Animal Encounters

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Reminds me a bit of the Rabbit of Caerbannog scene in Monty Python & the Holy Grail.

Agree with your point. A single, small critter with rabies still poses a deadly threat to PCs.



They are definitely ugly-cute, IMHO. And you really can smell a pack coming if you're downwind of them.

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After the last 12 months of raising a labradoodle from the age of 12 weeks, and seeing how she isn't mean, she's just crazy (she's a people person who, if you let her, literally greets you at the door by standing on two legs, slapping her paws on your shoulders, and demanding chin scratches), I could easily see an animal encounter gone wrong - accidentally shooting the pet of the NPC you are trying to find.

[mpipes]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

After the last 12 months of raising a labradoodle from the age of 12 weeks, and seeing how she isn't mean, she's just crazy (she's a people person who, if you let her, literally greets you at the door by standing on two legs, slapping her paws on your shoulders, and demanding chin scratches), I could easily see an animal encounter gone wrong - accidentally shooting the pet of the NPC you are trying to find.

Even worse, you kill the adored pet of an assassin, who tracks the team with the goal to kill each and everyone.

Sounds like a movie!

[mpipes]

There is an even worse scenario that dawned on me.

The group encounters a sick bat, and one of the characters manages to get bitten. That triggers an emergency, high priority quest to track down a viable rabies treatment protocol in their current predicament.

[Brit]

"Barcelona tackles roaming wild boar problem".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-59352740

[Matt Wiser]

Call me a reluctant cat guy. Oh, I love dogs, and do want a Golden Lab in time, but my last two pets have been cats. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area, and outdoor cats and coyotes do not mix....Yet the last cat lived for twelve years in an area with a lot of coyotes. He just didn't see 13.

Here's a very rare animal encounter you could use... Whether one's party is in the Pacific NW, the Sierras or SoCal Mountains, Florida/Georgia, East Texas/Louisiana, Ohio, the Appalachians, Rockies, or anyplace swampy/wooded/mountainous. Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Grassman, Skunk Ape, the Fouke Monster, or whatever you want to call him/it. The Skunk Ape was in Urban Guerilla (but no stats provided), if you'll recall. With human numbers reduced, their numbers might increase slightly, so the chances of encountering one would be increased, especially if one's party or the community they are located does a lot of deer or other hunting. Or you're camped in an area where a BF considers it to be his territory, and he sure doesn't want you there!

What do you fellows think?

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

Call me a reluctant cat guy. Oh, I love dogs, and do want a Golden Lab in time, but my last two pets have been cats. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area, and outdoor cats and coyotes do not mix....Yet the last cat lived for twelve years in an area with a lot of coyotes. He just didn't see 13.

Here's a very rare animal encounter you could use... Whether one's party is in the Pacific NW, the Sierras or SoCal Mountains, Florida/Georgia, East Texas/Louisiana, Ohio, the Appalachians, Rockies, or anyplace swampy/wooded/mountainous. Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Grassman, Skunk Ape, the Fouke Monster, or whatever you want to call him/it. The Skunk Ape was in Urban Guerilla (but no stats provided), if you'll recall. With human numbers reduced, their numbers might increase slightly, so the chances of encountering one would be increased, especially if one's party or the community they are located does a lot of deer or other hunting. Or you're camped in an area where a BF considers it to be his territory, and he sure doesn't want you there!

What do you fellows think?

Yes, for most homestead animals, coyotes are horrible pests.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

What do you fellows think?

In the draft stage, I suggested to Tegyrius that he add a Sasquatch encounter option to his amazing Pacific Northwest Sourcebook, but I think he thought it would be too hokey or seem out of place. AFAIK, it didn't make into the final draft.

I think it would be interesting/funny for a campaign "bigfoot" to end up actually being a recluse wearing an ape suit (probably trying to keep strangers out of his territory).

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[Tegyrius]

I considered it, but the book was already so big that I didn't want to shoehorn any more in there.

To do the Pacific Northwest's supernatural landscape true justice, I would've also needed to cover its UFO history, the profound weirdness of Crater Lake, the PNW's high number of unexplained wilderness disappearances, several distinct water monsters, and the Pacific Northwest tree octopus.

- C.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

I considered it, but the book was already so big that I didn't want to shoehorn any more in there.

To do the Pacific Northwest's supernatural landscape true justice, I would've also needed to cover its UFO history, the profound weirdness of Crater Lake, the PNW's high number of unexplained wilderness disappearances, several distinct water monsters, and the Pacific Northwest tree octopus.

- C.

So enough for another "Twilight Nightmares" book.

[Brit]

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

the Pacific Northwest tree octopus. - C.

What!

It's on The Internet! It must be true!

https://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Raellus

In the draft stage, I suggested to Tegyrius that he add a Sasquatch encounter option to his amazing Pacific Northwest Sourcebook,

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My personal opinion is that, while 90% of Sasquatch (or what it's called in different parts of the country) sighting or photos are bogus/something the person thought they were but wasn't, but I think that the Sasquatch is a real creature, which is adept at hiding from and avoiding us humans. Though I think there are few legitimate sightings, Sasquatch is a real creature that is out there.

I don't think Sasquatch is related to humans, however. A more likely ancestor is Gigantopithicus, greatly evolved.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

Call me a reluctant cat guy. Oh, I love dogs, and do want a Golden Lab in time,

If your idea of a Golden Lab is the same as mine (a Golden Retriever/Lab mix), I had one until about three years ago, when he died at the age of 13 of liver cancer. If indeed you and I are talking about the same thing, the
AKC has recognized this as a distinct breed (though the official name is a Goldador -- a ridiculous name in my opinion -- Golden Lab would have a much better official name. They take a lot of upkeep because thay have a shorter version of the Golden's coat, and monthly trips to the groomer are a must.

I've had a lot of dogs, but Sam is one of those that I miss the most.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

After the last 12 months of raising a labradoodle from the age of 12 weeks, and seeing how she isn't mean, she's just crazy (she's a people person who, if you let her, literally greets you at the door by standing on two legs, slapping her paws on your shoulders, and demanding chin scratches), I could easily see an animal encounter gone wrong - accidentally shooting the pet of the NPC you are trying to find.

I had a Black Lab/Great Dane about 30 years ago who sounds just like her! Except -- 125 pounds...

[.45cultist]

My pet Vietnamese Pot-Bellied pig, Princess bangs on the door making horrible noises wanting her dinner. It sounds horrible and a city slicker wouldn't know what is behind the door!

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I had a Black Lab/Great Dane about 30 years ago who sounds just like her! Except -- 125 pounds...

I think I'll stick with Cammie at 65 lbs. She's strong enough that my wife and daughter can't really walk her when her nose is on something. The nose follows the scent, the dog follows the nose, and if you begin walking, she assumes you'll keep up... No problem when you stop as she'll just sit and wait, but when she's walking, it's at a fast pace.

And with the pandemic, meeting new people has been tough, resulting in her assuming that *everyone* she sees when we're on a walk absolutely wants her to run over and say hello.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

I think I'll stick with Cammie at 65 lbs. She's strong enough that my wife and daughter can't really walk her when her nose is on something. The nose follows the scent, the dog follows the nose, and if you begin walking, she assumes you'll keep up... No problem when you stop as she'll just sit and wait, but when she's walking, it's at a fast pace.

And with the pandemic, meeting new people has been tough, resulting in her assuming that *everyone* she sees when we're on a walk absolutely wants her to run over and say hello.

Pigs are like dog sized bulldozers and require one to child proof their home, but I love them. When I get a dog again, I plan on one raised to not harm the pigs and poultry.

[pmulcahy11b]

Another critter among the same vein as killer bees (more properly called Africanized Honeybees) is fire ants. Here in South Texas, they are responsible for the deaths of many pets and even some little kids. Some adults also get heavily stung or killed, often by mowing the grass. CPS workers are very careful when servicing electrical equipment; fire ants love to make nests in those places (a note to Scroungers in a T2K setting).

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

Another critter among the same vein as killer bees (more properly called Africanized Honeybees) is fire ants. Here in South Texas, they are responsible for the deaths of many pets and even some little kids. Some adults also get heavily stung or killed, often by mowing the grass. CPS workers are very careful when servicing electrical equipment; fire ants love to make nests in those places (a note to Scroungers in a T2K setting).

Encountered them when I lived in Florida. They wait until they've covered your unsuspecting foot then sting altogether at the same time. Luckily jumping in the pool made quick work of them, as did boiling water poured down their nest.

[Raellus]

Rats have long been viewed as dangerous to humans, and not without reason, but rats can also help them. Here's a positive animal encounter idea:

https://www.apopo.org/en/what-we-do/...RoCf-0QAvD_BwE

The locales where this appears to be going on are somewhat exotic, by T2k standards, but perhaps some enterprising Pole (or other nationality) could start their own rat-assisted mine-detection enterprise.

Credit to my teenage daughter for bringing this to my attention.

-

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Encountered them when I lived in Florida. They wait until they've covered your unsuspecting foot then sting altogether at the same time. Luckily jumping in the pool made quick work of them, as did boiling water poured down their nest.

All ants seem to like the 60HZ cycle of electronic stuff.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Encountered them when I lived in Florida. They wait until they've covered your unsuspecting foot then sting altogether at the same time. Luckily jumping in the pool made quick work of them, as did boiling water poured down their nest.

The CPS and Cable company workers in San Antonio and Bexar County generally carry multiple cans of really, really strong inset killing spray.

Note that I didn't say insect repellent. Their spray is designed to kill fire ants and some other insects on contact.