onceuponacomm | CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6

The dead now outnumber the living.

There's only one area that stayed a mystery until now. A new path revealed itself, leading to another town, surrounded by sturdy stone walls. Even from some distance away you can see the tower, rising high towards the skies. The path that leads to the city turns into gold before long, and the sky itself seems to take a beautiful tone, like it's painted with watercolors. It's such a peaceful-looking town, welcoming you with open gates. It must be nice to have another urban setting, after living in the same place for so long.

But no matter what you find it doesn't change the situation you're in. Now that your numbers are dwindling that's impossible to forget.

The story is nearing its end. There still are a handful of pages left. What will they bring?

[[Welcome to Week 6! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure.

In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST; this is the last week for murder proposals as week 7 is endgame. Also, please note the shop's discount on magnifying glasses! ]]

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[oh my god HELLO, JACK...

For what it's worth, Alexei does not look as though he wants to kill you with his eyes anymore. Small blessings?]

...That isn't what I meant, but I suppose it's good to know that they normally look like this for you.

[Eugh, they're creepy...]

Horses don't look like this in Terca Lumireis.

[See, see, this is why he has perfected the art of casually waltzing away from problems until the problems solve themselves (no). Well, at least until the problems diminish slightly from an elephant into a slightly smaller elephant, or possibly a pony. The only full-sized horses one needs are the literal ones.]

A-ha, well, it's good to know that the horses may keep their... pedigree...? Dare I ask what the horses look like in your world, if they are so different?

[He does seem genuinely curious, though he is still hanging on to the horse not-quite-for-dear-life; he does look like he is rather enjoying petting it, at least, and the creature makes little whuffing noises but seems quite docile. Very pastoral, or something.]

Taller than most of these - they stand about six feet or so at the shoulder, some a bit taller still. Their necks are fair longer but their heads are narrower and their eyes less pronounced. They also seem far less fragile than these; their muscular structure is entirely different, more powerful. These seem as though they would step into a hole, break a leg and die.

[was this exact thing said in a tag to tenn earlier? yes. work smarter, not harder.]

They're less docile than this, by a fair margin - they're monsters that the Empire is working towards domesticating. That just means they need a firm hand, however; they're fairly acceptable mounts, otherwise.

... I can't imagine how you would be able to ride such creatures without being of the same stature as McGillis, or without a fair amount of additional equipment.

[Like, just trying to imagine mounting such a horse?? But it's also a monster?? Jack looks a fair bit worried about the state of the Empire's domestication program, but that's probably because he doesn't normally ride horses that sound like a cross between a rodeo animal and maybe like, a giraffe.

He does give it some more thought, however. There's a slightly chagrined laugh at Alexei's evaluation.]

You are not wrong, in that horses that are injured are very difficult to treat and in many cases do not recover.

But I suppose that's the fate of any domesticated creature? Wild horses, as I understand it, are far more stubborn and very difficult to catch, but they're also the hardier breed. Horses such as these-- [a gentle pat on the flank of this one] --have been bred for specific work or manners of riding. I don't believe this one is a work horse, but... it is still a good strong one.

...So people actually ride these. [He sounds morbidly fascinated by this.] I assume that you're acceptable at it, at least...?

[There's a little laugh.]

I do wish that we had both types of horses here, as I am just as curious how you all may ride yours without injuring yourselves... but for now this will do. In truth, those of my station are absolutely expected to be able to ride a horse, and ride them well.

Horseriding and horse-drawn carriages are the principle means of transportation for most folk, after all.

That's how it is with us as well.

[With regards to the horses and the carriages and the like.]

It doesn't take much extra equipment to ride our horses, however - do you not tack these before riding them...? Because it's just a matter of having it properly fitted, and getting accustomed to getting up in a way that isn't going to pull on them or wrench their necks. More along the lines of a vault than dragging yourself up - they're strong enough to handle that.

[You can straight-up just jump up and swing yourself on, it just...takes practice... And it's generally preferable to do it that way as opposed to pulling yourself up, pulling yourself up is a great way to get thrown off when they decide they've had enough of your stupid heavy ass trying to drag them over.]

Hmhmmm... It sounds like the mounting technique is similar, but I admittedly cannot really picture how much higher your beasts may be -- we do indeed tack these and use the stirrups to get up on their backs much like you described. So perhaps there is not a great deal of difference in the riding technique?

[Aside from the fact that he is not a rodeo or show rider!! He is just a poor clip-clop nobleman, have mercy here. Jack will look around and then nod in direction of where the tack is stored; that aside, he looks like he's still trying to work out the logistics of dinosaur giraffe horses.

They really need someone who can draw.]

Mayhaps a demonstration would be more helpful? I was thinking of going for a ride anyway -- won't you join me? We can walk a few practice rounds of the paddock first.

...As long as you're certain these will not just step into a hole and die, then I don't see why not.

[Also as long as you're certain this thing won't just decide he needs to eat shit and die and throw him off, but then the weird Vesperialand horses are hideously skittish and like to do all manner of stupid things, so if you're not familiar with a particular mount staying on is half the battle won. He is sort of expecting that level of opposition.]

CHAPTER 6

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did anyone ask for dischorse, no, but here we are

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