Tomb Looting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tomb Looting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Twonky
09-09-05, 04:12 AM I'm wondering about tomb robbing in the Forgotten Realms (like taking magic weapons and jewelry that was buried with a person some time ago). Is it an evil, ar a chaotic act, or neither? In my campaign, it is a chaotic act, so LG, LN, and most NG and N characters won't do it. I don't know about the evil ones, though. What's your opinion?
Darrian
09-09-05, 07:22 AM Because D&D is a game of finding treasure, I do not think tomb robbing is seen as evil in the same way that it would be in real world. I think it is more a function of wealth gathering in D&D where PC's of all alignments loot dead bodies.

Darrian
Faraer
09-09-05, 10:35 AM The exploration of ruins is part of the Realms' adventuring culture, which tends to CN, but indiscriminate looting and despoiling is frowned on by most 'good' folk. A good adventuring company like the Knights of Myth Drannor would explore the place, learn its secrets, take some of its magic (which serves Mystra's wishes) to use against evil foes, take gold from evil temples and put it to better uses, but wholesale looting is what selfish and unprincipled adventurers -- of which there are many -- do.
Kuje31
09-09-05, 12:16 PM July 9th of this year Ed discussed this as well.

Now, to Si and Bendal, Ed makes reply:

No, there’s no general salvage law in the Realms. (The word “salvage” exists, as “gleanings from wrecks,” but in general, if you find and pick up something, it’s yours. If you can hold it against someone trying to take it away from you, of course.)

In most Underdark, tomb, and dungeon areas, of course, “finders keepers” prevails.

As roleplaying, Abbathor’s reaction in the Yawning Portal is just fine (particularly if he wasn’t Waterdhavian born and bred). All of three arguments are particularly valid, his “B” point (rightful battle spoils) being particularly strong (as in: widely accepted custom across the Sword Coast North, would cause many drinkers there to nod their heads regardless of how they felt about nobles or adventurers).

However, Bendal raises a relevant issue: the strong clan (family) ties of the dwarves, analogous to the Waterdhavian noble family claim. His description of what happened feels “right” (Realmswise) to me.

Legalities aside, in both cases (nobles and dwarves) a group of individuals believe (and feel strongly) that they have a “right” to a “family” item. Disputing with them might not be wise.

In Waterdeep, the nobles DO enjoy a special status, and have legal weight on their side (though in the heart of Dock Ward, exercising that status is a bit dicey for them: they could easily get jumped by a Portal-full of angered drinkers who might well demand they go down into Undermountain and fight some monster or other to bring back to Abbathor a treasure of like or greater value, if they want the sword they didn’t lift a finger to find, so much).

Lorelord George Krashos, as usual, has suggested the Realmslore-perfect response (the intermediaries, hiring of forceful agents, the Red Sashes’ “enforced sale”). I’d go with that. (George’s lost wallet modern real-world legal example, however, holds true in Waterdeep, Silverymoon, Cormyr, the Dales, and not many other places in the Realms: unless the owner of the wallet is a friend or relative of the local ruler, or an important local official, influential merchant, or religious leader.) I echo George’s sage opinion: “You can have lots of fun here.”

As the madam said to the blind man entering her brothel. (Ahem.)

So saith Ed, I should have said.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Twonky 09-09-05, 04:12 AM	I'm wondering about tomb robbing in the Forgotten Realms (like taking magic weapons and jewelry that was buried with a person some time ago). Is it an evil, ar a chaotic act, or neither? In my campaign, it is a chaotic act, so LG, LN, and most NG and N characters won't do it. I don't know about the evil ones, though. What's your opinion?
Darrian 09-09-05, 07:22 AM	Because D&D is a game of finding treasure, I do not think tomb robbing is seen as evil in the same way that it would be in real world. I think it is more a function of wealth gathering in D&D where PC's of all alignments loot dead bodies. Darrian
Faraer 09-09-05, 10:35 AM	The exploration of ruins is part of the Realms' adventuring culture, which tends to CN, but indiscriminate looting and despoiling is frowned on by most 'good' folk. A good adventuring company like the Knights of Myth Drannor would explore the place, learn its secrets, take some of its magic (which serves Mystra's wishes) to use against evil foes, take gold from evil temples and put it to better uses, but wholesale looting is what selfish and unprincipled adventurers -- of which there are many -- do.
Kuje31 09-09-05, 12:16 PM	July 9th of this year Ed discussed this as well. Now, to Si and Bendal, Ed makes reply: No, there’s no general salvage law in the Realms. (The word “salvage” exists, as “gleanings from wrecks,” but in general, if you find and pick up something, it’s yours. If you can hold it against someone trying to take it away from you, of course.) In most Underdark, tomb, and dungeon areas, of course, “finders keepers” prevails. As roleplaying, Abbathor’s reaction in the Yawning Portal is just fine (particularly if he wasn’t Waterdhavian born and bred). All of three arguments are particularly valid, his “B” point (rightful battle spoils) being particularly strong (as in: widely accepted custom across the Sword Coast North, would cause many drinkers there to nod their heads regardless of how they felt about nobles or adventurers). However, Bendal raises a relevant issue: the strong clan (family) ties of the dwarves, analogous to the Waterdhavian noble family claim. His description of what happened feels “right” (Realmswise) to me. Legalities aside, in both cases (nobles and dwarves) a group of individuals believe (and feel strongly) that they have a “right” to a “family” item. Disputing with them might not be wise. In Waterdeep, the nobles DO enjoy a special status, and have legal weight on their side (though in the heart of Dock Ward, exercising that status is a bit dicey for them: they could easily get jumped by a Portal-full of angered drinkers who might well demand they go down into Undermountain and fight some monster or other to bring back to Abbathor a treasure of like or greater value, if they want the sword they didn’t lift a finger to find, so much). Lorelord George Krashos, as usual, has suggested the Realmslore-perfect response (the intermediaries, hiring of forceful agents, the Red Sashes’ “enforced sale”). I’d go with that. (George’s lost wallet modern real-world legal example, however, holds true in Waterdeep, Silverymoon, Cormyr, the Dales, and not many other places in the Realms: unless the owner of the wallet is a friend or relative of the local ruler, or an important local official, influential merchant, or religious leader.) I echo George’s sage opinion: “You can have lots of fun here.” As the madam said to the blind man entering her brothel. (Ahem.) So saith Ed, I should have said.