How would a temple of Wee Jas handle this?

[reveal]

The PCs in my campaign were sent to find out why a holy site that houses the remains of a heroic paladin of Wee Jas has been corrupted. One of the characters is a member of the church and was tasked with doing so.

Inside, they found a darkskull. They are now trying to justify selling it to the temple of Wee Jas. My question is, why would the temple buy an item that is a) described as "wholly evil" and b) from a holy site two of the characters were tasked to clear of evil.

 

[VirgilCaine]

To destroy it, duh. That's why paladins go to find evil artifacts (viz. Ghost Tower of Inverness), to destroy them.

 

[reveal]

To destroy it, duh. That's why paladins go to find evil artifacts (viz. Ghost Tower of Inverness), to destroy them.

They would buy it to destroy it? I understand destroying it, but would the temple actually offer to buy it from them rather than just asking for it?

 

[VirgilCaine]

They would buy it to destroy it? I understand destroying it, but would the temple actually offer to buy it from them rather than just asking for it?

Not "buy" per se, perhaps, "otherwise compensated" in spellcasting or magic item creation or services (2 temple clerics as bodyguards for a month, access to library+assistants, etc.).

If the temple was a large and strong one (either individually or in the area), they might vaguely or strongly hint that the PCs should just hand it over and take what they are given in exchange, as "the vagaries of Death's Guardian's will are well-known..."

 

[Nifft]

Clearly the evil Wee Jas faction who desecrated the tomb in the first place wants their darkskull back.

They will pay for it using some kind of tainted money -- in my game, they'd use Infernal coins (green Baatorian coins, each worth 100 gp, stamped in Dis, backed by soul larvae) which mean bad news.

The coins will be reported as stolen, and the party will be hunted both by legal authority (who won't know the nature of the theft) and infernal agents (who think the do-gooders robbed them deliberately).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Li Shenron]

The PCs in my campaign were sent to find out why a holy site that houses the remains of a heroic paladin of Wee Jas has been corrupted. One of the characters is a member of the church and was tasked with doing so.

Inside, they found a darkskull. They are now trying to justify selling it to the temple of Wee Jas. My question is, why would the temple buy an item that is a) described as "wholly evil" and b) from a holy site two of the characters were tasked to clear of evil.

If I hire you to clean my dog's house and you find something valuable inside it, I believe it belongs to me not you, and you just can't pretend I have to buy it from you. That just makes you a thief. If I'm the church of a Lawful Neutral (with Evil tendencies) deities, you're in trouble.

I think the PCs were quite stupid if they didn't at least try to hide the fact that they found the darkskull inside the shrine...

 

[Andor]

If I hire you to clean my dog's house and you find something valuable inside it, I believe it belongs to me not you, and you just can't pretend I have to buy it from you. That just makes you a thief. If I'm the church of a Lawful Neutral (with Evil tendencies) deities, you're in trouble.

I think the PCs were quite stupid if they didn't at least try to hide the fact that they found the darkskull inside the shrine...

Not to mention that one of the characters actually works for the church. How the heck can he justify trying to charge his own church over and above what they are already paying him? They should simply hand it over without expectation of reward. If the church is then pleased enough to give them a special bonus, that's your perview as GM. If I were them I'd worry more about whoever put it there in the first place trying to get it back while they are on the road. Not to mention it's seriously uncool to carry that thing through inhabited areas.

"Hey Bob."
"Yeah"
"See those two travelers?"
"Yeah"
"Notice how as they passed the graveyard all the corpses got up and started following them?"
"Yeah"
Think we ought to ask them about that?"
"Yeah"

 

[reveal]

Not to mention it's seriously uncool to carry that thing through inhabited areas.

Luckily, they put it in a Heward's Handy Haversack, which works like a Bag of Holding, so the aura can't escape it.

 

[VirgilCaine]

"Hey Bob."
"Yeah"
"See those two travelers?"
"Yeah"
"Notice how as they passed the graveyard all the corpses got up and started following them?"
"Yeah"
Think we ought to ask them about that?"
"Yeah"

I didn't know Deadpool had a D&D crossover.

 

[howandwhy99]

The PCs in my campaign were sent to find out why a holy site that houses the remains of a heroic paladin of Wee Jas has been corrupted. One of the characters is a member of the church and was tasked with doing so.

Inside, they found a darkskull. They are now trying to justify selling it to the temple of Wee Jas. My question is, why would the temple buy an item that is a) described as "wholly evil" and b) from a holy site two of the characters were tasked to clear of evil.

Well, Wee Jas is not a wholly evil god. Bartering with a church to allow them to destroy such an evil artifact is an evil act in and of itself. By my understanding Wee Jas priests, they would barter anyways and then send out some vicious summoned undead assassins after the party. I don't know how rich their temples are in your world, but the PCs in mine could make it too costly to pursue them after a couple of attempts. It depends on if the killers are dispatched, of course.