Chaotic Good Cleric In Need of Atonement?

[Elephant]

My character, Dimble, is a cleric of Tymora, goddess of Luck.

The party is 18th level, on a quest in the Forgotten Realms to prevent the completion of a temple of Orcus. After penetrating the temple and rescuing many prisoners, we stumbled into the gladiator arena where the prisoners had been forced to fight for the amusement of the Big Bad guys. As we entered the arena, our presence was discovered, the stands began filling with spectators, and a high level evil caster summoned three Vrocks, who immediately began Dancing. We killed them and the caster, and I expected that the spectators would similarly provide a tough encounter.

Dimble cast a Blade Barrier along the back of the stands, which blocked escape and diced a couple of the evil spectators. He then offered the bad guys a chance to escape: They could jump down 80 feet to the arena floor, risking death, and Dimble would let any survivors go. Or, they could stay and face him in the stands.

A couple of them jumped to their deaths, and the rest did nothing. At this point, I (metagamingly) suspected that perhaps these weren't big tough guys, and (in character) offered them a second chance. "If you wish to repent of your evil ways and be spared, go over there. Those of you who think you can take me, come over here."

A few of them tried to fight my cleric, and most decided to "convert" ... and, of course, a Zone of Truth revealed that they were lying. Dimble then slew each one who lied about converting (which was all of them).

The DM commented that this was "perhaps pushing the envelope a little too far."

Were my character's actions going too far? Do you think my cleric needs to Atone? If he should not need to Atone, is the situation completely okay, or should there be some sort of warning or rebuke for my character? The DM talked about working something into the next couple of sessions, so it sounds like he'll have *something* happen, but I'm not sure about what he'll do.

Ex-Clerics A cleric who grossly violates the code of conduct required by his god loses all spells and class features, except for armor and shield proficiencies and proficiency with simple weapons. He cannot thereafter gain levels as a cleric of that god until he atones (see the atonement spell description).

 

[Crothian]

WEll, it really matters what the DM thinks and if the two of you have worked out what the code of conduct for your god is. That is what it really matters on.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Well, on the one hand your character slew a bunch of weaklings, so mercy may have been called for. On the other hand, they worship an outright evil diety.

I'd go with whatever the DM decides because he sets the tone of the campaign. But I would also tell him: "Look, I'll take whatever consquences there may be, but these were Orcus worshippers. Would I be getting the same penalty if they were orcs?"

 

[Philip]

Were the spectators evil with a big E? Or where they just some sycophants with evil tendencies? (the evil equivalent of innocent bystanders)

With the scene sketched and being 18th level, I don't think you went too far. I just think you could have handled it with a little more subtlety.

After all, Chaotic Good is the alignment of personal freedom, and convert or die wouldn't seem much of a choice. Considering you are a cleric of Tymora, you could have offered them a choice like: "convert, or risk death", with you tossing a coin for each person who risks death, killing them on tails and letting them go otherwise. If they all come up tails, well, then that's a clear sign from Tymora to kill them.

But definitely not a loses cleric powers until Atonement offense.

Does the campaign have absolute morality? In campaign with absolute morality just being evil is enough to be slain by the 'good guys', even if you have not actually done anything evil.

 

[Starglim]

I don't see a Chaotic anything favouring conversion by the sword, or judgement for telling lies. It doesn't have anything to do with the ethos of Tymora either. As a Good person he should have dispelled the blade barrier and let the weaklings run away, or just left them there to figure it out for themselves while the party moved on. Challenging them to take their chances by fighting works as well. A Chaotic Evil person would kill them all, if the lying of the first person offended him - it might just as easily amuse a true Chaotic.

I agree with your GM that the character has offended against both Chaos and Good. Up to the GM if there are in-game consequences that require atonement.

 

[Nifft]

Ehh... IMHO the risk of killing people isn't that you might kill an Evil Orcus worshipper the wrong way. It's the chance that you might kill someone who ISN'T Evil by accident. Sounds like you were pretty careful, so no worries.

-- N

 

[Corsair]

Wait I'm confused... a bunch fo Orcus worshippers got killed by a PC, and the DM wants to punish him? What is a CG character SUPPOSED to do?

 

[Starglim]

I'm not that worried about him killing them, though it was unnecessary. I have a huge problem with him judging and executing them for telling lies.

 

[Elephant]

I'm not that worried about him killing them, though it was unnecessary. I have a huge problem with him judging and executing them for telling lies.

Nono, they weren't being judged for telling lies, they were being slain because they persisted in their evil. I guess I should have been more clear about that. I was trying to avoid being Holy Stupid - and, admittedly, stepped a little too far in terms of brutality.

 

[S'mon]

FWIW I think your actions fit fine within CG or LG - these are demon-worshipping cultists, right? WWDHD (What Would Dirty Harry Do)?