My latest gaming session and moral quandry-help (Long)

[Nifft]

From a CG perspective:

- "I was just following orders" is the worst excuse possible! Even the elf-bees aren't such mindless drones! That guy goes in the recycling tanks.

- They have no concept of money -> they could be bargained with for some shiny beads (or something similarly valuable). Sure, they want silk, but it can't be the only thing they want! The guy with premature attackulation syndrome goes in the recycling tanks.

You, as the good guy, should lead the party -- including the two bad guys, tied up and lacking holy symbols (etc.) -- out to negotiate with the elf-bees. If they kill you all, oh well. Most likely they'll enslave the bad guys, perhaps they'll enslave all of you (that's what people in your campaign seem to do to prisoners) and perhaps they'll kill some or all of you.

Maybe what they elf-bees really want is some better land, where they can do their elf-bee thing and make lots of honey-mead, which they'll then trade to the rest of the world -- in other words, perhaps they can be given better land in trade for becoming "protuctive citizens", and not ever raiding caravans again.

Your position is not hopeless. You still have work to do as a negotiator, and the evil guys may even survive it. However, that's not your problem... make sure their players understand that it's your PCs vs. their PCs at the moment, not you vs. them, but also make sure that you behave in character with regard to your concept of justice and mercy.

Perhaps giving the two evil PCs to the elf-bees but stipuate that they cannot be killed or tortured, just that they will work to repay those who their actions have harmed before being released?

-- N

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Here is what my tactic would be. First, explain to the other players that you're in sort of a bind about figureing out what to do, and that you'd like to play it out some. Second, tie them up and, when they wake up, talk to them. Explain that you don't know what to do. That they nearly got everyone killed. They destroyed the negotiations. And they didn't even warn you! Tell them that you're unsure of how to proceed. You don't know if you can trust them. You don't know if they trust you.

This is a beautiful opertunity for some really cool RP. But everyone has to be prepared and willing to do so. That's why you warn them first, and ask them to participate.

The dynamic is going to change, but that's can be a good and fun thing. Either it's a new beginning, or the beginnnig of the end. But if you're an acting type, I'd say get all the mileage out of it that you can.

 

[DragonOfIntellect]

I think the main problem is not that they put the other party members lives in danger, but that they basically murdered innocent beings who had taken no hostile action towards them.

 

[neg]

Well it is not player vs. player, it is character vs. character. When asked what the evil priest thought he was doing just as the combat started, he said play your character and I will play mine. So it looks like we are going to do just that.


I do like the suggestion of ThoughtBubble though. Though not an acting type, I would say that a strong role-playing session would be a relief. Now, like some groups, some people role-play better than others. The thief in particular is a combat loving player. The evil cleric can roleplay when motivated. So I believe this does have some merit, and I may explore it before I decide the ultimate fate of myself and the other PC's.

However, I can see us getting in a heated arguement and then some more elf-bee soldiers come flying down and lay us all out, for good this time. I don't know if I have the luxury for an extended, meaningful, conversation.

At this point I don't think negotiations are salvageable. I dread returning to the caravan owner and explaining our situation. And I want to met out some form of justice as well. I am just not sure how to accomplish it.

I dropped an email to my DM and told him of my quandry and stated that I didn't want to turn his campaign into something it wasn't inteaded to be. So we will have a chat about all of this I am sure.

Anyone else see how the situation can be resolved without the PC's at each other's throats?

 

[Mac Callum]

Anyone else see how the situation can be resolved without the PC's at each other's throats?

Unfortunately for your GM's game (and that's only a maybe), no. They did something evil, you're a good PC. In the end, no matter what you say, those two facts cannot be resolved.

You're not a Paladin, but if you were you would have had to leave them a long time ago. However, your PC was willing to desert the army and risk execution precisely so he would not have to be in situations like this. Now the other PCs have put you right back where you were 8 months ago.

You can trust your GM though. Maybe he'll make up a bee-reason for sparing the others. You, however, must follow your conscious.

Good luck with the RP. Hope no one takes it personally. The Priest's players sounds mature anyway.