Chapter 50 - Information Gathering

I hardly sleep for the next few days, as I need to feed the baby Quetzalcoatl roughly every two hours. Crying her little 'Pyuh~' sound when she's hungry, I obediently feed her the mashed meat slurry I've prepared.

Actually feeding her turned out to be a bit of trial and error, and I end up using Complex Shape Body to turn one of my hands into a tube of sorts, the end of which is in the shape of a beak to mimic the mouth of the mother Quetzal. Stuffing it with food, then "regurgitating" the food into the chicks mouth, it works very well despite how bizarre the scene is.

She should soon be big enough for smaller chunks of meat, and then I don't have to do that anymore, at least until one of the other eggs turn out to need hand feeding like this one. Once she is on solids, I'll leave Delpha to take care of her for a few hours as I want to research what the other Pseudo Dragonoid eggs need, and prepare accordingly.

I could of course just wait for the baby to be independent, but making changes to the Lair will take time, and I don't have a lot of it. I am also an impatient person when it comes to things like this.

At least she isn't as ugly anymore. Her eyes aren't open quite yet, but it shouldn't be too long now. Poofy baby feathers coat her head, neck, chest and tops of her wings, thinning out and being replaced by scales as one moves below the wings.

In a while, this coat of downy feathers will be shed, replaced with the juvenile colors which she'll keep until she's sexually mature. 'Nuyh~' She shakes her head when I offer more, she's full. I sigh and clean up as she maneuvers her tail outside the nest and deposits a blob of waste. Prepackaged so the parent can easily grab and dispose of it outside the nest, it still smells.

Back to sleep it is, until the next time she's hungry at least.

A few days later

"That's all there is to it, just make sure she doesn't get at your fingers." I finish explaining the trick to keeping your fingertips when feeding the chick. Delpha attempts to put it into practice, only to take fright at the speed of which the young Quetzal snaps at the piece of meat.

"I-it's scary how fast she is." Delpha mutters as she tries again. I'd been worried that she wouldn't take food from anyone else, but it seems it doesn't matter who gives it, as long as it's given. "Have you thought of a name for her?" She asks as the baby scarfs down the piece she snatched from Delphas hand.

"Not really... I'm bad at naming things" I admit. "I suppose me naming her wouldn't work either, with the whole Namer thing..." Delpha sighs. I could always ask the others what we should nickname the Quetzalcoatl, as they've all taken on nicknames of their own, though those were self chosen.

"We could always just wait for her to tell us what she prefer herself." I mention. Delpha nods, gently petting the baby as she starts to doze off after her meal. "I vote for Puyo until then." She adds. Named after her noises, which is honestly what I'd gone with myself. "I have no objections." I say as I get up to leave.

"I'll be back as soon as I'm done." I tell Delpha before I exit the cave.

"Hi how can I-" The Guild Clerk freezes as she recognizes me. I've made sure to change up the humanoid form I use, opting for a Beastfolk female with Bihorn features, to hide the identity of the other one. Like this I'm known as the humanoid form preferred by the Great Monarch, and not Millibelle the Healer.

The Clerk curtsies, flustered at my presence. "I'm looking for information on rare Pseudo Dragonoids, do you have any books or the like that could help?" I ask, not minding how people are treating me. A mix of fear and awe, no doubt aided by my Social Titles.

"I-if you would follow me, I'll take you to the library." Although books cost to make, the Guild has more than enough resources to make copies of the ones more commonly read by Hunters to prepare for their work.

"H-here, this should be the Encyclopedia that details Pseudo Dragonoids." She unchains a book from its podium, the lock resonating with a bracelet she wears, before chaining the book to a socket at a reading table. "P-please tell me when you're done." She bows and leaves.

Even if the Guild has the resources to stock each Hall with a set, the World's Encyclopedia series is still a pricey collection of books, and many measures are taken to avoid theft of the copies. I read the title; 'World's Encyclopedia II-Addendum-XVI - Pseudo Dragonoids'. It seems to be a booster edition to the second volume; Monstrum, giving detailed information on Pseudo Dragonoids.

Let's see... Listed alphabetically... Here we go:

*Bidra - 3 Stars

- Habitat: Wetlands and freshwater lakes

- Diet: Smaller Itchyio-oids

- Description: A two-headed, amphibious Pseudo Dragonoid aligned with Water. Although small, it is feared for its potential. Once a Bidra reaches a certain age, it migrates to the Maretung Sea. If it survives the journey, it will Evolve into a Hydra upon reaching its goal.

- Strategy: Always fight this monster two on one! The heads will be confused as to which of the Hunters to target, and might end up fighting among themselves as a result, opening it up for attacks.

- Parts: Scales, hide, fins: Defensive equipment, adds Water defense. Teeth, claws: Offensive equipment, adds Water offense.*

*Lampetia - 4 Stars

- Habitat: Plains and grasslands

- Diet: Photosynthesis, occasionally meat

- Description: A dazzling Pseudo Dragonoid equipped with bright bioluminescent frills and whiskers. Oddly, guards herds of Barometz, defending them against potential predators. Much speculation as to the true nature of the relationship between the ??? Type Barometz and Lampetia abound, with some scholars being convinced that the Barometz spontaneously generate in the presence of a Lampetia, and no Barometz have been observed without a Lampetia close by.

- Strategy: Best left alone, but if one is to be hunted, bring protective eye-gear and equipment with high Light resistance, and focus on keeping as close to it as possible, making it hard for it to aim its Spells accurately.

- Parts: Scales, frills and whiskers: Defensive equipment, adds Light defense. Frills and whiskers can also be used to add Light damage to weapons.*

*Salamandra - 4 Stars

- Habitat: Deciduous forests with ponds or lakes

- Diet: Insectoids

- Description: Might at first glance be mistaken for a giant Amphibioid, this odd Pseudo Dragonoid normally prefers moist, dark places where it lies in ambush of ground-dwelling Insectoids. When defending itself, or during the mating season, it makes full use of its Fire alignment. Able to breathe impressive jets of fire, the males show off their prowess by lighting pyres made out of fallen branches, leaves and dead trees that they gather up. Both genders also grow a thick, white coat of fur during mating season, and copulation is performed upon the pyre the male constructs. The eggs are laid near lakes or other bodies of water, as the hatchlings have issues controlling their internal temperature.

- Strategy: Bait it into opening its mouth, then strike. If it is mating season, leave them alone! The Salamandras fur causes damage to the lungs if inhaled, and it readily detaches from the monster during a fight.

- Parts: Hide: Defensive equipment, adds Fire defense.*

*Tarasque - 5 Stars

- Habitat: River banks and plains near rivers

- Diet: Anything that it is able to kill

- Description: Originally classified as a Chimeroid, the Tarasque was reclassified upon the discovery that it could Evolve into a Dragonoid. Earth aligned, it combines rock-like defense with potent poisons secreted from its tail-stinger and startling speed, using its three pairs of legs to move its bulk with great ease. Despite the violence it normally displays, if one is to aid a Tarasque when it is hurt or bring it food, it becomes tame as a Fenhound. The issue would be getting close enough to aid it, as even when hurt or sick it still poses significant threat.

- Strategy: Best left alone, as their high defense and speed more than makes up for its limited offense, needing to get close to deal damage. Ironically, it is very susceptible to Earth Spells, as these tend to originate beneath the target, easily striking its weakest spot.

- Parts: Carapace, scales: incredible defensive properties, though hard to use because of this. Stinger, claws, teeth: Stinger adds Poison, claws and teeth are very sturdy, used to reinforce equipment.*

*Tatzelwurm - 3 Stars

- Habitat: Mountains

- Diet: Carnivorous

- Description: A distant relative of the Lindorm, this much smaller, but no less dangerous Pseudo Dragonoid is aligned with Dark, and utilizes poisons in addition to Dark Spells to hunt prey. Adept at stealth, despite its tendency to announce its presence to other Tatzelwurms via loud hisses and trills. Highly territorial, it's found that mimicking these sounds causes them to go into a frenzy, seeking out the source of the sound to confront the potential intruder to its territory.

- Strategy: Bring antidotes, or equipment that protects against poison, and confront it head on, making it less likely to use its magic. Its saliva and claws are poisonous, as well as the females possessing a light covering of bristles that can be scattered into the air like some Arachnoids do in order to blind or irritate foes, meaning full face protection is a must.

- Parts: Scales of the male: Suitable for armor, the scales of the female are covered in irritant hairs, making them unsuitable for use. Claws, fangs: Popular to use for daggers.*

Hm, seems that other than making some more bodies of water and making some adjustments to the plains, I'm good. I close the book and inform the Clerk that I'm done using it. I've been meaning to Dream again at some point, so I might as well do it now.

I return to the grove, and to my cave. Actually, what will happen to the people inside my Lair once I Dream?

*Upon you entering the Dream, all entities within the Lairs border are put in a state of suspension until the changes are complete. It will be as if time has stopped for them. Entities outside the border will not be suspended, so you might find that events of the World has progressed when you wake.*

So... I might wake up to a shit-fest. Ugh, there's always something, isn't it. No matter, this needs to be done.

I inform my Servants, as well as Delpha and Grandma of what I'm about to do. I just can't shake this sense of foreboding though...