Amazing Race- 10 10 map piece
Camp Willow: Archery Range
<----> Camp Willow - Archery Range <---->
The archery range is a good sized open area with random targets set up at different distances. Some of the targets are the common bulls eye targets, while others are haybales with targets on them. There are even a few that are shaped like verim, so that one can practice on the shape of a body and the critical points on it. There is a box full of bows and quivers of arrows at the entrance to the field for the trainers use.
-- Outside the Archery Range: --
-- [T]raining [G]rounds --
-- --
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From her position on the fringe of the group, Alteira watches the crowd around the master archer. Her brow furrows as she spots the map piece in the otter's hand. She murmurs to herself, "Now how can I get this away from him?"
Hale comes up quietly behind the sea otter, and speaks under her breath, her voice low. "Suppose we join up? I;m lookin' f'r the same thing ye are. We could work t'gether." She studies the archers curiously.
Alteira starts in surprise at the otter's voice, but turns her head to smile a bit at her. She gives an almost imperceptible nod. "Sure. Any ideas on how to do this?"
Hale smiles back a bit. She is a happy creature, but doesn't always take to beasts on first sight. "I dont know him pers'nally, but the master archer is very proud o' his skills. if we c'n manage to chalange him f'r possession o' the map piece without injurin' his dignity, then i'm sure he'd give et t' us. he's a good otter, just proud. And with his skills, who wouldn't be?" She strokes the hilt of one of her huge swords with a wiry paw, thinking.
Alteira nods, understanding what Hale meant. "Mebbe... somethin' not involvin' archery, 'cuz 'e's the /master/, an' I don't know about ye, but my archery needs workin' on."
Hale chuckles. "indeed not. I'm best with swords, or anythin' that looks even remotely like one. I c'n shoot, but not nearly as good as him. And it shouldn't be somethin' that's too hard f'r him. That won't be playin' fair."
Alteira says, "I'm best with throwing knives, and pretty good with a sword." She pats the dirk in her belt. "Hm. How 'bout a swordfight, two on two, the team that wins gets the map piece?"
Hale shrugs. "Sounds fair enough. Rules will have t' be made clear, and the teams'll need t' be even, skill wise. How good is he with a sword or a knife, do ye know?"
Alteira shrugs as well. "I think he's about average wi' swords, probably same wi' knives. I don't know 'im all that well."
"Aye. same 'ere. Seems like we'll jus' have t' take our chances." She grins, excited at the prospect of a good duel. It has been awhile since she fought a beast that wasn't vermin. "Shall we make our offer now?" She takes a step forawrd, looking back at her partner.
Alteira nods, grinning openly now. She moves towards the crowd and taps the master archer on the shoulder.
Hale follows, her grin widening mischeviouly. "Pardon, sir. A word with you?" Hale speaks loudly over the heads of the archers. The group turns, staring at Alteira and Hale.
The master archer nods, his paw grasping his bow tighter as he asks, "And what might /that/ be about, misses?"
Alteira steps forward a bit. "The two of us would like to challenge you to a swordfight. Two on two, winner takes the map piece?" she proposes.
Hale backs her friend up. "It's a fair proposal. And it'll be a fair fight, we promise. No backstabbin'." She looks at the archers through narrowed eyes. She doesn't /completely/ trust them. They seem to uppity.
The archer nods. "It's a deal. Lead the way!" He places his bow back in the training bow box and waits. Another archer follows suit.
Alteira raises an eyebrow at Hale, as if to say, Are you sure?
Hale nods at Alteira. She's more than sure. She waits until all of the bows are in the box, and then sweeps a paw out, gesturing towards the sword training area. "Shall we?" She studies the master archer for a moment. "I suggest that ye give the map piece t' a beast not involed in this until tis done." She raises one eyebrow at him.
The archer nods wordlessly and hands it to a guard standing nearby who is watching impassively.
Alteira starts towards the sword training area, glancing back to make sure the others follow her.
Hale doesn't give the archers a second glance. She turns on her heel and, with her long strides, starts heading to the sword arena.
--The swordfight training ring---
Alteira picks up a dull wooden sword in one paw and a shorter, also dull rapier in the other and motions to the bin.
The archer follows suit and grabs a heavy, dulled iron doublehanded sword. His teammate takes a wooden longsword from the bin.
Hale gently unstraps her swrods and lays them on the ground, following Alteira in picking up 2 dull weapons. The swords aren't nearly the size of her actual weapons, but they'll do. She surveys the training ground slowly. it is not unfamiliar to her. She heads to the padded ring after doing a few quick streches.
"Shall we begin?" Alteira's eyes follow the archer's teammate as she makes a quick strike with the sword at his side.
Hale swings her left sword at the feet of the archer, following it with her right weapon at his shoulder.
Alteira's strike catches the otter unprepared and she hits him in the side. With a few more strokes of the sword, her opponent is quickly disarmed.
The archer tries to block Hale's attack, but the sword is less familiar to him and he is knocked to the ground.
Hale surprises the master archer. He jumps to avoid her first swing, but can't duck in time for the secong. Hale uses the flat of her bladde to push him over, the sends his weapons spinning with a couple deft flicks. "The map, please?"
The archer gets up, holding his shoulder. He motions to the guard to give the pair the map, which he does.
Alteira grins widely. "Thank ye, mate," she says to the archer. "'Twas a pleasure to fight ye.
Alteira turns to Hale. "And with ye as well."
Hale helps both archers up, shaking thier paws. "indeed. Twas a good fight, however short." She looks to her friend. "Aye. Ye know your stuff. Thanks f'r your help."
