Sheep (penguins)

Sheep is a fake sheep found roaming inside Fred the Farmer's Farm in Lumbridge that is actually two penguins dressed as a sheep. The two penguins are codenamed Paxton and Philbert. Attempting to shear the fake sheep will result in it walking away and doesn't provide any wool. It is referred to as The Thing by Fred during the Sheep Shearer quest.

During the Cold War quest, it is revealed that these two penguins are actually spies of the Killer Gentoo Penguins.

It is also the only sheep outside of Zanaris with the "Talk-to" option, but it will simply give a dismissive response unless the player is doing the Cold War quest. If the player speaks to them before starting Cold War, they will say "That's a sheep... I think. I can't talk to sheep".

This "sheep" was added to the game over ten months before the Cold War quest was introduced. It was originally added as part of the rework of Sheep Shearer to foreshadow the quest.

• According to Noodle Fideu, the penguins were set up with their costume by Rotini, and they had "ome trubble wi' flyin' yeller amfibians on the walk down", which means that they were mistaken for Sick-looking sheep and someone tried to shoot a yellow toad at them.^[1]
• During the Sheep Shearer quest, Fred the Farmer says: "Some say it's a black hearted shapeshifter, hungering for the souls of hard working decent folk like me. Others say it's just a sheep." This is likely a reference to The Thing in the 1982 film, The Thing.
  • Before it was added to the game, Fred described the thing by saying "Something ate all the previous shearers. They probably got unlucky." and "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It's possible the other shearers aren't dead at all, and are just hiding in the woods or something."