Wednesday Social (Part 11)

The Malifie stables are holding a race today!

People from all over the city have emerged and gathered at the stables, outside the city, to see some of ALexandria's finest (Arvek Nar bred, though) horses compete!

On this warm, muggy summer day. The race runs along the outer length of the large stables. Numerous 'hazards' to jump have been dug out or built. Mud pits, wooden beams. That sort of thing. Bare chested Hobs who've been working in the sun have just completed putting the finishing touches on them.

"Ssa." Svarshan looks towards the race horses with an almost wistful look. The sith-makar stands near a bucket, with a set of leathers in one hand and a scrub brush in the other. He wears a traditional Am'sheri set--a wrap around the waist, that hangs just above the knee, and leaves room for the heavy, bread-loaf tail. The decorations in the belt, and the weave of the its maker from the crafter-caste. In this case, durable. Something meant to be near slobbering muzzles and dung-tinged stables.

He leans forward, and dips the scrub in the bucket.

Kira has arrived.

"Wishing you were in the races, Brightscale?" Durrankar says as he talks to Svarshan. He's not in his usual armor either. Mostly his scales, except for his own scant set of leathers and a staff. And a bandolier.....cuz you don't expect him to leave EVERYTHING back at mictlan....do you?

Daechir stands high up in the stands, watching the horses with interest. He seems actively interested in them; and he is. He keeps to himself however, not talking to anyone near him at the moment, and his red eyes take a keen interest in anyone who gets very close. The Mul'niessa man seems in turn anxious and interested in the races.

"...only one's cihuaa, sshaman," Svarshan says so quietly that only the shaman might hear. His cihuaa had been of the merchant-caste. Swiftclaws, she'd dealt in. He plunges the scrub into the suds with force, takes it out.

Sets it against the filthy tack. "Peasse to you. Hass there been any more from the. Guardian?" he asks. He means the spirit who'd closed off Mictlan. To heal it. Not that the corruption of two battles--one from the Charneth's machinations, one from undeath--weren't seeping into the earth. It's caused no end of consternation from the druids. The sith-makar thumps his tail as the mul as he passes, if he does.

Cesran has heard about some sort of race going on and he has come to see it with the rest of the crowds. He spots Svarshan and nods to him, "Peace be upon your nests." He offers as way of greeting to the scrubbing Sith-makar.

Anyone can ride if they can demonstrate some basic proficiency with a horse. It's not too much to ask, really!

Numerous citizens of Alexandria are signing up to do just that, it seems.

Kira is delighted to hear of races and public fun after so much negative news lately. She walks to the stands, giving her smile, and a wave, to those faces she knows and can pick out of the growing crowds... or faces she doesn't know yet, too. She's not biased.

"Peace to you, Brightscale. No word yet though." Durrankar doesn't comment on the Cihuaa though. He understands. "When there is word, I shall come to you, if you do not come to me first. When you are finished, join us in the stands." He says putting a claw on Svarshan's shoulders. he then looks to the Mul and thumps his tail, almost in tandem with Svarshan.

Daechir hears the murmur that anyone can ride and decides to move toward the horses. He passes some sith-makar whom he nods politely to as well as a few individuals before getting as close to the horses as he can without actually signing up to ride one. Just watching the animals seems to suffice his face with joy.

"Peasse to yours," Svarshan returns. He sets the scrub against the tack with slow, deliberate strokes. Then shorter ones in the nooks and ties. The tack--this one reins and a headpiece--had fallen into the mud earlier, and partially dried.

"One had. Hoped," he says, the words a touch sorrowful. He pauses as Daechir walks by. Scents the air, and then thumps his tail. "Peasse to you," he says.

Then dunks the scrub in the bucket, again. Apparently, he's helping with the tack, today!

Cesran nods to the others around Svarshan, "Greetings to all you as well." He looks to Svarshan, "Are you going to sign up for racing? I would, but I doubt they'd let me race a phantom steed." He says with a teasing tone in his voice.

Kira likes the horses, and has been known to share an apple or two, now and then. Some of them might like her back, but she's sure it's totally unrelated. Seeing all of them gathered up for the fun run makes her check her bag for surplus fruit even as she diverts from the stands towards the animals.

"Peace to you." Daed offers softly to the Sith-makar who spoke to him, surprised that anyone had offered him any sort of greeting. There are quite a lot of people down by the track so he finds himself stepping back to make room for others; and to give himself space. Not even mentioning the horses. Still he watches them.

With the help of the stable hands, most of the racers are now mounted up, getting into the starting positions. Their steeds know what's going on. Their restless and eager to run, stomping their hooves on the ground.

Astaren is up in the stands, watching and taking notes. He is looking over some figures and hmming thoughtfully.

Durrankar looks at all of the horses, and pats Svarshan on the shoulder. "Come, Brightscale. I even brought candy meat for you. And peppers from what I could get from the garden. A gift.....from a friend." A very large friend.

"They are horsses," Svarshan responds to Cesran, hearing him and not really hearing him as the mage's thought tumbles through his brain. He hadn't thought to consider it it, from the look of things. Yet... He stares at the beasts a time, as they run past.

"You sshould ride, Kira," he says to the apple-feeder, with a warm humor to his tones. He thumps his tail again to the mul, and then turns the leathers over. There's a giant clump of...

Oh gods.

"Which end do you. Think thiss came from?" he asks Durrankar, and then looks up at the mention of peppers. With interest.

Cesran nods, "Yes they are and it might take you a moment to adjust, but horses can carry fully armored paladins, I'm sure these could carry you." He nods in agreement, "Yes Kira you should give it a shot."

Durrankar says, "I don't think you want to touch that, Svarshan. It does not smell good." He says before giving Svarshan a pepper. "Join me in the stands. I have more.""

Kira looks to Svarshan, a distraction that is quickly taken advantage of to make the apple vanish. Horses mouths don't look a gift in the... something? She blinks. "Me? Ride? I'm not much of a rider..." She hesitates, but then gets encouragement. Her now-empty hand gets snuffled, so maybe the horse agrees? "... but I could always try...?"

Daechir watches people encouraging someone to give riding a go with a smile. His red eyes flicker around the crowd and then he takes a few more steps back for good measure. All the better to watch the horses going around the track.

Svarshan picks up a stick, and uses it to push the--which end really?--from the bit of tack. Beside him are a few saddles. Other bits that need care before being reused.

"Ssa. It can be. Enjoyable," he says to Kira, warmly. "Perhapss."

"One gave one'ss word, one would assist," he says to Durrankar, then, and gestures with his muzzle towards the saddles and soap bucket. Still, he goes silent and looks towards the shaman, asking without words if the man has a good reason.

Cesran hmms, "If I may Svarshan assist you in cleaning off any muck or grime to help speed this along or is it one of those things you must do yourself?"

Durrankar hrfs a bit at Svarshan....and simply uses water to clear the tacks. Fresh water.....like from a blessing....that is used with pressure....on the tack.

Did we mention he can create 2 gallons of water every six seconds?

GAME: Kira rolls ride: (4)+5: 9

Everything's done! Svarshan thumps his tail, and since the task is completely finished, he stands up.

Kira at least knows which end of the horse is which. The front is where the apples go in. Assuring the animal to let her hop up shouldn't be too bad, either. She hopes. "I do love them," she nods to Svarshan after getting situated, "they are very friendly."

AND THEY'RE OFF.

Citizens of Alexandria, the first annual Malifure Stables Saddle Rally is off to a raucous start! The steeds are moving right off. Some of them are a bit more controlled than the oth4ers. Plenty of racers but not everyone is a substantial talent! By this measure, Kira is actually not doing as horrible as she could. The difference between the 'casual rider who may have been on a horse before' and the actually vaguely talnetfd sort is immediately obvious.

It seemed that they'd managed to convince Kira to get on the horse and ride. It's clear to Daed that this is not something that is done often, but what really matters is the enjoyment of it. Like the horses themselves which after each round of being set free look like they're happy to finally be loosed on the track. He holds his hands together and watches them run with a smile on his lips.

"It looks a good. Rasse," Svarshan says. He looks over his shoulder at the racers as they thunder past. As the hooves drive into the earth, at the sound of the snorting muzzles, the shaking earth.

He lifts the saddles somewhat, and places them upright, so that they dry and that the leather does not damage. Then, follows after Durrankar.

Kira marks her start with a startled squeak. She figured the horse was going to move; she just wasn't prepared for it. She is definitely more in the 'never been on a horse before' group than the 'vaguely talented,' but she knows how to hold on! She's also more than happy to encourage the horse to run, and enjoy himself. Herself? She doesn't know, but either way, fun is important!

GAME: Kira rolls ride: (19)+5: 24

Durrankar heads over and sets himself in the stands, then gives Svarshan a pepper, and eats a candy meat himself. "They sounded ready to run before they got out there....." he also sets himself right next to Daechir.

Daechir glances upwards as the two sith-makar that he'd passed earlier sit down close by to him. Again he offers them a courteous nod, and realizing belatedly that he has not offered a greeting to Durrankar nods again this time in greeting. "Peace to you," he says politely.

The crowd is full of Alexandrian citizens. No one too important, it seems, beyond the presence of notable heroes like Cesran and Svarshan and Durrankar, who are among the more recognizable and have drinks sent their way. In the meantime, Kira's horse instinctually leaps a mud pit at her guidance that leaves several racers behind!

Cesran watches the horse race that is going on. "Well after a slow start it appears that Kira has found her stride, I hope this lasts for her."

Durrankar says, "Peace to you, sharpear." he says as he chews on a bit of candied meat. but, he then offers some to Daechir. "Would you like some?""

Svarshan thumps his tail at the offer of a drink. Old scars, he scents the liquid first, before tasting it. "Peasse to you," he says as then.

Nips on the peppers.

And, thumps his tail loudly, as some of the horses cross the finish line!

To those closest it's clear that Daechir is mightily tempted by Durrankar's offer; it's mostly in the way his eyes linger on the candied meat. However he shakes his head regretfully, and lifts a hand to wave the offer aside as well. "No, but I appreciate the offer."

And wouldn't you know it... amidst the horses tearing around the track and crossing the finish there appears a Hyena. It's about as big as the others and bounds over the side in one go. It's RACING ALONG WITH THEM! PUPPER WANTS TO PLAY RUNNING TOO!

"MAYRA! NO!"

MAYRA YES! WOO! THE HOFFY ONES ARE RUNNING RANDOM DIRECTIONS NOW! BEST PLAY TIME EVER!

"MAYRA!...."

Kira is more impressed that she manages to stay on the horse and not in the puddle, than the horse leaping over it. She's pretty sure it knows how to use its legs better than she does. "Whee!" Yep, Svarshan was right. It is fun! Kira leans down and crouches to hold on better, and encourage her running steed to enjoy itself. If it makes her more stable and more able to move with the horse, it's completely unintentional.

The rampaging pupper--hyena or no--brings a smile to the scarleg's eyes. It's the crinkling that gives it away. "It iss good to ssee familiar fasses," Svarshan says to Durrankar, as Mayra and Serraphine tumble their way in.

"We sshould. Congratulate the Hearthguard," he says to the shaman then, and stands. Begins to walk down the bleachers.

GAME: Kira rolls ride: (12)+5: 17

Yelrona has been hearing about the Malifure Stables Saddle Rally for, it seems, weeks now. A friend of hers who manages the Todd Meat Pie Storage Depot has placed his entire life's savings on Black Silk Stocking, a horse who right now is trying very hard to not socialize with a hyena. Rona watches this, intrigued.

Daechir is on his feet as well. Not to congratulate the winner but because of the hyena. He is clearly thinking of trying to stop the creature when Serraphine starts yelling after it. He considers several options but in the end remains where he is and does nothing.

MAYRA PLAY!

The Hyena lets out a loud cackle and starts running this way and that, trying to go after whichever horse seems to be running faster. Why? BECAUSE PLAY! THERE! Wait no! THAT ONE! And Mayra is off again, cutting across the field outside of the lanes and obstructions for the direct path.

"MAYRA!" Serraphine calls out again, wobbling on the fence, half on one side and half on the other. She's balancing on it seated in fullplate.

"VERDAMIT!" The Paladin yells it out because the next second she's tumbling end over end and lands in a crash of plate on the inside of the track.

"HNnnNNF!" She hoists herself back up and starts jogging along the track in the direction of her hyena.

Durrankar thumps his tail loudly as he sees the hyena. "By the dragons, that Hyena is going to mess up the race." He shakes his head, but the hyena is too random for him to do anything.

Constantin has arrived.

"Are we sure the race is _worse_ off because of the hyena?" Rona asks, clearly amused. "I mean, it's at least shaking things up. And it's not a typical horse, and that's got to count for something, doesn't it?"

"If the arvek are unable. To handle a ssingle hyena...they are not the massters of sstability one. Iss led to believe." Svarshan drops to his haunches then, and a move of the tail shows a warm, even gentle humor at the words.

He then moves again, a slow amble towards the track, and where Kira and others are supposed to land. Supposed to. The horses may have other ideas.

Cesran watches what is going on and he moves forward with Svarshan, "I can stop it if it does start to get in the way of the other riders or goes after the crowd." He remarks to Svarshan as he watches the Hyena.

Constantin is there, in the crowd, hat subdued today. Hands in his pockets, he slouches forwards for a better view.

Kira pats the horse's haunches to help encourage and assure it as it gallops along. A little friendly competition is always good, and it's a race, but the idea is just good, clean, fun exercise. Mostly clean; there are still more mud puddles!

Kira is actually doing great! She's pulled into the leading pack of horses as they leap one after the other over a bar!

Plenty of horses balk, of course, and throw their riders into the conveniently placed mud pits. There's a lot of swearing, pain, and laughter as hearthguards move out into the crowd to try to check on the potentially injured.

The appearance of a hyena only makes the horses go even faster. That's a predator, after all.

"HNnnUh!" Serraphine hoists herself up onto one of the center fences, wobbles, and topples over the other side with a clatter of plate. Standing back up she continues jogging along as if she was carrying an entire set of pots and pants with her.

It wasn't.

It was just hastily donned armor.

"Huuhn! UF!" And Serraphine hoists herself up to another railing.

MAYRA PLA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AY! She's tearing over the fences and through the track. If only a Sandy was here to distract her with purple hair... but alas! That was not meant to be. She clears one of the fences in the middle again to skip toward a different part of the track in an attempt to catch up with the horses.

MAYRA DOESN'T PLAY BY THESE SILLY RACING RULES!

There's a snack cart nearby that has had a very long line for a while now, which is now significantly shorter as people watch the antics of the hyena. Yelrona takes advantage of the opportunity to pick up two meat pasties and a paper cone of roasted peanuts. Overpriced, to be sure, but at least they're... um... kind of mediocre. But it's not a day at the races without racepark food.

"If you can do something now might be the time. Before that heyna decides to make a meal out of one of the horses." Daed offers dryly to those standing next to him debating if they should do something or not.

Svarshan shoulder-bumps his shaman along the way. It's time to congratulate the winners.

And those with bumps on their heads!

Morgan has arrived.

Durrankar hrfs at Svarshan and starts along with him to congratulate the winners. Of course, he also keeps an eye on the hyena....

"MAYRA!" And Serraphine stomps her foot with her hand on her hips, she's glaring at the Hyena.

A cloud of dust starts from under the hyena as legs lock out. The puff of the cloud floating above the track and heading toward the racers and stands. >_> What? It's uh, just like, uh racing in a dust storm?

"COME HERE!" And Serraphine points down at the ground next to her.

SULK! Her head hangs down and she starts to pad off- Sniff-Sniff-SNUFFLE! MEAT! And Mayra is tearing off toward Yelrona, paying no head to the fact that the horses are in the way.

Yelrona approaches Svarshan as she eats one of the meat pasties. "Peace to your nest," she offers. "I... one has heard of the battle." There's really only one battle worth talking about here, and Rona feels awful for not being there. She'd been waylaid by some animated carnivorous plants. But she doesn't volunteer any of that... it's not about her. "Perhaps now there can truly be peace. Or at least slightly less conflict."

Kira is one of the balkers when they come up to the bar. Seems awful high to go over, way too short to go under. Lucky for her, her horse knows its hooves and legs better than her. She whoops when it jumps, partly in surprise.

"Mictlan iss closed off to heal," Svarshan returns with ...his words are careful, though warm. A close friend might see the worry beneath it. Otherwise well, he's a lizard. Reptilian.

"...the sshamans, sscaled and nonsscaled. Fear the corruption may sspread to the resst of thiss land. Even as Mictlan heals." He remains settled on his haunches, watching the finish line and whether the hyena or Kira will cross first! Then, looks up to see where his shaman had gone, and then up to Yelrona.

GAME: Kira rolls ride: (18)+5: 23

Morgan comes walking in the area and takes a look around before she walks up to the crowd.

GAME: Serraphine rolls 7: (13)+7: 20

Yelrona nods solemnly to Svarshan. "So I've heard. Given what we've already been facing, with the darkness from Dragonier and the Felwood, the last thing we need is another source to poison the land. Do the shamans know what to do about it?"

Welp.

a HYENA IS ON THE TRACk.

Some of the horses panic even more while the stablehands yell for Serraphine to get her HYENA under control! Fortunately, horses can keep it up longer than a hyena and they will outpace her eventually, but even then..

Still a hazard!

Kora is actually pulling closer to the lead. There's another mudpit to wade through or leap through coming up!

Silence, then. Thought, turning one thing over and then the next. "One will sshare a bassic truth of the People, hunter," Svarshan says, with quiet humor.

"Thiss one iss warrior-casste. You assk me a sshaman'ss words. ...though one wass almosst a keeper," he adds, warmly and somewhat self-wryly. "Sso one might ansswer in their way, if it dealt with that casste."

Daechir notices Yelrona and subtly blends back into the crowd, one interested eye on the hyena which is headed directly for her.

Morgan leans on that fence "oh races great." she says chiper like she enjoys them.

MEAT! And that's when Mayra, covered in mud, with huge paws caked in it, starts scrabbling over the wall and toward Yelrona. It has its eyes fix on her meat pie. LEAP! Land. And as it lands, it's dropping down on its forepaws with her rump in the air and wiggling like mad with the tail along with it.

Of course her eyes are fixed on the meat pie.

Mmmmm. Cackle-cackle!

"Mayra!" And now Serraphine is starting across the track as well again, trudging along at a slow jog with the rattling of her plate with every thump. She's not quite so caked in mud herself. Just halfway. Unlike Mayra.

Durrankar walks his way over towards Mayra and gently pets the Hyena's head. "Greetings, young one." he says calmly, before offering some mcandy meat to the hyena. To keep the hyena in place.

Yelrona chuckles. "Where I grew up," she explains to Svarshan, "the... closest thing we had to shamans never stopped telling the warriors what to do about the various problems we were facing. Is it so different among the People?"

Sshamans do not rule warriorss though perhapss. There are ssome who get big tailss," Svarshan admits, warmly. The words are slow and difficult. "Jusst as warriorss do not rule hunterss, and hunterss do not rule keeperss. Casste iss choisse...it iss about the. It iss family and. Training."

"...if you are treated ssuch wayss, one might ssuggest teeth, hunter," he chuffs, eyes half-open in amusement. Warrior-humor. Scaled humor. The gods save them all.

Mayra thumps her head into Durrankar, snuffles the meat candy and Hyenas(she's not a wolf after all) it down in one bite. She lets out another cackle, rises up and starts bouncing around like a puppy, rising up and then dropping down, then sinking down to the forepaws again. This is all done in front of Yelrona while staring at the meat pie.

Cackle-cackle! Whooop! WHOOOOP! LOOK AT ME I'M CUTE! FEED ME MEAT PIE!

And then it starts. The slow run from one end to the other. Shiver.... SHIVER SHUDDER SHAKE-SHAKE-SHAKE! And the mud is flying all over to either side.

Especially toward Svar.

Because Svar.

WHOOOOP!

"MAYRA!" Serraphine plods along across the ground, getting closer to the last fence between her and the chucklepup.

Constantin watches, arms folded. He ducks away from the mud, blinking at the spectacle. Morgan gives a wolf whistle <pun intented> "Go Mayra."

Yelrona laughs. "Well, in my case, the chief 'shaman' was my mother, so... well, teeth might have been a better strategy than I gave it credit for." She scowls and picks some mud out of her hair.

Morgan smiles to Rona, "want a cleaning?"

Yelrona thanks Morgan and shakes her head. "I'm fine, but thank you."

GAME: Kira rolls ride: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

"Ssa. Then one of the. Many wayss of handling that iss not open to you. Oness teacher ssaid, jusst remind the sshaman you have handssome sshoulders." Svarshan stands from his haunches, and shakes off. His words are slow and quiet, self-amused.

"Peasse to you. Thiss one hopess you may ssharpen your teeth, hunter. And that they sstrike where and when you. Wissh."

Constantin looks up and over. "Morgan, you going to turn that into a business?" He grins towards Yelrona with a touch of his brim.

Morgan thinks for a moment and speaks like a tv add "feeling dirty call Morgan she will clean you for cheap.... wait I think I need to work on that, it makes me sound like a whore."

"Hnf!!" Serraphine hoists herself up on the last fence. CRASH! And falls over on the other side. "UnfF!" And hoists herself up as she starts on after Mayra. "Ma-a-a-ayra-a-a-a-a." She has /the tone/. With the thin-lipped look and stern eyes (so stern). Until the shake, then there's a quirk of her lips.

MAYRA SENSES WEAKNESS! And she was about to sulk when she sees the little quirk of Serraphine's lips.

Cackle-cackle. WHOOP! And with that, she bounces forward toward Serraphine, then back, spins and BOLTS! YOU MUST CATCH ME NOW BECAUSE I TAGGED YOU!

Si-i-i-i-igh. And Serraphine is off jogging toward the exit after her puppy.

Constantin dimples. "You don't want to do extra clean-up." He watches the hyena go. "Do we clap?"

Durrankar stares at the Hyena. "I don't think that Hyena is going to listen to you." he says softly. He then gets a fresh meat pie.

Morgan chuckles and says "Mayra is very smart and likes to run so I am not going to try and get her."

It's another big puddle! Maybe the last. Kira trusts her might steed, now. More than that, she's much more comfortable. She tenses, ready to sort of leap with the horse. As one!

Except this one is too big for the horse to leap. It knows this; Kira doesn't. So it makes only a short hop to get a head start before slowing as it hits the water to wade through. Meanwhile, Kira "leaps" with it... just too much. When it slows, she doesn't, and she didn't need to hold on any more.

Kira sails right over the head of her mount to land, face first into the puddle.

On the bright side, she didn't slow the horse down, and isn't slowing it down any more. It could still stay close to the fore, or even pull ahead!

...and it was going so well for Kira but the other horses thunder around her, with a gnome (hey, he's light) taking the victor's crown to groans (and cheers) from the audience.

And a lot of laughter.

At least the hyena is under control, even if numerous spectators were mudbathed.

NO ONE CONTROLS MAYRA!! And she's out the main gate and back toward Alexandria.

Serraphine chases after her, calling back over her shoulder, "It's the only way to tire her out...."

Morgan smirks "I could of hasted Serraphine but this is way more funny."

While everyone is preoccupied with the hyena and the race ending Daechir decides that now is a good time to head out. He slips through the exit with a few other people leaving early and is gone just like that.

Morgan stands back and looks to everyone here "Any one that got muddy that wants cleaned up, come over here."

Constantin grins at Morgan. "Go, business-woman!" He checks his own sleeves, and nods. "I'm good, though."

Durrankar hrfs softly and starts to walk back towards the forest. Meat pie is already half gone anyways. "that was a good race."

Morgan looks to a guy that is covered with two levels of mud but with a simple spell the man is clean. "It’s the easiest spell to cast and it does a ton of useful things."

Constantin stays, watching the spellcasting, arms folded across his chest.

-End-