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Post by Nerius on Jun 24, 2020 21:30:56 GMT -6
[1] Bugs weren't really Nerius' area of expertise, but compared to some of the things that wound up on the quest board, was a rather simple task. Or, at least, it would have been, if Nerius actually had any proper bug catching equipment. People usually used nets to capture flying insects, which was something he didn't own. He'd done his best to make a substitute, and had jerry rigged a 'net' out of a wire coat hanger, duct tape, a broom, and an old flimsy scarf. He at least had proper jars, with holes poked in the top and everything, which he carried in a backpack.
He'd also brought a creature along with him, the crossbreed was a newer addition, and one likely to not scare off or eat any moths they might come across, and was easier to manage than something like a sarane hatchling. Shahrazad also had a natural glow, and he hoped that might attract the moths.
(Nerius: 1/20) (Shahrazad: 0, 1/5 | 2, 1/5)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 24, 2020 22:18:27 GMT -6
[2]
Not that Nerius was sure he'd know a 'glow moth' if he saw one, the text part of the flier may have looked professional, but the image... well, it looked like the printer had been running out of ink at that point. The name of the critters was at least straightforward, and it presumably looked like a moth, and it glowed. He doubted there would be a lot of insects with that description that weren't the creature in question.
Though he hadn't seen any bugs yet, just a rather large bat that may have been someone's escaped pet. It was the public park, after all. Well, time to see if his 'lure' would be any help. Nerius blew on the whistle, the sound more like a birdsong than what the metal suggested, and summoned the crossbreed. She was certainly luminous in the dark, and even if it didn't attract glowmoths, at least he'd have a nice light to search by.
(Nerius: 2/20) (Shahrazad: 0, 2/5 | 2, 2/5)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 24, 2020 22:36:09 GMT -6
[3]
The crossbreed didn't understand speech, but apparently had a connection to whoever held the whistle. And he could feel a hint of magic, though wasn't able to sense anything from Shahrazad in return.
"I don't suppose you understand what 'help me find glowing moths' means?" he asked the crossbreed, not truly expecting an answer in return. The species was supposed to be able to pick up on 'wants', hopefully she also picked up on how he'd rather not have magic wasted on bugs. For the djinn like creature could learn magic, but unlike node based magic, could only learn a limited amount.
So most likely, he'd be relying on old fashioned searching, if only he had a better idea where to start looking. The flier hadn't had any details on where one might find a glowmoth, other than 'the park'. Did the like flowers? Wooded areas? Open spaces? There was plenty of the latter, and Nerius hadn't seen any moths yet.
(Nerius: 3/20) (Shahrazad: 0, 3/5 | 2, 3/5)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 24, 2020 22:55:54 GMT -6
[4]
Nerius could see a cluster of plants in the distance, it was too dark to tell exactly what they were, and he decided he'd look for moths there. He hadn't seen any in the open areas so far, maybe they liked plants better?
It was a short walk, and a closer look showed a few trees, several leafy ground plants, and, judging by the scent, honeysuckle. He decided to search in the leafy plants first, lots of places for little moths to hide. Shahrazad was helping by floating above his shoulder, she wasn't doing anything per say, but the light she cast made it possible for Nerius to actually see what he was doing. So far just a lot of leaves, twigs, and- ow thorns!
Nerius pulled his hand back, maybe that wasn't the best place to search, he hadn't brought any gloves to keep his hands safe. Moths didn't bite, er.. he didn't think they did.
(Nerius: 4/20) (Shahrazad: 0, 4/5 | 2, 4/5)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 25, 2020 16:22:50 GMT -6
[5]
He didn't appear to be bleeding at least, though it was difficult to tell for sure with the odd pink lighting, but he didn't feel any either, so that was a good sign. Nerius was distracted from looking over his hands for injuries by a soft, bird like call, which he realized came from the crossbreed. She was trying to get his attention, and as soon as he looked up, Nerius realized why.
There was something small and glowing fluttering around Shahrazad's wings, and more over by the honeysuckle! Nerius was pretty sure the bright little critters were glowmoths, they didn't move like fireflies, but fluttered more like butterflies, or, well, moths. He wouldn't know for sure until he turned them in, which led to the next difficulty: actually catching them. There was no telling how his very janky 'net' would do, but there was only one way to find out. Nerius picked up the net from where he'd set it down to search, and slowly crept toward a moth.
(Nerius: 5/20) (Shahrazad: 1, 5/10 | 3, 5/10)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 30, 2020 22:16:38 GMT -6
[6]
Closer, closer.. he felt like a sarane hatchling trying to catch "prey". The moth at least seemed uninterested in him, and after a few seconds, Nerius was able to get close enough to reach it with the "net". He swung the makeshift thing at the moth, but the material he'd used as the netting was loud as it moved through the air, and the moth started, and fluttered out of reach. At least it hadn't broken, so he had another shot at catching the little bug.
The moth was on the move now, and Nerius abandoned stealth for speed... and managed to catch his crossbreed. The moth was untouched, and fluttered off to join its friends by the honeysuckle bush. Shahrazad was mostly surprised to suddenly be in a net, but wasn't thrilled with the prospect either. Nerius winced a little, and carefully tried to untangle her, while sheepishly telling the crossbreed, "Sorry."
(Nerius: 6/20) (Shahrazad: 1, 6/10 | 3, 6/10)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 30, 2020 22:28:57 GMT -6
[7]
She made a rather unhappy noise as she was being untangled, but at least didn't wiggle around or struggle, so Nerius was able to remove the makeshift net without damaging either the familiar, or it. The former was more sturdy than the latter, but he'd rather harm the net than the living creature. She still didn't look terribly happy, but at least didn't seem to be ready to sabotage his moth catching.
Speaking of moths, they were all over by the honeysuckle now, and slowly and quietly, Nerius headed to the bush, trying not to startle the moths with loud noises or sudden movements. At least, he hoped that would work... or maybe that's what you were supposed to do while hunting deer? It didn't seem to be harming his chances at getting close to the glowing bugs at least, and soon, the fluttery little critters were in reach of his net.
(Nerius: 7/20) (Shahrazad: 1, 7/10 | 3, 7/10)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 30, 2020 22:34:55 GMT -6
[8]
Making sure first that Shahrazad was out of reach, and she was, seeming have learned from his earlier net flinging, Nerius swung the net at one of the moths. And missed, once again. Well, at least there were plenty here, assuming these were, in fact, glowmoths. He took another swing at a fluttering spot of glowing, and caught it!
Okay, now he just needed to get out a jar before it somehow managed to escape the net. The thing was poorly put together, and Nerius didn't really trust it to last. He probably should have removed a few jars before trying to catch a moth, but it was too late for that now. He had one in the net, and carefully, he put it down, making sure to push the edge of it against the ground so the moth couldn't escape. Once it was reasonably secure, he shifting his backpack off his shoulders, and took out a jar.
(Nerius: 8/20) (Shahrazad: 1, 8/10 | 3, 8/10)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 30, 2020 22:40:21 GMT -6
[9]
Now how to get it in to the jar? It wasn't like sliding a piece of paper under a cup he'd caught a spider in. It wasn't as fast as a spider, at least, and he could try to keep the net folded, before putting the opening around the jar. Carefully, he tried just that, and managed to shift the bug into the jar. Now he needed the lid, that he could do the spider catching trick with, at least.
Once the lid was securely on, Nerius took a closer look at what he'd caught, moving closer to Shahrazad to use the crossbreed as a light source. It wasn't a glowmoth. He still didn't know what a glowmoth looked like, but he knew what a firefly looked like, and that, was a firefly. Nerius made a frustrated sigh as he frowned at the bug, and decided not to release it, just so that he didn't catch it on accident again.
(Nerius: 9/20) (Shahrazad: 1, 9/10 | 3, 9/10)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 30, 2020 22:46:21 GMT -6
[10]
The light of the glowmoths must have attracted the fireflies, that, or the honeysuckle, Nerius didn't know what either of the species ate. At least there were still plenty of little critters fluttering around. It was difficult to tell which was which in the dim light, but after a bit of observation, Nerius realized the most obvious difference was how they moved. The moths had more of uh.. a fluttery movement, and the fireflies had more of a buzzy movement.
Non technical terms aside, Nerius was able to.. probably.. tell the difference this time. He circled around the bush a little, not wanting to accidentally catch Shahrazad again, though she was quite the hit with glowmoths and fireflies alike. Observing the insects for a few moments, Nerius chose one he thought was a moth, and took a swing with the net, and somewhat to his own surprise, managed to catch it on the first try. He then transferred it to a jar, and took a closer look to check that it actually was a glowmoth.
(Nerius: 10/20 +Added!) (Shahrazad: 2, 10/15 | 4, 10/15)
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Post by Jack on Jul 2, 2020 18:41:28 GMT -6
You've managed to collect some glowmoths! Let's hope they'll accept the slightly crispy ones...
[You have rolled a success! Your QP will be added to the bank and your reward sent shortly.]
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