THE GAMES: ICE ARCHERY

[ponymeisters]

Who: Cirno, Kreutzer, Mami, York, Pipin, Joshua, and spectators
What: Competitors in the ice archery competition knocking-to!
Where: The Crystal Empire
When: August 10th
Warnings: None anticipated
Prose or Commentspam: Commentspam

[The second competition for the newponies to get in on: Ice Archery. Considered one of the most noble sports at the games and also one of the most dangerous. There's magic and sharp pointy things flying around. Please aim carefully!]

Is this thing on?

Is it on? It's my horn not a microphone! Of course it's on.

Ooo, lookit you getting all fussy. Hush, dear, we're on. Ehem! Ladies and you other ponies, too. Let me, Saving Grace, welcome you to the Ice Archery Competition. With me is the lovely Loud Speaker. Never mind her. She'll kick a bit.

I swear to Cadence, Gracie...

Who do we have in this event, anyway? Is there a list? Ah! The list. Please welcome a whole crew of newponies - mind they don't start any madness while they're here. Bad for publicity.

[There's a loud clop and a sharp intake of breath. When Saving Grace speaks again, there's a definite note of pain in her voice.]

We have Cirno, Kreutzer, Mami Tomoe, Francis Morgan, Peregrin Took, Joshua Preston! Joining them from our Equestria are True Shot, Bullseye and reigning champion, Quiver Quaver. Line up, lovies, grab your bows and arrows, and let's loose the first volley!

[[OOC: This is the Ice Archery event. All competitors will make their volleys at roughly the same time and the announcers will call out the percent the target is covered by the volley once everyone has gone or once an RL day has passed. You're free to put your own spin on why a shot might have gone well or poorly when the announcers makes their call for the points. There will be three rounds, which will each have a top-level comment. The competitor with the highest percent cover on their target will win the gold. Spectators are free to shout encouragement or try to distract competitors.]]

Comments

First Volley

[ponymeisters]

[Is your aim true? Is it off by a mile? Time to find out. Just... please don't hit any clouds!]

[ponykreutzer]

(She can do this. She can do this. She's shot down plenty of noise and general baddies and has only bettered her skills since. Thankfully, there's no threat this time around; just the thrill of competition. The rush of adrenaline is still there, but she stays herself with a breath. Keep calm, take aim...and focus.

Grabbing hold of an arrow, she pulls back and fires.)

[shyformerassistant]

[Coco is watching from the stands with a grin on her face. She has been taking dips to keep up the crystal form. Granted, she'll have to stop when they need to get home after the games.

Either way, she's quietly cheering on her marefriend as she doesn't want to break Kreutzer's concentration.]

[callmeyork]

[Where did this guy come from? He certainly hasn't been around the Crystal Empire (except in probably small, hard to see doses), and then he just lines up like nothing happened.

Spoilers: He probably walked here from Ponyville. Yes.

Either way, this should be a cinch. Archery isn't that different from marksmanship back at the shooting range at home... sure, the mechanics might be a little different, and the projectile drag is much more relevant, but he thinks he can compensate for it.

Arrow obtained, nocked, pulled back... and fired!]

Re: First Volley

[mechmadeoflove]

[15 years old as humans reckon them Joshua Preston might be, but he's still a soldier in a volunteer army. And one of his weapons on the ANIMa was a bow - earned from babysitting one Archer Lin.

He can do this. He's done this before, and he knows how to do this.

Aim along the shaft of the arrow. Pull - with his oddly flexible hoof. Inhale/Hold. Exhale/Release.]

[frozenmemories]

[To say Cirno was nervous was a understatement. She had never actually used a bow before, although the fairy was more then willing to give it a shot. The lack of feeling her ice wasn't something that she liked. ..but she would deal. Besides anypony who might start calling them selves "The Strongest" needs to learn...right?

With that, she pulled the string back, knocked the arrow and let it go.... ]

[bustadecapinyoass]

[Mami stepped up to position with a confidant smile on her face. She's never really fired off a bow before, but she's fired off more guns than anyone can count. She's bound to have enough experience to do well, or at least hit the target. She closes her eyes and breathes in deeply a couple times.

She takes careful aim. Then she pulls back, takes one more deep breath, then lets go, and...]

[tookalevelinbadass]

[Pippin takes a look up and down the line at the other competitors. He had only met Mami before, and he hadn't realized she was an archer. What are guns? If she was closer he would wish her luck but everypony seems to be staring hard at their targets or checking their equipment. It is likely one of those moments where Merry would have elbowed him and reminded him to be quiet and move.]

Right. Well then. For The Shire.

[Pippin manages to fetch a first arrow from the nearby quiver; he is proud to be tall enough to manage that without the optional standing box next to his bow. He sets the arrow, pulls the string back as memories of his father's archery lessons race through his head, and shoots.]

Second Volley

[ponymeisters]

Oh, wow! Loud, are you seeing what I'm seeing? Is that not one, not two, but three bullseyes? Well, not the Bullseye. There's only one of him and isn't he cute? If you like that sort of thing. Do you, Loud? I'm cuter, right?

The shots so far, Gracie?

Oh, all right. You're never going to find a maref- Yeowch! You should have been named Hoof Stepper-Oner, you know? Anyway, it looks like Mami, Francis, and Joshua all have perfect shots. That's a third of their targets covered already! Looks like Kreutzer and Quiver are about even, Bullseye needs to step up his game, though! Look at the placement on that arrow! Peregrin, Cirno, and True could all do well to take note of our three on-target ponies, though. They're trailing. Better make up for it on the next volley, lovelies!

[[OOC: The percentages are currently:

Cirno - 8%
Kreutzer - 20%
Mami - 33%
York - 33%
Pippin - 10%
Joshua Preston - 33%
True Shot - 5%
Bullseye - 15%
Quiver Quaver - 18%]]

[ponykreutzer]

(Hey, 20% isn't too bad! Especially since these are long bows vs Kreutz's usual hunting bow. She'll take what she can.

She has a few more shots, so let's not get discouraged! Readying her second arrow, Kreutzer focuses and fires forward.)

Re: Second Volley

[frozenmemories]

[Ugh..This was not going well at all. She puffs herself up for a moment, trying to psyche herself up once more. She watches for a moment trying to figure out what she did wrong. Nerves are getting to her but the fact she can pick out people's cheers is helping. After a moment she carefully sets the bow up once more.

This time she takes her time, aiming carefully, with a lot more care then one would normally see in the fairy and takes her next shot, whispering something to the arrow as she lets it fly.]

[bustadecapinyoass]

[Mami was doing... well, better than she expected. Dead on? Even though she's really good at guns and gun kata, she expected a small margin of error. Arrows don't go at the same speed of bullets. The breathing might have helped, so she'll just do that again before pulling another bow, taking aim, breathing deeply once more, and letting it fire.]

[tookalevelinbadass]

[Well that's a shame. Practically an entire miss. Perhaps it was time to climb on the provided box and shoot from up there. Pippin nudges the box over and hops up on it for the next shot.

Father never spoke a word about how to pull the string with your mouth. If only I had my fingers!

He grabs another ice arrow and takes a longer look at the angle of his bow to the target. Then he shoots.]

[callmeyork]

Please, call me York. That's what everyone calls me. [Hopefully he's loud enough for the commentators to hear, but otherwise, he's not super worried about it.

Mostly because he just outshone all of the supposed champs without ever having really practiced archery. Well. Let's see if lightning strikes twice here!

Nock... aim... draw... fire.]

Re: Second Volley

[mechmadeoflove]

[Man, this is so much easier when he's not being shot at. He allows a smirk, but then exhales, inhales, notches, pulls -]

Fire between your heartbeats.

[- and takes his own advice.]

Third Volley

[ponymeisters]

[Unfortunately for York, the announcers are away in a box high above the field when he makes his request. They haven't heard... and anyway, Saving Grace would probably ignore him.]

Well, well, well! True Shot is living up to his name. That's almost a dead-on shot. Kreutzer and Cirno - is it pronounced 'sir-no'? Now, there's a name I can get behind! I'm rooting for you, Cir- Ack! That was my flank, Loud.

Gracie, get on with it. I swear, they're never going to let me live this down at the station.

Tch! So much anger and resentment. You really should just join Hoovesweek. We're far more civil! Kreutzer and Cirno look to have aimed true. Peregrin - Isn't that a bird? - Francis, and Quiver are all even. Joshua and Bullseye are trailing and... oh, Mami, my lovely with blonde and curls, do try to be more careful! I'm rooting for you, too!

Line up your last volley archers! We're almost finished!

[[OOC: The percentages for the last round are:

Cirno - 22%
Kreutzer - 24%
Mami - 4%
York - 15%
Pippin - 16%
Joshua Preston - 12%
True Shot - 31%
Bullseye - 10%
Quiver Quaver - 15%

The total percentages are currently:

Cirno - 30%
Kreutzer - 44%
Mami - 37%
York - 48%
Pippin - 26%
Joshua Preston - 45%
True Shot - 36%
Bullseye - 25%
Quiver Quaver - 33%]]

[bustadecapinyoass]

[And now Mami just thinks that maybe she was abysmal in shooting arrows off because they're absolutely nothing like guns and she had just gotten lucky the first time. She's screaming internally, but her exterior is as calm and collected as before.

Mami needs to not lose her head over this. Even though she's very sure she'll fail the third shot, she breathes deep, calm breaths, aims, pulls back... and releases. PLEASE DON'T MISS THE TARGET PLEASE GET A DECENT PERCENTAGE]

[frozenmemories]

[ALRIGHT! Fairy is glad she actually did pretty good on that shot and the fact she's getting more people cheering for her, although she's still trying to listen more for people she was close to.

Obviously though, she did something right with that shot so she takes her time once more, preparing herself slowly and taking careful aim. Even if she might not get up high enough to win something..she did her best. Besides, she wasn't even thinking about that at the moment. Sad thoughts would mess her up..time to make her family and friends proud!]

[tookalevelinbadass]

[Better but far from satisfying. Pippin winces a little imagining how embarrassing it would have been to shoot like this in front of some of those knights of Gondor. This wasn't much for The Shire either.

Sighing, he grabs an arrow for the next volley and sets it. He wishes he had a friend there to encourage or advise him on this.]

What should I do then?

[He tries to ask the little voice in his head for a suggestion. Only he moves his mouth and speaks aloud and he realizes a split second too late that he just let go of the bow string doing that. Which left the last shot mostly up to dumb luck.]

[ponykreutzer]

(Looks like Kreu's at about an even pace. She might not be getting the highest scores now, but she's also not getting the lowest scores, either. If she can keep this up, then she might actually place!

The girl looks confident, but not overly so. This is the last arrow, so she's hoping to make it count. Steady breath, pull back the string, focus...and let it fly!)

Re: Third Volley

[mechmadeoflove]

[Second in the rankings. Not bad at all. He can deal with that.

Besides, he might catch up. One last shot, aimed a little high deliberately to spread on the parts of the target that he missed with his low shot. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Let fly, and -]

For future dreams!

[- let loose a battlecry. He grins.]

[callmeyork]

[Hm. Not as good as the last shot. Maybe he just got lucky.

Either way, he was currently in the lead... if he could secure another 30% or so, he'd be set for the gold. And as it stood, he'd be a shoo-in for a medal with a well-enough shot.

So, here goes nothing! One last shot for Equestrian glory!]

Finish and Mingle

[ponymeisters]

Oh! Oh, my, ladies and gentlecolts. We have an upset. And absolute upset! Dear Quiver Quaver and True Shot have missed their marks, as it were! They're sending out the judges for the others.

[A pair of zebras shuffle out and begin taking measurements on the ice coverage. They confer after a few minutes, then head back to where they'd come out of beneath the stands.]

You're hearing this live, my lovelies, Mami Tomoe has won! You were my favorite all along, darling! With 63% coverage, she is the winner of this Equestria Game's Ice Archery competition! Hmm! And this is unusual. Two second place finishers? At 61% each, Francis and Kreutzer! And bringing in third? Yes. Yes, it's Bullseye at 55%!

You were all so wonderful. Weren't they wonderful, Loud?

I need a drink.

We'll all enjoy a drink thanks to the wonderful Smiling Bessy brand milk provided to all competitors at the games! You know your milk's made right when Glascow's smiling bessies are in the barn! Everypony else who didn't get a medal should get flowers, though, don't you think? They tried awfully hard. I promise I'll interview all of you for Hoovesweek if you'd like!

You will do no such thing!

[There's a crackle and a sound like feedback before the stadium goes quiet. Cadence stands from where she's sitting on her throne and uses her magic to project her voice.]

Thank you, Everypony for competing in the Ice Archery. You were all very noble and should all receive laurels for your efforts and bravery.

[Small laurel wreaths appear from thin air and lower down onto each competitor's shoulders. Then, four medals appear, one gold, two silver, and one bronze. They are placed upon the appropriate necks.]

Everypony, please give a cheer for all of our competitors today. We all must know the fear of performance, but these ponies have stood for your entertainment and the continuation of a noble tradition laid down generations before. Hip hip-

-Huzzah!

[[OOC: You may use this thread as a party-style mingle thread for characters talking after the Game. The final volley scores:

Cirno - 23%
Kreutzer - 17%
Mami - 26%
York - 13%
Pippin - 27%
Joshua Preston - 6%
True Shot - 3%
Bullseye - 30%
Quiver Quaver - 12%

The final overall scores:

Cirno - 53%
Kreutzer - 61%
Mami - 63%
York - 61%
Pippin - 53%
Joshua Preston - 51%
True Shot - 39%
Bullseye - 55%
Quiver Quaver - 45%]]

[frozenmemories]

[Well...She didn't win but Cirno didn't expect to at all. Besides..in her mind if she won, something bad was about to happen.

The little filly is going to stand there, watching the others with a proud smile on her face. She thought about mingling a bit, trying to make friends again but held back for now.]

[bustadecapinyoass]

[...Well then. Looks like freaking out a little actually helped. Not that anyone else knows. She smiles cheerfully and bows to the judges, thanking them for the event and her part in it.

Later, she's hanging out somewhere. She breathes on her gold medal and wipes it off with her sleeve, then admiring the shine. She is easily approachable.]