Spoilers for those who have never played below:
I decided to run Carnival of Tears in between Book 2 and Book 3 of Kingmaker. We started it a couple weeks ago and picked it up Saturday. Usually I run a Halloween game, not Pathfinder but since we had to cancel our usual Tuesday game due to scheduling, everyone was on board for continuing Carnival of Tears for Halloween, since it is creepy enough.
We picked up Saturday right as all the fey began their carnage.
I warned the players, this will be deadly and can have significant impact on your kingdom. They still stood around arguing (or making fun of the dead) and took hours in game before the Cold Rider (who is working for Nyrissa) finally comes out to challenge them. I had to pull my punches with a couple of the combats because they were so unorganized. When I do the math and add up all the deaths, it is over 700. Most of my key NPC's, which the players use in some of the kingdom building slots, would be killed as well.
I am at a loss for how to continue. I don't want to tank their kingdom, but I did give them fair warning. Also, this is not the only time they have not cared what happened to their "subjects." When the owlbear came through at the end of book 2, they came back into town and laughed and made fun of the towns folk. They show a complete disregard for their people. One of the players uses the excuse that it is his character (a haughty elf who thinks all other races are inferior.)
I am very frustrated with the players at this point. After the owl bear attack and their response I talked to them and expressed my concern for their actions. I do not expect them to play out of character, but I think they use that as an excuse for bad behavior. In fact, I don't think they are playing in character. They are playing as themselves. And while I think they are having fun, I am not certain I am. I am to the point of becoming the GM I never wanted to be, one that is out to beat them, if for no other reason than to teach them a lesson. And that is not a cool GM (in my opinion, no offense to those who are.)
So my question is how to move forward?