PC controlled skeletons in Cities?

[Litchfield]

I am running my first evil campaign and have recently realized a possible issue that we may run into with one of my players. He is playing a Cleric with the Undead Lord archetype. His corpse companion is the issue I am now having as the players need to venture into the capital of the kingdom which is Neutral (both the vast majority of its citizens and its laws are based on the true neutral alignment), although there are good factions inside the city.

My problem is how should the citizens, and specifically the guards, view the skeleton? It is obviously an evil creature, but it is attached to a PC and essentially under his control. I lean towards saying that the citizenry and by some extension the guards would view this as some kind of abomination, but until it does something evil it would be allowed inside the city (much like my evil players).

Or should I approach this from the aspect that while the guards and citizens may not know the evil alignment of my players, they would surely know the evil alignment of the skeleton and be inclined to attack it?

[Vivar]

What is the magic level of your world? If it´s low, people would probably react with paranoia towards any magic that is both obviously powerful and evil, or even just look evil, and the authorities would probably ban you from entering their city.
If the magic level is high, they probably have a resident mage or priest as part of their city guard whose job is to interrogate visiting spellcasters (with the aid of magic, evil and lies detecting spells) in order to make sure they are no trouble, and, if you aren´t, they will give you a document you will have to carry on you at all times and show it every time it´s requested.
At middle magic levels the city guard will probably take you to their main temple and ask the high priest to learn if you are a threat to their city.

[Steven Tindall]

My suggestion is to put the skeleton in the ground, It's not like he's gonna die from suffocation.
In some of our games we have had to hide some pretty strange critters, animal companions, mounts and etc.
The guards should react just like anyone else with seeing a dead thing walking around, acctack first and ask question never. Remember they are there to guard the city and it's people.
I would suggest the preist should also hide or use a fake holy symbol.

I am useing the FR setting as my example in the factv atht even in permissive cities like Waterdeep or Calismsham preists to the evil gods do display openly because it keeps them alive longer.
Even my preist of Wee Jass in the Shackled City Adventure path doesn't bring the undead he controls into teh city, it would terrify the towns folk. Remeber joe farmer has never seen a zomibe let alone meet someone vile and disgusting enough to actually create and control them.
My 2 c.p. worth.

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Alternatively, some body concealing robes and/or heavy armor, and a bluff check later and those skeletons are: "My bodyguards from an exotic land. Do not bother talking to them, they have taken a vow of silence."

If you have more monstrous skeletons or zombies then I recommend burying them until needed again. But anything vaguely human shaped should be able to "pass", until you need a complication for the plot to develop.

[Litchfield]

Steven Tindall wrote:

My suggestion is to put the skeleton in the ground, It's not like he's gonna die from suffocation.

In some of our games we have had to hide some pretty strange critters, animal companions, mounts and etc.

This is what he ended up doing, although thinking more about the setting I've made and how the populace might react it may be out of the ordinary to see a skeleton, but the worship of evil gods isn't out of the ordinary. The primary religions and main pantheon is based on balance and neutrality with gods balancing each other out.

So the citizenry would most certainly avoid them, but wouldn't run to the authorities (knowing that the worship of evil deities isn't just occurring, but occurs openly).

I also like the idea of dressing them up and bluffing their true appearance, although he didn't end up taking that route. Thanks for the input guys.

[LazarX]

Remember, that in all but the most extraordinary locations, animated skeletons are monsters. To almost everyone, monsters mean trouble.

[Steven Tindall]

Litchfield wrote:

Steven Tindall wrote:

My suggestion is to put the skeleton in the ground, It's not like he's gonna die from suffocation.

In some of our games we have had to hide some pretty strange critters, animal companions, mounts and etc.

This is what he ended up doing, although thinking more about the setting I've made and how the populace might react it may be out of the ordinary to see a skeleton, but the worship of evil gods isn't out of the ordinary. The primary religions and main pantheon is based on balance and neutrality with gods balancing each other out.

So the citizenry would most certainly avoid them, but wouldn't run to the authorities (knowing that the worship of evil deities isn't just occurring, but occurs openly).

I also like the idea of dressing them up and bluffing their true appearance, although he didn't end up taking that route. Thanks for the input guys.

Sounds like you have some interesting flavor in your campaign. I'm too used to worlds where if a pally detects evil he kills on sight and asks questions never after all it's for the greater good.

Glad to help.