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How to Fix a Slavery situation without murder? (Solved!)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 2017697" data-attributes="member: 11"><p>I think as DM what you need to worry less about the moral implications of what the PCs are goingto do and think about two things:</p><p></p><p>1) Plausible Circumstances that might change their minds or tactics</p><p></p><p>and </p><p></p><p>2) the short and long term physical consrquences of their actions.</p><p></p><p>As someone who has used slavery as a recurring theme in his campaigns I have had all sort of scenarios dealing with slaves and slavers and the PCs' interactions ith them.</p><p></p><p>Things to keep in mind:</p><p></p><p>- <strong>Someone's suggestion about an "underground railroad" is excellent. </strong> Having an experienced abolitionist explain that freeing the slaves could cause them more hard in the short term could have a very powerful effect. Remember, the penalty for attempting to escape or being caught free without leave was usually severe beating and even hobbling or death. From a certain point of view it could be reasoned that freeing slaves means being <em>responsible</em> for them until they can truly be free of harm.</p><p></p><p>- <strong>Not all slaves will <em>want</em> to be freed. </strong> Both fear and conditioning are powerfukl motivators, and a slave might accidentally or intentionally give them up. Who better than a slave to understand the consequences if they are caught revolting? Or knowing that there will be nowhere in this nation that will be safe for them and a trip to free lands could take days, weeks or even months. . . Is it winter? Is it summer? There are logistics for moving a large number of people overland safely, namely food, water and shelter.</p><p></p><p>- <strong>Legal Recourse</strong>: A lawful naion with strict slavery laws may have rules about treatment of slaves - i.e. limited rights for living property. They could bring the girl somewhere to file a complaint (make sure someone explains that to them - or havea PC with Knowledge (Law or Local History) makea check to remember that. Of course, that may mean she will have to be returned to slavery, but the slave-master might be punished by fine (i.e she might be awarded to someone else).</p><p></p><p>- <strong>Readiness</strong> - If the slavers are preparing for an attack by a crimelord's lackeys they will have guards and watches. Killing them all in their sleep will be very unlikely.</p><p></p><p>- <strong>Organization</strong> - Unless the slaves know ahead of time that they are going to be freed (even if they are all cooperative) getting them up and organized and out of there will be a nightmare, and by then could not a servant, loyal slave, or escaped slavery (are they sure there are 40? That is a big number could be 42 or 46 or 39. . ) could get to town and alert the authorities.</p><p></p><p>Basically, let the PCs do what they want to do and live with the consequesnces - just find and in-game way to remind them that the consequences can run deeper and start even more immediately than they imagine.</p><p></p><p>Also, if they do accidentally kill an innocent - that is a whole other religious kettle of fish for any pious members of the group.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 2017697, member: 11"] I think as DM what you need to worry less about the moral implications of what the PCs are goingto do and think about two things: 1) Plausible Circumstances that might change their minds or tactics and 2) the short and long term physical consrquences of their actions. As someone who has used slavery as a recurring theme in his campaigns I have had all sort of scenarios dealing with slaves and slavers and the PCs' interactions ith them. Things to keep in mind: - [B]Someone's suggestion about an "underground railroad" is excellent. [/B] Having an experienced abolitionist explain that freeing the slaves could cause them more hard in the short term could have a very powerful effect. Remember, the penalty for attempting to escape or being caught free without leave was usually severe beating and even hobbling or death. From a certain point of view it could be reasoned that freeing slaves means being [I]responsible[/I] for them until they can truly be free of harm. - [B]Not all slaves will [I]want[/I] to be freed. [/B] Both fear and conditioning are powerfukl motivators, and a slave might accidentally or intentionally give them up. Who better than a slave to understand the consequences if they are caught revolting? Or knowing that there will be nowhere in this nation that will be safe for them and a trip to free lands could take days, weeks or even months. . . Is it winter? Is it summer? There are logistics for moving a large number of people overland safely, namely food, water and shelter. - [B]Legal Recourse[/B]: A lawful naion with strict slavery laws may have rules about treatment of slaves - i.e. limited rights for living property. They could bring the girl somewhere to file a complaint (make sure someone explains that to them - or havea PC with Knowledge (Law or Local History) makea check to remember that. Of course, that may mean she will have to be returned to slavery, but the slave-master might be punished by fine (i.e she might be awarded to someone else). - [B]Readiness[/B] - If the slavers are preparing for an attack by a crimelord's lackeys they will have guards and watches. Killing them all in their sleep will be very unlikely. - [B]Organization[/B] - Unless the slaves know ahead of time that they are going to be freed (even if they are all cooperative) getting them up and organized and out of there will be a nightmare, and by then could not a servant, loyal slave, or escaped slavery (are they sure there are 40? That is a big number could be 42 or 46 or 39. . ) could get to town and alert the authorities. Basically, let the PCs do what they want to do and live with the consequesnces - just find and in-game way to remind them that the consequences can run deeper and start even more immediately than they imagine. Also, if they do accidentally kill an innocent - that is a whole other religious kettle of fish for any pious members of the group. [/QUOTE]
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