Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Salla 08-19-05, 10:07 PM	In the Eberron game I'm playing in (not the one I'm running), three of the Dragonmarked Houses (Orien, Kundarak, Jorasco) in Sharn have been raided by goblinoid mercenaries. Somehow, these goblinoids have removed the dragonmarks from other houses and grafted them onto themselves, accessing their abilities ... even greater marks against 2nd level PCs. (P.S. The DM said he stole the idea from a book, in case this sounds familiar.) Unfortunately, one of the players (not sure if he's being in-character or not) is saying that we're going to have to go "clean out goblintown". Now, it seems obvious to me that this is, essentially, saying 'let's go commit mass murder', but I think he may be stuck in the standard D&D view of goblins as savage raiders, rather than citizens of their own country, and attacking them could be anything from mass murder to an act of war. His character is a Changeling. Should I perhaps say, "By that logic, I should kill you and your kind, as I have seen some changelings serve as spies and assassins," to emphasize his racism?
Charles Phipps 08-19-05, 10:15 PM	I think a better idea is to causally note a wanted poster by Goblintown by a foppishly dressed goblin "In the name of the people of our society, we the People of Goblintown are offering from our own pockets, an additional 200 Crown Reward to the one posted by the society to help track down these murderous mauraders for the disgrace that they have brought upon us all." or simply ask whether he's aware that alignment is fluid in Eberron and no race is more inclined to evil than any other and his character just has racism as a character flaw.
Cloud Divider 08-19-05, 11:47 PM	In the Eberron game I'm playing in (not the one I'm running), three of the Dragonmarked Houses (Orien, Kundarak, Jorasco) in Sharn have been raided by goblinoid mercenaries. Somehow, these goblinoids have removed the dragonmarks from other houses and grafted them onto themselves, accessing their abilities ... even greater marks against 2nd level PCs. (P.S. The DM said he stole the idea from a book, in case this sounds familiar.) I know which book he got the idea from... In any case, it makes for an interesting premise. Are these goblins, hobgoblins, or bugbears? Are they natives of Sharn (there's LOTS of Sharn-native Goblins)? Unfortunately, one of the players (not sure if he's being in-character or not) is saying that we're going to have to go "clean out goblintown". Now, it seems obvious to me that this is, essentially, saying 'let's go commit mass murder', but I think he may be stuck in the standard D&D view of goblins as savage raiders, rather than citizens of their own country, and attacking them could be anything from mass murder to an act of war. Well, I can definitely see that as a reasonable in-character response. Yeah, it's probably a bit on the bigoted and not-particularly PC side, but considering the circumstances, it's certainly plausible. If the other PC is Brelish, it's probably even easier to understand - the Darguul rebelled against Breland, and usurped a good third of the kingdom! So I can definitely understand Brelish citizens having an axe to grind. Consider a hypothetical... Instead of goblinoids raiding the Dragonmarked Houses, it's Adarans and Kalashtar (more accurately, Riedrans disguised as Adarans). All as a plot the Dreaming Dark is doing it in order to turn public opinion against the Kalashtar. It wouldn't take much to get the right kind of people fired up against the Kalashtar/Adarans (y'know that picture in Sharn:CoT, with the "We Hate Warforged" and "Destroy Them before They Destroy Us" signs? I bet they'd be easily convinced). Next you've got people firebombing Overlook, lynchings, and the like. Then the (innocent) Kalashtar strike back (in self-defense), but the DD puts some spin-doctoring on the public opinion. It's a bad situation that could easily get worse. If you and your group are up to playing out complex and sensitive subjects like racism, hate crimes, and genocide (...like we recently saw in Bosnia/Serbia, and in the Sudan), more power to you. Eberron's very easily capable of handling these issues in a plausible manner. What makes it work, is that by the Law of the Land (Code of Galifar), the goblins ARE granted the same rights as any other of the "polite" races (human/dwarf/elf/etc...but explicitly not gnoll, medusa, ogre, etc). For what it's worth, one of the PC's in my campaign is playing a Thranish Silver Flame paladin with roughly the same mentality (Goblinoids and the other monstrous races are "less than human"). And it's come up more than once in our campaign thus far, but probably not in the way you'd expect (nor did it turn out the way you'd expect, either). His character is a Changeling. Should I perhaps say, "By that logic, I should kill you and your kind, as I have seen some changelings serve as spies and assassins," to emphasize his racism? Well, that's always possible too (using the example). But I get the impression that you/your PC isn't quite as biased. Do what you want, but be prepared for the possibility that it won't change his ways... But what if the criminals ARE from Darguun, and ARE hanging out in Goblin-town (it's certainly a logical deduction, though it might not be accurate...but it'd be the first place I'd go looking)? Perhaps he's suggesting that you go "clean up goblin-town" of this particular "bad influence"? Naturally, the situation becomes all the more easy to justify, if the PC in question is of one of the Dragonmarked houses that is being assaulted. That's his FAMILY being attacked (and presumably killed, as they steal his family's very BIRTHRIGHT - their Dragonmarks). It's an eye for an eye, after all. Right? Note: This is all largely me playing Traveler's Advocate. Were it me, and if the Goblinoid Dragonmark Thieves weren't hiding out in Goblintown, and the PC's went on a killing spree, there'd be one of two results: 1) There's A LOT of goblinoids down there. And they've lived in the bottom areas of Sharn for aeons before Lhazaar's naked ape spawn crashed the party. So things could get ugly REAL fast. If I were feeling particularly vindictive and evil, I'd have it spark a whole race-war (as various belligerents on either side pick up on the excuse to take up arms/torches against the other). 2) Goblinoids ARE identified as sentient beings per Thronehold, and thus protected by the Code of Galifar (which forms the basis of Brelish law). There just might be a certain altruistic Sharn Watchman that decides to arrest the instigators, and try them in court... Most likely, the PC's would be found not guilty - but the Shaarat goblinoids would likely take offense, and we could easily be back to the whole riots and race war thing again.
Tek 08-20-05, 05:04 AM	Unfortunately, one of the players (not sure if he's being in-character or not) Solve this problem first. If he's not in character, it could be a jest, or a joke. I know it'd be something I would say to get a laugh out of the group. You need to find out if he was IC or OOC. Now, I personally liked the suggestion Charles put out. I believe we're talking Malleon's Gate, which is basically 'Goblintown.' Now, you could let the PC's go down to old goblintown and start slaughtering every bugbear, hobgoblin, and goblin left right, and center. Now, they'd need to be pretty high level to pull this off, because there are some hobgoblin chain masters down there who would make for a tough fight. It's not really going to solve anything. Tell the player that. They can't just chop away at the beast.. they need to behead it. Have the Medusa who runs Malleon's Gate take notice of the goblins and maybe he hires the PC's to find out whats going on and wants a stop to it. Also, if they do go for a killing run, have him summon the PC's and MAKE them find the goblins responisble. If they don't, they join the numerous other statues scattered around Malleon's Gate. Give them a clue that points out that its not every single gobby in gobtown that's doing the cheesegrading of dragonmarks. Let them find out its a specific mercenary band, and let them confront them head on. Head of the snake, ya'know. Now, worst comes to worst, the final thing you COULD try, just maybe, perhaps, is to sit down the player. Begin the conversation with something easy like, "Hey ~name~, was ~insert name of latest big movie~ ~insert great or horrible, whichever fits~ or what?!" After a short chat on the particle theory of matter, delve into the secret, forbidden topic, that I like to call, talking to the PC's. "Hey, you know how you said 'we're going to have to clean out goblintown'?" "Yeah, I said it." "Was that IC, or OOC?" "That was out of character, mate, I was just making a joke!" "Oh, okay. Lets get a soda, or something." or... "That was In Character. My character is from Breland, and he fought the goblins when the stinking traitors deserted us. He feels the need to pay them back for all the death's they caused." "Oh. Well, be aware, that's alot of murder, and not every goblin is evil. Not to mention the fact that alot of those hobgoblins could tear you to shreds." "Yeah, I know, I was just RPing!" "Oh, okay. Soda?" or... "That was IC! I hate those goblin raiders." "Not all goblins are raiders. ~go into rant explaining how goblins are equal citizens~" "Oh, alright, I didn't know. Lets just ignore it and focus on getting these mercenary bastards!" "Excellent! Soda for the road?" Sorry, I'll admit right now I got a little carried away.
ChronosCrow 08-20-05, 07:40 AM	Sorry, I'll admit right now I got a little carried away. I'll say. You drink like WAY too much soda.