Is a deal with the devil Evil?

[bill2825]

Hey all,

It has been a while since I posted or lurked on any threads, but I am glad to be able to return with an interesting situation I would love some feedback on.

So, in our latest game one of the characters took some actions that I feel is alignment affecting. My quandary is I am unsure which direction to affect his alignment in. I will lay out the situation as best I can and am interested in your comments and feedback. I am also sure anything I miss Felix will stumble across and add in.

So, we have the character in question, Motrimer, who is aligned Neutral Good. He has, for the time being, risen to be the leader of the 2 remaining cities within his country, and thus the defacto head of the country. Mortimer has the following members in his party.
Fiona – Cleric of Pelor and head of the local Pelorian Church
Orrisseus – Chosen champion of the god Heironeous (with no divine powers currently)
Dante – a mind bending, diplomatic telepath
Kosul – A mage who has just taken over control of the national Mage Guild
Konstantin – a proven survival specialist (Forsaker/Ranger/Barbarian)

In the country, you have 2 cities (Ar-Tolor (AT) and Port Lagoona (PL)). The country is currently at war with 2 factions, and Mortimer is in the process of gathering the army to march. The Church of Heironeous was the primary religion in the country, but has recently lost access to divine spells and abilities. The Church of Pelor, via the party member, is slowly growing to fill the role that the church of Heironeous used to fill, but they were essentially a cult prior to Heironeous’s loss of influence, so they are still small.

The Church of Nerull has stepped forward to fill the gap. They are providing healing magic and supplies to the military, along with performing significant charity activities within the city of AT. Since Nerull has stepped forward, the death toll in AT has dropped significantly (primarily natural deaths), and disease and sickness are effectively non-existent. However, in PL, there is a rampant plague and the death toll has climbed significantly. The city of PL has been quarantined and the military and government offices have been relocated outside the city walls.

Mortimer and party have discovered that a demon of significant power has possessed a human and taken over as the head priest of the Church of Nerull. This demon has indicated that he has a hand in both the plague in PL and the apparent health of AT. Mortimers 2 generals fully support the assistance of the church of Nerull and are primarily blinded by the health of their troops and the inability of the church of Heironeous to help out the military.

In the last game, Mortimer decided to meet with the demon and discuss the church of Nerulls assistance to the military for the upcoming campaign. As part of their discussion, the demon offered Mortimer the following deal:

The Church of Nerull would guarantee the following:
1. They would remove all plague and disease from the city of PL in 4 weeks
2. They would lower the current mortality rate in PL to mimic AT
3. They would provide complete support to the military in the upcoming campaign (3 Clerics per company of troops plus 500 healing potions per month)

In exchange, Mortimer would have to deed a specific plot of land in PL to the church of Nerulls use for 50 years. The plot of land would be used to build a church of Nerull. This specific plot of land covered 3 of the 4 churches in PL, and would cover the land currently held by the churches of Pelor, Heironeous, and Kord. The ony remaining church owning land in PL would be Nerull (massive plot of land), and a small chapel of St. Cuthbert.

Mortimer agreed.


So, here is the question…… What are your opinions on what this would do to Mortimers alignment?

Thanks.....

 

[Piratecat]

I would leave his alignment and assign any ramifications as in-game plot stuff. He's not a paladin, and presumably this agreement furthers the greater good. Maybe.

Great plot!

 

[Voadam]

I would leave his alignment and assign any ramifications as in-game plot stuff. He's not a paladin, and presumably this agreement furthers the greater good. Maybe.

Great plot!

Ditto.

 

[Sejs]

I don't think it would have any impact on his alignment, because of his intent. He's going into this proposed deal with good intentions and seeking what he can forsee as a good outcome - he's not doing out of greed, or malice, or anything like that.


However, he would do well to be very very careful in his dealings, lest he get unwittingly screwed. He'd also be well advised, should he agree, to tell the demon that he'll arrange for the transfer of the deed in X days, and in that time go and have a pow-wow with the leaders of the other churches, explaining the situation as it pertains to them... and then granting those churches land grants of their own. That way those faiths arn't getting kicked out per se, they're just getting shuffled around.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Moral Relitavism - Totally cool. Provided that a demon can be trusted, of course. If I were a churchy-type, I would say that perhaps treating a creature who was chaos and evil made flesh was not the wisest course of action. Kind of like summoning a succubus to be your prom date. Sure, it sounds like good idea at first, until you start making out in the parking lot and find yourself with a ten-negative-level-hickey. So, my answer would be "not evil, just stupid."

Moral Absolutism - No way, José! Anyone who deals with demons is evil and should be forced to watch the entire series run of Small Wonder. There are just some things you don't do, man.

 

[BSF]

I would have a difficult time adjusting alignment based solely on a decision that is likely ill advised. You have to look at the PC intent.

Is he dancing for joy at having found a way to get rid of the other churches?
Is he demanding the disease, pain and suffering be spread among his enemies?

Is he really doing anything evil or is he in a tough spot and grabbing a possible way to overcome adversity?

If the PC agonizes over how he will halt the influence of Nerull while still working in the best interests of his people, then you already have enough 'punishment' happening. You have future events to work with, you have characterization, you have story hooks that are waiting to be baited.

Sounds like a great game. The PCs are in a tough spot and it will be interesting to see how they try to work through it.

 

[Slife]

Anyone read "A Bad Spell in Yurt"? I'm using that basis to answer the question.

No- but their currency is human souls/lives. Nothing else will please them. They also have a legalistic habit of trying to find loopholes in any agreement. Like, for instance, how are they going remove the city of plague? Kill everyone who's sick? Transform all the citizens into undead? Would they lower the relative mortality rate by killing off ar-tolor citizens?

 

[Terwox]

To the alignment question, I don't have a good answer.
That's a really neat situation you put the characters in, though. Sounds like fun.

 

[VirgilCaine]

I have to say it's evil. These aren't just another sect of another religion, these are absolutely evil worshippers of an absolutely evil deity.

This is Nerull's page from the website I use for more info on deities in my campaigns:

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/wearth/gods/nerull.html

 

[Timeboxer]

That depends, I think, on the answer to the question, "Is a deal with a paladin Good?"