| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| hashimashadoo |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 12:10:59
I was running the final part of a campaign I've been doing for several months last night.
The PCs had been tasked with locating Asraf of Manshaka, the Moonstar Agent based in Calimport who runs operations for the Tel'Teukiira in Calimshan, who had failed to turn up to a meeting with Kyriani Agrivar. The Moonstars knew where he might be, but had decided to get the PCs to recover him for them as a test to see if they would be considered for membership.
Of course, the PCs had never heard of the Moonstars and had no idea that this Asraf guy they'd been asked to find was a vampire. They'd spent the majority of the campaign so far fighting undead and so, when they found Asraf's corpse with a wooden stake rammed through his heart, they were apprehensive.
They shoved the body in their portable hole and headed to the designated meeting point where they were met by Kyriani and Laeral. The PCs wanted to know what in the hells was going on - being noted local undead hunters, they felt aggrieved that their employers apparently wanted them to rescue a vampire and were thinking of placing Asraf's corpse out in the sun.
Kyriani (who had contacted the PCs in the first place) had not stipulated what the PCs reward was to be, and the Moonstars didn't want to give the party any information about their group until they could determine what they might do with it (secrecy and all that).
How would you, as players or DMs run this? There were six PCs and the average party level was 14th. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| hashimashadoo |
Posted - 30 Aug 2013 : 14:41:51
All of the PCs were Chaotic Good or Chaotic Neutral. We did have an undead hunter, but he got caught in a nasty multiple-effect trap I threw at them while in a narrow corridor and didn't make it out. They're basically mercenaries with a reputation for killing undead, though only half of them were primarily motivated by money. |
| xaeyruudh |
Posted - 30 Aug 2013 : 06:42:32
Anybody can be flexible, but the consequences weigh more heavily on the hearts of paladins (and monks) than for others.
If I were the player of the paladin, there would be two questions. What is the true nature of the vampire, as evidenced by its recent deeds? Good paladins turn to evil, and it follows that vampires may turn to good or occasionally accomplish good ends by accident or larger design. And just how certain am I of the ultimate Good behind the Moonstars' effects in the Realms overall and in the lives of the people affected by this particular mission?
Paladin or not, if my alignment was good or lawful I'd want to find the answers to those questions before returning to Kyriani. Less risk of getting jumped by the employer if the employer doesn't know where you are or what you'll do with their "package" if they don't play nice. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 20:09:42
Caladan Clearly there are optional rules for types of Paladins, however all are subject to the bargain they make. |
| Caladan Brood |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 20:04:32
IMO, you shouldn't have to play paladins as fundamentalists. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 19:57:48
dazzle As real as possible in D&D is the ability to cast spells and have lost of them and atoning for errors. When a Paladin takes a voe, there are very high costs for breaking it. |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 19:37:26
Well I prefer to make things as real as possible, and even a monk may break his vow of silence when he stubs his toe.
A character should be as real a person as you or I (even though he is imaginary), and therefore they are flawed and prone to mistakes or lapses in vigilance. |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 15:48:34
I disagree dazzlerdal. Paladins would never "let it slide". It would be a stain on their honor and their vows if specific ones would be taken. They and clerics have to hold to standards and if those standards involve rooting out and destroying undead, then they know what they must do. Players can do what they want but it always means they need to accept the consequences for their actions, especially the bad ones if they "messed it up". |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 15:01:53
Just because its fantasy doesnt mean that everyone has to behave like a paragon of virtue all day every day.
The moonstars will probably not want an open conflict with the party (it would be a waste of resources and draw to much attention to them).
The PCs i would let them do what they want, if they feel like killing vampires then they make some dangerous enemies. If they dont feel like it then its only a minor blip in their undead hunting career (one they can make amends for later).
You could argue that sparing the life or unlife of someone is a good act. Certainly slaughtering a defenceless creature could be viewed as evil.
And just like real people even a paladin or undead hunter needs a day off every now and then. Surely the good they do every day can offset this one lapse in goodness. |
| Cbad285 |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 14:45:29
I agree! Also - Alignments. Ask your players about any possible concerns on the simple morality of not killing a vampire when the chance arises...mind the pun |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 29 Aug 2013 : 13:06:49
Any clerics or paladins who oppose undeath? If yes, it is their duty to destroy the vampire, including the consequence of angering the Moonstars. If they do not follow their dogma or conviction have them suffer the consequences by stripping of powers by the faith.
If greedy ones are among the group who care more for riches than their reputation, have them barter for the corpse, including the consequences of angering the Moonstars.
Have them further be subject to persuasive attempts of the Moonstars to "deescalate" the situation. If the attempts fail and the players get the feeling Kyriani and Laeral try to hide something from them and they want to keep a vampire out of harms way, have them suspect they may be involved in necromantic practices with the potential consequence of coming to blows and outright fighting. |
