No Time For Horsing Around

[iustise]

Who: Lord John & Gale
When: July
Where: Thorne — Western Grasslands
What: Quest!
Warnings: none atm!


There are a number of reasons that John had volunteered for this particular task, when the Royal Stablemaster had called for volunteers. First and foremost is his fondness for horses, and general knowledge of their handling, which he assumes will be useful for such a task. Then his survivor’s guilt, he supposes. He had been on duty that night as well, and survived the attack when the cavalry had not. Had there been more he could have done? Unlikely, but he can at least do this now. He tries not to think what might become of these horses in their place. One foot in front of the other.

It also gets him away from the city for a while. John could use some time away, just now. Away from his post, out of his head. Just given a simple task to fulfill and complete. A mission, if you will. Horses are far less complicated than politics any day.

He glances at his companion, offering a smile as they set off in the direction indicated by the expedition guide.

"We had best enjoy our journey out while we can," he says. "I fear our trek back to camp will likely be far more of an adventure." Assuming that they do manage to capture a wild horse, that is.

Comments

[iustise]

John glances aside at Gale, noticing his expression pinch as his thoughts turn toward home. In truth he has no certain comforts to offer, but what he can say…

"From what I understand, time moves differently in this place. I have a friend here, from a decade and a half in my past. There is so much of our history that she has not yet lived, and our situation is not alone. It is entirely likely that, despite the months, years we find ourselves here, no time at all has gone by at home. Like stepping into a fairy hole, I suppose."

It’s what he would like to think anyway. He would hate to imagine that William has been missing him all this time. What he might think, after the way they had parted…

[karsiteweave]

A decade and a half. He knew, of course, that Astarion was... further along, in their timeline, than he was. The subtle difference being that Gale was (or should have been) dead in their home so... that wasn't as much of an ask.

It also isn't quite a decade.

He frowns at John, weighing this up.

"Gosh," he says, "a decade and a half. I can't imagine what that's like. Mystra keeps a tight rule on the use of any time magic. We have chronomancers, of course, wizards who specialise in time magic -- but they are forbidden from changing our timelines or creating new ones."

[iustise]

John flicks a smile back at him, one that does not quite meet his eyes this time. It has been difficult, and he cannot say that he truly believed in Claire’s time travel story before. But then again he did not believe in magic either, and it is hard not to now when he can do spells himself now.

"It is a bit like having to start over from the beginning of our friendship," John explains. "As that is mostly all she has lived through. I cannot say whether this has made things better or worse. It’s a bit as though I have cheated through the hard bits this time, and we need not waste our time on butting heads against one another as we did previously."

He shrugs, understanding this is a vague explanation but unwilling to give too much detail of Claire’s circumstance without her consent.

"I have learned that I cannot be surprised by what this place throws at us," he says, reaching to hold back a branch to clear their path and gesturing his companion through. "At the very least it is only regular horses we must capture and take, this time. Once, not too long ago in the Feywilds, they had us working with giant snails."

[karsiteweave]

"Giant snails?" he echoes. "Quite glad I missed that, if I'm honest. I've read about flail snails though, fascinating creatures. All sorts of alchemical uses, they're naturally immune to both poison and fire so some people breed them and harvest their shells and mucus! I will admit, the snail farming life isn't for me personally, but I can respect those who have the commitment!"

He ducks past the branch John is holding, glances back at the man then ahead of himself with a frown.

"Now, the next important question: if you were a herd of wild horses, where would you be? Perhaps a water source, or some shelter?"

[iustise]

John contemplates the question, calling upon what he knows of horses, both from his time here in Abraxas and back home in his own world.

"To be quite honest," he says, glancing around to determine which direction they might proceed next, "horses are pasture animals. Even in the wild, they spend a great deal of time simply eating. If I would have to wager where we might find them…"

Stepping forward, he peers through the trees ahead of them before making a noise of triumph. "Ahah! There’s a clearing just ahead! I can see a break in the canopy. With any luck, we should be able to at least spot them from there. Come on!" Eagerly, he guides them forward.

[karsiteweave]

Ah, a clearing! Gale follows at a light jog, trying to keep alert to their surroundings just in case there are... other things out in the wilds with them. What else might be here beyond horses? Hopefully no new attackers, given the recent events in Thorne. He makes his way through the trees beside John, slowing down warily as they start to get closer to the clearing.

"Just to clarify," he murmurs, "do we have a plan? Should there be more than one horse, I imagine the friends of whichever we try to capture might be a touch upset by the proceedings."

[iustise]

"I doubt that they will be happy about it," John concedes. "But horses are herd animals, interested in protecting their own interests. When they see that one of their own has been captured, they will be far more likely to flee than retaliate against us."

Reaching the edge of the clearing, John stops suddenly, holding out a hand to stop Gale behind him, pressing his other hand to his lips to indicate they should be quiet before motioning across the way toward where there stands a small group of sturdy chestnut steeds.

"Eureka."

[karsiteweave]

"The desire to live is a powerful motivator."

He frowns in thought, watching the horses.

"Beautiful creatures, really. It seems a shame to deprive them of their freedom, but needs must. We lure one away from the group, I presume?"

Try to split them up before securing it? How friendly is the average wild horse, he wonders?

[iustise]

John doesn’t disagree. It does seem a shame to have to capture one and remove it from all it has ever known and loved. But he also understands the necessity of the task at hand, being a cavalry man himself.

As far as how they approach this… He considers the question for a moment.

"I cannot say these horses have ever seen a man in their life," John posits. "If they are to notice us too soon, we may risk this whole venture. But to lure them while we remain out of sight…"

He glances at the other man, raising an eyebrow. "You would not have happened to have brought any food with you?"

[karsiteweave]

Any food? Ah! Gale digs in his pack, and his hands re-emerge with a flourish holding two apples.

"Always best to be prepared for any scenario. Will this do?"

He thinks horses do like apples. Presumably they'd have to... cut them up? To act as a lure? He suspects a horse could just consume an apple whole, given their enormous teeth. But would the scent of them be more obvious if they were sliced into...?