faderift | Player Plot: The Big One?

Don't worry, I don't intend to cause them any harm. Do you know if anything in particular sets them off? Any actions we should avoid, spots they usually prefer not to be touched...?

[Kain is far more familiar with dracolisks and dragons than other creatures, but even that experience tells him some things. All animals have things that spook them in general. There are always variations to those behaviors, of course, but it's good to know up front what to typically be wary of.]

[Carefully leaning her weight on her cane - easier to move about with that instead of the crutch though she's stashed that nearby should she require it - Araceli accepts a lure, nudging Lux out of the way.

She might not have a lot of experience with land animals even after a year or so in Thedas but she knows a bit from her studies here and at home as her fox investigates, sniffing about. Might come in handy actually, if Lux doesn't get more spooked by the nugs or set them off even if he's much smaller than they are.]

Trying not to startle any of them would be good, no? Startle one and the rest might take fright - none of us wish to be trampled.

[Korrin nods at Araceli's advice, standing near her protectively even though there's not much to protect her from at the moment.]

I don't know how easily they startle, but that's common sense. Let them see you approach, and do so slow and steady. No running and leaping onto them, alright? Treat them with respect and they ought to come around.

The Avvar of the hold didn't say anything about spots to avoid, but just be careful around their horns. Even if they don't mean to gore you, if you set them off something could happen.

If you haven't bathed since the last time you killed something, perhaps do that first.

[ It's offered dryly, though it's at least something of a legitimate suggestion. He doubts the nuggalopes want to be approached by anyone who stinks of old blood. ]

They are likely more intelligent than you think. They likely know what weapons are, so try not to wave them around much. And don't get between any young ones and their mothers.

[ Otherwise you deserve whatever you get tbh. ]

Did the Avvar mention anything about stuff they like to eat? They might take a friendlier interest with us if we can offer then something on approach.

_{[ Kirk flashed an odd look at the Outsider at the first sentence, though it wasn't bad advice per say. He just had this odd idea he did not quite mean killing an animal for meat with the way he said it. Well, something to worry about later - and maybe make sure the Outsider was not at his back again on the way home. ]}

Some people do a similar thing with deer in my world. It's not considered very ethical, but since the idea is capture here and not killing I doubt anyone will care. Besides, they say food is a good way to the heart. I'm sure it works great with nuggalopes too.

We need to approach from downwind. They'll have a good sense of smell, I'm betting. No sense giving them a heads up from a mile off if they're in a mood to run, right?

[Korrin pats the travel bag at her hip.]

Yeah, they have a fondness for some of the local vegetation as well as apples and the like. I'll pass them around, make sure that everyone has enough. Approaching from downwind is definitely a good idea; if they're anything like their smaller cousins, they'll have a good sense of smell. Any advantage we can get over them, we take.

[Kain likewise glances toward the Outsider with a bit of a Look, but he refrains from commenting. After all, when he's actually in a combat situation, being blood-covered is... a pretty regular thing. Though at the moment, that's definitely not an issue.]

I'm more familiar with dracolisks, but I'd assume that certain things are similar... that gaining their trust is essential, above all else. Food does go a long way toward that. [He considers what else may be useful here.] I don't know how it exactly looks for nuggalopes, but there are probably signs of agitation to be wary of. Stomping at the ground, gnashing teeth, rearing back... probably lowering their heads, preparing to use those horns. I'd back off if any such behavior happened.

I would say just bathe, regardless of what you've been up to before.

[Look in general, most of the population in Skyhold needs to bathe an awful lot more in Araceli's opinion. Not even post-battle but just for the sake of the people who happen to be at armpit height.]

Dracolisks have sharp teeth. These are big but they must bear some relation to nugs, and nugs are very small, very nervous. Dracolisks look like they'd take off half your fingers if they felt like it. [No she is not a fan of the mysterious spiky horses.] If it comes to the very worst, then I am a bard student. I may not have my lute but music can soothe the savage beast, who is to say it does not work for the overgrown nug.

[ Ignoring the Looks, the Outsider actually looks rather serene; he likes to be out doing things, now that it's an option, especially when it involves something brand new. There is a faint chuckle at Araceli's own comment about bathing, though. ]

Move slowly, when they see you. Moving too fast or too jarringly will make you appear to be a predator. Make yourself small and do not try to surround them, as a wolf pack might; they know to be wary of such things.

[ So they're just not going to address the Outsider's nonchalant comment here? And how it's super creepy? Okay. ]

And if all goes well and we attract them, how do we lead them back? Should someone ride and the other walk with the food to draw them?

_{[ One thing at a time, Christine. Kirk just really doesn't have the capacity for it at the moment, and they need to concentrate and not get side-tracked. ]}

Having some people on their feet to help control them might not be a bad idea, or having leads. We brought along some horses too, so maybe if we walk the nuggalopes with them, it will help - herd mentality and all.

I've wrangled wild dracolisks, and I still have all my limbs. I get along well with dracolisks. These, though... they'll be something else entirely. I wonder if that's so, that they really do behave like nugs but in a larger form...

[Well, they'll see soon enough, though, won't they?]

Some combination of riding and walking sounds good. I'm comfortable riding.

[Attempting to ride. He's pretty good at throwing himself upon a mount's back, anyway, and getting them to cooperate. True, he's more into the dragon-horses, but still.]

Horses may help, but the nuggalopes might also be frightened of them. We have such little information on them to know how they will react.

[ She nods to acknowledge Kain. At least they're good with that part of the plan. ]

Perhaps we tie the horses up a little ways off from the lures. If we make contact and the nuggalopes seem docile, then we can lead them towards the horses to see how they do? If this succeeds, they will be around horses, dracolisks, and every other mount at Skyhold's stable, but we should ease them into it.

[Everyone be nice to The Outsider, the sea is as the sea does.

#landfolkamirite]

I can stay back on my feet but I'm not as fast as I usually am and I don't want to get up and down out of the saddle too much. [Does she need to add the obviously? Probably not when she doesn't quite look at Christine who had to deal with a healing Araceli, someone lacking her usual tact or social graces.]

Lux probably won't be seen as a threat but I'll keep him back with me, unless you've got one calm and want to see how they react to him. [It's not just the stables that are full after all, and Fereldans like to take their dogs everywhere with them.]

Hm...the Avvar didn't tell me about their reaction to horses, one way or another, but I guess it doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution. Just for a bit, until they get used to us. They'll still have to deal with them anyway, in Skyhold.

[She shrugs, then smiles at Kain.]

Hey, it's still mount-wrangling experience. I'm sure it'll come in handy. And if you -any of you- need more help with your nuggalope than three people can manage, it's not like the rest of us aren't nearby. I just thought that breaking it down would be a little less stressful for the nuggalopes than everyone crowding them.

[Smiling down at Araceli, she holds her hand for a moment.]

I'm game for that experiment. Let's see if Lux will give his stamp of approval.

[ Lux is probably a good candidate to see how nuggalopes will react to small creatures. Good thing Christine didn't bring her tiny, yapping dog, right? That would just cause a stampede of nuggalope trying to escape. ]

I think the smaller numbers are a good idea. But if something happens and anyone becomes hurt, Sam and I are healers. You need only call us on the crystals.

[ why are you all so biased against bathing ]

And if anyone sees a bear, perhaps shout very loudly.

[ There's always the potential of not being the only ones hunting the nuggalopes, so to speak. ]

Player Plot: The Big One?

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