Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Megana

[jawildey]

Dane leans forward a little, trying to get a clearer look at the horses — especially Thunder. “Hey, Megana. Nice race,” he calls, offering a quick smile.

But when he catches the edge in her voice and the way she’s eyeing Thunder and its rider, the feeling in his gut returns. He shifts his focus to the stranger and the horse, Midnight, studying their movements, tone, even the way the mechanical arm flexes — trying to figure out if they’re what set off his unease earlier.

OOC: Whatever perception roll works best here, plus, I suppose, a roll against his IQ for any additional knowledge about horses, cybernetics, etc. to try to pinpoint what's going on.

[Chaser1]

She stares at him and coldly says, "Thank you. May I see your horse?" as she looks at Thunder listening for his voice and signals the event coordinator over to them.

"Uh sure." The man replies, "Is there a problem?"

The coordinator walks over with a wide grin, "Midnight does it again! Good job Megana!"

Dane and Miss Hoffman walk over as well. Dane seems very interested in Thunder, almost drawn to him.

[Icy_Drake]

Megana walks up to thunder and begin to feel for his leggs feeling anything that maybe off...."something is off about their legs i know it...no horse can be that unnaturally fast"

[Chaser1]

Dane leans forward a little, trying to get a clearer look at the horses — especially Thunder. “Hey, Megana. Nice race,” he calls, offering a quick smile. But when he catches the edge in her voice and the way she’s eyeing Thunder and its rider, the feeling in his gut returns. He shifts his focus to the stranger and the horse, Thunder, studying their movements, tone, even the way the mechanical arm flexes — trying to figure out if they’re what set off his unease earlier.

He can almost hear the mechanical whirring noises every time it shifts its weight. He can almost sense the electrical impulses coming from the horse to control its legs. He can sense the same from the rider's mechanical arm. He notices the surgical scars along the horse's legs, especially near the torso.

The race coordinator seems confused as to the situation, "Is everything okay?"

[Icy_Drake]

Megana looks up at Dane both having potentially the same thought on this...as Megana spoke up "i believe the horse is augmented. No orginal legs.... the movement too fluid for a normal animal...."

[jawildey]

Dane steps a little closer to the race coordinator, speaking in an almost absentminded tone — like he’s just thinking out loud — but loud enough for the nearby crowd to hear.
“Huh,” he muses, “I didn’t realize cybernetically enhanced horses were allowed in this race.” He gives Megana a node to imply 'I just came to the same conclusion.'

[Chaser1]

Megana responds, "I believe the horse is augmented. No orginal legs and the movement too fluid for a normal animal."

Dane steps a little closer to the race coordinator, speaking in an almost absentminded tone — like he’s just thinking out loud — but loud enough for the nearby crowd to hear.
“Huh,” he muses, “I didn’t realize cybernetically enhanced horses were allowed in this race.” He gives Megana a nod to imply, 'I just came to the same conclusion."

The race coordinator stares in disbelief at the racer. He rider replies, "Uh, there were no restrictions listed. And I still lost."

Megana realizes that the man is right, but it still feels like he cheated, or at the very least, took advantage of the lack of restrictions.

[Icy_Drake]

"You think every ranch here have access to this?! No we do not its one of those rules that is all agreed on without needed to be written down....you brought shame in honor in a fair race!" Megana is upset and tears fall for the animal "and you subject this poor animal to this!!! Its cruelty!"

[jawildey]

"Maybe this race doesn’t have a rule against it," Dane says, glancing toward the coordinator for confirmation. "But judging by your record, this isn’t your first race, is it?"

He tilts his head slightly, his voice steady but edged with quiet curiosity. "I have to wonder how some of those other competitors would feel if they realized they’d been running against a partial cyber-horse this whole time." He pauses, giving the rider a small, knowing half-smile. "My guess? You only lost today because you misjudged how much Midnight had left in her — and pushing Thunder any harder would’ve made the trick a little too obvious." Dane shrugs his shoulders. "But, hey, I'm just a kid. What would I know about such things."

[Chaser1]

"You think every ranch here have access to this? No! We do not it's one of those rules that is all agreed on without needed to be written down. You brought shame in honor in a fair race!" Megana is upset and tears fall for the animal, "and you subject this poor animal to this! Its cruelty!"

The rider raises a finger, shouting back, "It was either the bionic legs or put him down! He broke his legs in a fall last year!"

"Maybe this race doesn’t have a rule against it," Dane says, glancing toward the coordinator for confirmation. "But judging by your record, this isn’t your first race, is it?"

Dane tilts his head slightly, his voice steady but edged with quiet curiosity. "I have to wonder how some of those other competitors would feel if they realized they’d been running against a partial cyber-horse this whole time." He pauses, giving the rider a small, knowing half-smile. "My guess? You only lost today because you misjudged how much Midnight had left in her — and pushing Thunder any harder would’ve made the trick a little too obvious." Dane shrugs his shoulders. "But, hey, I'm just a kid. What would I know about such things."

"I'm sorry Arthur, but I have to disqualify you," the race coordinator pats the rider on the arm. "You knowingly ran slower to make it a 'good race.' But you knew that it was frowned upon." He looks to Megana, "I'll have your prize money and trophy shortly."

The rider's face radiates disbelief as he adds, "Listen! I travelled for two days to make this race. We need the money to pay off his new legs. Otherwise they'll kill him!" He seems sincere. Even Megana can sense it.

Miss Hoffman looks befuddled.