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An '''animal companion''' (or more informally, a '''pet''') is any tamed animal (currently, only quadrupeds and mammals) that accompanies the player character. 

They're a less versatile version of a human companion to the player character. Depending on an animal's exact species, they can serve as a guard or fellow fighter, a source of food and organic materials, as a packhorse for carrying extra loads, or simply as a non-human friend to keep around. Player characters can name their animal companions, and even give orders to some and feed them.

== Starting scenario ==

Currently, the surest (if not only) way for a player character to acquire a pet right from the start is to choose the ''[[Scenario#Not_All_Who_Wander_are_Lost|Not All Who Wander Are Lost]]'' [[Scenario|scenario]]. Depending on the character's chosen culture, they will be granted a tame specific animal companion when they start out. For the companion species available, please see the list below.

== Animal companions by culture ==

==== [[:Category:Western Cultures|Western Cultures]] ====

*[[Dog]] - Serves primarily as the player character's companion, helping during hunting and fighting, or as a guard dog while at the character's home.
*[[Pig]] - Used primarily as a source of food, leather, etc., or just as a pet to keep one company.

==== [[:Category:Eastern Cultures|Eastern Cultures]] ====

*[[Dog]] - Serves primarily as the player character's companion, helping during hunting and fighting, or as a guard dog while at the character's home.
*[[Pig]] - Used primarily as a source of food, leather, etc., or just as a pet to keep one company.
*[[Sheep]] - Used primarily as a source of food, or just as a pet to keep one company.

==== [[:Category:Northern Cultures|Northern Cultures]] ====

*[[Forest reindeer|Reindeer]] - Can be used to carry extra loads on its back, in the manner of a packhorse. Can also serve as a source of food, fur, antlers, etc.

== Interacting ==

[[Conversations|Initiating communication]] with animal companions can be carried out in the same manner as with human NPCs and human companions, though to a more limited extent. Dogs can receive orders or be fed with food. Dogs, pigs, sheep and reindeer can all be given a name by the player character (via the player, of course).

== Gallery ==

'''Western cultures ''(Dog or pig)'''''

<gallery>
File:Starting animal Driikiläiset.png|[[Driikiläiset]] female PC with tamed pig
File:Starting animal Islanders.png|[[Islanders]] female PC with dog
File:Starting animal Koivulaiset.png|[[Koivulaiset]] male PC with tamed pig
File:Starting animal Sartolaiset.png|[[Sartolaiset]] female PC with dog
</gallery>

'''Eastern cultures ''(Dog, pig or sheep)'''''

<gallery>
File:Starting animal Kaumolaiset.png|[[Kaumolaiset]] female PC with dog
File:Starting animal Kaumolaiset sheep.png|[[Kaumolaiset]] female PC with sheep
File:Starting animal Kiesseläiset.png|[[Kiesseläiset]] male PC with dog
File:Starting animal Reemiläiset.png|[[Reemiläiset]] male PC with tamed pig
</gallery>

'''Northern cultures ''(Reindeer)'''''

<gallery>
File:Starting animal Kuikka-Tribe.png|[[Kuikka-Tribe]] male PC with tamed reindeer
File:Starting animal Owl-Tribe.png|[[Owl-Tribe]] female PC with tamed reindeer
File:Starting animal Seal-Tribe.png|[[Seal-Tribe]] male PC with tamed reindeer
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Leash]] - Derived from a [[Rope|rope]], usually a leather rope. Necessary for leading a tame pet around, alongside the player.

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Animal]]
[[Category:NPC]]
[[Category:Society]]