I had fast traveled to Bruca's Leap Redoubt in order to complete a quest; my character's presence immediately triggered an attack from the Forsworn camp located there. A Forsworn pillager drew his swords and immediately attacked a chicken that happened to be walking by. Only after the chicken had been slain did he turn his attention to my character.

While this is a game that has featured backward-flying dragons and mammoths falling from the sky, for some reason this struck as especially absurd. It is one of the more memorable incidents I have had (I have been playing since the pointless 11/11/11 release date).

I realize that various hostile NPCs are programmed to attack one another (i.e. dragons v. bears, etc), but why a chicken? I wish the chicken had been programmed to fight back.

For some reason that happens alot. I don't think anyone truly knows why but I could be wrong.
Happens often in my game as well.

That chicken seriously offended the wrong guy obviously.

Chicken need more attention.

Maybe he was showing off his skill? (I'm just being the optimist here.) But yeah, it gets pretty ridiculous when you're in attack range of them.

The Forsworn are a bunch of badly dressed bullies; but going after a helpless chicken crosses the line in my book (I own five hens in the real world so maybe I'm being overly sensitive). Lets see them try that with a beehive.