The Cryptozoologist's Field Guide, Wednesday, Per 1

[arboreal_priestess]

The lesson plan Verity had planned had gotten scrapped by a phone call about ten minutes before class. She might have cancelled class entirely if her stupid cold hadn't made her do that last week.

"Okay!" she said when everyone had arrived, very grateful her class was tiny. "Today you're about to get a hands-on lesson about a cryptid called the Mishigamaa. The Mishigamaa is one of the five extant species of plesiosaurs that have survived to the present day; they can only be found in certain lakes up in the general Michigan area, leaving them to be colloquially called the 'Michigan lake monsters'. Their proper name, 'Mishigamaa', comes from the Ojibwa word for 'large lake,' though we're pretty sure the Ojibwa used a slightly different term for the creatures themselves."

How did one say 'Oh shit!' in Ojibwa?

"Due to human interference, like pollution and overfishing, the Mishigamaa are near extinction, spawning several cryptozoological conservation efforts. However, since Mishigamaa only mate after a pod member dies, keeping their numbers stable is very hard. This is compounded by the fact that Mishigamaa are air-breathers and after the rigors of birth, mother nor calf need to come up for air and rest. If they remain submerged for long, they will start to drown. Most Mishigamaa sightings occur during this time and can lead to injuries and death for Mishigamaa and spectators alike, as the mother tries to protect the calf."

Verity pulled back her hair into a no-nonsense ponytail. "One of the conservationists I mentioned before has a Mishigamaa mother in labor, but she is young and a rescue and it isn't going well. So, hope you dressed warmly, class, because you get to see your first real cryptids in the flesh today. While participating in the miracle of birth. Let's go!"

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Sign In 7

[arboreal_priestess]

As a little kid

Listen to the Lecture

[arboreal_priestess]

It's a little rushed, but Verity's trying to get it all in before the portal arrives.

Enjoy the Tour!

[arboreal_priestess]

The portal dropped the class off right in front of a building that looked to be in extreme disrepair. There was a sign above the door that said Bemidji Reptilian History Museum, with faded maps and pamphlets taped to the windows. Neither the building nor the pamphlets looked to have been updated since the 70s. Ignoring the Sorry, we're closed sign on the door, Verity led the class inside, where it looked even less reputable.

It was a small, dim, cramped museum, with poorly-taxidermied specimens and a couple of tortises in a dirty glass tank against one wall. The air smelled funny, like the building had been shut up for a decade or so and everything could use a good cleaning.

In the back of the museum was a door labeled 'Staff Only,' which led down a set of rickety stairs and to a staff den that, again, was decorated in Early 70s chic. This time, Verity led them to a washroom with a peeling 'Out of Order' sign taped to the it. "Normally, this is locked," she explained, "but this is an emergency."

Stay In the Building, or...

[arboreal_priestess]

Instead of whatever creepy bathroom that would have completed the overall terrifying image the rest of the building was trying to convey, the door opened into a clean hallway, with bright lights and tiled floors. At the other end of the hall was a sturdy white door with a numberpad next to it. Verity punched in a code and the automatic locks disengaged, opening the door into the next room.

The entire fall wall of the room was made of glass, and beyond that glass was the watery depths of Little Gnat Lake. It was a giant aquarium, built below the surface of the lake itself. Through it, one could see much of the aquatic flora and fauna living in Little Gnat Lake--including a laboring plesiosaur and a man in SCUBA gear, rubbing at her distended stomach.

"Okay, you've got a choice," Verity said. "I'm going to be putting on some gear and heading out to help Chibenashi out there. Those of you who'd rather can stay in here and watch. Others can grab a wetsuit and some snorkeling gear and come out into the water. It's going to be cold. The water near the building is heated, to some degree, but it's still going to be very cold. If you do go in, you've got maybe half an hour before you need to get out and warm up, okay? This isn't a time to mess around. Wet suits are in the back here, otherwise..." She gestured to a couch parked right in front of the wall. "Enjoy the show."

Go For A Swim

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity doesn't have time to check to see if anyone is SCUBA certified, so anyone going in is limited to snorkling. Pull on a wetsuit, an inflatable life jacket, mask and snorkle, and grab your flippers to put on. There's a back door leading up and outside, which will put you right next to the lake to dive in.

Stay or snorkle, it's your choice.

Witness the Miracle of Birth!

[arboreal_priestess]

Once Verity swims down, the other guy moves over to the Mishigamaa's head, stroking and trying to calm her while, Verity works to help with the birth. The Mishigamaa's right rear fin is mangled, preventing her from swimming while in labor.

After ten or so minutes of straining and pushing, the baby Mishigamaa is born in a cloud of blood and fluid. It immediately starts to swim towards the surface and anyone out snorkling is welcome to help guide it up and out of the water while Verity and Chibenashi slowly help the mother up.

Depending in your point of view, this could either be amazing or just kinda gross. Or both!

Talk to Verity (Or Chibenashi)

[arboreal_priestess]

After mother and baby have swam off to rest, it's time to get out of the water and warmed up. Feel free to ask questions about the Mishigamaa, the museum, or anything else.

OOC

[arboreal_priestess]

I couldn't find video of a plesiosaur giving birth for obvious reasons, so have a dolphin doing so instead. This was a weird Youtube hole to fall down, let me tell you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gus0Jr-Q1wY