Ameena has absolutely no idea what these creatures are. They look like swans and lizards, and therefore could be like either or neither. She has absolutely no knowledge with which to make any assumptions nor presumptions. Perhaps that is a good thing?
Instead, she simpy observes. Luckily, Haynuus is able to see and even to a lesser extent smell what Ameena's keen senses are pointign out to her when she points them out. Haynuus can make sense of the things that Ameena spots, and together the two can can then make many reasonable guesses as to the creatures and their motives.
The creatures have long necks. While some predators have such things, usually it is the greenery eaters who need to stretch to get out of reach leaves or - in the case of swans - the deep weeds. Ameena cannot see any teeth nor claws on the creatures, another point in the favour of them being herbavores to Haynuus's mind.
The feet are very wide, again to Haynuus more like a water bird's for moving in the water than for chasing after prey on land.
Finally, while the smell of the two creatures is getting stronger to Ameena, to her the smell has been present for quite a while. These creatres are not merely passing through, nor do they usually simply swim aroudn the river. These creatures seem to be at home in this blasted region, and more importantly seem to be quite happy to move around it.
It does not make Haynuus any happier about the region itself, just adds a mystery that not even the circlet can make anything of.
The reason the animals smelt weird to Ameena was because - like their scaly nature - they seem to have no 'warm blood' smell that could be associated with mammals. Most likely they are cold blooded, and therefore replites despite their bird-like quirks.
Mini-dinosaurs anyone?
Hope you guys (well, Ameena mostly) are comfortable enough with the combined post above. And hope you think that's enough to be going on with!Sadly, Petal has not seen nor heard of such creatures as this, not in all her classes, nor even in the storybooks she had read to her as a small pixie.
Haynuus seems to be able to make many insights into the nature of the creature that she can - as a woodsland dweller - see the logic of.
However, Petal realises something that the others - without their magical inclination - haven't. Neither have mentioned, and Petal can see no signs of it with her own faerie sight, any signs of contamination from the region. If they do indeed walk on the land here,
one might reasonably expect some small dangling plantlife, or the unsightly lump of rock. After all, the grak-grak seemed to be struck by the place within a few minutes of sitting on the bank.
There could be many reason for this apparent lack of contamination, but Petal's mind has a theory. She knows that some animal skins have magially resistant properties. Indeed, there are certain breeds of dragons - told of in tales, but tales of sorcerers to their students - that could shun both steel and magic without thought, requiring a blow to soft spots where their natural armour had weakened.
Could these creatures have such an exterior? If so, it might explain why the creatures would settle here. A lack of predators (presumeably) and an immunity to that which would keep others out would make this place a miniature paradise for them. Especially with a river allowing them easy travel.
It was an interestign theory, but also a worry. If violence happened, Petal was already worried aboutthe reaction of casting a spell. Would she find she had taken such a risk, only for it to be for naught against them?
Better to hope they were peaceful!
Deephold half-listened to the talk on the creatures, but was more interested when Petal and Haynuus discussed the possibility of their magic going awry.
"The magic of mortals can indeed be powerful, but that is why at times like this I know I am right to trust in the High Lords of Order." The dwarf did not seem to consider his own abilities, apparently, as coming form the same source as Petal. Whether this was true, or a dangerous assuption, Petal had no way of knowing.It was not her path, although she was sure the priests of the fey gods did not speak as if it was a different magic.
As the group regarded the creatures, finally the grak-grak seemed to spot them too. It opened its mouth, and a wordless and unplesantly breathy hiss escaped its Haynuus-shaped mouth. A disturbing contrast to the real Haynuus. The grak-grak leaned forward, hunched and staring directly at the thing on the bank. For the first time since entering this region, the grak-grak seemed to be its old self. And that self was predatory and malevolent.
As if sensing the threat, the two creatures finally stopped regarding each other, and seemed to notice the group. Perhaps it was the grak-grak, or perhaps it was the sheer number of creatures they saw. The one in the water drifted away, while the one on the bank shuffled closer. Both waved their long necks towards the group with swift moions. Both opened their thin snouted mouths and let out a loud, fog-horn like cry.
It did not sound friendly.
Wow, Friday tomorrow already! Weird. Anyway, a long update, hope it has some actually useful information for you guys. I will try and find time this weekend to get a decent map also up for you all. Not that you are about to get into a fight. Just I like drawing maps
I think I would have preferred Petal saying the grak-grak's feet stink after all. Anyway, I think I just made the point moot of what we were gonna do now, since we seem to have about 7ft of angry grak-grak to deal with.
Remember guys, while it looks like Haynuus - and yes, despite my Scottish accent I meant the creatue looks like Haynuus, just with much nastier expression and body language - it counts as being unarmed. Therefore you don't generate AoO yourself doing anythign with magic or potions.