Tri Poke

Adult Nanotyrannus'es, previously thought to be a T-Rex teenager but now believed to be its own separate species, is significantly smaller than a T-Rex AND a mid-sized example of Tyrannusaurs if I am understanding the Wikipedia article correctly.

Putting a Nanotyrannus somewhere around large Clydesdale or Camel height.

I just kind of love these kind of size comparisons, there were definitely some appropriately sized and looking critters for our Tripokes.

Suver grunts.

"Don't know. Nothing good, I'm sure. There are a few bases near Clerrihul but they're mostly just to keep an eye on each other. Don't know why they'd ride south. Nothing this way."

Stammers rumbles, "We find out quick."

And it is darn quick. The Kaprosuchuses are fast.

They array around Suver, Zach, Gale, and Stammers, giving them the once over. Nobody actually goes to shoot but several of the Munsang soldiers pull their rifles into their hands instead of just leaving them on their backs, making it clear that they're ready to shoot if they have to.

The officer purses his lips under his fiery orange mustache. "I am Captain Han-Kull. Identify yourselves."

"I'm Mundo Suver out of the Suver Ranch. These are my drive hands."

Captain Han-Kull scowls. "Not many rexes for a herd."

"We left the herd to water, we're heading up to Clerrihul to try and find a sale."

One of the soldiers scoffs.

Capatain Han-Kull fires off a phrase. After a beat he shoots off another in a different language. After a third, he crosses his arms. "You can play ignorant all you like. We will have our rocket back and the spy to hang. We know he flew in this direction. Do you have it?"

"Your what?" Suver asks blankly.

The soldier who scoffed snaps up his rifle, aiming for Suver's face. Suver freezes, hands raised.

Zach's keen eye picks out that these folk are military. It's not just the Kaprosuchuses, they're all armed with multiple weapons, ten of them are wearing the exact same clothes. They all have pins and patches sewn on: the sharp flower petals of the Munsang Empire on everyone biggest and boldest. And the feller with the slightly different outfit has the most pins and patches.

The rest of the Clerrihul crew do the same while everyone else starts gathering up water every which way they can.

Zach prepares carefully, pretty sure he's got everything he even could need for a three day run. Cookie even hands him (and everyone else riding off) a handkerchief full of sweet meat tack to gnaw along the way if he gets hungry. So he feels pretty set.

It's not much more than a fistful of minutes that they're circling the little lake and headed north for the city.

It's a good clear ride for near the first half a day. Even the path they take has been worn smooth and firm by the long history of wildlife that has made its way back and forth to the river they're following.

But, nearing noon, another speckling of dust mars the sky. It's small and its close. And it isn't just the worn down earth of the river bank keeping down the dust. Nearly as soon as they see the sign of the riders, they're in sight. And it isn't Rexes they're riding.

The pack of 11 are riding Kaprosuchuses, rare, long legged amphibious ambush dashers who are bread for speed, stealth, and just plain viciousness.

It's a good part of why they're so rare. They just don't tame well. No loyalty like a rex. Mess up once and your Kaprosuchus lunch. Pretty much limits their use to mad-men, cannon fodder toughs, and large, highly structured organizations, like armies.

Reever Stralen nods, accepting the decision. "Always welcome a hand, whenever it comes. See you when I see you, young fellow."

Mr. Suver strokes his chin humming and hawking a moment like he's still got a little trail dust in his throat and might see fit to spit but he doesn't.

"The damn thing," he finally says, "Is that you're best in both places. Need a good shot to protect the herd. Need a good shot to protect us away from it." He sighs. "In the end, the herd is its own protection and I can't take Gruiser along. She'll spook the city-folk. She can play the spook card back here if it comes to it, with the whole drive at her back. So I think the spook and the shine is on you, Zach. Always need a little luck to sell a herd for a fair price."

He nods like Zach answered the question instead himself. Then he barks, "Ok, Luger is in charge, everyone mind him, you hear. You lot help the Barffini folk fill up everything they can and then just lay low and out of trouble. Don't make any yourselves. But don't spare the lead if it comes calling.

"Gale, Zachariah, and Stanonisž, you three are with me. Load your sidearms and mount your rexes. Pack for a three day run.

"We'll hope to get in to Clerrihul before full dark and then have tomorrow to haggle. Maybe even come back. If that won't work we'll aim to come back by the next nightfall.

"If we ain't back by nightfall on the fourth day, you keep the herd here. Don't be a hero, Luger. You send Baulívar out to see what came of us. Send him light and fast. If neither he nor us come back, you move the herd to Bariffini and see what you can do there. You finish a sale before you do anything stupid.

"Everybody clear? Then hop to it."

((And please make a Prep draw for packing up Demon-Tooth for the trip. Draw 6 cards [5+ a Prep Score of 1], and since you are Lucky, you may discard and redraw up to 7 cards. Results according to the usual chart))

"Stayin' with the herd, or comin' along for security - not sure as to where I'd be most useful, but you just point my nose in the right direction, Mr. Suver, Sir," he says before tipping his hat towards the Reever and continuing in a quieter voice.