The first moving dummy rolls into the lane, its painted arms snapping up as Nog lowers his shoulders. Anoa crouches light on her paws, ears flaring. Jar plants himself in the middle like a wall of clay and intent.
Herrid keeps the team moving through the opening beat of the course. The clerk’s quill scratches fast at the register, pleased by the clean timing.
A broad-shouldered beastmaster leans on the rail near the ring, one hand resting on a scarred hound-beast beside him. He watches the lane with a measuring stare, then nods once, like he has seen enough to speak.
Kaelen
Good control. Most folk rush the first dummy and lose the rhythm. Keep that shape, and you’ll look sharper to the judges than half the field.
His creature shows its teeth at the next swing of the dummy, but Kaelen lays two fingers to its neck and steadies it without looking away from Herrid.
Kaelen
After the warm-up, the real trials begin. Balance, spacing, recovery. If you want, I can point out where teams usually break.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn where teams usually break in the trials
“I listen”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled -2)
Herrid
The lane work sounds cleaner than a match should. I keep my eyes on Kaelen and listen for the part he does not dress up.
Kaelen
Teams break when they stop breathing as a unit. A beast darts, its handler chases, the center opens. Or someone wins one exchange too hard and forgets the next.
Kaelen
The judges love control, but the trials punish pride. The first real crack is usually between recovery and the next command.
He taps the scar at his wrist, and his hound-beast huffs once, still watching the lane. The clerk’s quill slows for a breath, then keeps moving.
Kaelen
Keep your spacing honest. If one of yours surges, the others need room to answer it. If they crowd, the course decides for you.
Herrid catches the warning cleanly, but the edge of Kaelen’s phrase lands like grit under the tongue. The warm-up token slips in his grip and ticks against the rail with a sharp little knock.
Kaelen
If you want the judges to respect you, show them you can recover without hurrying. That is where most teams fail.
Quest Complete
Learn where teams usually break in the trials