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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chris633" data-source="post: 7308655" data-attributes="member: 6779018">Thank you everyone for the advice and feedback. The varying opinions definitely highlights the trickiness of situations like this. Some additional background: The group is level 14. The PCs have dealt with assassination attempts by cult NPCs and would be prepared for such things. So Derek knows to be on guard and with the high level magic, he can be brought back. Additionally, he will be very hard to kill. In an answer to how to spend gold in 5E, he spent it all on lab equipment and experimentation (others and himself). One of the abilities he recently succeeded in creating within himself is what amounts to a periapt of wound closure (unless he is decapitated & then the ability stops working). Harry doesn’t know Derek has this ability as it is very new. The paladin in the group is an oath of vengeance paladin to god of war. Both the god and the paladin are more chaotic good in alignment. Derek also hasn’t broken any laws and his methods have served the greater good overall. Harry has watched what has been going on in silence for the most part. No conversations have been had about it between the PCs. I should also note that when I say “mature” players, I mean that they are kind and considerate towards each other. No screen time hogs or “my character needs to be the best” types. Everyone just wants to have fun adventuring together and play their characters. I’ve spoken with Harry’s player about some of the apparent contradictions and he explained his character’s rationale. I will make sure he is aware of all the possible in-game ramifications of his actions (e.g. I think the paladin would try to kill him). As I don’t think he intends to hide what he did from the PC group. He also said his plan is to ambush him at night when he is studying his spells and has his hands full with books. So he is free to attempt to kill Derek, however, Derek will also be afforded all the opportunities to thwart the attack he would have if this was an NPC making the attempt. Additionally, when Harry makes the attempt, I will take Derek’s player aside and ask how he would like to see this play out (so I am now leaning more towards not telling the player prior). The fact that he has that unknown-to-Harry regen ability will give Derek & his player the opportunity to decide how things play out. I need to make sure that Derek gets to make meaningful choices about what happens to his character despite Harry’s choice to thwart that. I also really like an idea someone mentioned about having the paladin more involved in this conflict. Given the paladin I have, THAT would be interesting/fun! I am going to allow rolls for the other PCs to notice something is up. I m also going to as Harry if he is making any effort to hide his feelings. As a GM I tend to blend being a neutral arbiter and story enforcer. I have a story, but it can change based on PC choices. I also like to make sure the players get to make meaningful choices. For example, Derek is first in line to the throne of his country. The same country that agreed to be the staging grounds for the alliance army that will be facing the cult. If an alliance operative murdered Derek, maybe the alliance is expelled from the country, they arrive to the Well of Dragons too late, Tiamat arrives unchallenged and I scrap the whole final adventure of the AP and this becomes something different. Ok, I had typed all of this up and just saw the suggestion that Derek the necromancer is smart enough to see this coming. Thus, maybe he is the one who get’s the drop on Harry if he follows through on this. Meaning I tell Derek’s player so he can make a plan to turn the tables. Part of me really likes the twist here. Hmm.. But part me also thinks that Derek should have to make a roll of some type.</blockquote>

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