Should I let my player off the hook? (long)

[Altamont Ravenard]

I know of a somewhat similar in-game situation, and the way the GM handled was pretty cool.

The character who turned evil, coincidently also a rogue, sold himself out to the main evil of the campaign and became a recurring evil NPC. Naturally, being an evil rat bastard, he leveled alot faster than we did, and was a continual thorn in the side until we finally killed him a few sessions ago.

Having a former party member as an evil brings out alot of instances for character development among the PCs.

I'm kind of doing the contrary with my Evil Campaign. 2 of the three original players "retired" their characters when we switched to an evil campaign. The third character (already a CN rogue) kept his character. They'll soon be asked to assassinate a paladin that now adventures with the "retired" characters, ie the rogue's ex party. Eh he he he can't wait

As for Dezlan, I agree that the most fun thing to do would be to keep him as a recurring NPC. Maybe he'll win that election after all!

AR

 

[BSF]

Heh - Poison the poisoner. I like that one Piratecat. First of all, the PC might survive and then decide he won't eat. But, in-game, there are a lot of issues that get "solved". It keeps it nice and consistent.

 

[jmucchiello]

As for Dezlan, I agree that the most fun thing to do would be to keep him as a recurring NPC. Maybe he'll win that election after all!

Why did it take so long for someone to say this? This is the obvious result. The player makes up a new character and when the party returns to Cauldron they find out their old "friend" is now mayor. From the sound of the group, they won't even be expecting it.

 

[Ozmar]

Note: the following all assumes that all the players are cool with it, and there is no player-to-player animosity. (If players are unhappy, then this becomes a different metagame situation.)

Also sounds like you've already decided to go ahead with the NPC idea, but here's my thoughts.

Whatever you do, don't just kill him and be done with it. That's boring. There are so many more interesting potential plots that can be mined from this situation.

I really like Xath's suggestion. Former party member turned evil NPC has a lot of interesting potential.

Not sure how much you've deviated from the Adventure Path storyline, but another noble (maybe... Vhalantru?) might be interested in assuring that this man does become mayor. Maybe someone as unscrupulous as this might make a useful (if somewhat inept) ally or henchman.

Since he must be tried by nobility or an authorized court, perhaps he needs to be remanded to another city to face justice. And as such, the party might be asked to provide security in moving him? That may sound like a stretch (didn't they arrive with him???) but Sir Eperciron is a paladin, and they did help arrest him. Maybe the ranking guardsman will send a detachment of soldiers to accompany them as they transport the prisoner to the closest magistrate.

Ozmar the Scheming