Chapter I V The Hunter Challenge
The whole guild go over to Lilandry to the Hunters Guild. Went thru a portal made by Myshka that connected to the Elven Major City of Darnassus. Saint summons a Horse mount holding our Guild Flag. We all walk together behind Saint. Biggie and Archie just look around to the beautiful Architecture of Marble and wooden cottages.
"Hey Archie is this for real? So awesome." Bruno just looks in awe
"Bruno we need to act differently here to fit in. Think medieval L.A.R.P."
"Understood. What is your reward if you win the Challenge?" Bruno asked
"If Archie wins the Challenge, he can ask anything from the Guild leader." Allendaar explains
"Don't humiliate us noob, remember you represent the whole guild." Shanky
"I've spoke to the spirits and the elements. They have told me to have faith in these two. They will do great things." Marie tells the group about the two travelers.
"What are you going to ask for Archie?" Silver asked
"You'll laugh if i told you."
The guild walks up to a big tree with a big wooden door. Two hunters outside with black and white tigers were guarding the entrance.
"State your business." The guard asked
"We are here to challenge the your Guild." Saint answers
The guard blows a horn. The people of Darnassus looks up and into our direction. People start to gather up at the door, to see what's going on. Above the door there is a terrace. The Hunters GM walks onto the terrace.
"The Gotham Knights are back again. Didn't Silver already embarrass your Guild enough." HGM
"We are here to get our honor back. A new member wishes to Challenge you." Saint responds
(end of page 13)
The doors opens up to reveal a long dark corridor. Silver gesture for Archie to come down and whispers in his ear.
"Please beat them, ….they laughed at me when i came." Silver lick his ear and giggles.
The HGM explains what Archie has to do. The HGM servant went down to set up the target which was a bell. Archie walks up to a marking in front of the door. He was giving to him a bow and three arrows. Archie pulls back on the bow and realizes its too weak, for the shot he needs to make. He walks up to the guards.
"May i borrow this?" Archie grabs the guards bow. Archie pulls on the guards bow.
"Much better." Archie walks up to the mark position. The servant comes walking out.
"Its ready challenger!" The servant says as he walks off with a smirk.
Archie doesn't look down the shaft loads the arrow. He pulls back the bow and looks at Silver.
"The first shot tells you what you need to know Silver." Archie explains to Silver as he releases the arrow. The first arrow hits a wall with a distinct ping of arrow head meets rock.
"Did you hear that Silver? It hit rock. Do you know why arrows have 3 feathers Silver? (She shrugs.) You need three to balance the arrow. Any less and the arrow fly's crooked."
He bites off one fletching off the second arrow and he pulls back for the second shot.
"When a wooden arrow hits a hard surface with enough power it shatters." He releases the second shot and the arrow wiggles all the way down the hall. You can hear the arrow shatter.
"Did you hear anything funny Silver?"
"Other than the arrow shattering….no." Silver answers with a puzzled look.
"You see Silver. When an arrow shatters it breaks into a bunch of pieces. Scattering everywhere little pieces of woods in every direction. But not one pieces manage to hit a bell?" Silver starts to think of what he said. She starts to put the pieces together in her head.
"The bell is not there!" Silver says out loud. Archie pulls back the bow for the last time. He points down the hall, At the last second he points up to the servant next to the HGM. The arrow hits the bell hidden in the servants hand. Goes thru the servants hands. The Gotham Knights cheer. Archie looks at the HGM.
(end of page 14)
"Now tell me HGM do you have an Honorable Guild or did your servant rigged the challenge without your consent?" Without missing a beat the HGM stands up. "You win challenger what do you wish of my Guild."
"I'll take your bow." The HGM grabs his bow tosses it to Archie. Archie holds the bow high to all to see.
"My servant will be punish for betraying my Guild." The servant starts to free himself from the arrow in his hands. He makes a run for it, but it doesn't work. Arrows from all directions hit him all in the back.
"I know my family bow is in good hands. Never seen anyone make shots like yours."
"Thank you HGM."
"Call me Zander and you are?"
"Archer (Zander gives him a weird look) but you can call me Archie."
"Should you fall in combat, I want the bow back." Zander smiles as he says this. Archie smiles.
"You were giving direction to the gnome about Archery. She tried to get training from us but it just not done here for gnomes. Their too small and weak to be able to handle a bow with enough power."
"Where I come from children are taught from a young age how to handle bows. I was one of them. She has been practicing for about a couple of days. Give me a month and I'll show you, your first gnome hunter." Archie explains to Zander
"I would love to see that. I should warn you, that other hunter trainers may not be happy with you doing this. But i will talk to them and tell them what happen here today." Zander
"With my training she will be like no other. You can count on it."
"Were you able to get around her equipment problem." Zander asked
"Yes, i'm currently having custom made equipment made for her." Archie explains. Archie looks around for Silver. Saint walks up to Zander.
"Greetings Zander."
"Greetings Saint."
"Let's not make this awkward Zander. Let's have a drink." They started to walk up to the bar.
(end of page 15)
Everyone is drinking and having a good time. Archie starts to look around for Silver. Didn't took long enough for Archie to track her down. He finds her training outside. A small crowd gather to see her shoot relentlessly at a tree stump. Engineering gnomes were taking notes of what they saw in Silvers compound bow.
An elder makes his way thru the crowd toward Archie. The people part way to let the elder thru.
"Come this way child I have something to show you." Elder asked Archie. Silver looks puzzled and follows Archie.
"Is there something wrong Sir?" Archie asked
"A long time ago we had our king. The greatest Archer in Darnassus. He wasn't always until he lost his wife and child. When she was giving birth that is. He would go into battle like a wild man. He was so focus that nothing could stop him. Before his suicide he put the bow on a pedestal and a quiver in the middle of Darnassus." The elder explained
"What does that have to do with me?" Archie asked
"The is a legend within our people about this bow and quiver. Everyday people step in the magic circle to collect the bow. The bow and quiver rejects them and sends them flying." Elder explains
"You think I could pull it out Sir? Archie asked. They walk up to the middle of the City. You see people flying backwards away from the pedestal.
"Make way for the traveler!" The elder yells. A commoner yells. "He should not be allowed, he is not one of us! If he pulls it out he would become King! An outsider!" Archie sees a beautiful bow and quiver set. He starts to walk closer to the legendary set. He walks in the magic circle. Immediately starts being shocked and electrocuted. Archie screams out in pain.
"AAAAAAhhhhhh!" Archie screams. Silver without thinking runs in after him. She jumps and grabs onto him. She starts to scream.
"Let go Silver!AAAAAHHH"
"I'm not going, you're going to have to kill me first. AAAAAHHHHHH"
"I love you Archer, if you're going i'm going with you!AAAAAAAHHHHH"
A pulse comes out of the pedestal and pushes everyone back except Archer and Silver who stay floating in mid air. They both stop being electrocuted. They start looking around with a puzzled look. A voice can be heard of the old king and his wife talking in unison.
"(We feel the love between you two. That's what we need in this world and as rulers of Darnassus. Only Elves can rules over Elves.)" The bow and quiver start swirling in a vortex and a bright light flashes. When there vision clears they can see two bows and two quivers. They slowly start floating over to Archer and Silver. The quiver clings onto their backs and the bows just hangs in front of them. Archer and Silver look at each other and nod. As they reach out for the bow and a flash of light again. The crowd gasp in amazement and awe.
(end of page 16)