Difficult decisions for a monk trying to do the right thing...

[Arravis]

*my players, stay out*

My campaign is leading up to a large scale battle (thousand or so on each side) between the PC and their allies, and the BBEG and his troops. The BBEG has recently ratained a group of Baatezu via a contract (see Baatezu Brigade in Heroes of Battle) to assist him in the upcoming battle.

Some opportunistic yugoloths caught wind of the contract and will approach the PC's with a offer of assistance. They will offer to counter the Baatezu Brigade, giving the PC's a level playing a field. What the yugoloths will want as payment is up for negotiation... I'm even considering having one of the PC's allies pay for it (he is quite an evil fellow and hopes to exploit the battle to his advantage, of course, not something the PC's are aware of).

The party is mostly neutral, but it has a lawful good monk in its ranks. The question is, how would such a deal affect the alignment of the lawful good monk, if at all.

The PC's have already stretched the resources thinly, calling on all possible allies. The yugoloth's counter of the baatezu troops will save the lives of many good men that would otherwise die on the battlefield. But they are yugoloths... the worst of the worst in the opinion of some.

Well, any comments or thoughts on this would be welcome, thanks!

 

[shilsen]

I don't think accepting such aid would negatively affect the LG monk's alignment per se. Essentially what he is doing is arranging for certain evil creatures to fight other evil creatures. Nothing wrong with that. The form of payment being required could be a problem, but that would depend on the specific case.

 

[Arravis]

Yeah, they may ask for money, gold, and something seemingly harmless... but that will end in evil. Perhaps delivering a package to a nearby person (contains something that motivates that individual to evil, think Seven) the destruction of some evil monster nearby (which held in check a more aggressive evil), or some other such thing.

I agree though that such a thing as having evil fight evil is not enough to shift alignments. Of course they yugoloths may simply turn on their allies once the baatezu are destroyed, which would lead to greater evil... it can be complicated.

 

[Xombie Master]

The struggle to find the greater good is my favorite theme for Lawful Good characters to roleplay. Sure hiring the yugoloths may put in their hands the resources to wreak havoc later, but allowing the BBEG and his Baatezu to win will happen now. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. When your on the path of right and good your friends will sometimes become your enemies."

 

[Arravis]

Though I think I agree with you... theoretically, just consorting with such creatures corrupts you, no? Is it not better for you and your allies to die unsullied than to fall to corruption? Can we not assume that the yugoloths have some greater evil in mind, and that by dealing with them we may be unleashing even greater evil.

Personally though, I think you have to go with the concrete reality of now, not some "what if" theoretical. People need help now, help them in any way you can.

 

[Xombie Master]

A good man may one day have to walk a dark path, it is not that he walks this path, it is how he walks this path that determines the final destination.

 

[Percivellian]

It seems a little odd that they would offer such a service to the PCs in the first place, unless of course they had something up their sleeves that would ensure they wouldn't themselves be destroyed in the fight. Unless you're Intelligence is 6 or lower, you really have to assume that such creatures are looking for the greatest possible advantage for their own goals, and their own goals are most definitely going to be very, very evil.

Unless a lawful good character can knowingly gain an upper hand in the dealings which allows them to destroy the evil rather than propagate it (in any way), I'd say any such dealings should sound off warning bells, and a quest for an alternative solution.

 

[Arravis]

Why would it be odd?
Yugoloths are the mercenaries of the Blood War, it's a role they've chosen for themselves. What's in it for them? Whatever they can get out of the contract, items, gold, information, promises of service, etc. It's also of little risk to them, if they know what force they'll be facing. Send in a force that overwhelms the existing troops and you're done.

 

[Anax]

Also: don't forget that for most people, alignment is pretty forgiving. A Paladin or an Exalted character could have major issues with this scenario, but I don't think that any other LG character would be in a position to expect dire penalties from the heavens to rain down.

Still, if the character is very pious, it would be appropriate for them to try to find out if their deity would disapprove of this act. (If they are unable to find out, then their best guess should be good enough for all but the most non-forgiving gods. If they find out and go against it, that could be a problem.)

But still: I really think that this should not impact the alignment of the LG monk. The monk is under no compulsion to avoid all contact with evil. The only reason he'd be up for an alignment change would be if he watched happily as the yugoloths sat down and started feasting on the souls of innocents who happened to be wandering across the battlefield.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I'm with Anax on this one. I don't see any significant problem for the monk to agree to this, though having a 'contract' is probably a bit much. If it's just paying them money to fight Baatezu, I'd think it was well spent. Like you said, better having the yugoloths die than Good humans (or whatever). Also, think about the alternatives. The Good guys turn them down, they might join the Baatezu. That's even worse.