Pegasus://10マ

=== 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚘𝚗 𝚁𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟺𝟿 ===
= 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷𝟻 | 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝙿𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : 𝙲𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜 =

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔♔♔ Day of Reckoning (Finale) ♔♔♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

The Gordon Richard Stakes. The Final Crown Race, named after a knighted coach that had won 4000+ races through the Equines they raised. They were the one that revived the coaching scene, showed that there was a place for those that watched from the wayside, supported one all through out.

In a sense, being part of this race was not only a testament of how far you've come, but a testament of the support behind your back that brought you to this point. Especially those that have been here since the start, that bore through loss after loss, that still did not let up or become complacent despite miracle win after miracle win. And it was saying something of not only racers and their wills, but those behind them and around them. The Fans, your friends, your rivals, even those of the Stakes.

That they stayed through the trials and tribulations, still screamed for the chance their favorite someone would earn a crown and pick up a piece of what remained of their dream. It was saying something that they still cheered you on and on, win or lose, defeat or victory, a chance or not, as loud as when it all began, dare say louder as hopes and dreams piled onto this final race. Racers of all kinds enjoyed what could be, those from the other schools finding strength to try one last time.

Yet when it came to Emperor's Peak, the true fans showed their faces and shouted the loudest.

The Jester King with a Bronze Crown
The Hussar of Storm and Destruction
The Midair Marching Maven
The Rain Blessed Dancer of Nokomis
The Radiant and Enduring Hanagasumi
The Crowned Hero from Iceland
The Ashen Lion of Red Lightning
The Alaskan Northern Star
The Usurper of the Animal Kingdom
The Philippine Goddess of War
The Champion of the Red Rebellion

For most of you, dare say all of you, this was the last chance at earning a crown, not only for yourself but also for those that cheered you on since the beginning. You took your shot at the first race, you will never get to take a shot again if you let this moment pass by without trying, and as they scream out your name they all hope and dream that this shot be finally be true. For some this will be the chance for a second to their name and to elevate it further, and for one of you it was the chance of a third crown to your name and for the dreams of many to be realized.

The last crowns will be as important as the first, for it will be the bloodiest one yet. So stand up racers, those who dare to take this final shot despite the oncoming pressure and the blood on the prize. It's about time to see who would wear it above their head, atop the pile of monarchs and usurpers.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Shenanigans Buffs ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Everyone is allowed to pick any combination of two down below:

- A Winter w̵a̵t̵e̵r̵ ̵n̵e̵v̵e̵r̵ Wonderland : Geodome Edition - +1 POW
- The curious case of Tabby Kataclysm HyperX Volts - +1 SPD
- Ghostwriting 101 : Promposals and Thirsty 4th Wall Comments - +1 STA
- Temple Run the. . . Musical? - +1 SPD
- High School Musical 4 : Emperor's Peak Edition - +1 STA
- Highway to the Danger Zone - +1 POW
- The Human Race or 1 Equine and a Lamborghini - +1 STA
- I HAD ENOUGH WITH THESE MOTHERF-ING CHILDREN ON MY MOTHERF-ING PLANE - +1 SPD
- V̵e̵g̵a̵s̵ Prom Weddings are Valid Weddings - +1 POW
- A Night Definitely to Remember - +1 POW/SPD/STA (may be whichever of the three)

Note: Stats are allowed to go above 9 thanks to Shenanigans Buffs. Also yes ONLY PICK 2.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Additional Notes ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

❏ Racers can discard the cape before the race begins! Just wear it upon entering! How you discard the cape and the embroidery style on it we're leaving to the players to describe!

❏ There will be a spectator thread, please title if you are in the audience stands or watching from outside the venue. Feel free to assume the race is being livestreamed, so you are free to spectate from a completely separate location altogether.

❏ Sanguine Stakes members will have a separate thread to interact with fellow members or watch the races. You may watch from the viewing halls of the races or from other locations.

❏ Provided good reason, side characters and NPCs may interact in the backstage/underground parts of the race course. You can set this as a Spectator Thread or use it in Free Roam.

❏ Mods will attempt to start the races at 9:00 PM.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Image Source : Happy Valley Race Course

=== 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚊𝚖 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟺𝟼 ===
= 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷2 | 𝙶𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚍𝚒 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚎 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 =

⊱ ────── {⋅. Emperor's New Clothes .⋅} ────── ⊰

♜: 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑛... 𝐼 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒.
♟︎: 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒? 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡—
♞: 𝑀𝑦 𝑗𝑜𝑏 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒.
♚: 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑑𝑖 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡?


𝑫𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏
𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔
𝑫𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏

It was a tragedy in the making, placing people like chess pieces. Happy End Schwarmerei was the first pawn discarded to open the space in front of the Rook, Missus Catherine. Metamithra didn't play chess, but he can tell the patterns, it was some German named move tactic that they were doing it. Questions proliferated the stingy respites— who was behind it? Why were they targeting Grimmaldi?

They were after their knight, Vindhlér weren't they? The so-called disgraced Triple Crowner was framed for doping because that was the only thing they could do. How does one stop a storm that is approaching? By creating another storm that can conquer it.

The setting was Grimmaldi against the world and to hell did they pray for God to save the Game. But this wasn't in the palms of a deity, their mortal hands mold the future they will create with the probabilities laid down in front of them. Disentangling them one after the other, was just like playing Vanagloria Fantasy and grinding for 24 hours for pieces of meat chunks.

♚ "Catherine's statement denouncing her involvement with Grimmaldi, the full list of names of affected racers, Grimmaldi's racing records, Vindhlér's legal documents, Whiskey, Zero and Sylvie's medical records," Mithra put them all down in front of the Committee.

♚ "You even get a calendar with our faces for being such a good sport," added Mattea.

Even the finest poets wrote pieces that ended anticlimactic. This seemed to be the end of Grimmaldi's case. The final verdict was Grimmaldi's suspension had been lifted. Their contracts will be operational again while Mattea Morningstar maintains their record. It leaves Grimmaldi with a single crown and Mattea with two single crowns. The last race will determine if they will conquer the chess board or if they will all sink together.

♚: "What's your plan?" Mithra asked Vindhlér. The VP for their Sanguine Stakes replied, ♞ "Kingmaker and Regicide."

♚: "Speak in English," said Mattea.

♞: "Whiskey and Zero need to work together. One of them needs to crown, and the other needs to stop Tomato Rush from getting one more. Sylvie needs to secure a crown."

Returning to their HQ, Grimmaldi's executives arrange for a Board Meeting and convening for the next race. They were back in the game, and it was still about the gamble. CEO Metamithra was set on their final bets. Neither Mattea nor Vindhlér had a say on it.

The strategy, if that's what people would call what bunch of gamblers playing Regulus Sky beta testing while talking about the race lineup came up with was summarized by the CEO's cackling.

♚ "𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧."

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰
❏ Available Locations: Emperor's Peak locations, Publicly Open Silk Road City Venues, North Sands Race Course, Port Side Race Course, and Umbrella Beach Race Course (Races Underway)
❏ Unavailable Locations: Emperor's Peak Race Course (Crown Race preparation)
⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

sc: Pixiv ID 945215

=== 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚊𝚖 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟺𝟻 ===
= 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷𝟷 | 𝙼𝙸𝙳𝙰 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : 𝙲𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚢 𝙳𝚊𝚢 =

⊱ ────── {⋅. What Comes Next .⋅} ────── ⊰

MIDA was a situation always necessitated two CEOs. This conglomerate that was formerly led by Jonathan Top Gun had always needed two men to fill the void in his absence. An half that was the bleeding heart and the face, an half that was cold and calculating spine, two halves that Luigi Top Gun and George Flash had become for nearly 14 years now. It was an act that took two and it showed as MIDA grew thanks to the two.

Yet while for the most part these two men acted as the head that held this conglomerate together, whispers in the office often said that there was a third in the equation that kept it all together. Because for every great man, there was the secretary keeping things tidy for those men.

"As said earlier I will forward you the contact details of miss Melissa Alvizo. We thank you for yours and your cooperation and trust in us all these years mister Dufour and mister De Young."

Or in her case, handling the job of Luigi Top Gun, and then some, without breaking a sweat.

"Thank you miss Garcia. We wish for the wellbeing of MIDA after these times."

The meeting had ended with the CEOs of Dufour and De Young, a growing fixed airwing company in the USA. The topic was to ensure they, like the many companies that relied on that company for Pacific exports and product testing such as Boeing or Northrop Grumman, were made aware that the Airwing Cooperation and many of MIDA's R&D branches would no longer be in the umbrella of MIDA, would have new owners or stand on their own sure enough. Their prior agreements and contracts would be continued on by the current heads, but this was the end of their relationship with MIDA. The reasoning given was that MIDA was downsizing after public concern of overreach, but they all knew the truth that made this a little more of a chore than it should.

One down, several more meetings like this to go in what should have been Luigi Top Gun's schedule, but ultimately became hers.

Admittedly this was not a job that Luz had signed up for many years prior, but after being under the likes of Luigi Top Gun and even Jonathan Top Gun, it was something she had come to accept having to do. The two seemed one in the same when it came to handling schedules, though Jonathan did have more tact when it came to asking her to adjust, Luigi seeming to see Luz as more a magic bullet to whenever he needed to tend to personal matters. This was fine though, dare say easy. After all, she's been doing this for 25 years.

Though, that may change soon enough, one way or another.

". . ."

Walking down the hallways at the MIDA Headquarters, Luz did look around and start to see that many were starting to pack up, many were starting to print out resumes and talk about finding employment elsewhere. Some were aiming at the companies that were in talks of breaking off from MIDA, others had looked elsewhere completely in search of greener pastures, following George Flash and his secretary Liza in sending resignations and asking for referrals both in the city and some abroad.

It is as Luigi and George had stated, that what may come would be the end of an empire, and what was certain is that the empire that was MIDA megacorp, win or lose, would never be what they were. It was a strange feeling, finding that the offices around them would change, but not get bigger. That for once in MIDA's lifetime, it would downsize. And as someone privy to the Stakes, it was inevitable. Then came the question for someone like herself.

". . . What to do after. . ?"

For once in 25 years, Luz would ask that question to herself, wondering what to do. She never really thought about a life beyond MIDA, being there for so long and having to handle work. She pondered on it as she walked the hallways, though soon stopping as she turned to the cityscape she may very well one day never see from here. What to do now that a major part of her life was, well, gone?

". . . A nice warm bath sounds nice."

Babysteps, she thought. Break down the problem of tomorrow with babysteps. As she did with MIDA, as with her years of being a secretary to the two Top Guns, babysteps that started with the idea of a relaxing bath all to herself once it was all over.

*𝑩𝒆𝒆𝒑*

Once it was all over, which was still far enough it seemed. She checked the message that came in, knowing the notif sound by heart at this point being that from Luigi. She sighed after reading the message, dialing a number she had in her contact books. Thankfully she had the number at hand when that Tomato Rush asked the same favor. How this all played into that prank of hers and Whiskey, well, she decided not to dwell on it, as much as she decided to not question the legality of what they did.

"Hello, Geodomes Incorporated? I would like to talk to your owner about a certain arrangement."

Something told her that relaxing bath was still a long way away than she anticipated. But this was fine, babysteps towards it, yes?

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

❏ Available Locations: Emperor's Peak locations, Publicly Open Silk Road City Venues, North Sands Race Course, Port Side Race Course, and Umbrella Beach Race Course (Races Underway)

❏ Unavailable Locations: Emperor's Peak Race Course (Crown Race preparation)

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Image Source : Lofter - wuyuefuyin

== 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺 𝙼𝙴𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 ==
= 𝙰𝙿𝚁 3 ~ 9 | 𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙴𝚁𝙾𝚁'𝚂 𝙿𝙴𝙰𝙺 =
= 𝙲𝙻𝙾𝚄𝙳𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚂𝙲𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝚁𝙰𝙸𝙽𝚂𝙷𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺 =

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ Brake Week ♔ .⋅ } ────── ⊰

For many racers, this was an opportunity to slow down, pull the brakes, to catch up on academics that may not otherwise have been tended to during the yearly-awaited Crown Races. Final exams were coming up for all students of Emperor's Peak, and relief was given equally to all.

Many of Emperor's Peak students had the campus to themselves and in their own time. Some thrived in isolation, paired up in their own dormitory rooms, or perhaps studying as a group in various locations like the foliage-surrounded library, the recreation center, the fields, floating on the Northern Lake, or perhaps in the SMX forest cottages. There wasn't any limit to where students could reasonably find their place.

Books, pamphlets, notes, and other paraphernalia spread out and others breezed along with the wind.

This was the final calm before the storm, the penultimate week before the rush.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

❏ Available Locations: Emperor's Peak locations, Emperor's Peak Race Course, Publicly Open Silk Road City Venues, all Race Courses

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Image Source : FwinthAway

== 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑲 𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑲 𝑺-𝑵𝑬𝑻 𝑴𝑬𝑮𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 ==

┍━━━━━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━━━━┑

❏ ABOUT ❐

This S-Net Megathread is a thread that characters can use to post about anything during the Break Week, as either a group message to asking if anyone wants to help with a break week event! Likewise use this to advertise any Break Week Opens or ask for specific members to have a thread with you!

This is available for all characters in Silk Road City, but we highly recommend only posting here as main or side characters that have been approved by the Moderators (either through CCF or through DMs). Special limited exceptions can be made provided mods approve of it.

All comments are treated as in-character writings unless specified otherwise or using the [[ OOC ]] brackets. Please add onto the header who you plan this thread to be seen by, for example [ To : Emperor's Peak Students ] would imply only Emperor Peak members can see this. This can be individuals, a group of individuals, an entire group or to everyone.

Interactions through replying are allowed for this S-Net megathread! But we, again, recommend using your pages for that!

┕━━━━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━━━━┙

Image Source : ぜつよちまよ

=== 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝙲𝚞𝚙 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟺𝟹 ===
= 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷 | 𝚄𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : 𝙲𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜 =

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔♔ Day of Reckoning Pt.2 ♔♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

The Love Town Cup, the story goes that it was named after a Wedding Confectionary company, named after one of the few oldest and beloved companies that existed long before Silk Road City. It was a small company that was given honor by Silk Road City when the three Triple Crown Races were first named.

While the company faded into obscurity, the name still stuck through the many years, becoming the rise of some legends like Doctor, the Crimson Queen, Sachiko Nakajima and Robin Winters. It became a reminder that in this city even the small ones can become legends in their own right, that those who were already legends could take it to new heights despite adversity and despite the cold glare of everyone else. And as you enter the turf for the next race, it felt apt that the race that would honor a small legend, that would honor triumphing against adversity, would be the one to elevate your own legends.

The Crowned Hero from Iceland
The Philippine Goddess of War
The Jester King with a Bronze Crown
The Champion of the Red Rebellion
The Radiant and Enduring Hanagasumi
The Hussar of Storm and Destruction
The Midair Marching Maven
The Ashen Lion of Red Lightning
The Alaskan Northern Star
The Usurper of the Animal Kingdom
The Rain Blessed Dancer of Nokomis

Yet, grimly, they all remember one thing especially when looking at one race: this race was named after a company that didn't exist, was a reminder of the fall of some legends.

Just as many racers have lost their chances to take it further, couldn't compete and was usurped before they could take it further. 30 years of watching the races let everyone know that there was no certainty, the last 2 months have told everyone that there definitely was no certainty.

Many Emperor's Peak Racers were looking to have a do-over of the first race to see who could claim a crown on their own and become considered a prince of the turf. Meanwhile the rest would have the city anxious because as early as now it seemed there would be a brawl for a double crown, with strong usurpers in their midst to steal that chance from either of them. It was the rise of some legends, the fall of others.

The city watched with both excitement and anxiety as they took to the streets, took to the streams, took to the viewing stands and took to the beaches, just to see in this mad minute long dash as to who would earn their crowns and, maybe, who would earn their second crown.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Shenanigans Buffs ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Everyone is allowed to pick any combination of two down below:

- SAIDO CHESTOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - +1 POW
- Pig, Pepper, and a whole lot of Spice - +1 STA
- Fanfiction will ALWAYS be stranger than Reality - +1 SPD

Note: Stats are allowed to go above 9 thanks to Shenanigans Buffs

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Additional Notes ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

❏ Racers can discard the cape before the race begins! Just wear it upon entering! How you discard the cape and the embroidery style on it we're leaving to the players to describe!

❏ There will be a spectator thread, please title if you are in the audience stands or watching from outside the venue. Feel free to assume the race is being livestreamed, so you are free to spectate from a completely separate location altogether.

❏ Sanguine Stakes members will have a separate thread to interact with fellow members or watch the races. You may watch from the viewing halls of the races or from other locations.

❏ Provided good reason, side characters and NPCs may interact in the backstage/underground parts of the race course. You can set this as a Spectator Thread or use it in Free Roam.

❏ Mods will attempt to start the races at 9:00 PM.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Image Source : Joe Sassine/Shadow Professional Photography

=== 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚊𝚖 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 41 ===
= March 29 | Unknown Holding Cell =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : Those must be raindrops, right? =

⊱ ────── {⋅. Bocca Della Verita.⋅} ────── ⊰

The cell was cold, damp. The rainwater could leak in from wherever she was hidden. It wasn't a good place to keep any person, but to the eyes of the stakes, she gave up those rights of comfort when it was discovered that she was linked to the drugging of multiple equine racers.

She wouldn't even bother looking out of the bars. The only thing there was moist bricks anyway. Triple Six Tachyon knew this would be how the last few hours of her life would look. A pitiful set of grey and steel and black. At least that's what she thought, when she heard a steel door open, followed by foot steps. In front of her eyes was.... Sylvia Ethon?

"Triple Six Tachyon... was it worth it?"

Sylvia Ethon asked, a blank expression on her face. She wanted to hear the truth first. What brought her to do such a thing? Very few equine would resort to ruining the careers and livelihoods of so many other people, including their own, just for one chance. So why did Tachyon do it? Why would they ruin their future like this?

".... Truth be told. Despite it all. Yes.... Running again, after years of being confined to a crawl. Even if it was just for a few hours... it was freeing."

The doctor would say with a pained smile on their face. She knew it was the end and not much of a future awaits her, but she was glad to at least have gotten the final run before hand. It was a great feeling, and she knew that they could not take that from her.

The two would stare at one another for a moment, before Sylvia Ethon sighed, and slid something through the bars. An envelope. It's contents, a passport with a different name and new IDs. It seemed as though death was not in Tachyon's future just yet.

"... It took some convincing, but instead of death, you're getting something else. Once the crown races finish, you're leaving Silk Road City. You'll never be known as Triple Six Tachyon again. You will also never touch the field of medicine again. Nor will you ever go into something related to racing. Should any of these be broken.... we will ensure your death."

Sylvia Ethon said, before leaving the room, and letting Tachyon stare at the papers below. It was mercy.... but was it truly mercy if she could never be involved in the thing she loves? She wouldn't know, but she might as well take it. Perhaps.... perhaps it would be a more fitting punishment anyway.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

❏ Available Locations: Emperor's Peak locations, Publicly Open Silk Road City Venues, North Sands Racecourse, Port Side Racecourse (Races Underway)
❏ Unavailable Locations: Umbrella Beach Racecourse (Crown Race preparation)

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Image Source : https://twitter.com/tra_timerain/status/1479756737884602371

=== 𝙳𝚛.𝚂𝚂𝙵𝙼𝚍𝚃𝙳𝚂𝙰𝙼 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟾 𝙶𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚜 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟹𝟼 ===
= 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟸𝟻 | 𝙿𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 : 𝙲𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚜 =

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Dᴀʏ ᴏꜰ Rᴇᴄᴋᴏɴɪɴɢ Pᴛ.1 ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

It's finally here. The Triple Crown Races. The races were nothing but 1st place matter, where truly only 1st place matters for that is how anyone gets a crown atop their head and their names etched into the history of Silk Road City.

To win one of these, the glory you find yourself imagining of having if you earn the crown may be selling short what may unfold in actuality. Given those racing alongside all of you who have surpassed the standards expected, given those racing alongside all of you are considered the best of the best Silk Road City has seen in over 3 decades, given the fact that members of the Strongest Generation was all trying their hand on the crown today, suffice to say, whoever won the crown would be treated quite like a 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈.

As the races have become an undeclared holiday at this point, Silk Road City may as well had screeched to a halt as all eyes of its residents were glued to the nearest TVs, or the windows, or even the race course if they were that lucky to get a ticket. The bosses and the salarymen and women were out early, the school children were out early, even the blue collars were clocking out early.

Suffice to say Portside Race Course and everyone participating may have never seen an attendance quite like this.

Streets were packed about 2 blocks out, with the rest bringing out TVs or projectors just to watch the races not so live but to allow their cheers to be heard. Stalls were set up left and right just to capitalize on the fact, food a plenty being served and many a die-hard fan especially taking to the racing stands with merch of their favorites. News anchors who were lucky (or unlucky) to be on the case asking questions, interviewing members, allowing everyone to see the chaos that was the Crown Races and those fans the city that stopped to watch. And while the small racers were given some love, everyone knew who they were here for, and when they see your signature capes wearing what you have accomplished so far, they couldn't help but cheer for you and you in particular.

The Philippine Goddess of War
The Midair Marching Maven
The Alaskan Northern Star
The Ashen Lion of Red Lightning
The Usurper of the Animal Kingdom
The Burned Out Star of Iceland
The Jester King with a Bronze Crown
The Radiant and Enduring Hanagasumi
The Champion of the Red Rebellion
The Rain Blessed Dancer of Nokomis
The Hussar of Storm and Destruction

Red and Yellow may be the colors of your school, but today it seemed it was about as personal as it got. A colorful array to show support for one racer or another, people shout and screamed for the one they wished to win, shouted and screamed like their own dreams and their own wishes were on the line, raised custom banners and what hard work they could make as if that would motivate their favorite to race harder.

This was the first step of many towards a Triple Crown, and in a stage set like no other, looked upon like no other, drowning in cheers and jeers, hopes and fears, dreams a plenty like no other race you've been to before. To win one of these, the glory you find yourself imagining of having if you earn the crown may be selling short what may unfold in actuality.

And you'll only get one chance to experience this in a lifetime, one chance to bring back that glory for yourself and yourself alone. Make every second, every step, every bit of stamina and your the beat of your hearts, 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Shenanigans Buffs ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Everyone is allowed to pick any combination of two down below:

- An Avalanche in the Winter W̵o̵n̵d̵e̵r̵ ̵N̵e̵v̵e̵r̵ Waterland. - +1 POW
- Equiney McEquineFace is a valid name, let that sink in. - +1 SPD
- Fortune favors the Brave, the Curious, and the Hopeless Romantics - +1 STA
- Grandma's Sagely Advice and a Kidnapping Like No other. - +1 STA

Note: Stats are allowed to go above 9 thanks to Shenanigans Buffs

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ Additional Notes ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

❏ Racers can discard the cape before the race begins! Just wear it upon entering! How you discard the cape and the embroidery style on it we're leaving to the players to describe!

❏ There will be a spectator thread, please title if you are in the audience stands or watching from outside the venue. Feel free to assume the race is being livestreamed, so you are free to spectate from a completely separate location altogether.

❏ Sanguine Stakes members will have a separate thread to interact with fellow members or watch the races. You may watch from the viewing halls of the races or from other locations.

❏ Provided good reason, side characters and NPCs may interact in the backstage/underground parts of the race course. You can set this as a Spectator Thread or use it in Free Roam.

❏ Mods will attempt to start the races at 9:00 PM.

⊱ ────── ✦❘ ⋅. ♔ .⋅ ❘ ✦ ────── ⊰

Image Source : Japan Racing Association, Hanshin Race Course

=== 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚊𝚖 -- 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝟹𝟻 ===
= 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟸𝟺 | 𝙲𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝙾𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝙶𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚍𝚒 =
= 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛: 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝙳𝚊𝚢 =

𝐴𝑛 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡. 𝐴𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛.

██ 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟸𝟸, 𝟸0𝟹0

The Board Members and the other Grimmaldi executives were in the room next to where Catherine and Chimera were. Chimera was uncharacteristically solemn with Catherine next to her, warmly impassive, holding the folders of 'Grimmaldi's Girls'. It won't be long until the media will start to swarm Sylvie and Whiskey. For her, Chimera, and especially for Vindhlér, it was a priority to not get the students involved in the media maelstrom. "You don't look good, the stress is getting to us, isn't it?" asked Chimera. Catherine looked at her as if to assess how capable she was of hearing her out, but a knock on the door interrupted her. "I'm fine." Catherine nipped the subject in the bud.

██ 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟷𝟾, 𝟸0𝟹0

'He's not a kid anymore, and he's shown me himself. I can't keep treating him as one forever, no matter how much I still think I need to look out for what is best for him. He can already figure that out for himself.' Catherine heard Sardonyx clearly but she was silent, picking apart his words like petals of a plastic flower that won't wilt. Her question, 'how far will you go for your child?' finds a satisfactory template answer. 'But I'll just be around when he wants to spend some time with family.'

Catherine didn't know what kind of answer she wanted to hear, maybe something more extreme, more implicating, deeper than the hole she was digging for herself. In the end, the conversation passed as a day-to-day parent-to-parent exchange. She needed it, but she didn't want it. She wanted to hear something else from Chalced's Sardonyx, something else from Sylvie's Casey, something— that would speak out for her without her having to put sounds into thoughts.

██ 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟸𝟽, 𝟸0𝟹0

She couldn't contact ℎ𝑖𝑚. It's been a few days since he last answered her calls and she couldn't stay still. The calls rang to no end on a nightly basis; no one was receiving her call. They weren't always together, but at least she was able to see him through video calls every now and then. He was going to school. He was eating well. He was taking on a new hobby: he had a fondness for Gundams that she promised she'd have one custom-made for him. He liked Grimmaldi's games and at every chance, she could get, she'd send him their freebies. He was a young boy, barely a young adult — and her precious, precious son.

Her phone rang. She picked up immediately. 'Prepare two parcels for me, I need them before the next local race," says the voice on the other line. She was starting to get tense just until the call was dropped. Her next appointment was soon, with Genbu's brother and Chrysus's friend, Longma.

██ 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟹, 𝟸0𝟹0

'Help yourselves with the sweets, Mr. Popular doesn't have a sweet tooth.' Wrapped chocolates from various 'hopefuls' flooded Vindhlér. It wasn't hard to add a few chocolates not meant for general consumption, but she had an oversight: Mateo and Whiskey visiting this early in the morning. She watched them intently if only to make sure the kids didn't pick up the chocolates meant for the adult.

██ 𝟸0𝟸𝚇

　　"You're Catherine, aren't you? I want your research."　

██ 𝙼𝚊𝚛 𝟸𝟺, 𝟸0𝟹0　　

𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑔𝑜, 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. 𝑆𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 “𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒”, 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠?

"Catherine ██████, you're arrested for the unauthorized production of performance-enhancing drugs. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you."

Behind the police representatives of the Anti-Doping Agency is Grimmaldi's company lawyer and one Kalyptein Vindhlér Harbinger.

"Why?"

Catherine's dead eyes light up like a mad woman getting to know her first high and crashing in seconds.

"You... would do the same if you were me."

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰
❏ Available Locations: Emperor's Peak locations, Publicly Open Silk Road City Venues, North Sands Race Course and Umbrella Beach Race Course (Races Underway)
❏ Unavailable Locations: Port Side Race Course (Crown Race preparation)
⊱ ────── {⋅. ♔ .⋅} ────── ⊰

sc: (twt) (edited by Grimmaldi)