Courtesy Battle

In Isturoth, nothing is more sacred than the home, a place of warmth and comfort, of food and rest, to call one's own. When visiting another's home, the unwritten rules that dictate what is acceptable and what is a "faux pas" can vary quite a lot from home to home, but there are some things that are universally agreed upon.
However, finding out a host's or guest's expectations can sometimes be a tricky maneuver. It is common for those who do not yet firmly understand one another, to engage in a kind of battle to outdo the other in terms of humility and providing. The host will attempt to supply as much as they can, anything the visitor may ask for, while the guest will try to be as little of an imposition as possible. This awkward dynamic is commonly referred to as a "courtesy battle".

Participants

The act usually occurs with a host party (an individual, a family or an organisation) and a guest party (as many individuals are entering the home of another).

The Host

Offering a warm greeting and tea is expected in most households. This can be followed by offering to take a coat or belongings from a person, leading them to a warm room within the house, introducing them to others within the house (so they aren't surprised by their sudden emergence) and having the smells of cooking food already present througout the abode, which will then be presented to the guest once it's ready.
Sometimes a guest, anticipating the game, will reject food or drink a couple of times before yielding, and so they will be continually offered throughout the visit. While the guest remains, they should be warm and comfortable, which includes things like preventing too much noise, providing cushions to sit on, ensuring the fire is adequately fueled, and so on.

The Guest

Even within one's own home, removing shoes is a standard ritual. Beyond this, the more an individual can sort out their coat, belongings, etc. before they are set upon by the host, the less imposition they will be in the host's eyes. As previously mentioned, it's not uncommon for guests to reject something to eat or drink for the purposes of courtesy, even if they are famished. This is where one needs to read the situation, to determine whether it would risk offending the host if they continued to reject their provision.
It is a delicate dance that can be skillfully navigated with years of practice.

Primary Related Location

Isturoth

Related Ethnicities

• Isturian