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Post by Renathan on Sept 4, 2018 3:39:25 GMT -6
Renathan gives the stallion the fruit at that point, realizing that it was going to take something much different than food in order to get him to pay an mind enough to produce the goop. If it was not a food reaction, then what was it? He had made plans just in case it was some kind of fear response, but he hoped that it would not be something like that. Perhaps it was a different kind of response, or maybe it had multiple things that could have caused it to act? Renathan thinks on this as the stallion reaches out and removes the strangely fragrant fruit without so much as a slight relief of the weight that had been on his palm. The stallion quickly removes the rind via chewing, releasing the tasty fruit inside. He eats the entire thing; rind and all. Renathan had been sure to choose a fruit that had an edible rind, just in case.
[5]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 8:55:34 GMT -6
Renathan had lots of plans for more training with the stallion, but he wasn't sure exactly how well he'd be able to train the equillion before actually needing the training in practicality. He had no idea how much longer it would go, but he hoped to at least finish his training list before giving it a complete break for a while. He wanted to at least finish the training for his favorite two creatures, after all! He'd been hoping to go through at least one more tournament, and hopefully win this time? He'd have to get his equillion trained up well, however. Renathan thinks for a moment, trying to figure out a good way of getting the stallion to secrete that goop for the attack pattern he'd been planning to use. He knew that the goop might not be completely applicable to all battles, but he figured that it would at least help in a pinch?
[6]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 9:04:38 GMT -6
Renathan still had to figure out how to get the stallion to react and create the goop so that they could train this particular trick. Renathan figured that if he could get the stallion to spit the goop at opponents, that they might be too stunned to be able to attack right away... Or maybe, the spit would work quite well in order to stun opponents for longer? Renathan finally picks a stick from off of the ground and holds it out for the stallion to take. The equillion does lean forward, stomping a hoof as he does so, and he opens his mouth quite wide. Renathan is once again able to see those big, intimidating fangs, and the glands behind them. Renathan then gently allows the stallion to take the stick, and he carefully pries the stick back ever so slightly, testing the glands a little bit. This did not elicit a response either, to Renathan's chagrin.
[7]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 9:17:37 GMT -6
Renathan had to think of another way... Perhaps eliciting the response would be simpler if it were intrinsically linked to the self-preservation instinct that Shy Guy seemed to have? Renathan waits until the stallion grows bored with the stick and drops it to the grassy earth before he begins to lead the stallion away. If the stallion was confused, he did not show it at all; despite all the strange angles Renathan had taken so far to try to get him to, well, drool for the lack of a better word. The stallion is quickly lead over to the false drake dummy again, the one Renathan had him practice his other moves on. By this point, the stallion had began to associate this thing with enemies and danger. Already, the stallion's nostrils were flaring in an aggravated manner. The equillion places himself in front of Renathan in an imposing manner, bodily blocking him from the dummy.
[8]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 9:27:48 GMT -6
Renathan usually would not allow a creature to patronize him in such a way, since it will cause the creature to act more like the 'alpha of the pack' so to speak... But when it came to Shy Guy, Renathan knew he should let him. The idea was for the creature to be protective of him, enough to keep him safe if push came to shove. As long as the stallion didn't start pushing him around and trying to control him, then they should be fine. If that did happen, Renathan would have to start training him a little harder, he figured. Renathan watches as the stallion paws the ground in front of him while eyeing the offending dummy. Renathan wonders exactly how to get the creature to begin drooling that substance... Renathan gently steps to the equillion's side and places his palm on the stallion's shoulder to guide him closer to the dummy.
[9]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 9:39:54 GMT -6
The vaguely bay-colored equillion stallion steps forward on light feet, led by Renathan like a lamb to the dummy. Renathan then breathes out, carefully, and decides that he was going to run the stallion through his attacking and defensive capabilities very quickly, so that he could get the stallion worked up. Perhaps it would even be work enough to cause the stallion to produce that goop that might be a pin in the battles to come? Renathan commands him again and again, working out a few of the attacks, then defending, and then attacking again. He was beginning to see how the stallion was going to work out in the future in battles; he was beginning to look very promising. Then, Renathan saw it- the dripping, blue and pink goo running down his chin slightly; a slight golden sheen to it. Yes, there it was! Renathan quickly calls out a new command just as he catches the stallion about to chew on a wing of the dummy.
[10]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 9:49:15 GMT -6
The four alternating whistle tones ring out in the air, crisp and clear. The summer days were beginning, just now, to grow shorter, and the noise almost reflected that in a lonely, strange sort of way. The stallion is beginning to realize by this point that the whistles always mean something. He was not as keen to that as Auburn was, perhaps because he was not a bird and vocalizations were not as intrinsically important for him as they would have been for her. Her species seemed to communicate verbally much more often than the larger, more bovid or equine equillion. The stallion looks up at Renathan, the goop dripping down his mouth thickly. Renathan quickly procures a small pink apple piece for the stallion, quickly showing him that he had done well. This was the first step to most of their training sessions, after all. Renathan quickly pets the equillion's chest, and then smiles. This was going to go well now, he was sure.
[11]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 10:01:06 GMT -6
After Shy Guy finished his apple piece, he was nuzzling around Renathan's pocket, trying to figure out where the apples were, and also what he had done originally to be able to get at those apples. Renathan gently pats the stallion's shoulder again, and then he gestures toward the dummy again. The stallion stamps a little bit, and then turns away. Renathan begins to run the stallion through some commands again, to get him worked up. This time, he can tell that the stallion continuously appears to be listening carefully, as if he is wondering exactly what he needed to do to get the treat. Finally, Renathan could tell that the stallion was getting back into the aggressive mood, snapping his jaw quickly... Renathan then whistles out the command with the alternating tones. The stallion almost immediately began to drool the strange liquid. Yes, that was it! Renathan waits until the stallion gives the drake dummy a half-hearted nip, just as he did earlier, to give him the apple piece. Yes, that should do well enough to get the opponent infected with the goop.
[12]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 10:18:38 GMT -6
Renathan knew that the stallion could probably really use this strange goop when biting to do some real damage, but for some reason he got the idea that maybe the stallion wouldn't be able to differentiate between what kinds of poison to put into the bite maybe? He didn't want to ever get it confused as to when the stallion needed to use his powerful venom or his intoxicating goop, after all. Renathan decides to keep them separate, anyway. The stallion takes the apple piece quickly, hardly chewing it before swallowing this time. Hopefully that meant that this would get easier from now on, maybe the stallion had caught on by this point? Renathan gives the stallion a pat, and then decides that he wants to try to get the stallion to do the goop process without being overly aggressive acting perhaps? Renathan waits for a moment for the stallion to get calmed down before he would start them up again.
[13]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 10:27:16 GMT -6
The stallion seemed calmer now, a few moments after the apple was given. Renathan then gives the call again, the alternating tone whistle so that the stallion would know to perform the previous action. The stallion slips a single ear forward, in a display of confusion, and then nips at the dummy, his teeth not quite connecting. The stallion was not secreting any of the goo at the moment, but Renathan had been prepared for that. He refused the treat to the stallion, and then gently pet the stallion's muzzle for a moment, to draw attention to it. Then, he quickly gives the alternating whistle tone again, in an attempt to get the stallion to use the goo again. The stallion was already a bit agitated before Renathan reached out, carefully moving the drake dummy. Oh, that was it! The stallion drooled a bit, aggressively snapping at the drake dummy again. Ah, so that was it!
[14]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 10:41:20 GMT -6
Renathan quickly handed over the crisp pink apple slice to the equillion, hoping that the behavior of getting this goop on the opponents would be well-remembered by the stallion due to the treat. Renathan hoped at some point that all of this training would really pay off; but he also wasn't sure if he wanted to go through the difficulty of possibly seeing the stallion lose. Renathan pets the equillion, and then steps back. Now, it was time to really start on the stallion's retention training! Renathan then began to run the stallion through this command again, pleased to see that the goo was becoming more and more easily conjured it seemed! Renathan alternated between the command, and apple treats when the command was aptly followed. It only took half an hour for Renathan to feel quite comfortable with the stallion's progress. Each time the whistle was made, the stallion would drool the euphoric-like goop. Yes, that would work just fine in battle, he thought!
[15] - [END of 'Euphoric Goop']
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 10:57:19 GMT -6
After feeling satisfied with working on the command for the goop, Renathan leaves the stallion in the middle of the paddock for a moment as he goes to leap the fence and fetch some of the riding gear. Renathan hopes to start the stallion up on some more riding commands now; namely one or two for show, and some for swimming. He wondered if he needed to take the stallion to the loch to be able to do better water-based training. However, he knew that they couldn't do the diving training today too much because he didn't bring the amulet that would allow him to breathe underwater... He hadn't tested it out yet anyway. Renathan hauls the equipment for riding over the fence, and quickly trots out to the stallion. He begins to tack up the equillion, and then carefully makes sure everything is just right. Then, Renathan mounts up onto the stallion with a quick hop and spring on his legs.
[1] - [START 'Up!']
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 11:13:21 GMT -6
The bay equillion was very used to Renathan sitting atop the saddle by this point, they'd been working together for a while now, and the jackalope was glad that they had gotten this far. The stallion hardly moved as Renathan settled himself on the saddle. It may have helped, of course, that Renathan had been very skilled at being a gentle rider when it came to mounts. He hoped at some point to learn how to perform mounted combat, of course! Renathan holds the hackamore's reins in his hands gently, ever so softly, since the stallion had always seemed to have a softer mouth. He had an idea as to what to do to get the desired behavior out of the stallion today. The idea today was to get him to rear up on his hind legs, and remain that way. Renathan figured it would be a nice and flashy behavior for shows on training creatures.
[2]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 11:19:28 GMT -6
Renathan is good and settled in the saddle now, it seems, so he figured he'd get the metaphorical show on the road, right? Renathan started by gently coaxing the stallion into some of their usual behaviors. They circle around a few of the obstacles in the paddock for a moment, and then he gets the stallion to leap over a few of the rocks without any issues. The equillion was happy enough to oblige him in these tried and true behaviors, no fuss. Renathan could not be happier with that of course! The stallion was, starting out, a very aggressive creature. That had made it difficult for Renathan to begin the training, but he was very glad that he had worked on it, though with difficulty. Now that Renathan was confident that the usual behaviors were fine, Renathan decided that they would start on the behavior. He knew that after he trained this one, other mounted behaviors could be worked on that built upon that idea.
[3]
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Post by Renathan on Sept 9, 2018 11:37:59 GMT -6
Renathan remembers that most creatures, when pressure was applied to the face gently, would rear up to relieve the pressure instinctively. Renathan knew that if he wanted the stallion to perform this rearing behavior for the entire time that he would have to make it very obvious that if he stopped rearing before the command was released that he would not get any treats. The stallion could tell at this point, perhaps via Renathan's body language, that he was going to be taught something else soon. Renathan allows the stallion to be lulled to a stop, and then he gently but firmly pulls both of the reins toward him. The stallion naturally rears up, flailing his front limbs in surprise. Renathan quickly drops the reigns back down to their regular position in his lap, so that the stallion will drop back down onto all fours. The stallion seems nervous, but he did well!
[4]
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