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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mlund" data-source="post: 4460105" data-attributes="member: 50304">No, not really. I'd say if he was talking about "powerful friends" it'd be more the kind of threats you'd expect a Mafia Capo to be dropping on a cop running him in - about how the Don or the rest of the family is going to find out what you did and bad, bad things are going to happen to your wife and kids. "Have you ever seen what a big, bad man can do to a little girl?" etc.In a frontier-type setting where the guy is just going to hang anyway and the Paladin's authority figure already gave him the authority to slay this man in the first place? Yeah, it might very well be worth killing him.As I already noted in this thread: the villain asked for quarter and was given an honorable surrender. He then grossly violated the required conduct of an honorable surrender.By that logic any punishment meted out that "feels icky," isn't a "good measure." In medieval societies punishments are typically corporal, while in many modern societies corporal punishment is no longer practiced - often times to the detriment of the convict and society, might I add.In 4th Edition we've got Chaotic Evil, Evil, Unaligned, Good, and Lawful Good to choose from. We don't have Lawful Neutral or Lawful Evil to work with.I also don't see a violation of anything in the description of Lawful Good here either. "Believing in the value of life," does not prohibit the taking of life in defense of others or meting out Justice. As I've already established, the "Points of Light" setting does not provide the necessary underpinnings for a modern criminal justice system. Bad guys don't normally go to prison here, and many of them escape justice entirely. Criminal justice isn't going to be pretty.Moreover, I certainly see where honor enters into this equation. Violating the rules of an honorable surrender, a flag of truce, or the hospitality of a home are often grievous offenses in many cultures - exactly because they depend on trust in order to save lives. In a world without truces, cease-fires, and honorable surrenders would be a sea of carnage - so those who jeopardize those traditions are dealt with severely among orders such as knights and military officers.Bahamut's portfolio, in particular, is one in which suggests such conduct is considered especially heinous.Actually, Lawful Evil was exploitative of the law, not merciless. It granted mercy or cruelty to whatever extent the law allowed to the advantage or satisfaction of the character in question. Inevitables (Lawful Neutral extraplanars) were merciless and relentless back in 3rd edition.Modern morality and criminal justice != D&D morality or criminal justiceThat aside, modern societies refrain from maiming people because they send them to Correctional Institutions aimed at returning the robber to society as a rehabilitated and productive member of society. Chopping off a hand generally cuts down on productivity. Modern societies are ostensibly productive and technologically advanced enough to actually support Correctional Institutions and police those released to deter recurring offenses. Medieval societies are not. (Of course, both the success and the "mercy" of these modern Correctional Institutions is subject to debate. "Don't drop the soap," shouldn't be the part that inspires deterrence.) - Marty Lund</blockquote>

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