01. The microscopic section of this gland or organ is extremely beautiful.

[bestsir]

[ The morgue and the coroner's office are in the basement of the Riverview Hospital, which would be depressing were it not for the fact that the coroner's office is placed so that it has a window. The basement also features a large storage room that has become a dumping ground for miscellaneous furniture and supplies. At times where Harry's been at loose ends and in need of something to do, he has reorganized that storage room ... and now he's found a new use for it.

The incursion of small pesky critters has a lot to do with it, as does the fact that his office is starting to overflow with items that he's collected around the quarantine in his time there. Soon the storage room starts slowly transforming into a distinctly 19th-century-flavoured laboratory, with tanks and cages for living creatures and jars for preserved specimens—not just of the pests, but also other interesting plants and insects. There's also an eyeball from one of the large predatory pterodactyl creatures, and feathers from the same are kept on his worktable.

It doesn't occur to him that it might be nice to mention this side project to the hospital administrators, but he doesn't exactly get a lot of visitors, so it's going to be a little while before anyone notices.

...well, once these messages go out, someone probably will. ]

To Captain Anali Apple and the Perimeter Guard
Greetings. I am Dr. Harry Goodsir, and I have the privilege to serve as Coroner to the Riverview Quarantine. I write in reference to the small Creatures that have been plaguing the city, and for which I understand you have offered a Bounty. As an Anatomist and Naturalist by training, I am very interested in these particular* Creatures, and would welcome the opportunity to acquire from the Guard any Specimens of these Pests*—living or dead—so that I may make a Study of them. Perhaps such a Study will yield results that are Relevant to the control of their Population and Range. Please advise how we may arrange Delivery.

Your obedient servant,
Dr. Harry Goodsir

Network text post | [Bad username or site: hds @ goodsir]
To my fellow Riverview citizens, greetings. I am Dr. Harry Goodsir, and I have the privilege to serve as Coroner to the Riverview Quarantine. I am also a Naturalist by training, and I have begun to collect Specimens of the local Flora and Fauna with the Intention of developing a systematic Catalogue of the life we encounter here in the Quarantine and without the walls. I should like to humbly request the Assistance of my fellow men and women in this Endeavour. I seek information about* Specimens for study, as well as any visual or written Reports of curious sightings that I may investigate further. You may write to me via the Network, or you may seek me in person in my Office at the Riverview Hospital.

Your obedient servant,
Dr. Harry Goodsir

[ Feel free to pop into his office with something awful in a cage or a jar. He'll (probably) be delighted. Post title is from the writings of the historical Harry D. S. Goodsir. ]

[ * These parts added after Nat sets him straight. ]

Comments

@frankenstein

[jolting]

Dr. Harry Goodsir,

I'd be very interested in seeing what sort of specimens you've collected thus far if you don't mind sharing. I'm afraid I don't have any specimens to offer in trade, but I do have sketches of various plant and wildlife I've encountered during my stay in the Quarantine if you'd like to see them. Let me know if you're interested.

Sincerely,

Dr. Victor Frankenstein

text; username: nat

[unmakeme]

I don't think it's a high priority for many people to keep them alive. It's annoying, and at the moment they're worth just as much dead.

What are you offering for live specimins?

text

[bestsir]

[ Imagine, if you will, a certain amount of scrambling as Goodsir realises he hasn't even thought of anything to offer, and tries to come up with a fair price. Not to mention the fact that he's going to have to pay for it out of his own pocket. He tries to balance that against what the Perimeter Guard is offering, and finally settles on a number that seems all right to him. ]

Considering the difficulty and potential Danger of capture, I can offer 75 Units in exchange. Though I can only offer so much for the first Two of each Species that I am brought.

[ And that's going to leave him slightly in the red for a little while, but he has gotten by on less. ]

[bestsir]

Dr. Victor Frankenstein,

I would be very interested in seeing your Sketches; thank you kindly for the offer. I can meet you at your Convenience, and of course you my find me in the Coroner's Office at any time during the day.

Sincerely,
Dr. Harry Goodsir

text

[unmakeme]

[Consider it imagined.]

How much storage space have you got ready?

[She may or may not be planning to bankrupt you almost immediately. Never underestimate the potential of a bored woman with very little sense of self preservation and access to a truck.

I can bring you a couple of live crab dogs, as well. If you want them. Or as many dead ones as you want. They're very easy to kill, not as easy to catch and hold.

@Ms. E. Bennet

[wit_and_sword]

Dr. Goodsir,

I believe someone has already stated, but such creatures are usually more of a nuisance alive than dead. Those claws of theirs are sharp and though not aggressive by nature, they certainly are when provoked.

[jolting]

I'll be sure to stop by, then.

By the way, you don't need to compose your text messages like letters.

text | @ryo.asuka666

[apt666]

Perhaps if I find the opportunity to safely venture there, then I will return to you any specimens I may find. I'm not asking anything in return, of course. My own reasons for going out there are selfish curiosity.

Personally, I would be interested in seeing living specimens myself.

text

[bestsir]

I have two Tanks suitable for the rats, a small Terrarium for the moths, and a Cage for one more winged lizard. I have yet to determine a suitable method of containing the foxes.

[ He has singed whiskers and cuffs to show for it. ]

A single crab dog would be most welcome; I have not caught one yet myself.

[bestsir]

True, though I am hoping to find means of reducing their aggression, capturing them peacefully, or driving them away.

[ Also Harry has weird ideas about what constitutes suitable pets. ]

[bestsir]

Doc

I see—forgive me, certain Habits are not easily broken.

I look forward to your visit.

text

[bestsir]

Thank you very much; I appreciate the Offer.

As it is, I have captured one of the Lizards, and you are welcome to visit my office, should you wish to see it.

text

[unmakeme]

So you only want specimens of the species currently infesting the city in large numbers. You should probably clarify that. There are thousands of different creatures here, and even more varieties of plants, especially if you go beyond the perimeter.

[ She's smirking. Part of her considered not mentioning it, and just turning up with a truck full of hundreds of cages and jars (probably mostly insects for the ease of transport) and leaving him to flail about being suddenly and massively in debt. The nicer part of her has apparently won today. ]

text

[bestsir]

[ Harry smacks himself in the forehead and quickly amends his original posting. ]

Thank you—you are quite correct, I must be more precise in my Request.

Apart from the Pests, I welcome reports or pictures of the Flora and Fauna beyond the perimeter, of course.

[jolting]

It's fine. I haven't written a formal letter in ages, so it was nice to have some practice.

text

[unmakeme]

I go out several times a week. You wouldn't believe some of the things you can find deeper in the jungle. I'm no Naturalist. I probably don't look at them the same way you would.

text

[bestsir]

If it is neither too bold nor foolish of me to ask—might I accompany you on such a Foray? I should like to see it for myself, but in all truthfulness I have neither Means nor Skill to defend myself against the greater Dangers.

[ Nothing teaches you your limits like dragging sledges across pack ice, or being pursued across same by a nightmare bear-monster. ]

text

[unmakeme]

It isn't too bold, but I don't know you well enough to know if it's foolish or not.

Just how helpless are you?

text

[bestsir]

[ He really can't begrudge her that at all. ]

That is a very fair Question.

Before I came here, I served in the Royal Navy Discovery Service as a ship's Surgeon and resident Naturalist on an expedition into the Arctic North. In all honesty, I cannot fight, save perhaps in gravest Danger to my own survival. But I have some Experience in dangerous, unmapped lands, and in avoiding predators such as the White Bears that live in the ice.

[ He knows this isn't likely to inspire a vote of confidence, but there's nothing to be gained by inflating his accomplishments. ]

text

[unmakeme]

So you can run without tripping over your own feet and a Polar Bear hasn't killed you yet.

Is that about the size of it?

text, @hiccup

[thisisamazing]

[Oh hey, someone else who's interested in the animal life here! He's got to get right on this.]

I'm a surveyor with the Guard, I've been spending most of my time out past the fences studying the creatures that live here! I'm less knowledgeable about botany, but I have a bunch of sketches of animals and plants alike. I've even been up close and personal with several species. I could make you some copies of all my notes, but I only take samples from strange plantlife.

As for the creatures that moved in when the crab things did, I've uh. I've been trying to relocate them. Are people just- just killing them? That's horrible.

Uh. What. What kind of specimens are you looking for?

[Please don't say dead creatures.]

[wit_and_sword]

They do seem to have natural predators. However, for reasons unknown, the creatures have been gathering around the gates and attracting them. Hence the need for collecting them.

text

[apt666]

I would like to come by and see it. I find knowing a land's creatures gives insights to its history.

text

[bestsir]

Certainly—you may find me here during the normal Hours of Business.

A note: you will endear yourself to her if you bring Food, such as the heads of fish.

text

[bestsir]

Yes.

When stated Thusly, I begin to suspect that I may be better suited to stay within the Fence. (I do not mean that in Jest.)