Fable - Ask Race Day

[Arn]

Liad Racecourse - Five Miles Outside Vel Anir

"Okay, honestly, this is great." Arn pitched to his comrades as he and the others walked towards one of the twenty stables on the racing grounds.

The Liad Racecourse was...well, not exactly famed anymore, but once had been the preeminent home of all chariot racing in Vel Anir. At one point the sport had been incredibly popular with nearly every level of society. Gripping both peasant and noble alike. As time had gone on, public interest had shifted into other sports like Anirball and others, but the Liad Racecourse had remained.

Putting on a few shows every year to middling crowds.

So why, all of a sudden, was the near abandoned racecourse now teeming with life and activity? Because the Guard had decided to partake.

Though Arn had absolutely no idea whose decision it was, why they had made it, or even what considerations had gone into it he was not one to question. Two weeks ago he had been sitting on the Cortosi front, sweating in his leather armor and worried that another sortie from the Free-Cities would be making its way across the river. Now? Now he was slated for a day of racing, and although he had no idea what he was doing, he was more than happy to be here.

"I mean, there's no way we win." Arn said as they approached the stable they had been assigned. "But at least no ones going to try to kill us today."

He said cheerily, not noticing that more than a few of the stables were teeming with Dreadlords. Men and women not exactly known for their...easygoing nature during competitions.

"Ah, there you lot are."

A man said from inside the Stable as the Guards approached. He was an older looking man, Arn would have pegged him around his fathers age. He was their consultant apparently. A former racer meant to guide them on how to best perform today, something the Farmboy was more than a little thankful for. "Aye, Sir, sorry for the delay. We're just off from the front."

Arn explained with a smile, and the man nodded as he stepped up to shake the Farmboys hand.

"No need to apologize, I was just fixing some of the bearings. You can call me Polt." The man offered, Arn immediately replying with his own name. "Any of you know anything about racing?"

Polt asked, letting his gaze drift over the group. "Not really...My 'Pa had a cart, and we had a horse on the farm but he wasn't fit for racing really."

Their consultant chuckled. "Ah well, least you know how to tend horses then."

He said before looking at the others expectantly.

 

[Rhory Grimmere]

"Is it really necessary to have this soft pouch on the end of the lance?" Rhory asked as she came up from behind Arn, frowning at the adjustment in balance to her favoured weapon. Safety precautions, of course, but she had grown up with several brothers that toughened her up to not be aware there were things to soften some blows. It was that same ferocity she would deal other competitors today. She just had to... make sure the organisers were happy with such baby proofing of gear.

"I'm going to need to practice a few times before we do this for real." She murmured lowly to Arn, testing the movement of the event approved lance in her hands.

 

[Davi]

"Yes.... well..." Polt eyed up the two guards and finally seemed to assess them properly. Their youth, the unworn look to their uniforms, the excited glints in their eyes no veteran soldier would have. He tried to stifle a sigh. Fresh recruits were some of his least favourite to deal with. Always had ideas of being a hero or some famous cart racer the first time. It led to accidents and accidents led to a loss of profit from the underhand gambling he liked to partake in. He licked his cracked lips then glanced over at the other stalls.

"Well, seein' as you folks are new to the game you'll be needing a mentor - Nevarro!"

Polt's call caused a young Dreadlord a few stalls over to lift his head. Instantly he rolled his eyes when he realised who had called him. Davi was no stranger to the tracks. Even before its new found popularity Davi had often helped at the races the Luana's had run. His way with animals had always been a talent the Academy's had begrudgingly accepted and had been more than happy to loan him out to those who needed an extra hand with wilder beasts. Like Davi, Polt had also once worked the Luana races which unfortunately meant Davi knew the man pretty well.

"I'm not an initiate anymore, Polt. Fuck off," he replied and returned to his work of cleaning out the hooves of one angry looking mare. Polt turned a delightful shade of red and his mouth opened and shut as he tried to think on what to say.

"D-don't you want to help a couple of young guards out? Or would you rather I tell Black you let them get splattered all over the tracks?"

Davi stopped his scraping again and this time fully stood up. A good head above Polt he loomed over the man who shied back. He leant over the man slowly and, at the last moment when it looked as though he might hit the man, reached for his shirt instead which hung just behind the mans head.

"I said fuck off. If they want my help, they got tongues they can ask me with themselves. Don't they? Go do something useful like flapping about the Lords and Ladies."

 

[Hellen]

Hellen watched patiently as the scene unfolded. She kept her distance and was not surprised in the least when Polt miscounted.
She had no idea what this whole thing was supposed to prove except that money needed to be spent on something.

*This is lame*
She thought to herself. The idea of this was not that interesting to her, especially when Rhory brought out her safety lance.
"Wow, you made it lamer. That's impressive!"

 

[Skyler]

"Well, lucky for you all if anyone gets splattered today, I'm here." Skyler threw a casual arm around her squadmate, Rhory's, neck. She and the other girl had become fast friends in their unit, being of similar dispositions and both growing up with multiple older brothers.

Being around all the other boys men in their squad felt like home.

Brown eyes narrowed on Nevarro. Typical dreadlord throwing about their height and powers just to intimidate. He could probably fry her with lightning. Freeze her. Maybe steal her soul? There were some dreadlords with some arsed-up powers. A flicker of her eyes to Rhory. Maybe not the best idea...but knowing her friend.

"Nevarro, this is Rhory." Sky unhooked her arm from around her friend and nudged the blonde forward. "That's Hellen back there. This is Arn. I'm Sky. Got any tips on how not to die out there? Can you give my friend Rhory some pointers on the lance?"

Selfishly, it was all a diversion to hide her own nerves around the horses. Probably not the best spot for someone to be who preferred feet on solid ground.

 

[Arn]

"Don't think you'll have much time for practice, Rho." The Farmboy commented as he began to mess about with the horses bridle. Glancing around the open training center of the racetrack with a slight frown on his face. Not paying attention to the back and forth between Davi and Polt as he saw to the horses.

"Seems like they're going to throw us into the deep end." Which, what else was new? Arn could now count on two hands the amount of times the Guard had placed them in a near impossible position. It seemed that race day would be no different. "But, hey! We learn best by doing!"

The farmhand said chirpily, ignoring the fact that they'd all almost gotten killed half a dozen times over by now.

As Skyler swept Rhory away, Arn was left blinking. He frowned for a moment, but shook his head and continued to do what he had been doing. Making all the preparations they could before they would inevitably be thrown into the race.

The farmboy lifting his hand and smiling as he offered the Dreadlord a wave of greeting.

Down the track, the organizers; meaning one very overworked Guard Lieutenant, was beginning to set the lots. The race coming faster than any of them expected.

 

[Rhory Grimmere]

She had been looking at the Dreadlord for too long, unable to hear Arn's words before Skyler already scooped her by the shoulders and dragged her forward to introduce her. The lance was held in her hands in the proper grip, a weapon she will definitely get used to quickly as the race begins. It was the one thing she was excellent at doing when training with her brothers growing up in Vel Cirak, that she learned how to keep standing while they unashamedly tried to knock her down.

Rhory gave Nevarro, a small smile. "It should be straight forward, I think."

Yikes. He was super handsome! Her brown eyes then fall to his chest, his shirt not found anywhere on his person and giving her and Skyler, and the other Guards, a perfect view of his torso. Rippled with muscle, she wondered if it should be him knocking their opponents with those burly arms of his.

"But... maybe a quick tip... you know, just so we can knock out the competition easier..." Her eyes forced to look up into his face, another smile finding her way onto her face.

Curse Skyler...

 

[Davi]

Davi gave a quiet sigh as the man scurried off and tugged on his shirt. Another had come to finish off the word he had started on the horse and so he found himself exactly where he had not wanted to be; babysitting.

His lips pressed together as the two girls stepped toward. One in particular - Sky - had that look that Sam often got in her eyes when she was trying to thrust a young woman onto his lap around the campfire. For whatever reason his friend had taken a keen interest in his bedmates recently. He might have felt a little bit of sympathy for the other girl had the attention not included him.

He flicked the top of the lance and pushed it aside before striding past them.

"Stick them with the sharp end. I thought they taught you that in basic training."

At least the lad seemed to be good with horses. Davi gave Arn an approving nod and said a touch softer, "Let them have their head. They know their jobs, just let them fly."

 

[Hellen]

She almost gagged.
Chummy already.
Her spine grated as Skyler introduced her. Much as she appreciated the practicality of others skills she did not think much of her upbeat attitude.
"Oh, the sharp end." She muttered to herself after Davi's obvious tip. "I'm so glad you're here to tell us these things."
As she looked off she did notice a lot of hustle and bustle but she could not bring herself to care much. The toned chest moved her not one bit. She had learned disdain for such displays in prison. There it meant one was all too prepared to hurt someone else.
She knew it was not necessarily true outside but habits, especially learned from stress, are hard to shake.
Her half closed eyes drifted off to the watching crowds. A lot of them looked happy, or at least were smiling.

 

[Skyler]

Skyler pressed her lips together, a mild sympathetic wince on her face, as Nevarro brushed them off. At least his lumbering shirtless form walked past Rhory. Like right next to her. Hopefully that wasn't drool coming out of her friend's mouth.

Oh storms. Hellen!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dreadlords had killed guards for much less. She'd seen it and then had to try and patch up what was left. "So anyway," she said chirpily and turned to face Arn and Nevarro. Keen-eyes looking at the cart and strategically placing it between herself and the horses Arn was so good with. So natural with.

Honestly why did people trust them? The them as in horses, not the boys in this case. They had those teeth and those sassy tails and ears that flicked and twitched and they just liked to throw people off them. And trample them.

Sky began inspecting the cart then paused.

"Do we ALL have to get in this thing for the race or is it limited to just a few of us?" A questioning look between Arn, Rhory, and Hellen. A white horse with a black spot speckled across its nose reached over from the next stall and chomped at the air an inch or so from Sky's hair.

 

[Arn]

"Funny, 'Da always said the same about Tulip." The old horse his family had owned was nothing like the sleek racing ponies he was now staying in front of them of course, but the principal was pretty much the same.

Tulip had always known how to follow the road, and had always known when to get out of the way. Though he'd been lazy, and very chompy when it came to the grass, he was smarter than some of the other farmboys Arn had grown up with.

Patting the horses nose, Arn smiled at the Dreadlord. "Done much racing?"

He asked the other man, entirely oblivious to the sweat rolling down Rho's neck, and not having heard the quip Hellen offered to his advice. The farmboy perfectly content in his world of actually participating in the days activity.
"Think It's up to the team." Arn said, trying to remember the leaflet of rules they'd been given. "Some will just take one or two, but then you're down a lance. Others will take more and try to be bashers."

Arn shrugged his shoulders. "Guess we have to decide be-"

As he spoke, a loud whistle echoed across the field.

"FIFTEEN MINUTES TO BE ON THE LINE!"​

Someone called, and Arn immediately turned pale.

 

[Rhory Grimmere]

Rhory gave Nevarro a grimace before looking at the end of her spear that was blunted with a wooden block. There were safety measures put in place for such an event, but she sighed and shrugged at Sky before wandering over to the chariot, twirling and testing the balance of the spear as she did. Well, of course, if simple conversation did not have the Dreadlord warming to her, perhaps he would after seeing how skilled she was in wielding the spear.

She lingered close to Sky, trying to stifle the snort the healer elicited from her. "We can tie you to the end of the chariot so we don't truly lose you if you fall out." Rhory grinned, ensuring she was not too close to her friend lest she punches her arm or something.

 

[Davi]

Thankfully for the Guardsmen gathered, the Dreadlord had apparently yet to even realise Hellen existed.

A rare half smile dimpled Davi's cheek.

"A little." Of course, the Dreadlord's answer was a complete understatement. He had been participating in the pit crews for chariot racing since a young age, the Academy glad to put him to some use when normal missions were deemed too important for one such as him. Over the years he had participated in the races in nearly every position imaginable. Including that of the horse.

The smile vanished when the two women joined them.

"Three people is best; you need a driver, a lancer and a shield. Some take a fourth in case one of the three die," he shrugged.

 

[Hellen]

Hellen briefly smiled at the idea of Skyler being lashed to the front of the chariot.
She was so eager to protect others, why not be a literal shield for a while?
"That could work!"
She drolled allowing only the vaguest hint of interest to show in her voice.
"And Rhory could pull the chariot."
Disdain was an art of improvisation all itself, not so different from comedy in her experience.

Hellen raised her hand to get the Dreadlords attention.
"If I die can I be excused from this dumb shit?."
Her tone did not change but she had a twinkle in her eye and a smirk tugging on the edge of her lips.

 

[Skyler]

Skyler noticed Arn's coloring change. These small types of bodily responses were not easily lost on a healer and medic. Out of instinct for her squadmate she even stepped closer to the horses Arm was near so she could put a hand on his back, fingers giving his shoulder a quick-encouraging squeeze.

"You've got this," an encouraging smile up to him. Just as quickly, her hand would fall away and a mock-glare at Rhory Grimmere.

"So thoughtful as always. Just remember who is playing defense and keeping the shield up." A wink. Speaking of...her eyes fell to the large one she'd be hefting up as she rode with the others. As...

OMG HELLEN!!!!!!!!!!!

"But I can sit this one out if it's better for you three," a hurried sentence and offer at her obvious attempt to take the dreadlord's attention away from Hellen if it so happened to fall upon their ballsy smart-mouthed squadmate who wasn't afraid of death that day in the name of a large, shirtless, sweaty, grumpy, and dangerous dreadlord.

Who only liked men.

 

[Arn]

"I'm sure I do." Arn said with no small flicker of nerves still clinging to his tone. A deep breath drawing into his chest as he carefully listened to Davi's advice. Head tilting quickly in a nod as what the Dreadlord offered aligned with what he'd read.

He frowned for a moment at Hellen's comments, though didn't think anything of them. Their fellow Guardsmen was known to be a grouch, but Arn had met plenty like her back in Viret. Old man Thingol made grumpiness an art form.

One just had to know how to deal with it. "Look at it this way, Hellen."

Arn suggested.

"If you're on the cart bashing some of the others, you'll be ruining their day instead of having yours ruined." The Farmboy said with a grin, then looked to the others as he patted the Horse one last time. "I'm calling Driver."

He declared in a rare moment of self determination. "Don't mind if you sit this one out, Sky, maybe you can keep our new friend company."

Arn said, turning to Davi with a smile. "Or you racing too?"

 

[Rhory Grimmere]

Rhory tried not to look as if she were actively listening for the answer of the Dreadlord by returning Sky's glare with her own.

"Well there are two or three races running today... Sky can join in later. After all, Ev and I have a bet going and I need to see Sky on a chariot."

The silver haired Guard smiled at her friend, perhaps too sweetly for what the bet actually was.

 

[Davi]

Davi's eyes slowly slid to the guard he hadn't truly registered as being there.

Blink.

Then he was turning his attention back to Arn who seemed the only one in the team with the chipper attitude to pull the race off. He was fairly certain the blushing girl with the lance would impale one of her own team by accident, and the odd one seemed likely to do it on purpose. If one of them wasn't dumped on the dust track for the cleaners to sweep off he might be impressed.

"I'm a marshal for the race," he pointed to a horse already saddled and pawing at the ground. "Make sure there's no cheating or that points are deducted for foul play. If your friend needs somewhere to watch those are the pit gates," he pointed to near the start line. "When you complete each lap you can collect a new lance, swap riders or horses and such."

 

[Hellen]

She did not like to admit it but Arn made a very good point.
Knocking people off might be fun.
"Okay, you've twisted my arm."
With a stern playfulness she snatched the large shield up from its resting place and hefted it over her shoulder by the handle. It was large and wooden. She considered the weight and how far she might be able to throw it.
Then she got on the chariot.
"Now I'm waiting on the rest of you."
She declared suddenly unimpressed with any of them.
"Or by all means, keep gawking."
She would either be hitting them or the competition in the next few minutes and she was quickly loosing the ability to care which.

 

[Skyler]

"Yeah real funny, Rho," Sky rolled her eyes at her friend and lightly cuffed Arn one more time on the shoulder with her fist. "You've got this." A repeated encouragement

PRAISE THE GODDESS OF ANIRIA

She didn't have to get on this beast-drawn contraption. And if she could help it, she would weasel her way out of any so-called change-outs. She was sure there'd be those on the field that needed a medic.

Oopsy, too bad so sad I'm working and can't race.

The announcers were already calling the chariots up to the starting line in the arena. Giving all the horses and the shirtless dreadlord a wide berth and VERY POINTEDLY NOT LOOKING AT HIS BARE CHEST, she made her way to the pit gates.

"Try not to lose any limbs, Hellen," she called sweetly over her shoulder.

 

[Arn]

"Ah. Cool." He said, seeming quite pleased with the situation as a whole. If Sky didn't want to jump on the Cart, that was alright. It would at least mean they were fast, and now that Hellen was on board they wouldn't be breaking the rules.

Maybe they would even have a shot to win! That would be something.

Briefly, he glanced out at the field. Only half paying attention when he heard Hellen speak as she clambered into the cart.

"Gawking?" Arn repeated, turning back and frowning slightly at his companion. "What would we be gawking at?"

The Farmboy looked at Davi, asking the Dreadlord directly before shaking his head and letting out a sigh. The shouts of the announcer not giving him the time he needed to hear Davi's answer. Arn quickly rushing to join Hellen on the cart, grasping the reigns, and extending out a free hand to Rhory. "Come on Rho! They'll disqualify us!"

He said in a panic, rushing to the starting line.

 

[Rhory Grimmere]

Rhory twirled the lance with practised ease and took a quick inhale. She ignored Hellen, and made a point not to look the Dreadlord's way lest she threw herself off her game, and for Arn she gave a smile that spoke of her excitement for the race to come. Perhaps it was good that Sky did not join their chariot, as a lighter team carried better odds of speed, but also potential to be thrown from their footing.

The instruction given to Rhory at the beginning was to merely knock people off other chariots with the cushioned end of the blunt lance, enough to set someone off balance, but not kill. Such a thing was outlawed now, and she would hate to give her friend some work while their team made for a win.

"Ready." She said, taking position on the chariot and adjusting her stance with the lance. How many times had her brothers made her stand on one a fallen log and threw things at her growing up? Rhory had a good sense of balance, ready for the start.

 

[Davi]

Davi watched the group go then gave a tiny shake of the head.

"I bet you five silvers they don't make it to the second lap," one of the other Guards muttered, seeming to have listened to the whole exchange. The Dreadlord gave a quiet snort before moving to his own horse and mounting up.

His position was on the fourth stretch to the finish line; an important one for someone with keen eyes. It was most often where people made a bid to over take the lead or do something unsavoury to their opponents. Races were often close and deadly. He took his spot and waited for the horn to go.

 

[Hellen]

It was almost too much to resist saying *Captain fuck-muscles over there!* but Hellen, despite her willfulness, was not without restraint.
The race was about to start so she positioned herself where she felt she could be of most use, next to Arn. If he got hammered then they were done.
The thought of *letting* him be taken out so she could spend the afternoon not here crossed her mind but she was already here so she might as well give it her best.

"I can't shield you both Rhory so you are going to have to fend for yourself while I protect Arn. Tough cheese but you can manage I think."

To say it was encouragement was a bit much but it had all the ingredients.

Rhory Grimmere
Arn

 

[Skyler]

"We need a medic on the field!" Officer Jarvus yelled into the bullpit waiting area. Multiple heads turned toward her and that patch she wore on her left shoulder that signified her rank and job.

"Yeah, yeah that's me," Sky shouldered her way through the other guardsmen and women.

She scooped up her med pack near the fence and slung the shoulder strap on. "Where do you want me, sir?"

Jarvus pointed toward the middle of the course. "Middle near the finish. Stick to the outside path. Last thing we need is to lose one of our medics."

Skyler dipped her chin in understanding and left the bullpit. Eyes on the racers as they lined up. And then the horn to start gave a loud bugle across the field. Sky had a feeling she'd be running out of bandages today. And her mother's best poultices. Hopefully it wouldn't be on any of her friends.