[Lauchenoiria]

King Shapur of Zargothrax was becoming increasingly irate with the government of Salad Land. They had made it abundantly clear that they would not permit the Cosmic Paragon to depart until all the lizards were on board. Which, given he’d selected a lizard species that bred like rabbits, well. If he wanted his ship, he was going to have to speed up the work of the lizard-catchers.

This was why His Royal Majesty decided that it would be an excellent idea to send a delivery of lizard-eating hawks to Salad Land. At no point did he consider doing such sensible things as asking Salad Land if it was okay, or checking that this wouldn’t make the problem worse. Or indeed, even consulting with Royal Advisor Hashemi or his son Prince Bahman – both of whom were not happy when they found out.

Neither would the people of Salad Land be when yet another Thraxian ship entered their territorial waters, sailing close to the land and releasing a cloud of hawks into the skies. The hawks flew over Port Salad, turning the sky dark briefly before spreading forth across the country. A few did indeed dive down and grab a few lizards. Then, before Salad Land could consider their response, the ship turned tail and sailed off at maximum speed; Salad Land’s ill-equipped navy powerless to stop them.