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

[noblegarnet]

[That sounds like an awful lot for a firearm? A gun that makes an attack drone???]

Wait, does that come with every one?

[inlikethebrume]

With mine yes. So I am sure that it is standard with everyone's. Surely, there is enough engineering to ensure drills are able to come out as well as the automaton.

[Machinist is basically fucking nuts.]

[noblegarnet]

[????]

There's probably some barrier to entry, right? Like you have to sign up for something to get one, or...?

[There's no way that's available to the general public.]

[inlikethebrume]

Just ask the one in charge and have the will to do good is all that is needed.

You see where I come from, most of the fighting has been done by knights and by means of spear and swords. They used cannons but not guns and so a manufactory there learned that those not of the higher stations also wanted to be able to help out their homeland in defending it. And so the owner helped them by giving them jobs and the training to use them to defend others.

[noblegarnet]

[So it's a singular person giving these out? Or at least some kind of organization with a leader. Her description sounds like some kind of militia for a specific circumstance, so these things can't be in use all around her world... though arms races are certainly a thing.

He puts aside questions of politics, warfare or engineering aside. There's probably not much point in asking much more about it for the sake of his current objective, and he doesn't want to waste her time.]

I think I understand. [To an extent...]

Firearms aren't nearly that complex where I'm from, although they're more widely available. To be honest, they're kind of intimidating.

[inlikethebrume]

Oh? How so?

[She doesn't mind hearing new things!]

[noblegarnet]

I guess there's something about them that's innately more dangerous? You really have to mess up around something like a sword for anyone to get seriously injured if there's no intent behind it, but I hear about accidents with guns all the time, back home. There's no real way of holding back with them, either, which is great for consistency if you're aiming to do a lot of damage, but...

I don't know. I don't really like violence, so I guess it rubs me the wrong way.

[inlikethebrume]

[Yeesh, she feels bad for asking because maybe she made him uncomfortable somehow.]

My apologies if my questions have made you uncomfortable in any way.

[noblegarnet]

[Even if Ferran has certain trepidations about the topic, it's not something he has any personal traumas over. Ultimately, it's just a big hypothetical for him, and hypotheticals are just about the easiest thing for him to discuss.]

Oh, no worries! I don't mind answering. It's probably better to talk about these things before I make a decision anyway, so I can sort out my thoughts.