Prisoner management and arguments for tyranny [WotW spoilers - book 1]

[Nearyn]

I'm playing an Asmodean cleric in a Way of the Wicked campaign. My character is the leader of the Nessian Knot, our little group of evildoers, and we've just recently accomplished the goal of book one, the conquest of watchfortress Balentyne.

During our examinations of the fortress, we found that my character's younger sister Zhayelle was a captain of the soldiers on the fort, and since my character has a vested interest in turning his siblings to his cause, the Nessian Knot took her alive. She's now well chained and under control in an Inn we've commandeered.

She's a die-hard Iomedaean. For those familiar with the AP, you know the nation of Talingarde is monotheistically worshipping the god Mitra. In our campaign, Talingarde is somewhere southwest of Hermea and instead worships Iomedae in much the same way, except other Golarion-specific non-evil deities are given cursory recognition if nothing else. Zhayelle is also a career soldier. What she knows about Asmodeus is Talirean propaganda, meaning basically what you'd expect a nation of angel-bothering, Iomedae-fanatics to teach their common populace - meaning next to nothing outside of 'attack his worshippers on sight, because evilbad'.

Now we have a spit of downtime after taking the watchfortress, but sooner or later we'll have to move out and I suspect my sweet sister is going to be tough to break.

So what I need is basically the best arguments you can come up with, in favor of Tyranny, in favor of Asmodeus. Your best rhetoric that could shake my sister's stance and help me bring her into darkness.

And ideas for how to best transport her and manage her, should our next quest require some travel. Basic ideas for prisoner management, mundane items, restraints, magic items, poisons, potions, the works. Whatever you can think of to ensure we'll have no trouble out of her. No, killing her doesn't count, and I'd prefer to not beat her into unconciousness every time we have to go somewhere, although I'm not discounting the option entirely.

Anyway, thanks very much for your input, and suggestions, in advance. I look forward to seeing your ideas and reading what you can come up with in defense of tyranny.

Also, let's be honest, we risk political examples being raised in this thread, since I'm asking what I'm asking, so please, let's see if we can keep replies to eachother constructive and civil. Thanks :)

-Nearyn

[Bob Bob Bob]

So you're trying to convert LG to LE.

The first step is to establish a common enemy. Chaos, the forces of whimsy and wild fancy with no regard for Law and Order. So step one is probably to point out how Asmodeus is a god of law and order and all the benefits of civilization would still be preserved under his rule. "We are not so different, you and I. We both believe that proper rules and laws can help guide our less well-behaved brethren to the proper path, so long as those rules are enforced. Asmodeus would not end civilization, our belief in proper order in the cities is the same."

Then you move on to step 2, convince them that law and order are best served by the person enforcing them. "Have you never encountered some law you knew was wrong? Wouldn't you like the power to affect law? Asmodeus empowers these people, those who actually work with the law instead of the wayward masses who insist that they be allowed to drink to excess or urinate wherever they please. You know they need help, guidance, and a firm hand in the right direction. Left to their own devices they might even turn on each other."

Then you play to the paranoid xenophobia of the church. "The Church has been deceitful to the entire country. All other gods, even the good ones, are given only lip service, as if they are somehow lesser to Iomedae. They are reduced to singular caricatures. Cayden is simply a drunk, Desna is flighty, Shelyn is naive, and Asmodeus is evil (heavy sarcasm) simply because they can't allow him to be anything but that. All I ask is that you look beyond the propaganda the Church puts out."

Now, if you want to personalize it to soldiers there are quite a few anecdotes about what happens to soldiers when you leave them with free time and unused space/guns/explosives/etc. that very strongly imply that all soldiers should be watched at all times lest they find a way to blow up the barracks. So maybe ask her if she really believes that the soldiers she served with should ever be left to their own devices or if they should always have someone leading them and making sure they stay on the correct (lawful) path.

Really, the end game is convincing her that she should be the one with the power to do what she wants, serving under her betters and lording over her lessers. It's not much different from soldiering, just without all those complications like morals and questioning orders.

[ericthecleric]

Just going to add that the carrot is better than the stick, if you want to recruit her to your cause.

[Nearyn]

Thanks for the input. I like the methodic approach you suggest. And I hope to use carrot over stick. However I do fear that I may have to really shake her belief in what she's fighting for. And I need some way to basically make sure that conversations take place on my conditions.

Also, any suggestions on prisoner management would be appreciated.

-Nearyn

[Nearyn]

Aaaand just gonna give this a quick bump.

-Nearyn