Advice on how to treat the corpse of a fallen foe.

[Kalyth]

I had no idea that this thread would spark so much debate. Also, thanks again to everyone for sharing their opinions.

A few replies some more general.

I am not attempting to punish my players for doing something I did not like. They did something that honestly their characters would not have done. A paladin disrespecting the corpse of a man that while he was hired to kill help kill them surrendered during the fight and for several days was cooperative. He answered all of their questions and never attempted to escape. He simple asked that if he helped them that they would let him live. This action was in no way honerable or respectful of a surrendered opponent. I can not think of any paladin order ever represented in any D&D/3.5/PF book that would tolerate this behavior (regardless of whether it was a good or evil act.)

My players were informed prior to character creation that it would be a game focusing heavily on storyline and roleplaying. They were also told that the game would revolve around working to help the nobility and people of the lands and that alignments would be restricted to good and neutral.

To stress the point of how "unserious" the players were taking the game. When they finished exploring the mercenary hide out they found that the mercenary leader that had shot and poisoned the captured mercenary had come back while they were inside and stolen all of their horses except for the Chavaliers mount (I allowed it to be trained/disciplined enough to not let itself be stolen.). In response to this the players joked about dragging the dead body of the merc behind the Cavaliers horse and they could all ride on it as a sled. The game stopped at this point so I will see if they actually do this when we pick up again.

Something else I would like to address just kind of off on a random tangent. Good people and killing. Contrary to most campaigns and games I honestly feel that someone of a Good alignment would try not to kill. They would even try to deal with their enemies through non-violent means when possible. Good people would only kill when necessary and when no other option was availible. Good people attempt diplomacy before declaring war. A Good person gives an enemy the chance to surrender before striking the killing blow.

[Steelfiredragon]

I am Klingon, proud and merciless.
but not without honor.
a dead body is but an empty shell, do with it as you see fit!!!!

[Kalyth]

Steelfiredragon wrote:

I am Klingon, proud and merciless.

but not without honor.
a dead body is but an empty shell, do with it as you see fit!!!!

Ok so all those Klingon Paladins are off the hook.

[MaxBarton]

Kalyth wrote:

Steelfiredragon wrote:

I am Klingon, proud and merciless.

but not without honor.
a dead body is but an empty shell, do with it as you see fit!!!!

Ok so all those Klingon Paladins are off the hook.

Dirty cheaters! I call foul!

[Goth Guru]

MaxBarton wrote:

Kalyth wrote:

Steelfiredragon wrote:

I am Klingon, proud and merciless.

but not without honor.
a dead body is but an empty shell, do with it as you see fit!!!!

Ok so all those Klingon Paladins are off the hook.

Dirty cheaters! I call foul!

I smell Yak Fat!

(He invented Kli8ngon Paladins to draw you out.) :)

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Warning, my spelling is very bad.
Leave no pun behind.

[Kalyth]

Goth Guru wrote:

MaxBarton wrote:

Kalyth wrote:

Steelfiredragon wrote:

I am Klingon, proud and merciless.

but not without honor.
a dead body is but an empty shell, do with it as you see fit!!!!

Ok so all those Klingon Paladins are off the hook.

Dirty cheaters! I call foul!

I smell Yak Fat!

(He invented Kli8ngon Paladins to draw you out.) :)

Signature
Warning, my spelling is very bad.
Leave no pun behind.

I smell a Romulan.

[Goth Guru]

Yak Fat.

Thus anything that does not exist that is used for bait.

Signature
Warning, my spelling is very bad.
Leave no pun behind.

[The black raven]

How can I show my disrespect for an enemy once he is dead if desecrating his remains is just business as usual ?

[The black raven]

Kalyth wrote:

Something else I would like to address just kind of off on a random tangent. Good people and killing. Contrary to most campaigns and games I honestly feel that someone of a Good alignment would try not to kill. They would even try to deal with their enemies...

The core rulebook makes much of how you deal with innocents in their take on Good and Evil. By definition, your enemies are NOT innocent.

Of course, if you want to houserule differently, feel free, as long as you make it crystal clear to your players beforehand.