The Succeeder Stronghold

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:50 am

Unsurprisingly....no, I don't know that.

Though I could look it up.

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:53 am

Yes that would be helpful.

I suspect it will take too long. I seem to remember you can ride ostriches, though. So I think what we will have to do is set up a courier service. We need staging posts where the courier can get a fresh ostrich as required. Hmmm, how far can an ostrich carry someone before it gets tired? Can you check that too?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:57 am

Let's see....they live between 30 and 70 years.

I'm just checking the rider thing now.
http://opera.answers.com/ostrich

Oh, don't anger them, they kick. And they're classified dangerous animals here.

[QUOTE=Devil's Dictionary]
A large bird to which (for its sins, doubtless) nature has denied that hinder toe in which so many pious naturalists have seen a conspicuous evidence of design. The absence of a good working pair of wings is no defect, for, as has been ingeniously pointed out, the ostrich does not fly.[/QUOTE]

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:02 am

As I suspected, the breeding programme is a non-starter. They take too long to come to maturity. But they can be ridden. Only by small people, though. And it doesn't say how far they can go.

How tall are you, Rav?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:04 am

Oh no, you don't. I'm not riding an ostrich for you. :laugh:

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:07 am

*disappointed* You are not being very helpful here, Rav. We can't get this set up without riders. And it would be very cool to be an ostrich courier. Sure I can't persuade you?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:09 am

So, either I get kicked by an ostrich or hit by an animal rights protester? Nah, let's hire some proper riders.

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:10 am

Well there aren't many riders at GB so far as I know. Do you think Athena would be interested?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:12 am

She might be, though ostriches may well be outside her area of expertise, so she may need some training....

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:16 am

Well that can't be insurmountable. And once we hire a trainer they should be able to tell us where we get harness and such.

The staging posts can be based on existing pubs. I am sure it would attract custom, so they shouldn't charge us. And if the couriers go from pub to pub I think that will help with recruiting riders, don't you?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:20 am

That's true, though you have to consider whether training is more cost-effective than hiring pre-trained riders.

So, hire them while they're drunk? Hmm, I don't know...do you think they would be reliable riders then?

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:23 am

Well we would have to ensure they were sober when they set out; and they couldn't get a drink till they reached the staging post. So I suppose we would have to have fresh riders and fresh ostriches. And since the riders would be waiting in the pub we would have to take steps to make sure they couldn't drink before they had done their stage. That might be quite hard, but I think it could be done......

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:27 am

[QUOTE=Fiona]Well we would have to ensure they were sober when they set out; and they couldn't get a drink till they reached the staging post.[/QUOTE]

Keep them away from any towns along the way? That might dramatically increase journey times....

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:28 am

No need. Free booze at the stage, would be enough

Another problem has just occurred to me though. This is to happen in Canada. How do you think ostriches perform on snow? Can they run on sand?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:35 am

The native habitat is Africa, I'm sure they can run on sand.

They can probably be trained to run on snow too...

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:38 am

Yes. If they can run on sand I am pretty confident they will manage snow. So that is all right then

Now I was thinking about the development of the service. Of course at first it would probably be very few routes. But I think we should stick to male ostriches and then we could dye the white feathers different colours for different routes? The couriers could have matching outfits. That would be attractive, don't you think? You are good at design. Could you and Slade design a uniform?

Oh and we need a name. Neither you nor I are good at that. I wonder who could help?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:41 am

Hmm, sounds good.

What about a company name?

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:44 am

The name problem occurred to me at the same time. Is DJ any good at names?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:46 am

I don't know...but I think the name will be required for a logo that will go on the uniforms...

Fiona · Post by **Fiona** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:48 am

Yes.

Ostrich express is most obvious, but it is a little unimaginative. Does "leggit" appeal to you at all?