Sept 22 - Archery Range

[Niles Radcliff]

Niles decided before he even tried making a bow he needed more experience with real ones. He had used one before at a activity camp, but that was a youth bow and was several years ago. So made made his way to the archery range and picked out a basic recurve bow and a quiver of target arrows.

He notched one arrow and pulled back on the bow. He aimed as best he could and released. The arrow went low and to the left hitting the outermost ring.

I think I'm going to need some more practice

He notched another arrow and aimed again, this time trying to correct it by aiming higher and to the right. The arrow went a little high and wide right, barely catching the edge of the target.

Okay, I'm going to need lots of practice

[Juma Ngomo]

Juma has a bit of time to kill before his briefing and also stops by the archery range. As with Niles, he selects a recurve bow, though one with a fairly heavy pull. He takes his quiver out to the range and sets up near Niles. "Good day, Niles. How are you doing?"

[Niles Radcliff]

"If you mean in general, I'm doing good. If your referring to the archery, my aim stinks"

[Juma Ngomo]

"I was largely asking in a general sense. Archery is difficult, especially if you do not practice frequently. I am likely a little rusty myself, I have not hunted in entirely too long." Juma plants himself and looks downrange, then nocks an arrow and smoothly draws. He holds the position for just a moment then releases, with the target arrow striking the second outermost ring.

[Niles Radcliff]

"Yes, I'm sure its going to take lots of practice before I'm anywhere near good"

Niles takes another shot, this one goes a little low but it hits the middle ring.

"Hmm, best I've done so far."

[Juma Ngomo]

"Are you shooting for sport or survival?" Juma keeps his position constant and draws another arrow, this one impacting very close to the first but in towards the centre.

[Niles Radcliff]

“I've been trying to think of some ranged weaponry I could make with my power. Preferably something with more power behind it than just me throwing it. I'm fairly certain a bow is one of the simplest things I can go with.”

Niles takes another shot, this one landing just outside the middle ring but this time it went high. Although he seems to be getting some closer than Juma is so far, Niles' spread is wide and all over the place.

[Juma Ngomo]

"You're moving your feet too much from shot to shot. Bring your quiver in closer if you have to, you'll get more consistent results if you keep your body oriented the same each time." He repeats his own shot, the third arrow plunking in closer to the middle once more, all three lined up in a row. "And arrows certainly can be dangerous. When I was in America, Anita and I went out hunting a few times. I grew up with simpler designs like these but I must say that compound bows are very nice. I would much rather have a compound than a recurve for bear hunting."

[Niles Radcliff]

“Thanks for the advice, Its been a while since I last did this, and I wasn't all that good even then”

Niles decided to try Juma's advice, found a good stance and tried to keep it. His first shot like this landed right between the second and third outermost rings.

[Juma Ngomo]

"My pleasure. I learned young, and my body remembers." He makes another minute adjustment, and the fourth arrow lands in the bullseye circle. He follows that up with another within a fingers-breadth of the previous. "It gets trickier when there is wind, and when your target can dodge."

[Niles Radcliff]

"Oh great, targets dodging."

Niles then glances over to Juma and grins "Do you think the vampires will hold still for a few shots if I ask them to?"

Niles lets off another shot. This one lands about two rings distance from the earlier one, not far enough left and a little bit too high.