Asking what others would do about a situation that is going on in my game

[Doug McCrae]

Step 1: The cleric of Pelor should destroy the books related to lichdom. They're eevil!

Step 2: The cleric of Pelor tries to persuade the other party members to imprison or kill the cleric of Nerull to stop her becoming a lich. He should do this at a time when the Nerullite is not present. They will, being PCs, inevitably refuse.

Step 3: Leave the party in a big huff.

Step 4: Return with a big force of Pelor-worshippers, paladins, clerics and so forth and attempt to arrest or kill the cleric of Nerull. Big battle ensues. (Or maybe the neutral party just hand her over, being selfish.)

 

[BlackMoria]

It is easy to fix.... the NPC Cleric leaves due to conflict of interest with the party's goals (if the party is allowing the Cleric of Nerull to continue to associate and have a free hand, then the party's goals are at odds with the belief systems of Pelor).

Said NPC Cleric could come back at some point with a small contingent of Pelorites (throw a couple of Radiant Cheeseweasels of Pelor into the mix) to confront the party and the Cleric of Nerull if you are interested in the drama and plot elements that would engender.

Or not as you like. NPC cleric leaves and that is that.

If the party wants to truck with a cleric of Nerull .... well, it is their call. Good luck to them.

 

[gizmo33]

Sounds like this potentially could be a player vs. player situation. I don't run those anymore because they tend to distract from more interesting adventures - but if all players agree to it then what the heck.

PvP is challenging in DnD because you need to keep really accurate time records to make sure everyone has a chance to do what they want. IME players also tend to be far more adversarial with the DM regarding his judgement calls when they are battling other players. Also, some players really resent the essential betrayal - figuring that some metagame logic goes into the amount of trust that fellow PCs have for each other that enables them to adventure together in the first place.

Or - if nobody takes the side of the priest of Pelor, then it's just an adventure with some evil PCs. PCs should have to defend the tower from an army of do-gooders.

 

[Someone]

I agree with other posters that the cleric of Pelor should give the party an ultimatum (the cleric of Nerull that you barely meet five minutes ago but we are know is evil and will backstab you or the god guy that has been healing and helping you since the very beginning) and leave the party to return as an antagonist.

 

[jefgorbach]

Interesting way to setup inter-party strife.
Sounds like you're handling the situation "right" - the two clerics are going to butt heads and Pelor's cleric will leave at the first opportunity (best case) unless Nurell's does something he cant ignore while remaining true to his faith. (ie: Researching lichdom could probably be ignored since the cleric is still alive so not technically undead thus not a foe...yet).
The NPC's leaving could become a future plothook, returning later with whatever forces he can marshall to end the evil cleric's threat to mankind.

OTOH, once cleric/cleric combat ensures, the other PCs will either choose sides or simply stay out of it with represcussions following accordingly; both in the campaign/society at large as welll as within party.

 

[Angel of Adventure]

Two Words . . .

Forcecage Deathmatch!!!! (Should this be 3 words? )

Yeah, put both clerics in a forcecage and let them duel it out. What fun! (Plus, the party gets the stronger NPC. Survival of the fitest!)

 

[Arkhandus]

I agree with Doug McCrae's suggested course of action.

The Peloran may feel that if he openly attacks the Nerullite, the rest of the party may turn against him or just not support him, so the odds may be against him. Therefore he'll rescind his aid as a healer, destroy the vile books on lichdom, leave in frustration, and attempt to gather support from the nearest Peloran temple or shrine. Destroying the undead-wannabe who seems to be the servant of an evil deity (I assume the Nerullite has never revealed her unholy symbol of the Reaper? Keep in mind that it's required for some things, like turning/rebuking undead), given her evil magic, would be a priority for Pelor's faithful. Even moreso if they learned she was a Nerullite, since that basically puts her diametrically opposed to all Pelor stands for.

And in this way you wind up with good-aligned antagonists that the party will have to fight at some point. If they thought they could get away with evil (attempted murder of an ally who has saved them before, and is a devout servant of Good) and still be decent, neutral folks with aid from the forces of good, they'll be forced to rethink their positions and either turn closer to the dark side by fighting (and, given the tendencies of PCs, :\ probably killing) the Pelorans, or surrender to the Pelorans (not bloody likely since the evil priestess is a PC). Or, y'know, run away.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

Definatly have the Pelor cleric become an opponent by having him leave and come back with another more friendly to him adventuring group he rounded up to help stop a lich. If he leaves on good terms with some of the party an interesting battle with begin, as not everyone will necessarily be on the same side.

DS

 

[Hypersmurf]

Forcecage Deathmatch!!!! (Should this be 3 words? )

Or four words.

Or one, if you're German.

-Hyp.

 

[Belares]

Thanks all for your idea, resolutions, and other thoughts.

I may have not said this but the Cleric of Pelor was not going attack the other cleric outright. He was going to leave the group peacefully and let the other other alone, but it has come to a point that something must be done. As the DM I would rather the choice be up to the players. This situation is different as it is opposite of what usually happens. The NPC is found out to be evil and the group must decide what to do with him. Since the NPC is good and has been with the group from the start I am surprised that the players side with the Cleric of Nerull. Again the characters are mostly Neutrals but loyalties and such should mean things....maybe the dark side is MORE powerful!!!

I have noticed because it is a good NPC a lot of people say "just get rid of him" that is all good and that was the choice I was going to make. Now though it is different with the obvious evil tendencies and the wanting to become a Lich. Anyway I got into this mess and let's see how it goes.