Another Paladin Thread: Throw Rocks!

[The Thayan Menace]

Good Times!

The real discussion between the the OP and the paladin is that the paladin's smiting the orc diminished the OP's merciful gesture. That is roleplaying gold and I wish them the best with it.

I talked to Dewey (Wyndess) the other night, and we're definitely going to run with the "tension" ... without getting murderous. It should be fun.

-Samir

 

[Rystil Arden]

Agreed. That point had escaped me during the game, but it's a very valid argument.

As long as you agree with me on that, I think we see eye to eye on the big issue. For the record, as I stated above, the Paladin would not have violated her code or strayed from Lawful Good had she killed it immediately and coup de graced it while unconscious and helpless.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

Just have her do penance at the next church you come across.

"I've dreamt of you, and that your soul was in danger. Dress thee only in sackcloth and go out to help the Widow McKlarick gather in her wheat. Eat thee only blessed bread and drink thee only blessed wine. Attend mass each evening, and take thee to confession."

Done deal.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Authority Without Question = Tyranny

I respectfully inform you of your wrongness.

I too respecfully agree to disagree with you.

A word of advice, friend. Stay out of Melvaunt ....

-Samir Asad is Nigel Yarrow (CN)

 

[Halivar]

Just have her do penance at the next church you come across.

I can get behind this. Even my most killing-est, orc-smashing-est, unmerciful-est paladin has to go to the confessional when he steps on a bug. Or looks too long at an unmarried maiden. Or makes out with said unmarried maiden. Etc., etc.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Okay ....

To make a real-world parallel, in D&D-land a paladin is like a priest and a police officer combined.

Is this combination similar to a hybrid of Jimmy Swaggart and Daryl Gates, by any chance?

You chose to run a CN character who can change his behavior whenever it suits him, so naturally your PC must "earn" respect.

The Yarrowstaff is an individualist who is true to his friends and companions. He is indeed a selfish person with failings, but he genuinely tries to do the right thing when he can (incl. making sacrifices to protect others).

He's CN with CG tendencies.

Evil people and self-centered jerks are exceptions, of course; so, yes, if you are roleplaying a self-centered jerk, then yes, you can withold your PC's respect for a paladin.

Your wisdom is astounding. So, Nigel's simply a self-centered jerk? It's all so clear to me now ....

The next time I have an issue with party cohesion, I'll make sure to PM you.

-Samir

 

[The Thayan Menace]

True Dat (x1000)

Neither answer is contrary to the notions of goodness. It's just that each is weighted towards a different aspect of goodness. One towards mercy and the other towards protecting innocents. Paladins aren'ty supposed to all think and act alike. There should be plenty of ethical dilemmas where two paladins will come up with two different answers.

It's also fair that the other player characters, or even the other players, may be disgusted and repulsed by the choice, even if it was within the boundries of lawful good behavior. (Certainly other players can't be expected to check alignment rules before having an emotional reaction to in-game events.)

I wholeheartedly agree.

-Samir

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Whatever ....

Variety is the essence of d20!

I agree.

People run a paladin to have fun, and people who ruin fun are jerks, IMO.

What if gamers have different views on what roleplaying "fun" is? Wouldn't it be better for them to reach a mutually-acceptable understanding than to simply call each other names?

No offense to any jerks reading this, but come on, stop trying to tell other people how to roleplay their character.

No offense taken. Please insult us further.

-Samir

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Blessed are the Executioners ....

For the record, BD is a supercool DM ... and I have already squared things with Dewey (Wyndess).

Those things being said:

1. The paladin expressed her concern that the orc, if set free, would simply join up with another band of marauding humanoids and continue to wreak evil. Now, this is a very logical assumption, and as the DM, I can tell you that's exactly what would have happened.

You mean he would actually return to his family in the Thar (a blasted heath filled with savage humanoids) and continue to harass foreign trespassers? What a bastard!

2. The orc was offered an honorable death.

Yup ... after we questioned him, she whipped out her blade and told him that he would die for his crimes. I also remember her calling him a "babykiller".

It was all very heroic.

3. The orc was not tortured, he was not "back-stabbed", he was, in fact, dispatched with a single blow from the back of a charging mount.

The orc probably thought he was going to see his wives and children at least one more time. Instead, his hopes were dashed ... and he spent his last moments in utter terror before being beheaded.

Now, that's justice ....

-Samir

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

Misunderstood something, my bad.

What is it about every paladin thread that some people have to come in and tear them down? Is it just something about the paladin that they hate? Is it something that tjey have to pick at every little thing that Paladin players do?

So, in thier eyes, she should have given the orc new boots and 30 silver for the walk home, escorted him and made sure nobody molested him, and apologized to his clan for killing the other members.

This is a member of a race who have sworn genocide on all demihuman races. One who probably just finished wiping his butt with the scalp of a murdered newborn. Who probably still had drying blood on his weapon. Whose God's holy tenants include throwing elves on sharpened stakes ala Vlad Tepes and burning the civilizations of man to the ground. These aren't misunderstood neadrathals, these are a murderous creature who follow an evil god who has sworn their lives to evil, misery, chaos, and murder. He wasn't Joan of Arc in drag, he was an orc, who'd laugh while feeding infants to dingos or kobolds, who believe in the rule of might, and who would gladly burn halflings on a spit and eating the remains.

ORC! Not "Misunderstood Underpriveldged Victim of Fauren"

O.R.C.

She offered execution, he ran, she chased him down and killed him.

It's called: "Shot while trying to escape."

Or should the paladin be torn in twain by Pit Fiends and her soul shredded and strewn on a parade of murderers and single mothers?



DEATH TO THE FOLLOWERS OF GRUUMSH! DEATH TO THE LOVERS OF THE ONE EYED GOD! DEATH TO THOSE CAST IN THE IMAGE OF GRUUMSH! DEATH TO THE ORCS!



(EDIT--Misunderstood what someone was saying and made a jackass out of myself. EEH-HAW EEH-HAW!)