POST CONFLICT<br/><br/>First of all, I'm not the full DM. I'm helping the DM in various matters and giving my opinion, but I've always seen myself as a player first. I'm around to facilitate things, move things along when he doesn't have the time, and answer questions, but I'm a player.<br/><br/>As for why there should be a surprise round... well, let's look at it. Both our characters were speaking to each other. Mean-bad words, sure, but still speaking. We're in the presence of a Matron Mistress who obviously doesn't want violence in her office. Nothing has been really shown that there's going to be any violence. And then a sudden snap.<br/><br/>Is your character psychic? Can she read thoughts? Does she know that at that exact moment Alonia would snap? If not, then there's a surprise round. The DM is being generous enough to give you a check to try to see through it, AND giving you a bonus on it.