her. See what she could do. Though he would see soon enough what she could handle while throwing. He stepped back far enough and played with one of the blogs a bit just seeing how he could throw the best. Before he turned a bit and looked back at her. ”You ready?” He held in the slight sly smirk that wanted to come out as he waited for her to be ready.

He then looked straight and threw one of the blogs in the air. It was quite high and it moved fast, but it had a nice loop to it so she should be able to hit it. An easy one to start off with you could say. But he wasn’t planning on making it to easy, just as in real life in a real battle. He wanted to make her think quick and wanted her to be surprised. So as soon as he saw the first blog fall he already threw a second one and quite fast after a third one. That way again she could try to hit two marks. With or without the roll, it was her decision.

Subject: Re: Practice [open]

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