Log: Haroon and Steffan hunting

["Jonathan Smith" <jonathan_808@hotmail.com>]

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Reception Court -- Bajazet Embassy (Kaitain)
Hushed, yet bursting with activity at the same time, the reception court of 
the Bajazet household is a vast tile paved space, lined with majestic palms 
that shade it's perimeter. The refreshing babbling of water rings out across 
the walkways, it's source, a large fountain sitting squarely in the center 
of the court. Ornately embellished benches are placed around the fountain 
offering a quiet resting spot to the weary. Roses, lavender, and other 
fragrant flowers are planted in low copper edged flowerbeds, that hug the 
contours of the tiled pool. Tucked along the eastern side of the court is a 
small private stable, large openings in it's facade allowing glimpses of the 
magnificent steeds housed within. At the south end of the court, the Embassy 
itself looms up over it's surroundings.
Players:
Bajazet-Bldr                                       Steffan
Exits:
Wide Archway <G> leads to Riding Grounds -- Bajazet Embassy (Kaitain)
Bronze Door  <S> leads to The Adrianopol -- Bajazet Embassy (Kaitain)

A Ginaz Limosine pulls in and comes to a smooth stop.

Steffan exits the Ginaz Limosine.

Steffan has arrived.

The Ginaz Limosine departs the area.

Guards exit the limo and open the door for Steffan. He exits with a slight 
smile, straightens his jacket and then bows breifly to Haroon, "Regent, it 
is good to see you again.."

Haroon stands in the center of the courtyard, accompanied by a small group 
of aides and slaves. He is watching three handlers who between them are 
restraining a large spotted hunting-cat which is hissing violently at the 
stable doors. He looks round as the limosine arrives and bows. "Good day to 
you Marquis. How are you and your family this day?"

Steffan looks at the cat curiously, "Hmmm, fine I suppose. I hope your 
family is doing well?"

The cat yawns, showing all of its teeth and snaps its jaw shut, finally 
looking disinterested in the stables. "We are getting it used to the horses" 
Haroon says by way of explanation. "And yes my brother is most well. He is 
currently running my stable for me on New Adrianopolis." He smiles "And my 
more extended family in this embassy are all in good spirits my Lord." He 
gives a command in Amat to the handlers who lead the cat away. "So what is 
on your mind my Lord? Would you prefer to come insider or perhaps, to go 
riding." He beams merrily "I am sure that you are a much better man in the 
saddle now than when you first mounted up."

Steffan grins broadly, "oh I hope so. Yes, would like to ride again. And I 
do have a few things on my mind, that I would like your opinion on.."

Haroon grins "Excellent" and rubs his hands together. "Have the handlers 
bring out two of the cats and have the horses saddled up." he instructs one 
of the servants in the courtyard.

Haroon strolls towards the gardens at a leisurely pace. "So what are these 
things on your mind Marquis?" He pauses as the servants swing open two high 
iron gates leading to the embassy gardens .

Steffan clasps his hands behind his back, an expression of deep thought on 
his face, "His Majesty paid me an unexpected visit a few days ago. He 
is....displeased with the Landsraad.."

Riding Grounds -- Bajazet Embassy (Kaitain)(#2881RntJu)
The embassy gardens stretch around the side of the building in a 
painstakingly tended lawn of and immaculately clipped hedges. Sandstone 
paths describe gentle curves across it, meeting at a knot garden of short 
cropped hedges grown in ornate symmetrical patterns. The shapes that these 
encircle are filled with flower beds or pools of water that create a 
colourful tapestry effect. In the centre of the knot garden is a hexagonal 
wooden gazebo with a slightly curved tiled roof. It looks remarkably simple 
and perhaps old, compared with the rest of the embassy buildings.

This area of order and symmetry is only a fraction of the whole, as the 
grounds open out beyond the stable block into rolling landscaped grounds 
dotted with trees and bushes native to New Adrianopolis, and covered with a 
long wild-grass which sways gently from side to side. The perimeter of the 
garden is surrounded by tall trees that block out any view from outside, and 
through the occasional gaps can be seen high plasteel walls topped with 
barbed wire and sensors.
Contents:
Obvious exits:
Wide Archway <O> leads to Reception Court -- Bajazet Embassy (Kaitain).

Steffan has arrived.

Through the rear of the stables, the handlers are already leading out two 
horses and a pair of docile looking hunting cats. The horses are saddled and 
equipped with a curved composite bow sheathed on the saddle and a maula 
rifle slung from the other side.

Haroon exhales slowly. Carefully. "It is a delicate situation.. I can 
understand his Majesty's displeasure." He looks at Steffan with a curious, 
slightly worried expression. "What did his Majesty say to you?"

Steffan stops walking and then shakes his head, "He thinks that the vote now 
means he has made new enemies. I think thats a rather drastic conclusion, 
but maybe someday in reflection his Majesty will realize that to be 
untrue.."

Haroon nods reflectively as the stable hands lead over the two horses. He 
approaches his own and rubs its neck, then swings up gracefully into the 
saddle and surveys the gardens with his hands on his hips. In the distance a 
rustling can be heard as various creatures from lower rungs of the food 
chain are released and agitated into the near-wild of the grounds.

Haroon replies "It is a shame that the Landsraad was forced to be divided on 
the issue.. I think that Duke Praxton was foolish to force this issue to a 
head as he did. Now the Emperor will be forced to seek some new way to 
recover his lost pride."

Steffan walks up to his, the stable hand handing him the reigns. Slowly and 
cautiously he mounts the horse. He smiles, stroking the animal gently on its 
shoulder. He sits up straight in the saddle. "Ginaz was forced into agreeing 
the the majority. Unfortunately. " He looks about hoping no one else will 
hear. "Ginaz is not an ememy of the Corrino, yet we need to be able to 
defend and protect ourselves properly. I realize the Bajazet voted 
differently. I repect that. Personally I think the vote was waste of time, 
and only serves to stir up more trouble between the houses rather than 
between the Landsraad and the Emperor.."

Haroon digs his heels into the flanks of his steed and walks it slowly out 
onto the riding grounds. "It will be interesting to see what our High 
Councillors do now. I assume that they will accept his Majesty's revised 
decree and the matter will be closed." He shakes his head to himself "But 
trying to force the Emperor's hand like that is a risky path and one that I 
could not responsibly support. While we await the Imperial findings on 
Malarca, House Bajazet stood to gain more from attempting reason than it did 
from antagonising his highness." He spurs it again into a slow canter and 
describes a wide circle through the grass, steering the horse with his knees 
before bringing it back to rejoin Steffan.

Steffan trots his horse about, considering Haroon's words. "Yes, I can see 
the value in that. However, I also don't feel His Majesty should do whatever 
he wishes. I realize we are on HIS homeworld, nevertheless....we nobles 
should be able to retain certain rights. He doesn't want us to fear his 
Sarduakar, yet..despite what has happened...perhaps we should.."

The handlers follow behind the two horses leading the hunting cats. Although 
they are held by long leashes the cats pad behind closely behind the heels 
of their handlers. The come to a stop near the riders and review the grounds 
with baleful amber eyes, ears pricked up attentively as they focus on their 
prey. The antlered jazalles grazing upwind look around occasionally 
oblivious to their situation.

Haroon walks his horse beside one of the handlers and takes the leash of a 
cat from him. With his other hand he takes the bow from its sheath and grips 
it and an arrow firmly in his left hand. To the Marquis he replies. "Will 
House Ginaz apply for a writ of concealment?"

Steffan raises a brow, while pulling back on the reigns, "Yes, but I'm 
concerned, that will just bring more problems. I am uncertain as to what 
would really be appropriate action.."

Haroon hrms as he plays out the leash giving the cat room to slope off into 
the grass, where it promptly ducks down and insinuates itself forward with 
only its ears peeking up. "Well I would prefer to be armed than unarmed. We 
have had incidents on Kaitain in the past and if the Sarduakar are to stop 
policing and our guards are to be armed again, I anticipate that there will 
be more to fear from our /brothers/ in the Landsraad than their will be from 
the Sardaukar."

The cat smells something and pulls at the leash as Steffan moves forward. 
Steffan smiles thinly, "Exactly! my concern as well. This will only add to 
an already tense situation. One reason why I think, so many voted that way. 
They want to fight amongst themselves. Somehow I think its a no win 
situation.."

The other handler hands Steffan the leash to the second cat, bows deeply and 
turns to head away as fast as he can politely manage. Haroon walks his horse 
forwards playing out the least to its fullest extent. The closest Jazalle, 
looks up its antlers silhoutted against, the sun and bolts. The cat springs 
forwards from its position in the grass and Haroon spurs his horse into a 
gallop and attempts to keep pace behind the creature as it turns sharply, 
its muscles rippling as it banks after the jazalle.

Haroon slows his mount slightly, letting the cat and its prey gain on him as 
he fits an arrow into the small bow and pulls back, sighting carefully at 
his target. As the cat approaches the end of its leash still running tight 
to the heels of its prey he fires and the arrow plunges into the neck of the 
jazalle and dropping it to the ground in a tangled heap.

The cat leashed to Steffan bolts after Haroon and his horse. Steffan clumsly 
brings his horse to a gallop to keep up the pace. He slows as the sees 
Haroon slow, looking carefully at what is happening. He sees the arrow and 
smiles, "Good job. "

Haroon's cat stands over the fallen creature, animal instincts coming to the 
fore. It grips the jazalle by the neck and tries to drag it but Haroon tugs 
lightly on its leash and the cat flattens its ears to its head and slopes 
back towards him. "Thank you sir" he beams proudly

Steffan chuckles slightly. His cat pulls at the leash trying to join the 
other. Steffan looks about, seeing if any other jazelle are about. He waits 
to see what the Regent will do next.

Haroon settles back in his saddle as his cat pads slowly back towards him. 
He waits for the Marquis to have the next kill, and Bajazet servants wearing 
thickly padded jackets step through the grass beating sticks together and 
hollering at the fauna. The animals, who are bred to switch rapidly from 
docile calm to blind terror bolt into groups again, a number of them running 
towards the two riders. "So what shall you do next Marquis?" He asks over 
his shoulder. "Do you think the matter will go any further?"

Steffan hrms, "I do. However Im not the provacative type or should I say, 
Ginaz is not. I will sit back and see what the others do. But I don't feel 
this is over yet. I fear the other houses have another agenda, unbeknownst 
to us. One does not provoke his Majesty over one undisiplined Sarduakar.." 
The cat leashed to Steffan sees the jazellas first and darts after them. 
Steffan, grins and charges after the cat trying to keep up with him.

Haroon leans down out of the saddle and unhooks the leash from his cat's 
collar. He puts a hand to his face to shield his eyes from the sun and 
watches Steffan's progress as he canters slowly after him. "Then why My Lord 
be led by others?" he calls after him before raising his bow and letting fly 
another arrow. He squints as he follows its flight and curses sharply in 
Amat as it misses its target.

Steffan pulls his bow and releases an arrow. It hits the animal in the 
shoulder slowing it down a bit. Steffan continues the persuit and lets 
another arrow go hitting the animal in the lower abdomen. The animal 
continues to move but the cat catches up with it now bringing it to the 
ground. Steffan comes up along side of it, shooting a third arrow leaving it 
motionless. He moves away abit pulling on the cat. He looks up to look at 
Haroon, "Be led by others. I wouldn't call it that exactly. But, I will be 
cautious, as I urge you too as well. I believe there is more to this than 
what we are being told.."

Haroon reigns in his horse and looks down at Steffan's kill. "Excellent work 
m'Lord" he announces. "Do you mean the personal agendas of those who are 
leading this motion.. or something beyond that?" he enquires slowly. "I am 
always cautious around those who try to urge us into action with empassioned 
pleas for justice." He watches the progress of his hunting cat as it leaps 
onto the back of another jazalle and tries to bite at its neck. He sights 
carefully again and waits for the creature to turn and slow, presenting its 
flank to him. He fires again and the animal lets out a wounded scream as the 
arrow strikes it before the cat drags it down into the long grass out of 
sight.

Haroon regards his handiwork "Such actions seldom lead to 'justice'." He 
looks at Steffan, "Be assured Marquis I shall be attentive to this situation 
as ever. Meanwhile I would suggest that you obtain a writ of concealment 
from the Emperor. I am sure that the Moritani will do the same."

Steffan hrms, "Took me three arrows though. However, I suppose its not bad 
for my first eh?" He smiles. He stares down at the carcass. "I fear the 
Landsraad indeed is poising itself for...something. Perhaps this Sarduakar 
incident was just a trigger. I really feel this Sardaukar incident was 
trivial. House Ginaz will indeed do what it takes to get a writ of 
concealment. "

Haroon nods "Perhaps you are right" he muses. "This was merely an outlet for 
discontent. Anyway" he smiles "A good hunt m'Lord, and certainly excellent 
for your first." He leans over to shake Steffan's hand. "However I regret 
that I have business to attend to. You are welcome to stay and continue if 
you wish."

The handlers don their padded jackets and gloves and walk out into the grass 
with fully body-shields crackling as they prepare for the unenviable task of 
collecting the Regent's prize hunting cat.

Steffan trots around the carcus smiling, and looking at it carefully. 
"Perhaps I should pay the Duke a visit. See if ...he will tell me anything. 
Perhaps he can shine some light on what the Landsraad will do in the near 
future."

Haroon nods to himself "I hope you glean something from him" He sees Steffan 
regarding his kill and smiles "The head will be mounted and delivered to 
your embassy for you to hang somewhere" He chuckles "You can have the 
carcass too, it is quite a delicacy when cooked." He bows from the saddle 
"Good day to you Marquis, it was a pleasure to see you again."

Steffan smiles, "Thanks, I will see what I can learn from the Duke. Yes, 
please send the carcas too. Good Day, Regent. I was a pleasure to be here. "