Save the Raging Dire Badger Animal Companion!

[Plane Sailing]

I didn't notice it on anyones suggestions, but if I were DM I'd go for the wild empathy ability - assume that a raging badger is hostile, and attempt an animal empathy check to try to get it to indifferent. +4 on the roll since it is an Animal companion.

Normally a wild empathy check takes a minute to complete, but I'd allow this as a one-off check. Imagine it like the druid making the mother badgers grunt that separates two young badgers roughhousing before they become only one badger

 

[Magus Coeruleus]

So I emailed customer service about this. Here are my question and the response:

Greetings,

Could you answer this question for me, please?

Some creatures such as badgers, wolverines, and the dire versions thereof have the following ability:

Rage (Ex): A dire badger that takes damage in combat flies into a berserk rage on its next turn, clawing and biting madly until either it or its opponent is dead. It gains +4 Strength, +4 Constitution, and -2 AC. The creature cannot end its rage voluntarily.

My question is whether a a trained animal of this sort can be commanded, using the "Down" trick, to break off combat while raging. Here is the "Down" trick text:

Down (DC 15): The animal breaks off from combat or otherwise backs down. An animal that doesn't know this trick continues to fight until it must flee (due to injury, a fear effect, or the like) or its opponent is defeated.

I believe the question boils down to the intended meaning of "voluntarily." Is the animal incapable of following the command, or just incapable of choosing that course of action on its own?

The response:

Yes, the animal can voluntarily stop raging.


**Please quote this e-mail in any reply.**
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Darrin
Wizards of the Coast - Customer Service
Website: http://www.wizards.com
Game Support Phone: 1-800-324-6496
Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 7 PM PST
Corporate Phone: (425) 226-6500
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At first, I was flabbergasted. "No!" I thought, "the animal CAN'T stop raging voluntarily. That much, at least, is clear!" Reading back through the wording of my question, though, I realized the reponse probably means 'Yes, the animal can voluntarily follow a command to stop raging even though it cannot stop raging on its own.' Just to make sure, I tried calling that Game Support Phone number and quickly got a hold of someone who confirmed this interpretation as correct.