Ash Shortbow

An ash shortbow is the first weapon most young archers train with. It’s easy to make and, therefore, not so problematic if it breaks during training. Human villagers would often craft their first bows together under the tutelage of a visiting Wild Knight. They would use branches that had naturally fallen from the trees and carefully whittle them into the bow’s limbs. Bowstrings would be created by gathering flax from the nearby fields and spinning them into thin but hardy threads.

Most would break on first use. Some would break before the first arrow was fired. Still, village youngsters would laugh at their misfortunes and start the whole process again. Each time improving. Each new bow sturdier than the last.