If it is a social contest, there's no need for the character to actually *be* there for them to lose. The fact of their walking away in the middle of a contest is the same as turning their back and crossing their arms in the middle of a fight. I'd say roll the character's dice for them with a -20 penalty for having wimped out. Heroic leaders can, therefore, get away with this tactic, but plebs can't.
Philip Hibbs http://www.snark.freeserve.co.uk/ Opinions expressed may not even be my own, let alone those of any organisations, nations, species, or schools of thought to which I may be affiliated.
Powered by hypermail