Any example of an Encounter?

[Falenthal]

Has any of you found any movie clip or similar (or even a fragment of a book) where it is reflected the nature and way to go of Encounters?

I mean specially the difference between the introduction and the interaction, the need for a spokesman, the difference between being courteous or persuasive, etc.
It could be useful to show to the players when explaining the game, as we are not really used to play this formalities in RPG games, where characters usually start a conversation with Dáin Ironfoot like "I salute him and say "We heard you need people to carry on an adventure? How much are you going to pay?" -Should I roll Courtesy or Persuasion?"

**Spoiler for Game of Thrones Season 6 ahead**

The most similar thing I've found is the moment in the Game of Thrones TV Series when Jon Snow, Sansa Stark and Davos meet Lyanna Mormont.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIljvhVFE90

First, Sansa and Jon (the noble ones) make some Courtesy rolls trying to highlight the former relationship between them and Lyanna's family. But Lyanna has no patience for Courtesy games and both tests fail.
It's interesting that Davos does not introduce himself nor is he introduced, as he shouldn't take part in the Encounter.
Then comes the interaction, were Sansa and Jon try to Persuade and Awe Lyanna of obtaining help. As both fail, Davos enters the Encounter, probably with a higher TN, and needing to introduce himself anew. Then, after succeeding in his introduction and being allowed by Lyanna to go on, he uses his skills to interact with Lyanna.

Maybe not a perfect example, but the best I've found. Any other examples?
Gandalf, Pippin and Denethor at Minas Tirith's throne room, maybe?

[Rich H]

For me the example from Tolkien's works that immediately springs to mind is when Gandalf, Bilbo and Thorin et al meet with Beorn. It has all the elements: introductions, sharing of news, requests and finally (based on the success of the company) and offer of shelter and support (horses, etc) from Beorn. It's pretty much a perfect fit although I haven't read the actual book in some time so such a view could be muddied by time.

[Finrod Felagund]

Strider and the Halflings in Bree?

[Falenthal]

Both are good hints to begin with. I'll need to re-read them in depth later, but it is interesting that I'd say both are Encounters where the Introduction is made using Riddle, which is not so common in table games (that's my experience, at least) but much more in the books.

In fact, from the details I remember, the whole "I have a friend or two..." game that Gandalf does can probably be understood as a veeeery long and careful introduction of the whole group by a single spokesman using Riddle.
Only after all fifteen memebers of the company are introduced, does Beorn invite them for supper and the Interaction takes place even the day after, IIRC. A nice example that Encounter can take place over long periods of time or in very different circumstances, not just in a ten minutes dialogue in a single room.

[DylanRPG]

I think there are several. In the Hobbit a great example is when Thorin & Company meet the Elvenking, and Thorin speaks for them and then has to decide how to proceed when he is questioned concerning his business in the forest. One might interpret that he failed that Interaction (but maybe not as much as he could have). Earlier there is the Encounter with the Great Goblin.

Famously of course, and there are rules in the Erebor supplement that mirror it more closely, there is Bilbo's altercation with Smaug.

In Lord of the Rings a great example I can think of is when Gandalf and Pippin talk to Denethor on their first arrival.

I would say that Denethor values Valour above Wisdom (his preference in his children being any indication). He's a very wise man himself and proud, and doesn't like any rivals. Gandalf and Pippin clearly had an agreement that Gandalf would handle introductions, but that Denethor would be interacting primarily with Pippin

'He will speak most to you, and question you much, since you can tell him of his son Boromir.'

This is Gandalf rolling for Insight and gaining Bonus Success Dice, possibly giving them to Pippin.

The Introduction

Gandalf probably made a Courtesy roll with his introduction, but he's not the spokesman because he knows Denethor will prefer to talk to Pippin, so they have individual introductions here.

'Hail, Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith, Denethor son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour.'

Denethor seems receptive, and asks about the nature of Pippin, immediately drawing the matter to his son. Gandalf had earlier warned Pippin not to mention Frodo's errand, or Aragorn.

"It has been told to me that you bring with you one who saw my son die. Is this he?"

Gandalf answers by rolling for Riddle (perhaps successfully), not revealing too much,

'It is ... One of the twain. The other is with Theoden of Rohan and may come hereafter. Halflings they are, as you see, yet this is not he of whom the omens spoke.'

Then Denethor complains about the omen and speaks bitterly about wishing Faramir had gone instead of Boromir. Gandalf rolls for Persuade (probably not successfully),

'He would have gone, ... Be not unjust in your grief! Boromir claimed the errand and would not suffer any other to have it ... But you speak of his death. You have had news of that ere we came?'

Denethor then reveals the horn of Boromir. He speaks with "scorn and suspicion" when Pippin recognizes the horn. Pippin is stung and being filled with pride offers his services to Lord Denethor - probably Courtesy. This is Pippin's Introduction attempt.

'Little service, no doubt, will so great a lord of Men think to find in a hobbit, a halfling from the northern Shire; yet such as it is, I will offer it, in payment of my debt.' Twitching aside his grey cloak, Pippin drew forth his small sword and laid it at Denethor's feet.

This seems to be a success, and one wonders if Pippin Invoked a Trait or used a point of Hope for the purpose, or perhaps he called in that Success Dice from earlier, because

A pale smile, like a gleam of cold sun on a winter's evening, passed over the old man's face; but he bent his head and held out his hand, laying the shards of the horn aside ... 'I see strange tales are woven about you ... and once again it is shown that looks may belie the man - or the halfling. I accept your service. For you are not daunted by words; and you have courteous speech, strange though the sound of it may be to us in the South. And we shall have need of all of folk of courtesy, be they great or small, in the days to come.'

Denethor really likes Courtesy!

Now we are into Interaction.

Pippin now proceeds to swear fealty to Denethor (no rolls). Denethor then asks Pippin

'Tell me your full tale, and see that you recall all that you can of Boromir, my son. Sit now and begin!'

Gandalf becomes annoyed at this, because he has news to tell Denethor and he doesn't like being delayed, rolling for Persuade again (or Awe?),

'Is it naught to you that Theoden has fought a great battle, and that Isengard is overthrown, and that I have broken the staff of Saruman?'

Denethor is unimpressed. The roll failed. Perhaps he is prejudiced against Wizards.

' ... I know already sufficient of these deeds for my own counsel against the menace of the East.'

They then have a stare off, perhaps rolling Awe against Awe, but Pippin rolls for Insight about the two men, observing them successfully,

Denethor looked indeed much more like a great wizard than Gandalf did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older. Yet by a sense other than sight Pippin perceived that Gandalf had the greater power and the deeper wisdom, and a majesty that was veiled. And he was older, far older.

Pippin then rolls for Lore with regard to Gandalf and wizards:

'How much older?' he wondered, and then he thought how odd it was that he had never thought about it before. Treebeard had said something about wizards, but even then he not thought of Gandalf as one of them. What was Gandalf? In what far time and place did he come into the worldk, and when would he leave it?

But the Lore roll is not a success.

And then his musings broke off, and he saw that Denethor and Gandalf still looked each other in the eye, as if reading the other's mind

At this point, Denethor loses the Awe vs. Awe contest,

But it was Denethor who first withdrew his gaze.

Then Pippin has to tell his story, and do it without revealing too much. He is probably allowed to roll either Song or Riddle. He seems to choose Riddle, as he hasn't quite put it into verse. It seemed to be difficult rolls, and he probably dug into his Hope reserve more than once ...

Pippin never forgot that hour in the great hall under the piercing eye of the Lord of Gondor, stabbed ever and anon by his shrewd questions, and all the while conscious of Gandalf at his side, watching and listening, and (so Pippin felt) holding in check a rising wrath and impatience.

The Encounter is over after this and Denethor dismissed the two. Pippin fared better than Gandalf most likely, and the Encounter overall was a success, but not as successful as Gandalf hoped. Pippin has been sworn into Denethor's service and good graces, although he may have revealed more than intended in the last hour when he rolled that Eye of Sauron, and it will come back to haunt him later in the adventure, when Denethor rather loses his mind and points out the plot he thinks the wizard has. Gandalf was unable to communicate the information he wanted to, and was surprised to learn Denethor already knew a good deal of it, and refused his counsel. They part in anger. It is safe to say that there were some objectives that were not obtained.

[Falenthal]

Great report, DylanRPG!

A very thorough and nice interpretation of the events in the book under the light of the TOR mechanics.
That's a good example, indeed.

[Dunkelbrink]

Really nicely done, Dylan! Maybe a bit too many rolls for my taste in an actual game, but a good breakdown of a thrilling encounter.

[Falenthal]

Something I'm learning from this examples is how much more interesting the Introduction phase can be.
I've usually played as a simple "I'm Ori, at your service" (roll Courtesy) or "I'm Thorin, son of Thráin, son of Thrór, King Under the Mountain!" (roll Awe).

But this examples show that:
a) an Introduction can take many hours, explaining how the company has arrived to the presence of the NPC, who are they, why did they leave their homes,... and is a VERY important part of the Encounter. A bad Introduction can really negate the chance to be listened to. Just by being allowed to come face to face with the leader of group/community/etc doesn't mean you have the right to ask for their help or present them with your troubles. You must win this right in the introduction, either by nice words and respect (Courtesy), by social position (Awe) or by picking their interest (Riddle).

b) In the introduction, as we see very well in the Game of Thrones clip I linked sooner, it's not only a matter of introducing yourself ("I'm Gandalf, the Wizard"), but also of presenting links to the NPC that may make him more predispoded towards you ("You don't know me, but I think you know my cousin Radagast").

Food to make Encounters more interesting.

[DylanRPG]

Thanks for the compliments, folks.

It might indeed be too many rolls - I suppose it depends on the Tolerance and how many successes the Loremaster requires.

[Majestic]

I know this is really old, but I'm just getting caught up, and came across this outstanding example of an Encounter. Well done, DylanRPG! And I like your example from GoT, too, Falenthal!

As far as rolls, I don't find it to be too many. A typical Encounter for us goes to around 78 successes, with 1-2 failures, and might include all of those things (some Courtesy usually, perhaps Awe, often Song, and occasionally Riddle).