Pepper's Stables

[Mike]

Protected by: ]The Brotherhood of the Wolf
Guards: 1 Orc

It is clear to see just from walking through the city that there is an abundance of horses. After all, they are necessary for pulling around the endless amounts of wagons and carts as well as many other uses. Most taverns and inns offer private stables for their customers, but there is still a call for larger public ones. Pepper's Stables is by far the biggest and well known in the city. Here horses are breed, bought, sold, nursed and cleaned up. Several species from all over the Empire can be found here, not to mention the special local breed, the Riparian Rainbolt. Aside from horses, there are wagons and carts for sale making this the ideal place for riders and merchants alike.

The barn itself is huge with room inside for nearly one hundred horses. Stalls line the walls on either side with room inside for one horse each. Workers are busy feeding and cleaning while would be buyers browse up and down. At the back can be found the second part of the building where the wagons are kept. Overall, it is perhaps one of the biggest buildings in all of the Merchant District.

• Horses
  
  - Pony - 200 to 400 crowns
  Neither particularly fast or powerful, ponies are instead an ideal way for getting around the city at a leisurely pace. Popular with the nobility, they are used more for short rides rather than anything else too physical.
  
  - Working Horse - 300 to 500 crowns
  While the standard working horse is smaller than those traditionally breed for riding, they remain just as strong and powerful. In fact their strength lies in their stamina, making them suitable for working long hours.
  
  - Riding Horse - 400 to 750 crowns
  The most common of all horses are those used simply for riding. Their stamina allows them to ride for long stretches without tiring. They come in various sizes making them ideal for most races.
  
  - War Horse - 1500 to 3000 crowns
  Specifically bred for combat, these horses are different for two primary reasons. Firstly they are much stronger which allows them to carry fully armored soldiers, though they can only gallop for short distances. Secondly, they undergo extensive training making them more prepared for the noise and danger of battle.
  
  - Riparian Rainbolt - 3000 crowns upwards
  The Rainbolt is the favoured steed for Centripaxian adventurers simply because it was bred to survive. Boasting a powerful yet sleek body, it is capable of running extremely fast at short distances coupled with the ability and stamina required for much longer treks. But the selling point of these horses is their hardiness to practically all weather conditions. They were first bred during the 'Great Storm' of Riparia, hence their name.
  
• Transportation - all capacities in pounds (lb's)
  
  - Two Wheeled Cart - 375 crowns
  The two wheeled cart is basically a market stall with the ability to be moved around the city. Two wheels are located at one end while the other end has handles that can be lifted to push or pull the cart. There are small cupboards in the underbelly for the storage of items while the top is traditionally flat for products to be displayed on.
  
  - Four Wheeled Cart - 675 crowns
  With four wheels rather than two, this cart is heavier and with greater capacity. More storage space in the underbelly as well as the flat surface on top being able to have more on it. Also, the four wheel cart as a cloth canopy to protect from rain.
  
  - Carriages - Prices below
  The carriage is the preferred method of tranport of the nobility in the city as well as rich merchants and other important figureheads. All carriage types are horse driven and, apart from the smallest, have four wheels.
  
  Small Carriage
  Capacity: 2 people
  Horses: 1
  Price: 2000 crowns
  
  Medium Carriage
  Capacity: 4 people
  Horses: 2
  Price: 4000 crowns
  
  Large Carriage
  Capacity: 8 people
  Horses: 4
  Price: 8000 crowns
  
  - Wagons - Prices below
  Wagons are of course used by merchants and traders to transport their goods around the Empire. There are various sizes with different capacities though all of them have four wheels. Most wagons are made of a strong wood and some have reinforced steel axels. Traditionally they have a canvas covering to protect the contents from various weather conditions.
  
  Mini Wagon
  Capacity: 1500 lb's
  Horses: 1
  Price: 2000 crowns
  
  Small Wagon
  Capacity: 2500 lb's
  Horses: 2
  Price: 3000 crowns
  
  Standard Wagon
  Capacity: 3500 lb's
  Horses: 2
  Price: 4000 crowns
  
  Large Wagon
  Capacity: 5000 lb's
  Horses: 4
  Price: 6000 crowns
  
• Equipment
  
  Option One - 375
  - Riding boots
  - Bit and bridle
  - Blanket
  - Hackamore
  - Harness and feedbag
  - Hood for horse
  - Saddle
  - Saddle pack
  - Large saddle bags
  
  Option Two - 300
  - Bit and bridle
  - Blanket
  - Hackamore
  - Harness and feedbag
  - Saddle
  - Saddle pack
  - Small saddle bags
  
  Grooming kit - 50
  - Rubber currycomb
  - Dandy brush
  - Body brush
  - Hoof pick
  - Towel
  
  - Feed 3 (per day)

All horses are groomed and shoed upon sale.

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NPC's

Pepper (human) - Owner

[Nik Cassel]

Nik smiled, stepping into the stable,smiling. He had finally found a good looking stable. He had always enjoyed riding when he had the chances when he was younger, and sometimes he would help with the horses in the stable in the keep he had lived at. He knew the basics of riding, but wouldn't mind being a bit better.Nik approached the old man and said,

"Serale!Serale!Good day to you my good man. I need a mount, and of course all the things you need for the mount. Let's see I'll need a Riding Horse, Saddle Blanket, Bit and Bridle, Harness and Feedbag, Saddle, Pair of Small Saddlebags, and a Grooming Kit. How much will all of that cost?"

[Mike]

Nik

Pepper rose from his stool and offered his hand to shake.

"You need a mount? Well you've come to the right place and that's a fact".

He gave a chuckle and then beckoned you to follow him inside. As you walked along the stalls, he listened to your requests and seemed to repeat each one to himself under his breath. When you were done, he shouted out to his stable hand.

"Yes sir", came the reply of young Fellis.

"Now then Fellis. Let's test that elven brain of yours. Blanket, saddle, bit and bridle, harness and feedbag, small saddle bags and a grooming kit".

Almost without no hesitation the boy answered.

"285 crowns sir".

"That's my lad. Now, off you go. Kerty needs reshoeing".

Quite remarkable the young elf lad was, having added up those prices so quickly. Pepper smiled and watched the boy hurry off to do his next chore.

"His father and I have run this business for years. Unfortunately he was killed during the last eruption. I brought Fellis up as though he were my own. Of course, he has his father's brains as you can see. Ahh forgive me. I'm rambling on and you need a horse. A riding horse you say? Well, they range from 400 up to 750 crowns for a good riding horse. Come and take a look. I have several that may be to your liking".

Leading you to the stalls on one side of the stables, you were shown three riding horses. All looked to be in excellent health and were certainly well groomed. The first was jet black and the largest of the three. It looked strong and well developed. The second was grey with white spots. Similar to the first though slighty smaller. Finally, the third was a brown horse. Unlike the other two, he seemed a little more 'fat around the edges'.

"He make look a little lumpy, but he's the fastest of the three believe it or not".

[Nik Cassel]

Nik walked along and listened to the man speak. At last, they came to the horses, and Nik pretended to eye each one critically, though in truth he didn't know too much about horseflesh. He still tried to put on a good show, suspecting the man would try to sell him a fat one for more, claiming it to be fast. He had seen men inspect horses before, and he tried to imitate their motions. He approached the horses and tried to check their teeth, eyes, legs, hooves, and flanks. Nik tried to put a critical eye on each, and hoped it was good enough to make sure the man didn't swindle him...

[Mike]

Nik

Apart from Abraham Salinger who seemed to add crowns every time you asked him the price, this was proving to be a city of honest tradesman. While Nik might have suspected that Pepper would try to sell the fat horse for more, he was in fact quite honest with his remarks.

"Now then, the black one there is your best buy if you want to splash out. 750 crowns because he's fast and strong. You'll get your money's worth and no mistake. As for the spotted one, he's a good 'un as well though a little younger and not so strong. 700 crowns for him. But 'ol Browny here. Well, I weren't lying when I said he was fast. Still, nobody seems to want to buy him so I can offer him for 550 crowns".

As Pepper talked, Nik made his efforts to look serious as he examined each of the steeds. It seemed the black horse took a disliking to Nik as it neighed in protest at his poking around. As for the grey horse, it seemed uneffected by your presence.

Finally, Nik looked over the vrown horse. As you neared, you heard a couple of thuds. A slight neigh and the horse stepped forwards, revealing that it had just done some 'business' of its own on the ground.

[Nik Cassel]

Nik frowned. This was turning out to be a tough choice. He had the choice of the weakest of the three for the second most price, the seemingly best for the highest but it didn't like him, and the one that was supposedly the best for the least price, but didn't seem to be living up to his name. Still, that seemed to be Nik's best choice, so he turned to the man and said,

"I think it will be the brown one. Yes....yes, the brown one."Nik gave a slight smile as he said this. Then Nik reached into his doublet pocket and pulled out a 500 crown bank note, three 100 crown bank notes, and an additional 35 crowns. He held them out to the stable owner and said, "There, 835 crown I believe is my total. Can you have him saddled for me?"

[Mike]

Nik

Pepper clapped his hands together with delight.

"A fine choice and no mistake good sir. He's a fine specimen and will serve you well. Yes, I'll have him saddled right away. As you can see, he's already groomed and shoed. Feel free to give him a name. Also, while all our horses are broken in, we don't ride 'em too much afterwards. That way, whoever buys 'em can forge a good relationship straight away. It's important to have a horse that likes you".

As they were talking, the elf boy had returned with some of the equipment. He wasn't strong enough to carry it all in one trip so had to go back to fetch the rest. In the meantime, Pepper saddled the horse and fitted the girdle, reigns etc.

Before long, all was ready wit hthe brown horse.

"Well then, I guess he's all yours", Pepper said wiping a tear from his eye.

He stroked the horse and offered it a sugar cube from his pocket.

"I'll be sad to see him go, but I'm sure you'll take good care of him".

It seems Pepper was a good stablemaster and cared for each of his horses dearly.

[Nik Cassel]

Nik smiled. At least he did have a horse now, and that was a major plus. He decided that Pepper was a good man and horsebreeder, especially when he saw the man's reaction to having one of his horses leaving.

"Thank you so much my good sir, you have been most helpful. I'll probably be in and out of Riparia a lot so I shall probably see you around anyway. " Nik nodded to the man and led the horse out of the stable, pondering a name for him....

[Slithseriekai]

Slith entered the the stable and looked around for a suitable horse for him.

"Sssssserale I'm looking for a ssssuitable riding horse for me and I'd like to buy riding bootssss, a sssssaddle, a blanket , a harnesssss and feed bag, a grooming kit, a hood for horsssse and a daysssss worth of feed.

OOC: May I ask what's a hackamore?

[Mike]

Slith

Pepper stands from his seat and offers a hand of greeting as Slith approaches. He leads the lizardman into the stables and past the rows of horses.

"Well, you want just a basic riding horse or perhaps something a little more? Of course, we'll need a good strong steed since you are bigger than the average customer", he says with a friendly tone.

OOC: Hackamore is a device that covers the horses eyes. It's used to break the horse into using a girdle, (got this from someone else since I know pretty much nothing about horses, lol).

[Slithseriekai]

Slith looks around the stable and sees many different horses to choose from.Then he turns to the old man.

"Can I have look around to find a sssssuitable horse "

[Mike]

OOC: You have my permission to describe the horse's color, size etc though I will let you know its attributes once you decide to buy one.
-----

"Feel free", Pepper said as he stood back to allow the lizardman to continue browsing at the fine steeds.

[Kelennar]

The elf ducked his head around the corner, glancing about at the various steeds. The sights of the magnificent animals brought a wide smile to his face, how he longed to be back in his home city of Silrosia. Recalling the vague memories of his childhood, the elf could have wallowed in self-pity for leaving home if he had not been in a public place. However, though he did not wish to purchase a horse, perhaps he could buy information that would allow him to catch and train one. Nonetheless, as far as classes were offered, the elf remained uncertain.

[Mike]

Kele was glancing at the steeds when his elven hearing detected footsteps crunching the hay behind. However, they were the lightest of steps and could only belong to a fellow elf. Turning, he saw an elf child. It was Fellis, the stable hand.

"Serale sir. Can I help"? he asked in an unbroken voice.

At that moment, a black feathered crow swooped into the stables past the two elves and came to rest on one of the wooden pens. It gave a single cry before tending to its feathers with its beak.

"I'd say you have been either blessed or cursed sir. A black crow is a sign of either. Assuming it is here for you of course".

[Kelennar]

The elf's eyes widened in curiousity as he gazed down at the small elf child, it was good to see someone with a familiar heritage within the city grounds. And personally, Kelennar preferred it to the unusual number of Moriquendi in the city of Paxia. Shrugging off the thought, the elf offered a nod to the boy, complimentin ga light smile.

"Tidings' young lad. Do you work he--" the elf's words cut short as his eyes instinctively darted towards the lurking crow among the stables as he listened to the elf boy's unique superstition. Kelennar too had heard a similar tale, though he prayed to the Gods boy's first option was more likely. Chuckling slightly Kelennar turned his attention back to the young lad, "Hmm...Actually m' boy I was curious as to how you trained this marvelous animals?"