Important Questions

[laurenande]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Galadriel
RECIPIENT: Open to everyone!
WHAT: Galadriel needs advice about pets. For. Reasons.
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Halamshiral

It is troubling, but I have reached an impasse; I find myself in need of guidance.

With so many in this Inquisition who keep creatures as companions, surely someone can assist me.

[There's a short, shuffling, snort and then a very telling squeak. That sounds exactly like--]

What do nugs eat?

I have tried to feed it greens, grain, and fruits, but the only thing it appears interested in are small pastries. That cannot possibly be what they consume when they roam free, can it?

When I ask it what it wants, it simply squeals and runs in a circle. [She lets out a sigh, one that could be called wistful, and adds fondly:] It is a silly thing.

Comments

[easternseaqueen]

They're dwarven things, aren't they? So I imagine whatever they have in the Deep Roads.

[laurenande]

Are they? [She had no idea. She hums thoughtfully.]

Sadly, I have met precious few dwarves in these lands. Do they keep them as pets?

[easternseaqueen]

From what I'm told, I think they eat them. But Sister Nightingale has owned them.

[laurenande]

They eat them? [Galadriel is an old master when it comes to masking her emotions, but even she doesn't bother to hide the horror and mild revulsion that creep into her tone.]

They do not seem...appetizing and they are dreadfully small. Are they, perhaps, plentiful?

[easternseaqueen]

Well, I imagine they cook them first.

I'm not sure how many there are. All the dwarves I've talked to make them sound like vermin.

[laurenande]

Vermin? [She's ignoring the sass but, honestly, she entirely approves of it. There's a long pause.]

Yes, I can see that. They are rather verminous.

They also don't appear to be very adept at surviving on their own, though I had guessed that was because they'd been domesticated.

[easternseaqueen]

That's probably what they want you to think. I'm not sure I'd like to see what happens when a nug gets cornered.

[extramural]

In practice? My sleeves.

[ But he sounds surprisingly pleased about it. ]

[laurenande]

You have one as well?

[She sounds positively delighted by this, Outsider. She does curb her tone a bit before she asks:]

They...eat fabric? Curious, but...not unfitting.

[extramural]

I believe Thranduil "borrowed" one from the Spymaster. I held her after he accidentally caused her some insult and she happily ate a part of my clothing while I did so.

[ And he is, in fact, a bit disappointed that he can't keep her. ]

Perhaps it was just my attire at the time.

[ aka what he wore every day until Thranduil made him play dress-up ]

[justice_is_blond]

Of all the options available, why would you choose a nug? ...And, perhaps more importantly, why would you think it could tell you what it wants?

[laurenande]

I think it would be more accurate to say that it chose me. As to speaking with it, well, I assumed it would answer somehow. Most creatures do.

I expected nonsense, for I do not know its tongue, but...this is somewhat more nonsensical than I was prepared for.

[justice_is_blond]

The former makes sense. But are you saying you can speak with other animals? Cats, for instance?

[laurenande]

Presuming they wish to speak with me, yes.

[Galadriel sees nothing strange with this.]

Cats, however, are very contrary things and I have known very few of them.

[justice_is_blond]

[He doesn't know if he believes this... but he wants to.]

My cat can be a little contrary, but she's generally very friendly. Would you be interested in trying with her?

[laurenande]

Certainly. I suspect I should ask her not to hunt my newest friend, as well. For all his swiftness, my nug would be easy prey.

[justice_is_blond]

I'd like that. I'm not currently able to bring her somewhere, but perhaps in several days, when I'm back in Skyhold?

[samahl]

Have you tried cheese?

[laurenande]

I have not! I shall have to find some. Fortunately, it does not seem tbat there is any shortage of cheese in Orlais.

Though, if it does not care for Orlesian cheeses, I fear I shall end up owning some.

[samahl]

I'd happily aid you in finishing off whatever the nug doesn't like.

[laurenande]

Ah, such a gallant offer! [No really. She's not fond of Orlesian cheeses.] You have my thanks Cyril.

[And on a largely unrelated note:]

I have seen so many stone halla here, when we return to Skyhold I shall have to see the living creatures. Will you introduce me to one?

private, voice ;

[rowancrowned]

Make certain that it is Cyril who introduces and escorts you. Ellanna and Beleth are also graceful and well-mannered.

private, voice ;

[laurenande]

[Yes, Galadriel approves of all of those people.]

It was Cyril who first told me of them...but I expect there is more to this suggestion.

Is something amiss?

private, voice ;

[rowancrowned]

You do not suffer fools any more kindly than I. I do not doubt your ability to talk your way out of an– admittedly puzzling situation, but you need not waste energy on it.

I mention those with virtues because there is one who lacks them. I have no doubt she will make herself known to you while you are with the halla, especially if you venture too near without a guide.

[samahl]

I'd be happy to. I'm sure they'd love to meet you too.

[rowancrowned]

I would like to hear the tale, cousin, of how you ended up with a nug.

[ they're totally not discussing how he found himself with a dog. ]

Have you tried hiding greens within the pastry?

[laurenande]

[She is ignoring that request for a tale. At least for now.]

I had not, but it seems to be more stubborn than contrary. It is also very short...I am uncertain it could reach high enough to pilfer a pantry shelf.

Have you any other...foodstuffs that I might give it?

[rowancrowned]

It has been fed nothing other than what the cotton-headed fool who bred it gave it, and now likely has no taste for what it should eat.

[ he's considering, and- ]

Have you tried lembas? If not, Duinenor has a way with them.

[laurenande]

[The absurdity of feeding lembas to (essentially) a small rat creature, aside...]

Duinenor? [She suspects she already knows to whom he refers, but it is best to be certain.]

[rowancrowned]

[ nugs would be worse than hobbits in terms of relative size to amount of lembas consumed. ]

Dark of hair and eyes, perhaps up to your shoulder. Smells of the sea [ something thranduil knows by instinct. ] He could not remember his name, and his title was ill-fitting and in poor taste.

[laurenande]

Ah yes, I know him. You've granted him an apt replacement for a strange title. Perhaps I shall have you help me name my new friend as well.

[But there's an important question here:]

Did the nug truly eat his sleeve?

[rowancrowned]

Does your new ward not already have a name in their own tongue?

[ she's known him long enough to hear the smile in his voice. ]

Shredded it, in truth, and spent a quarter hour pulling it apart and chewing the strings as a cow chews cud. Mind your tapestries, Galadriel, or they will be made a meal of.

[laurenande]

I shall keep close watch on them.

[He cannot prove that she stifled a laugh there, but she is clearly amused.]

Sadly it gave me no name, so I have been forced to conjure one for it.

Given that it is a hideous creature who adores me, and who shrieks with uncommon volume when anything is taken from it, I have decided to name it after my uncle. I think it rather fitting, but if you've a better suggestion I would hear it.

[rowancrowned]

[ she's halfway through her sentence when he breathes out ] No— [ and laughing as only an elf can, rich and light and half-song by the end. ]

My dear— my dear cousin, I cannot— truly, Galadriel, this is a gift— [ he breathes, or tries to. ] Fëanor.

[laurenande]

I expect he would loathe it. I think it eats bugs.[Her delight is only slightly more restrained than his.]

Does your new hound have a name?

[rowancrowned]

Does it have the temperament to wear a very small cape?

[ this is healthy. this is good for him. ]

She is not intended for me, though the woman I intended to be her mistress seems less thankful. She may remain with me. I confess I have never had a hound all my own.

[serannas]

Hmm, that's odd. Maybe they eat insects?

[laurenande]

Perhaps it does, a clever guess Ellana. It seems like a creature suited to the dark, and I have heard it is from the deep.

I shall have to find some insects for it.

[serannas]

Oh, yes, I've heard that they're plentiful underground, but I have seen some out in the wild too. But there's not a lot of vegetation underground, besides mushrooms, and you want to be careful with those, because some are poisonous.

[circleprodigy]

Nugs are often subterranean creatures. Perhaps it would prefer deep mushrooms?

[laurenande]

Deep mushroom?

[That sounds familiar.]

Ah! The cakes! That is the flavor of that dreadful decoration.

Can you tell me where I might find deep mushrooms?

[circleprodigy]

If the garden doesn't grow them, then check with the local merchants. They're often of use in crafting or upgrading potions, so I'm certain they will keep some in stock.

[universal_charm]

They look like a cross between a rabbit, a capybara. It makes me think they're a type of rodent, so they should like things like what you've tried feed it.... but I'm not authority on them, and nothing here seems to play by any rules I understand.

Has it not eaten at all, or simply not in your presence?

[unsullies]

[ Dany is pinged by "creatures as companions," but the question brings her pause. ]

"Nugs?" [ Not anything they have in her world, she assumes. ] Is it an animal, then?

[ Squeaking and squealing. A pig, maybe? ]

I've never heard of a creature that only ate pastries.

[el_tybs]

A person to ask would probably be Advior Nightingale, since she has several of her own. I would assume they eat plants, or perhaps mushrooms since they're normally found in caves...

Exactly how did you come by one? That might help figure why it is partial to sweets.