Otataral, 956th Year in the Time Dying

[thorley]

Bellephoebe says, "They don't seem especially welcoming, and those terms are paticularly unreasonable. With a whole town down there one they seperated us into an unarmed group and a couple of guards up here with all our valuables they could probably overwhelm us and take our stuff if they had a mind, which is doubtlessly the point whether they intend to or not.

Given a lack of need for what they are offering to trade, I'd recommend skirting this town and moving on."

Bellephoebe also muses to herself that red is the color of blood, and that dye looks like war paint of a sort. That might say something about their intentions, but saying so out loud might be even more awkward than the pragmatic analysis she's already given.

[shiivster]

'i agree' Aki usually lets the bigger ones dictate where she travels now. somehow the fact that they are taller than her, causes them to assume her short stature means she's still a 'child'. 'the ones that want to trade, can go, but i have babies to be to see.'

*that said she shakes her head at the riders and after patting the horse she had been standing closest too, she turns and heads off as Yumi turns and hops off and picks up the camel's leadrope and tugs so the big beast will follow the small girl

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Then only Aki and I will go." Allen says. "Aki, wait, for a second. Ora, what is the fee for aiding in birthing, and animal care? Can we expect better treatment, or good trade?"

[albatross]

"If the birth is not complicated, you may earn nothing but thanks, though a gift is customary. If it is a breach born alive and strong they may give you a kingly gift like a hunting hawk or a daughter. At least that was the tradition years ago." Ora says.

"If you get a hawk, keep it. They eat snakes. If they give you a daughter trade her for wool - we can get plenty of leather and fur by hunting. Or if you are worried they will mistreat her once we are gone you can bring her to the next town and collect a dowry to marry her off. Those tiny bands we met earlier would treat us to a feast if we expanded their ranks."

Telsa speaks up, "Maybe we could ask for a map or a guide? Someone might know the place we are looking for right?"

[shiivster]

Aki slows her pace as the camel protests to the strange beast leading it. they reach the girl and an odd assortment of noises erupt as the camel is clearly protesting as is the strange animal that came with her.

*Aki scratches the camel and gradually the odd complaints stop as it settles on the ground for her to mount once again. Yumi scrambles up into the carrysack and vanishes inside. the other camels protest a little then settle. Aki laughs at the protests and looks at the other camels as they settle and comments 'silly beasts, sister would not eat her . . . '

[Dome]

Romidus smiles, "it almost seems like more of us want to stay than proceed. I fear with these chains attached there is no way I can leave my weapons behind."

[Renekin Skywalker]

Allen dismounts his camel, handing Ba'al to Ora. "My friend, Aki, wants to help your horses. She has skills for healing animals, that the health of our camels can attest to." He says to the lead guard. "I'll go with her, but most wish to stay with the caravan."

[albatross]

The riders seem interested in horse health care. They spend most of their day riding around.

They warn those who are staying out of town not to approach, then most of them ride off. One accompanies Allen and Aki to show them to the horse pastures and stables.

It doesn't take long to get there, and once there Aki finds several horses in need of medical care, including a few in various stages of pregnancy.

[shiivster]

*the small furry beast hops out of hte carry sack and moves along beside the small 'girl' in robes. it churrs and makes the occasional noise and then at the fence, sits up on the back legs and observes the larger animals.

Aki pauses long enough to study the animals first, then slips into hte field and moves up to the lead mare and pauses with her hand on its head. ~hello herd sister. i ask permission to move among your herd to attend the injured and expectant mother. my little sister there, would like to enter and hunt the snakes in the pasture if one of yours could show her about and not attack her. she knows better than to hunt noble beasts like you. her favored food is snakes and birds and some insects~

*that said she turns attentions now to the minor injuries the lead mare has to show her good intentions, then on to the other horses that show up. there are small pats and commetns as she moves about, then approaches the first of the pregnant mares. her hands roam over the head and neck, then down to the belly and comments in Korean, the awe and wonder she feels. she says a prayer and then kisses the head before moving on. 'a fine male she carries. strong in heart'.

*she continues on and if she senses twins will ensure that the mare will accept both of them. she will bless each one as she moves thru the herd. Yumi kills and drags snakes into view for collection later or not. any nests she discovers she devours or just breaks apart to kill the snakes inside.

[albatross]

One of the horses is due soon, could be a few days, a week at most. Two others are due in the next couple weeks.

Seeing the ease with which Aki heals and interacts with the animals, one of the soldiers offers to provide the group with food if they stay for the horses' birthing.

They could stable the camels at an outpost and camp there until the horse (or horses if they want to stay for all three) give birth.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe asks Ora "What kind of projectile weapons are these guys liable to have? Other than spears. What kind of range do they have?

Perhaps they are simply being cautious given the enviroment, but they seem a little more aggressive than I'd expect, especially seeing as few warriors, never mind ones that apparently look as wealthy as us would part with their weapons that way. I could just be paranoid, but I'm thinking it was either an attempt at guile to seperate us and get our stuff, or they just generally wanted to discourage us from checking out the town.

Normally I'd just ignore the whole thing, but with Allen and Aki out there, I figure I might want to watch their back. I figure I can take Starlighter here up and do some circles around the town, with the vantage point I can probably see if these guys are up to anything, and if there is anything unusual in the town, all without technically entering into the town. Before I do that though, I'd like a general idea of what they might be willing to take a potshot at me with if things go there.

I'm also hoping the flight of the so called 'winged demon' will also discourge them from deciding to try and do something 'clever' like mob Allen and Aki while they tend to the horses and try and ransom them back to us for our possessions. I have no doubt Allen and Aki can fend for themselves, but if I can discourage an incident along with getting a better vantage, so much the better".

[albatross]

Tesla scowls, "When people think there are demons, they usually kill strangers, not treat them with respect."

Ora shrugs, "Aki is a skilled animal healer. Even a raiding band might treat her respectfully if they thought she would heal their animals. A town like this might kill and rob travelers, but they won't kill the kinds or people they want to return. They won't be able to plow fields of grain or defend their town without horses and other animals. They would only harm Aki if she was a fraud, and we know she is not."

"You do have a good idea though, while we wait you could take Starlighter far afield and scout our next few days travel. It would be best if we knew which way the next town was and the location of any roving bands."

[Renekin Skywalker]

Allen nods, acknowleding their kindness. "Aki, do you want to stay for all three?" He asks. "It seems we're welcome to wait near the town, if you do."

[shiivster]

Aki looks back to Allen and comments, 'this mare is first birthing and carries two. most grass eaters keep first born and leave second if born. i stay make sure she keep both. others have babies before, but Yumi still hunt snake nest to eat eggs and stop snake attacks for a while'

*she looks at the guide and asks 'mare belong to . . ? tell mare carry 2' *she points to the mare and raises 2 fingers and then pats her belly. a nod shows that she means the mare carries 2 foals

[albatross]

The soldier's eyes widen slightly, realizing he is in the presence of an actual horse healer instead of a hack or charlatan (neither would have predicted something as obviously provable as two foals).

He nods, almost a bow. "Certainly, I'll let the stable boys know. Do you require anything for the birthing?"