What to do with possession as a legal defense - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What to do with possession as a legal defense

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Charles_Phipps
Mar 14, 2005 1:52:57 I'm in an interesting position for our current game and I was curious if I could get people's opinions for the matter.

Basically, our resident Knight of Solamnia ended up picking up a cursed artifact that results in the subject becoming possessed by the evil within (immediately shifting their alignment towards evil).

During this time he largely became consumed with vengeance against The Knights of Takhasis and goblinoid races that we're currently playing out the war against. Dishonorly tactics are the least of his worries as they graduated to torture, murder, and outright genocide against the goblins and similiar species.

and of course, in typical fashion, the Knight has been freed of the horrific artifact.

I'm interested in what to suggest the player should do and what the Knighthood's belief about what should be done, even if they know about the cursed artifact.

I introduced the partial ambiguity as well of the fact that his victims were largely traitors and collaborators even if he was a monster to them
#2
cam_banks
Mar 14, 2005 5:50:08 Possession is a valid defense, if it can be proven. The knight in question may decide that, regardless of whether he was influenced or not, the actions he committed were criminal and violated the Oath and the Measure. He should seek atonement for his actions, in an effort to right the wrongs his evil-influenced self had made. The Solamnic knights should consider this to be sufficient recompense, especially if it involves a quest of some sort. If the knight simply says "I'm not at fault, so I'm not doing anything" then the other knights will be considerably less amenable to his restoration of honor.

Cheers,
Cam
#3
zombiegleemax
Mar 14, 2005 10:25:47
Possession is a valid defense, if it can be proven. The knight in question may decide that, regardless of whether he was influenced or not, the actions he committed were criminal and violated the Oath and the Measure. He should seek atonement for his actions, in an effort to right the wrongs his evil-influenced self had made. The Solamnic knights should consider this to be sufficient recompense, especially if it involves a quest of some sort. If the knight simply says "I'm not at fault, so I'm not doing anything" then the other knights will be considerably less amenable to his restoration of honor.

Cheers,
Cam

I agree with Cam, with one additional addendum: The gods of the Knighthood would stop granting any spells or spell-like or supernatural abilities that the PC's classes would give him, until and unless he atones.

--it's more than just the seniority of the Knighthood that watches individual knights NB
#4
ferratus
Mar 14, 2005 15:26:16 It seems that this is similar to the recommendations for Paladins in the PHB, namely on how to overcome being magically compelled to commit evil acts.
#5
daedavias_dup
Mar 14, 2005 15:35:36 Two words: Discern Lies.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Charles_Phipps Mar 14, 2005 1:52:57	I'm in an interesting position for our current game and I was curious if I could get people's opinions for the matter. Basically, our resident Knight of Solamnia ended up picking up a cursed artifact that results in the subject becoming possessed by the evil within (immediately shifting their alignment towards evil). During this time he largely became consumed with vengeance against The Knights of Takhasis and goblinoid races that we're currently playing out the war against. Dishonorly tactics are the least of his worries as they graduated to torture, murder, and outright genocide against the goblins and similiar species. and of course, in typical fashion, the Knight has been freed of the horrific artifact. I'm interested in what to suggest the player should do and what the Knighthood's belief about what should be done, even if they know about the cursed artifact. I introduced the partial ambiguity as well of the fact that his victims were largely traitors and collaborators even if he was a monster to them
#2 cam_banks Mar 14, 2005 5:50:08	Possession is a valid defense, if it can be proven. The knight in question may decide that, regardless of whether he was influenced or not, the actions he committed were criminal and violated the Oath and the Measure. He should seek atonement for his actions, in an effort to right the wrongs his evil-influenced self had made. The Solamnic knights should consider this to be sufficient recompense, especially if it involves a quest of some sort. If the knight simply says "I'm not at fault, so I'm not doing anything" then the other knights will be considerably less amenable to his restoration of honor. Cheers, Cam
#3 zombiegleemax Mar 14, 2005 10:25:47	Possession is a valid defense, if it can be proven. The knight in question may decide that, regardless of whether he was influenced or not, the actions he committed were criminal and violated the Oath and the Measure. He should seek atonement for his actions, in an effort to right the wrongs his evil-influenced self had made. The Solamnic knights should consider this to be sufficient recompense, especially if it involves a quest of some sort. If the knight simply says "I'm not at fault, so I'm not doing anything" then the other knights will be considerably less amenable to his restoration of honor. Cheers, Cam I agree with Cam, with one additional addendum: The gods of the Knighthood would stop granting any spells or spell-like or supernatural abilities that the PC's classes would give him, until and unless he atones. --it's more than just the seniority of the Knighthood that watches individual knights NB
#4 ferratus Mar 14, 2005 15:26:16	It seems that this is similar to the recommendations for Paladins in the PHB, namely on how to overcome being magically compelled to commit evil acts.
#5 daedavias_dup Mar 14, 2005 15:35:36	Two words: Discern Lies.