We have Waystones for rapid travel, but not all areas have them so I like riding Sampson to cut down travel time.
Horses bearing a load (riders, packhorses) do travel faster, but not that much faster long-term than humans (short term like cavalry charges, fuck yes they do). The long-term advantage is riders/packers themselves doesn't lose fatigue as fast, and the horse can carry a lot more than a human at the equivalent encombrance. Fatigue is built into time, +1 accumulated per hour the clock advances on top of any other accumulation. Perhaps when mounted the clock doesn't advance when entering an area which takes an hour when on foot, but no time savings if it takes an hour to leave? And -1 hour if it takes 2+ hours to reach the new area?
The MC says he's not familiar with/particularly fond of horses. He's never been around them so he'd need to learn how to ride one. Also, for most horses if they aren't already familiar with someone they'll be skittish/reluctant to let them ride even if saddlebroke and tend to do what they want if the rider doesn't already know how to ride. Even those trained for it like at rental stables can be obstinate. I vote Beth teaches him during her update, which also lets Sampson get to know the MC.
I still think there should be some other reason for him to need to learn in the first place, IMO the proposed time savings aren't enough by themselves. Maybe there's a social need, like one of the Baron's senior staff wants to review the areas the Major of Weirdwood (i.e. MC) is responsible. Accompanying him (or her...) on foot would implicitly set the Mayor at a lower social rung, while not only having a riding horse but being able to at least get it to go where & stop when you want would be a plus. (And an outfit from Edgar for the MC rather than a girl would be a nice change of pace.) Or it could be another way to develop the MC's relationship with Beth on it's own.
Can the MC take Sampson through the Waystones? It doesn't work for carts, and most riding horses mass around half a ton. How would combat be handled if the MC is attacked while mounted? Would Sampson be a separate combatant, or a modifier to the MC's stats? Would the MC have time to dismount? Is Sampson war-trained? (I doubt it, warhorses are notoriously difficult to work with.)
I do absolutely like the mental image.
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