This is the first of three rites in the Rites of Fertility, which your tokota must pass in order to be eligible for breeding. This event will be judged regularly as the moderators schedule allows. Rules and judging rubric can be found on the main Rites of Fertility page.

The Rite of Merit is an event put on by the Tokota Cultural Association to examine and test your tokota to see if they are fit to be bred. The event will start with a medical and basic conformation evaluation (though you are not required to draw this), followed by a variety of tasks specialized to fit individual talents. You will pick the one best suited to your tokota to fully showcase their abilities. It is advisable to read up on the merit traits and their benefits before choosing which class to participate in.

To enter this event, you will pick one of the classes below and draw or write about your tokota participating.

Courage

Awarded to the Tokotas who aren't afraid to walk on the wild side.

Applicable bonuses:

Racing & Teamwork bonuses can be applied to these. These will automatically added to your Tokota's AoA form when RoM: Courage is selected, a full list can be found on the CE and AoA Bonus Reference.

Surfing - Any Tokota

A new sport has come to Tokotna, a test of skill as well as style! Your tokota must brave the waves and stay on their board as long as possible. Will they pull off a few tricks or wipe out in the surf?
Requirements:

• Background/Environment must comply with the prompt's description in order to be judged: On or in the water, or on the beach!
• Equipment to be depicted: Surfboard

Climbing - Any Tokota

Climbing can be an important skill while traversing the landscape of Tokotna, whether it be a great distance straight up a rock face, or into a short tree to gather some honey. Show your tokota displaying their climbing abilities, or lack thereof.
Requirements:

• Background: Something to be climbed.
• Required Equipment: rope or harness

Speed Fishing - Any Tokota

The tokota will collect as many fish as possible within the time span of an hour and a half, and deposit them, intact, into a large bucket. Eating the fish will result in an immediate fail. This event takes place on, in, or around a body of water.
Requirements:

• At least one fish must be visible somewhere in the picture (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature being stalked, brought down, chased or observed from afar.

Hunting - Any Tokota

The tokota will go and bring down a single prey animal in the allotted time, in the wilderness of tokotna.
Requirements:

• You may use any Tokotas prey, regardless of the season, including Tribe Hunting prey. For a full list, see the hunting price list.
• Prey animal must be visible somewhere in the picture (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature being stalked, brought down, chased or observed from afar.

Sledding - Any Tokota

Your tokota has been tasked with delivering urgent supplies to remote communities on the outskirts of tokotna. Your tokota must arrive to the destination within an allotted amount of time to pass.
Requirements:

• A sled must be visible in the image (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

Dock Diving - Any Tokota

It never hurts to have a bit of fun while showing off your skills! With a running start your tokota must leap as far as they can into a pool. Some might like to dive right in, but a tossed chewy is available for those who need a little extra motivation.
Requirements:

• Background concept: A dock or platform leading out to a pool or other body of water.

Lure Coursing - Any Tokota

Some tokotas excel at chasing down prey, whether or not they catch it. Taking off down the track trailing after a decoy animal will test their chasing skills, with an added level of competition - will they be able to catch it before their opponents?
Requirements:

• Artificial "prey animal" must be visible somewhere in the picture (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature.
• "Prey Animal" should be clearly identifiable as artificial vs living prey
• Inspiration: X | X

Retrieving - Normal and Dakino Builds ONLY

The tokota or dakino must find and bring back as many hidden prey scented items as possible. Items may vary from prey shaped decoys to tennis balls to something as simple as a rag. This task may take place in a variety of settings.
Requirements:

• At least one scent item must be depicted.

Earthdog Trial - Toki, Tokhara, and Makhata Builds ONLY

The toki or tokhara must make their way through a series of man made tunnels by tracking a small prey animal. The prey animal will be safely enclosed and should not be harmed in the process, doing so will result in an immediate fail.
Requirements:

• You may use any small Tokotas prey, regardless of the season, including Tribe Hunting prey. For a full list, see the hunting price list.
• Prey animal must be visible somewhere in the picture (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature being stalked, brought down, chased or observed from afar.

Catch & Release - Dire and Miralta Build ONLY

Some areas of Tokotna have become overpopulated by moose and mountain lions. Your dire or Miralta has been tasked with capturing an individual of one of these species and releasing them into a more suitable environment. They must not harm the “prey” animal, but remember they’re both classified as highly dangerous so proceed with caution!
Requirements:

• You may use either moose or mountain lion, regardless of the season.
• Prey animal must be visible somewhere in the picture (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature being stalked, captured, chased, observed from afar, or released.

Territory - Akota Build ONLY

Your akota must defend an outdoor area designated as their territory from intruders! Picture them patrolling their borders, guarding their den, warning off infiltrators, or scaring off anyone who gets too close.
Requirements:

• Must be outdoors.

Fellowship

This trait is awarded to tokotas whose bond with their handlers is unwavering.

Applicable bonuses:

Sporting & Teamwork bonuses can be applied to these. These will automatically added to your Tokota's AoA form when RoM: Fellowship is selected, a full list can be found on the CE and AoA Bonus Reference.

Relay Race - Any Tokota

Sometimes you need help getting where you’re going! Your tokota must work with another, passing off the batton to get over the finish line.
Requirements:

• Must feature one additional tokota: one of your own, someone else's, a starter, or generic tokota.
• Background/Environment must comply with the prompt's description in order to be judged: Race track of some kind

Barrel Racing - Any Tokota

Your tokota and their handler must work together to travel across the arena, performing a pattern around the barrels while trying not to knock them over! Will they have the fastest time or the smoothest performance?
Requirements:

• Handler/Starter must be at least 50% visible in the image or thoroughly featured within literature.
• Background/Environment must comply with the prompt's description in order to be judged: Arena with barrel obstacles to be navigated

Livestock Cutting - Any Tokota

The tokota is required to herd at least one livestock animal to its pen. Animals may not be harmed in the process, doing so will result in an immediate fail.
Requirements:

• At least one livestock animal must be visible (at least 25%) or thoroughly featured within literature
• Animals to choose from: sheep, cow, pig, chicken, penguin, horse, llama, or alpaca

Water Rescue - Any Tokota

While strolling by the coastline, your Tokota is alerted to someone or something in distress, stranded out in the ocean. Depict your tokota attempting a water-based rescue and saving all those involved.
Requirements:

• Either a handler/starter/character of your choosing who is NOT participating in the rite must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature depicted being rescued

Teamwork Trial - Any Tokota

Tokota and Handler must make their way through a challenging course which includes a variety of trust and teamwork challenges - these challenges include free diving to collect artefacts at the bottom of a lake, tokota and handler pulling blockages free from their path, your tokota guiding around their blindfolded handler or your tokota using only its intuition and sense of smell to find their missing handler.
Requirements:

• Handler/Starter must be at least 50% visible in the image or thoroughly featured within literature

Skijoring - Any Tokota

Attaching a handler on a pair of skis can't go wrong - right? In an ultimate test of partnership and trust, your tokota must haul their handler over a snowy course in the allotted time - maybe they'll come in first while they're at it!
Requirements:

• A handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature.
• Required equipment: harness, it does not have to be on the tokota.
• Inspiration: X | X | X

Frisbee - Any Tokota

Your tokota must use all their speed and skill to catch the elusive frisbee! Working together with their handler they'll preform tricks and long distance catches in an effort to get the best score.
Requirements:

• A handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature.
• Required Equipment: Frisbee or disc

Mounted Shooting - Normal and Dakino Builds ONLY

The tokota or dakino and handler must make their way through a target range, working together to allow the handler to shoot as many targets as possible with the allotted time.
Requirements:

• A handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature.

Search & Rescue - Toki, Tokhara, and Makhata Builds ONLY

The toki or tokhara is required to find their hidden handler or a starter in a vast area of arctic tundra, within the allotted time. Handlers/starters may not give hints to their tokota.
Requirements:

• A starter or handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature.

Cross Country Endurance Race - Dire and Miralta Build ONLY

The tokota must traverse a one mile track through the Tokotna wilderness as fast as they can. They will encounter natural obstacles in the path such as fallen logs, streams, small ravines, and thick undergrowth.
Requirements:

• Must include some kind of obstacle.

Guard Duty - Akota Build ONLY

Your akota has been tasked with watching over the herd. Depict them standing guard or protecting the livestock from predators. Animals may not be harmed by the akota in the process, doing so will result in an immediate fail.
Requirements:

• At least one livestock animal must be visible (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature
• Animals to choose from: sheep, cow, pig, chicken, penguin, horse, llama, or alpaca

Dignity

Awarded to the proud and noble, and exceptional examples of the breed.

Applicable bonuses:

Performance & Teamwork bonuses can be applied to these. These will automatically added to your Tokota's AoA form when RoM: Dignity is selected, a full list can be found on the CE and AoA Bonus Reference.

Ice Skating - Any Tokota

For some parts of Tokotna, ice is a year round part of the environment. This is your tokotas opportunity to show off their skill traversing across ice, maybe even throwing a few impressive tricks in while they’re at it. Creativity is encouraged by the TCA!
Requirements:

• Background/Environment must comply with the prompt's description in order to be judged: Ice!

Polo - Any Tokota

Your tokota and their handler must work together to make their way across the field, using the mallet to get their ball into the net. They may include other pairs on their team, or invite others to oppose them and make it a little competitive.
Requirements:

• Handler/Starter must be at least 50% visible in the image or thoroughly featured within literature.
• Equipment to be depicted: Ball and mallet

Steeplechasing - Any Tokota

The tokota must race over a set of jumps around a fenced in track as quickly as possible. The tokotas success will depend upon the total time taken around the track compared to a breed standard time considered acceptable.
Requirements:

• Background concept: Sand race track, white picket fence surrounding, woods surround the racetrack, hurdles are a mix of hedges and water jumps

Halter - Any Tokota

The tokota will stand to attention in the middle of the ring. Conformation and temperament are very important in this class. Depict your tokota at a standstill, walk, trot or lope with judges assessing their confirmation and breedability.
Requirements:

• Background concept: Undertaken in a sandy arena surrounded with a fence.

Obedience Test - Any Tokota

The tokota will have an allotted amount of time to listen to its handler’s commands and complete a set of basic obedience tasks and tricks. There will be a small period of time afterwards to complete a freestyle round where your tokota can show off its best tricks.
Requirements:

• Background concept: Undertaken in a sandy arena surrounded with a fence.

Heelwork to Music - Any Tokota

Every tokota deserves their chance to preform! Your tokota and their handler - or a starter if they can be convinced to join in - must perform a routine set to music. No points will be deducted for having two left feet.
Requirements:

• A starter or handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature.

Flyball - Any Tokota

Your Tokota must clear four hurdles, release the ball from the box and return over the hurdles without dropping the ball in the fastest time.
Requirements:

• Background Concept: should feature hurdles or jumping obstacles of some kind.

Obstacle Course - Normal and Dakino Builds ONLY

Your tokota or dakino must make their way through a series of agility obstacles as quickly and cleanly as they can.
Requirements:

• Background concept: Open area surrounded by lattice fence. Various agility obstacles.

Buggy Racing - Toki, Tokhara, and Makhata Builds ONLY

Your toki or tokhara must make their way around a circular track as quickly as they can while pulling a miniature buggy. Up to three tokis and/or tokharas may pull a single buggy.
Requirements:

• A buggy must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature
• Inspiration: X | X

Carriage Driving - Dire and Miralta Build ONLY

Your dire or miralta must make their way through a series of numbered gates as quickly and carefully as possible while pulling a carriage. Up to three dires or miraltas may pull a single carriage
Requirements:

• A carriage or cart must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature

Weight Pulling - Akota Build ONLY

Your akota will show off their strength, pulling a heavy weight a short distance. The weight can be anything such as a fallen tree, pallete of bricks, or even industrial equipment.
Requirements:

• Akota should be depicted wearing a harness of some kind.

Earnest

Awarded to kind and gentle creatures.

Applicable bonuses:

Working & Teamwork bonuses can be applied to these. These will automatically added to your Tokota's AoA form when RoM: Earnest is selected, a full list can be found on the CE and AoA Bonus Reference.

Therapy - Any Tokota

Tokotas can be quite gentle creatures, when correctly trained, making them excellent therapy companions; whether they are taken into Tyonek General Hospital to help the mental wellbeing of their long term patients, used to aid in physical therapy or even used to bring joy to those who are less able bodied, many Tokotas flourish in this roll. Depict your tokota assisting with any kind of therapy.
Requirements:

• A starter or handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature as the therapy target.

Fire Dog - Any Tokota

Highly trained Tokotas are used to aid the Tanyia and Tartok Fire Department in locating Tokotas, handlers, and pets alike trapped within burning buildings. To show their skill, Tokotas must complete an obstacle course within the set time limit; the final obstacle is to enter a smoke filled building to retrieve a dummy while maintaining their composure.
Requirements:

• A smoke fulled building must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

Guide - Any Tokota

Tokotas can be trained to help with a variety of obstacles in their day, including helping the visually impaired find their way, or stopping someone from walking into a dangerous situation. Depict your tokota helping a handler or another tokota with an issue of this nature.
Requirements:

• A starter or handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature as the therapy target.

Contraband Detective - Any Tokota

At ports of entry to the various regions of Tokotna, Tokotas are used to find and stop the smuggling of contraband. Each of them is trained in a specific detection such as finding smuggled puppies, goods, or people. Depict your tokotas being trained or on the job detecting contraband. (Do not depict any illegal substances or graphic scenes.)
Requirements:

• A container must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

Medical Alert Tokota - Any Tokota

With their keen sense of smell, Tokotas can be trained to detect certain changes in their handlers physical state and are able to alert them to oncoming issues such as blood sugar drops or spikes, seizures, or stress episodes. Depict your tokota assisting with or training for such an event.
Requirements:

• A starter or handler must be at least 50% visible or thoroughly featured within literature as the medical alert target.

Art Protector - Any Tokota

The Narnvak Museum of Fine Arts has come up with a way to protect artwork from bugs by using Tokotas. They are capable of finding insects before they damage objects in the museum. Depict your tokota taking a round through the building looking for or finding bugs.
Requirements:

• A piece of art of any kind (painting, sculpture, textiles etc) must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

Street Performance - Any Tokota

Tokotas are capable of being very silly when called upon especially to warm the hearts of those around them. Does your toko like to dance, do tricks, or maybe sing their heart out? Depict your tokota entertaining a crowd with their special talent!
Requirements:

• Environment: An urban area.

Cave Rescue - Toki, Tokhara, and Makhata Builds ONLY

Being the smallest of the Tokota breeds, Tokis and Tokharas are well adept at squeezing into tight spaces, making them the perfect choice for cave rescue. There’s always some poor, unsuspecting tourist that gets caught in the depths of Ing’a’s Throat or in the hidden caverns in the depths of the Tartoks. It’s up to your Tokota to locate them.
Requirements:

• Environment: A cave or cave entrance.

Parcel Running - Normal and Dakino Builds ONLY

The mail always needs to be delivered no matter the terrain or the weather. Tokotas and Dakinos are well suited to this job with their adaptive natures and ease in dealing with humans. Depict your tokota running a package across town or cross country!
Requirements:

• A parcel must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

Crossing Guard - Dire or Miralta Build ONLY

In many urban areas the streets are filled with vehicles and tokotas running at fast pace. The job of crossing guard can only be given the most calm and large tokotas since they need to step out into the streets first. Depict your dire or miralta clearing the road to allow a group of people or tokotas safe passage.
Requirements:

• Environment: A road crossing.

Shelter Building - Akota Build ONLY

Whether for a night of camping, or as a more permanent base shelter is always needed in the different climes of Tokotna. Depict your akota hauling large logs, panels of wood, bags of cement, or other shelter building materials or helping to build the shelter itself.
Requirements:

• A shelter, or the start of an attempt at building a shelter must be visible in the image (at least 50%) or thoroughly featured within literature.

FAQ

• Does this count as an exploration/other activity piece?
• No, it will not be rolled for items and counts for the "rite" HP bonus rather than the activity HP bonus.
• I'm doing Rites for multiple tokotas of different builds, can they all do the same prompts?
• Tokotas of any build can complete any prompt UNLESS the prompt you've chosen is designated for one specific build type.
• Can I have tokotas in the same picture/story complete different prompts?
• No, every tokota in the image or story must be doing the same prompt.
• Would I be penalised for depicting my tokota making a mistake?
• No!