The Ostrich

**The Ostrich** is a random event where a passenger ostrich, a species thought extinct, is sighted in the capital.

## Outcome summary

The followup event is largely the same as this event, except that the rewards and consequences of each outcome are greater. It even has the chance for its own followup event.

## Start

The Ostrich

hero first name shakes you awake. "There's a passenger ostrich outside the capital!" You immediately look in your mind's eye and after a few seconds of searching, you see it. The blue beak. The long neck. The magnificent red plumage! The great bird isn't extinct after all! What do you do?

* Send hero name to feed it.
* Send hero name to catch it. Such a delicate species must be protected!
* Send hero name to kill and prepare it for a feast tonight.
* Watch and bask in its majesty.

This event can only trigger if there is corruption in a region with a keep and if the retinue includes a hero without the Flincher personality. The hero in question will be randomly selected from those without that personality.

## Feeding the ostrich

### Outcomes

There are two possible outcomes, all equally likely.

Easy Does It

The ostrich is cautious, only moving towards the sack of bird seed after several minutes and even then only in one-step increments. Finally the moment arrives and the great bird begins to eat. Voraciously. When it's all gone, the ostrich turns to hero name and raises its wings in a display of color so dazzling that it causes the hero to faint from happiness.

hero first name has gained the Ostrich Vision trait.

Love Bird

It seems passenger ostriches have become a bit... angrier since they were last seen because as soon as it saw hero name walking up it lunged forward in a relentless flurry of talons, feathers, and beak bites. Thankfully the horns managed to scare it away before any permanent physical damage was done, but the psychological damage may be another matter.

hero first name has gained the Flincher personality.

## Catch the ostrich

### Outcomes

There are two possible outcomes, both equally likely.

Ready and Willing

Well that was easy. As soon as the Capital doors are opened, the bird runs into the courtyard and sits down with what can only be described as a "delighted" expression. Plans for a more suitable enclosure are quickly drawn up and when construction begins that night, you are flooded with hundreds of requests from the citizens of region name who wish to help. Apparently the ostrich was a sacred bird there.

Corruption has decreased in region name.

The region will be randomly selected from those with a keep and at least some corruption.

Net Loss

The net was a bad idea. From the moment rope touched feather the bird went crazy and became a whirling mass of beak and talons. After some agonizing screeches a hole was torn open large enough for its head to stick out, but in its struggles the poor thing ended up strangling itself to death. News spreads quickly and by nightfall you are swamped with tearful letters from the citizens of region name. Apparently the ostrich was a sacred bird there.

Corruption has increased in region name.

The region will be randomly selected from those with a keep.

## Eating the ostrich

### Outcomes

There are two possible outcomes, both equally likely.

Good Eating

Passenger ostrich meat is renowned for its incredible flavor and it definitely held true tonight! The feast encompassed five courses, three breaks, and, incredibly enough, ten entire barrels of Ol' Verhoeven. By the end everyone had to be carried out on stretchers as if their blissful stomachs and minds had transcended to a higher plane of tasteful existence.

All heroes in your retinue have gained XP.

The amount of XP awarded for each hero is the greater of 5 percent of his or her current XP or 500 points.

Overcooked

The feast is delicious! ...until the vomiting begins. Ostrich meat is extraordinarily volatile and the slightest miscalcuation in preparing it can spell disaster for one's gastrointestinal tract as everyone seems to be learning tonight.

All heroes in your retinue have gained the Sickly trait.

## Watching the ostrich

### Outcome

Beautiful

The bird grazes for a few more minutes before deciding to make use of the wide field by running around in circles. With its wings spread it's a somewhat ridiculous sight, but one in which you find a surprisingly deep pleasure. At no particular point the bird stops, seemingly satisfied, and calmly retreats back to the forest. For the first time in a while, you feel content.

There is a 50% chance that a followup event will occur in 20 years.