Quest Thundering hooves

[Nidraak]

(Roll a single six-sided die for control)

Instruments of all types and styles played a short tooth that was prematurely ended by a loud cheer.
The populace was everywhere, lining the streets, the yards the houses the roofs.
One voice louder than the other.

The annual race in Kim Kurasi was known to be one chaotic ordeal. While historically it was a display of pride between various clans and houses, in the past few decades it has been opened to foreign competitors.

A lass as pale as snow with eyes as dark as coal lifted a flag lined in orange marigolds, she stood on a small platform above the racetrack.
Her eyes gaze at the feudal lord of this land for his approval to begin.

Horses from various clans began to be led by beautiful indigo dames to the starting line, their riders already on firmly seated on top.
After the clans presented their splendour, the unaffiliated competitors were brought in one by one.
»Kyver on El Cabalo Real in purple.«
»Faelin on Nag in green.«
»Miriel on Macey in cyan!«


Kyver Faelin K'Abveirin Míriel Fëanorna

 

[Míriel Fëanorna]

"Alright girl, take it easy," Miriel stroked her horses neck soothingly as they were led out for the crowds to see. The chestnut mare snorted but she did was Miri asked, trusted the woman who had raised her since she was a foal and she stepped out behind the rest of them. The horsemistress had chosen to enter the race not for the profit if they won but to advertise her stock. It was why she hadn't entered Thorlion. Marcey was bred to run and it seemed appropriate that it was her she brought to such a place where there were people interested such things.

As it was she was so far impressed with how her horse was handling the crowds and the noises. She could feel through the saddle her anticipation for the run though. Miri ran her hands through the mares mane again and murmured another soft word or two. Soon, and then the elf would let her have her head and she could run to her hearts content.

It was time. Miri angled Marcey into her position on the starting line.

 

[Kyver]

On top of the mightiest of steeds, Kyver and his “horse” trotted to the starting line. He wore royal purple colors – fitting for only the most noble of steeds El Caballo Real.

The fact that El Caballo Real was a mule could not be hidden, though. However, the better half of his parentage came from a line of racing thoroughbreds!

Kyver found himself in the race due to a paid commission. As basically a vagabond/mercenary, he has to perform odd jobs to keep his stomach full. In his case, an eccentric merchant wanted to prove that mules could be superior to horses in races.

In practice before the race, Kyver did not see any issues. Given enough of a start, El Caballo Real could get a decent gallop. However, the practices trails were nothing like the track today…

 

[Faelin K'Abveirin]

Faelin's nag was quite slow to approach the starting line and eventually her position. Old trusty horse, she might have not been the ideal for racing, but her talents lay elsewhere, there were other hooved friends lacked.
Funny enough, the green ribbons looked rather fitting on the skewbald horse and her rider in green tartan.
The dark elf waved his hat before the audience. He was just another Non-Kimkurasian dark elf.

 

[Nidraak]

As all have assembled!
The Lord of the town nodded his head, with it the beautiful dame holding the flag swung it wide and far, finally, the heavy, embroidered flag was swung around and the horse race has officially begun.

This section of the racetrack would prove to be chaotic, with the straight road rapidly narrowing down at the entry into the alleys. While some horses bucked or even stopped, causing blockages to temporarily accumulate, it seemed good performance at the beginning to slip into the tight alleys would be crucial.
Little space was given here to change position, at least as long as all the riders formed a tight group.

Higher number = better
El cabalo Real: 2 + 1 (3)
Nag 5 + 5 (10)
Marcey 6 + 3 (9)

 

[Kyver]

Kyver waved to the crowd. He wondered if anyone had bet on the mighty El Caballo Real. Kyver himself could not help but drop a little bit of money on himself. Though as he looked at the steeds next to him such as Miriel’s and Faelin’s, he wondered if that would not be lost money.

Then, the starting flag dropped. Kyver and El Caballo Real were off with a quick start!

“Let’s go!” Kyver yelled.

The race for Kyver soon turned chaotic with many of the horses bunching up in the tight, narrow alleyways of the town.

With luck, El Caballo Real actually managed to quickly maneuver around the first pile up. Kyver was impressed. However, it quickly became apparent why El Caballo Real was able and willing to do that…

Straight ahead of the mule was a boy that was a part of the spectators. He cheered at the race and then saw the approaching El Caballo Real. With innocent excitement, the boy held out an apple toward the mule.

Kyver struggled to get El Caballo Real back under control. Yet the mule bucked and yee hawed with extreme vigor.

Once they reached the boy with the apple, Kyver just gave up and patted the mule on the neck, “Okay, you win this one…”

 

[Faelin K'Abveirin]

»HIYA!«
The Nag made a daring start and Faelin had to hold his hat halfway through its brave charge, least he would lose it.
Once the mare had a direction, nothing would stop her, once she had an initiative, she would not lose it.

The beginning of the track was the widest it ever would be, and the small horse was quick to raise her position.
A crowd of horses here, another there as clogs in the ever-narrowing racetrack appeared. The Nag only had go go go go in her mind, and forward she would run.

While other horses began to get caught up in the chokepoint, the small mare took the initiative to push the other beasts aside and come out among the first once the race took to the narrow street.

 

[Míriel Fëanorna]

Miriel let the the horse have her head and leaned down over her neck as they bolted from the start line. She knew how chaotic these races could get especially on the bends and it paid to make up speed at the beginning of the race rather than at the end. Macey was more than happy to oblige, though the closeness of the other horses unnerved her a little it seemed to drive her on in to wanting to get as far ahead as possible. There were more than a few riders who came off at this first hurdle as horses slammed on their breaks or bucked or bit at another horse that strayed too closed. One rider even went sailing over the top of Miri and Macey to land in the dirt below. The elf had about a second to lift herself into the jumping position as Macey jumped the screaming man as if he were nothing more than a log in her field.

After they made it through the thicket she eased on the breaks a little; her horse was not one for long runs but was a sprinter and it would pay for them to take it easy now they had made up some of the first leg for the sprint towards the finish line.

"That's right girl, easy," a soft murmur in her ear and her hand against her neck, soothing her.