This is an ‘actual play’ example of Conflict Resolution.
The context is that Kolath, an officer of the 5th Legion, with his assistant Hollis, is paying a visit to the Karazthan, the secretive technology guild, to find out precisely why they’ve been firing artillery weapons within city limits. He’s managed to arrange a meeting with Guruinath, the Karazthan chief of Security.
All this is unedited transcript from the forum on Dreamlyrics. I’m the GM, playing the part of Guruinath. Exeter is playing Kolath, and Nicki Jett is Hollis. Even if you’re not into RPG theory, or even into RPGS, give this a read, and see if this makes any dramatic sense:
[GM]
Guriunath’s office is high up on the western side of the dome, with windows on the outside looking out over the lights of the city, and windows on the opposite wall looking over the bustling activity of the workshop floors in the dome interior.
The side walls are quite spartan, except for a shelf of bottles on one wall, and a rack of weapons on the other. The weapons are an exotic mixture; even to Kolath’s expert eye most are of unrecognised types.
Guruinath himself is a handsome middle-aged kandar of aristocratic look, with piercing mauve eyes. He remains seated as Kolath and Hollis are shown into the room.
“You’ve from the legion, I gather”, he says in well-measured tones, “What is your business here?”.
[Hollis]
**That,** Hollis thought, **is exactly the wrong tone of voice to take with Kolath. Admittedly, unctuous would make him suspicious, but haughty just makes him mad.**
An attitude of professional cooperation: that was the key. Fortunately for the good guys, the bad guys never seemed to figure that out.
She clasped her hands demurely before her, and looked down to avoid rolling her eyes at the somewhat rude kandar.
[Kolath]
The Kandar legionaire’s eyebrows quirked upward, evidencing the only change in his expression, but his posture stiffened and he seemed suddenly taller, more formal, and he cocked his head to one side slightly as if to obtain a new perspective of the Karazthani.
“I am indeed a Legionaire and am conducting a legal investigation on behest of the Legion. We would appreciate your cooperation.”
[GM]
“Let us begin again”, he says, “You desire my cooperation; precisely what form or cooperation do you desire?”.
[Kolath]
“What form of cooperation?” The Kandar rolled his eyes briefly, glanced down at Hollis and then back to the Karazthani.
“The kind where… for the safety of the polis… I ask you questions and you answer them to the best of your ability. Where we…” he made a vague, all-inclusive gesture, “the Karazthani and the Legion, share information for our mutual advantage.”
He closed his eyes for a moment and composed himself.
“We could start with the flying ship hovering over your compound and the blasts fired from it last night.”
[Hollis]
**This is a man,** thought Hollis, **who is not used to paying obeisance to anyone.**
She wondered just how far he would be able to suspend his arrogance, and whether he might even decide it was prudent to eliminate this annoyance Kolath represented. To defend against such an over-reaction, she remained particularly alert, following the interrogation but maintaining her senses and her powers, on high alert.
[GM]
“Ah”, he says, feigning surprise, “I thought it might be something to do with that. Our security were engaged in a covert operation against a force hostile to our guild and the city Because they encountered forces more powerful than that which we were expecting, they requested backup”.
Kolath is fully aware that the guilds do have the legal power to act and even use deadly force in response to immediate threats. But he’s also aware that it’s accepted practice to at least inform the legion when using military-type weapons. There isn’t really a precedent for using artillery pieces inside city limits.
[Kolath]
“Aha,” he said slowly, one eyebrow quirked upward and his expression cold as he listened to the Karazthani.
“And your reason for not informing the legion? So we could help with the… defense?”
[Hollis]
Hollis had all she could do to keep a straight face. So she was a threat to the Karazthan and the city? Unless there was something else out there and she just happened to be in the line of fire. Thank the gods for darkness and distance and surprise; it was unlikely anyone could have recognized her.
[GM]
“Look, Legionnaire”, he says, his voice angrier in tone, “Since when has it been the accepted procedure to inform your Legion of every single small scale operation? I had to make a snap decision on escalation to save the lives of my own men. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do; the niceties and diplomacy can wait. I sure you understand that. Does a Tavinoleyr refer every small decision up the chain of command? Surely the Legion could not function in battle if it worked like that!”.
Something seems to have rattled him.
[Kolath]
His expression grew even more stern, but there was an element of surprise on his features. He looked a question at Hollis and then turned back to face Guruinath.
“Neither I, nor the Legion, expects immediate notification of every security procedure on your part, Guruinath, but, for the safety… the joint defense… of the city, it would seem a logical move on your part to share information with those, like the Legion, who are not inimical. Especially when such a procedure includes the use of such… heavy weaponry.” Kolath suddenly felt himself being… over appeasing to the Karazthani security chief and took a deep breath to control his growing temper, glancing off to one side and looking over the displayed weapons for a few seconds before turning back to the Karazthani.
“It seems, however, that you are becoming upset… to an extent out of balance with any offense my questions might logically have elicited and I wonder why that is so.”
He wanted to ask Guruinath what the Kandar was hiding, but he had no leverage to enforce an answer.
[Hollis]
Hollis had seen that look on Kolath before. The fat was about to hit the fire. So she blurted out, “He’s asking you tell him just what kind of ‘threat’ would make you sweat so hard under questioning, be dangerous enough to justify breaking out the monster weapon, and yet be so insignificant you forgot to notify the Legion.”
She looked quickly at Kolath, made a wry face and mouthed **Sorry**. She backed up a little and tried to look invisible once more, making a little tick-a-lock gesture over her lips. Hopefully he would take the hint and stay calm. He had the Karazthani sweating bullets, if he just kept up the pressure.
[GM]
“I don’t know who in Vandrak’s name you are, but I’m not going to take advice from a mere human on how to do my job”, Guruinath replies with the sort of contemptuous sneer that Hollis has witnessed many times before from Kandar chauvinists.
He turns to Kolath.
“Who is that human?”, Guruinath demands, “And what is she doing here? I refuse to discuss this matter further in her presence”.
[Kolath]
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before turning slowly to look at Hollis, a warning evident in his expression. He shook his head slowly, but said nothing to her for the moment. He took a deep breath and turned back to the Karazthani.
“She is an assistant of mine, helping with certain aspects of my investigation, Guruinath.”
He darted another glance at the human.
“She need not concern you.”
[Hollis with the big mouth]
Hollis wanted to apologize and then put both hands over her mouth. but she wasn’t sure that the Karazthani wouldn’t take it as another insult. Actually, maybe she should make the closed fist up-and-down motion that indicated she thought the weasel was jerking them off. Maybe *that* would be appropriate.
She glanced at Kolath.
Maybe not.
She settled for another mouthed *sorry* and then thereafter remained very quiet and perfectly still, not even rolling her eyes.
[GM]
“In that case, I’ve told you all you need to know”, Guruinath replies, “Now if you will excuse me, I have many other things I need to attend to. My men will see you and that creature of yours out of the building”.
There are visible beads of sweat on his forehead. It’s now patently obvious to Kolath that Guruinath knows an awful lot more than he’s letting on.
[Kolath]
“Just a moment, if you do not mind, Guruinath.”
He turned to look at Hollis, his expression impassive, but his eyes hard. “Wait for me outside.” He turned back to face the Karazthani without waiting to see if Hollis had left. In fact, it would never have occurred to him that she would not leave when he told her to do so.
Kolath was much more liberal in his outlook than most Kandar, but he was still Kandar.
“Now, Guruinath of the Karazthani, perhaps we can be of benefit to each other. I had no intention of insulting your… sensibilities.”
[GM]
“I hope that you won’t be telling Dalarath Blerynthar about my little outburst”, he says, “It won’t help the harmonious operation of our organisation. All I can say is our mission went somewhat awry, I had one of my own men seriously wounded, an innocent bystander killed, and we still have some very dangerous individuals at large in the city. Now, if you will excuse me, I really do have a lot of things that require my immediate attention. My men will show you and your human companion out”.
Kolath is reminded of a case on barracks a couple of years ago when he helped expose some large-scale pilfering from legion stores. The evasive behaviour of the ringleader, the assistant quartermaster, was remarkably similar to that of Guruinath. Not lying as such, but not telling the whole truth either.
[Kolath has met the head of Administration, Dalarath Blerynthar, on a number of occasions, usually on issues of procurement of equipment]
[Kolath]
His expression hardened even further and he made no move yet to leave the room.
“If your efforts met with such… notable lack of success, that is all the more reason how we could benefit from cooperation.”
He scowled slightly and glanced down at the nails of his left hand.
“Perhaps I should speak to Dalarath Blerynthar.”
[Hollis]
Normally even Kolath wouldn’t be able to get Hollis to move without an argument. But�she could read the writing on the wall. The Karazthani was covering something up. She knew it, and Kolath knew it. Or she hoped he did, since it was nearly tattooed on the man’s forehead.
But he wasn’t going to give it up with her standing there, so she obediently wheeled about and left to wait outside.
[GM]
“We have human rebels threatening us”, he says, “And I believe they have made a tactical alliance with Karmorki agents. I do not know who is using who, but both groups have an interest in destabilising things in this city. As you may well know, there have been incidents of sabotage within this guild. We are still attempting to hunt down those saboteurs and their confederates. We will inform the legion if we require any logistical or intelligence assistance for this. Likewise we will keep the Legion informed of anything we discover that concerns the physical security of the city”.
[Kolath]
“Threatening you…” he mused, the digits of one slim-fingered hand stroking his chin. “Threatening individual Karazthani or threatening the Karazthani as a whole?”
He grimaced, thinking over what the other Kandar had said.
“Threatening you physically or threatening your business affairs? And what makes you think the Kamorki are involved?”
[GM]
“I do not like the tone of that accusation, soldier”, he replies, “You are making very serious accusations against a senior Master of this guild. Very serious accusations which you have no evidence to back up”.
[Kolath]
His eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“What accusation did you infer from my questions? I have accused you of nothing and have not threatened you.”
As you should probably be able to figure out, Kolath has won the conflict. He’s realised Guriunath is lying, and is now twisting the knife.
