Inhale, exhale, release. The archer, Bran, had read the words of the village chief. It was dire news, a hydra began to slowly stalk up the river and is drawing ever nearer to the village. It has already begun to cause troubles, pushing other dangerous animals towards the village and disrupting travel. There is no telling when it would decide to be a more pressing issue, and with how out of the way the settlement is, it may be before more help could arrive. Inhale, exhale, release. The village has two guardians, but one is as old as him and the other older, and it is doubtful that they could face a hydra in their prime. There was also a group of adventurers, however they had the opposite problem, they were still sproutlings fresh from the academy. The Wisteria Academy might say that they prepare their students for anything, but there are things which no school can teach. Beyond that, there were a handful of civilians who could wield hunting bows or slings, and various other means of defense but sadly there were no hydra slayers among them. Inhale, exhale, release. Shooting a bow was how Bran could relax himself, but now he was tormented by thoughts of the past and of the future. He muttered under his breath, “Illex, Nymphea, Cade, Lights Above, who has caused my luck to become rotten.” [color=violet][i]No one has,[/i][/color] a voice replied within his mind. Bran felt his hands loosen on his bow as he started, but he managed to recompose himself and keep his grip. He took a second to blink and wave his hand in front of his eyes, before trying to reply, “Cade? Wait, that isn’t right?” [color=violet][i]Mm, close enough,[/i][/color] the voice answered. [color=violet][i]Let’s see. An archer who can’t hear, but receives visions, and wants to kill a monster. Do I have that right?[/i][/color] “Yes. That is about right.” he said hesitantly. [color=violet][i]How well can you shoot?[/i][/color] “Well, perhaps better than I should,” he replied. [color=violet][i]Show me.[/i][/color] Realigning his grip with his bow, and notching his arrow, he inhaled, exhaled, and released. The arrow launched from the bow, guided by the invisible winds of mana unseen by most mortals but clearly visible to the gods, his mundane aim was good enough to hit the center mass of the target but with augury, it hit dead-center. [color=violet][i]That is not natural skill,[/i][/color] the god remarked. [color=violet][i]But there’s no shame in that. You haven’t let it cloud your judgement, at least. Anyhow, do you have a plan for slaying this beast?[/i][/color] “We lack weapons or magic that critically pierce it hide, or poisons which can even give it a stomach ache. The only thing we can do is attempt to harass it with arrows from out of its reach and hope it bleeds it last drop before we do.” he solemnly answered, knowing such a plan would likely be the death of at least half of whoever is sent. [color=violet][i]It is a hydra, yes?[/i][/color] “Yes, terrible things. The only alternative is to wait and hope elite adventurers can reach us before it reaches the town.” he replied. [color=violet][i]Hm. It’s always better for people to be able to solve their own problems, I think. Tell me; how attached are you to that bow? Its value as a weapon aside.[/i][/color] “It was my father’s, but a bow is a bow is I guess.” he said, untruthful to his deeper emotions. [color=violet][i]That’s true enough, I suppose. I don’t suppose you’d mind if I improve it, then?[/i][/color] And without awaiting confirmation, power seemed to surge within Bran’s chest, before shooting down his arm and into the bow, which became coated in a purple light. When the light faded, he was looking at a completely different weapon; the wood was as white as ivory, and stronger, without a single flaw in its craftsmanship, while the string had been made far stronger. [color=violet][i]Now, shoot it again.[/i][/color] Bran was trembling and shaking, but his grip on the bow did not loosen. He could not begin to describe what he saw and felt within the purple light, as if an ant tried understanding the works of a great philosopher. Parts of the forest vanished and were replaced by walls of black stone, a village filled with color, and a great ocean. As he tried to focus on the target, it was replaced by a majestic throne and as soon his eyes started to decipher who was sitting on it, his sight returned to normal. He readied his bow, time seeming to slow around him and he tested the draw of the bow, an arrow manifested in it Inhale, Exhale, Release The arrow pierced the target, and punctured through the target as if the wood was old and rotten. Bran just stood in terrified awe of what he had just experienced, him releasing the arrow was a matter of pure instinct. [color=violet][i]Well, there you have it. Now, gather your chosen men. You have a hydra to kill.[/i][/color] --- With his new found blessing, Bran rallied a small militia to fight the hydra. The two guards and two of the three adventurers stood in front of the archers with giant spears and shields, while everyone who could wield a bow was stationed in a half circle around the hydra ready to loose at Bran’s signal. They were to distract it by shooting at its body while he disabled the heads. The beast laid on the banks of the river, if it had noticed them, they were far enough away to not draw its ire immediately. Preparing his shot, he yelled, “For Cade, For Arboria.” Releasing his arrow straight through the skull of one its heads causing to go immediately limp. A volley of arrows followed shortly, disorienting the beast, allowing him to make another shot while its remaining heads flailed about, piercing through its mouth. It charged at one of the spearmen, one its heads dragging behind it, as another one of its heads lunged towards him, another arrow launched through its head. Its final head lurched forward biting the man in half as another arrow felled the last head. With that, the beast collapsed to the ground, its hide covered in the few mundane arrows that managed to lodge themselves just under its scales. --- After returning the fallen soldier to the earth and giving him all of the proper rites and honors, the town spent the next few days preparing a feast to celebrate the heroes who slayed the hydra, a practice the local Arborians borrowed from human travelers. The celebration was humbly decorated, but involved food, drink, song and dance. Adventurers who came after hearing rumors of the hydra helped with hunting meat for the event. Bran sat in one of the corner’s of the town square watching the celebration while nursing an alcoholic drink, the divinely blessed artifact sitting carefully on his lap. [color=violet][i]So,[/i][/color] the voice of Cade spoke within his mind again, this time without any sort of prayer. [color=violet][i]What shall you do now?[/i][/color] “I didn’t think this was real until after the hydra stopped moving, and didn’t expect to survive an encounter with a hydra.” he said, glancing down at his bow, “But I guess since I am alive, I guess my work isn’t quite done is it. This won’t be the last thing to creep at the edge of Arboria’s border.” he said. [color=violet][i]Likely not. What do you intend to do about it?[/i][/color] “Shoot them until they stop moving. I am not good for much else.” he replied. [color=violet][i]I wouldn’t say that. You did devise a rather sound plan just a few days ago. And these people now think you’re a hero. The champion of a god…[/i][/color] “The man who died can’t be a hero wherever he is at, I am just a hunter’s son.” he replied. [color=violet][i]The man who died is dead, but far more alive because of his sacrifice,[/i][/color] Cadien insisted. [color=violet][i]Now, if you truly wish to protect people, you have two options. You can go out alone, patrolling borders, doing your best to fight various creatures and evils, until eventually you die and your new bow passes to whoever slew you. Or, you can build something more permanent. A group of like-minded men and women, who can cover more ground, slay more foes, and carry on your cause long after you die.[/i][/color] Taking a large gulp of his drink, “It appears as though I don’t have much choice in the matter, Oh Great Caden. You seem to be more confident in my leadership than I am, but who I am to argue with the divine.” [color=violet][i]Who indeed? Anyhow, you’ll find no better time to gather followers than now.[/i][/color] Bran stood, and began to walk towards the center of the square, shouting, “I have a few words.” After looking around and seeing everyone intently staring back at him, he announced, “Yesterday, we received a divine gift and with it, a beast was slain. Will be so greedy to presume that it will happen tomorrow, or so bold to presume that there will always be someone waiting to save us if we will not save ourselves. These woods hold many dangers, but at least for me, these woods are my home and I would like them to be safe and so I will make them so. Who is with me?” While he could not hear them, as he glanced around he saw several bows raised towards the sky. And in that moment, a change passed over them. Their vision became sharper, and they could see more clearly than they ever could before. A second, subtly force woven itself further empowering them, only sensed by Cadien and Bran. Then, a voice spoke from within their minds. [color=violet][i]You know me as Cade, but my true name is Cadien, God of War and Perfection. Know that this man, and those who follow him, shall have my blessing. Now go forth and see his words made true, for I will be watching.[/i][/color] [hider= Story Summary] The Arborean Archer from a previous post, Bran, is practicing archery while contemplating the threat to the village he is near, a hydra. While contemplating it, he makes a comment to the gods and Cadien answers. They have a conversation about what he needs to do, and he mentions how they may be able to fight it but at severe cost, and so Cadien blesses his bow. Bran gathers a militia in a semi-circle around the hydra, with a spearman in front to protect the archers who were to distract it while he slays the heads. They manage to successfully kill the hydra, but not before one of the spearmen is killed. After burying the spearman and a few days to prepare, they hold a feast to celebrate. During this, Cadien talks to Brann again asking what he will do and after a conversation about how to proceed, Brann calls everyone attention and makes a short speech about they need to be proactive in the defense of the edges of Arborea. Cadien blesses Brann and those who follow him as a holy order, which Sirius further empowers, and then Cadien gives his own speech about how he blessed them and we be watching them. [/hider] [hider= Might Summary] [u]Cadien[/u] [b]Beginning MP:[/b] 4 [b]Beginning DP:[/b] 2 -1DP (discounted to 0 via archery portfolio) to create the title “Infinite Ammunition I”. When the bowstring is drawn back, an arrow of purple energy materializes, already nocked in the bowstring. It is about as strong as a mundane arrow tipped in bronze. It vanishes a few seconds after striking a target. -1DP (discounted to 0 via archery portfolio) to create the title “Power Shot I.” This bow launches arrows with a force that far exceeds its draw weight. -1DP to create the title “Reflex Shot I.” When the bowstring is drawn back, time itself seems to slow down for the wielder, giving them time to readjust their aim. (1DP) -1DP to create the title “Flawless Vision I.” All members of his Holy Order have perfect eyesight. -1DP (discounted to 0 via archery portfolio) to create the title “Easy Draw I.” Members of this Holy Order can draw back even the strongest of bowstrings without difficulty. [b]Ending MP:[/b] 4 [b]Ending DP:[/b] 0 [u]Sirius[/u] [b]Beginning MP:[/b] 5 [b]Beginning DP:[/b] 5 -1DP to create the title “Imbued Archery I”. The Ranger's Brotherhood practices a form of augury specially adapted to be used with bows. In particular, they have a trick which allows them to briefly see through objects. Most members can only see through foliage and light obscuration, but higher ranking members can very briefly see through thin walls. Further rankings improve the general skill with augury and allows them to access more unique skills. -1MP to create title “Forester I”: Members of his order find themselves more at home in wooded regions, having greater survival skills in them and being able to move more freely and stealthy through without being impeded. [b]Ending MP:[/b] 4 [b]Ending DP:[/b] 4 [/hider] [hider= Prestige Summary] Rangers +4 [/hider]