As the others speak to O'waac about the different types of mounts, Ice in Summer wanders amongst the stalls just looking at the animals. Clearly, they could all be used as mounts, otherwise, they would not be marketed as such, but he wanted to see for himself what they were like. Although the animals were foreign, he had read a little about them, and he also tried to compare them to other beasts from back home. In particular, the traits he would find useful in a mount would be an animal that was sturdy, not easily frightened and had good endurance. The ability to fight and defend itself was not necessary but would be a welcome bonus.
Nature: 16  Animal Handling: 6

 (OOC: Are there any mounts that appear to have those types of traits)

Ice, all of them but the axe beaks have those traits: Macetails and moorbounders are sturdy. Giant lizards, macetails and moorbounders are not easy to frighten, and all of them have good endurance. All of them are also able to defend themselves, even including the axe beak.

Dryn, the lizard reacts by bobbing its head up and down and yapping, it looks happy by the attention.

"Not that I have ever heard of" Ifan says to Dryn before answering the questions of everyone else. He answers O'waac's question by saying "While I can't say that it is not a risk, a moorbounder will usually go first for wild prey before trying to eat other animal companion. If they weren't like that, I would be unnable to sell them to farmers and rangers."

"Macetails can endure more than one rider, yes." He answers to Edwin. "They can carry a lot of weight, but I'd say to keep it at two people riding at the same time."

"...Mbala, huh?" He remains thoughtful for a moment before answering. "I'm not even gonna ask why you would ever want to go there, not my problem, but answering your question: The place is surrounded by high cliffs, boulders, and plateaus. My recommendation would be giant lizards, but a moorbounder or a razortalon can climb as well, though not as well as a lizard can. And trust me, you are gonna be doing a lot of climbing."

Erbert takes all of this in, walks up to the giant lizard and says "I think you are the right one for me..."  He turns to Ifan and says "Do you have a smaller one that could be my mount?  How much are they?  I could ride with someone on the macetail... but I like the look of these lizards."  

O'waac nods at Ifan's words. "I will choose a moorbounder, then. If one will have me."

"Yes, that was my concern..." Edwin takes a moment before responding further, "As much as the macetail has piqued my interest, I think the giant lizard would be the best option, given what you've told us."

Ifan smirks at Erbert. "They aren't tailored to size, sorry. But they are trained to carry any rider, so your little height and weight shouldn't be a problem. As for the prize... The lizards are worth 100 gp, while the moorbounders are worth 400. Both the macetails and the razortalons are 250."

He turns to O'waac and the rest. "If you have made your choice, then go ahead and see which of my beasts will you choose to be your companion. As I said before, I don't think owning different beasts might be a problem, but still be a little careful: Some moorbounders are a little... skittish."

Among the giant lizards, there's the green one Ifan showed to you and that Dryn spoke to (The one on the image), but there's also those with a leaner body and/or with different colored scales: There's brown, black, yellow, red, and albino. There also those who are combination of those colors due to having markings and scale patterns: Mottled, speckled, reticulated and striped.

O'waac, if you go to the moorbounder stables, you see that some of them are wary of you and your... condition, while others seem curious. One of the black ones sniffs on your direction, while a smaller, spotted one stands on its two legs and claws at the cage bars to try to reach you with its paws, something that would be scary to watch hadn't the beast not be purring like a small kitten and had not been safely contained. Other behaviors among them include similar purrs, roars and hisses.

O'waac approaches the spotted moorbounder and sticks his scarred hand through the cage to let it sniff him.

The moorbounder sniffs the hand you offer and licks over the scars, the feeling at least a little uncomfortable for the sandpaper texture of the beast's tongue.

"Careful there" Ifan warns. "If she gets too attached to you and then you decide you don't want her, I will not be able to sell her to my other clients. One master, remember?"

"I'd like this one," Dryn says patting the giant lizard she spoke to with a smile. "You're handsome," she adds. "I hope we both come out on the other side of this," she whispers grasping her amulet and saying a prayer to Selune before giving up the 100 gold pieces for her lizard. "What do they eat," she asks next.

Ice is admiring the giant lizards when Dryn makes her purchase. "I quite agree with you, Dryn. These beasts should make terrific travelling companions." Reaching into his pouch he starts to count out his gold. "If you could, I would love to take one of these beasts as well. That black one with the red underbelly looks like it would suit me just fine. Are there any other supplies you would recommend to look after these animals?"

"I quite like this albino one, though I fear it may stand out a bit too much in the jungle environment." He considers for another moment before continuing, "Yes, I think I'll take this brown and yellow striped creature, he seems quite friendly." He hands Ifal the gold for his new companion. "Do they have names?"

O'waac nods at the warning. "No fear. I will choose this one." He continues to let the animal familiarize itself with him. He remembered a time when he loved animals. When he would beg his parents for all kinds of pets. It would be nice to have that experience again.

"Oh, small things: Snakes, rats, beetles, fungi... I can sell you feed rations for him if you want, but I wouldn't worry, there's plenty of those things on the jungle." He says to Dryn. 

The lizard seems to have quickly taken a liking to Dryn and reacts positively when she speaks to it. 

The one that Ice pointed to, the black and red one, is not anywhere near as enthusiastically friendly as Dryn's lizard, but it is just as obedient... Kinda. It seems to be trying to dig a burrow in the ground of its kennel when Ifan opens the door and guides it out. The merchant has to pull from the leash tied to its bridle two times before the lizard gets the message and comes out of the pen with a low growl. Once outside, it reluctantly walks as ordered towards Ice and the group.

It sits down, wriggling its long tail, and bleps, revealing a sticky black tongue.

"He won't be as lazy when he's finally put to work, I assure you..." Ifan says to Ice with what sounds like concealed rage towards the beast he raised. "Answering your question, their bit and bridle comes included in their prize, but you'll need a special saddle to ride them. And if you are going to be picking a fight with the monsters at the jungle instead of running from them, I'd advice you to buy them some barding as well."

O'waac, you find that while their size and appearance can be horrifying and their eyes and tusks are nothing like what other big cats have, a big cat is still a cat. Just as you answer to Ifan, the moorbounder takes the hand it was licking into its mouth, but there's no bite as it just... holds it there for a moment before releasing you. Then nuzzles against that same hand it could have bit off easily while purring and making chirp-like meowing sounds. 

"Ha, she seems to like you, you are lucky." Ifan comments. "Give her a name, get her used to you, and then she'll take you anywhere you order her to go..."

Erbert sighs and says “So many choices... so I think I will go with your suggestion Ifan, unless you tell me otherwise.  If you think a giant lizard is the best choice, that is what I will ride.  I love the moorbounders, but if you think that one is not a good fit for me, I understand.  I am interested in some barding as well.”  Erbert walks around the moorbounders and the giant lizards, looking to see if one animal is drawn to him.  He is not as concerned about the color of the animal, but a brown/olive/green skinned animal that would blend into surroundings does interest him.

"Yes, you're a sweet one," Dryn says cuddling the lizard with another beaming smile. "I will take protection for my friend here as well," she says to Ifan then looks back at the vibrant green lizard. "Are you a boy or a girl," she puzzles looking at thr lizard then back to Ifan. "No matter. I'll call you Luta," sne says smiling at the green beast and giving it affectionate cheriches under their chin. "How much for the saddle and barding," she asks Ifan as the lizard nudges her with its head for more pets.

“Thank you.” Ice takes the lead rope and stands beside his mount. “I think I will take both a saddle and barding too. There is no telling what we will come across. If someone could take the time to show how to set it up and care for it, I would appreciate that.” 

Ice looked again at his mount. Something about this one had caught his attention, but it looked like he was going to have to work a little harder for a connection. “Is there anything these guys enjoy? Any way to show affection?  Like certain areas they enjoy scratched?” As he says this, Ice lays his hand on the head of the beast, rubbing it on the brow between the eyes. 

Ifan looks at Erbert for a moment, thinking a little before answering. "A moorbounder might be too much for you, gnome. One might eat you if it decides that you are too weak to be its master. A giant lizard, a razortalon or anything else might be a safer choice for you."

Ice, you pet the lizard on the head, its scaled skin feeling cold and smooth to the touch. The lizard seems to like the atention for a second... before biting your hand. It doesn't do damage and spits your hand out not a second later, though. "They like to be petted, it's just that this one is a little cranky. They also move their heads up and down when they are happy, kinda like birds."

"Luta is female, and that cranky one is male. There's no real difference between them, though." Ifan explains. "The saddle will be 60. The barding, though? That'd be 150"

Erbert, as you walk through the stables you see the following:

• A few of the lizards are the olive shade of green you are thinking of: A purely olive green one, a black one with a green mottled pattern, and a green one with a brown striped tail.
• Some of the moorbounders seem friendly, others completely ignore you, and a few seem drawn to you for reasons that could vary from friendliness to dangerous prey instinct.

Erbert, as you walk through the stables you see the following:

• A few of the lizards are the olive shade of green you are thinking of: A purely olive green one, a black one with a green mottled pattern, and a green one with a brown striped tail.
• Some of the moorbounders seem friendly, others completely ignore you, and a few seem drawn to you for reasons that could vary from friendliness to dangerous prey instinct.