Pegasus in the Park

Morning in the back tavern in Freelancers Tavern was oddly quiet.  Aranel was not to be seen, and Peb was in a corner talking quietly to Dominic.  There was an undercurrent of banked anger.

The 6 recruits felt it, but weren't sure of the origin.  All but Tui chatted with each other over breakfast, learning where each other was from and possibly reasons for joining Freelancers.  Surely they were looking for commonalities, and of course the thing they really had in common was they wanted to try a mission.

Valan kindly directed them to Arnari's office and they dutifully trooped up the stairs to visit the vaunted bard leading the Freelancers.  Tui, a short but confident human woman, lingered to get a fresh cup of tea.  They got to the door and stopped for a moment.  They hadn't been sure what to expect (well, maybe something like Tomtom's office), but this office wasn't it.

Arnari sat in thought behind a large mahogany desk, fingers wandering over her harp, the melody harsh and in a minor key.  A blue and gold leather duster was casually half-folded on the floor nearby.  The desk was carved with leaf patterns, and had papers piled upon it in haphazard stacks.  In front of the desk was a large bearskin rug, and mismatched chairs loosely arranged into two rows were between that and the door.  The walls had shelves populated with instruments and knickknacks, and, to the left of the chairs, two nice maps, of Duquesne and Cliffshadow.

Arnari, despite being obviously irritated at something, waved them all in to sit down.  She kept playing the harp, but her gaze examined the new Freelancers sharply as they entered the room and chose where to sit… or not.

Latae, the Wild elf, sat in what looked like the cushiest chair.
Nahele, the Rain sagani, wandered to the maps and started examining them, intrigued.
Sofiya, the tall firbolg, sat awkwardly next to Latae, still somewhat nervous.
Bock, a large redheaded human in worn studded leathers, sat front & center.
Beck, almost indistinguishable from Bock, reluctantly took the adjacent seat.

Tui entered, with tea on a saucer, and took in this tableau.  Smiling at Arnari, she smoothly walked over to Beck & Bock, and with only a hint of a pout, asked them in a sultry voice, "Is this seat… taken?"  The twins raised their eyebrows, and so did Arnari as Tui lay across their laps, without spilling a drop of the tea.  "Hi, I'm Tui," she announced, and offered tea to the closest twin, who accepted it.

Arnari set the harp aside, and shuffled through paperwork impatiently, then stopped herself.  She sat back murmuring "no, wait, almost forgot about Hanohano," and took up a fresh paper from the top with hurried but bold writing on it

She skimmed it, then said, "I think, will be a great mission for the 6 of you; Hanohano of House Ha'aheo– they do pegasus breeding.  I'd send Valan, but good for the 6 of you.

"Their prize pegasus is missing."  She glanced at the paper again, then added, "The palamino stallion is missing, the barn door is open.  50 eagles a person if the pegasus is found and returned speedily & unharmed.  'Koura the 2nd', friendly like his sire.  Return him, you'll be paid well, especially if before the Head of House finds out!"

Tui:  what are the odds are, someone let it out
Beck:  very high, pegasi can't open doors
Tui:  what's it look like?
Arnari <slight frown>:  palomino
Tui:  like a horse breed, right?
<Everyone but Sofiya grimaced.>
Sofiya:  does it have a collar, like a cat?
Arnari:  hopefully, a halter
Latae:  how do we know it's the right pegasus?  will he answer to his name?
Arnari <hesitated>:  the halter would have the House Ha'aheo sigils
Nahele:  what do these sigils look like?
Arnari:  a written H, with wings

Arnari showed them on the map of Cliffshadow where House Ha'aheo was, and pointed out a large part to the west of the House.

Tui:  first stop, stables; then the Park
Nahele:  depends on what they say on stables
Tui <dismissively>:  sure

The Freelancer recruits turned to leave.  They did not see Arnari facepalm as Sofiya asked the others, "What do pegasus like to do?"

On the way out, Nahele remembered to stop by the quartermaster Tomtom had told them about, and picked up 50' of silk rope.  Sofiya asked for and acquired a notebook and pencils.  Tui, meanwhile, refreshed her tea, and took a bunch of sugar lumps.

Then, sure of themselves, the new Freelancers headed to House Ha'aheo, having memorized the way there from the map on Arnari's wall, since not a single one of them hailed from Cliffshadow.  They confidently walked north, and – since Cliffshadow's streets did not particularly run on cardinal points – cut through a back alley to stay heading north.  Alas, they ended up lost.

Snark abounded as they walked through filthy alleys, taking this or that turn, Tui resolutely sipping her tea from a cup & saucer.  Finally they emerged with a clear view of the pegasus statue that they'd all seen the prior day, looming over the arena battle.  Everyone was excited as they initially thought it indicated they were at House Ha'aheo, until they realized why they recognized it.  "Oh, oops," said Latae.

No longer the sight of a show combat, the square surrounding the pegasus was crowded with people and vendors hawking street food for the unwary.  Latae started looking for a vendor that sold carrots or apples.  "Don't they like apples?" Nahele asked, and Latae bought some of both.

The statue appeared to be anatomically correct, which is quite a thing for a pegasus stallion rearing up over all the passers by.  Intrigued, Tui circled the statue, larger than life, on its 10' marble base.  "Larger than life" meant… things were very clear.  Tui sipped her tea.

Tui:  this person [the artist] had a lot of … knowledge
Latae:  well-versed in nature, this person knows their pegasus junk.

Sofiya, who was uninterested in the statue, and wishing not to disappoint Arnari, asked around for directions to House Ha'aheo.  A well-dressed passerby was more than happy to give clear directions, which she wrote down in the notebook.  "Thank you!" she told him sincerely, and returned to the others near the statue.

Sofiya:  I have directions
Tui:  let's do a quick look to make sure the pegasus isn't actually here

They looked around, but Tui had only said that so she could look at the statue more.  Sofiya was kind of hot to leave and follow the directions she acquired, and Bock was devoting so much energy to ignoring Tui's antics they were not really noticing one way or the other.

The others saw some people on pegasi, but no palomino-coloured mounts.  Towards the cliff on the east of the square, they noticed the Pilot's Guild, with pilots on peregrine gryphons coming and going, and mosaics of gryphons and airships worked into the cliffside above.

Finally the group left, following Sofiya's directions to House Ha'aheo.  Upon arrival they did not go to the front door, but around back to the stables.

Hanohano, a rather handsome Rock sagani, saw the new Freelancers arrive at his stables and immediately deduced who they were and their status.  He was not most pleased.

Hanohano:  where's the pegasus?
Bock:  we wanted to start looking here
Hanohano:  he's not here.
Bock <phlegmatically>:  perhaps he left tracks; mind if we take a look?
Hanohano:  sure.  whatever.  fine, look here.
Nahele:  who was responsible for securing the barn door?
Hanohano:  a miscommunication occurred.  Someone left early and thought someone else would secure the door.
Tui:  can we talk to the stable hands?

Hanohano sighed impatiently, then went into the stable.  In short order, a stablehand emerged, a Rock sagani woman who introduced herself as Hina.  Hanohano did not reappear.

Hina:  Koura is very curious, and will stick his elegant palomino nose into all the business.
Latae:  which business does he favour?
Hina:  he's beautiful, but not bright.  So whatever-attracts-him business.  Food, people, shinies, whatever.
Tui:  has he ever been in the Park?
Hina:  no, we usually take them outside the city.
Bock:  where, outside the city?
Hina:  this is just the House.  The stables are a day's travel west.
Latae:  so, that enormous Park, just west of the House would be in view.
Beck:  Park seems reasonable to start.
Latae:  lots of people picnicing
Tui <to Hina>:  how do we lasso it?
Nahele:  is he wearing a halter?
Hina:  yes, halter.
Latae:  do you have keys so we can dangle something shiny?
Sofiya:  my daggar is shiny
Nahele <smiled>:  not as shiny as mine
Tui:  my jewelry would work, it's shiny

The Freelancers went around the stables with Hina, checking for tracks.  Of course there were a lot of tracks, it was a stable,  Sofiya and Tui saw nothing, lacking a clue what they were looking at. 

Nahele:  why did only he get out?
Hina:  he's spoiled, and figured out how to open the stall door.

At that point Beck and Latae noticed a faint set of tracks heading west, then the impressions that meant the pegasus took off into the air.  The Freelancers took their leave and headed towards the Park.

The Park was a large greenbelt area in the wealthiest part of Cliffshadow, a public common area that somehow benefited the rich people most.  Trees were deliberately planted and maintained to allow for secluded groves, and large grassy areas allowed for picnicking, games, or celebrations.  The new Freelancers looked around, taking in the picnickers, people taking a walk, some people playing with pets or children.

As they looked around, they caught a flash of a very glossy, buff horse body, with creme mane and wings, swooping down behind the trees to the north, perhaps 250 yards to the north.  Nahele started moving towards it, and the others followed.  As they got nearer, they realized it was an entire copse of trees, and as they entered it, they saw that the pegasus was in a clearing, nosing at the grass.

Tui cast guidance on herself, then cast message at the pegasus, "Who's a good pegasi, who wants a sugar cube," but one does not quite talk to an unknown equine as if it was a fluffy puppy.  The pegasus lifted his head, looking around for who was talking to him, and saw nothing.  Suspicious and confused, he put his ears back.

Tui <crossly>:  Sofiya, you can talk to animals, right?
Sofiya <startled>:  …sometimes?

Sofiya walked into the clearing, and said soothingly, "Hello Koura 2!!"  The stallion did not really understand her, but was soothed and reassured by her manner, and stepped towards her, nose out.  Sofiya reached behind her, and Latae immediately sidled up to her, and handed her a carrot.

The pegasus smelled the apples on Latae and turned his attention to the Wild elf, nosing at their clothes.  Murmuring, "Are you ready to go home?" Sofiya grabbed the dangling halter.  Once they saw she had it, Latae produced an apple for Koura.  As the stallion munched, Nahele attached her new silk rope to the halter.

Escorting the pegasus, the Freelancers walked back to House Ha'aheo.  As they passed some alleyways near the Park, three shady people peered at the little procession, clearly trying to devise a way to get the fine animal away from his 6 escorts.  But they were outnumbered, and let it go.

When the Freelancers reappeared at the House Ha'aheo stables with Koura the 2nd, the stress drained out of Hanohano like water.  He really did pay them 50 eagles each, and they could hardly believe their fortune.

Hina came out to take charge of the pegasus, but when she grabbed the rope, she exclaimed, "This rope is long!"  She disappeared into the tack house and reemerged with a proper lead, then gave the rope back to Nahele.  Taking Koura back into the stable, she murmured at him, and they did not catch everything she said, but definitely part of it was "We're going to get you a new lock!"

Hanohano turned to the Freelancers.  "Make sure Arnari gets 10 percent," he admonished them, "it's on you."  He looked at each one in turn.  Then he relaxed again.  "Thank you.  Pegasus, too smart, and too dumb."

Latae offered, "Perhaps he needs some toys," but Hanohano waved dismissively and followed Hina into the stable.  The Freelancers shrugged, then headed back to Freelancers Tavern.

Once there, Beck and Bock took great pains to make sure everyone gave 10% to Arnari.  Nahele was surprised, but merely lifted an eyebrow.  Perhaps it was that mercenary background.

Everyone → lvl 1!

• Beck → paladin!
• Bock → cleric!
• Sofiya → bard!
• Tui → artificer?!
• Latae → druid!
• Nahele → ranger!