>go doorway
You duck through the low doorway and enter the room beyond.

[Abandoned Treehouse, Dusty Workroom]
As your eyes adjust to the dim light, you realize that this work area has been unused for a fair length of time.  Before you is a small lopsided table covered with remnants of wood shavings and ratty feather flights.  Abandoned on one corner of the  table, you see a notched, grey-handled carving knife and, judging from the dried glue and bits of bark stuck to it, the remains of a leather pouch that once held fletching supplies.  Hanging on the wall are several longbows in various states of construction and a single maple bishop head arrow.  The wind blows through a large hole in the neglected floor of the treehouse and briefly stirs up the leaves matting the floor, revealing a rather ancient looking scroll carefully rolled up but somehow forgotten on the floor.
Obvious exits:  out

>read scroll
Your curiosity piqued, you gingerly pick up the scroll and unroll it...


 

On Bows an' Arrows...


In da proper hands, da simple bow and arrow can be one o' da deadliest weapons in da Realms. Add ta this da ability ta carve yer own flavor o' bow or arrow, an' ya have one o' da most economical, flexible, interestin', elegant, an' deadly combinations in da Realms.

Now, mind ya, I am nae da best taisgwelger (archer) in da Realms -- that title can be reserved fer those elders such as Sarzen, Zovyn, Flashingblade, and da elite company that they keep -- nor am I even in the top tier, at da time I am writin' this, I have but a wee bit over 60 lessons in longbow. However, I have followed many discussions 'bout da art o' usin' an' fashionin' bows from scratch... an' nae have I found any locale where all da information is collected inta a single place. Thus, I hope ta present what I have learned from all da elders (and me own experiences) 'bout bein' an archer.

Mind ya, the properties and procedures fer usin' bows in da Realms changes at the whim of the Great Mages... so take heed that any o' da information I have may be out o' date or just plain wrong!   Note that I've penned any conjecture in green so ya can attempt ta split da good facts from da chaff, or better yet, do some research o' yer own inta da topic.

May da spirit o' Larisa guide yer arrows,
-Wandyfarer Scootle CrystylBow
    143 Shorka 354



Contents

  1. Basic use of bows

  2. (Weapon choice, obtaining a bow, loading/aiming/firing)
  3. Advanced use of bows

  4. (Effects of aiming, range to target, balance/defense tactics, arrow selection, hits vs. lodges)
  5. Basic fletching

  6. (Tools, supplies, basic procedure)
  7. Advanced fletching

  8. (Appraisal systems, balance/power ratings, wood selection)
  9. Closing notes
  10. Revision history
Note:  Due to the nature of some details that follow, comments and commands are a bit OOC at times... cover your eyes if you have to -- it's necessary to get some important details accross.



Special thanks
Ranger Bezyan's Fletching Notes - the place that got me started with fletching
All the folks on the "Death-by-air" folder for making this such an interesting and worthwhile pursuit
Sarzen Silentshadow, Archer - for lending his expertise so readily
Keep da faith... happy fletchin'!


 
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Last rev: 29 June 1998
All comments welcome:
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