(OOC: Although technically the Intimidate, Bluff, and Diplomacy skills cannot actually be used against other PCs except for Feinting and Demoralising, or else Lasair could just Diplomacy you all, I do like to roll and have it affect my roleplaying, but that's just me. Anyway, Lasair is
not cowed by Cludge's yelling)
"Cludge, Kurghaz is doing the best he can, and I will give him credit for it. He's only going to beat those who specifically volunteer for it as a way of regaining their
vhal in his eyes."
"As for
vhal and
zij, I've been trying and trying to explain them...let me see if I can come up with something better...Okay, this is the best I have. If none can understand it after this, I give up:
Vhal is something like what you Westerners call 'honour', but I have been told by Westerners that some claim to have 'honour' but do not have
vhal because they mistreat all except nobles, so
vhal is maybe like this 'honour' except less corrupt. For the purpose of this explanation, I shall replace the word
vhal with honour from now on in case it is just the word that confuses you.
Zij is something you have when your honour is compromised, and you repay your
zij to restore your honour. It's like a debt. Call it a debt of honour. So, when you do something like, for instance, attack some travelers on the road, you have a debt of honour to them. It's an internal thing. The travelers can show you that they respect and care for your honour by helping you repay that debt. If they refuse to help, that means they think that either your act is unforgivable or that you have no honour at all. The more repayment demanded, the greater the respect for the true honour of those with the debt, for those with great honour have the most to repay with dishonourable actions. Those who deface their honour again and again and again with no regard for any debt to pay, for instance the ogre who killed travelers and took their wealth with no remorse, have no honour at all. They are no better than animals."
*Lasair takes a deep breath.*
"That is my best explanation. If it was not enough, I am sorry."