The noble warhorse. The trusty squire. The cute little ferret with the ability to pick pockets. These are all examples of supporting characters or followers, also known as NPCs. As such, their behavior and actions fall solely under the control of your Moderator. You can make requests and issue commands, but ultimately your Moderator will describe the actions taken by your followers, be they human, animal, or otherwise.

You can usually expect that your orders or requests will be followed, as your character does enjoy a position of command. But this is not an absolute, and your behavior toward your followers will greatly determine their attitude toward you. Mistreat your squire often enough and you’ll be lucky if he leaves in the night with only your purse. And there is always the case of the child who throws a temper tantrum in the common room of the inn rather than goes quietly to bed, regardless of the treats you gave him just that afternoon.

What can you do with a rebellious follower? You can try to restore their belief in your authority through reason or force. You can track down their traitorous hineys and slaughter them where they stand. You can cut your losses and continue on alone. But you cannot control their actions. You can tell your trained wolf to attack, but it will be up to your Moderator whether he succeeds, or even whether he attacks the correct target.