Problem with a lion.

[Darklance]

As you probably know from my incessant questions, I've just launched a D20 campaign set in ancient Greece using very modified rules.

I've put a ton of work into this game and 3 of my old players as well as my brother ( has not played an RPG in years) and his girl friend (who had never before our first game) are all loving the game.

The problem I'm having is with my brothers girl friend. She took the game better than I could have hoped. After a little explanation she got the whole role playing concept is even learning the rules quickly.

She is playing a character that would be the equivalent of the ranger. Wilderness lore, tracking, animal handling/empathy etc.
Well...last game while the party was climbing over some very mountainous terrain not for from the ruins of Mycenae, she got it into her head that she wanted a pet.

Now I thought fine...there are plenty of animals out here...but of course...she chooses lion. She had heard about the long extinct European lion (and so had I) and of course...nothing else would do.

So I say to myself...fine...your never going to find a lion club.

So the first day that she's out looking...bam... natural 20+ a bunch of skill points + ability mods.

I had to give it to her.

....so she finds this lion...I was kinda off guard and now I've given her a lion cub...I just had her find it sitting there (I know..stupid...how the hell did it get out there!?).

So now my question is...what the hell can I do?

1) I have been unable to find any information about the European lion other than it died out in the late middle ages and that it is not extinct.

2) What kind of explanation can I give for this thing? Why was it out there alone? Will its parents be coming? Do the parents have a pack or something?

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks.

 

[Darklance]

Also..how fast would this thing grow and are they tamable to a pet degree (not just jump through hoops because of a whip).

 

[333 Dave]

The lion's mother should be around shortly to attack the PCs... and of course its father will be around to eat the lion's share of the remains .

 

[Darklance]

The lion's mother should be around shortly to attack the PCs... and of course its father will be around to eat the lion's share of the remains .

Not together?

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

When is the game set?

If it is the middle ages or before, then she could get one in the wild.

If your running something like d20 Modern, then she stole it from a zoo.

Maybe the gods sent it to her as a gift or a test.

 

[333 Dave]

From what I've seen on Discovery and what I've read several places, the lioness does all the hunting, the lion does most of the eating. Sure, he'll be around, but won't help much in the actuall hunt. Note that most prides have more than one female but only one male, I think. I'm no expert, but I tried not to say anything beyond what I assumed was common knowledge, so....

 

[333 Dave]

I'm also assuming European lions had similar social structure as African lions.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I wouldn't doubt that the social structure of the European lion (as well as the American lion, which died out several thousand years ago) would be pretty much the same as the African lion.

Prides often have a dominant male, and a few immature or subordinate males hanging around. Males can be very effective hunters, which they often have to be, because many of them are driven from prides by the dominant male.

Check out animalplanet.com; I'd guess they'd at least have links to good online info.

 

[333 Dave]

I don't doubt a male could be a very effective hunter, I'm just stating that he just leaves the work to the females and then eats all the food. Very selfish, those lions.

"Holding the lion's share,
holding the key.
Holding me back because I'm striving to be
BETTER THAN YOU!"
Better Than You, by Metallica

 

[AvarielAvenger]

I don't doubt a male could be a very effective hunter, I'm just stating that he just leaves the work to the females and then eats all the food. Very selfish, those lions.

"Holding the lion's share,
holding the key.
Holding me back because I'm striving to be
BETTER THAN YOU!"
Better Than You, by Metallica

Actually, that's old and outdated information. That used to be what was thought, however it has been discovered, mostly thanks to new technology that allows scientists to observe Lion Prides 24/7, that the male Lion in a pride does hunt.

For some reason, however, they only hunt at night. I can't remember what the supposed reason was. I always figured it was because it's just too hot during the day.