ETIQUETTE:
You find yourself standing in a precisely manicured field, pristine green grass stretching out in front of you for what seems like miles. A gaggle of large flightless birds stand in the shape of a horseshoe, a few of them already engaged by other students. A horseman of Conquest approaches you, her deep olive hair serving to help camouflage her against the surrounding grasses.
"Greetings. You may call me Rucha. Today you will be working with the adara." She sweeps an arm toward the birds, her long sleeves trailing through the grass at her feet. "On the whole, members of this species have a lot in common with humans as far as temperament and intelligence are concerned, so you should have no trouble getting them to tolerate you." She frowns and looks you up and down. "In theory." Rucha moves to one side, allowing you to step past her.
"Take this," She hands you a list of instructions. "Choose a bird, and make an effort to earn its trust."
Instruction One
Begin by bowing to the adara to show it you mean no harm. Try to at least act sincere.
Roll 1d4.
1: Your bow is suitably impressive. The adara inclines its head and drops a feather. Perhaps it will be of some use later. Go on to the next instruction.
2: The bird screams in terror and pushes you to the ground before running away. You fail and may not continue further today.
3: You don't make proper eye contact at first, but soon your adara is nuzzling up to you anyway. It seems you have a natural affinity for dealing with the beasts, at least at the moment. A future as a DETH representative might be in the cards. You obtain one feather and may go on to the next instruction.
4: You bow, but it's kind of a weak attempt. Still, your bird responds. It doesn't seem terribly enthusiastic about the whole situation though. You may go on to the next instruction, but you have not earned a feather.
Roll 1d4.
1: Your bow is suitably impressive. The adara inclines its head and drops a feather. Perhaps it will be of some use later. Go on to the next instruction.
2: The bird screams in terror and pushes you to the ground before running away. You fail and may not continue further today.
3: You don't make proper eye contact at first, but soon your adara is nuzzling up to you anyway. It seems you have a natural affinity for dealing with the beasts, at least at the moment. A future as a DETH representative might be in the cards. You obtain one feather and may go on to the next instruction.
4: You bow, but it's kind of a weak attempt. Still, your bird responds. It doesn't seem terribly enthusiastic about the whole situation though. You may go on to the next instruction, but you have not earned a feather.
Instruction Two
Next you should offer the adara a refreshing drink of water or a salted cracker.
Roll 1d6.
1: The adara nibbles at your cracker, then turns away and starts to graze on the leaves near its feet. You pass, but not by much. You may move on to the next instruction.
2: After you've fed your bird its snack, the adara puffs up and begins to gag. You've failed the challenge, but you do obtain a feather as a result of its misery! You may not continue further today.
3: Your adara drinks its water daintily, then allows you to pet it. You pass and you get a feather! You may move on to the next instruction.
4: Sadly, after your bird eats your cracker, it quickly moves on to the next student, letting them pet it and collect one of its feathers. The two timer! Eventually your adara wanders back. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
5: The adara in front of you ignores your cracker, but another animal wanders over to eat it instead, giving you one of its feathers in thanks! You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
6: You drop your water and crackers, watching in dismay as a passing bird tramples them. You fail and may not continue further today.
Roll 1d6.
1: The adara nibbles at your cracker, then turns away and starts to graze on the leaves near its feet. You pass, but not by much. You may move on to the next instruction.
2: After you've fed your bird its snack, the adara puffs up and begins to gag. You've failed the challenge, but you do obtain a feather as a result of its misery! You may not continue further today.
3: Your adara drinks its water daintily, then allows you to pet it. You pass and you get a feather! You may move on to the next instruction.
4: Sadly, after your bird eats your cracker, it quickly moves on to the next student, letting them pet it and collect one of its feathers. The two timer! Eventually your adara wanders back. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
5: The adara in front of you ignores your cracker, but another animal wanders over to eat it instead, giving you one of its feathers in thanks! You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
6: You drop your water and crackers, watching in dismay as a passing bird tramples them. You fail and may not continue further today.
Instruction Three
Ask the adara something about itself, listening attentively when it answers, even though you can't understand a word of its reply.
Roll 1d6.
1: You ask the bird to tell you where it was born and it responds with a happy trill and a long, drawn out bird story. After a while, you begin to get bored. The adara stops mid-chirp, gets up, and waddles away. You fail and may not continue further today.
2: The adara looks on in confusion and dismay as you try to stutter out an interesting question. You fail and may not continue further today.
3: Your bird is pleased by your question. It sits down and shares a tweety tale of intrigue that you manage to remain bright-eyed and alert for. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
4: Your question frightens the adara and it leaves your vicinity with a shiver. Its shaking causes one of its feathers to fall nearby. You fail and may not continue further today.
5: In an effort to seem like you care, you ask your adara a very personal question that it refuses to answer. You fail and may not continue further today.
6: You've coincidentally hit on your adara's favorite topic of all time, and even if you can't understand what it's saying, it's still pretty entertaining. You listen as attentively as you can, and are awarded with a feather for your trouble. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
Roll 1d6.
1: You ask the bird to tell you where it was born and it responds with a happy trill and a long, drawn out bird story. After a while, you begin to get bored. The adara stops mid-chirp, gets up, and waddles away. You fail and may not continue further today.
2: The adara looks on in confusion and dismay as you try to stutter out an interesting question. You fail and may not continue further today.
3: Your bird is pleased by your question. It sits down and shares a tweety tale of intrigue that you manage to remain bright-eyed and alert for. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
4: Your question frightens the adara and it leaves your vicinity with a shiver. Its shaking causes one of its feathers to fall nearby. You fail and may not continue further today.
5: In an effort to seem like you care, you ask your adara a very personal question that it refuses to answer. You fail and may not continue further today.
6: You've coincidentally hit on your adara's favorite topic of all time, and even if you can't understand what it's saying, it's still pretty entertaining. You listen as attentively as you can, and are awarded with a feather for your trouble. You pass and may move on to the next instruction.
Instruction Four
Lastly, tell the adara a secret. These animals love to think they're up on the latest gossip.
Roll 1d4.
1, 2: Your secret is a sad, boring one that nobody cares about. You fail.
3: The adara listens, rapt, as you tell it a little-known tale of intrigue and madness. When you're done, it drops a feather at your feet. You pass.
4: Everybody knows that secret! The adara shakes its head, accidentally dislodging a feather for you to keep. You fail.
Roll 1d4.
1, 2: Your secret is a sad, boring one that nobody cares about. You fail.
3: The adara listens, rapt, as you tell it a little-known tale of intrigue and madness. When you're done, it drops a feather at your feet. You pass.
4: Everybody knows that secret! The adara shakes its head, accidentally dislodging a feather for you to keep. You fail.
Horsemen Points
For each feather you have (up to three) at the end of this test you may claim a Horsemen Point.
Quote:
Q: What happens if I fail?
You stop. You can try again tomorrow or the next, but once you fail you're done.
