Quests & Challenges

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0MYULYO.png[/img][/center] Lured by the promises of rare and soft familiars being available for petting— or perhaps the “Help Wanted” sign— you make your way past a thicket of brambles and head down a path that certainly does have a lot of pawprints on it. And hoofprints. And marks of slithering. And other tracks you’re not quite sure how to describe, only that some of them look very large. At the end of the path is a cave with a door painted in a cheerful rainbow of colours that looks a bit out of place in the Tangled Wood and a handwritten “Cat Cafe” sign attached to said door. There’s a counter with a gate on it before you can go too much further in. “Hello!” A Coatl hatchling greets you from behind the gate as you walk up. She’s wearing a froggy hood. It looks a bit out of place in a cat cafe until you look a little further to see actual frogs hopping merrily around. Then the hood looks like it belongs, but all of it looks out of place instead. “Welcome to our cafe!” “You’ll have to buy a drink if you want to come in.” A dark pink Coatl hatchling climbs up onto a stool behind the counter and stares at you expectantly. Near where he’s perching are a lot of containers, and a few appliances. You can’t be certain of what they are, but they do certainly look like appliances. “You can order whatever you want. It doesn’t have anything to do with what you’ll end up getting, but the ordering process is very flexible here so that every guest can feel like we’ve listened to their specific preferences.” “What if they’re here to help us out…?” the first hatchling asks uncertainly. Well, it seems like you’re in the right place… or the place that was specified by the ‘Help Wanted’ sign, anyway. The pink hatchling shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. Rules are rules. You don’t get to skip your chores just because you listened to all of the rules that day.” He turns his full attention back to you and taps a poster on the wall beside him. Rules are rules. [img]https://i.imgur.com/hcisQJw.png[/img] It seems like that’s just how things are because no one is speaking up to question him further. You’ll definitely have to order a drink if you want to proceed. Once you’ve put in your order, you’re shooed in quickly and the gate is shut behind you. The pink hatchling seems to lose all interest in you immediately, busying himself instead with the containers. You hear things opening and closing, as well as a suspicious whirring, from whatever he’s doing off to your left… and yet, your attention is captivated by trying to figure out just what exactly is going on here. You quickly lose count of how many hatchlings there are. It doesn’t help that they move around. Or that the animals do. And there are so many animals, going beyond the frogs, or the promised cats— cats with horns, cats with three heads, a variety of fluffy animals that look increasingly less catlike the more you see, lizards that don’t look fluffy at all but still seem like they’d be nice to pet, and a miniature octopus. In one corner, a Pearlcatcher hatchling is cuddling a very cheerful-looking lump of alchemic residue. An entire bear— one with Arcane markings, but no less an entire bear for that— is fast asleep on a comfortable mound of cushions near the counter. A centaur is very gently explaining where best to pet a miniature unicorn to a pair of Mirror hatchlings. The Fire Sprite watching all of this unfold looks like the most tired sprite you’ve ever seen. “Maybe we should start calling it an admission fee.” A grey Coatl hatchling has made her way over to the counter while you were taking everything in. “Although, if it’s an admission fee with a free drink, isn’t that sort of the same thing? And we already made the posters. Maybe not.” She looks up at you and gives a more welcoming nod. “Hello and welcome to our cat cafe. I’m Cian. That’s Arcane— and no, we don’t know what his parents were thinking either. The cute one’s Sadie.” “They probably weren’t.” Arcane himself sounds very dismissive of it all at best. And very much not like a hatchling. “Here’s your drink.” He puts a paper cup of… something on the counter. There’s certainly a lot of foam on top of it with a nice picture doodled in blue syrup. “Whether you want to drink it or not is up to you. Someone will if you don’t. We can always find [i]someone[/i] who will eat anything around here.” Cian nudges Sadie a bit until she starts explaining things. “We need your help!” the coatl says, looking up at you with earnest purple eyes. “We need enrichment! For all the familiars! A lot of familiars, so… lots of it!” There’s no sign she has any idea what she’s talking about, but she sure is certain on the word she’s using. “That’s right, good girl.” Cian pats her head, then looks over at you more seriously. “That’s exactly it. Something has to be done. Do you know how hard it is to keep a bored hydra from eating the guests? It’s bad enough that it doesn’t fit in the cafe. We’ve got to find something to entertain it— and everyone. And we have no idea what, so we thought about asking visitors to see if they could figure anything out. There’s a lot more that you can do than we can. So, please help us, all right?” … She says it like it makes sense, but you’re really only increasingly confused as to what is going on… [pinglist=34713] [url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FQx00lqmEZX2yuNN2pvm7leHOXA4xDbbqyV4wb-x65Y/edit?usp=sharing]Spreadsheet[/url] to track raffle tickets [url=https://perchance.org/pettingzoodrinkgenerator]Random Drink Generator[/url]

[center]FAQ (in-universe)[/center] You can’t help but have some questions you want answered before you start doing… whatever it is you’re doing. Like… what’s in it for you? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: You get to pet the familiars without them trying to eat you. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: … Not enough? Fine, the suggestions we like best will be stuck to the wall over there. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: … And we may be able to adopt out some of the familiars. Maybe. Eventually. What do they even want you to do? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Whatever you can. If we knew precisely, it’s not like we’d be asking for help, right? We can’t go very far out of our territory, so… who knows? Ask an expert, go look around where it lives to see what it likes to do, whatever. Is that it? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Do you have a better suggestion? Because if you do, we’d love to hear it. Right now would actually be a great time to tell me any better suggestions. Please. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gaKnTSX.png[/img][/center] [LIST] [*] Every day, a new prompt will be posted. To submit a response to it, please send in 5g/kt. If you submit a rseponse without sending in the entry fee, your response will not be counted. You may pay for multiple days/responses in advance. [*] You may do any of the following to submit a response (and to be clear, you only need to do one, but you /can/ do as many as you want): [LIST] [*] "Give expert advice": Post the widget for a dragon in your lair who has an equipped familiar from the category of familiars the prompt is about and write out their in-universe response to the prompt. [*] "Consult an outside expert": If you don't own any familiars that fit the category of that day's prompt, write out an in-universe response from the perspective of one of your dragons who's gone and consulted an outside source or outside expert. State the source/expert they used in-universe as well (for example, Fiona will work for every familiar-- she definitely knows!). [*] "Bring back something you think they'll like": Send any number of any items to me through a PM or one-way CR along with your entry fee. Write a response in this thread from either the perspective of one of your dragons or yourself OOC that explains your reasoning. I mean quite literally [i]anything,[/i] incidentally. Can you justify it in any way even if it's the least reasonable thing anyone has ever heard of? Go for it. [*] "Go observe them in their natural habitat and report back": Choose a Coliseum venue that at least one familiar fitting the category of the prompt is from. Do 15 battles in that venue. Post in this thread with a suggestion either in-universe from one of your dragons or yourself OOC based off what you learned/saw there.[/LIST] [*] As a note, responses that involve only writing (the first two types of valid response) should involve more being written than the other two types. No strict limits, but something like "I sent in 5 Dried Fish because I think cats would like fish." would be a perfectly acceptable post for an item submission entry. In any type of response, feel free to have fun with it-- or to post a completely serious suggestion based off actual knowledge about similar irl animals. Both are fine. Pretty much anything's fine! [*] Responses will not be judged on writing or item quality. Ones the hatchlings like [i]will[/i] get posted on a wall of their cave, but every valid response will earn a ticket to the raffle. [*] Each prompt you respond to will earn you one (1) ticket to the raffle. Each bonus question you add an answer to in your post for that day will earn you one (1) additional ticket to the raffle. [*] The deadline for all entries will be 00:00 August 18th, FR time. Just to make this clear-- you can respond to any prompt until the deadline. It doesn't have to just be that specific day's. [/LIST] “Ah.” Arcane seems to think of something, then waves a paw off towards… somewhere. “If you think of anything else while you’re out there, there’s an old guy studying… animals. Something. Whatever it was. It looked like a lot of stuff and I didn’t take notes. He took a lot of notes, but he’s probably lost them by now.” “You hardly have room to go calling someone an old guy,” Cian chides him, shaking her head. “There’s a researcher studying animals. That’s what it is. If you’re out there and you run into anything interesting, you might want to take it to him. His research looked a lot more in-depth… Well, I can’t really be sure.” A lot of things look more in-depth than trying to figure out how to keep a hydra from eating the guests. Even a hydra that had agreed to let guests pet it prior to them arriving. If she’s honest, she wasn’t really paying that much attention either since a lot of it went over her head. Arcane waves his paw over at her instead. You get the sense this is a conversation they’ve had more than once. “It’s hardly my fault other dragons have the misfortune of looking their age.” Sadie smiles over at you earnestly while the other two hatchlings are devolving into an argument on the other side of the room. “Maybe you should ask him for a list… oh, or we could! It would show off some of the familiars’ tricks! I know Lenore trained hers to send messages, we could… Let’s ask, and post it here!” … Well, only two of the other hatchlings are even paying attention to her instead of being too busy with their other tasks. Or arguments. Or naps. And it’s certainly not any of the older ones. It’s not stopping Sadie from doing her best to write a message and attach it to the leg of a Sweetpuff, though, so maybe you can follow the bird and see where it goes? [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937][img]https://i.imgur.com/NfaUXNC.png[/img][/url][/center] Spend some time in the coliseum and search for specific items in this challenging adventure! Any battles you complete in order to get something Zany Zoology is asking for may also count towards the 15 battle option for a response here.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6xsXhfM.png[/img][/center] [quote=Spindly Circle] [item=Death’s-Head Stag][item=Crimson Emperor][item=Golden Lionsnake][item=King Quillrunner][item=Heckling Hydrena] [/quote] [quote=Birdies (May Contain Knives)] [item=Sweetpuff][item=Ragepuff][item=Voguepuff][item=Needlepuff][item=Impaling Irepuff] [/quote] [quote=Kitties (Also May Contain Knives)] [item=Ferberus][item=Calico Ferberus][item=Capricat Lancer][item=Heraldic Capricat] [/quote] [quote=Mousies (You Guessed It, Contains Knives)] [item=Frosted Pocketmouse][item=Satin Pocketmouse][item=Gearspring Pocketmouse][item=Wind-Up Pocketmouse][item=Porcelain Pocket Fighter][item=Wind-Up Automaton] [/quote] [quote=Definitely Contains Knives] [item=Nightshade Reaper][item=Thornhedge Dryad][item=Obsidian Blade Psywurm][item=Starcatcher Psywurm][item=Crystalcleave Canary][item=Vigilant Sparrow][item=Scene: Stockade][item=Ancient Gene Parchment: Warrior] [/quote] [quote=Geckos (Does Not Contain Knives)] [item=Watermelon Coleus Gecko][item=Princess Petal Gecko][item=Bubble Brook Gecko][item=Cosmo Gecko] [/quote] [quote=Silk-Strewn Wreckage] [item=Assassin Bug][item=Blue Hamble][item=Scarlet Hamble][item=Catercroak][item=Fire Grub Swarm][item=Regal Silkmith][item=Silkmith][item=Sunset Buttersnake][item=Velvet Buttersnake] [/quote] [quote=Frozen Age] [item=Flameshell Glypto][item=Evergaze Glypto][item=Sabrespine Hunter][item=Sabrespine Prowler][item=Boggripe Bulemoth][item=Sorrowsnow Bulemoth][item=Dreadwolf Rimestalker][item=Dusky Dreadwolf][item=Vista: Frozen Age] [/quote] [quote=Boneyard] [item=Sunbleached Foulscale][item=Hissing Foulscale][item=Isopuppy][item=Steelscale Isopuppy][item=Spinesword Warden][item=Corvid Convergence][item=Murder Cage] [/quote] [quote=Adoptables] [item=Coast Charger][item=Prickly Strangler][item=Dunerunner][item=Aurelian Porcupine][item=Spongy Spingy] [/quote] [quote=Chicken Army] [item=Black Chicken][item=Rooster][item=White Chicken][item=Silver Chicken][item=Red Chicken][item=Brown Chicken][item=Black Silkie Chicken][item=White Silkie Chicken][item=Buff Polish Chicken][item=Golden Polish Chicken][item=Black Chicken][item=Golden Rooster][item=Black and White Rooster][item=Goose] [/quote] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tA0lt6M.png[/img][/center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WTPPlvI.png[/img] [code][img]https://i.imgur.com/WTPPlvI.png[/img][/code] All participants who respond to at least one prompt over the course of the week are eligible to claim this badge. [img]https://i.imgur.com/5iePOwR.png[/img] [code][img]https://i.imgur.com/5iePOwR.png[/img][/code] All participants who respond to all seven prompts over the course of the week will be eligible to claim this badge! It will be revealed on the last day. Immense thanks to @/LITTLECAESARS for doing an absolutely fantastic job with the badges and the rest of the art team for the nice graphics!

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UCRrEtn.png[/img][/center] [quote=Araneo] Play a card game. Eat your cards so the snakes never win. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: The Sprite says underage gambling is strictly against the rules, so that's out. And... are you sure cards are edible? [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: They look edible to meee... [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Um... maybe we'll look into getting more edible ones made-- [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]! No! Get that out of your mouth right now! [quote=Goldclover] Snakes find poetry soothing. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: [i]Do[/i] they? Well, it's good to know. Maybe they'll like stories, too. [quote=Aurora] Play hide and seek with the snakes! [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: She gave us some signs to put up in order to secure the area... how nice of her. [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: And snakes like friends? If they all play together. A nice blue guy gave us some friends, and we got a message from a clown that they like hatchlings...? Oh, the hydra is really nice to us. Maybe that's all a good idea! [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Doesn't everyone like friends? A wildclaw said it too. We do always see the sea noodles together... [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: And we got lots of advice on things the snakes can do together! Yes! It'll be the best time! [color=#993BD0]JieJie[/color]: And... yes! The plushie is so snuggly...! [quote=Doanbat] Feed snakes sparkles! [/quote] [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: Special treats only. [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: Knowing what snake treats are is good too! Oh, and, um, we only keep around friends that our clan leaders like too. But you can pet them! Go ahead! We made this so everyone can pet them! [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: ... To date, there's 1042 she likes. I can only imagine we'll get more. [quote=Phoenix] Snakes like climbing things and jumping off of them. [/quote] [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: Oh! Oh oh oh! [i]Cat trees![/i] [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Yes! We'll have to build lots of them! [quote=Cayrno] Make a really, really big snake maze. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Underage gambling is [i]still[/i] strictly against the rules. A giant maze doesn't seem like a bad idea, though... [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: If it likes marigolds a lot, name it Mary! [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: A maze with cat trees in it? Three-dee! [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: ... [i]Why[/i] did that Aether kid send a note through my bear about "if that guy shows up again, ask him what his acronyms mean"? [quote=Marine] Teach snakes to play charades! [/quote] [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: ... And go in the maze? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Sounded like they'd be good in the maze to me! [quote=Aerie] Snakes like places to hide and take naps. Make sure they don't get stuck! [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Okay, okay, so they really do like hiding. This is starting to come together. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Wouldn't know. I was way too busy watching her try to avoid drinking this without telling me. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: ... What did you give her, anyway? [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Dunno. You think [i]I[/i] know what's in these drinks? Nothing's labeled. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: You brought literally all of the stuff you're using here yourself. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: And I didn't label it. What's your point? [quote=Silt] Snakes like being warm. Unless they're ice snakes. [/quote] [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Um, whatever the nice dragon just gave you, the Fire Sprite's already taken it... and is staring at us like we're not getting it back... [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: Who doesn't like being warm... comfyyy... [quote=Carmine] Give the snakes a giant swimming pool. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Oh, good. We were going to do that one. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Bad news: lakes and oceans are not the same thing. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: ... Two pools. [quote=Kar] Give the snakes tasks so they'll feel accomplished and concentrate on their assignment. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: That sounds [i]suspiciously[/i] like why the adults are letting us do all this... [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Well, looking at everything we've gotten on this topic, we seem to be reaching a general consensus on workable ideas. We'll have to build a maze and two pools, as well as carve out nice spaces to hide or nap in in the maze and the rest of the outside location. And the underwater. Thankfully a lot of the more intelligent familiars, the Beastclan ones helping us with all this especially, can help us coordinate the rest. If we handle logistics, there's a [i]lot[/i] of people and creatures around who are willing to help us make environmental changes. And we've been given quite a lot of 'outside' to work with. I think it's what used to be the territory before the living space started being relocated underground...? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: And we'll have to make sure the snakes can play together, and with us. We've gotten specific advice on what friends and toys they like. Warmth and little hunting toys, relics, other relics, cards... climbing structures inside the maze... and even learned about special treats we can give them. Well, thank you all. I think this has been quite successful so far! --------- [quote=Rasmus] The birds have knives because they’re bored. Set up a tournament! [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: … Okay, so we have to worry about a lot more than we thought attacking the guests because they’re bored… well, we have a long, long list of bird toys now. And… history books. And weapons. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: We can set up a tournament! [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: It’ll be fun! There’s lots and lots of animals with knives! [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: We checked! The owl was super helpful whenever that spiral guy wasn’t watching, too! [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: There’s [i]more?[/i] Oh, no. I’ll try talking to the harpies about going about setting up a tournament without getting hurt, later— what [i]are[/i] you two doing? [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Teaching the birds to play fetch. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: That old guy said we couldn’t do it. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Yeah. He said birds don’t like fetching balls. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: We’ve taught a lot of things to fetch. Like cats. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Including Remora. And Muma. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: Well, the Aethers kind of did that one. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: We helped with Muma, though. She fetches balls when we throw them! [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: Yeah! And Muma might be like us, but Remora’s a whole grown-up dragon! So the birds are going to learn too! [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: … Am I the only one concerned with the new hole in the floor…? [quote=Fye] Birds like hunting small dragons. And fighting. Instead of fighting small dragons these ones want rope toys though? [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Well, if you were listening, there’s a lot of different kinds of birds, and we’ve been learning which ones do what— you’re clearly not listening. What are you doing now. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Learning to fight with rope toys. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: If they want to hunt us they can try! [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: That is [i]not[/i] what anyone meant… [quote=Elixir] Water features and parkour will help keep birds entertained. [/quote] [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: What’s the difference between a water feature and a water hazard? [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: We’re not allowed to have anything with hazard in the name. [quote=Sunblaze] Animals are showing up with weapons because of fashion. Teach the birds to paint instead. Maybe also the others? [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color] is using [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color] to shield herself from view while she writes on a tablet connected to tablets the other oldest/most responsible permababies have: [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Are we allowed to kick someone out for being incredibly arrogant and longwinded [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Yes (this reply comes in .5 seconds) [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Need help driving them off? [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: By "help" she means "cats with knives" [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Oh, good, you're awake and dealing with the knife situation [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Sigh, we do need help more than anything right now and he's... allegedly providing that... If nothing else, he's a new target for the birds. Must be responsible. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: That's why you should let me run the cafe [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: That's a terrible idea [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Prove it [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Fine [quote=Dock] Birds communicate through song. Try singing! Then try trading spoons for their knives and how to make sound with spoons. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Singing… that does sound easy enough. I’ll round up some of the others so we can try that. [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: Birds really like shiny objects, huh… it’ll be good if they do. We have a lot of those. Really a lot. [quote=Gould] Someone is probably giving out knives and they’re the real problem. And be careful around parrots. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: He also said birds like shiny things… hm, okay. Maybe other animals with knives will like shiny things too. We can hope. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: And we have to get sturdy toys! Really sturdy ones! [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: I think we’re doing good at figuring out toys. We’re so going to teach them to play fetch, though. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: You two are also not allowed near parrots now. [quote=Casta] There are many, [i]many[/i] creatures with weapons. Even prey ones. Maybe the birds are just preparing for that. Give them toys to practise with! [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: … Eh, aren’t those toys actually familiars…? Do we really want to encourage fighting? [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: I can ask Moriteth to work on… safetyproofing… and maybe making toys like the cute golem mice. [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: … I did see mice like those with knives, now that you mention it. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Where does it end?! [quote=Mithrun] Singing lessons. Especially for Coatls. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Okay, that one came up again… it does make a lot of sense, so it’s probably good. I’ll tell the others we’re going to start singing lessons. Especially the younger ones. Maybe the Beastclan representatives can help… [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: … Your interpersonal disputes aren’t on us to resolve, though… Doanbat is also a paying customer who’s been helping out around here. Please work that out yourselves… [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: He’s great, anyway. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: So he can pet as many familiars as he wants. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Yeah. Dunno how long he’s been here, but he’s not causing trouble. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: So we don’t really care. Chiharu should be back with extra-fluffy familiars to show him soon anyway. Like [i]really[/i] extra fluffy ones. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Really [i]really[/i] fluffy. The fluffiest. And Manolo went to find the super duper soft ones. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Yes, he’s been getting along quite well with the younger ones in particular, actually. If you’re worried about how he’s doing, you’re welcome to stay as well. Paying customers generally are. It’s sort of our entire business model. [color=#00C0A9]Yuma[/color]: … And we don’t know what Warrior’s Way is… is there some tournament going on for real? Well, if you don’t like those, what animals do you like? Or familiars… We might have them. You can pet them too. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Alright… I think we’ve learned a lot today as well. We have a lot of suggestions on toys, as well as general care for birds. It seems like they’ll need a lot of social interaction. Painting and singing lessons would probably be good, both for the familiars and us. And… combat toys. Oh, maybe we can ask Moriteth to help us build larger ones… or maybe they can bring larger ones back and safetyproof them… Then a lot of things that want to fight would be safely entertained! ----------------- [quote=Clickclack] The non-animals like toys. Make sure not to pull their tails or steal their toys. [/quote] [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: So basically, try to treat them how we treat each other? [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: I’d guess. The really young ones have never been very aggressive, according to those growing up here when we weren’t around. So [i]we[/i] should keep being fine, we’ll just have to make sure the guests also abide by those rules… which they really should anyway… [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: I have no idea what that guy meant by ‘no cuddling’, though. The squirrels [i]love[/i] cuddles. [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Yeah, really. The shy flowers especially! And the grandpa mushrooms! I think I’d have died by now if they didn’t like hugs. Grandpa mushrooms will try putting you in their lap and telling you a story and everything. [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Maybe that was about mimics. I… okay, [i]some[/i] mimics cuddle. Mostly the ones mimicking soft things or clothes. Hey, do you think that’s intentional? I never thought about it because I just went along with their preferences before, but maybe they’re soft things [i]because[/i] they want cuddles and that’s how they show it… I’m going to have to look more into this. [quote=Emerald] Make sure to prune them like you would real plants. And gardening gloves are always important safety precautions. [/quote] [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Oh, yes. That's so smart to remember. Gloves... [quote=Fye] Plants like music or good stories. If you put them on a leash you can take them for a walk. Maybe they like water. Mimics love shiny things and darkness— most importantly shiny things. Teach them to play fetch with shiny things. Make sure guests don’t trigger their natural habits, like having shiny things around the mimics. [/quote] [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Oh, I can already see where this one’s going. The twins wanted to teach… what was it? Birds? To play fetch already. [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: How long is it gonna be before we have glittering squeaky bones around… [quote=Yori] Music and dance are great ways to communicate. Make sure guests don’t want to eat the familiars. Feed the mimics well and make sure to thoroughly interact with them before bringing them out to be used as normal objects— they’ll be full and gain all the satisfaction of having fooled the dragons around them to the point they could kill them, they just don’t need to. [/quote] [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Yes! [All of his eyes are open and shining with excitement. It’s… a little disconcerting to anyone unfortunate enough to see him.] Oh, yes, that’s the [i]smartest![/i] So they do become those things because they like being used as those objects would… That’s brilliant! I’ll go workshop that idea with them as soon as customers who might help stop stopping by! [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Don’t worry about the rest of it. See, a lot of dragons eat animals. And we eat seafood. There’s a [i]very[/i] strict nonviolence poilcy among clan members and familiars. We are brought here to be loved, not to fight. [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: And of course we’ll test things out on a small scale! Dragons are often strong enough to kill mimics. We don’t want that kind of fight happening at all, even more than we don’t want to hurt the guests. Well, we’re also the scientifically-minded ones. You could say that. [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Yeah. Us three and Arcane. And… Amine. [quickly] Well, she won’t be stopping by though, so there’s no need to be concerned with it. [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color] has already got to scribbling… [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: We've had a few visitors mention music. Hm. It's really got to be worth looking into, we'd be good at it too. [quote=Observer] Mimics will love hide and seek. Don’t scare them. Instrument mimics should be allowed to hang out with each other and probably whoever they want, or they’ll get lonely. Golems like being put in charge of things. Don’t be loud when approaching mimics. [/quote] At least Observer can tell whether or not they understand what she’s trying to get across by looking at the note [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color] is scribbling down before sticking on the wall. [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Oh, that’s also a great idea! Hide and seek… yeah, I bet they’d be really, really good at it. That sounds so fun. The labyrinth the others want to build might make that even more fun. It’s a social activity and everything. [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: Oooh, we could also put the golems in charge of things in the labyrinth… I bet they’d be good for keeping the peace. They’re really strong and hard to hurt. [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Sounds like fun to me. Hopefully they’ll like it. We can test, once we get that all made. [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: Singing and music really seem like they’ll help with a lot of different familiars. We can get the mimics’ help with that, hopefully? And we’ve gotten a lot of instructions on how to take care of plant familiars… but I still wonder if they find entertainment in anything… [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: And obviously no scaring or hostility towards the mimics. I’ll have to go see what all they do like; they never bite [i]me.[/i] [quote=Little Robot] Oil. Lubricate anything. Everything. Do not drink. [/quote] [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: Awww, what an adorable little guy. And we have… oil, now. Hopefully that’ll be helpful with the golems. We really never have enough of it. [quote=Ordas] Feed mimics well, use them for the purpose they’ve chosen, and play games with them. A lance is a stick you can play fetch with. [/quote] [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: It’s a good idea. It really is. But it’s such a foreboding feeling to wonder about how many familiars the twins will have taught to play fetch within a week… [color=#C49A70]Meadow[/color]: We got a lot of good suggestions today. A lot of the ways to entertain plant familiars sounded like, um… the basics of plant care… they really do sound hard to entertain. I wonder if taking good care of them is all they need. Involving them in musical activities seems nice. I’ll definitely see about taking them on walks. And making sure they have thorough baths before anyone can pet them… that was such a good suggestion about not knowing what they might have gotten into. And it’s not obvious, either. Actually, maybe we should just make the familiars take baths in general before being allowed to be pet… or landscape the place [i]really[/i] well… [color=#9C9C9E]Inky[/color]: Definitely we’re enforcing the rules for everyone, no matter what everyone is like. No violence, and settling fights with words only. That includes not eating each other. Oooh, maybe golems could be used as enforcers of the rules! They’re really hard to hurt so can look out for the more fragile familiars— and dragons, at that! [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: We got [i]so[/i] many good suggestions for mimics, though. And maybe a glimpse into what they’re really like. I really like this all. I’ll start working on it… right now, actually. None of them have ever bitten me so I can try it out! Maybe I’ll be able to get a couple working in the cafe by tomorrow! ----------------------------------------------- [quote=Zinanthid] Talking, patience, forgiveness if their customs or attitudes are considered offensive in your lair. And if they're trying to be offensive or provoking on purpose, that needs extra reassurance rather than lashing back. [/quote] [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: That sounds good! It’s really smart! Um… why did you call us over to help you look through the suggestions, though? [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: The youngest two of us have never known anything outside of this lair. And you are soft and warm. The best two for thinking about how things are around here and providing emotional support. The twins and I… are not. [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: I think it sounds good too… You’re supposed to be nice to each other, and that means understanding. [quote=Fye] Work with dragons that are really interested to learn something new... like arcane dragons or scholars. Don’t bring warriors that want to kill the Beastclan ambassadors. Let dragons who want to practise magic practise for free in our outside enclosure to control temperature in various caves. Ask Arcane dragons for help. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Yeah, we’ll know. I’m not really strong enough to do that well. This guy’s got some great advice, though. Probably even Manolo could help out with genuinely curious dragons and she still thinks playing cards are snacks. Aethers, man… [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: This sounds like it’s in accordance with the rules. Warriors who want to kill the Beastclan ambassadors would not be allowed near the Beastclan ambassadors because they are our precious friends. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: You know we don’t have the rules officially written up yet, right? [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: Yes. Because we are still in the phase of figuring out how to handle more than merely a small indoor environment. They will be written. They will be followed. [quote=Aspis+Batia] Don’t hire the Beastclan ambassadors to entertain the dragons like animals. Have people from the Beastclans educate the dragons of their way of life, what to take into account when conversing with them, what kind of environment they need. They could share their own stories and myths, if they wanted to. This way, if a clan adopts someone from the Beastclans, they already know what's best for them. Having a place where we can exchange knowledge might be good. Tell the dragons who’s in here [i]before[/i] they enter. Beastclan ambassadors may have magic to help with the temperature issues too. Maybe you could add some safety precautions. I would brief the guests on what to do, what not to do, signs of discomfort to look out for. You could provide gloves for those who can't easily retract their claws, and inform them which familiars have a tough hide and which familiars they should be careful with. In the front, you should only have docile familiars that aren't easily agitated. Some guests could be impatient and approach them before you're done with the briefing. Maybe you could also put up signs with notes; what familiars like, what they dislike, some fun-facts so the visitors actually want to read them… [/quote] [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: Right! You can talk to them! [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: They’re not just for petting and being cute! [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: That’s why we wanna see if dragons who aren’t from this clan would like them! [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: ‘Cause they’re really cool! [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: These are very good ideas on organisation and interaction. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Is that why you’re writing them down so carefully? [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: It is important to record the details. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: No one else does… [quote=Pelagic+Delta] Learn each other’s languages. Then you can discuss the details of each other’s languages and it gives you more to talk about. Magical artifacts can be found or commissioned to help with temperature control. [/quote] (“Yes! Us!” the twins cheer as soon as Delta mentions learning maren swears. [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color] is unfortunately busy with recording suggestions on temperature. “Delta [i]yes,”[/i] they both agree very firmly. You get the sense Delta is already doing a wonderful job of interspecies relations and the twins will be taking this into account even if [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color] refuses to write that detail down…) [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: … Well, the general sentiment is still there… [quote=Unidentified Veilspun] You’re not bringing dragons to meet Beastclan ambassadors, you’re bringing Beastclan ambassadors here to meet familiars. You should focus on how to deal with dragons and Beastclan ambassadors incidentally meeting. Sensitivity training. No comments on appearances, religion, ancestry, eusociality. No petting feathers or fur because they look soft or look different. Keep translation booklets on hand, and make sure that you have communication experts on your staff. All weapons are to be left with the bartender for the duration of each visit. You should be able to avoid conflict if you follow these steps, and you may even foster a little diplomacy in the process. Look into whatever biome bubbles are. Water for cooling, sunning rocks for warmth, trees for shade, and plenty of dens are natural ways to handle different environmental needs. Decorations would also be good. [/quote] [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: … You can’t pet them?! [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: But what if they’re [i]really soft and pretty?[/i] [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: Strangers cannot pet them. [i]You two[/i] are allowed to pet them because you live here, they know who you are, and they know you’re both children who move far, far before you think, if you ever get around to that part at all. It is similar to this sensitivity training. The ones who do not want to be around children who act like children know not to come talk to them or be around the main areas in this territory that said children are. [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: Think of it like this. Would your familiars let just anyone pet them? Especially your cat, [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: No… Even in the cafe, [color=#B27749]Latte[/color] and [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color] said we have to build everything so the cats have a chance to get away from people if they want to. It wouldn’t like just [i]anyone…[/i] [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: Exactly. You may pet your cat, and you also know when your cat does not want you to pet it, because you have spent a very long time together and developed a bond. Your cat likes you and [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color] in particular. This is still a good rule for you two to follow when meeting anyone from outside our clan, but you’re not allowed out without supervision anyway… for a reason… [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Oh. Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Still sorta think we’d be bringing dragons here to meet ambassadors from the Beastclans who are okay with talking to strange dragons, though… ‘cause they live here, they could just meet the familiars anytime. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: It’s sounding like we’re going to be running that as kind of… a different program anyway. So this’ll still apply to if they just run into the Beastclan people we’ve got living here when they’re out helping with temperature or whatever. We can ask Selrath what we’re allowed to do in that regard later, okay? [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: Yeah! She’ll definitely know! [quote=Fable+Atu] Do not have it be surprise meetings. Make a schedule so everyone knows what they’re getting into and who they’re meeting. Have a mixed group of Beastclan ambassadors and dragons go on an adventure that does not contain real threats together. Make sure it’s fair. [/quote] [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Oh! Yeah! Maybe we could use the labyrinth for that? [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: They were staring at the mimics rather a lot. [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: The mimics were behaving pretty well in the cafe today. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Yeah, one learned how to make drinks. Probably as well as [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color] could’ve. [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: What? [color=#332B65]Snow[/color]: Nothing. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Adventures do sound like a pretty fun thing to arrange. I think they’re onto something. Shadowbinder knows the hydra isn’t the most unruly thing we’ve got out there. [color=#00B4D6]Cricket[/color]: Maybe play fighting? Where everyone’s got swords what’re soft and soft tips dulling their claws. Uh, I don’t know how to do that with a hydra, though. It’s kinda using its teeth. It doesn’t [i]have[/i] arms… [quote=Cayrno] Knit sweaters and blankets for the ones who get cold, set up an ice maker and a cooling pool for the ones who get hot. Rely on the weather of the Tangled Wood. [/quote] [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: … That dragon just now ran in and out in a hurry. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Uh, don’t worry about it. [quote=Three+centaur companion] Have dragons bring gifts as a show of goodwill. Healing items and magical plants are valued. Historical records and stories of their own clans would be a nice exchange of information. Focus on finding common ground. [/quote] [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: Stories are nice! Wouldn’t it be so cool to have, um… a story hour? Storytime? [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: I like storytime… [color=#EAA9FF]VISION[/color]: We’re charging an admission fee to the cat cafe already, or rather, you must buy a drink to enter, so I’m sure we could implement similar guidelines. --------------------- [quote=unnamed Guardian] Mimics can turn into baby Undertides and are capable of befriending other familiars. Hide and seek and tag are good games. Big familiars don’t have to hide much so it’s new and fun. Bring them souvenirs. To play ball games, use a heavy ball. [/quote] [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Can Chomp come over to play more often? [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: More often than never! [color=#993BD0]JieJie[/color]: We have friends who would really like them… [quote=unidentified Fathom] Hide and seek. Puzzle toys (put food in them?). Drop a ball down to play fetch. [/quote] [color=#BEA55D]Chiharu[/color]: Oh, yes, the puzzle toys sound delightful. Your companion is really helpful as a reference point because Yuma’s, she’s one of our friends’, familiar is a little version of one of those. I’ll have to tell her all about it! [color=#993BD0]JieJie[/color]: People are agreeing with these ideas a lot, so they must be really good ones… [quote=Rhodonite] Pet them. Give them treats based off what they like. Water plants in their pools are nice. If you ‘accidentally’ drop something in the water, they’ll feel really helpful for picking it up! [/quote] [The Fire Sprite in the corner is the only one to understand the fish’s expression. It nods back over at it in sympathy.] [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: Oh my gosh! They brought their familiar to come play! [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: That’s the cutest thing! [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: We could take fish on walks if we did it like this… and friends who are larger than fish… [color=#BEA55D]Chiharu[/color]: That’s a good idea. We should consider putting the bowls on something easy to transport, though… [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: Golems…! Golems are friends… [Nothing about a mysterious Tundra visitor’s advice actually gets written down because all five hatchlings are almost immediately too busy panicking and looking between each other, the Cosmo Gecko, the other geckos, and the increasingly exhausted Fire Sprite.] [color=#993BD0]JieJie[/color]: —! The goop!? Is that bad for familiars? [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Um, um… is it just if they breathe it, or if they touch it…? [color=#BEA55D]Chiharu[/color]: The Fear… [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: We… we’d know by now, wouldn’t we…? The lil guy still looks fine… [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: Uuu… should we call… the Sprite…? To make sure? [color=#993BD0]JieJie[/color]: But, she, they… they could fix it, right? If anyone got poisoned? Wouldn’t it be okay? [quote=Descant] Glow in the dark toys are good for dark water. Hiding things in shells is a fun game. Maybe water familiars want to wear clothes, so try with kelp and shells and things. Ask the Maren about that one. Teach the octopi to throw things at a board to get a high score. [/quote] [color=#CCA4E0]Manolo[/color]: Oh. You…! You. This one is Aster’s friend… Bear said so… [color=#B27749]Latte[/color]: Oh! Like Doanbat. That’s nice. You can stay however long you want, then, we have a lot of cats. [color=#413C3F]Sadie[/color]: Cotton is the best cat for beginners because it is a very soft and cuddly cat. It likes to cuddle all on its own and will be very patient and forgiving if you’re bad at petting and cuddling cats. [color=#BEA55D]Chiharu[/color]: These are good ideas, too… Let’s see if Yuma’s familiar and this one will like the board underwater. Maybe it’ll be fun. ---------------- [quote=Fye] Don’t interact with creatures from beyond an ominous green portal. Give them food and nice experiences from this planet. They can probably be taught to play fetch. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Creatures from beyond the ominous green portal live in our territory. We didn’t bring them here. They were deemed “cute” and “friendly” and good luck keeping Selrath from bringing literally anything she considers cute and friendly home. On the other hand, she’s been alive for nearly twice as long as [i]I[/i] have and I think all of these creatures are willing to fight to the death to save her. Her “befriend [i]literally everything[/i]” strategy is working out weirdly well? [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: … and they just [i]live here[/i] so it’s rude to discriminate and tell them they can’t come into the cat cafe with all the other familiars. Also, they learned how to break in, so we actually can’t keep them out. Seriously. I think the fluffy-fluffies can teleport. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Ergo, failed step one. Moving onto step two of teach them about the nice parts of this planet so we’re spared during the eventual alien revolution. That’s also the plan during the eventual golem revolution. Good step two. [quote=unidentified Veilspun] Try including the familiars in literally everything we’re already trying to see if they like it. Maybe the octupus tried to stun the Veilspun to eat him? Protective coverings good. Hatchlings should be under parental supervision. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: … Parental supervision… [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: I think this place is the literal opposite of that, somehow. Failed step one again. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Our Veilspun got along fine with the fluffy-fluffy, it was just the wriggly octopus guy that went really badly. Well, this guy’s kinda unpleasant to pet anyway, but come on, look at its eyes. Those are the eyes of a wriggly octopus-salamander guy that wants hugs. We’ll look into protective coverings, those’ll probably be good… [quote=unidentified Guardian] The familiars like magic a lot. Prepare for a fight if you’re tossing it around. Give the Veilspun a helmet. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: … [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Well, we don’t have to worry about the animals being gone any time soon. Bond them to your life. They’ll stay with you as long as you both want to be together. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Little scary what the oldest Imperials here know sometimes, actually… [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: I can try the magic thing, though. They won’t hurt me. Possibly anyone else, but not me! Fluffy-fluffies, c’mere, let’s try making drinks not in this frame of reality! [quote=Anwen] Bring the familiars places they can explore. Puzzle toys are good. Gloves and jackets are probably good to have around for Veilspuns and maybe other octopus-vulnerable creatures. Most usefully, this guest was able to mimic the sound a young pupowl in distress would make if it was injured during playing. I can roughly copy what I heard; I’ll show the rest of you when you get back. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Genuinely extremely useful information. I’ll try to refine it when there aren’t guests around. Thank you for stopping by. [quote=Nua] Familiars may like dragons who look more like them. Costumes…? More interestingly, it seems they’re entertained by mundane activities and repetitive movements or tasks. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Haaah… that child sure was talking a lot for someone who said almost nothing at all… [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: “Have you tried changing on the inside”. Tch. Of course not, I was hatched speaking and acting exactly like this. And… t-shirts… how tasteless. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Whatever. True children are just like that. The personal anecdote with the familiars was useful, so it wasn’t a total waste. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: You guys really do like dragons that are as strange as you are, huh? Between that and my magic. I know, I know. That’s why you like me. We can all be strange together in this ordinary world. --------------- [quote=Fye] Put something interesting on a string and let them chase it. Cuddles. Belly rubs. Grooming. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Huh. Seems fairly easy to keep them entertained. Well, that’s good for us. [quote=Danifor] Blue turtle likes jokes. Picnics. Ball games with the hippos. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: You can definitely pet that fish. It’s nice enough. Ours, anyway. We’ll… take the jokes suggestion into account. [quote=Nebula] Play-fighting and hide and seek. They’re not that different from regular familiars, just big. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: Oh, we can help with the ferberus. This is a cat cafe. C’mere, kitty! No, only one of you! Kitty only! That one! [quote=Sangiovese] Bosses like play-fighting. Especially if it’s dramatic and theatrical. Try doing things on a larger scale, like playing fetch with a slingshot or a cannon. [/quote] [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: Alright, that one sounds pretty workable. I’ll add it to the twins’ list of things to do— ask our engineering department to get us a catapult. [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: We have two cannons, by the way. [color=#75A8FF]Cian[/color]: … Since when? [color=#76483F]Cherish[/color]: Thirty seconds ago? Two of the mimics overheard and we’ve got two cat cafe-themed cannons now. [quote=Avarice] Familiars like juice. [/quote] [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: And to answer your questions… “Are you sure you know what you're getting into?” No. “You and the others both?” Absolutely not. “You're not real babies, right?” The one hosting storytime with the gigantic skeleton you were staring at sure is. Well, slightly older. Counts. [color=#E934AA]Arcane[/color]: I’m pretty sure if the giant skeleton didn’t want to listen to a kids’ book it would have indicated this by now, so it’s probably safe.

[color=transparent]____________[/color][b]Today's Cast[/b] [columns] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/55987270][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/559873/55987270p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/40148883][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/401489/40148883p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93729426][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/937295/93729426p.png[/img] [/url] [/columns] [columns] [color=transparent]____[/color][b]Cian[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______[/color][b]Arcane[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______[/color][b]Sadie[/b] [/columns] It’s taken what you’ve kindly decided to refer to as a little time for Cian and Arcane to stop arguing and get back around to paying attention to you. Mostly thanks to a lot of prompting from Sadie, yet another Coatl hatchling, and an Imperial hatchling who is nonetheless much larger than the Coatls and resorted to putting himself between them to make them get back on task. You’ve never seen a fish plushie be brandished in such a threatening manner before. Even if the hatchling brandishing it mostly seemed nervous and generally non-threatening. You haven’t seen fish plushies be brandished much at all. “Let’s start off with what’s probably the most immediate problem— how do you keep snakes from getting bored?” Cian is doing her best to seem like she’s not sulking. It’s… an attempt, for sure. The Fire Sprite is monitoring the situation much more closely than before. “There’s lots of different kinds of snakes!” Sadie says much more cheerfully. “All they seem to have in common is being long and wiggly? There’s snakes, flying snakes, underwater snakes, snakes that are actually many snakes… They’re not even all bitey, so would they like the same things?” Wait. Hold on. Underwater snakes? “Sea noodles.” Sadie nods earnestly. “Some of them are very bitey. Some are nice and friendly and know shadow magic. I like the shadow ones a lot!” … Sea noodles. Of course. How could you forget? You nod along with the little Coatl. Though you can’t help but wonder why they want to have snakes as part of a cat cafe, especially if one of the snakes is a hydra— and, actually, where are they going to put the underwater one? As much as you look around, this is just a cave with no water to be found. “Me and Latte went to a cat cafe! Some people went to play with cats because they didn’t have their own cats. I’ve been living here all my life, so I thought it was really easy to find cats if you wanted them, and all kinds of other familiars. We have so many! But the nice dragon who took us to the cat cafe said it isn’t like that at all. There are lots of people who can’t get every familiar they want because some are really rare.” “So we thought, maybe we should give people a chance to play with this clan’s familiars? Or at least pet them and get to be around them, if they’re not really playful. If people like it with cats, I’m sure they would like it with other amazing animals! Um, then it seemed really mean to tell familiars that weren’t really fluffy and good to pet they couldn’t be included.” Sadie calls over to one of the large lizards and gets it to come over to her and cuddle into her side. It seems like a very affectionate lizard. “Look at this one! This is my buddy! It’s really cuddly and an amazing friend and the bestest lizard so we had to include it!” “... As a result of this brilliant idea, we’ve discovered some of them don’t fit inside,” Arcane notes more dryly. He reaches over to pet the sleeping bear as best he can from his stool despite his tone of voice because he’s not immune to the charm of all the familiars here with them either. “We certainly can’t fit [i]all[/i] of them inside. This is only a small collection of the ones who were willing to give this idea a try. Instead of trying to cram familiars of all shapes, sizes, and dispositions into one little cave, we’re building an outside part of this cafe. It’ll be attached, and will also let aquatic familiars be involved more easily.” “Yeah.” Cian nods in agreement with them. “So that brings us back to the original problem. Or proposition. If you can figure out what snakes like, or how to keep the hydra from eating you while you try to play with it, we’ll let you pet them. Deal?” [b]Prompt:[/b] What would be suitable enrichment for snake familiars? (Note: Eels are counted as snake familiars for purposes of this prompt because no one involved in the running of this cafe knows the difference. Any sufficiently long and wiggly familiar can be counted as a snake familiar if you convince the hatchlings it can.) [b]Bonus Question[/b]: Try out the [url=https://perchance.org/pettingzoodrinkgenerator]drink generator[/url] and include your result in your post! "... Oh, and we got back some notes from that old guy." Arcane says it when you're halfway out the door already and like he can't be bothered to care, yet he's the one reminding you. "Who knows what he wants? [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937#post_57339249]Some paranoid rambling about otters or something.[/url]" Sadie bounds across the room and eagerly leans in to look at the note the bird had. "Otters... play with them... Hey, he has the same problem we do!" "I don't think so. Sounds like he still has to get the otters in the first place." Arcane looks away from the tattered paper and the incredibly stylish fluffy bird... that wasn't the one sent to get notes from this researcher in the first place. Did this bird get permission to take this note...?

[color=transparent]________________[/color][b]Today's Cast[/b] [columns] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/55987270][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/559873/55987270p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/48137378][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/481374/48137378p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65490894][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/654909/65490894p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65490895][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/654909/65490895p.png[/img][/url] [/columns] [columns] [color=transparent]____[/color][b]Cian[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]______[/color][b]Yuma[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]________[/color][b]Snow[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______[/color][b]Cricket[/b] [/columns] Even before you get to the entrance of the cave, you hear the screaming. Most of it is indistinct, but one sentence in particular catches your ear— a very panicked hatchling yelling [i]”Who gave the birdies knives?!”[/i] You’re not sure whether you should hurry to get in there or avoid going there at all until the situation abates. Your curiosity ends up overtaking you. Is this a bad idea? It may have been. You drop your admission fee on the counter almost absentmindedly— Arcane isn’t there to demand it from you today, and more than that, your attention has been immediately stolen by the situation unfolding in the rest of the cave. The screaming seems to have been accurate. Mostly. The floor is covered by round, adorable birds who look imminently pettable. Even their feathers look soft and fluffy. And… some of them are holding knives. Very thin knives that look more like needles than anything, but clearly an unexpected threat to the cadre of hatchlings that run the place. … or, maybe not a threat at all, because the pair of Mirror hatchlings on the floor look way too happy about this development and willing to tussle with the birds to be feeling threatened. At second glance, you spot Cian nearly hidden by a Guardian hatchling’s wings, which have been flared out to protect her. Lightning blazes from that corner, keeping the birds from wanting to get too close. “It’s okay,” the Guardian says, trying to reassure Cian by patting her with her tail. “They’ve been like this since earlier… I think the twins are having fun with it… so it’s probably handled…?” “The cats have knives too!” one of the Mirrors says, very, very, enthusiastically. “And we didn’t do it!” the other adds. “Mine showed up with friends this morning. Friends who had really long knives!” “They don’t really get along with the birds that well, though,” the first sighs. “So we couldn’t bring them inside. I think Snow’s cat is out there asserting dominance or something.” “Cherish didn’t wanna wake up to come assert dominance with us so her cat isn’t,” the second Mirror— Snow— sighs, sounding equally as disappointed. Cian just outright sighs. “Well… um… you guys keep doing that.” It’s around then that she spots you and her eyes widen. “Oh! You! Can you help out again today too? I’ll get a drink ready for you by the time you’re back. I hope. Yuma, can you start moving towards the counter?” Once the Guardian has obligingly started using her bulk to shield the smaller Coatl’s trip across the room, Cian continues— “Do you know what entertains birds? Or can you find out? And [i]why[/i] are animals suddenly showing up with knives?! Snow and Cricket can’t keep all of them entertained at once! Actually, I worry they’ll end up just as troublesome as the sudden new animal friends…” [b]Prompt:[/b] What would be suitable enrichment for bird familiars? [b]Bonus Question:[/b] Why are animals suddenly showing up with knives?! “Crocodiles.” “Crocodiles.” The twin Mirrors are the only ones moving about completely without fear in the cat cafe right now— not to mention attempting to assert dominance. Thus, they’re the ones who are staring at the note a very helpful-looking and also incredibly stylish bird has brought them. Cricket pets the bird and tells it how fluffy and cute and stylish it is and what a good job it’s doing while Snow looks up at you. “… [url= https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937/1#post_57339249]That guy is having trouble finding crocodiles.[/url] Go ask if he’s lost.” “Ask if he wants a pet crocodile while you’re at it. We have a lot. Ask if he wants twenty.”

[color=transparent]_________[/color][b]Today's Cast[/b] [columns] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/45963145][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/459632/45963145p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/54313076][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/543131/54313076p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/56490955][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/564910/56490955p.png[/img][/url] [/columns] [columns] [color=transparent]____[/color][b]Inky[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]___[/color][b]Meadoweclipse[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]__[/color][b]Cherish (multigaze warning)[/b] [/columns] When you step into the cafe today, there’s no form of chaos awaiting you. Three Coatl hatchlings you don’t recognise are curled up peacefully on a pile of pillows, cuddling plushies and adorable, fluffy animals that look immensely soft and like they’d be wonderful to pet. It looks like you’ve stepped into a nursery. … A nursery that contains books on advanced engineering and automation that one of the hatchlings is reading. Another of the hatchlings opens her eyes and looks up at you when she hears you step up to the counter. “Oh, hi. Are you looking for Cian? I know she’s pretty much the most responsible of us, but she had to be elsewhere being responsible today.” "Yep, it's just us today!” The white hatchling holding the book sets it down and sits up to try to look slightly more responsible. The fluffy creature at her side still cuddling her and the stuffed bunny don’t exactly help, but she’s trying. “All the younger ones ran off, there's baby rabbits to look at. Well... I really wish I could go see them too, but [i]someone[/i] responsible has got to stick around here! The Fire Sprite doesn't count. And is making sure the baby rabbits are okay anyway, so we don't even have [i]that[/i] supervision today..." ‘Yeah. Just us. Completely unsupervised.” The brown hatchling rolls over a little more and very carefully opens his eyes. Very, very carefully, as if only opening two eyes is an actual effort for him. From some… things you’ve heard, you have a suspicion as to why. “We’re not so bad at it, though! Hi, I’m Meadoweclipse. You can call me Meadow.” The third hatchling, who looks somewhere between both of the others with the pretty white and brown pattern she’s got all over, gives in and sits up as well. “And we were working here today for a reason, anyway. Which is— what do you do to entertain familiars that aren’t animals at all? What kind of things will [i]they[/i] need as enrichment?” She picks up the notes she’s looking through and holds them up to you. At least, a couple of the ones with pictures, anyway. “See here— a giant mushroom, a giant flower, vines that act like snakes, or maybe they’re snakes that have the properties of vines, a flytrap… There’s lots of those. They act like they’re pets or companions. Some of the mushrooms are really good storytellers. The vines get along with actual snakes, especially the snakes that like flowers. The littler flowers that are so shy and follow you home are really cute, they’re not even ever hostile, they just suddenly take a liking to you— the sweetest things. With them, I’m not so worried about keeping them entertained, though of course I’d like to, but I really want to figure out how guests can keep from scaring them. It’d be so sweet if they could make more friends.” “And that’s not all. I’m Inky, by the way.” The white hatchling pokes her head into a hole in what certainly looks like a cat tree and has plenty of platforms or holes for things to take a nap inside the cat tree if they so choose. She makes a soft little trill. Suddenly there’s a very curious squirrel at the top of the tree and a pair of mice poking their noses out at the bottom. “Look at them. They’re absolute sweethearts, but they’re made of metal and porcelain and tamed lightning. Golems. This clan’s had tamed golem companions for ages before I was ever hatched, but it’s mostly the engineers that use them. They don’t know anything about cat cafes. A lot of the others can be much more aggressive and they’re all really strong… I don’t want anyone to get hurt here.” “Yeah, and— oh, I’m Cherish— then we’ve got the ones that are inanimate objects. Or want to [i]pretend[/i] they are.” Cherish sounds tired just from thinking about it. “You know, mimics. They run wild here, in the Tangled Wood, and also kind of everywhere, sometimes. They’re [i]usually[/i] super hostile and try to look harmless so you’ll interact with them and they can eat you— so I think that’s all the more reason we should include them here. How often do you get to pet a mimic safely otherwise? One of our clan leaders has beaten ours into submission. A lot. A lot a lot. She’s the true power here and they understand that, so, they’re… relatively tame for mimics.” “But, that’s also kind of the thing. How do you entertain a cup? Or a set of restraints? Or a chair? Is it even worthwhile trying to bring those in so people can see them, or should we just get the leaders’ daughter to have a talk with them so only the ones in their… um, most natural treasure chest with fangs state show up… and then how do you entertain [i]those?!”[/i] “So we were gathered here today, specifically the three of us, to try to figure this part out,” Meadoweclipse nods. “It doesn’t matter so much that all the younger ones ran off. And the three of us are old enough to be perfectly responsible for ourselves and operate this sort of place well enough.” “Besides, if we get truly lost as to how to handle something, plenty of the familiars are intelligent.” Cherish dismisses the notion of adult supervision without even bringing it up. “The Beastclan representatives— and we sure do have a lot of them— are overall delighted with this project. Something about increased social interaction and positive opportunities for interaction with dragons who might be wary of them. Ambassadors. Mission to the world.” “And they want to help keep familiars safe and happy, of course.” Inky nods. “Especially the prince who showed up because of the care and love we show our familiars. He’s really helpful and we all appreciate him a lot here.” “But, well, there it is.” Cherish shakes his head and closes his eyes again, cuddling more into the cat with horns at his side. “There’s a lot going on today, so we’re open to any advice we can get. None of these are animals, really, but they’re also the precious friends of everyone here.” … Yeah, it really doesn’t look like a nursery as much now that you’ve heard the three talking in the manner of… well, not very young dragons. And seen the research notes. And engineering books. And… [b]Prompt:[/b] What would be suitable enrichment for familiars that aren’t animals? (This means the categories of plant, plant/animal such as Stranglers, golems, or mimics. [b]Bonus Question:[/b] What kind of safety precautions should be taken— for the safety of both the guests and the familiars? (Such as how to approach some of the plant familiars which are very shy and scared, how to keep hostility from breaking out among mimics/golems and guests, any other special safety concerns…) Meanwhile, the very fluffy and stylish bird has flown back in and landed on the pile of pillows, holding out a note it's been clutching in its claws. Inky picks the note up to take a look, then holds it out so you and the other two can see. "Huh, is [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937/1#post_57339249]that old guy[/url] having bird trouble?" Cherish wants to know. It seems like Arcane's way of speaking has just given the poor researcher this description in all of their minds. He looks over at the wall of the cave Cian's been sticking suggestions onto. "Okay, we did learn about this yesterday. Birds like shiny things and toys. Shiny toys. And singing." Meadow looks at the suggestion wall for far longer and with far more trepidation. "... I think more importantly someone should warn him that the birds have acquired knives..."

[color=transparent]____________[/color][b]Today's Cast[/b] [columns] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65490894][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/654909/65490894p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65490895][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/654909/65490895p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/68081664][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/680817/68081664p.png[/img][/url] [/columns] [columns] [color=transparent]___[/color][b]Snow[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]______[/color][b]Cricket[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]______[/color][b]VISION (multigaze warning)[/b] [/columns] “Beastclan ambassadors.” “Beastclan ambassadors.” The twin Mirror hatchlings appear to be deep in thought when you see them. One is cuddling a cat with horns. The other is being cuddled by a fluffy sloth-like [i]creature[/i] with little wings, while cuddling his own plushie of an orca whale. Mostly being deep in thought involves staying still instead of running around and bothering things. Their familiars are here to assist with this— or at least the pukasloth is, because that capricat does not look like it’s about to discourage anything resembling mischief. It may in fact have bonded with the hatchling at its side through excessive amounts of getting up to mischief together. A sad day when a pukasloth is the most responsible being immediately in sight. “We have a lot of them,” Snow explains when he looks up to see you there. It doesn’t explain much. From the counter, you hear the familiar sounds of a drink being made for you— but there’s no one there when you look over. Arcane and his bear are nowhere to be found, and he doesn’t tend to leave it behind. It just shows up wherever he is. Even if it’s taking a nap at the time. You look away. The clatter resumes. You look over. Silence. Stillness. Peace. And a half-finished mix of ingredients in what you’re really hoping is a blender. The twins are acting like they haven’t noticed a thing when you look back at them. Either it’s deliberate, or they’re deaf. And they’re not deaf. “They’re really helpful,” Cricket continues after several very, very long moments of silence, not addressing the blender situation at all. “They’re usually hostile towards dragons. Nerith tells us about it sometimes— she’s one of our clan leaders, and those three are the main fighters of this clan. She’s met so, so many beasts, including those from the beastclans, and most of them are hostile. They won’t even talk to her. They won’t even talk to [i]Selrath.[/i]” “Selrath is one of the other three,” Snow adds helpfully. “She’s the one who adopted us. All of us. Everything.” “If you met her, you’d see someone whose heart has room for everyone in the world.” “Yeah. She’ll love anything. Anyone. If it gives her a reason to. And if she loves it, the other two will let it stay here. With us. As long as it promises to be part of this clan, which includes not fighting for real with anyone here. Resolve all your arguments using words.” “But she’s one of our main fighters too. She always has been, for this clan. Because she loves so much, including her partners.” “And if you love something, you have something to protect.” “And that includes the Beastclans,” Cricket continues on, as if they hadn’t gotten slightly distracted and off onto a tangent. “She’s told us about it— she’ll tell you all kinds of stories. All the older ones will. Like the [i]really[/i] older ones. Even those creatures who had never done anything but attack, hurt, and try to kill her and her partners. The first time that a battle ended because someone wanted to talk to her, of course the three of them would talk to them.” “There’s [i]so many[/i] of them now.” Snow rolls a bit. It’s hard to stay still for too long. Nearby, on the counter, your drink is finished. Neither hatchling is paying it any mind. “They’re really nice. And really helpful. Especially for this. They’re good at talking to the creatures that are more like them than like us, that we can’t talk to. They can help explain how to make sure things are appropriately taken care of and not accidentally injured. And it’s really good for helping make sure we can put a bunch of creatures in one space and keep them from fighting. They have so many suggestions.” “So we were thinking, wouldn’t this also be a really great and valuable thing for other dragon clans? Like, if they’re used to the Beastclans being hostile, if they come here, they can meet a lot of very friendly and helpful ones who are already really used to getting along and cooperating with dragons— at least if the dragons aren’t hostile. Hostility isn’t allowed anyway. Maybe they can get advice on forming alliances or bettering relationships with hostile Beastclan members near them. It’d be really cool if they could!” A pink Coatl hatchling pushes his head through a curtain hanging on part of a cave wall. He’s clearly not happy. [i]“SUPERVISION.”[/i] His voice is half song, half incredibly forceful pronouncement that vibrates and shakes the air around him. The wolf at his side growls to make sure displeasure is being expressed forcefully enough. “Oops, VISION found us~” Snow doesn’t sound remotely apologetic. Or like he regrets anything. [i]”BEHAVE,”[/i] the Coatl sing-proclaims. It’s almost as if there is a psychic effort to induce regret in the two completely incorrigible Mirrors. It’s not working in the least. “Talk normally.” Cricket just rolls over, completely regret-free. “We’ve got a guest. A helper. Same thing, right?” “Oh. My apologies. Hello.” VISION extracts himself from the curtain. The pure white sparkles surrounding him almost blend in with the ornamental decorations dotting his entire body. Or so you think, until he turns to face you, and that involves maneuvering his entire body. Unlike Cherish, this Coatl is taking advantage of being able to stare at you with all of his eyes— all the ones that aren’t watching the Mirrors suspiciously, that is. “We’re delighted to have a guest. Have they prepared your drink?” “Yes,” the twins say at once. Incorrigible. There [i]is[/i] a drink on the counter, so VISION merely accepts this one. Something on the counter wiggles slightly. Do you detect amusement from that direction? “What were we discussing?” VISION rolls his body and eyes somewhat to fix the twins with his stare instead. “Beastclan ambassadors.” “… Not how to deal with familiars who require drastically different temperatures in their normal living environments when we’re keeping them all in the same outside environment? Even if the outside is originally a field with caves and a vast thorn wall for defense.” It seems there had been an original topic the hatchlings wanted help with today. And then the twins went and shook off the one who was apparently supposed to be supervising them. “You summarised it so neatly that we don’t need to bring it up, right~ Let’s just ask this guy about both.” Yep. The twins don’t feel an ounce of regret. Will they ever? [b]Prompt:[/b] Do you think it would be helpful to introduce dragons from other clans who visit to Beastclan representatives instead of only animals? What can you think of that would make those meetings go more smoothly? (Dryads and the like, any vaguely humanoid familiar, are included here because the hatchlings sure don’t know.) [b]Bonus Question:[/b] How do you deal with familiars who require drastically different temperatures in their normal living environments when we’re keeping them all in the same outside environment? The outside environment in its original state is a very large field with access to caves and cave systems through those, and entirely surrounded by a thick barrier of thorns and trees. Access to it is solely through the cat cafe building. “Monkeys. Monkey [i]puzzle patch.[/i] And [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937/1#post_57339249]that guy[/url] already included a list of stuff that’d be good for that kind of thing. Wow, he’s so helpful.” Cricket tosses the note that the Voguepuff had been carrying over in VISION’s direction so it can be double-checked by someone more responsible than the twins. Which isn’t hard to achieve, because they are the epitome of irresponsible. “Bring back a copy of the schematics for the finished puzzle,” VISION orders the fluffy bird. It snuggles into him for several moments because it wants more pets and praise, which he obligingly dispenses. … None of the hatchlings here have any idea at all the Voguepuff isn’t supposed to be doing this…

[color=transparent]______________________[/color][b]Today's Cast[/b] [columns] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93567713][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/935678/93567713p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93729426][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/937295/93729426p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84087282][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/840873/84087282p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90033395][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/900334/90033395p.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93017344][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/930174/93017344p.png[/img][/url] [/columns] [columns] [color=transparent]____[/color][b]Latte[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______[/color][b]Sadie[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______[/color][b]JieJie[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_____[/color][b]Chiharu[/b] [nextcol] [color=transparent]______[/color][b]Manolo[/b] [/columns] “Hi!” Sadie greets you enthusiastically as soon as you step into the cafe. When you look around, the atmosphere here is certainly different from the past days— today, it just looks like the hatchlings are playing around. Sadie herself has her blue lizard with her and is sitting over with a pink Aether and equally pink lizard. Those [i]are[/i] two of the friendliest-looking lizards you’ve ever seen, you’ll give the cafe that much. Some other, smaller lizards— one that seems to glow, some with very friendly-looking smiles that reveal how sharp their teeth are, and even one that seems to have been talked into wearing a lizard-sized crown— are being bribed with what you presume are lizard treats in the hopes of getting them to learn how to play with a ball. The frogs hopping around nearby seem to have made more progress with the idea of getting the ball to go vaguely in each other’s directions. “Did you know there’s two different kinds of water?” a brown Coatl hatchling asks. None of the beings in the cave seem to be her pet so much as the tired-looking Fire Sprite supervising from nearby seems to be in charge of looking after her, and by proxy, the other hatchlings here. Two of the tortoises letting her pet them have brilliant arrays of flowers growing off of their shells. One looks to actually be an elemental spirit of water magic. The smallest is contentedly munching a carrot. “Oh— hi, I’m Latte. We learned that today!” “We’re trying to figure out what animals that live in water like!” Sadie agrees. “The first thing we learned is that we’ll need two ponds. At least. And we have to be very careful to separate them. We’ve never been to see water with salt in it, so we didn’t know it existed.” “Don’t worry, though, um…” An Imperial hatchling with a plushie of a large orange koi fish says. “We brought in advisors to try to figure it out. And we did figure out about the water.” The advisors he gestures towards seem to include a weasel of all things, though it is carrying seashells. And a miniature octopus. That one [i]does[/i] seem to have gotten into lobbing lightweight plastic balls at things, though. “The older ones of us and the Maren are out dealing more with actual pool construction. We were told to try to figure out enrichment.” “That’s JieJie, that’s Manolo, and that’s Chiharu.” Sadie indicates the Imperial, Aether, and Gaoler in turn, to save them the pain of introducing themselves. “None of us really know much about water friends… Except lizards. So I’m seeing if other lizards like playing games!” The banging around on the counter ceases. You hadn’t really noticed it starting up, given how much is going on in here today. When Manolo notices you look over at it, she looks excited. “Oh. Oh! Did you see! The mimics are learning really well already! Cherish stopped by earlier so we’d know it was there… but it’s really nice…” “Arcane said that’s why he can trust us here alone…” Chiharu certainly doesn’t look too confident in their shared ability to make drinks. At least not drinkable ones. No matter what Arcane whips up, it [i]is[/i] at least drinkable on a technical level, if sometimes chewy. “Well… we’re trying toys out right now… Isyth said her fish like swimming through hoops. The slink liked hoops. And the smaller lizards did. Or at least they got very good with them.” It seems like much of what Chiharu herself has learned is that crabs like grabbing onto toys and dislike the part where they let go of them. Or at least, there are several crabs who have been given toys of some sort and don’t seem to be much good at using them instead of scuttling around and waving them about as if they were given prizes. “We can’t try much with fish since we don’t have a lot of water in here,” JieJie admits. “Or any other species that primarily lives in water. Which is a lot of them…” In his corner, frogs, wavehoppers, coralclimbers, and the like, are having a great time climbing up and down an orange bear that seems to be having a great time letting them. JieJie’s working on tying ropes together to make… something. It’s not clear what. A completely frog-free young deer is lying next to him, so an agreement of some sort has been worked out. “We’d love to hear anything you could come up with!” Latte is doing her best to be encouraging. “We’re trying things we know that our friends who live in a lot of water like! And then working on it from there!” “Chasing balls,” Manolo fills in, as if the brightly coloured plastic balls scattered all over didn’t make that obvious enough. “Remora and Muma like chasing balls…” [b]Prompt:[/b] What would be good enrichment for semi-aquatic and aquatic familiars? [b]Bonus Question:[/b] On behalf of the twins currently in time out for shaking off their supervisor, what's a good way to play fetch underwater or in water? Meanwhile, over in a different location, Arcane’s expression is grim. The Voguepuff has brought back a picture and notes, as it does… and yet. “It was just you and the twins yesterday, wasn’t it? Who [i]knows[/i] what they could’ve told him…” “Yes,” VISION affirms. “They must have put this idea in his head. And we don’t know what it is.” “It’s [i]real,[/i] I’ll give them that much, but…” Arcane stares at their illicit copy of [url= https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937/1#post_57339249]the researcher’s frantic rambling.[/url] “He’s a Fae. That idiot. What’s he gonna do if he lures one to him? How’s he plan to stand up against wolves? That’s smaller than [i]us.[/i] Probably weaker, too.” “… Look. I’ll get a message sent to Latte and Sadie so whoever shows up at the cafe will learn about this and go save him. Meanwhile, round up every wolf we’ve got. You’ve got Hati. So you’re their alpha, basically. Take the golem hounds while you’re at it. It’s really pathetic that you’ll probably be better equipped for a fight than him… but, that pathetic guy keeps calling us research assistants. Go make sure he doesn’t die.” “… Yes.” VISION looks nearly as somber as Arcane does in this moment. “Until we can make sure he’ll be fine. That’s all.”

[b]Today's Cast[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/40148883][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/401489/40148883p.png[/img][/url] [color=transparent]__[/color][b]Arcane[/b] “… Do you know how old ????????? is?” The dark pink hatchling is alone today, and all the more introspective for it. You can’t quite make out what he said. Six years, maybe. Or an eternity, judging by the look in his eyes. “?????????. Like this. Never changing.” He climbs up onto the counter to take your daily monetary offering and start making a drink— just like usual, but this time it’s so clear his heart isn’t in it. He’s not even looking at what he’s picking up. Although that part is usual for him, actually. “No matter what the world around me does, I stay the way I am.” “… Nothing has ever changed it. I doubt anything ever will.” What do you even say to that? Does he want you to say anything at all? “Do you find us strange?” He isn’t looking at you, either. “Dragons who should be very young managing all of this on their own, the familiars’ help aside. The way I talk. The way Cian is. Some of us are young, but most of us… Young dragons, hatchlings, who’ve been alive long enough to be venerable elders… There’s no word for that. No expectation. Tch.” Arcane shakes his head and shoves a cup that froths wildly and threatens to spill all over the counter if you so much as touch it at you. “You didn’t come to listen to this, I’ll get on with it.” “Today we’re talking about things as strange as me, though.” He sings out a series of notes that sound exactly like how he’d said ????????? and make your head hurt. A cat with three heads is the first to respond, getting lazily up off the floor and coming over to nuzzle into his side. A cat in a cat cafe, that’s normal enough— and then the curtain separating this cave from deeper inside is pushed aside by an eager mass of tentacles that you might think of as an octopus if it wasn’t bristling. A vaguely bird-like [i]creature[/i] with too many eyes runs after it on more easily discernible legs and then there just [i]are[/i] sheep-like creatures in the room that certainly look fluffy. A black cat, also with three heads, seems to have appeared out of nowhere with them. Tangles of tentacles, maybe, and too many eyes, or at least you think those are eyes, seem to be a theme today. Two giant eyeballs are staring at you. Their tentacles are wriggling. Those are definitely eyes. You really can’t say what most of these are, or even resemble, but some are also certainly floating. That is definitely a lot of creatures that Arcane has assembled. Unsettlingly friendly creatures that, apparently, are perfectly willing to be petted, because the hatchling is now doing so. “Yes, yes, good boy, good boy, good girl, good being that transcends all known concepts of gender,” Arcane coos at the assembled mob. He’s petting them as diligently as he can. Some are purring. Some that aren’t the cats are purring. One goes “MWEEEERRRRP”. “Yeah, these ones I couldn’t just tell you about,” he says, probably in your direction. He’s being swarmed by creatures so it’s a bit hard to tell. “You can pet if you want. For… research. We have no idea where any of them came from, aside from ‘on the other side of an ominous green portal’, so… as I said, no idea. These ones are friendly, but how do you even [i]begin[/i] to keep them entertained? They like me the best— um, some of the others have problems with them actually, and an older Veilspun stopped by and… well, [i]something[/i] bad happened, I think he’s actually allergic to the octopus-salamander ones. There’s so little that’s similar about them but they all come from the same place…” He shakes his head. Or, you think he does. It’s hard to see him now through the tangles of tentacles and maybe-not-tentacle limbs. Some are definitely tails. Some seem more like snakes. Or are they sentient tentacles? “The cute kitties would be great here normally but they [i]insist[/i] on bringing their friends. Sadie and Latte are the best with them but even they can’t keep the cats from somehow escaping everything and bringing all their friends back with them. I think the fluffy— not those, the [i]fluffy[/i] fluffy— ones can teleport. Like, we can’t keep them out! We don’t even have the choice to not feature the kitties anymore, because they figured out how to break in! Aaah… we [i]really[/i] need help here, anything you can think of, please…” [b]Prompt:[/b] What would be suitable enrichment for familiars from the Forbidden Portal? [b]Bonus Question:[/b] Any suggestions for safe Veilspun/Pupowl interaction? Especially for Veilspun hatchlings. [i]”RETURNED.”[/i] VISION announces during a free moment at the cafe. There’s a Voguepuff riding on his back. He doesn’t mind. A large wolf that practically radiates power is at his side. Arcane looks up and over at him. “Oh, good. He notice you?” “I am far better at ‘noticing’.” He dismisses the idea without even sparing it a thought. “Right, cool. No one came to bother me or Cian about where you and also our entire pack of wolves was, so I don’t think anyone here noticed either. Itoth actually brought back [i]more[/i] wolves, the weird swamp spirit construct ones that do a really good job of camouflage, so I’m not sure anyone would ever really notice we had slightly fewer wolves than average for some hours there.” Unless they were looking for Hati, Arcane supposes. Even then that’s likely to be VISION doing it in the first place. Inky hadn’t asked further questions about where all the golem dogs were after hearing what the twins had been up to, either. The Voguepuff flutters proudly over to Arcane to deliver its purloined notes in exchange for praise. It gets praise. And treats. He scans said notes briefly before sticking them to the wall. “Cool, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3357937/1#post_57339249]old guy’s[/url] back to finding normal things that aren’t our fault if they maul him. Kangaroos. I’ll keep this on the wall so the guests can go find him if he’s lost. And he’ll have a nice spare copy of his research notes if he loses them. Again.”