How should you act if someone successfully raids your cabal?
Should you try to retrieve right then or you can wait a hour or two until it gets safer to do it

How should you act if someone is raiding your cabal?
Should you come right then to protect it or you can wait... etc

I've noticed that some people just dying while attempting to retrieve, often to gangs, but they just keep coming back.

And there are some who don't seem to care about retrieving at all if there is a small chance of dying in the process.

I am really confused, how should one act?

thanks

As an observing imm, I generally like to see a mortal make some kind of effort to retrieve. That doesn't necessarily mean launching themselves into a suicidal situation, but perhaps an attempt to recruit allies, just popping over to assess the situation, or whatever. Sure there are times when a retrieval isn't really a realistic option. When this happens, occasionally I will even see mortals think out loud (via emotes) or say something over cabal channel to the cabal NPCs about their thought process, which while not entirely necessary, I think is a really nice touch to RP rather than just shrugging your shoulders as you return to killing lesser trolls for experience, or whatever. And as an observing imm, I really like to see that, because otherwise it lets me know the mortal is giving it some thought, as opposed to just ignoring. i.e. Sure, perhaps *I* can see it would be suicide to retrieve, but is the mortal not acting because of that, or just because they are a dunce who doesn't care? I'm not going to reprimmand anyone who doesn't retrieve in that case, but a little roleplayed effort can go a long way to show me at least it's on someone's mind.

I have occasionally gotten on the case of, often new-player mortals, who make no effort to retrieve when there is no resistance whatsoever. Often it is because they presume they are too low level to retrieve, but when nudged a little by a voice on the wind or whatnot, they give it a try and are pleasantly surprised that they are capable of retrieving after all. So I would say if you just lack the ability to assess your capability to retrieve without any hard knowledge, at least give it a try and see. You may be surprised, or at least learn something.

And of course, as it has been said, individual character roles come into play as well. Some characters will be more bold or reckless, while others may be more selfish and cowardly. But also keep in mind, in either case there may be consequences. There's nothing wrong with being selfish and cowardly Imperial for example, but also keep in mind you have an Emperor that may also decide to flail you to the Nine Hells for being a coward, too. Having a legitimate role never excuses you from negative IC consequences. That doesn't make you a bad roleplayer to RP that way, just have your character remember consequence too.

Depending on your character's role of course. It's a good idea to retrieve/defend as long as the odds aren't overwhelmingly against you. Of course, there are exceptions. Examples:

A sneaky assassin who doesn't defend, but then assassinates the person holding the item before they can down it.

A crazy barbarian who just charges in no matter what the odds (short shelf life, but fun).

A manipulative transmuter who doesn't defend, but promises his services to those who will retrive for him, and therefore gets the item back quite quickly.

A rich thief who bribes a group of people into getting back his item or defending for him. Or alternatively just steals it back.

Any path has its plusses and minuses. I would just suggest that you don't end up being a sissy, unless that's your role.

from what Isildur said, if you never defend or retrieve, you will lose respect and quite possibly get the boot from your cabal.

You aren't expected to suicide, but if imms can snoop your enemies and hear them joking about how you -definitely- won't retrieve, and then you make some feeble excuse, there might be repurcussions.