Words cannot express the humility and gratefulness I feel as I review the humble beginning Buffy and I shared 100,000 words ago. With no fiction experience, but a truckload of passion for my character, my efforts have been gently and steadily encouraged by the wonderful readers of this forum. Although I have much to learn about the craft of writing, you have taught me enough that I feel worthy of continuing to present the story of my precious bow girl. The warm acceptance we continue to receive, brings a tear to this old paladin's eye.
Her http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1033100-chronicles-of-buffy-the-bowgirl/ thread covers chapters 1 - 25.
Her http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1045763-chronicles-of-buffy-the-bowgirl-ii/page__p__15167323entry15167323 thread covers Chapters 26 - 43.
Her http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1060173-buffy-the-bowgirl-iii/page__p__15393203entry15393203 thread covers Chapters 44 - 59.
Buffy is a Bosmer/Breton mystic archer who hails from Bravil. She travels accompanied by the spirit of an ethereal old paladin.
While traveling Cyrodiil to garner requirements for admission to the Arcane University, she was singularly struck by the selfless bravery of the beleaguered guard force at Kvatch, standing against a portal to Oblivion. Although terrified by the threats at Kvatch, she believes she will return to help. She has relentlessly worked to improve her natural skill with a bow, and to augment it with knowledge of magic. Her travels have gained her much experience and many friends.
Buffy's nature is perhaps best summed up in her own words:
As we prepare to join Buffy, she is enjoying a break at home. Coincidentally, Bravil was selected for Cyrodiil's periodic tournament of archers, and has been temporarily transformed into quite the festive, bustling place.
In our last chapter, 59, Buffy got in some bow practice with her archery master (Daenlin) and learned a little more of his history with an old rival (Reman). It seems the source of the rivalry was a talented archer named Diana. Buffy also met a newly arriving competitor for the tournament named Alawen.
Thank you to those who were able to comment on chapter 59 before the thread was locked -
SubRosa- Your insight, as always, is so encouraging. Thank you.
treydog- High praise indeed. I so appreciate the encouragement.
hauteecole rider- Forlorn Watchman was not in the plans; however, I believe it may now be, thanks to you. Wonderful idea.
mALX- Thank you mALX for your inspiration and support.
bobg- I'm glad it feels a little like a renaissance fair. Thanks.
Foxy- Jeff Cooper's Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth is a well chosen reference, and I appreciate the comparison.
MyCat-Thank you so much for catching up and joining us. Yes, my first few chapters were humble. Should I ever republish, I would certainly want to revise them. Thanks.
Wolf- May the best Bosmer win!
Destri- Thank you for the wonderful words. I did some minor edits to my archived version per your suggestion, but Lady Leydenne locked us up before I could edit the posted version.
Digz Sorry the thread locked, but thank you so much for the encouraging comments via PM.
60 Bravil - The Tournament of Archers, Part 4
"Buffy!"
Pausing just outside the door of The Fair Deal, my head snapped towards the voice to see a bare-chested Orc. "Lum?" I remembered we had pulled arrows for each other behind the Fighters Guild in Chorrol on my last visit there. "It's great to see you again. Are you here for the tourney?"
"Sure am." Lum gro-Baroth cheerfully flashed his fangs and continued. "My brother Kurz is here too, although he seems to be spending more time in the taverns than on the shooting range."
"Welcome to Bravil, Lum." I then added with a grin, "I see you still don't own a shirt."
"Nah. Shirts are for sissies."
"Ha," I laughed. "Call me a sissy then. Are you and Kurz staying at the Bravil guild?"
"Yeah," Lum then lowered his voice and leaned closer, "but, I'm glad I'm not in the Bravil chapter. The guild commander they have here is crazy. It's like the guy is running a Legion training camp. I heard that just a week or two ago, he had some stringy wood elf who wanted to join the guild out back by the targets. Yelling in her ear while she was trying to shoot, he was. Apparently, the little red head managed to maintain her cool, and kept hitting the target." The muscular green fighter curled his lip, then drove his right fist into his open left hand with a loud smack. "I'd have opened a bag of whoop-ass on him if he tried that with me."
"So you would have gotten distracted and not hit the target, right?" I teased.
Lum opened his mouth, then closed it and scratched under his headband. He then smiled sheepishly and said, "well, maybe you've got a point." The Orc looked up at the sun, now low in the west. "I'd better go shoot some holes in one of those targets myself while there is still a little daylight left. Several of us fighters are going to try our hand at qualifying in the morning."
"Good luck, Lum." I watched as he headed for the training area behind the Fighters Guild. I didn't know the commander of the guild well, but I knew something about training under pressure.
"Faster Buffy!" my University advisor said sternly. "I want to see magicka forming in your hand even before you release that arrow. Shoot, then cast. Again!"
"Boderi," I whined, "my head, shoulders, hands and fingers hurt. We've been chasing arrows with spells all morning!"
"Is that what you're going to tell a charging ogre?" the Dunmer snapped in my ear. "Not now, I have a headache? Your unarmored little butt can only take about one hit from such a beast. I don't care if you hurt; I want you to survive. Now shoot, Apprentice!"
Dispelling the image from my mind with a smile, I turned and entered The Fair Deal.
"Hi Nilawen, how's business?" I said cheerfully.
"Oh Buffy, you wouldn't believe how busy it's been." The pleasant Bosmer blew loose strands of black hair from her face. "This is the first break I've had all day. Long hours, but the gold's good with so many people in town for the tournament. What can I get for you dear?"
I plopped the beautiful leather-bound journal that Mazoga had given me onto the counter between Nilawen and I. "This one's full. Any chance you have a book with blank pages back there?"
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv43/Acadian6/Buffy%20I/ScreenShot251.jpg
Nilawen looked at my old journal. "Well, certainly nothing as fancy as that, but yes I believe I do." She produced a simple book from under her counter. "So what number is this one?"
"This will be my fourth journal," I replied while flipping through the blank pages. "It's perfect Nilawen, but I'm kind of broke right now. I need to make some potions tonight to sell. Can you hold it for a day or so?"
"Don't be ridiculous Buffy. Take it now and pop back in when you get a few septims."
"Thanks Nilawen." I slid the old and new journals into my pack. Nordinor and Aradroth were seated in the corner talking quietly. Jerking my head towards them, I looked questioningly at Nilawen.
"Oh, those two." Nilawen shook her head but smiled. "Nordinor has it in his head that he's going to manage bets on the tournament. He's been trying to talk Aradroth into helping him."
"A bookie?" I giggled as I turned towards the two. "So Nordinor, who's favored to win?"
The elves looked up from their scraps of parchment that covered the table they shared. Nordinor replied. "Well, Daenlin right now, but we still have two more days of qualification rounds before we know who the ten finalists will be."
"And Aradroth?" I frowned, "I hope you're not the bookie's muscle."
The assassin pierced me with his gray eyes, but said, pleasantly enough, "Like Nilawen, you cluck and worry too much. I'm merely advising Nordinor." The assassin then pointed to his bow leaning in a corner and lifted an eyebrow. "Remember, I will be trying to qualify as well, and it wouldn't do for me to be overtly involved in the bookmaking end of things, now would it?"
"Buffy," Nordinor injected, "I know bookmaking and Aradroth knows archery. He's my subject matter expert. We're running a legitimate operation here. Why I've even received a permit from the castle, signed by the Count himself. I'm as official as my good friend Hundolin, who runs book for the Arena."
"Why Nordinor," I said with genuine surprise, "I never would have believed you to cut the Count in on one of your enterprises. What kind of a take does his pompousness, Count Terentius require?"
"Twenty per cent, but not to worry," Nordinor smiled smugly, "I'll get that back. The Count is too deeply into his cups and debauchery to notice that he indirectly funds a good portion of my other-"
"That's quite enough Nordinor," Nilawen interrupted sternly. "Just because Buffy knows how to keep her mouth shut, doesn't mean you need to burden her with your illegal secrets." Wagging a finger at Nordinor, she continued, "every time a guard comes in here, I'm tempted to turn you in, but I bite my tongue because you pay the rent for your room on time. Buffy doesn't need that dilemma."
Nordinor blinked, and said seriously, "You're right of course, Nilawen." He then broke into a large smile, as if to change the mood and added, "Buffy, I assure you that all my illegal activities are perfectly legitimate."
Nordinor and I laughed, Nilawen chuckled and even Aradroth let slide a sly smile.