I'm a 7th level ninja in the Legacy of Fire campaign setting. My family background is selling of exotic slaves in Katapesh, and I choose to set up a merchant shop selling them as well in Kelmarine at the end of book one.
A quick background of the cohort is that she's a slave that I rescued (bought), and my family and me treated her well. I've grown fond of her over the years, and we developed a romantic relationship. So she's in essence my own personal slave. She rose up in our merchant shop and became a mistress, managing and training all the slaves we own. Now she wants to adventure forth and see the world at my side. I created her as a 5th level bard, focused on dance and using a bladed scarf as a weapon. So she has spells, skills and abilities that fit the slave theme very well.
Our GM doesn't like the idea of having a slave as a cohort. He says it's a "hero" NPC, and the slave mentality wouldn't fit. I'd play her fairly; she would entertain us with her dancing and cooking, but I would never order her to do anything that seemed demeaning or morally questionable, especially since I do have that romantic relationship established.
What are you thoughts?
I think the point of discussion to have with the GM is the fact that the slave is not some broken subservient thing, but a significant NPC in the main character's life.
Other than the slave label, the NPC and relationship described would make a pretty great fit for a chohort.
One thing to consider that may mollify the issue with your GM. Why not free your slave, and then have her become a cohort? If the character is truly in a romantic relationship with her, it shouldn't be that big of a character concession...unless there are some other issues that would preclude her emancipation.
Best of luck! LoF was a good experience for me (from the GM side anyway :-))
Actually, run by him George Washington and his personal slave William Lee. Lee was technically a slave but did all sorts of things for Washington. Lee was an excellent horseman and huntsman.
High level slaves have been around for a very long time. You just need to find examples that you can use to show him the kind of slave you are talking about.
- Gauss
Ask him how the slave mentality worked out for Spartacus? <_<
If your character actually cares about her, he'd emancipate her and make her his equal. A relationship where there is such an imbalance of power can't be a 100% genuine one.
Get the Cleric to do a 'Marriage Ceremony' as you see appropriate, and maybe get the GM to do an encounter where the ceremony is raided by a jealous lord who wants her hand as well...
Have the Party storm his castle, and if the Lord refuses his claim of Ownership, slay him.
Yeah, you are going to keep getting the "are you evil" and "harumph, I wouldn't allow it my game" responses. Replace "slave" with "indentured servant", and may be the responses will turn down.
Just had an idea, call her your 'Fiance' and then all the slave things can be hand-waived as "Wife on the road"
It's legal to own saves in Katapesh, and I think it's the way you treat them that determines how they would behave to the owner and party. Plus I also enjoy some interesting role-play since we have a Paladin in the group that hates the ideal of slavery. I feel that character builds that are outside-of-the-box creates a unique role-playing experience and interaction between everyone.
All good suggestions, thanks! Anyone else? :) I'm trying to get good feel from other players as well as GM's to help my argument.
You're in the romantic relationship and it is well established what happens to the menfolk when they get entangled like that. ^__^
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You're in the romantic relationship and it is well established what happens to the menfolk when they get entangled like that. ^__^
Play it up like Proximo and Maximus.
Which version of Gladiator did you watch?
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If you believe in the Star Wars universe, and I'm going to make a blanket assumption that you do, a prescedent has already been set that requires you to free a slave that you first purchased, and then developed a romantic relationship with. So, free her, then marry her, then make her carry all your crap.
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Tarl Cabot is that you?
Depends on the culture and what assumptions/morals are involved in the game. As well as how deep the GM wants to go into slave mentality/psychology etc.
On the lighter side, like Jefferson you'll own your kids.
It's legal to own saves in Katapesh, and I think it's the way you treat them that determines how they would behave to the owner and party. Plus I also enjoy some interesting role-play since we have a Paladin in the group that hates the ideal of slavery. I feel that character builds that are outside-of-the-box creates a unique role-playing experience and interaction between everyone.
All good suggestions, thanks! Anyone else? :) I'm trying to get good feel from other players as well as GM's to help my argument.
True, but what if she (slave) has chosen to remain a 'slave' for Taxation purposes?
In my group's 'world', we allow slaves, but the laws that protect a slaves welfare, if broken, put the slaver on the market if broken.