text; un: feal (forward-dated to the 17th)

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran has had some thoughts about the fallout of the Circle's experiments, and how he wouldn't have been able to do much to help that night even if he hadn't been occupied with something else. He's lucky that neither of his bonds were hurt in any lasting way, but... what about the next time danger shows up? Is he just supposed to cower at home and wait because fairies are a fragile species, especially against the Cwyld? It doesn't feel right to him.]

I'm looking for some suggestions on learning to fight. Long-range, if at all possible. I can't use magic, and none of the powers I have access to can be used offensively.

[He'll get some ideas on that later, but it's not really a weapon, per se.]

I was thinking about archery, but I don't know how easy it would be to pull a bow out in an emergency or anything. Do they have collapsible bows here? [Better not ramble too much on his thoughts, though.]

I'm basically a beginner with any kind of weapon, but I'm willing to put in the work. If anyone has ideas or can point me to somewhere I can learn, I'd appreciate it.

Comments

UN: Lady Maria

[whomthebelltolls]

The Forge. Percival is a weaponsmith - and he knows guns and other firearms. They're more compact and easier to carry than bows, and can be made for a variety of ranges, powers, and firing styles... and Percival is a Witch who can enchant it or the ammunition for different uses.

[noblegarnet]

[Guns... he'd wondered if they were commonplace here, but there's something about them that seems too much to him. It's one thing to have experience with a blade and crystal monsters that aren't sentient, and another to shoot something that was at least once alive with a firearm. Not that he doesn't need to get past that reluctance if he's going to fight at all, but...

What he doesn't realize is that the Fae part of him rebels against the idea of a weapon so far removed from nature. Still, he's not completely overtaken by the feeling—he can at least look into the idea. Different kinds of ammunition could open up some opportunities. He has to take stock of all his options.]

I'm guessing he would know more about how to train with them. The Forge is outside the walls, right? [The idea of heading to the outer city is still a bit intimidating to him, but the last month has proven that the inside isn't as safe from the Cwyld as he'd initially hoped. He just has to be careful, is all...]

It sounds like you have a lot of experience.

[whomthebelltolls]

Training would not be too terribly difficult. One thing about firearms is they're quite consistent from shot to shot. So it's a matter of being able to aim quickly, fire quickly, and reload quickly.

I have experience in them, but what I teach is fencing, and the weapon I usually use has a short range.

But yes, the Forge is in the outer city. It is not difficult to navigate to.

[noblegarnet]

I see. If I wasn't Fae I might be interested in working with swords, but it just seems like a bad idea to try to fight a Shade head on if you're going to catch the Cwyld by breathing too close it.

[It was nice when his powers just gave him the skills to use a blade. Without his gem, he has to start from scratch, so he wants to use his time wisely. Speaking of time...]

How long does reloading usually take you?

[whomthebelltolls]

It can be, but I have seen it... well, I wouldn't say done easily, but done.

As for me... well, I've had my Evelyn for years, so it only takes me a second or two to reload, but it must be done between each shot. It's an old-fashioned sort of weapon. There are others that can be created that don't need such a thing.

[noblegarnet]

I'm sure it's possible, but I'd rather leave the front lines for someone who has a lot more experience than I do.

[She named her firearm... that's both cute and a little concerning, but who is he to question someone's quirks, he guesses?]

That's good to hear. Obviously you want to use as few shots as you can, but having to spend a lot of time reloading that frequently would make things a lot more dangerous.

[whomthebelltolls]

[Fun fact: That is, in fact, the name of the model of the gun.

But it is a woman's name, and it is a product of the quirks of the Vilebloods, so... yeah. Yes, it is a little odd that they chose that particular name for it.]

Anyone could do it swiftly, the more they learn their weapon. Soon enough, it becomes second nature to chamber a cartridge, or a round, so you can start to aim for another shot. That is probably one of the things you'd want to practice the most, if you decided to use such a thing. Swift and efficient reloading can make or break a fight. This is even true of the fights I am used to as a Hunter.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran has learned that sometimes it's better to just not ask questions about certain things; it's more polite to smile and nod. Unfortunately, it also means he makes a lot of incorrect assumptions that don't get corrected.]

I believe it. Whatever I get, I want to train as much as I can to to make sure I'm more of a help than a detriment. I already did the running headfirst into something back home, and I'm not interested in doing that again.

[Being a liability sucks!!]

I'm guessing you didn't just hunt animals?

[whomthebelltolls]

It's ill-advised to do as such here, anyway, considering the way the Cwyld works, and if you're weak to it anyway...

[Well, he can fill in the blanks.]

I did not.

[noblegarnet]

[A non-answer. That says a lot by itself.]

I see.

[He can get the gist that it's extremely dangerous—much like whatever it is she capital-H Hunted. It's impressive that she's been using a short-range weapon, regardless.]

Do you know much about dealing with Cwyld-infected? Obviously avoiding them is the most important thing if I can manage it, but...

[Sometimes the worst-case scenario happens.]

[whomthebelltolls]

Depends on a couple of things. You mean the truly well infected, Cwyldtid? I think the best defense there is to hit them at range and take your hits to their backs and weak spots whenever you can. For the lesser infected it... it's a duel with a mostly sentient being. You have to be good at that.

[Killing humans? Who's killed humans. Maria has never killed a human a day in her life.]

A ranged attack is still your best bet if simply coming into contact with them is an issue, but heavy enchantments and covering your skin fully can be helpful.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran can't say he's any good with dueling sentient beings, but there's always the chance he can improve... hopefully. Something that hadn't yet occurred to him, though: spells to help prevent infection. The people who work out in the Wilde have to have some decent magical protection, right?]

I guess there would be enchantments to fend off the Cwyld...

[Ferran is relatively certain it's not something he can do. If it was easy as imbuing item with an anti-plague charm, surely he would have heard about that from somewhere.]

That might be good to look into. I'm guessing they don't last very long, though.

[whomthebelltolls]

Something like that. Most effective is not allowing it to touch you at all, so something that creates a barrier from anything touching you at all, rather than against the Cwyld specifically is the best bet.

But... Cwyld interacts in interesting ways with magic, so it can make such things malfunction easily or drain them quickly. Caution must always be exercised, and good, thick leather helps as well, I've found.

But then my attire is also made to be... water resistant. [Blood. It's blood resistant.]

[noblegarnet]

[Look sometimes when you hunt things, blood happens, and Ferran understands and respects this. Lots of things bleed. Even if humans and other sapient beings also bleed.]

I remember someone telling me about that kind of interaction, now that I think about it.

[He'd been still kind of harried by everything at the time, and it had slipped his mind. He's glad to have the reminder so he can take it down somewhere.]

Thank you for the advice. I'm sure it'll be useful in the future, whether I try to avoid it or not. Is there anything special about your attire that wouldn't be something I could find, just by looking for something to protect against a storm, for instance?

text; un: whitestone

[gunsmithed]

It is, yes. Not terribly so, however.

And I can do at least a certain amount of training--thank you for the advertisement, Maria--or at least attempt it. I can't say I've ever done so before.

[noblegarnet]

Well, I've never used a firearm before, so I wouldn't be able to judge any teaching skills.

[He'd just appreciate the willingness to try. It's not like he couldn't ask around for more tips, anyway.]

Can you tell me more about the kinds of enchantments you usually do for ammunition?

[gunsmithed]

Well I've only just begun with those, so it's more like experiments for the moment. Fire, ice, lightning, that sort of thing.

[noblegarnet]

That makes sense. Things to hit certain weaknesses.

[It sounds like an RPG when he puts it that way, and Ferran doesn't know that he likes that.

It feels stupid and out of the realm of likelihood to ask about nonlethal options, so he doesn't. If he did, anyone would be right to lecture him on how he'd need to accept the idea of hurting others, if he's going to pick up a weapon.]

I've been trying to work with enchantments myself, lately. Protective charms and things like that. I hadn't thought about enchanting weapons, but it does seem like a good idea, as long as it's stable.

[gunsmithed]

Or just to give things an extra boost. I've had weapons enchanted before, just not by me. It takes a bit of getting used to.

[noblegarnet]

I think that goes for the whole experience of being here, honestly.

[Has anyone gotten used to it? Can you get used to it? It seems nearly impossible from his perspective.]

But do you mean the enchanting part, or using enchanted weapons?

[gunsmithed]

Quite.

Enchanting. I'd never much been one for magic, previously.

[noblegarnet]

Magic is a lot to adjust to, even if you're familiar with the idea, so I think I get it. Coming here and becoming a witch kind of forces your hand with that, I imagine.

[What with the exploding and whatnot... and especially with how allergic to bonds so many people here are.]

At least it's useful.

[gunsmithed]

Forced hand is a good way to put it.

[ In many ways. Not that Percy isn't still slightly cranky about the whole bonding thing or anything. ]

I made do without. I suppose it's only fair that I learn to make do with.

[noblegarnet]

The more tools you have at your disposal the better, right?

[Thus his own attempts to broaden some horizons.]

I wasn't fond of my abilities at first, either. [He's still not fond of the transforming part, but the rest he can learn to live with.]

[gunsmithed]

I suppose.

[ He does like learning things, generally speaking. Its just being forced into anything is a good way to make Percy extremely contrary. ]

It's less a lack of fondness than not understanding the need. But this place does have a way of making things necessary.