Quest #39 "Lizards And Lovebirds"

[Paladin]

Keyon

"I wonder why they remain here if they're treated so terribly," the elf wonders aloud. "I wish we'd thought to bring some sort of food to tempt them with before we try riding the poor beasts. Anyone got anything?" He brings the carpet to a halt some thirty feet from the pair of lizards.

Narramore readies his lasso, but pauses before attempting to share one of the beasts and clucks softly, as he would to a horse, slipping off the carpet and walking slowly in front of the creatures, arms visible and movements relaxed and deliberate. If anyone has food, he'll take it.

"I know I risk being trampled," he says quietly to the others. "But these poor beasts have been through enough. I'll not cause them more trauma. If they won't come gently, I'll let them be." He spends a few moments speaking softly to them and walking back and forth before the lizards, inching closer if they seem comfortable with the idea and keeping his distance if they don't. "I want them to serve us out of affection and loyalty, not fear."

If they decide to rush him, the knight will make a running leap for the carpet and Keyon will lift off.

Either way, the rogue keeps a sharp eye out for anyone approaching. "I'm not sure we have time for this," he frets. "But you've a kind heart, Narramore. For all the good it'll do you," he adds under his breath.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

Elnaerel also wants to approach the lizards but pauses mid way when she sees Narramore's actions and just observes.

I miss those days when Ahlmzhad posted

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

Feanol stays back and watches what the others do.

Sorry, waiting for others as I have little to offer in this situation.

[OGRE MAGE]

On The Lookout For Dwarves
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

Feanol stays on the flying rug with Keyon as Elnaerel and Narramore slip off the craft to investigate the wounded lizards a bit closer. Both of them take out ropes to attempt to snare one of the huge beasts, but Elnaerel stops half way between the animals and the others, allowing the brave knight to get even closer.

Both of the lizards grunt at the paladins approach, stepping away slowly when he gets about 20 feet away. Despite his calming demeanor, the closest he can get to them is about 15 feet away before they move again. He tries this for a while, but every time he gets any closer, they shift around and keep their distance.

They don't make any aggressive moves towards him or the others, but they clearly remain skittish after the abuse they have taken, presumably by the Stoneguts.

While this is happening, a few other stray lizards scattered about the massive clearing start walking towards the group as well. These animals also show signs of old wounds on their huge bright green bodies. Watching the area of the pens in the far distance closely, none of the lookout elves see any evidence of the group being spotted.

Actions?

Keyon AC:4 12/12
Feanol (MU2) AC:10 8/8 RM, CL, DM 2/2
Sir Narramore AC:3 12/12 LoH
Elnaerel (CL2) AC:3 18/18 1st:4/4
overall map: viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477

[Karaunios]

If I understand correctly, some the lizards are taking their distance from us while others are approaching?

[OGRE MAGE]

There are more approaching your position, possibly out of curiosity, but none of them are allowing you to get close enough to touch them.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"I suggest we wait a bit. Probably they will get used to our presence and get closer out of curiosity if they see that we don't insist on touching them."

[Paladin]

Keyon and Sir William Narramore

The rogue furrows his brow.

"They must have a food source in the vicinity," he mutters. "If we can discover it, perhaps we can use it to lure them closer." He'll look about for any vegetation which seems cropped or nibbled on, hoping to find something that the lizards particularly like. If anything presents itself, he'll gesture for Narramore to take a handful.

"They must also have a favored source of water," he continues. "We might lie in wait there and entrap a beast."

If any food is present, Narramore will take a handful and attempt his measured approach again. If they still back away, he'll simply wait with his arm outstretched to see if any of the lizards will eventually calm down and risk an approach to investigate the food.

If no obvious food items are close at hand, he'll wait another moment in his current position to see if their curiosity proves stronger than their sense of caution. "Bless them," he says with pity evident in his bass rumble. "Beaten and scarred. Who can blame them for being cautious?"

He sighs. "But we can't stay out here in plain view all day. If this doesn't work, we'll need to either seek another herd or find shelter while we devise a plan."

[OGRE MAGE]

On The Lookout For Dwarves
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

Only normal grasses and weeds seem to be growing in this clearing, and all of it appears to be chewed upon or at least nibbled on. Though there were discussions on the animals favorite foods in the past, and actual witnesses to the lizards normal eating and drinking habits in the party, either they are ignored or forgotten in all the excitement.

Spending a good deal of time trying to coax the injured lizards closer to him, Narramore gets only a tired arm holing out a handfuls of grass to them. For some reason, ferns stand out in his mind when the grass does nothing to entice them.

The penned lizards on the opposite end of the clearing start to move around a little in the distance, but no threats are seen in that area or anywhere near their current positions in the wide open clearing. If something were watching them from the jungle, they have shown no indication they are there.

The battered lizards continue to keep their distance, but more and more of them draw closer to investigate these strangers in their grasslands. Including the one Sir Narramore is trying to entice, there are at least a dozen of the huge beasts within 20 or so feet of the group now, just watching and grunting from a distance.

Actions?

Keyon AC:4 12/12
Feanol (MU2) AC:10 8/8 RM, CL, DM 2/2
Sir Narramore AC:3 12/12 LoH
Elnaerel (CL2) AC:3 18/18 1st:4/4
overall map: viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"Sir Narramore, I think if you could find something that they can't freely eat where they are to tempt them away. Is there anything like berries or fruit that they can't get in this clearing that would be a temptation to them?"

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"People in my order that have been specially blessed by Ehlenestra have the ability to create food out nothing but I can only summon water... I could also try to make them lose fear with a spell... But I can only it with one at a time and would to touch them. If I don't get to do it, that'd mean a spell wasted for today. Maybe if just one gets braver than the rest it will encourage them..."

[Paladin]

Likely forgotten, on my part. I have swiss cheese in my head.

Keyon and Sir William Narramore

"Ferns," the knight recalls with a start. "We need ferns." He'll move slowly and deliberately back to the carpet and climb aboard. "Can you take us to the edge of the trees farthest from the animal pens and see if we might locate a few handfuls of ferns to entice them along?"

Keyon nods, then shades his eyes and notes the movement in the pens. "I wonder if it's getting close to feeding time for those, or if their handlers are approaching. Perhaps we might conceal ourselves in the jungle close by and watch a moment, after we've gathered those ferns of yours."

If no other ideas emerge, they go looking for ferns and tarry a moment to observe the penned animals in an attempt the discover the reason for their movements.

Keyon cautions the ladies to keep a lookout in the nearby as they move, as well, for ambush or intruders approaching.

[OGRE MAGE]

On The Lookout For Dwarves
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

Narramore suggests they mount up again to search the perimeter of the clearing, on the lookout for some of the ferns the Princess used to lure the lizards around last time. Not seeing much of an alternitive, and with a growing suspicion of being watched, Keyon has everyone climb back aboard and the group is soon flying through the open clearing towards the southern edge that runs along the trail.

Once there, they do indeed spot a large patch of the bright green ferns. This patch seems to have been chewed down at one time, but the lack of recent grazing has allowed more of the leafy plants to start growing again. Narramore picks a few handfuls of the flora as they others keep watch.

Though the pens are now miles away, they still don't see any signs of the dwarves in this area. The elves notice that the lizards in the pens have all moved to the southern edge of their captivity, staying as far away from the jungles edge as they can. They also notice that the remaining free roaming lizards have congregated towards the central portion of the clearing as well.

Looking around the area even closer, no dwarves are spotted, but that feeling of being watched continues to grow.

Actions?

Keyon AC:4 12/12
Feanol (MU2) AC:10 8/8 RM, CL, DM 2/2
Sir Narramore AC:3 12/12 LoH
Elnaerel (CL2) AC:3 18/18 1st:4/4
overall map: viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"I'm no naturist, but animals moving away from an area is probably not a good sign. Keyon maybe go up above the trees and lets see what we can see?"

[Paladin]

Keyon and Narramore

The elf tilts his head, looking suspiciously at the jungle nearby. "Climb on and let's go."

The big man quickly climbs aboard and Keyon will move them back toward the animals in the central portion of the clearing, rising fifty feet into the air to obtain a better look at their surroundings.

"Something has them spooked," Keyon says. "If anything attacks, perhaps remaining near the center of the clearing will give us enough time to get away." He'll gaze into the sky as they move, seeking flying enemies.

They'll pause high above the beasts and see if whatever is spooking the animals will make itself known before they lower the carpet.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"We have to be careful." Says the cleric. "Because if whatever's in the jungle causes a commotion, that's surely going to attract the dwarves."

[OGRE MAGE]

On The Lookout For Dwarves
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

The group gets back on the carpet and Keyon takes her up. He cruises around above the tree tops again, seeing no danger flying in the immediate area while the others visually scour the ground. No threats are seen anywhere in the clearing or at the edge of the jungle, but the huge beasts roaming the clearing and in the pens don't change their cautious behavior.

The small group of lizards remain where they were in the south central portion of the vast area.

Actions?

Keyon AC:4 12/12
Feanol (MU2) AC:10 8/8 RM, CL, DM 2/2
Sir Narramore AC:3 12/12 LoH
Elnaerel (CL2) AC:3 18/18 1st:4/4
overall map: viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477

[Paladin]

Got a post coming pretty quick. Pardon the delay. It's been a LONG two days!

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"Maybe we should go lower and see what's among those trees?"

[Paladin]

Keyon and Narramore

"Something is obviously out there," Keyon remarks, pointing toward the jungle fastness. "Else the lizards wouldn't be behaving as they are. I feel as if we should heed their warning and find some form of shelter until the threat passes. Something big or nasty enough to scare these beasts merits a bit of caution."

The massive knight growls his frustration. "I don't disagree, but I want to try this. And we've been here so long that I fear we must be discovered if we don't act quickly. Fly us closer."

Keyon sends him a doubtful glance, but does as instructed. "Your funeral, big man. And perhaps mine." He chuckles and guides the carpet about thirty feet from the beasts, hovering to allow Narramore to disembark and attempt his fern trick.

The knight repeats his slow approach and holds the food out in hopes of tempting the appetites of the lizards. Meanwhile, Keyon keeps a close watch. "What think you, ladies? Are we being hunted? I think you're right, Elnaerel. Perhaps we should investigate...if we can get this oaf back on the carpet," he adds a bit louder.

If the animals won't approach and still display signs of fear, Keyon will urge Narramore to make haste so that they might either see what lurks in the trees or seek safety.