moral dilemmas - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

moral dilemmas

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dmichelled
May 06, 2009 11:13:48 this is from the desert campaign im currently running:

PCs are told by a Janni Leader that they need to collect 3 mythical items in order to rebuild a planar merchant barge that will act as a prison vessel for an aboleth mage threatening to enslave the world. one mythical item is known as the Fire Opal of Al-Chassim.
the Caliph Husam el Dim, an Azer warlord, currently has possesion of the opal that was given to his race to guard (over 1,000 years ago and Azers were lawful neutral instead of evil). the only way he will part with it is if PCs bring him an unhatched Phoera egg (from MM III v.3.5). the Phoera and Phoelarch (which are the humanoid version of the Phoera) are fiercely chaotic good and value freedom beyond anything else. to steal an egg would invoke the wrath of the Phoera, to steal the opal would invoke the wrath of the Caliph.

i ask you this....the PCs in question are neutral, chaotic neutral, and 2 neutral goods. would this scenario bring about bad blood in the group?

thanks for your suggestions ahead of time.
#2
goricexii
May 06, 2009 15:17:13 It doesn't so much seem to be a moral dilemma for such characters as weighing consequences. Is there a possible third choice?
#3
silent_stone
May 06, 2009 15:57:29 There's always a third choice: steal both, frame the Phoera for the theft of the opal, frame the Caliph for the theft of the egg, and then disappear into the sunset...

More to the point, I don't think this scenario would cause bad blood in the group, as long as you let the players resolve the dilemma themselves, and run with it if they find a creative "third choice" that sidesteps the issue.
#4
crossblade
May 07, 2009 4:25:52 Wouldn't killing the aboleth be a 3rd choice?
#5
dmichelled
May 07, 2009 18:25:56
Wouldn't killing the aboleth be a 3rd choice?

it is actually, but seeing that the PCs are 8th level, and an Aboleth Mage is a CR 17....they will need some time before they can take it on.

i did think of a third option, them "faking" an egg from obsidian and putting a few enchantments on it to produce a magical aura, but i dont know if thats something they'd even think of.

i figured im just gonna roll with it regardless. if they cant keep their IC feelings in game, eff them. besides, they are mostly neutral anyway (or supposed to be) and they shouldnt have any lasting feelings about crossing either one.
#6
elf_jedi
May 07, 2009 22:27:28 It's things like this that make the game interesting. The PC just have to think a bit.

Are they willing to compromise thier morals to achieve thier ultimate goal?
Can the PC's think up a "third way"?

I think you would be doing your players a dis-service if you made a very simple, easy way out.

The other thing is, ultimately as the DM you are the judge of their morality.

Do you think that stealling the egg for the greater good is wrong?
Do you believe the ends justifies the means?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dmichelled May 06, 2009 11:13:48	this is from the desert campaign im currently running: PCs are told by a Janni Leader that they need to collect 3 mythical items in order to rebuild a planar merchant barge that will act as a prison vessel for an aboleth mage threatening to enslave the world. one mythical item is known as the Fire Opal of Al-Chassim. the Caliph Husam el Dim, an Azer warlord, currently has possesion of the opal that was given to his race to guard (over 1,000 years ago and Azers were lawful neutral instead of evil). the only way he will part with it is if PCs bring him an unhatched Phoera egg (from MM III v.3.5). the Phoera and Phoelarch (which are the humanoid version of the Phoera) are fiercely chaotic good and value freedom beyond anything else. to steal an egg would invoke the wrath of the Phoera, to steal the opal would invoke the wrath of the Caliph. i ask you this....the PCs in question are neutral, chaotic neutral, and 2 neutral goods. would this scenario bring about bad blood in the group? thanks for your suggestions ahead of time.
#2 goricexii May 06, 2009 15:17:13	It doesn't so much seem to be a moral dilemma for such characters as weighing consequences. Is there a possible third choice?
#3 silent_stone May 06, 2009 15:57:29	There's always a third choice: steal both, frame the Phoera for the theft of the opal, frame the Caliph for the theft of the egg, and then disappear into the sunset... More to the point, I don't think this scenario would cause bad blood in the group, as long as you let the players resolve the dilemma themselves, and run with it if they find a creative "third choice" that sidesteps the issue.
#4 crossblade May 07, 2009 4:25:52	Wouldn't killing the aboleth be a 3rd choice?
#5 dmichelled May 07, 2009 18:25:56	Wouldn't killing the aboleth be a 3rd choice? it is actually, but seeing that the PCs are 8th level, and an Aboleth Mage is a CR 17....they will need some time before they can take it on. i did think of a third option, them "faking" an egg from obsidian and putting a few enchantments on it to produce a magical aura, but i dont know if thats something they'd even think of. i figured im just gonna roll with it regardless. if they cant keep their IC feelings in game, eff them. besides, they are mostly neutral anyway (or supposed to be) and they shouldnt have any lasting feelings about crossing either one.
#6 elf_jedi May 07, 2009 22:27:28	It's things like this that make the game interesting. The PC just have to think a bit. Are they willing to compromise thier morals to achieve thier ultimate goal? Can the PC's think up a "third way"? I think you would be doing your players a dis-service if you made a very simple, easy way out. The other thing is, ultimately as the DM you are the judge of their morality. Do you think that stealling the egg for the greater good is wrong? Do you believe the ends justifies the means?