A Matter of Honor (RP problem) [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Matter of Honor (RP problem) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Callista
10-07-04, 12:25 AM Okay, the situation:

The character is a LG fighter, who is seriously concerned with honor. His friend is a paladin.

So one day, our fighter gets drunk, and by way of some very ungraceful words, manages to insult the paladin in front of the paladin's female friend. Weapons are drawn, but thankfully no one kills anyone else (the paladin is quite a bit wiser than the fighter).

The fighter wakes up the next day, realizes what he did, and feels immediately remorseful. He apologizes, and his apology is accepted; however, there is still a very tangible tension between the two of them.

The both of them are comrades; and they're facing some pretty tough enemies right now. They can't be anything less than united if they're going to win (yeah, tough DM).

Is there anything that can be done to ease the situation?
Thorak
10-07-04, 12:46 AM Nope. The Fighter dishonoured the Paladin. He's apologized, which is about as far as he can go to settle the issue. At this point, if he feels he hasn't repayed the slight, he has to go above and beyond to save the paladin's life or some such to pay back the honour-debt.

This doesn't mean the Paladin can't forgive him and forget that he's owed anything. It's perfectly possible for the Fighter to think his insults were more damaging than the Paladin does. Though what the Paladin thinks won't affect what the Fighter will feel he has to do to clear the slate.
MonkeyKing
10-07-04, 12:48 AM An insult was passed, honour (I feel this is one particular word which should be spelt in the correct 'English' manner!) was defended and it sounds like the fighter learnt a lesson without losing his life. An apology was made and accepted, I don't see what the problem is?

If anything I would assume that the fighter still feels a little sheepish about the whole incident, but given a few challenging encounters where evil is vanquished together I'm sure that tension will give way to an wholesome commaradery.

Perhaps in the meantime one of the other party members might consider a lighthearted joke to ease the situation in good humour.
Grox
10-07-04, 12:50 AM Unfortunately, some wounds cannot be healed WITHOUT the passage of time, even if all the other prerequisites for the healing (like the sincere acceptance of a sincere apology) are met.

Maybe the fighter could swear off drinking or something. At least temporarily. But anyway, I don't think there's any way to get around the fact that it's going to take TIME for him to actually feel any better.

If such time wasn't required, IMO that would mean he wasn't that sincere about feeling sorry in the first place.
questionc
10-07-04, 01:05 AM Hmm... be careful about the seperation of player and character. It's the fighter here who senses the tension and honestly wants something done about it. I'd have him go to the nearest temple to which he subscribes and talk to a confessor.

Really though, if I were the fighter, I'd just accept the fact that the Paladin is a better man than I.
Callista
10-07-04, 01:17 AM Heh... no, the player and I have no problems in real life. :)
okaynowa
10-07-04, 06:33 AM The fighter might consider a minor quest of some sort to prove his remorse. For instance, vowing not to touch another drink until he has brought the paladin (and lady friend) a jewel (suitable for a betrothal gift?) from the mountains to the east by way of apology. It gives the player something tangible to work on, allows time to pass for characters' moods to heal, and is precisely the type of thing around which chivalric quests have been built. The DM can then toss all sorts of complications into the quest, turning an embarrassing incident into a true adventure seed.
Mal20
10-07-04, 06:52 AM This sounds like an excellent roleplaying opportunity!

Perhaps the fighter becomes more reckless in combat, desperate to prove himself, and the Paladiin has to talk him down and convince him that the matter is settled?
The Man from Uncle
10-07-04, 08:04 AM I am glad that the characters in my group don't have to jump through those hoops whenever they get drunk and do something stupid.

I say, get your fighter his own bird, let the paladin shag her, then call everything square.

Another faultless solution from the Man from Uncle.
CzarGarrett
10-07-04, 08:57 AM The fighter might consider a minor quest of some sort to prove his remorse. For instance, vowing not to touch another drink until he has brought the paladin (and lady friend) a jewel (suitable for a betrothal gift?) from the mountains to the east by way of apology. It gives the player something tangible to work on, allows time to pass for characters' moods to heal, and is precisely the type of thing around which chivalric quests have been built. The DM can then toss all sorts of complications into the quest, turning an embarrassing incident into a true adventure seed.

Now this is a quality idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Callista 10-07-04, 12:25 AM	Okay, the situation: The character is a LG fighter, who is seriously concerned with honor. His friend is a paladin. So one day, our fighter gets drunk, and by way of some very ungraceful words, manages to insult the paladin in front of the paladin's female friend. Weapons are drawn, but thankfully no one kills anyone else (the paladin is quite a bit wiser than the fighter). The fighter wakes up the next day, realizes what he did, and feels immediately remorseful. He apologizes, and his apology is accepted; however, there is still a very tangible tension between the two of them. The both of them are comrades; and they're facing some pretty tough enemies right now. They can't be anything less than united if they're going to win (yeah, tough DM). Is there anything that can be done to ease the situation?
Thorak 10-07-04, 12:46 AM	Nope. The Fighter dishonoured the Paladin. He's apologized, which is about as far as he can go to settle the issue. At this point, if he feels he hasn't repayed the slight, he has to go above and beyond to save the paladin's life or some such to pay back the honour-debt. This doesn't mean the Paladin can't forgive him and forget that he's owed anything. It's perfectly possible for the Fighter to think his insults were more damaging than the Paladin does. Though what the Paladin thinks won't affect what the Fighter will feel he has to do to clear the slate.
MonkeyKing 10-07-04, 12:48 AM	An insult was passed, honour (I feel this is one particular word which should be spelt in the correct 'English' manner!) was defended and it sounds like the fighter learnt a lesson without losing his life. An apology was made and accepted, I don't see what the problem is? If anything I would assume that the fighter still feels a little sheepish about the whole incident, but given a few challenging encounters where evil is vanquished together I'm sure that tension will give way to an wholesome commaradery. Perhaps in the meantime one of the other party members might consider a lighthearted joke to ease the situation in good humour.
Grox 10-07-04, 12:50 AM	Unfortunately, some wounds cannot be healed WITHOUT the passage of time, even if all the other prerequisites for the healing (like the sincere acceptance of a sincere apology) are met. Maybe the fighter could swear off drinking or something. At least temporarily. But anyway, I don't think there's any way to get around the fact that it's going to take TIME for him to actually feel any better. If such time wasn't required, IMO that would mean he wasn't that sincere about feeling sorry in the first place.
questionc 10-07-04, 01:05 AM	Hmm... be careful about the seperation of player and character. It's the fighter here who senses the tension and honestly wants something done about it. I'd have him go to the nearest temple to which he subscribes and talk to a confessor. Really though, if I were the fighter, I'd just accept the fact that the Paladin is a better man than I.
Callista 10-07-04, 01:17 AM	Heh... no, the player and I have no problems in real life. :)
okaynowa 10-07-04, 06:33 AM	The fighter might consider a minor quest of some sort to prove his remorse. For instance, vowing not to touch another drink until he has brought the paladin (and lady friend) a jewel (suitable for a betrothal gift?) from the mountains to the east by way of apology. It gives the player something tangible to work on, allows time to pass for characters' moods to heal, and is precisely the type of thing around which chivalric quests have been built. The DM can then toss all sorts of complications into the quest, turning an embarrassing incident into a true adventure seed.
Mal20 10-07-04, 06:52 AM	This sounds like an excellent roleplaying opportunity! Perhaps the fighter becomes more reckless in combat, desperate to prove himself, and the Paladiin has to talk him down and convince him that the matter is settled?
The Man from Uncle 10-07-04, 08:04 AM	I am glad that the characters in my group don't have to jump through those hoops whenever they get drunk and do something stupid. I say, get your fighter his own bird, let the paladin shag her, then call everything square. Another faultless solution from the Man from Uncle.
CzarGarrett 10-07-04, 08:57 AM	The fighter might consider a minor quest of some sort to prove his remorse. For instance, vowing not to touch another drink until he has brought the paladin (and lady friend) a jewel (suitable for a betrothal gift?) from the mountains to the east by way of apology. It gives the player something tangible to work on, allows time to pass for characters' moods to heal, and is precisely the type of thing around which chivalric quests have been built. The DM can then toss all sorts of complications into the quest, turning an embarrassing incident into a true adventure seed. Now this is a quality idea.