Strolen's Citadel

Items · Ranged Weapons · Combat

Bow of the Astormen

by Strolen

Local farmers and foresters have the greatest bow making wood in all the land, they also have the skill to protect it.

105 xp 3,115 views

Quest entry

Quest - Guilds

The idea for Strolen Citadel Guilds has been around since the site first began. There have been many thoughts about it and all of them revolved around A LOT of code with the features all, more or less, automated. Well, t… Open the quest

Full quest brief

The idea for Strolen Citadel Guilds has been around since the site first began. There have been many thoughts about it and all of them revolved around A LOT of code with the features all, more or less, automated. Well, that won't happen so why fight my impulses.

So any submission that goes in for the next month with a Guild focused freetext will gain extra XP and the knowledge that you are here at the beginning of the Era of the Guilds!

Join or create a Guild today!

The Poor Archers of Astor are a simple folk with a powerful history. From the small age they are trained in the use of the land, their hands and the bow. They are a prideful people of a religion that gives little importance to worldly goods. Their main concern is their spiritual happiness and their communion with the surrounding land. Therefore they are more concerned about the keeping of their forest than the selling of its wood to make the incredible bows.

During poor farming seasons the Astormen are happy to sell the bow to those that they know have earned the right to wield it. The buyer doesn't have to convert to their way of life but they must respect it and the people. There are many that have developed relationships with them so when the Astormen decide to sell some bows, there is always an eager buyer that they trust.

Every child at their coming of age is given a Astor bow that will stay for them with life. The wood resists fire, dampness and extreme temperatures.  They also shoot arrows farther with more strength then a normal bow even in inept or weaker hands. The Astor bow can be treated harshly and remain as strong as it was the day it was made...although few would ever be abusive with it once they gained ownership.

For many years the Astor grove remained a well-kept secret from the greater outside world. Most just knew the large community were very adept bowmen but didn't know the power of the bows they held. But word got out and those with greed in their eyes came forward and were summarily rejected...often forcefully. A few small caravans or roving marauders caused no hardship to the Astormen's skill.  However, the often violent rejection of these unwelcomed intruders soon caused an uproar. 

An ignorant merchant who lost a few crews when they tried to forcefully take some of the Astor trees brought his complaints in front of the land's justice. Much to his amazement, the honor and ownership of the Astor groves was maintained and solidified. Such was the humble attitude of the Astormen, and appreciation of justice, that they pledged 120 bows a year for a decade to the rulers to do with as they deemed fit. This was a large number for the small amount of Astor trees available so the rulers continue to jealously protect the Astormen.

Plot Ideas

- War is brewing and the value of the Astor bows to the army can not be underestimated. Is it worth destroying this community and culture to gain an advantage?

- Disease has spread through the Astor groves so the bows that are made are the only ones now available ever. The Astormen are upset and some think that the bows given or sold in the past to maintain the village should now return to the village. A sect of Astormen have gone out to get the bows back, by force if necessary.

- The snubbed merchants have held a interest and a hate towards the Astormen. Perhaps the son of the merchant that was rejected by the kingdom has gathered a group to, once again, try and take some of the trees by stealth and then by force if needed. The force is large enough to be causing issues all over the region and they are spread out so much that the king's men are even enlisting help to track them all down. Perhaps a heroic defense will earn a gift from the generous Astormen.

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Discussion

7 comments

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  1. Mourngrymn

    I like it. I wish there was a little more information as to why the wood is so special and what they do to make the bows continue with their unique abilities after carved from the trees.

    Perhaps a long dead Goddess of Nature laid to rest in the grove of the Astor trees which gives them the benefits. Perhaps it only grants the bonuses to those of like minded hearts as the Astormen and in the hands of simple murderers they are normal bows of simple make and design. Just a thought.

    1 xp Reply +XP
    1. Murometz reply

      no vote, Mourn? you're single-handedly preventing fearless leader from joining the Strolenati :-)

      0 xp Reply +XP
    2. Strolen reply

      I am turning on the negative votes again. ;)

      0 xp Reply +XP
  2. valadaar

    It simply could be some natural quality of the wood, or one bred into it by the many generations of the Astormen. These changes that make it a very good wood for bows also make it difficult to grow without the constant tending of the Astormen, which explains its unavailability outside of their lands.

    A good sub - I like it :)

    1 xp Reply +XP
  3. Murometz

    Interestingly, the plot hooks bring this all together for me. And I for one, prefer the mysteries of the Astormen, their trees and their bows, to remain just that, mysteries. Adds a certain je ne sai quoi to their tale.

    0 xp Reply +XP
    1. Strolen reply

      No speaking troll in the comment section.

      0 xp Reply +XP
  4. Moonlake

    Straightforward, simple and elegant.

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