Release The Beast Of Burden

[Morrighan]

February 17^th, Year One

Word had spread through Paris like wildfire. 

There were a million rumors of origin if there were one. A gift from God, a gift from The Devil. Dredged up from the ocean, dragged from the river. And the baker wouldn't tell. Instead, he was pleased as ever to show off his new pride an joy: a Kelpie, bridled with a symbol of the church. Incapacitated, the beast was reduced to walking in a tight circle, single-handedly powering the grain mill that turned wheat into flour. Were they not swallowed up by their surprise and awe, any passer-by could see how irate the creature was. Chomping at the bit, ears flicking angrily. The harness was too small, not built for a horse the size of the massive Kelpie. The mill wasn't built for something her size, either. And she's been walking. Walking and walking, in this tight little circle, for three days, now.

Three. Days. Straight.

Not that the Kelpie needed the rest. But she would have enjoyed it. It had been non-stop since she was captured along the shores of her home. Then the caravan, then the thieves, then... this. A mythological beast, reduced to the work of a common mule.

The fury in her gaze is lost to the gawking crowd. She'd kill them all if she could.

[Bob]

“That’s just messed up, y’all. Why would anyone even do that to a poor, defenseless creature?” Bob asked, whipping his tail with frustration.

“I wouldn’t say she’s “defenseless”, just incapacitated. It probably has something to do with the bridle that’s on her.” Taylor said, looking up to the pink-haired unicorn and his rider. The gypsy king sat atop the unicorn, watching the baker’s brand new horse with curiosity. Earlier, he and Taylor had bickered over who was going to be on Bob, and being that he was higher in rank, he won the position, while Taylor sat on Sophia.

“Taylor is correct, Bob. A kelpie is no laughing matter, but there is no way I’m letting the baker keep his prized possession.” Clopin said, as he tossed his cloak out to the side. It draped over Bob’s rear without warning, nearly spooking the unicorn. He snorted instead, pawing the ground with a hoof.

“Come now. Let us go speak to the baker and demand her release. She will be a fine addition to the Rogues.” Clopin said, pushing Bob forwards with his heel. Taylor and Sophia gave each other a concerned look before following suit.

“I don’t know if it’s wise to keep a kelpie on the Rogues...they’re pretty carnivorous.” Sophia muttered.

“We’ll see soon enough. Who knows, maybe she’s like that other kelpie we met.” Taylor said, with a shrug. Sophia paused for a moment, suddenly remembering their other kelpie friend.

“You’re right. I was too quick to judge.”

The crowd had taken notice of their king’s approach on his unicorn, and at this point, they’d seen enough strange things around Paris that a real life unicorn was nothing out of the ordinary. But out of respect, they moved aside to create a pathway for him and Taylor, whispering furiously amongst themselves. If the baker thought he could keep a mythical creature without the king’s investigation as to where and how he acquired it, he was dead wrong.

“Citizens of Paris! What have we here?” Clopin boomed, with a voice that did not match his thin frame. Bob paused in his step so that the gypsy king wouldn’t be swaying all over the place while he spoke. Taylor and Sophia paused next to him, looking at the crowd rather intently.

“As I’m sure you all are aware, mes loyaux sujets, keeping a mythical creature like the kelpie without notifying me is against the newest ordinance that I passed. Due to the war, Paris has seen many strange and wonderful creatures, but under no condition may you keep them chained for your own entertainment.” Clopin declared, shooting a furious glare towards the baker, who had just come back from his shop to check on his possession.

[Esmeralda]

Esmeralda had decided to forego a mount. Three horses were just too much a parade in her mind. Instead she followed alongside Clopin, Taylor, Bob, and Sophia, dipping back when it was too crowded to move comfortably. She was able to keep pace with everyone easily enough, their unicorn friends weren't moving beyond a casual walk. Even if they did decide to canter forward in a quicker pace, they'd be more hindered by the crowded streets of Paris than her.

When Clopin's arrival parted the crowd of people, Esmeralda was also able to see that shadow-black being that was trapped in an endless tight circle. Esmeralda stiffened feeling a cold rage flood through her veins. It was one thing to hear about this injustice, but it was another to see it in person. It made it even more real. More painful. She couldn't stand it.

Esmeralda stepped forward, breaking from the crowd to approach the kelpie slowly. Her rage faded behind her sorrow as she stepped closer. She knew the danger and power a kelpie had. She knew she could easily be a target for the magical creature's ire. She didn't care, though. Gently Esmeralda murmured to the dark horse-like creature, not soothingly as if she were a scared creature, but with a genuine softness of an apology.

"I'm so sorry. This never should have happened."

[Morrighan]

The baker seems to freeze up at Clopin’s appearance, only to bluster nervously at the King’s gaze. The man frantically scrambles to unhitch the beast, which had since stopped to gaze at Esmerelda. Such a pretty human...

The rage in that glowing, golden gaze subsides, if only a bit.

Flour-coated hands stop from their work, hesitating on the bridle. There’s a nervous noise here, one of uncertainty from the baker, “I can’t just... release it in town, Your Highness. This horse isn’t like your unicorns, it’s dangerous...”

The Kelpie, on the other hand, seems to want quite the opposite, pressing her face firmly against Esmerelda’s shoulder and chest. It’s obvious she wants the bridle off, but it seems the bit is keeping her from expressing it.

[Jenn]

A purple haired woman had weaved her way through the crowd, following Clopin and co. It hadn't taken long for word of a strange new mythical creature in Paris to reach the higher ups of the rouges, especially not with the way she was being gawked at like a show-pony.

Jenn walked up next to the Kelpie, not at all worried about the creature, despite knowing full well what she was.
"Show's over people, get back to whatever it is you were doing," she called out to the crowd, all the while listening to the exchange between Clopin and the Baker.
When the crowd tried to argue, several shouts filling the air, Jenn was quick to shut them up, wings coming into view with a flaring snap, eyed glowing with grace,
"Enough!"
Her irritate would have subsided, had she not heard the bakers words. Instead, she turned her gaze on him,
"There are many creatures about the city one would consider "dangerous", including myself, yet you don't see any of them chained up, do you?"

Letting out a sharp breath, she calmed herself enough to turn her attention back to the Kelpie, wings tucked behind her back and eyes a normal brown once more.
"Hey, can you turn your head this way a little, I might be able to..."
She chewed her lip, dainty hands fiddling with the straps holding the bridle on, but it seemed as though something was keeping them firmly in place. Frowning, she noticed the symbol on the bridle, and almost wanted to laugh,
"Ah, they think something like that could- heh... well I guess there's always plan b."
Waving her hand, she summoned her blade, and with a quick swipe, sliced through the bridle like a hot knife through butter, all the while holding the straps so as to not hurt the creature.
"There!"

[Jelly]

Suddenly, on the breeze, came the slight but still somehow pungent reek of rot. The death man was back in town, appearing enigmatically and without warning, as is his wont. And apparently, in the short amount of time that the baker left his shop unattended, the young man had managed to bunch up almost a dozen hard rolls under his arms and make his way back to the streets. Judging by the sudden appearance of his stench, he’d only appeared a moment ago, but he seemed prepared to get involved anyway.

Citizens kept their distance from the ominous undertaker, allowing Jelly to walk right up, rolls still collected at his sides. Dark, almost black, eyes glimmered out from the shade of his white seal-shaped hood. He lifted his chin, a cheeky smile appearing on his face as he addressed the black horse directly.

“You don’t happen to hail from Scotland, d’ya?”

[Morrighan]

When the bridle falls away, there’s a heavy shift in the air. The smell of baked goods is swiftly overwhelmed by a humid air, bringing the smell of bogwater, moss, and rotting wood.

The Kelpie shakes her mane out once she’s free, giving a sharp snort that sounds almost like a terrible, wicked laugh, “Ah, much better.... Bein’s a light, aw ay ye, savin' a beast like me.”

Oof, that’s a thick accent. Definitely from Scotland, too.

The massive beast bows her head low, tail flicking gently, “You’ve got a fae’s debt. If ye hae need a me, I’ll provide.” Though, the formal address is interrupted by yet another event on the breeze. An ear flicks, and the Kelpie stands upright again, turning to gaze at the bread-bearing selkie. At the mention of Scotland, there’s a short noise of surprise, and a smile pulls at her muzzle. Startlingly, it pulls way too far back, revealing a set of sharp, seal-like teeth, “Aye, frae Mione Mhòr. Whit abit ye? Ye strike me as a coastal sort.”

Interestingly enough, she doesn’t seem to mind the scent that Jelly carries.

[Clopin]

Before Clopin could order the baker to release the kelpie, both Jenn and Esmeralda approached the creature, the former telling the man that he was wrong. The king nodded in agreement, as Bob swished his tail in annoyance.

“Dangerous doesn’t mean chained up.” Sophia muttered, as Clopin dismounted her brother. He then strode over to Esme, Jenn, and Jelly.

“Jelly, mon ami, if you don’t mind, I would like to have a quick word with the kelpie.” Clopin said, with a polite smile. He readjusted his cloak, before addressing the massive horse.

“Now that you’re free, I’d like to extend an offer to you. The Rogues could always use someone like you, and you will find a home with us.” Clopin said, with a bow. Bob stepped in behind him, peering over Clopin’s shoulder at the kelpie.

“If y’all are unsure, the Rogues are real nice. They’ve been real accomodatin’ to me, my sister, and my best friend.” Bob said, with a friendly smile.

[Esmeralda]

Jenn's affront at the baker's treatment of the midnight black creature was a match to Esmeralda's own. She was just quicker on the draw with her temper. Esmeralda gave her a small smile when she sliced through the bridle, freeing the beast.

As Jelly approached, his miasma of stench was nearly overwhelming. Esmeralda had been able to keep her composure until the air shifted and the creature shook out her mane. Jelly's rot was compounded with the kelpie's own swampy scent.

Esmeralda had to turn away and cough to clear the smell as much as she could from her sinuses. Even then it alone helped a little. She stepped back towards the baker's window, relying on the fresh air to keep her roiling stomach under control. These close quarters were brutal. 

Once that settled Esmeralda did her best to recapture her composure, giving a sheepish grin before finally asking the number one question that had been on her mind since meeting the kelpie's eyes.

"What's your name?"

[Jelly]

Jelly’s expression didn’t even so much as falter once the swampy air blew him directly in the face. It could be assumed, given his profession, he’d grown accustomed to horrific smells. In fact, he might have lost his sense of smell completely by then, given his complete obviousness to his own stench.

The selkie in disguise tossed his head so his chin pointed up, prompting the nose of his hood to flop to one side slightly.

“That’s right, hinny. The folks lived on a bleedin’ impressive cliff. Then I went off on my own, traveled ‘round a bit, and started to head South.”

He sidestepped when Clopin came up from behind him. Dark eyes glanced at the kelpie before he turned to duck out temporarily. He briefly caught a glimpse of Esmeralda before blinking, apparently having just realized something. Struggling with the rolls under his arm, he eventually managed to get a hand into a pocket and yank out a fistful of silvery coins (and what seemed to be several lint balls made of white fur). Jelly stretched his arm out toward the baker, apparently intending to use the coins to pay for the liberal amounts of bread he’d taken for himself.