TURTLEDOME!: Battle Bone (DM: KenHood, Judge: Lord S.)

[weldon]

Finnian steps in front of Vaunea and turns towards her, putting his hands up in a relaxed gesture.

Vanna, it's OK. She was just talking about the things at the arena, not anything here. Oh, and let's try to keep our host's head right there where it is too. K?

Finnian turns back to Marco and his wife.

Sorry about the trouble, ma'am. My new friend here, well... she can get a bit excited at times that's all. But you're perfectly safe, she's just here to help you husband, Marlowe out is all. Well, we are all here just to help.

Your husband's been real kind and is helping us meet some people that are helping us get ready for our fight, and did I mention that I've won the boxing match at the fair before? Well, so see we're here to help is all and, boy, we sure are glad that you are having us over for a meal, 'cause I'm just famished after everything today and a home-cooked meal sounds great, doesn't it?

Finnian turns to his companions, nodding and looking for their agreement that nothing could be better than a proper home-cooked meal right now.

And ma'am, I am sorry if we've caused you any distress here in your lovely home, I did mention it was lovely, right? And I can see why your husband was so eager to get home, he's got a good reason to puff his chest out when he talks about his shop, and well, about you.

Diplomacy Check (1d20+3=19)

 

[KenHood]

'Stunned' is the word.

Talula's mouth gapes--a mix of horror, shock, outrage, amusement. All of these emotions fight for dominance.

Marco pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. He turns to his wise and takes both of her hands, clasping them before his chest. "Dear, I want you to go the kitchen for a while."

Marco's wife nods numbly. As she leaves, she looks back for a moment, a dozen emotions playing on her face. Her expression hardens like concrete, becoming a scowl.

Marco watches his wife leave, then turns back to the party.

"That could have gone much better," he sighs, resigned.

"I need you to listen," he says to the group.

"And I mean LISTEN." he adds, singling out Vaunea and Finnian.

He returns to addressing the group. "I have seen you do some amazing acts of courage in the past few hours. I've seen some incredible feats. In fact, I'd be willing to say that meeting you has changed my life. I believe that Fate has chosen us to be together, and I thank the gods for the opportunity to support your party in TURTLEDOME!"

"Now, here comes the 'but'."

"But..."

"You have a tendency towards thoughtlessness and thuggery that--at times--verges on the criminal. At my Cousin Eustace's home, you were going to break down his door and take his sword, like he was some story book dragon and you had rights to his hoard. At Obadiah's home, again, you were about to smash down the doors. You even waved a sword in poor Annie's face, threatening to kill her!"

"Listen, I understand that you have to be hard people to do what you do. There are horrible beasts out there that seek to harm regular people like myself and my family. These monsters deserve everything that they have coming. But you need to see the difference between the monsters and the regular people. The people you're trying to protect!"

"This is my home, and I will not tolerate any violence or threat of violence within its walls. You will not wave axes or swords in here. You will not cast spells. In fact, you will leave all of your weapons and implements in the foyer, with the shoes. Is that understood?"

"For gods' sake, I have children here!"

"If you cannot abide by this, then we need to end our relationship."

Then, he turns to Finnian. "And you."

"This little foible you have for mishandling people's names... Well, let's say, at first, I have found it endearing, but when my wife is threatened and the domestic tranquility of my home is disturbed, to have you continuing your little name-game is inconsiderate and insulting. I want you to stop it immediately."

 

[Atanatotatos]

Hadarai witnessess the scene in horror. He could have chosen more wise companions. His fault, uh? Oh, well...
Stroking his eyes and groaning, the Eladrin raises his hands in a pacifying manner, for the, uhm... umpteenth time today: Calm down, calm down sir Marco. You know we have no reason or intention to harm you or your family. You understand that this has been a... stressful day. I will talk to your wife, if you will allow me, and try to calm her down and convince her that we mean no harm.
Hadarai is speaking in a mellowy tone, but then, for a second, his eyes grow a bit colder, and with that fey sky-blu hue, that means really cold: However. And I hope you see that this is in no way a threat. Since I left the military academy and became a soldier, leading war bands in the outskirts of the Imperium, never, never and here he pauses for a split second ... have I been farther from my sword and shield than the lenght of my arm.

[sblock=ooc]...okay...I know I could have been more... diplomatic. But what the heck, it's an Eladrin warlord speaking to a halfling shop-owner! Also, look at Hadarai's wisdom and charisma scores!
I didn't roll anything since I'm not sure what I would have had to roll. I'll let Ken handle it.[/sblock]

 

[weldon]

Then, he turns to Finnian. "And you."

"This little foible you have for mishandling people's names... Well, let's say, at first, I have found it endearing, but when my wife is threatened and the domestic tranquility of my home is disturbed, to have you continuing your little name-game is inconsiderate and insulting. I want you to stop it immediately."

Name-game? I'm sorry, I don't know what I did to insult anyone... Well, I'm sorry anyways.

And Finnian turns to go drop his weapons in the foyer.

As he passes Vaunea, he whispers to her, Name-game? what's he on about, Vann? Did I do something wrong?

[sblock=OOC]Finnian isn't consciously getting people's names wrong. He just does it without thinking, so it's not a game. He's maybe absent-minded when it comes to names.

It is meant to be an endearing quirk that would be easy to drop into role-play. One of the traits I was trying to incorporate is to use the correct name when Finnian is under stress (like with Swillwort), under attack or after he's got to know people a little better (like Drivan during the rat encounter). I could do a little better with explaining it I guess, which is why I'm taking the time to explain now.

I am concerned that I am causing personal offense in RL, not just in character. I certainly don't mean to do that.[/sblock]

 

[mohalloran]

Vaunea takes one look around the room before her quite confused. Obviously, the halfling has felt wronged by the group before him. Attempting to calm down Marco some and assure him, Vaunea speaks up, a half grin spreading across her face.

"Vaunea like Marco. Marco no laugh at Vaunea. Not like others. Vaunea protect Marco, fight for Marco. Wife proclaim monsters. Vaunea rush protect young Marcos. No mean harm. No hurt any Marcos. Vaunea fight head rats. No surprises now. Axe stay, protect. No draw weapon unless see danger. Promise. Deal?"

And with that Vaunea goes to drop her shield off in the foyer. She keeps her axe securely at her side; however, and hopes Marco understands her words.

"Vaunea fight good. Honor Marco store. Bring people here. Buy stuff. Good for Marco. Cause Marco good."

 

[KenHood]

... have I been farther from my sword and shield than the lenght of my arm.

Marco expression grows belligerent. "Well, there's a first time for everything. If you're not going to put them up, leave my home and consider our business at an end."

[sblock=Name-Game]No, you're not insulting anyone in RL.

I'm trying to play Marco like a real person. I figure at this point, after getting chewed out by his wife, embarassed in front of his new friends by his wife, having his new friends embarass him in front of his wife, and having his new friends wave axes in front of his wife, that he has reached the point known as Pissed Off (tm). Basically, everything blew up in his face.

You guys have swords and gold and magic items. He has family and shop. Those are the most important things in his life.[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

"Axe stay, protect. No draw weapon unless see danger. Promise. Deal?"

"Thank you, Vaunea. I appreciate the effort, but I am adamant about this. No weapons in my home."

 

[weldon]

[sblock=Name-Game]

No, you're not insulting anyone in RL.

OK. Good. I hope everyone else feels the same.

I'm trying to play Marco like a real person. I figure at this point, after getting chewed out by his wife, embarassed in front of his new friends by his wife, having his new friends embarass him in front of his wife, and having his new friends wave axes in front of his wife, that he has reached the point known as Pissed Off (tm). Basically, everything blew up in his face.

Sounds right, although I was expecting a more generous interpretation of Finnian's rambling attempts to calm the situation when I get a 19 on a diplomacy check. I understand the character reacts to the written dialogue too, and not just the roll. I just thought a 19 would swing things back and I tried to write in-character dialogue that would represent what Finnian would say when he's his most charming and sincere.[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=Finnian]

Sounds right, although I was expecting a more generous interpretation of Finnian's rambling attempts to calm the situation when I get a 19 on a diplomacy check. I understand the character reacts to the written dialogue too, and not just the roll. I just thought a 19 would swing things back and I tried to write in-character dialogue that would represent what Finnian would say when he's his most charming and sincere.

He didn't boot you out of the house. That's very generous considering the circumstances. Also, I applied a penalty because you used the wrong name for him in front of his wife. It was still a success, but not a good success.[/sblock]

 

[mohalloran]

[sblock=OOC]I'm not quite sure your 19 beats a large battleaxe. *shrug*[/sblock]

"Vaunea stay fo... foi... with shoes. No leave Marco. Bring Marco honor. Protect Marco."

And with that, Vaunea leaves the room, heading for the foyer and a *comfortable place* (how comfortable can it be, really) to lay.

[sblock=OOC]I'm figuring I was gonna sleep on the floor anyway, being over 7 feet tall.[/sblock]