Character #1: @Raymond Bonded: Yes but she cannot be used in battle Magic: No Armor: No Weapons: No Current Health: 16 Current Attack: 24 Current Experience: 43
Character #2: @El Toro Bonded: No Magic: No Armor: No Weapons: No Current Health: 7 Current Attack: 13 Current Experience: 10
Raymond. and at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
when the man comes around
The journey from the Eluetheria Plains was...awkward wouldn't be a good description, since it's doubtful Raymond has ever felt awkward about anything, but if one chose to call the silences between them less than friendly then they'd be forgiven for such an assessment. Raymond didn't mind: he was as comfortable in a boiler room as he was in a gentlemen's club, and any displeasure from Toro's corner would likely only have amused him.
It was a couple of days' walk from the plains to the steps, skirting the strange business in the mountains along the borders of Delumine and Terrastella. By the time they reached the battlefield the morning sun had risen high enough to cast only short shadows at their feet, and a respectable smattering of clouds served to dampen even that. Autumn was well and truly upon them; the wind, when it stirred, carried an unmistakeable chill heralding the oncoming winter.
The ground Raymond had chosen for their particular arena was hard and dusty from lack of good rainfall all summer, but was as flat and clean as any that could be found in the steppes. Toro had asked for a demonstration of his plan B, not an example of why you don't fight near gopher colonies.
Raymond had had plenty of time over the course of the trip to get the measure of his pale opponent. Toro had the better of him as far as physicality was concerned: Raymond gave him 10 inches at the shoulder, and was built more for light-footed maneuverability than he was for strength. While Toro was no juggernaut, height alone gave him a fair bit of weight to his advantage. That was fine; the red stallion was rarely interested in grappling with his enemies. Reach was his greatest asset.
That being said, he did not separate from Toro. The only thing worse than being at close quarters with a horse like Toro was being far enough to give him room to build momentum, and Raymond wasn't interested in being roadkill just yet.
He nodded in Toro's direction, side by side with the other stallion about a horse's length away to his left. This should be an interesting game, if nothing else.
Summary: Raymond is standing alongside Toro about a horse's length away to Toro's left. It is late morning, partly cloud, and cool, with very little wind. Their arena of choice is relatively clear of obstacles, dry, and hard.
