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SCENE 2b — MANDALA’S MOUNTS

1 | Scene Overview

Location: Mandala’s Mounts, SE Public Services Ring, New Kourou
Type: Stable · Negotiation · Resource Management
Era: Beta Age
Tone: Gritty · Irritated · Frontier-practical

Atmosphere & Sensory Cues: Oiled leather · muddy ground · the sour smell of dye ·

2 | Read-Aloud Description

Initial Read-Aloud (Scene Opening)

The timber gate groans open, letting you into the humid, enclosed yard of Mandala’s Mounts. The air is thick with the smell of wet hay and manure, but it’s overpowered by a sharp, chemical sting that makes your eyes water.

In the center stall, a massive Veyra stands with its head hanging low in misery. Its fur has been dyed a toxic, neon green from mane to tail. A wiry man in a heavy leather apron is wrestling with the beast’s flank, scrubbing furiously with a soaked rag, his jaw clenched tight.

A Maintenance Bot whines in the corner, dragging a heavy saddle through the mud, but the man ignores it. He just glares at you over the neon flank, voice flat and exhausted. 'Perfect, isn't it? Customer brings him back looking like a fruit stand advertisement. If you’re here to do the same, leave. If you’re here to buy, rent, or fix… make it quick.

Staged Read-Alouds (Progressive Descriptions)

Trigger / Timing	Read-Aloud or Narrative Insert
After successful deal or rental	Rajid rings a brass bell. From the stall block comes a low thrumming sound as the Maintenance Bot hauls a saddle into view. “You’ll ride out by the south gate,” he says, handing over contracts stamped in ink and dust.
When riders mount to depart	You swing into the saddle, the leather creaking under your weight. The beast beneath you shifts, eager to move. As you steer it out of the yard, Rajid calls out one last time: “Try not to get them killed.”

3 | Scene Intent

Scene Type	Player Intents	DM Function / Story Link
Resource Negotiation	Rent mounts · Buy mounts · Bargain for availability	Establish fastest travel option · Highlight consequences from previous adventure · Introduce urgency and scarcity

4 | Key (N)PCs + Dynamic Cues

Name	Role / Affiliation	Motivation / Goal	Dynamic Cues — How They React in Play	Wiki Link
Rajid Mandala	Owner, Mount Yard	Earn money · Reduce headaches · Protect best Veyras	Irritated by dyed mount; skeptical of PCs; softens with respect; balks at prior mount death	Mandala’s Mounts
Blue	Green-dyed Veyra	Eat · avoid ridicule	Stands miserably; occasionally sneezes from dye fumes	Veyra
Mona	Best-condition Veyra	Cooperative, fast	Bristles when Blue snorts	Veyra
Maintenance Bot	Refurbished service bot	Follow routines	Whines as it drags tack to the rail	Maintenance Bots

Special Character Notes (only applies if PCs are in the party):

Lexa Rourke will always prefer her own Veyra Kelta if she is in the party.
Rogan Sokolov will always refuse fast mounts and argue for slower, safer travel.

—-

5 | Triggers, Actions & Consequences

“Good Standing” applies if the PCs have never rented here or returned previous mounts safely.“Bad Standing” applies only if they lost or killed a mount in the previous adventure without paying for it.

Trigger / Cue	Immediate Reaction / What Happens	Consequence
PCs ask to rent/buy (Good Standing)	Rajid will inform them: “I've got two left. 'Mona' is reliable. 'Blue'…” He gestures to the green beast. “…is cheap. Just don't let the dye rub off on you.”	Use the subsequent pricing table to define the pricing
PCs ask to rent/buy (Bad Standing)	Rajid will recognize them: “Oh… it's you. You still owe me a Veyra. No rentals until the debt is cleared.”	Debt: PC have to pay 500 K for the previous, lost or dead mount. Until paid, he will only sell Blue (Cash upfront). No rentals.
PCs decline to rent or buy mounts	This does not improve Rajid's mood. “I sometimes wonder if people don't think before they show up here… Some seem surprised that I charge money for my services.	PCs shift to Scenes 2b (Courier Station), 2d (Cart), or on-foot travel

5a | Pricing & Conditions

Service	Handling / Conditions	Price
Veyra Rental	Contract; 120 K deposit; return by 17:00	40 K/day + 5 K/day feed; deposit refundable
Veyra Sale	As-is inspection; age/shape noted	400 K (Blue) / 800 K (Mona)
Feed Pellets	Per-day ration per mount	5 K/day
Late Return	Returned after 17:00	Charged as additional day (40 K)

6 | DM Notes

Mandala’s Mood: Irritable but professional. The dyed Veyra incident has pushed him over the edge, and the PCs arriving makes it worse — especially if they killed his last rental or haven't returned it yet.
Mount Availability Logic:
- Available: Mona, Blue (other stables are empty)
Blue’s Gameplay Impact:
- First Animal Handling check is at disadvantage
- Blue sneezes dye occasionally (comic relief)
- Otherwise identical stats to standard Veyra
Mona’s Gameplay Impact:
- Slight edge on endurance-based checks
- Ideal for chasing or outrunning threats
Economy & Tension: Mandala knows he is the fastest travel option.

DM Tutorial: How to approach the scene

Short version:

Related Pages and Further Information

↑↑ Start: Hunting An Unknown Hunter
★ Overview: All Scenes of Hunting An Unknown Hunter
☞ Resolution: Case Resolution and discoverable Backstory
← Previous Scene: Scene 2 – Travel Preparations
→ Next Scene: If the PCs select this travel option, continue with Scene 3 – Traveling to Morningstar. If they decline, let them walk on foot to Morningstar or check the New Kourou Hub below to choose another travel option.

New Kourou Hub Overview (Other Travel Options)

Location	Type / Activity	Primary Opportunities	Tone / Difficulty	Leads To Scene
New Kourou Courier Station	Travel · Ticket Purchase	Buy caravan tickets · Check departures · Assess risk if wanted	Bureaucratic · Busy	→ Scene 2a – Courier Station
Mandala’s Mounts	Travel · Mount Rental	Rent Veyras · Speak with Mandala · Handle “dead Veyra” conversation	Loud · Mildly tense	→ Scene 2b – Mandala’s Mounts
New Kourou Food Market	Supplies · Provisions	Buy trail food & water · Spot Sola Enu’s Tandora stall	Crowded · Friendly	→ Scene 2c – Food Market
Schmitz Funeral Home	Vehicle Purchase	Inspect & buy mortician’s cart · Meet undertaker apprentice	Quiet · Slightly eerie · Low pressure	→ Scene 2d – Buying a Mortician’s Cart

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