Faruq had watched the competitors step forward and shoot Majdala, one after the other. Some hit her, some scored what would usually be good, dangerous, nasty hits, even.
Only to see the Khadi shrug it off, smiling or laughing, not even a shade of pain in her eyes.
When her own arrows hit the contestants, on the other hand, the screams, the pain, the blood, it was all very real, and very visible.
A blatant display of power - that's what it was, as he had noted since she first presented today's challenge. A display of the outrageously unequal power that made the situation in Medinaat Al-Salaam what it was.
He carefully controlled the anger that burnt slowly like embers in his eyes as he stepped forward time after time to tend to the wounded archers. As he had asked at the start of the competition, he was the last one to step forward.
It was fitting, perhaps - although many probably thought it anticlimactic. The last one in the scoreboard. The one clearly least prepared for this competition - one who, as he had said himself, was here to learn... which carried the now obvious message that he barely knew anything about archery.
He took up the bow handed to the competitors for the last time, looking at the many wounded standing or lying around once more before raising his head and towards the Khadi, meeting her own gaze squarely.
Finally, he raised the bow to his eyes.
He let out a chuckle. He
knew he was very unlikely to even hit her. And it was plainly clear that even if he did, it would mean little - just another display of her inhuman power.
He raised the bow further and took his first shot - the shot "at the mercy" of the Khadi - with the pointing up at Shilah's face, almost at a 45ยบ angle. The arrow travelled in a high arc and fell squarely on the sand, point down.
He then spoke, as loud as he could, with a calm but strong voice.
"Another one that fails to hurt you, Sayyeda Al-Rashid. Another one you'll shoot at until they bleed. I hope you have been enjoying this chance to entertain yourself", he says, his expression as neutral as possible - although those who know what to look for may find those sparks of anger burning deep on the man's eyes.
She shoots him back, and a dangerous Flesh Cutter arrow flies true, hitting his shoulder - but he is unfazed. He takes the arrow from his flesh, runs his hand through the wound, spits into his hand and does it again. The wound seems so superficial, that, for just that moment, it might almost look to the spectators as if he were as immune to her shots as she were to those of the others.
His lips crease into a dry, stony smile.
"Had too much fun already, Sayyeda? One could get the impression you're becoming soft... What would one say about a Khadi being soft on one's opponents, I imagine?"
He shoots again, once more in a wide arc. Another arrow hits the ground and is buried in the sand.
Her next arrow is an almost perfect, well-aimed shot. This time, it hits Faruq squarely on his chest, cutting some of the cloth on his robes - and there is an actual flow of blood, unlike the first time. Still, once more he takes the arrow out, spits in his hand and runs it through the wound, and throws the arrow on the ground with a resolute expression.
"Sayyeda... it's almost as if you were just playing around with your enemies before taking things to their
inevitable end", he says again in a deep, loud voice - the word inevitable, in particular, maybe hiding a slight hint of some doublespeak.
Third shot. Third arrow buried in the sand, a little bit farther than the other two.
The Khadi takes another shot... and it almost looks as if she was distracted by something. A more agile contestant might have been able to move out of the way of her third arrow... but Faruq did not. Despite the less confident shot, the arrow buries itself in his thigh, deeper this time. He looks at the wound, his eyes burning again...
... but this time, he just nods to her.
"Shukran, Sayyeda. You have shown me - and us, no doubt - much about the ways of archery in this festival. And you have made your point", he says, formally and seriously, again in a somewhat stony manner.
He then starts stepping back, limping but proudly walking the way back to the crowd on his own feet.
OOC:
D4 EA Under her Eye - Mercy Whot - Why even roll?:
2d10k2 6 ...
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi shoots the Healer, TN 15:
7d10ro1o10k4 30 - Solid hit
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi hurts a headstrong Healer, Flesh cutter for 2 points:
5d10o10k3 10 - Voided to 0 Wounds.
D4 EA Under her Eye - Second Shot - Why even roll?:
2d10k2 10 ...
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi shoots the Healer mk2, TN 15:
7d10ro1o10k4 53 - Khadi lady seems pissed off o-o
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi hurts a headstrong Healer again, Flesh cutter for 2 points (total 4):
5d10o10k3 21 - Voided to 11 Wounds.
D4 EA Under her Eye - Third Shot - Why even roll?:
2d10k2 13 ...
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi shoots the Healer mk3, TN 15:
7d10ro1o10k4 18 - Almost seems like she's not having so much fun now XD
D4 EA Under her Eye - Khadi hurts a headstrong Healer, 3rd time, Flesh cutter for 2 points (total 6):
5d10o10k3 25 - Ok, maybe she is. Total 36 Wounds, so Injured (-15).
6 Points for being shot at with Flesh-cutter arrows. No hits on her. 1 XP gained.
