The tall, lanky, blue boy walks up to where the where the starting line is, on excited smile is on his lips. Ricin stretches, his long legs extending out as he runs through the motions, downward facing dog, followed by an upward facing dog… come to think of it, most of his stretches he does have to do with dogs. As the boy ponders this, his opponent approaches and Ricin’s jaw drops. Oh shit, he is racing a horse?! Of course, the blue boy had seen the equine at the festival’s opening salmon breakfast but he had been to busy stuffing his face to realize that the massive stallion is his racing partner.

Inwardly, the boy groans, while outwardly Ricin offers Balian a huge grin and says, “Morning! Ready to go for a run?” His jovial words are given as he finishes limbering up, allowing the stallion time to stretch if he wishes to. When it looks like he almost done, the boy lifts a dark eyebrow and asks, “Ready?” White dipped paws move to toe the starting line as Ricin waits for his opponent to signal he is ready to begin.



Ricin vs Balian for Race
Round 0/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Skills: Master Navigator & Master Intellectual

"Ricin Dauner"

He was excited about this racing festival. He hadn't gone head to head against someone other than his companions for quite a while, but thanks to his last race with his red-tailed hawk, Balian had not been paying attention to the ground as he should have and had stumbled across a rabbit warren. He still had a slight limp since his foot was nearly healed now, so he doubted he'd be beating whoever it was he'd be up against today. The injury had caused him to put any training he usually did on the backburner, so he wasn't up to par as he'd like (in his mind, anyway). Still, he was determined to do his best as he stepped up to the finish line with his opponent, and to his surprise, it was a blue wolf! He hadn't seen one that color since he first came to Boreas, and he was always quite fascinated by the things he saw. While his relationship with wolves was still strained, Balian still gave them a chance. After all, this was just racing. He wasn't fighting them, and even if he had to, he was sure he could handle it.

Ricin greeted him, and Balian returned it with a soft nicker. "Ready as I'll ever be," Crystalline hooves eagerly pawed the ground as he practically danced in place, feet itching to move. "Good luck!" And with that, the monkey on his back jumped off to wait just as the signal was given for them to go.

Balian started off a second late, but once he got going, there was no stopping him! The stallion raced along the river, keeping an eye on where the blue wolf was as they wound their way along the river headed towards the finish line. He hoped this wouldn't delay the healing of his sore leg, and if it did, he was sure he'd have to seek out a healer to help. A horse with a lame leg was a dead horse, and he had no intentions of going down anytime soon!

He shouted a loud neigh as he ran, feeling the wind comb through his mane and tail as his muscles worked to keep him going. Ears had turned forward and erect, listening to the drum of his hooves and the sound of the river rushing beside him as well as the drum of the wolf's paws. Above, his hawk soared over them to keep an eye on things and ensure all was clear for the duration of the race.

"Speech"

Balian vs Ricin for Race
Round: 1/2
Age: Over 1yr
Size: Large species
Build: Medium
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Navigator

As the stallion makes his way to the starting line a slight limp can be seen and Ricin offers his opponent a questioning glance but the boy decides it must be okay if the horse still wants to race. Balian agrees that he is ready and Ricin offers him an excited grin, toeing the line next to the equine. Looking up at Balian, Ricin happily says, “Good luck to you too!” before turning his gaze back to look at the land ahead of them. All happiness and joy falls away as the blue wolf becomes focused.

Red eyes narrow and, when the monkey gives the signal, the boy releases all his pent-up energy in one smooth motion. The world around Ricin disappears and all that he sees is the land laid out before him. Adeline runs through his veins as his paws thunder in time to his heartbeat. Ears are pinned to his skull and even the stallion’s loud neigh does not pull his attention away from the race. The river winds and he follows it, looking for places to shave off a paw-step or two in the hopes of beating the fast equine.


Ricin vs Balian for Race
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Skills: Master Navigator & Master Intellectual



"Ricin Dauner"

Cloven hooves at the ground as he ran, the stallion tossing his head back as he ran. The wolf was fast, he gave him that. But could he outrun a horse who's life revolved around running and freedom? It remained to be seen. He jumped over bushes that dared crop up on his path, following the river around as he headed North. Driftwood? What was that? He didn't know it! Bye Felicia! He jumped over those too. The traction he had was better since his hooves had split and turned crystalline from whatever magical forces had appeared during the Long Nights. It helped him turn and steer faster, and dig his feet into the ground for better traction. He was always happy to run. So this race would be a peace of cake! The sound of the river to his side urged him on, and the stallion almost felt like he was racing its current as opposed to the wolf. But they were both blue, so he supposed it was almost the same thing, right? Keeping his focus ahead, he put on the pressure a bit as he drove himself faster, harder, aiming to reach the finish line before his opponent! Balian vs Ricin for Race Round: 2/2 Age: Over 1yr Size: Large species Build: Medium Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Navigator "Speech"

Ricin runs for all that he is worth. The stallion is built for this, born to run through life with the wind in his hair. He may not be as powerful in his strides nor able to leap over the foliage and obstacles with ease like Balian but the blue wolf is not discouraged. The world narrows until it is just him and the finish line. He feels his heart thundering from the adrenaline, notices the way his muscles feel as they stretch and relax. As the river turns so do they, the pair moving with each jog and shift in the bend. The current rushes onward, crashing over rocks and sending a fine mist spraying into the air. The finish line appears and Ricin puts every last ounce of energy into the last stretch. No matter what happens, the blue wolf is happy to have been able to race such a strong opponent!


Ricin vs Balian for Race
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Skills: Master Navigator & Master Intellectual


"Ricin Dauner"

And the winner is...

Ricin

Balian is a slow poke and was left in the dust! Totals: Ricin : Speed Roll: 59 Stamina Roll: 82 Balance Roll: 82 Total: 223 Speed[59] + 5% Bonus[2.95]: 61.95 Stamina[82] + 10% Bonus[8.20]: 90.20 Balance[82] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 82.00 Total[234.15] + 25% Bonus[58.54]: 292.69 Balian: Speed Roll: 36 Stamina Roll: 16 Balance Roll: 61 Total: 113 Speed[36] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 36.00 Stamina[16] + 10% Bonus[1.60]: 17.60 Balance[61] + 5% Bonus[3.05]: 64.05 Total[117.65] + 10% Bonus[11.77]: 129.42