Tired tongue often speaks ill

[Falenthal]

I would think that the system given it's emphasis towards story telling and creating a narrative that fits with Tolkien canon would easily adapt to seeking rest whilst weary.

This.

If a group of Free People from the Wilderland go to Thranduil's Hall aking for shelter, I think any LM can accept that they be given water, bread and a stool before going to talk to Thranduil himself. Maybe they'll be granted a bath, too.

If the group goes to the Tyrant's Hill, or the Toft (both from Heart of the Wild), then maybe they'll have to convince the guards captain before being allowed in town. And that is ok, because this towns are probably wary of strangers and don't want "vagabonds" inside. So that Weary heroes (that look like vagabonds) are not welcomed.

But I don't think any LM needs a rule written in the Core Book for this. If you think the group can be welcomed in a friendly place, give them time to rest. If the place they're asking for shelter is suspicious, don't grant them that time to recover. Or something along this lines, as you see fit for the situation.

Remember that some Hazards make characters Weary without diminishing their Endurance points below their Fatigue Threshold. You can also consider that it can work the other way round: a simple but refreshing meal at a Free People's holding is enough to erase the Weary status for the rest of the day.

[Angelalex242]

Thranduil?

Unless the party is composed entirely of elves, I don't see him handing out rest without people earning it. He's the king of isolationism, and can be...well, not the nicest guy.

(Unlike Elrond. If you find your way to Rivendell in the first place, you're 95% likely to be welcome)

[Stormcrow]

Unless the party is composed entirely of elves, I don't see him handing out rest without people earning it. He's the king of isolationism, and can be...well, not the nicest guy.

That's movie-Thranduil. In The Hobbit Thranduil is not isolationist and is a decent sort, who has an unfortunate lust for treasure.

But Thranduil is a good example of the topic. The captured dwarves are Weary, and they totally blow their encounters with Thranduil, who throws them in the dungeon.

[Angelalex242]

Is he? Who is he nice to? I mean, Bilbo handed him a pretty big chunk of treasure. Which is how he got the Elf Friend Title. (Probably also rolled an extraordinary success right about there, but even so)

[Falenthal]

Although we can talk for eons about wether Thranduil is a nice guy or not, I guess the point for the thread is if it makes sense that Weary characters are allowed a chance to recover before an important Encounter (be it Thranduil, Radagast, Dáin II,...).

What I was just saying is that the LM and the role-playing of the situation (not some mechanic or rule) should allow to decide if such a rest is allowed or not. And it can be a nice flavour to differentiate between cultures or settlements that are inherently good (although they might be scared of some Shadow, or at war, or suspicious due to recent attacks,...) and those that are mean, egoistic or plainly evil.

Thranduil wasn't receptive of the dwarves in The Hobbit, that's true, but in the next chapter we learn that elves did barter and share drinks with the Lake-men. They weren't evil, just wary of strangers probably because the Necromancer and his servants were lurking all over the Mirkwood. I expect that to have changed after the Battle of Five Armies, though.

[Stormcrow]

Is he? Who is he nice to?

He's awfully nice to the refugees of the Lake-men, turning aside from his quest for treasure to bring them aid.

[Matthew]

The Mirkwood elves would also strike me as an exceptional situation for tolerance tests, especially for Dwarves at the time of the Hobbit narrative. My understanding of the cultural situation between these elves and the dwarves is one of prejudice and suspicion that in some part was moderated for the better after the battle of the five armies (though perhaps even this is stretching it a bit given where Legolas and Gimli start off in their relationship by the time of the Lord of the Rings).

Maybe at best one would expect Thranduil to provide some healing or respite for the company but well away from his halls. Maybe in a tree flet with an armed guard nearby to escort them away once rested enough or able to travel? If that was the best to hope for it might not even require a roll because Thranduil will not be negotiated with but he's not so mean as to abandon the weary to their deaths or leave them vulnerable. Politically it would hardly endear him to his neighbours!

I think this kind of situation is where you have to be careful about applying the game mechanics especially because of the potential for extreme results that are either fails or successes. If you fail the role the minimum to expect might be as set out above. Anything else is a bonus ie extra provision (to help you on your way as fast as possible!)

[Angelalex242]

Oh, I dunno. While true NPCs don't have corruption tests...

You might think of failed rolls by the PCs as the NPC failing a corruption test.

"Thranduil told you guys to go jump. He gains a point of Shadow for his harsh attitude, as it puts your lives at serious risk, but he doesn't seem to care..."

If Thranduil gets a harsh enough misdeed, they may later hear rumors about Thranduil going mad and lashing out in his own halls... (Bout of Madness...)

[Earendil]

There are a lot of good points in this thread about why NPCs might not cut the heroes any slack, or why they might be given a chance to rest and clean up before meeting a VIP. But I think it's also reasonable to consider that an wise or empathic NPC, if they realise the characters are Weary and therefore not at their best (maybe an Insight roll would be appropriate) might take that into consideration.

But there's no need for new rules; the LM can (and I think should) adjust the TN of the heroes' rolls, or the Tolerance of an encounter, to take such things into account.

Not every NPC will be inclined to give them such leeway, though. And that, as others have pointed out already, is fine.