"Where are they now?"
THE ADVENTURES OF HOPKINS AND HIDALGO!
Turn 1
Frank Hopkins Making the Jump: d100+20= 80!
Who Finds Him!: 1d2: 2! Lumeria!
(Frank POV)
The damned sandstorm was eating him alive. "Hidalgo! HERE BOY!"
The whining from the Mustang could barely be heard as the roar of sand and darkness consumed all of his vision. His mouth, despite the cloth covering, could taste the centuries of decay as each particle of the desert tore him away.
Ain't nothing gonna hurt my horse, or me!
He grabbed the blanket and the rein of Hidalgo's harness. "GET DOWN NOW!"
And with practiced ease, Hidalgo relented and knelt in the sand.
He covered himself and the horse, and prayed to whatever god existed that he would at least spare the horse.
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"Well…*Cough*" He said. "This has got to be the most dusty we've ever been."
"Neigh…" Hidalgo nodded.
"Alright, let's keep going…money's not gonna get itself," he finished.
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Travel Check
DC 20/40/60/80/100,
Rolled: 60!
He traveled using what little knowledge of the stars he had to keep on the trail. Or what little trail he had in his head to get forward.
And forward he traveled…until judgment came.
Or as he had hoped, something resembling luck?
"Hail, traveler!" A man said as he looked at the caravan, how he had seen him from that far away he'd never tell.
"Uh, Howdy…" Frank said, somewhat surprised to hear a man that could speak his homeland's tongue, but he tried to keep it to himself. "You fella's from the Gulf states? The British's protectors and such?"
"Oh no, my friend, we're from the great trading Kingdom of Lemuria! You've never heard of us?" The caravanner asked, perplexed at his style of dress and equipment.
"Can't say I have…I'm sorry for interrupting but I've gotten a bit lost, and I hope I can get my bearings. The sandstorm blew off my sense of direction and I would mighty fine like to know which way to the coast." He asked.
"Keep going east find the sea and then head north, and you'll find one of our outposts, why we're a few day's travel for a time." The caravanner said.
"Mighty kind of you…I just hope I don't lose my way out here, this place is merciless." Frank muttered.
"That it is!" The man said.
Reward: You've got your sense of direction reoriented. Hopefully, you can win and get your money and fame.
Hidalgo's a bit spooked by these folks…but after the sandstorm, anyone would be.
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Turn Two
Travel to Lemuria
DC 20/40/60/80/100,
Rolled: 77!
I made good time. Frank thought to himself as he saw the grand castles and walls of the city.
He then looked at the walls and saw the unmistakable look of banners and the bustle of trade and taxes, spices and sea salt… despite the rustic feel of it all, it was good to see some people.
Now…once he found the right people, he'd get his money and they'd make something of it and he'd ride home sipping something warm while singing the songs of the plains.
He searched…and he searched but still, he found nothing…no journalists, or sightseers…not even a camera to sell his likeness.
Even his money wasn't as good.
Well sh*t…now this is a problem.
He couldn't exactly deal with winning if he couldn't buy anything to keep him steady.
Better bite the bullet, he was sure something would be good to hire him.
Stewardship Roll: Job Hunting Cowboy
DC: 30/60/90
Rolled: 89!
"So you need someone who can read and write English?" He asked, looking at the Lemurian man as the tradesman spoke to him in broken Spanish.
'Si Si." the man said. "Lingua."
"Hold your horses, I get the reasoning, it's just I'm not much of a talker or a teacher." Frank said quietly in his own Spanish.
"Do it," he said as he handed a piece of gold and all Frank could do was marvel at its luster. " Pay is good."
Well, Frank could give it the good old college try? Was that what the rich folk said?
Reward: Frank has arrived in the Kingdom of Lemuria, and has taken up a job as…an English teacher? Oh boy…
Hidalgo is on edge, but somewhat relieved to have a stable to sleep in.
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Turn 3
Diplomacy Check: Learn the Local Language (Arabic)
DC:20/60/80
Rolled: 90!
Progress: 90/230
Frank looked at the lines within the shop signs' chalky lettering as he tried to pronounce it slowly.
< "Fried sea squid."> He attempted to say it slowly so as to not insult his patron.
The man spoke to him in Spanish. "No…that is fried fish, you are getting it confused."
Frank rolled his eyes slightly. "Well the fact I knew it was fried was a big one, and its seven gold a pop, I was able to get that."
Reward: Progress made in learning Arabic. You learned the prices at your lodging are outrageously high.
Diplomacy: Teach English to the Tradesman
DC:20/60/80
Rolled: 59!
"Alright alright, settle down now!" Frank said as the crowded bar was packed with tradesmen, all paying good money to learn to speak yet another trade language.
"Alright, now we're going to be starting with introductions, may I have a volunteer?" He started.
A man was singled out as he waved. "Now don't be shy, it's just words."
He was getting stage fright, " Now here is a traditional greeting where I'm from. Howdy, what's your name?"
<"Can't believe this idiot is being played like a fiddle…and our people are lucky to find such a gullible
fool."> the man said as the crowd laughed.
Frank raised an eyebrow, he caught some of it, but couldn't grasp it all. "Alright, I'm sure it is all very funny
to make fun of your teacher. Now come on, I'm being paid by the hour to see this through."
"Howdy… What's your name?" The man said, the second part of his sentence somewhat stilted.
"Name's Frank…see now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He looked around. "So who's up next?"
Reward: Frank begins to teach the Tradesman English starting with basic phrases and greetings, and he's being paid well enough that he does not have to worry about his lodgings anymore.
----------------------
Turn 4
Learning Check: Learn the Local Language (Arabic)
DC:20/60/80
Rolled: 108! Crit! Roll:44!
Progress: 242/230
<" Now the best way to examine a life is to practice the living wouldn't you say?"> Spoke his teacher, the
inn owner for whom he had been teaching English.
Frank responded in kind, in Arabic, smooth but still with a degree of roughness. "Practice fixes almost everything in life, save for money and some good drinks. Thanks for…keeping with this poor old fool who got lost."
"We each give what we lack, but always for a price…you've been good for business and good for my pocket book." the man said. "Howdy…I'm Salim."
Perfect. "Got to have the drawl, but it's as cowboy as the rest."
The glasses clinked and a successful day was spent, drinking and singing.
Reward: Gain +1 Learning and +1 Diplomacy. Trilingual Updated to Quadlingual.
Frank feels a bit better about life and feels some fire reigniting in his soul.
Stewardship Roll: Check in on Hidalgo
DC:20/40/60
Rolled: 70!
All Frank needed to do now after brushing ole Hidalgo was to give her a tune…
And I know
The only compass that I need
Oh, is the one
Leads back to you…
Hidalgo was a child of the Great Plains just like you; the two of you weren't made for this place…this cruel dry place.
We should be home in the wild plains of the Dakotas, running free and wild with the wind in our faces and the world at our backs…
"I will bring you home, Hidalgo…even if it's the last damned thing I do," Frank said quietly as the Mustang lulled himself to sleep in his arms. "It's what you deserve after following me to this place."
Reward: Frank thanks Hidalgo for being with him, and promises the stubborn horse that he'd get 'im to the Great Plains…eventually.
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Turn 5
Diplomacy: Teach English to the Tradesman
DC:20/60/80
Rolled: 57!
"Alright now, Mr. Salim?! Can you give me a saying!?" Frank said.
As it turned out…making it all a game helped it move along greatly.
Reward: Ole Frank teaches them drinking songs.
Martial: Work as a Caravan Guard
DC: 60/80
Rolled: 98!+5 (Hidalgo bonus) 103!
"Think we both need some time out of the City," Frank said as Hidalgo bobbed his head like a toy.
"Alright alright, I'll try to get something easy." He finished as the horse chuffed in his face.
--------------------------
He should have never tempted the devil with this one.
"BANDITS!" The Caravanner leader said as Frank saw the arrow hit the man's face. "ALI!"
Damn it all, they got us in the crossfire!
He had seen this sort of mess play out in the Southwest years ago when his cavalry unit was hunting border raiders and other messes years ago.
The bow wasn't anything like he was used to, and the sword was a bit too unwieldy right now…but he
dared not use his pistol…never knew when he'd need the bullets now.
Notch…and draw…and release!
One Bandit fell.
Notch…and draw…and release!
Another Bandit…and then another…and another!
One came close, but he had drawn the saber quickly and cut him open as Hidalgo reared and distracted another, allowing him to strike one more that was close.
It had gotten nasty, but the two of them were still in one piece.
Frank gave the horse a little brush. "Good work, buddy."
Hidalgo chuffed in pride as if to admit that Frank would be in a pickle without him.
And he doubted that he would have made it without 'em.
Reward: Frank gains +1 Martial. Hidalgo is feeling very prideful today.
Maybe you should do something nice for that horse of yours.
Turn 6
Stewardship Roll: Check in on Hidalgo
DC:20/40/60
Rolled: 26!
Frank sat in the stable, feeding Hidalgo an oat cake and an apple, whistling a jaunty tune, he didn't have the money to spoil the horse…but he would always let Hidalgo know that they meant the world to him.
Reward: Hidalgo and Frank spend time together, though they don't do much on that lazy Sunday.
Intrigue challenge: Something off about Lemuria?
DC: Challenge!
Frank: 3+14=17!
Vs
Lemuria:71!
Frank could only look at the drink with a passing glare as he turned to look at the golden coin. "This seem off to you, Salim?"
"Frank, it's a normal coin, Lemurian seal and face of the queen. What's got you riled up?" He said.
"Well here's the thing. I've seen gold in my time, and it looks a little shinier than usual…almost like someone poured something in it to look prettier?" Frank observed.
"Frank, think properly. Have you ever heard of silver being used to dilute gold's purity?" He said.
"I have a notion of it? Well mostly when it has to do with counterfeiters…I've met a few in my time." Frank said.
"Well, what you see there is an element called platinum, it's put into the coin, as a sort of fraud prevention trick to keep silver from diluting our gold purity." He was saying it like it was rehearsed.
Well he probably had to tell this story a thousand times in many different languages.
"Huh…neat trick." Frank said.
Reward: Lemuria Dissuades Frank's Worry.
Hidalgo is becoming very concerned about his rider
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Turn 7
Intrigue: Assist Training Lemurian Scouts
DC:20/60/90
Rolled: 20!
He didn't have much to teach beyond some very creative use of desert plants…on clothing.
At least the boys got a laugh out of it.
Reward: Frank taught them some basic camouflage techniques using desert plants…as for how effective those lessons were, God only knows.
Diplomacy: Finish training Merchants in English
DC:20/60/80
Rolled:81!
Total Rolls:197!
Frank was sitting on his usual seat conversing with Salim the bartender in English, having a laugh and being chummy with it all.
They were gonna make the dough soon now…
And the two were generously compensated.
Reward: Hidalgo gains a new comfortable saddle, and feels very comfortable with it. Frank gains +1 Diplomacy for teaching them so well.
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Turn 8
Stewardship Roll: Check in on Hidalgo
DC:20/40/60
Rolled: 48!
Hidalgo and Frank jumped down the street like a pair of gentlefolk, despite the mess of ups and downs over the past months the two outsiders just…acted along, played a trick or two.
It almost felt like a normal day for the two of them.
Reward: Frank and Hidalgo ride around the city, and enjoy the day.
Diplomacy Roll: Tell Tall Tales of the West
DC: 30/50/80
Rolled: 88!
It came as a surprise that the Queen herself asked for something more than her usual fairs and circus.
And the fact Frank had claimed to be a master storyteller and grand performer under Buffalo Bill drew her attention to him..
So she demanded that he try to put on the best show he could given the circ*mstances.
Frank had the perfect song.
" My time is drawing thinner
I'm just a tired old sinner
No chips left on this shoulder
No pride in growing older
But when your borrowed time is through…
I'll be with you…
Redemption Blues…"
And he sang all night, pouring all his soul and spirit moving Hidalgo around in the place moving all of the crowd.
By the time the night was over…Frank had the whole world in the palm of his hands.
Reward: Frank feels the world in front of him. He has gained the trait "Tall Tale Songsmith" - +5 Diplomacy when singing or performing a song.
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Turn 9
Occult Roll: Attend a…ritual something or another?
DC: 40/80
Rolled: 78!
He came to the Temple seeking forgiveness and an answer.
All he found was…the songs of…Joy and …laughter…
The Laughter of a God you couldn't see. OH GOD THE STARS!
Reward: You feel charmed by this place…I have to…I have to... HELP ME!
Hidalgo is starting to get scared of Frank.
Stewardship Roll: Take Part in a Race
DC: Challenge
(Does Marathoner trait Activate? 94! YES)
Frank: 123!
Vs
Other Riders: 82+10 (Experienced Racers)=92!
The race was simple…race from the tip of Oman to the Persian Gulf. Hug the coast of the peninsula and try not to get scorned off course by Frank's fellow riders.
It was just like the race he was in long before the whole change of fortune.
But here he was, racing other horseman to the coast…again.
And he beat them all.
It seemed as if fate itself was trying to make up for the lost opportunity.
Now they were good, but Frank had the experience and the grit to find and thread the needle off the beaten path just enough to beat the edge.
It was…exhilarating.
It reminded him of why he came here…it was-
Peace of Mind…
So this was the satisfaction he was looking for?
"Heh…So this is what it feels like?" He said, looking at the Persian Gulf from a beautiful coastal cliff face.
Hidalgo was drinking water, satisfied in his own way.
"Hallelujah."
Reward: Frank won the race, and it wasn't even close, +1 all stats, he has proven to himself that he still got it.
Turn 10
Stewardship Roll: Check in on Hidalgo
DC:20/40/60
Rolled: 26!
In spite of winning the race, Hidalgo seemed more stubborn than ever.
All of it earned…Frank swore that Hidalgo was spoiled sometime.
Reward: Hidalgo is off being Hidalgo, stubborn as an ox.
Stewardship: Work with the Herdsman
DC:10/40/80
Rolled: 92!
And so Frank and Hidalgo got out and did the old work they did long ago, herdsman needed help moving
goats and cattle up the ports and farm valleys to the grazing fields.
And it was everything…he didn't feel alone while doing it.
He was still here, still a cowboy of this strange and familiar world.
Hidalgo Roll (DC:50) 66!
(Hidalgo POV)
You can only hear my voice among the whispering winds and gentle breeze. You can only hear the galloping of thundering hooves and the beating of my heart.
You are in danger, though you cannot see it.
Despite everything…I will make sure that I will protect you from evil and danger.
You held me in your arms as I was born and gave me the love of all of your heart.
I cannot abandon you…not after so long together.
You have to bring me home…and I'll hold you to that Frank.
Reward: Hidalgo…stays with Frank.
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Turn 11
Intrigue Challenge: Something's really spooking my horse.
DC: 80
Frank: 73!
Hidalgo:89!
Vs Lemuria: 85!
(Frank POV)
Hidalgo was completely spooked as Frank entered the city, the quiet whining fear of terror, like a storm had been coming, the kind of storm that made men pray to God that they had to get away from here.
"Salim?" He asked the crowd and to anyone that seemingly bothered to listen, but no answer came.
"What in blazes is going on, feels like the dam's about to break?"
Yet as he called out Hidalgo almost bucked him, moving away from the crowds and the dim candle and torch light.
Hidalgo knew something you didn't. And much as he'd like not to admit it…the horse seemed to have more sense then him today.
"Alright then try to get us out." Frank ordered as the Horse seemed to follow the path set before it.
It was being guided by something primal…and he wasn't gonna say no to it.
Lemuria Martial challenge: Kill the Horse!
DC: Contest
Frank: 110! Vs Lumeria: 56!
"THERE HE IS!" Salim shouted. "KILL HIS HORSE! IT IS THE EARTH SHAKER 'S SCOURGE!"
I don't have time for this…
It was the right situation…because they were going after his horse.
And no one on God's sandy earth…was going to touch his horse!
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!**BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Six shots from the Equalizer…six fountains of ruby crimson blood gushing from the face and head of these unwashed horse killers.
The seventh man had him dead to rights, if he rushed he could reach and hurt Hidalgo.
Frank couldn't have that… "Boo."
The man tripped trying to run away and the sharp angle of his sword ran all the way through him.
"Well guess we're in trouble now, ain't we?" Frank said to Hidalgo.
"Neigh…" Hidalgo whined.
"Right, let's get out of here," he said.
Intrigue Roll: Try to make sense of why they would do this?!
DC: 100
Rolled: 114! Crit: 40
Total:154!
As he rode through the streets of the city, the thought of why gnawed at him…Why?
Why him, why do something like this now?
Why try to kill his horse? One of them had mentioned the Earthshaker.
Time to give one of the higher-ups a visit.
He rode close to one of the inns and climbed through one of the windows. He heard shouting in Arabic, and he assumed that it was some sort of coordination thing…only one that he could hear.
Perfect.
He climbed in with the grace of a cougar and bashed the man's face with his empty gun. He tied him up
quickly, he was a tough cookie, he came to quickly.
"Hello Pasha…lovely night for horse murder," Frank said, the low growling in his voice disguising none of his hostility.
"Bastard!-"He started as Frank rammed his knife through the man's palm.
"None of that nasty language here sir…we are going to talk, and if you don't give me an answer that is worth a damn, I'm going to start showing you what we army scouts did to uncooperative prisoners."
"What do you want? We already got what little use we could out of you…stupid arrogant fool!" He screamed as the pinky finger came off.
"That's one…" Frank said. "What in the name of God is going on?"
"You don't know anything about nothing, you're an arrogant selfish fool who played right into our hand, our Queen's ambitions…our Masters! ALL OF THEM, you played the perfect-" He said as he screamed, losing another finger.
"What Masters? If the queen herself isn't the ringleader, then who is? I need to know so I can kill him later," Frank snarled.
"These are not men…these are Elder Gods beyond your reckoning! Gods that predate the universe
itself! You can't hope to stop us! You can't stop anything…you're just a small gnat in a world that isn't even yours!" Despite the agony he was in, Pasha was grinning madly.
"You can only access them through knowledge. Tomes and names, can't you?" Frank said,
"Of course we can, the arcane knowledge is the link to our gods, our dreams are their portals, the stars our signals," Pasha sighed.
"And you need the tomes to make sense of it like a telegram operator…otherwise it's just noise you don't understand?" Frank said.
"If that is the best your primitive heretic brain can come up with, then yes."
"Fantastic…I know what to destroy first when I get back…you die now." Frank slashed the man's throat.
Occult Roll: Connect the Dots to something grander!
DC:30/60/80
Rolled:56!
"They want their god to rule the world and end it in water not fire…a repeat of the Great Flood, just with no Ark…that's just great." Frank deduced.
Escape Lemuria!
Frank: 26! Vs Lemuria :58!
And yet his wrath seemingly was his undoing…the crowd of rioters doubled back.
And now he didn't have any room to maneuver out of here…now he had to fight his way out…just like always.
The stones and slings and rocks pelted him and Hidalgo…
It was a storm of people and monsters in their skin.
Oh God…NO!
They were dragging him down…
"HIDALGO!" He shouted as the horse screamed in pain.
Martial Challenge: NO ONE HURTS MY HORSE!
DC: Challenge
Lemuria: 36! Vs Frank: 31!
His rage and love for his horse that had once given him all the strength in the world was failing …He had to get to Hidalgo.
Hidalgo!
Oh we should have never left! I should have brought you home…
Home…
Is Hidalgo or Frank Hurt!:2!
Frank is hurt! -5 to his martial rolls
He felt the trampling of human beings, they were going to trample him and his horse to death…no honor in it.
Just a mass of fools and their dark gods laughing at him.
Martial Challenge: GET OUT OF MY WAY!
Frank:32! Vs Lumeria:99!
I'm so sorry Hidalgo…
I shall see you in our homeland across the sea.
One of his ribs was broken, his vision was blurry…He had to hold 'em, one more time to make it easy…
He loved him that much…he owed Hidalgo that much, he had to make it easy for him to watch.
Oh God…he was gonna die alone, just like all those people at Wounded Knee.
Just like that, he couldn't outrun anything no matter how hard he tried.
"Take me now you pansy son of a-." He reached out and prayed he'd comfort him in this darkest moment.
I'm sorry buddy, I'm a rotten liar.
----------------------------
Hidalgo Roll: D100 => 100!
(Hidalgo POV)
Does he really deserve anything? The small voice in Hidalgo's head said as he whinnied and kicked.
He didn't mean to hurt anyone.
No one ever does…do you truly think that he has it in him to be the man you keep saying he is?
He is a part of me…my father, my rider, my master…He's my friend, for the spirit's sake…what kind of friend would I be if I left him to die now!
If you do this, you will be barred from the land of your kin. Your Wamaka Nagi is forfeit, The certainty of your path at the end of this life is gone, even I know not where it may go or how it will end; are you sure you wish to make that sacrifice?
I have to. He's my friend and I will always love him, even if it means following him to the realm of his spirit alone. You would never understand.
I think I do. Live well Stallion, have the strength to ride across that endless sky.
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Hidalgo moved just a little closer, the reins in Frank's fingertips.
Frank grabbed on and held tight.
It wasn't much…but it was all he and Frank ever needed.
And then you had the strength of a thousand thundering hooves and dragged him forward , he held tight and you felt one of his arms around the neck, a leg dragging on the side, but one clinging to the back.
He held on…and trusted you…
It was all the two of you ever needed.
And then came the direction…
Where has Hidalgo dragged Frank to this time?
1-Ababwa
2-Agaraba
3-Silk Road
4-India
Rolled: 3! The Silk Road…and the Kingdom of Xiang-Wu...
East…towards the sun. To lands unknown to the both of them…
It wasn't much…but it was a path.
A way home for the both of them.
Reward: Frank Hopkins and Hidalgo have finally escaped Lumeria, and Ride east towards the rising sun.
Martial: 16 (A gun hand and former Army scout in the Great Plains Wars of the 1800s, his experience in the desert has made him rather tough)
Stewardship:9 (While not an expert in finances, at all, Frank's seen his way alone through some tough times with his horse.)
Diplomacy: 9 (Though a performer and showman, with a grasp on four languages, Frank is not what one would call a diplomatic man.)
Intrigue: 15 (A former trained army scout and cattleman, Frank knows his way around lying and spotting cheats.)
Learning: 9 (He knows his Three R's and stories but possesses little else in the way of education)
Occult: 7 (He knows several stories of the plains from Native American Myths to Wild West Legends. Even if some of those legends are fabrications by Buffalo Bill.)
Traits:
"Ancillary: Hidalgo" - Hidalgo is Frank's Mustang and constant companion for much of his life, though known for being a bit stubborn. He gives a +15 to Travel Rolls and Stewardship rolls involving farm work. Hidalgo also gives a +5 to martial rolls when Frank is riding the Mustang into battle.
"Marathoner"- Frank and Hidalgo are professional long-distance racers who've had a small but successful career in local racing circuits across the Midwest, and know how best to win despite the challenge of endurance races. (When in a long-distance race, the Malus this character would otherwise receive is negated. In fact Hidalgo and Frank gain a +10 to their rolls if they pass a DC of 80 and add it to Hidalgo's Bonus.)
"Cowboy"- Frank is a Cowboy of the Wild West, from cattle rustling to classically defusing problems, mostly between other Cowboys. (Frank has a +15 bonus to dealing with cattle and cattle-related business, a +10 to Diplomacy with other cowboys and a +5 to all martial rolls in a fistfight or with a revolver or knife.)
"Quadlingual"- Frank is Quadlingual in English, Spanish, Arabic and the Teton Sioux Languages, and suffers no maluses when communicating with speakers of these languages.
Tall Tale Songsmith" - Frank is an experienced and beutiful singer, born from the trials of his entire life, He gains +5 Diplomacy when singing or performing a song.
"Malus: Depressed"-When I was one of the cowboys, All our time was spent on the range; Now I don't see even one rider,—'Tis then I feel lonesome and strange." (Life has lost much of its luster and Joy.)
AN: I watched Hidalgo a lot while writing this, and spent a long amount of time trying to pass the "Can I see Viggo Mortenson saying this?" test and with the help of @TirelessTraveler I seem to have succeeded.
This is what the Hiatus had wrought in boredom! A FULL FUN TIME of watching the horse be smarter then Frank!
It was a labor of love that I do not regret making!
Because it was so much fun to make.
Enjoy!
