HELP! I've rolled myself into a problem of my own making, lol! I need help with extra arguments for and against something. First, let me do the explanation preamble:
So, running Rise of the Runelords, the party just finished Book 2, and for a lark I threw a bunch of cairn wights at my party for a random encounter, all controlled by a Ragewight. The Ragewight in turn controlled by Ripnugget, the goblin chief that is an early enemy for the module, but returns as a Graveknight in *Sandpoint, Light of the Lost Coast*, who I am using as a recurring foe. Now, since they weren't fighting of their own free will, once the Ragewight and Ripnugget were killed/neutralized, I did something I figured would be a fun morality question: I had the remaining wights surrender. Eventually, the party has concluded that, undead or no, killing the surrendered wights would be dishonourable. They want to keep them at the manor-house in Sandpoint they've bought as guards (and to compliment the Sandpoint Devil they killed and stuffed lol). That said, they want to consult with the town leaders, including High Priest Zantus, Sheriff Hemlock, and Mayor Deverin before they do anything.
So, in short, I could use arguments for both the pros and cons of letting the wights live, stuff I haven't thought of yet. I already have some thoughts:
Pros:
Killing surrendering foes would be dishonourable
The party has saved Sandpoint, it is wise to trust them
The wights make powerful guards
The town might learn much of Thassilon, and therefore be beneficial archeologically (I decided that, based on info on Xin-Shalast, that they might come from there, though they forget a lot)
Successful rehabilitation would look good for the Sarenites/Desnans/Iomedaens/Shelynites in town
Cons:
The wights are inherently dangerous due to the destructive nature of void energy
The region just experienced a violent ghoul pandemic, the wight's presence could cause panic
Wights can multiply by killing, relating to the above: possible second pandemic
Political danger. Deverin approving this could put the her on rocky ground with the Scarnettis; he could use it to justify a coup.
Possible friction with the Pharasmin churches
Being discriminated against could cause the wights to rebel anyway
What else can folks think of, for and against? Yes, I am aware I dug my own grave lol. Help me fill it XD
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Hi there Unorthodox Redeemer. This is an interesting situation! I'd like to provide my thoughts but I'm headed to bed and it'll need a little time to percolate. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up that someone has read this and is planning to respond.
My most off-the-cuff suggestion is that the wights could be accepted by secret, serving to keep people away from Foxglove Manor without killing them. However, if their existence becomes public, the town's officials (Mayor Deverin, namely), will have no choice but to cooperate with the church of Pharasma to have them destroyed. Harboring undead is a big no-no.
