(OoC)-> Birgitte says, 'well personally, I condone mischief and all things improper, just don't quote me on that.'  Oh yeah?  Try and stop me.  :P
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Birgitte OOCs : DRINKS ON THE HOUSE!

---The Camp of the Band---

Mid-day finds the camp of the Band full of activity. Between training for recruits, tending to animals and equipment, and building said equipment, there are the general drills most military groups find themselves doing. For the most part. Off towards the area that has been set off for the archers to practice at is one of the scouts with a horse-bow in hand. Nearly a dozen white fletched arrows are stuck in the ground close to her feet with five already stuck in to a painted target with only a few that are even in the black. By the look on her face she isn't quite pleased with that. With a frown Mae pulls the bow back resting her right cheek against her pointer and middle finger of her right hand looking down the shaft of the wooden bow just studying the target in her sights. Something seems to be off.  [Maethir]

Tallyn stands not far away. This Tallyn, is not to be confused with the Shienaran General, but rather is a large bear of a man, with huge arms and broad shoulders. His beard is going grey but he still moves well for a man who carries so many scars. No, this is Tallyn the Drill Sargent, the axeman. He watches patiently as Maethir tries to figure out what is affecting her aim. Studying her form and equipment to see if he can offer her any advice.

Kavina has just emerged from the tent where her burgundies have been replaced with the greens and reds of the uniform of the Band of the Red Hand. If people were confused before trying to figure out which twin was which, they will be completely baffled now that the girls are matching. Trying to keep out of everyone's way, but completely lost in camp, Kavina meanders until she locates the archery range, waiting just on the other side and out of the way.

Tallyn shrugs and raises his huge scarred hands, "If you want I can snap it in half and then you can return it to him and tell him that it wasn't enough bow for you." The axeman smiles, "I could also give you some exercises that will help you to strengthen your arms, help you hold true." That said the big Bander looks over and notices Kavina looking lost, "Can I help you lass?"

"Oh you just want to make me sweat is all it is." Mae quickly tossed a teasing wink in Tallyn's direction before hefting the bow again. "I think Band life is making me soft." Looking back up at the axeman she opens her mouth to make another witty little comment before she follows his line of sight towards whoever it is that he's speaking too and positively grins when she sees one of the twins. "So you finally signed the book eh? Sister do it too?"   [Maethir]

Kavina glances over her shoulder to see if Tallyn is speaking to someone else, then glances over at Tallyn, "Oh, uh.. I'm new..."  Her voice trailing off when she realizes she has been watching Maethir with the bow. "Oh! Hi, yes, she went to go get our stuff from the inn." She self consciously brushes imaginary dust off the coat she was assigned. It doesn't quite fit right and seems a bit large on her small frame. "This morning, with Talmanes and Mat. Talmanes muttered something about uniforms and tests, then dropped us off here and left."

Tallyn raises an eyebrow and says, not sternly, but in a tone meant to be paid attention to, "That would be General Delovinde." With that initial lesson disposed of he turns toward the recruit, "Then I suppose I will lay claim to you and get your testing underway. I am Tallyn, but you will refer to me as Sergeant. Is that clear?" there is no malice or displeasure in Tallyn's voice, he is merely explaining 'how it is'.

Studying Kavina carefully, Mae gives a soft almost sisterly smile. "A little long in the arms and shoulders- we can find a seamstress in town to take care of that. Get you something a little more fitting and manageable." When Tallyn speaks up, though, the Scout quirks a brow upward and looks up at the taller man then looks back to Kavina. For a second she looks ready to make a soft little quip to the man about titles and so on but for the moment decides to remain silent. Recruits have to learn the basics before familiarity comes in to play. "Sarge here is a good instructor. If you don't mind, can I stay and help?"  [Maethir]

Kavina opens her mouth to say something, snaps it shut with a glance to Maethir, then back to Tallyn, her back straightening, "Yes, Sergeant." Should she salute or curtsy or bow? She does none of the above, instead picking at the sleeves that swallow up her hands. "Yes, it seems like it would be better fit on an ape." Considering on mimicking the animal, she decides not to when her gaze flicks back to Tallyn. She might be a tiny bit afraid of him. She hasn't decided yet. "I don't mind if you stay. A friendly face would be most welcome."

Tallyn smiles, showing Kavina that he isn't a total monster who feeds upon the tender flesh of new recruits. He nods to Maethir, "Training is always a team effort." he says before turning his attention back to Kavina, "Since we are at the range already how about we start here." He beckons the recruit toward him, "Do you have any experience with a bow or crossbow? Horse-bow? Longbow?"

Maethir steps aside just enough to let Kavina come between them. Her own bow she shifts hands slightly out of the way then smiles. "The crossbows are nice, but they require a good bit of upper body strength." As if a thought just suddenly popped in to her mind, a soft blush crossed her cheeks before she quickly schooled her features.

Kavina slips the short bow off her shoulder, briefly drawing the string out to give it a stretch, "I'm comfortable using this one. Very limited experience with a horse-bow and longbow. Crossbow.." She nods to Maethir, "The few times sis and I were allowed to practice, uncle would knock it back for us." Indicating that neither, at the time, had the upper body strength for the crossbow that was used.  

Tallyn gestures toward the targets down range, "What you have will be fine for now. Please show us what you can do with it recruit." With that Tallyn steps back and allows the recruit to take a place on the line. He nods to Maethir to let her know she is fine to pitch in wherever she feels the need.

Maethir nods her head once towards Tallyn then grins, shifting back just enough to get out of the line of vision for the moment. "Don't worry about us standing here. We can work on your speed if you stick with archery in the Band." Resting the tip of her own bow against her foot she smiled and watched.

Kavina smiling with a nod to both, "Sounds good." The youth moves over to the line, facing a painted target without any arrows sticking out of it. Drawing a few arrows from the quiver on her back, she sticks them gently into the ground beside her, keeping one in hand. Knocking the arrow into place, the tip facing downward, Kavina adjusts her fingers to rest along each side of the arrow shaft. Shifting her stance, left hip facing the target, she draws the bow upwards while pulling the string back toward her nose. A deep settling breath is inhaled, then a slow exhale. When the last of her breath is gone from her lungs, she looses the arrow and lets it fly toward its target.

Tallyn studies the form and posture of the archer more than the flight of the arrow toward its target. With a critical eye he says simply, "Again." Then waits to see the young woman drawn and release again. He idly crosses his huge arms as he watches.

"Fingers to your cheek. Relax your bow arm arm- don't lock your elbow." Someone else was watching with just as critical an eye as Tallyn was. When the man asks for it to be done again she nods her head before grinning wide at the younger woman.  [Maethir]

Eyeing down field to see where the arrow hit, Kavina is pleased enough that it hit the red circle. Glancing over her shoulder toward Tallyn then flicking her emerald gaze to Mae, giving both a nod. Plucking an arrow from the ground, she knocks into into place, then lifts the bow upwards. She locks her bow arm briefly then relaxes it a smidge, mostly to show that her elbow isn't locked up. With the string pulled back to her nose, her fingertip lightly touches her cheek to be certain its drawn far enough back. Aiming, she inhales, then exhales, letting loose the arrow once more - watching it fly across the space toward its target.  [Kavina]

Tallyn looks at Maethir and nods he then says "Hold" and walks away for a moment. With a loud Sergeant's voice he calls for the range to hold and walks out towards the targets carrying something he picked from a small pile. He is halfway down the range and standing to Kavina's right. What he holds up to show her is a round piece of wood about a foot across and painted white. "I am going to roll this in front of you, try to hit it." He holds the target up and waits until Kavina is set then with a flick he sends it rolling across the smooth-packed ground in front of the recruit like a runaway wheel.

Oh that trick. For a moment, Mae smirked at Tallyn then schooled her features even if it was hard to hide the beginnings of a little grin. It was nice to see the girl could shoot- she'd expect that much of a Borderlander. Trick was just how much training the girl was given before her leaving. Looking Back to Tallyn she quirked a brow in a questioning fashion. She had an idea if he had her do it again.  [Maethir]

Arms going slack at her side, Kavina waits for the Sergeant to fetch the disk before he calls out the next test. The disk might have been white, but the image coming to mind to the young woman was that of a black raven. "Ravens." She mutters darkly to herself, her verdant gaze narrowing sharply as she pulled another arrow from the ground. The first couple times was to show she knew her form, it was practiced ease that she resumed that form, knocking the arrow, drawing the bow upwards while pulling the string back to her nose. As the disk was rolled across the range, she aimed slightly ahead of the path the disk was taking - inhale, exhale - then let loose the arrow.   [Kavina]

Tallyn studies Kavina as she draws and looses at the moving, bouncing target. Whether she hit it or not is relevant to him. He is more interested it what she knows and what she will have to un-know under his training. Accuracy and speed can be trained. Form is far more important at this stage. He looks toward Maethir as he gestures for another disk to be thrown to him by an Bander standing near the pile. "You had a suggestion Mae?"

"Nope," the woman replied almost too quickly, reaching a hand around to scratch at the back of her neck. It was something she wasn't hoping he'd call out on. "No suggestions at all on my end." Moving a little behind the young woman she nodded to the other man, young with the startings of scruff on his cheeks, brought another disk over. "I'll call it out when I think she needs it."  [Maethir]