The Beauty of the Garden

[Yerkan of Elish]

Curses. We have indeed learned nothing this day.

I will explore the top of the cliff for any further signs of the creature, but only for a short time. I will then return to waiting patiently to see what happens. From the cliff, I will watch over the happenings in the realm below. I will also watch what is happening here again reflected in the waves of the frozen ocean, hoping to spot the prints as I did before.

I, of course, also explain as much as I can about the Pak to Durin, using my own Knowledge of the thing and of such technologies, though Durin's far outranks mine. As near as I can tell, it is a centralized data pack for the creature. What it's purpose is, however, I do not know.

[Diamond Master]

"Hahahaha!"
The sound comes from too many directions, all at scattered times.
Gazing into the mirror, you hear "Rat ta ta! Rat ta ta, rat ta DAA!" and see the prints performing some kind of dance at the top of the cliff...after you have already been up there and back down again.
Soon an ash cloud has gathered, and all is quiet until the next misfortune.

[Yerkan of Elish]

Well it certainly seems proud of itself.

I think I will take this battle to the sslugs. The sneak is bound to be seen around there with all the misfortune caused by their presence.

At least, that is what I will appear to be doing. Thrash, can you make me a tunnel so that I can loop around towards the lava molt instead?

Not sure if this thing's got a strong sense of smell or has good vision or what, but I will cover my scent and remain hidden before entering the tunnel and after exiting. I will show up on the edge of the lava molt, where the flying reptiles are usually seen on the border of the arboretum.

[Diamond Master]

With your Trickery and trilobite, you think you have passed to the edge of the Lava Molt undetected.

[Great Thrash]

Tunnels? Easy.

[Volatilus]

I however will keep tabs on the furry fellow. I am far too stubborn to quit on a hunt I couldn't finish. I will shadow him as best as I can, hoping not to be spotted. If I am I will feint interest and lounge about all awhile making close note of what he does...

[Yerkan of Elish]

I will remain hidden near the lava molt, but wait on the creature...

There's a few things that I wish to do once it shows up. Firstly, I wish to simply observe it. I want to see how it acts when it thinks no one is directly observing it. I will keep a close eye on the Pak and see if I can learn anything else from it.

Secondly, I wish to see what happens if it has nothing at which to laugh. When there is an apparent misfortune, I will quickly and covertly solve it, removing the difficulty halfway through the creature's "mirth".

If I ever find myself undetected behind the sneak, I will attempt to puncture the Pak, or at least a cable, using the Loupe Estoc.

[Diamond Master]

The creature's mirth is not dependent on misfortune in the way heat is dependent on flame. Rather, misfortune is simply the primary element which triggers the creature's hilarity. When you rescue a gliding saurian from a quick death, the laughter subsides gradually and erupts again when the lizard later finds and bites at its rescuer.

Though the Sslugs beget a great deal of pain, the creature is only there and laughing when someone is being rolled over, crushed, or transmogrified. The destruction of the garden itself it finds less hilarious.

It seems to know you're watching it, in a general sense. Sometimes it taunts you when you thought you were hidden.

Eventually you find the creature twisting the wings of a glider so it can fly only in circles. The tawny man's strength is great. Sneaking up behind, you flash the Estoc at a cable, but find it too tough to damage - it is an artifact and a Steeper one than your own.

[Yerkan of Elish]

Not too surprising. I dart back into the shadows. I am surprised to have seen the tawny thing acting so directly - up to now I've only seen it laugh and wander.

Now I'm afraid at some point it'll twist OUR metaphorical wings...

[Steepest Durin]

It won't - if you ken figure th' thing out first, Yerkan.

Next time I'll be waitin' with th' Gauntlet fer a good, strong grapple.