remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
Apparently he needed to employ everyone as archers.Each time the tinier, maneuvering targets were thrown, meant to sail through the air, mimic a moving adversary. Each time,
With that finished, the General appeared satisfied with the results, a genuine smile making its way along his mouth. “I am impressed. Perhaps all of you should take on archery.” Because if they could maintain that semblance of accuracy, their enemies should have something to fear.
Thereafter, he pulled away the targets, imploring them to place their bows, quivers, arrows, and bracers back along the weapons rack. “I would like to move on to blades.” His eyes went from Weaver, to Jigano, understanding, knowing their capabilities, withstanding them firsthand. “You have a variety of choices.” And there were, displayed across the munitions: short swords, long swords, rapiers, cutlasses, all wooden and etched to be without sharpened contortions, training exercises and inexperience too often leading to impalements and other devastating blows. “Pick the one you think would best suit you.” His stare went to Weaver and Jigano. “You may use your own.”
Then the General went forward again, grabbing hold of the targets crafted for these occasions; figures and effigies stuffed with straw, a variety of faces painted on their countenances once more – one for each, capable of choosing whichever one they sought. Once they’d settled before their marks, he grabbed hold of his own favored sword from his belt, grasping the familiar pommel amongst calloused hands. “We are going to practice specific movements for assaulting and defending. For those that are experienced, I would like you to practice the move you think the weakest.” Backhand, forehand, dashing, feinting, a variety of complexities that would suffice. But there was no need to embrace and showcase something they could already harpoon and siege within their sleep, something so drawn into their muscle memory. Better to implement the weaker contortions, so he could help adjust and strategize.
His stare went to Evie and Oliver, presuming they had little fortitude in these measures. Perhaps he’d be wrong – suitably surprised as he’d been in the archery rounds. “Try this first.” They’d begin with something basic: striking from above. Crossing over to a target designated for modeling, he did exactly as he’d prompted them – positioning himself so his left foot led, right to the back, body weight evenly distributed, and hips aligned towards his unmoving opponent. He held his sword shoulder level, and simplistic steps followed: bringing his blade forward, stepping towards the fake adversary, weapon inclined to the right so as to dodge anything incoming. Then he brought the blade down, in a straight line, towards the target’s shoulder. The beast applied the same movements and motions several times, before maneuvering away, imploring them to give it a go, walking amongst their actions to supervise.
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Very nice rolls for the last archery round!
Moving onto swords: pick and choose the one you like best, select a target, and try a move! For those experienced already in swordplay, attempt a move you wouldn’t ordinarily use.
No post order!
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
