LFG Diplomatic talks

[Matthew of Valendale]

Looking to get Matthew Valendale involved in some diplomacy-focused threads!
Matthew is available for negotiations, mediation, political functions, delicate introductions, treaty discussions, humanitarian matters, or situations where two parties desperately need someone capable of sitting between them without making matters worse

Matthew is patient and exceedingly difficult to provoke. He prefers understanding what someone actually wants before deciding how to approach them, and he is comfortable navigating etiquette, ceremony, cultural differences, and people who consider intimidation part of the negotiating process.

He also doesn't need to be the person officially leading the negotiations. I'm perfectly happy having him serve as an intermediary, adviser, neutral representative, escort, investigator, or simply the unfortunate gentleman someone drags along because "Matthew can talk to them."

Open to allies, political figures, diplomats, military characters, criminals, Force users, antagonists, and anyone else who might make diplomacy interesting.
If you've got a faction dispute, political problem, delicate meeting, or impending diplomatic disaster that could use Matthew, throw it at me.

 

[A Phoenix]

Who would Matthew be acting on the behalf of? I like diplomacy, have several diplomatic characters.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

And what should I do when my diplomacy indicates a desire to kill a certain person? :3

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Same question as Phoenix in terms of who he represents. But I'd be open to threading. A small group diplomatic thread could be fun too, but I'm happy to roll with whatever idea ya got in mind

 

[Matthew of Valendale]

A Phoenix Lysander von Ascania

Depends a little on what kind of trouble we want to get him into!

Matthew wears a few different hats, so I deliberately left that part somewhat open. He's the Lord Protector of Centerra and can formally act on Centerra's behalf, and he's heavily involved with the Farworlds Alliance, so there are plenty of circumstances where he could be representing the FWA as well.

He's also a Dawn Knight of the Order of the Sunstar and, while he isn't a Jedi himself, has been trusted to serve the Jedi in much the same capacity as a Temple Guard. He's taken on protective duties, guardian work, escort assignments, and ambassadorial responsibilities on behalf of Jedi interests when asked.

That gives me some room for Jedi and Force Order-related plots, although he wouldn't presume to speak for the Order unless he'd specifically been authorized to do so.

I'm equally happy to use him as a neutral third party, though.

He doesn't necessarily need a personal stake in whatever is being negotiated. Someone could ask him to mediate because both parties trust him, drag him along as an adviser, or put him in the miserable position of trying to keep two people at the same table when neither of them particularly wants to be there.

I like the idea of a small group thread too. We could probably build something where everyone actually has something to negotiate rather than just standing around being politely diplomatic at one another.

Lyssara Thrynn

If your diplomacy indicates a desire to kill someone, I believe Matthew's first recommendation would be that we explore literally every other available diplomatic avenue before we arrive at murder. :3

His second recommendation may involve confiscating anything sharp before negotiations begin.... Which sounds like an excellent diplomatic problem to give him.

Matthew is deliberately verbose and somewhat long-winded, but that is less a quirk of his dialogue than a reflection of how his mind works. He is very good at carrying intricate arguments over long stretches of conversation, holding several competing ideas, implications, and earlier points in mind without losing the thread. He tends to think through a subject in full rather than reducing it to its simplest conclusion, so his dialogue often develops gradually, circles back to things said earlier, and builds toward a position rather than immediately stating one.

He's also a character I've written for well over a decade, and he predates Braze by quite a bit, so the two have very different voices. Matthew is more measured, formal, intellectually patient, and comfortable sustaining a complicated discussion. His long speeches are very intentional.

At his core, Matthew is a very noble-bright character. He is hopeful by nature, but his hope tends to express itself through analysis and practical problem-solving rather than simple optimism. He pays close attention to why people behave as they do: what they are afraid of, what they believe they need, what wounds or habits are shaping their choices, and what might actually allow them to move in a healthier direction. He is usually looking for the point where a problem can be understood well enough to become solvable.

Because of that, 'EVIL' characters that roleplay with him often drifts naturally toward counseling, moral guidance, rehabilitation, and psychological support. Matthew has a habit of becoming something of a lantern for people who are lost, including people who have done genuinely terrible things. He does not merely tell someone that they should become better; he tries to help them understand what is keeping them where they are, then offers them a realistic way forward.

He believes very strongly that if someone sincerely wants to change, they have to be given a legitimate opportunity to do so. Repentance means very little if every possible road away from the person they used to be is deliberately closed to them.

That should not be confused with naïveté or indiscriminate forgiveness. Matthew does not believe that wanting to change erases what someone has done, removes consequences, restores trust automatically, or entitles them to another person's forgiveness. He can protect people from someone while still helping that person become better. Accountability and redemption are compatible things to him; very often, accepting responsibility is part of the road back.

Because of that, some of my favorite Matthew interactions are with damaged, hostile, morally compromised, or outright evil characters who possess even the smallest sincere desire to become something else. He is unusually willing to sit with someone in that uncomfortable space, understand what is driving them, and help them work out what changing would actually require.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

Oh i thinks if you ping Her I think she would be "delighted" to negotiate with... Given the history between the two of them... That's can be a explosive Ideas! 8D

If you want try to calm down, lyssara, you can try, but good luck ! Where do you want meet she ? : D


Matthew of Valendale

 

[Matthew of Valendale]

Oh i thinks if you ping Her I think she would be "delighted" to negotiate with... Given the history between the two of them... That's can be a explosive Ideas! 8D

If you want try to calm down, lyssara, you can try, but good luck ! Where do you want meet she ? : D


Matthew of Valendale

Calm her down for what reason~? :3

Matthew doesn't know either lady yet, and honestly, I don't know what the actual problem between them is as the writer either, so I'm working with about as much context as he would be at the moment. XD

If you give me a little more of the history between them, what happened, what Lyssara is angry about, or what kind of situation you imagine Matthew walking into, I can probably offer much better ideas for how to set up their first meeting.

I'm pretty flexible on location. A diplomatic function, neutral meeting place, or even Matthew simply stumbling into an already-existing confrontation could all work. I think the best option probably depends on what the conflict between them actually is and why someone thinks Matthew might be useful in the middle of it.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

I have send you a DM for explain the context

 

[Matthew of Valendale]

I have send you a DM for explain the context

I'm trying to figure out what you were imagining Matthew's actual connection to this would be, since right now he doesn't know any of the people involved and doesn't really have any ties to the larger situation.

I'm definitely open to doing something with him, I'm just having trouble seeing why he specifically would get pulled into this subplot or what role you had in mind for him. XD

Were you thinking more of a personal interaction with one of the characters first, or did you have a particular reason they'd seek Matthew out?

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

I'm trying to figure out what you were imagining Matthew's actual connection to this would be, since right now he doesn't know any of the people involved and doesn't really have any ties to the larger situation.

I'm definitely open to doing something with him, I'm just having trouble seeing why he specifically would get pulled into this subplot or what role you had in mind for him. XD

Were you thinking more of a personal interaction with one of the characters first, or did you have a particular reason they'd seek Matthew out?

That's very simple, lyssara is actually with the jedi, so we can meet easy in a neutral place, we can discuss about it, where do you want do this ?

 

[Matthew of Valendale]

That's very simple, lyssara is actually with the jedi, so we can meet easy in a neutral place, we can discuss about it, where do you want do this ?

Oh yeah, them meeting is easy enough then! I was more wondering what you had in mind for why Lyssara would bring Matthew into this particular situation, since he doesn't know her or the people involved yet.

I think a more personal first interaction would probably work better . They could meet somewhere neutral through the Jedi, get to know one another a little, and if whatever is going on with her comes up naturally in conversation, Matthew can react to it from there.

Location-wise, I'm pretty flexible. A Jedi Temple, neutral station, archive, garden, or even somewhere quieter like a café would all work for me.