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The ship lands in a clearing pretty close to the horse ranch this time. There are several horses, some of which move at a slow run to the opposite side of the ranch as it comes in, likely frightened.
Shok stands inside the shuttle and prepares to exit waiting for the doors to open. He has his arms folded and is tapping a claw on his arm.
Katriana stands off to the side with Alin, conversing with her fellow Fastheldian in quiet tones, though a lazy grin rests on the Nillu's lips.
Having landed safely and done on all his post-flight checks, Newt gets up and heads for the exit too, "Hey. Wait up."
Shok exits the vessel as soon as the doors are ready to open. The Pyracani appears to enjoy being on ground more than on a ship and stands waiting and asks Newt while doing so "Where did you learn to be such a good pilot at your age?"
As Katriana emerges from the shuttle, she seems to visibly relax and shudders as she walks with Alin. "Will never like ships," she grumbles into the tall Mikin's ear. But a bright smile appears. "Another horse farm. It's wonderful. Obviously not as good as Equinox, but wonderful."
The horses still appear to be on the opposite side of the ranch. The landing and the movement has gotten the attention of someone, though. A human male approaches the group. Those with particularly sensitive noses may notice that the many smells that come with prolonged exposure to horses and less than regular bathing follow him.
Newt replies to Shok as he goes past, "I'm just that good." and looks over at the horses as he stops on the grass.
Shok smirks after the child pilot and then looks to the human who doesn't exactly smell of roses and nods to him. Turning back to Newt he mentions "Maybe I should take some classes from you." The Pyracani seems to be not too serious about this suggestion.
Norran exits the shuttle some time later, taking a moment to place his straw hat snugly on his head as he gazes out over the area and gives a deep breath.
Katriana offers a curious glance to the approaching man but gives a nod in greeting. "This your place?" she inquires politely.
"It is my place." the man answers. "Looking at how you got here like all the others you're probably here to make sure the horses are being raised right."
Newt looks from the local to the others, remaining silent for now.
Norran stands back and watches, content to take in the scenery as the others deal with the farmhand.
Shok looks away from Newt now and nods to the farmer "You would be correct." He extends a hand to the farmer and offers trying while trying his best to breath through his mouth "Name's Shok. You?"
Alin rubs at his whiskers, mostly quietly following along with Katriana still, bowler perched primly on his graying head. Leaning over to Katriana he murmurs, "Wonder if they've any breeds the Equinox doesn't? Maybe you can trade between the farms or something."
Katriana nods to Alin, "Definitely something to consider," she agrees. Her attention goes back to the farmer. "How can we be of assistance. At least a few of us have extensive knowledge on horses." She points to herself. "I'm the representative from Equinox Ranch off of Fortrain. My name is Katriana."
"Shok." the farmhand says, pointing at the Pyracani as though he's trying to memorize the name. "Katriana. I don't know about the place you're talking about, but I've worked on this place for years under instructions from those who fly down here. But I have a problem." he admits, "I don't know what they're supposed to be used for. I hear there was a clan centuries ago that used them to raid, but they had long been extinct." then he turns back at the horses on the other side of the ranch.
Newt speaks up, "I'm Newt. And I think you're meant to ride them and stuff, but they don't look all that comfortable."
"Transportion, mostly. Of people and goods, along with farmwork. There tends to be machinery to replace them these days, however," interjects Norran, crossing his arms as he looks over the array of horses. "Keeping them these days is akin to recreation, or perhaps they still have use in places where those machines can't go or aren't able to be afforded."
Alin looks rather bewildered at the thought of someone not knowing what to use a horse for, his jaw hanging open for a split second before he shuts it with a click. He looks incredulously at Katriana, then back at the man. "Sweet Light.. Does that mean none of 'em are broken in at all for riding? Horses take training for whatever you have them do, be it plowing a field or pulling a cart or riding. The riding part is probably what people will want them for, aye."
Shok nods at Norran's explanation and says to the farmer "That's about all I know about horses he explained in a few seconds." The Pyracani smirks and asks "Why exactly does it matter what they're being used for anyway?"
Katriana chuckles in response to Alin and nods, echoing the question. "Have you trained any of these animals at all, or are you just breeding them essentially in the wild?" She glances across to Shok. "Horses can be an important part of a culture, if given the opportunity to be. Besides, what is the point of having something and investing time in it if there is no outcome?"
"Machinery? I don't know what you have access to once you get back to wherever you came from, but I was assured this was an important task and would be the best way to do things." the farmhand replies. "I had some instruction in how to train them, and kept trying, but they're too weak to do what I was told they could do. You try and ride them and they're slower than if you just walked." he then begins walking towards them, "You can check for yourself if you want."
"That doesn't sound right at all. Aye, we'll need to see 'em." Alin murmurs, making his way forward, expression gruff.
Katriana nods, "I agree," she replies. "Let us take a look at them. It's just possible that you've been working with them in the wrong way." She steps up next to Alin, frowning.
Shok frowns as well at this knowing it can't be a good sign and agrees "Yes lets have a look." The Pyracani mutters something to the effect of "I really hope this is a simple problem."
"I doubt it's simple, he could've been trying to feed them nothing but quesadillas and they're dying from malnutrition," replies Norran with a terse expression, making his way away from the shuttle to approach and examine the horses.
Newt asks, following along, "What are quesadillas?"
The farmhand approaches the horses. They don't run, though. "I've followed all the feeding instructions that I was given by the last trip." he insists, "But go ahead and have a look and see if you can figure something out about these horses, since it seems all of you know more about them than I do."
Katriana glances aside to the farmhand, seeking silent permission before stepping up to one of the horses, holding out a hand to the animal patiently before approaching, one hand resting on its neck. "Easy there, pretty girl," she murmurs to the mare, doing a standard check of the horse's conformation, hands running across the back for misalignment, down the legs to ensure they're straight and then moving on to check teeth and eyes. A frown appears as her hand stops on the horse's chest. "Seems to be a problem with her breathing," she notes, glancing over to Alin and gesturing him over.
Alin moves over to Katriana, checking to see if the horses have had shoes put on or not, and otherwise running his hands over the flanks, checking temprament. "Is there a halter and lead rope, or some tack? Should see how the handle a rider or put them through some paces, see how fast they can manage."
Shok walks up to the horses as well but doesn't try any examining other than noticing they aren't skin and bones and just stays back letting the knowledgeable ones take care of it.
Newt just stands there, feeling slightly 5th wheel about things and looking blankly at the horse.
"Could be the air here, no telling what's changed with the environment. That's far from my area of expertise. Though..." Norran pauses as he nears one of the horses, taking a glance at his hands and considering something. Taking a deep breath, he gives the horse a careful pat on the side before placing his palm flat against its neck and closes his eyes.
The horses do indeed have shoes. "We have supplies out in that barn." the farmhand says, motioning Alin in that direction.
Katriana glances across to Alin. "Love, would you mind fetching them?" she asks, still patting the mare on the neck. "I'll take her through a warm up to see how she goes. With her breathing problems, I am much lighter than you and will be less of a burden."
Alin nods to Katriana. "Might want to get someone light up on 'em, like Newt. See how they handle it." He responds, then jogs off to get a halter and a long lead.
Shok keeps watching whispering to Newt "You feel as lost as I do? I have almost no idea how these guys know what's wrong with them."
Newt shrugs, staring at the horse, and replies, "It looks like a horse to me."
After a long moment, Norran opens his eyes and removes his hand from the horse's neck. "You and your associates are certainly making the attempt, but you don't quite know how to take care of them as you should. Not so terrible as to give this result, however," remarks Norran, expression turning neutral as he approaches the farmhand again. "Other starcrafts have moored here recently, have they not? Can you tell me what they've been doing out here?"
As she waits for Alin to return, Katriana looks across to Norran for the first time during the whole trip. She continues to stroke the mare's nose but there is a definite tension that she picks up and snorts uneasily. With a sheepish look, the Nillu murmurs a few soothing words, taking in a deep breath and shaking her head.
While Alin goes to get the supplies the farmhand explains, "Some lessons in basic care, delivery of precious metals to purchase things to build with, and the last time they brought down more supplies than I could ever use. I don't know where it all comes from except that it's from somewhere else." he motions upwards towards the sky.
Alin returns with a halter, slipping it on the horse and hooking the lead to it, nodding to Katriana. "S'about how we'd have reacted if someone just gave us out of the sky one day, heh. How'd you meet these folks who just gave you all of this?"
Shok jogs over to Alin and asks "Need me to grab anythin from that shed so you can inspect the horses? That way I'm at least somewhat helpful."
"Actually, we'd likely have attempted to disembowel them and set them on fire. We were known for our hospitality, afterall," muses Norran with a small snicker, giving a nod to the farmhand. "Yes, this is certainly an odd arrangement. Could you also point us toward the supplies they left last time?"
Newt looks up at Norran, wide-eyed, "Seriously?"
Once the lead is clipped on, Katriana approaches the side of the horse, glancing to Alin. "Give me a leg up, Alin? Better to have a skilled rider do this, just in case there are any problems."
Alin kneels by the horse, lacing his fingers together to give Kat a leg up. He smiles politely to Shok, nodding. "If we need anything else, thank you.. Oddest horses I've ever seen."
Shok raises an eyebrow at Alin and asks "What's the matter with them? Anything too serious?"
The farmhand points at Alin, "He just got some from where they're being stored." he explains. "How'd they come down? It's been happening forever." he thinks about this. "Well, you hear stories about it anyway. I hear there's some people who specialize in thinking about such thing, and they say it's our creator, vastly knowledgeable, and he sent down representatives, and so when they came down and said 'raise some animals we hadn't seen in centuries' I agreed." he rambles a bit. As for the horse, it doesn't run or offer any resistance currently.
"Not quite knowledgable enough, it would seem. I'll go examine the supplies," replies Norran, making his way off toward wherever the equipment is being stored and search through the place for any potential clues.
Katriana settles herself on the horse's back, frowning slightly as her fingers lace into the mane. "Let the lead out a bit, love," she says, squeezing her legs to urge the mare into a walk. Her attention is completely focused on the animal.
"They have no spirit." Alin comments, to Shok. "Usually they'd be moving around or something.." He lets the lead out to a good length, gruff visage fading into a warm smile for Katriana.
Shok follows Norran to the supply shed to help look hoping to be of at least /some/ use. As he catches up he asks "Just what is it we're looking for. I'm not familiar with horses."
The horse begins walking, slowly and laborously, like the additional weight is particularly troublesome.
Newt's mind begins to wonder and, eventually, drags Newt along with it causing him to wonder off a bit to look around.
"Anything unusual. But I suppose you'd have to know what's usual to tell the difference," notes Norran, sifting his way through supplies in the storage area.
Alin just stares at the horse, looking rather bewildered. "What kind of bizarre horses are these?" He mumbles, looking somewhat put out. "May as well eat them and tell your people to order new ones from Equinox. These are like.. Discount horses."
"Alin," Katriana scolds lightly. "I am sure that with some work and care they could be brought up to good health. I personally believe it is something in their diet." With a frown she squeezes her legs together and clucks in encouragement, trying to draw more speed from the mare. Or elicit any form of reaction.
Shok begins looking through the supplies as well and mostly just asks Norran if he sees anything that might qualify as unusual to his knowledge which is pretty vague.
"So they aren't proper horses?" The farmhand asks, he seems more confused on this point as Katriana speaks up too. "Or are they just ill? I just know they aren't acting like I was told they would."
"Nothing out of the ordinary," replies Norran, shaking his head to Shok as he makes his way outside. "All the supplies have come from the Svajone, more or less. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Perhaps...they could've always been like this?" he wonders next, making his way back to the farmhand. "Where'd the horses come from in the first place?"
Katriana hops down from the horse's back and carefully takes the lead from Alin. She offers the Mikin a light touch on the arm and a smile before she moves off, leading the animal and trying to pick up the pace to a jog, what could be a slow trot for a normal horse.
Newt's meandering and wondering eventually take him, in a round-about way, to the supplies. Joining Shok in looking through them he eventually stops and says, "Hey. This is the stuff I flew in a few weeks back."
The horse keeps trying to move, but starts wheezing and breathing heavily, like it can't breathe properly. "Same place as the supplies, they were brought down. They seemed better than this when they got here." the farmhand explains.
Shok nods to Newt. "Yeah I kow I was just thinking the same thing. I wonder if it's faulty equipment we delivered. I hope not."
Alin shakes his head, rubbing at his whiskers. "Do you ever give these people who drop things off anything in return?" He asks of the farmhand, watching the horse with a sceptical gaze. "Seems odd they'd just come give you a bunch of stuff."
Katriana scowls at the horse's reaction and immediately slows to a walk, patting the horse's neck. "Easy there, old girl," she says. "I'm not sure what to say. Horse is physically in good condition besides the breathing."
"I can only assume something to do with the environment here, then, or perhaps a disease. These horses seem to have an...underdeveloped lung capacity? Someone who's a proper healer should look at them," suggests Norran, frowning somewhat. "There's little we can do on our own."
"I'll see what I can do." The farmhand offers, "If you think you can help if you take them somewhere else and bring them back, I could part with a couple I suppose."
"We could take some back to Equinox and Kat can keep an eye on them, see how they fare.. As long as they're kept isolated from the others, in case it is some sort of disease." Alin comments, fiddling with his bowler hat.
Shok nods at this idea and replies coming back from the shed in time to hear it. "that sounds like the best course of action at this point. I'm reasonably certain those supplies are fine since Newt and I delivered similar ones not too long ago."
"That sounds like a decent idea. Should round some up and take them into the shuttle," replies Norran, descending back into the supply shed to get the necessary equipment for leading along the horses.
Newt watches for a bit, "I reckon you wont fit more then 2 in there. I'll grab a sample of the supplies. Just in case they're bad and stuff."