Exalted moral dilemma

[cvrinn]

I am playing a NG druid who just gained exalted status. Then the idea comes up for our group to blackmail a big city merchant that has an item that we need. The merchant is known to be shady/underhanded but not necessarily evil. Obtaining the item is part of what we need to do to eventually stop a major evil power. What I am wondering is whether an exalted NG person would have a problem with things like blackmail, breaking and entering, stealing, etc? Obviously these things are against the law(atleast in most places, including where we are), though that is not something my character necessarily cares about if the cause is good. But are any of these things actually evil? I don't really want to lose my exalted status by going along with these things. Any opinions are welcome.

 

[Crothian]

Yes yes and yes, an Exalted character would have poroblems with all of that. Heck, a good character should have problems with those as well.

Find another way, do jobs for the guy, buy it off of him, plead to his sense of living since this is going to stop a big evil.

 

[Catavarie]

WEll key here is the Neutral part, although your character is overall good, he is willing to do whatever must be done for the the greater good. Now if your were Lawful Good then you'd do whatever you could within the confines of the law, but being neutral good means that you'r willing bend or even break a few laws/rules when the need for a greater good calls for it.

 

[Crothian]

Being Exalted though places a lot more liminations on what he can do though.

 

[Voadam]

Blackmail is always bad. Expect to lose exalted status until you atone if you blackmail someone. Blackmail crosses the line from negotiating hard and convincingly to doing wrong even if the wrong is done for a good cause.

 

[Darkness]

I am playing a NG druid who just gained exalted status. Then the idea comes up for our group to blackmail a big city merchant that has an item that we need.

What kind of blackmail are we talking here and what happens if you reveal his secrets to the public (or the proper authorities or whatever)?

 

[Dracomeander]

Blackmail is always bad. Expect to lose exalted status until you atone if you blackmail someone. Blackmail crosses the line from negotiating hard and convincingly to doing wrong even if the wrong is done for a good cause.

I'm not even sure atoning afterward would help. Exalted status requires more exemplary behavoir than even being a paladin does. I believe once exalted status is lost it cannot be regained.

The blackmail is right out. If you agree to that, say goodbye to being exalted. The other options have a little more leeway.

If the merchant is evil or merely using what you need in a manner that profits evil, the B&E and stealing could be justified.

If, however, the merchant is just a normal guy looking to make a living, you will need to find some other way to acquire what you need whether it be through diplomacy or outright purchase.

 

[Darkness]

I believe once exalted status is lost it cannot be regained.

You lose Vow feats if you willingly break the vow in question. Other Exalted feats are regained via atonement, as normal.

 

[cvrinn]

The blackmail would involve revealing the intimate and perverted liaisons the merchant has been having. Our DM didn't get into specifics, but he said that the guy wouldn't want those secrets known by the general public or by certain indiviuals. So far, we haven't done anything and I wanted to get some feedback in case my other party members decided to go with the idea. The big problem is that my party is filled with neutral characters and I can see having lots of problems with the things they do. My DM and the other players all told me to go with the exalted PrC and that I shouldn't have many problems, but that doesn't seem to be the case so far. It would be a little easier on my guy if we just left the city. He really hates staying there. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Psion]

What I am wondering is whether an exalted NG person would have a problem with things like blackmail, breaking and entering, stealing, etc? Obviously these things are against the law(atleast in most places, including where we are), though that is not something my character necessarily cares about if the cause is good. But are any of these things actually evil?

I think I'll contradict the "YES" crowd here and say: it depends. I would say that in general, killing is a greater travesty than blackmail, but the game seems to let good characters do it with no repercusions.

I think that when it comes to good and evil, most arguments can be resolved by boiling everything down to regard for the lives of others. (In particular, the rules seem to define others as necessarily sentient) and intent (good or evil has nothing to do with ability to predict the future.)

So, the questions I would ask are: are innocents made to suffer, or do you beleive that innocents will be made to suffer due to these actions? If the answer is yes, then the act is probably evil. If, on the other hand, innocents are protected, then the act is probably not evil.