D&D 5E Candlekeep Mysteries: Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions ethics issues

[Oofta]

There are several characters involved in the perpetrating group, who are of diverging opinions. As I would run it, it's a good opportunity for a preachy character to explain to them the error of their ways and set them on a different path.

Or they could just kill them. There isn't really a "wrong" solution to this moral dilemma (unless the PCs say "pay us a cut and carry on.")

Technically "pay us a cut and carry on" is not really a wrong solution either. It's an evil solution but depending on party agreement that doesn't make it wrong.

 

[Hussar]

Technically "pay us a cut and carry on" is not really a wrong solution either. It's an evil solution but depending on party agreement that doesn't make it wrong.

My bunch pretty much went this way. Didn't really take a cut, but, it would not have been out of character for them to do so. My bunch are most certainly not entirely on the side of angels.

It is one of the strengths of this particular module that the resolution is really left up to the group. There is no right or wrong answer. Fantastic fodder for character building.

Honestly, a lot of these adventures are like that. Much more morally grey than black and white and there's not really a solid, "This is the right way to resolve this" in a lot of them. Makes this module somewhat more challenging to run than standard fare, to be honest. So much more open ended than you typically get in a module.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Technically "pay us a cut and carry on" is not really a wrong solution either. It's an evil solution but depending on party agreement that doesn't make it wrong.

True, but since we gave up using alignments a while back "playing your character wrong" doesn't have any significance at our table. Ergo "wrong" only has the moral sense.

 

[jasper]

Waterdeep laws don't have any penalties for bad goods.

 

[Hussar]

Waterdeep laws don't have any penalties for bad goods.

That's actually true, although, the adventure does take place in Baldur's Gate. One wonders what the crime would be actually. No one in Baldur's Gate was harmed, no citizens of Baldur's Gate were harmed - the two that bought the fake books before were from Waterdeep and ... I forget where the other one was from. It's entirely plausible that the authorities in Baldur's Gate would not give the slightest rat's patoot about this as no laws of Baldur's Gate appear to be broken.

Candlekeep laws have been broken by those using the books to gain entry, but, again, that can't really be tied to the baddies of the module.

Interesting point.

 

[Starfox]

I'm playing the adventure in Leukish, in the Duchy of Urnst in the Greyhawk setting. The city is the nominal capital of the country, tough as a late feudal state, the ruling class is mostly rural and the city is run by a governor. The tradition of Leukish is lawful and ought to punish a crime like this severely, but the governor is corrupt - which will likely make him more strict in this case, to show a lawful facade. So, if the players report to the authorities, they are likely to want to hang the perpetrators in short order. If they can catch them.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm playing the adventure in Leukish, in the Duchy of Urnst in the Greyhawk setting. The city is the nominal capital of the country, tough as a late feudal state, the ruling class is mostly rural and the city is run by a governor. The tradition of Leukish is lawful and ought to punish a crime like this severely, but the governor is corrupt - which will likely make him more strict in this case, to show a lawful facade. So, if the players report to the authorities, they are likely to want to hang the perpetrators in short order. If they can catch them.

On what charge?

And would not a corrupt governor be quick to seize upon the moneymaking potential of a quick and easy way to copy rare books (or any item of value)?

 

[Mirtek]

I only know about the setup what's described here in this thread, not having read the adventure myself, but from that I would say that any option that does not involve the NPC answering for their crimes is not an ethical solution.

So peacefully buying them off to stop future murders and walk away scotts free (with the extra money in their pockets) is not an ethical solution.

The police finally confronting the drug cartel and being "here, just take this 50 thousand dollars and stop selling drugs in the future" is not how it's supposed to go down.

The PCs trying to apprehend and using all the necessary force to do so, is not being murder hobbos.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I only know about the setup what's described here in this thread, not having read the adventure myself, but from that I would say that any option that does not involve the NPC answering for their crimes is not an ethical solution.

So peacefully buying them off to stop future murders and walk away scotts free (with the extra money in their pockets) is not an ethical solution.

The police finally confronting the drug cartel and being "here, just take this 50 thousand dollars and stop selling drugs in the future" is not how it's supposed to go down.

The PCs trying to apprehend and using all the necessary force to do so, is not being murder hobbos.

The have been no murders, nor have there been any drugs or illegal goods sold. Nothing illegal about copying books. Prior to printing, it's the norm.

Not to say the PCs can't justify using lethal force.

 

[jasper]

That's actually true, although, the adventure does take place in Baldur's Gate. One wonders what the crime would be actually. No one in Baldur's Gate was harmed, no citizens of Baldur's Gate were harmed - the two that bought the fake books before were from Waterdeep and ... I forget where the other one was from. It's entirely plausible that the authorities in Baldur's Gate would not give the slightest rat's patoot about this as no laws of Baldur's Gate appear to be broken.

Candlekeep laws have been broken by those using the books to gain entry, but, again, that can't really be tied to the baddies of the module.

Interesting point.

My mistake. I send my group to Waterdeep by mistake. Due to one of the later quests does so. But they did behave when I gave the the copy of Waterdeep Laws.