Mike Mearls ruined my composure

[occam]

I was DMing the first session of D&D Encounters this season, Keep on the Borderlands, set in and around Restwell Keep, near the Chaos Scar. The keep was described in Dungeon #176, so I decided to add some additional roleplaying elements to the encounter, drawn from the article written by Mike Mearls.

As the PCs enter the keep, they're questioned by the corporal of the guard and his assistant, Syradon. Now, here's the thing. The corporal's name?

Fallek.

If you don't see the problem (as I didn't), say it out loud.

Really, Mike? Fallek?

There was no end of snickering by the players for the rest of the encounter.

It's a trap!

 

[Ulrick]

Um...

Maybe it's pronounced "Fey-llek"?

After all, "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

 

[The Shaman]

In the Gary Gygax adventure Necropolis, we encountered a village named Ar-Tuat.

Much juvenile giggling ensued as we got in and out of Ar-Tuat.

 

[Rel]

Years ago we were playing Rolemaster and we're in this city. We were asked by a sergeant in the City Guard to conduct a raid against the Thieves Guild. Something about it didn't sit right and we felt like they were setting us up so we planned to double cross them. One of the members of the party was nervous about this plan and so my character assured him that I was quite charming (as reflected by my skills) and that, unless the members of the guard we were meeting were mind-readers, we had no need to fear them catching on.

With the other character reassured we went to our meeting with the Captain of the Guard who would give us our final instructions (which we planned to ignore in favor of our double cross). The sergeant took us in and and said, "Allow me to introduce you to the leader of the King's Guard, Captain Mentil."

*Worried stares followed by gales of laughter*

 

[mearls]

Really, Mike? Fallek?

There was no end of snickering by the players for the rest of the encounter.

It's a trap!

The same *exact* thing happened during my Keep on the Borderlands campaign. I dropped the name without even thinking about it, and the table burst into laughter.

I think I'm going to change the guy's name to Balsac. That'll fix it.

 

[ExploderWizard]

The same *exact* thing happened during my Keep on the Borderlands campaign. I dropped the name without even thinking about it, and the table burst into laughter.

I think I'm going to change the guy's name to Balsac. That'll fix it.

Make sure he is a bard. Oh, and he needs a viscious bite attack too.

 

[Hussar]

LOL

To be fair though, I pronounced it in my head as Fall as in the other word for autumn, rather than rhyming with the name Al.

Although, I suppose my version could get pretty hairy.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The same *exact* thing happened during my Keep on the Borderlands campaign. I dropped the name without even thinking about it, and the table burst into laughter.

I think I'm going to change the guy's name to Balsac. That'll fix it.

You're in luck- there's already a mini for him!

Bear Balsac

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

FWIW, someone needs to model a Ranger PC or NPC on word-famous former Green Beret, survival expert, and author, Myke Hawke.

(With a name like that, Green Beret or porn star were about his only options in life...)

 

[ExploderWizard]

FWIW, someone needs to model a Ranger PC or NPC on word-famous former Green Beret, survival expert, and author, Myke Hawke.

He so needs to be an essentials fighter!! Hawke the Slayer is pure gold!