Rogue Husbandry part 2: Care and Keeping
One of the key parts of being a rogue owner is perfecting their habitat. To that end, here are a few key points about your rogue’s enclosure and diet.
All rogues have a natural magpie instinct, and will hoard the things they find. These things need not always be valuable, but they will be valuable to your rogue. Be sure to hide a large number of shinies around your rogue’s enclosure for them to find.
Also be sure to provide a secure space for your rogue to hoard their shinies (keeping them on their person at all times is a sign of anxiety and not healthy behavior). If you have multiple rogues, they each need their own private spaces.
Your rogue will likely get bored without access to their preferred form of activity. These may be spacious features like elaborate ducts to crawl through, or something as modest as a collection of locks to pick or classic novels to read. Opportunities to practice with their weapon of choice is always beneficial, but not necessary. Some rogues (especially Cerebral Rogues) require a constant stream of new enrichment activities (e.g. new heists to plan), which can be a challenge for busy owners; however, many rogues are happy with a static collection.
Rogues are naturally anxious creatures, often fearing the change they claim to love. However, without any change, your rogue will stagnate. Be sure to introduce change at a moderate rate. Excessive change can lead to maladaptive behaviors (excessive grumbling, unreliable narration, melancholy, etc.), so monitor closely for those. But do not overcorrect! Your rogue will never fully mature until it learns to deal with changes and challenges.
Helpfully, rogues will eat nearly anything. They may reject excessively rich foods, or cling strongly to one particular food, but they do not have nearly the dietary restrictions of other pet breeds (e.g. clowns and candy-floss or wizards and potions). One thing to monitor, however, is alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a key part of many a rogue’s diet, but some rogues can be highly prone to alcoholism.
Whether outwardly garrulous or prickly, inwardly all rogues benefit from socialization. Does this mean you always need to adopt multiple rogues? Not necessarily. It is often enough to take your rogue out periodically to flex their skills and interact with others (rogue, human, or otherwise). The type and amount of socialization your rogue needs is highly variable, so general advice is limited.
Another note: pair bonding
Rogues are highly prone to pair- (or rarely, trio-) bonding, often but not always with other rogues. Whether platonic, romantic, or both, these bonds will be an extremely important feature in your rogue’s life if you allow them to form. Pair-bonding is typically beneficial, but can come with its own set of maladaptive responses (hostility towards outsiders, separation anxiety, placing the other on a pedestal, petty arguing within the pair, etc.). To ensure the healthiest development, make sure each of your rogues has some time to develop separately or with new friends.
Hopefully this information helps you better care for your rogue!
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