That golden trinket within this treasure exhibit - the golden lizard statue there? - that was Vecks. Let me tell you about how it came to be part of this collection.

---

I'd noticed him outside of the window several times within the week prior to all of this. He peered in through the windows.. watching from afar. I knew he was up to something. I immediately had suspicions about him. He was clearly scoping out the museum. Probably plotting to steal a statue to sell. I was sure of it.

I confronted him head on whilst he was nearby. I didn't hold anything back. I accused him of spying on the museum. I interrogated him as to whether he knew any of the museum's secrets. How long had he been watching me? What was he planning? Where was his backup?

The blue lizard stated he had no idea what I was talking about. He'd just come to see the land and the museum but hadn't come inside yet. Typical excuse. I wouldn't take his lies.

I walked closer to him as I declared that he was guilty and I knew it. I didn't need the proof. I could see it in his eyes, no matter how confused they looked. I reached into my pocket, which alarmed him. Maybe he thought I was brandishing a weapon. He'd've been right.. though all I pulled out was a camera.

I photographed the worried reptile.. but it was no ordinary photo. It's a special cursed camera that can transform those photographed to stone.. or even gold.

He was able to take but one step backward while attempting to shield his face from the bright flash. His arm didn't make it in time. He stiffened completely in less than a second, becoming rigid and locking in place. He was stiff as a board.. and off balance.

The lizard began to topple over as it aurified; turning to gold. Luckily the earth was soft, despite the heavy fall. The statue wasn't damaged. Far from it. Vecks was perfectly preserved in shiny metal. His horns, eyes, spikes and webbing behaved differently to the photograph. They turned to glowing red ruby, making him into a unique work of valuable art.

I stepped up to the aurified fellow. I assume at this point he was panicking. Not understanding why his body wouldn't respond. Why he couldn't breath.. blink.. or look away from the rabbit who approached and peered down at him.

He wouldn't be going back to his headquarters to report his findings. These damn spies. There's a dime a dozen. It occurred to me that he wasn't carrying anything on him. Not even clothes. No wire.. no recorders.. no weapon. I've never seen an operative work without concealing at least something. Clever.

The statue was hauled into the museum where it would be put in a special treasure exhibit. A pile of gold, rubies, and other trinkets like him. A hoard. An amass of belongings of worth, and no different than any other part of the pile.

Maybe over the years he'll regret being so foolish as to try to spy on Stonetalon. He almost convinced me that he was a simple innocent civilian visiting.

---

"Golden Lizard Statue" is on display as a living statue at Stonetalon in Second Life.

The story above differs from the roleplay that played out in Second Life to better reflect the overall story.

Enjoy!

--Grey