Swords, Bows and Heaven's Shields

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Ossus
Jedi Temple
[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

It is as hot as the High King's Arse.

Or so Theo thought to himself. He most certainly would not mention this to father who would know what he meant by that, as he could feel the clip over the back of his head now. A grin formed of his face at the thought of it however as he place the last of the field archery targets to the sodden ground and in the flash of a flash, his hand swattered a pesky blood sucking insect on his neck. He also spared a thought for his apprentice who is here to learn from others, or at least that is what Theo hoped [member="Kiriko"] would do, he would find this heat unbearable too.

Ossus is magnificant, the last time he had visited this place it was with the Silvers and the Jedi Order as Ossus came under the protection of the then Sanctum. He had met for the first time, Grand Master Corvus Raaf and later he would learn from her.

Years ago now ...



Theo is bare footed wadding through the muddy waters with trouser bottoms rolled up in a near by swamp in which he would take those that wished to learn from him into a 'hunt'. Not exactly usual Jedi weapons the bow and arrow, but still there was more to the lesson then learning how to use one. Besides, that takes years. This lesson would involve stealth, without the use of the force.

Finally his feet hit firmer ground as he pulled them out of the muddy water only to discover more black blood sucking creatures stuck to his ankles and shins. He wondered, as he picked them off, if Master [member="Dune Rhur"] could 'reason' with these little blighters.

As he walked bent over brushing the last sucker off his leg, Theo looked up to see if his father had arrived, and what exactly he had planned for the day.

 

[Zak Dymo]

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] was on his own here.

The young Beorni cub had found a walk-in freezer unit in the Temple storage area. A large freezer intended for long term storage of bulk items. The temperature inside the freezer was a comfortable zero degrees centigrade. So the bear was curled up on top of a crate, with a bag of frozen peas for a pillow, taking a well deserved nap after sweating through the remainder of the Jedi Workshop.

 

[Noriko Ike]

Something new, something exciting, something entertaining that hopefully wouldn't involve a chance for her roaming around... Well that was an important thing when she was moving around to go and partake of the workshops themselves. Noriko was moving to go and learn archery from one of the children of the grandmaster and she saw a small bear there as her eyes widened in excitement and readiness for anything that she would be able to do... Have to get an idea of how the bear was going to use a bow... Oh this could be awesome.

 

[NightSister]

Archery, while not high on Aria's priority list of skills to learn, was so undoubtably cool that Aria couldn't but make time among the other available lessons to turn up and learn how to use a bow.

Making her way to the piece of field where the lesson would take place, Aria grinned with excitement as she reached the archery range. Experimentally, she stood facing a target sideways like they did in holodramas and mimed aiming a bow. It wasn't her usual fighting style, but it would be fun without a doubt.

[member="Noriko Ike"] [member="Kiriko"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Another Ike? How many Ike are there!?

Théo stood up to full height as people began to gather in his part of the training ground, on the edge of the swamp, with the infestation of insects, blood suckers, high humidity, avian screeching at him for intruding on their territory, plants wanting to do nothing more then sting the skin, yes a perfect place to train. Two girls! Oh it is a good day! Pretty ones at that too. Even if one is an Ike.

With muddy feet, red blotches on his ankles from the bites of the blood suckers, Théo approached them both with a grin. "Hello", he started, "I am Théo and I will be your instructor today", any thoughts of father had vanished from his mind.

He watched a girl imitating a shot with an imaginary bow, his eyes taking in her form as she did so. "You might want to lift the elbow until parallel with the ground". He moved around behind her and raised his hand to gently guide her elbow into position. Yet for some reason he could not take his eyes off her long hair.

"Padawan Aria Vale, isn't it?", he asked of her name hoping he was correct. "And stand with legs shoulder width apart, it will help your balance". They would get to the real thing shortly, and Théo was hoping that his father might join the lesson, for he did not believe his father had ever picked up a bow in his life! He grinned at the though that maybe, .. just maybe, son could teach the father a trick or two.

​

[member="Aria Vale"] | [member="Noriko Ike"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Noriko Ike]

[member="Aria Vale"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

Noriko looked at Aria and Theo when she was there and sadly hadn't thought to mine it but she liked the look and moved forward offering a grin though listening to what he was saying and seeing the pose and where she should be at least trying to stand. Something like this you didn't want to take chances so stand next to each other so in case something happen there wasn't a chance of hitting someone else. At leas twith projectile weapons while she prepared herself planting her foot into the ground with a small grin that she was ready. "So how far can these really go?"

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

While his boy began his archery lessons, Thurion had been busy finishing up his rather ambitious arena where he would conduct his sword lessons. It wasn't a large arena; merely a flat, circular spot surrounded by a wooden fence, along which wooden shields had been hung. It would serve its purpose well enough, and he'd even built a weapon rack where blunt training swords rested, ready for use. Both swords and shields were borrowed from Midvinter, so they were the real deal. Fortunately even the Valkyri recognise not all are created the equal in terms of height and strength, and so the training swords come in lots of shapes and sizes.

Swatting a bloodsucker sat upon his neck, Thurion looked back to his lad with an amused smile. "Smooth, Théo. Real smooth." While awaiting his first student of the day, the Grandmaster stepped over to his trusty sword, Snowfall, currently sat resting in its scabbard against the fence. His hand gripped its hilt and unsheathed it in one fluid motion. His bare chest and arms flexed as he took some pratice swings against the air.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[NightSister]

Aria blushed an unflattering colour as the teacher - Theo, he had called himself - came up behind her and gently adjusted her positioning, smiling somewhat as he asked her name.

"Aria, that's right," she said, shuffling her feet in accordance to his advice. "Nice to meet you." The position of her elbows felt somewhat unnatural compared to the hand-to-hand-combat she usually went for, but she didn't obsess over it.

Going even redder as the Grandmaster approached looking amused, her eyes flickered rapidly from the archery range to the weapons rack to the unfamiliar Jedi woman in front of her to the Knight behind her back to the Grandmaster, before she lowered her stance and took an uncertain step to one side, waiting for something to happen.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Noriko Ike"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The old man looked impressive swishing his stick around in the air. Théo grinned, the sword was far from that of course and had cut down more then one opponent in it's history, yet his father was scared, he could sense it .. to afraid to come join him in the fine art of archery. Of course Théo has his own sword and knows how to use it, after all he had been trained by the best Midvinter had to offer in his grandpapa, Thrand Dawnbringer. But Théo's sword paled in comparison to Snowfall, one day he will have his own sword as powerful as that one... one day.

He rolled his eyes when his father spoke, the old man knows nothing of cool but the flush on Aria face drew his attention back to her and Noriko. "Pay no attention of him, he is not right in the head", Théo gently tapped the side of his own to illustrate the point but had a grin on his face.

"Right lets get this lesson started shall we?", he moved away from Aria to collect two smaller bows that would suit their height and arm reach and two quivers packed with arrows. However, he contemplated Noriko's question, after all these are not modern day weapons but traditional ones from Midvinter. "The range varies, highly dependent on the strength of the arm, but the arrow can fly from 165m to over 250, and of course it would depend on what bow you use. For example, a hunting bow is lighter and the range not as great as a war bow".

He gave each the girls their set of weapons, and moved to stand in front of them, while is own personal bow and quiver rested on the ground. "Now there are some rules that you must obey and if you don't I will have no choice but to stop you. These weapons, as old and ancient as they may look to your eyes, can and will kill. So in the interest of safety to yourselves and those around you, you must be mindful of this". He took up his bow, grabbed an arrow from the quiver and nocked it gently. "When not set to fire at a target, always have the arrow head pointing to the ground. Do not turn from the target once you are set to aim, no accidental firing while waving it about like a stick thank you very much. And never release the arrow if there is someone forward of you", he pointed to a line on the grass he had drawn, "Do not cross this line until we are ready to move into the jungle". This was odd indeed, Théo and rules, oh what happens to one when you grow up.

"With that all clear, now show me what you got". Basically, Théo wanted to see if either of them had any experience in holding the real thing, or if there was some natural talent in them. "Nock the arrow, pull back on the string to half tension .. do not fire it". He moved to the side to get out of their way .. just in case.

​

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Noriko Ike"] | [member="Aria Vale"]​

 

[Noriko Ike]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

She remained there and saw the grandmaster while she stood there respectfully then listened and tried not to snicker before she was going where directed to hear the rules... Which were the standard one and helped set the tone for what they were going to be doing when she stretched out getting one of the practice bows and quiver she she was waiting to see where to put it. Over the shoulder seemed simple enough but she had seen some with a position on the hip but she was looking at the bow itself as it was not an atrisian style bow.... Yeah she knew they did things on Atrisia and had seen Junko have the skill of it but this bow was smaller and the arrows no where near as long but this was a lot more practical and she had to admit... Junko's method was more for show much like the music playing. "Understood though this is smaller then." She trailed off stepping there and planting her feet so she could look forward with one foot planted and a relaxed placing of herself. She didn't put the arrow yet but she was getting a good feel for it without pulling on the string. as she focused herself taking one out andholding the bow up a little as she was focusing and letting the force energies guide herwhile she got it into position and made sure she wasn't moving forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90l1KfOCoA​

 

[NightSister]

Wiggling her fingers with excitement, Aria picked up her bow and awkwardly fiddled with the arrow as she tried to nock it as smoothly as Theo had. Stupid lying holodramas. After fussing with the arrow for a moment longer she returned to her stance from a moment ago and raised the bow, remembering to lift her elbow even thought it felt a little awkward. Eyes on the target, she drew the arrow - son of a blaster, was it meant to be this heavy? Arm wobbling as she fought to keep her aim steady, Aria narrowed her gaze and tried to focus the arrow before loosening her hold and lowering the bow.

This time Aria tried to aim before she tugged at the bowstring, taking only a moment to reposition once doing so before releasing the string at once. The arrow shot throw the air and sped past the targets before landing in the ground a little way behind. Shrugging as though it had gone exactly where she wanted it to, Aria drew another arrow and this time tried to let her Force-fuelled instincts guide the arrowhead as opposed to her eyesight. Firing, the arrow hit right between the furthest and second furthest rings out. Allowing a small smile of victory, Aria readjusted her footing and went again.

[member="Noriko Ike"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Talk about selective hearing! Women! He defied any man to understand them, well except when they have a pretty face then all becomes clear as they with the pretty faces can get away with murder. His head snapped to look where the arrow from Aria's bow had gone, the first hitting the ground the second finding the target. She learns quickly which was good to see, using the force to 'feel the shot', as Coren Starchaser had once told Théo to do.

"Padawan Vale, it was a good thing no one was walking in your line of sight". He turned his attention to Noriko, "Yes, this particular bow is smaller, for hunting purposes and allows for you to move around the forests or jungles without getting tangled up", he grinned. "Now take your shot Noriko".

Théo moved toward Aria while Noriko prepared once more, "You have a good stance, a natural ability but when you aim, look down the length of the shaft of the arrow, the force will help you greatly of course but try and do so without it next time. If you gain the skill with the bow without it, to a good level when the employ the force you will make your target every time". When hunting on Midvinter for food, never sport, Théo hunts without the use of the force, mostly to enjoy the thrill of the hunt but more to be equal to the prey. Give them a fighting chance as they say, it just seemed more noble.

"Once you both have a feel for the bow, we will move into the jungle and 'hunt'". Through the surrounding jungle, he had prepared a trail with a series of animal targets in the field. It would be then the real lesson would begin.

​

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Aria Vale"] | [member="Noriko Ike"]​

 

[Noriko Ike]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

Noriko was listening to the force and then she saw the arrow flying from Aria when the directions of not firing came but had been surprised at the flight of the arrow when she was looking at it and hunting.. with a bow. That seemed... strange. "Hunting?" She asked it and that mentality and knowledge of the bow was it was for meditation and relaxation, using skill and your mind needed to be focused when she closed her eyes for a moment breathing in and opening them checked her line of fire for nothing coming nor someone walking towards her wih a look. All was clear and she held the bow at the position loosening the arrow as she guided it with the force towards the target and the awkward position that her hands were holding the bow for the different form of archery. She struck the target but it was not near where she was aiming when she waited to make sure no one was going to go across. Staying there when she looked at the bow. "I don't think these are made to function like atrisian bows, I might not have the leg up I originally thought."

 

[NightSister]

Aria went bright pink as she realised that in her excitement she had zoned out half of the instruction. Brilliant. Apologising quickly as her cheeks flamed, she tugged on the bowstring a few more times, being especially careful not to let the arrow loose, her arm tiring as she tensed the bow again and again. It still felt a little odd - she definitely lacked the grace of the archers in action holomovies - but she was becoming more familiar with the bow.

After seeing Noriko fire a few times, Aria lowered the bow to give her arms a quick break before raising it again. Determined not to slip up a second time, she shut off the Force and looked down the arrow, lining the head up with the target the best she could. Looking to each side again to make sure she wasn't firing ahead of instruction, she released the bowstring and the arrow sped through the air, landing right at the top of the target. Could've been worse, she supposed.

[member="Noriko Ike"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"Well if using an Atrisian bow requires you to put your leg up, I can only assume them impratical or artistic", he grinned mischieviously at Noriko. And yet both the girls had done very well on their first attempts with the manly bows of Midvinter. "Well done you two, don't be discouraged this is a hard art to learn and takes years of practice to master it but no the fun begins".

He walked in front of them, with his hand he indicated for them to lower and put down the bow and quivers to the ground. Turning sideways he pointed to the near by jungle. "I have set up a series of targets throughout the jungle around the Temple. Now we will go and stalk our prey. You will find more of these boar targets hidden and some in plain sight. But it is not the what I want you to focus on so much as the skill of stalking. You will be required to be a stealthy as possible, without the use of the force to do so. So tread lightly".

"Father? what are you doing? I think the air you slay is cut to pieces .. would you care to join us in the hunt?". He looked over to his father, [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], trying his best to not laugh. However, Theo would have loved to have squared up to him with his own sword.

​

[member="Noriko Ike"] | [member="Aria Vale"]​

 

[Noriko Ike]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

She was looking at him with a small nod of her head. "It is more for meditation then hunting." She was sticking with it for a look though and she could get used to this. The atrisian style for meditative archery was well a great way to connect to the force cmpared to something you would use to hunt others. She was testing it out without the arrows notched up on it so she would be able to see it with a nod of her hea to Theo on what he wanted them to do. "Understood." She said it while moving a little and waiting to see what Aria was doing but she was searching with her eyes when she gripped the bow with a motioned of her head to head out.