Some of my PCs need to be punished...What to do?

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Just let her put the XP she's earning into Druid levels. Before too long, she'll be able to shapechange into a bear and rip the barbarian's arms off.

 

[Tessarael]

I watched Dogville today. Timely.

There's a relative straightforward answer: for those who commit such acts as to hurt and degrade another sentient being who is completely undeserving of it ... they should burn in hell or something similar. Teach their characters the error of their ways (prison, slavery - i.e. learning by receiving the same treatment), or have the Elves kill them for mistreating the princess.

And part of my point here is that the bystanders are complicit unless they lift a finger to stop what is going on.

Now if the Elven princess pretends like everything is fine ... well I think as DM you have to make it clear that she's not happy about what is going on ... doing it any other way starts to justify the Barbarian's actions.

Just my thoughts ...

 

[BASHMAN]

He also claims it is for her "own good". He also openly admits that he will beat his children.

Then he'd be like the other 99.999999999999999999999% of medieval parents!

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Personally, I say, bring on her family. However, if you want to try something different (or in addition) to this you can always follow the way of the Greeks. In Greek mythology if you mistreated your wife, the harpies would come for you. Basically, they were REALLY angry women/monsters who were interested, mostly, in punishing men who treated women the way your barbarian is treating your elf. Usually, the harpies did thier best to rip you apart. If you want to get a sample of harpies at work, check out the Orestia (you can probably find an online copy)...they make their appearance towards the end of the Euminades.

Anyway, I know there are harpies in the monster manual, but for the life of me, I can't remember how D&D portrays them, and I don't have my books on hand. But if you want to take the D&D harpy and make it similar to the Greek version, just give them a general hatred of all things male, and a particular distaste for violence in regards to woman. I'm also sure they wouldn't be willing to overlook his friends who stood by and did nothing.

Your barbarian will learn the true meaning of the phrase "queen of the harpies" and, hopefully, will come to his senses. If not....well.....have fun designing her mother/father/siblings etc....'cause I'm sure they'll be looking to bring a world of hurt to this guy!

T from Three Haligonians

Edit: Oops, it was late last night when I wrote this...replace harpies for furies, but same idea.

 

[Mark]

Hiya, Galeros!

Your sig link is causing problems with the width of the screen. Can you fix that so I can avoid having to scroll left and right? (My computer is old and scrolling involves the use of thousands of non-human slaves working (ineplicitedly) against the machinations of countless waterwheels...)

 

[the Jester]

What's his alignment? Surely not good?

 

[sellars]

I kind of like the "the family finds out years later" option. Let him believe he can get away with it, but let it come back when he least expects it (and when the timing is ulimately bad)

 

[Berandor]

Let him get off easy, let the princess train to become a sorceress, gather up her royal ressources, and then, in a few levels, she comes back with a vengeance.

"First you will see your friends die, and then *I* will train *you*!"

 

[Bloodstone Press]

I'm not sure what you should do about it, but I think it is hysterical! Especially the fact that she pretends to like it because she's afraid of more "training."

Yes, the barbarian should be punished, and the best way to get back at him is to have her "train" him, or have her family put him through some tough "training."

Maybe after pushing the iron ball around for a while and swimming with the weights she gains a +2 or +4 to her Str and Con. Maybe after he knocks her around a bit, she gains Toughness. Maybe after she has finally had enough of the abuse, she flies into a rage and kicks his butt (being a "well trained" barbarian now)

Conversly, maybe his training becomes too harsh and she dies. Then the PCs will have quite a bit of explaining to do.

 

[ironmani]

Have her wander off again and come across a Paladin at least 4 levels higher than the Barabrian. The Paladin would of course be insenced at the treatment of this fair lady and he could show up and challenge the Barbarian to a fight to punish him. If your worried about his two flunkies, have the Paladin be a part of a party and have the other party memebers tie up tweedle dee and dumb. After the barbarian gets his ass whipped, have the princess spit on him and tell him that "My father will NOT be pleased with you and your companions treatment of me. Walk cafefully in the forrest." and have her leave with the Paladin and co. The two other guys will be pissed at the barabbrian for drawing them into thier problems. Whether or not you every have the elves every take vengence on them is up to you.
I still cant believe that the two other guys havent said anything. I've gotten into arguements with other player charcaters on moral matters in the game, such as this.