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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 07:08:52
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Several empires and communities offer bounties for the killing of monsters that inhabit or raid their lands. How would good aligned or at least civilized communities have adventurers collect these bounties?
Having them turn in the carved body parts feels like an evil or monsterous process.
Expecting adventurers to haul a cart loaded down with dead orcs or goblins is almost as unseemly.
Having a local official be taken and witness the dead monsters is impractical.
I'm really interested in what the Dales and Cormyr does for this kind of activity.
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Session Reports posted at RPG Geek.
Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale.
Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 09:32:10
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| Generally it would be something like a specific hand or ear (right or left) that is harvested for such things, or a scalp (though that can be harder to try to ID the critter it came from). |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 16:18:34
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No, it's the severed head (unless too large to be practical, whereupon it's usually a fang/tusk, the tongue, or an eye), brought wrapped or in a chest, and displayed before the community officials or elders, in such a way (town square, or official "presentation," or in the tavern of an evening where everyone's gathered) that the public also gets to see.
(I'm basing this on years of Realmsplay with Ed Greenwood as the DM.)
love to all,
THO |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 16:56:18
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| I don't consider it evil either since the things that are killed are monsters and in FR monsters are evil. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 17:03:18
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I'd have to agree.
And, unless the community in question holds any cultural or religious/divine significance for the monster itself, the question of whether it was an evil process is largely irrelevant.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 15 Jul 2006 17:03:56 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 17:10:47
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| The question of bounties and bounty hunting is one of those were the alignment system is irrelevant. "good" people can put up bounties on evil humans (brigants zentharim, Red Wizards etc) just as well as evil ones can. Now, if it were an organised activity against creatures being of little threat I would find that a different question. killing whilst threathened or for survival is not an evil act, but killing purely for monetary gains can be called morally questionable regardless of what the simple alignment says. |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 17:15:54
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
No, it's the severed head (unless too large to be practical, whereupon it's usually a fang/tusk, the tongue, or an eye), brought wrapped or in a chest, and displayed before the community officials or elders, in such a way (town square, or official "presentation," or in the tavern of an evening where everyone's gathered) that the public also gets to see.
(I'm basing this on years of Realmsplay with Ed Greenwood as the DM.)
love to all,
THO
Ah thanks THO, was basing my answer on some of the bounties that were placed on Native Americans during the Old West days... |
News of the Weird
D20 System Reference Document
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 17:30:02
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quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
No, it's the severed head (unless too large to be practical, whereupon it's usually a fang/tusk, the tongue, or an eye), brought wrapped or in a chest, and displayed before the community officials or elders, in such a way (town square, or official "presentation," or in the tavern of an evening where everyone's gathered) that the public also gets to see.
(I'm basing this on years of Realmsplay with Ed Greenwood as the DM.)
love to all,
THO
Ah thanks THO, was basing my answer on some of the bounties that were placed on Native Americans during the Old West days...
And here I thought you were basing it on the leucrotta entry in Monsters of Faerun cause that says ears. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 20:00:17
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I have always thought of ears as an easier way of transporting back for payment, But a head would assure finality..... scererar pictures a bunch of one eared goblins running around after being caught by a band of adventures, right ears cut off, and released back into the wilds. Goblin conservation project  |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 20:08:34
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quote:
Originally posted by scererar
I have always thought of ears as an easier way of transporting back for payment, But a head would assure finality..... scererar pictures a bunch of one eared goblins running around after being caught by a band of adventures, right ears cut off, and released back into the wilds. Goblin conservation project
Err with a regeneration ring or other magic you could run a very good business selling goblin ears. *wink* |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2006 : 04:08:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by scererar
I have always thought of ears as an easier way of transporting back for payment, But a head would assure finality..... scererar pictures a bunch of one eared goblins running around after being caught by a band of adventures, right ears cut off, and released back into the wilds. Goblin conservation project
Err with a regeneration ring or other magic you could run a very good business selling goblin ears. *wink*
Had a campaign where there was an Orc tribe that all the members cut off their ear for the bounty and had a Half-Orc member turn them in. |
News of the Weird
D20 System Reference Document
D20 Modern System Reference Document
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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2006 : 05:43:50
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I didn't want my question to indicate a perceived dilemma of good aligned countries having a bounty system. I'm just thinking of the rather barbaric custom of carving up a previously intelligent creature's body to obtain the needed part to turn in for a bounty. I also acknowledge there to be no issue with a "good" character slaying creatures, and not having a moral dilema.
I was just imagining the picture of an adventurer riding into town, and entering the local tavern with a string hoop filled with goblin ears. Placing the string on the barkeep's bar and claiming the local bounty. I pondered how such a character would be perceived by the locals.
Thanks for all the responses! =) |
Session Reports posted at RPG Geek.
Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale.
Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2006 : 06:35:23
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Err the realms are rather barbaric, you should not apply current real world stardards to the realms (as it is in parts of current real world there are sone very barbaric events occuring, one might be occuring as I type this post).
The world of history included indeed many things including head hunting and kept as trophies. Not all that long ago and even to some extent even now money is paid for capture dead or alive. Also bounties were paid for animals, kill a wolf etc., because of damage a creature inteligent or not for damages (some times not real).
The realms clearly set up a wotld where it is common to pay for proof of killing an evil race. Of course different races decide on which races are evil.
100 years ago a hunter of bears and living could be considered a hero, today odds are most would consider such a hunter an evil or at least a sociopath for killing an endangered specis (depending on the bear).
You need to view the realms much more like how things were a few hundred years ago about what is considered normal. A few brave souls go out to deal with the goblin problem based on the promise of pay for each dead one, the town (other authoriy) unable to deal with the problem sending many out that they know will not get paid, but kill at least a few goblins. It is just the realms way of hiring short term nercenaries.
Today I suspect you do not want a beaver pelt hat, but perhaps 250 years ago, if you could afford one, you would be pleased to see a trapper returning from the wilds with many beavers.
You can not think like one are living in today's would about how people would react even 100 years ago. The realms of course is even more different then histroy is, but many of the concepts are drawn from history in the range of back to 25000 years to perhaps 400 years. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
Edited by - Kentinal on 16 Jul 2006 06:40:35 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12045 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2006 : 22:31:23
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I'd say the head too. It ensures that it's not coming back. Plus, the head is possibly the best "piece" of the body to magically interrogate if that becomes necessary.
Someone mentioned a ring of regeneration. You know, dragon tail meat makes some very nice sausage (its kinda like alligator tail sausage, but spicier). Its especially tender if they're young and isn't likely to kill them. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2007 : 21:42:40
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
No, it's the severed head (unless too large to be practical, whereupon it's usually a fang/tusk, the tongue, or an eye), brought wrapped or in a chest, and displayed before the community officials or elders, in such a way (town square, or official "presentation," or in the tavern of an evening where everyone's gathered) that the public also gets to see.
(I'm basing this on years of Realmsplay with Ed Greenwood as the DM.)
love to all,
THO
This seems understandable if the bounty was on a single monster threatening the neighbourhood (e.g. a behier (sp?) or ogre). I wonder if this might have changed after the war against the goblin armees of Nalavara. Those pesky fellows now roum the countyside in such numbers that it would seem prodent to go by hears or hands as bounty trophies instead of heads, as they are much easier to carry. I only imagine a band of advernturers on goblin hunt pulling a pack muley along....... Any further thoughts on this? |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2007 : 06:00:22
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Just finished the sell swords trilogy tonight. Ears work for bounty collections in Damara/ Vassa. I would assume that it really depends on the individual realm or land vs. the reason for the bounty in the first place. Was it a maurading monster? or an attempt to clean the land of monsters?
my 2 coppers |
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Collection of bounties?
