sonder summer 1710
Taming Pets
Taming pets traditionally was reserved for the noble classes. This is largely due to the fact that nobles had the time and resources to invest and care for another creature. Those in poorer classes could not afford such a luxury, and often would raise animals with the sole purpose of bringing them to market. As wealth equity has slowly begun to take root in Rionnach, more wolves are beginning to take an interest in caring for other species. Nonetheless, the practice is still considered a little avant-garde at its best and frivolous at its worst.


Pets may appear in posts although they cannot be used to gain an IC advantage (such as by participating in battle like a Pokemon). Currently, a wolf can only have one pet.

Types of Pets
Farm
Traditionally raised for meat, these animals are less fearful of wolves
Wild
Common wild animals found in Rionnach, these small animals can become loving pets
Risky
Risky animals are those that have the capacity to hurt wolves and are difficult to tame


Taming
To tame an animal in the wild, a pet item must be purchased from the MARKET. Once purchased, to fully use your pass, please post in #updates in the discord channel. You can encounter an animal once per thread.

Encounters are randomized and can be initiated by adding [roll=encounter] to the beginning or end of your post (preferably outside of your posting template). If you like the animal you encounter, you can try to tame it.

To tame an animal, you begin each subsequent post with [roll=tame]. If you are successful, you can tame again until you've had enough successes to call the animal yours. The number of successes required depends on the animal type.
  • If you fail you need to start a new thread and try taming again. NOTE: You just need to get a certain number of successes overall, not in one thread. So for example: if you get 2 successes in Thread A and 1 success in Thread B, you have 3 successes and tame the wild animal.
  • If you critically fail, you have to encounter an entirely new animal


  • Number of Successes Needed:
  • Farm: 2 Successes
  • Wild: 3 Successes
  • Risky: 4 Successes


  • Animals


    Chicken

    Usually wild chickens can be found in the Mainlands. Commonly raised as farm animals for food and not much more. As of recent, some have taken a liking to their feathered friends and have kept them as pets. It is a regular sight to see them among the Commonwealth due to their simplicity in training and are known as a "poor man's pet." It is extremely rare to see them among nobles as they can be quite filthy if not groomed properly. Chickens can be quite kind and loving creatures once enough time has been spent with them. They are quite clingy to their owners and have a tendency to follow them around. Chickens often show affection to their owners by "talking" to them with small clucks or rubbing their beaks into a lifted paw or free foreleg.




    Duck
    Another popular pet among the Commonwealth are ducks. An animal that is found roaming the Lowlands where water takes a liking to. Though they might not appeal to only the lower class, as they have pretty feathers that some nobles, and those alike, decorate their fur with. Farmers and salesmen in the Marketplace hold them in high regard. Mainly for food, but some can be offered as pets to those who find a certain shine in the waterfowl's eyes. They are easygoing pets that can be easily trained to follow around at a wolf's beckon and call. Ducks show their signs of loyalty and love to a wolf by nibbling on the sides of their fur and grooming the miscellaneous debris out.




    Rabbit
    Skittish by nature, it is much harder to come across rabbits as pets. They stay mostly in the realm of the Highlands. A pet seen mostly in makeshift cages in the Market; being sold off as a nice meal to those who can afford them. Soft to the touch if you approach gently and quietly. At first, they are nervous pets who seem to need to be bound against their owner. Born with natural anxiety, they are high maintenance but give off immense affection in return. Rabbits can be known to be quite the cuddlers and are the more so "prettier" pets, which means they can be seen hopping around Castle Stuart alongside their noble owners. .






    Squirrel
    Squirrels can be found virtually everywhere in Rionnach, scurrying across branches in nearly every territory. Wary and sassy by nature, a squirrel is more likely to leap just out of a wolf’s reach and chitter in its face than to sit comfortably on a shoulder. However, if a wolf manages to tame this zany creature, it can be taught to do incredible tricks, such as flipping and fetching! Squirrels are challenging but energetic pets and need to be constantly entertained.


    Hedgehog
    Timid and naturally solitary, these critters can only be spotted by the keenest eyes on the borders of Perth and Aberdeen, though they’re more likely found in the hedgerows around Melrose, Edinburgh, and Castle Stuart. Long snouts will sniff an approaching wolf for mere moments before disappearing in a hissing, trembling ball of quills! The most determined and patient tamers can gain the trust of a hedgehog, and knowing their favorite treats helps. The diet consists of berries, roots, various insects, and crunchy mealworms. Hedgehogs will spend golden afternoons clambering over the limbs of trusted owners, gnawing gently on fur to soak in the special scent and taste, and running marathons for fun.


    Frog
    Frogs make unusual and unsociable pets. However, some wolves are drawn to their unique qualities and natural camouflage. These amphibians can be found in locations with plenty of freshwater: the lake in Perth; the riverbeds of the Fae Forest; Mirror Lake; and the mysterious Wyrwood. Their association with medicine and swamps means that anyone owning a pet frog may be subjected to accusations of witchcraft. Be sure to keep them wet and warm for their well-being.


    Tortoise
    Just like the wolves of Rionnach, tortoises come in a variety of sizes, colors, and levels of intelligence. Similarly, they can be found in several different habitats: the arid fields of Inverness; the sandy swath of Aberdeen; and the dense Yorkshire forest. Myths pervade that tortoises are slow creatures, but they are constantly on the move. The warmer the weather, the more active they are. Tortoises can be found crawling in underbrush and prefer to avoid bodies of water, but a good mudbath is a different matter entirely. Catching them is easy, but gaining their trust is the biggest challenge as they show little to no emotion. Feeding them grass, leaves, berries, fruits and vegetables and fungi will keep them happy.


    Pine Marten
    Holed up in the Highlands, pine martens can be found hiding in the crags of the mountains as well as stowed away in deeper parts of the forests. They tend to be found in other places, but are in abundance where the great heights can be obtained. Pine martens catch the eye of those looking for a hunting companion, or someone looking to steal valuable items away when someone is distracted or out. They can be quite the bother if left to their own devices, either tearing up dens or eating way too much. Their owner must keep them busy with tasks or on the go with them during their daily routines, otherwise these creatures can become restless and aggressive.


    Polecat
    Polecats are commonly known to take up homes in the Lowlands, but can be found almost anywhere there are old buildings to nest in or fresh airy spaces where they can hunt freely. They are known to be problematic, more so than their alike cousin, the pine martens. If you're wanting to catch a glimpse, you can find them amid the market-place where either nobles wear them around their shoulders or tamers sell them for high prices. The frolicking creatures are an eye catcher to hunters, nobles, and thieves. Common predators to pests of different sizes, they well known size up even larger predators than themselves. Polecats tend to be kind to those they deem as worthy and keep close when they can — even if they are told to stay, they mostly follow their owners, wanting to keep them safe and company on their many adventures.


    Hummingbird
    Flying differently than any other bird known, hummingbirds are uncommon pets, but not because they are unwanted. Nobles as much as common folk seek these nervous creatures. They are quite fast and easy to frighten. Those who search for hummingbirds want to keep them for various reasons. Most think they just look pretty, and show them off as much as they would a new pelt or bouquet from their love. But those who are interested in agriculture or medicinal herbs seek them for the genetic diversity that they bring to plants that they pollinate. They can be found buzzing around the Lowlands, most commonly, flitting from flower to flower, garden to garden. Good luck getting one to stay in the same spot long enough to tame it. Most tamers find this bird quite the challenge!


    Skunk
    These stinky little creatures make quite the pet to own. Most turn their heads at these fellows, especially nobles. Though, skunks are good for a variety of reasons. Farmers often use them for keeping their crops free of pests that plague most gardens. Some turn them into body guards, using their spray as means to keep others either off their trail or to threaten when one gets too close. Otherwise, they make wonderful companions once bonded to their owner. A loyal follower of whomever provides them a good home. This is all dependent on the skunk, of course. These creatures can mostly be found in the Mainlands, where forests are in abundance.




    Fox
    Most commonly found in the Mainland's densely wooded areas, foxes are typically regarded as pests. They love preying upon chicken and duck farms and are known to be clever opportunists. Commonly hunted for their brilliant pelts, foxes are difficult to keep safe as pets. Not only do they run the risk of hurting your neighbors' pets and livestock, they can be trapped and killed by merchants and tradesmen. As such, it is important that a fox owner be watchful and mindful of these dangers. After all, foxes are rewarding pets. They fit neatly into a wolf's life and are easily fed. They are clever companions and are able to learn simple commands.





    Scottish Wildcat
    Often found roaming the Highlands, the Scottish Wildcat is a skilled predator with excellent nightvision. Carnivores, the scottish wildcat is a capable hunter of small mammals and birds, although they have been known to pick over the corpses left after a wolf pack finishes off its kill. Given their incredible hunting skills, it is not uncommon for a scottish wildcat to pick a rabbit farm as a hunting ground. This puts the cat in tension with its wolven neighbors, and they are often chased off or hunted down as pests. Nonetheless, they do keep mice at bay and some wise farmers have formed a synergy with the wildcats: they get scraps and runts and in return keep the mouse and rat population low. As such, they are not hated nearly as much as foxes. Their furs are also less desirable, making them unlikely to come to harm from other wolves. As a pet, the scottish wildcat has a tendency to be reclusive and a tad moody. However, when they do show affection, their purring is incredibly loud and they have a tendency to knead "biscuits" into their owner's fur.

    Badger
    Frequently, badgers are found tied to the Lowlands, in connection to the prey that they find desirable. They traipse anywhere they please with no concern for those around them. Almost at the top of the food chain, badgers can be a pain to tame. They are knowledgeable enough to know that they can get away and are mainly bribed with food to become companions to their owners. Badgers can be lazy, found in farmer's chicken pens, wherever wolves throw their scraps, or stealing what looks appetizing. When they are approached, whether taming or shooing off, aggression comes off in thick waves and it can end up where wolves get serious injuries if not careful of their strength and agility. Even after all these issues, they are still found in high regard to those who can train them right. Those who see eye-to-eye with them seem to have a closer bond. Close enough to where badgers will share whatever they find with them.




    Corvids and owls can be your one pet if you so choose. To use them as pets, you must first purchase the pet item. Afterwards, you do not have to go through encountering or taming—however this also means that you cannot encounter or tame another animal.

    You may have a corvid and a pet if you do not use the corvid as a pet and instead use it only to send messages.