Fantasy world advice - debt of Service

[KnightErrantJR]

One thing that was touched on briefly was that Torm and Bane are certainly at odds.  What if the PC was called upon to take down a Banite, which seems simply enough, except that the Banite is actually bringing order and stability to a given area, and helping to keep a Cyricist in check. 

The Banite might actually not be cleric or blackguard, but a knight or noble that is wealthy and supporting the Church of Bane, but he himself is very staunchly Lawful neutral, and a pretty fair leader and stable influence.  He supports Bane because its what he knows, and he hates Cyric with a passion. 

The PC might have to choose between the Church of Bane becoming stronger in the long run because of this NPC and his patronage and example, or the more immediate benefits of opposing the much less savory, for immediately dangerous worshipers of Cyric.

[jameswllorimer]

Thanks again guys. Cheers Krensky for looking anyway into it.. seems an interesting plot you wove through the City of Splendours; I've been looking for a plot to pit them against some "good guys". I'm really trying to sucker them this way and that, especially with the moral choices.

KnightErrant - thanks as well, it fits perfectly with my setting and the strands of story I'm weaving... cheers.

Does this plot twist seem plausible or just plain daft? - If following KnightErrant's post idea, i.e the choice between the lesser of two evils (Bane and Cyric) for the group , and knowing that the god Torm works against Bane at every opportunity, or at least works against him and his ideals, would as his debt of service seem out of place to have him protect the Cyricists even though they? Or does that just seem a little contrite?

[Krensky]

Well, I will point out that when I ran it it was much less intricate as the assassins were the PCs. The interesting stuff happened later when the party was hunting down and rolling up his trade routes along the Black Path.

However, why I thought you might find it useful is that the party is largely the antithesis of Torm. Freewheeling, apparently care-free, steal from the rich, give to the poor, kill the evil guys and the law be damned sorts. I also seem to recall Torm and his church aren't a fan of those who harp. Plus there's a tiefling, a drow, and the guy's name is Blackhand for Torm's sake! They must be evil!

A large part is how it's presented. You need to give the players every chance to be prejudiced and jump to conclusions. Jaresh and Grey have Harper pins, and the rest had talismans of non-detection (and Cesair had a permanent Alter Self). Rifling Jaresh's pack would a lot turn up a number of vials of poisons and Bolts of Human/Elf/whatever slaying. Jaresh also happens to be a Zhent (the ethnic group) by birth.

Now, since Torm's got a hate on for Bane, Zhentarim may not work, but I'm sure something could be used in it's place, and there's plenty of other cities for this to happen in.

[KnightErrantJR]

It might be a bit of a reach trying to massage Torm into being a proponent of protecting Cyricists.  Heck, that's as hard to swallow as Tyr killing Helm over a woman . . . um . . . moving on . . .

I think the best bet might be to just portray the Banite as very even handed, a little harsh, but logical and honorable, and perhaps even have him seek out your Tormite for help against the clearly evil Cyricists.

The Tormite could have visions of his god  (the old 2nd Edition Faiths and Avatars has a great list of "manifestations" for gods) explaining that the Banite becomes a veritable saint of Bane's Church, showing thousands that tyranny brings peace through Order.

Thus Torm is firmly convinced that this guy is more dangerous, long term, than the Cyricists.  The Tormite might try to convert the guy, or work against the Cyricists himself without help from the Banite, but in the end, Torm wants his servant to have nothing to do with him, and seeings things in the "long term" that only gods can.

You might give the Tormite plenty of RP chances to convert the guy, but keep him stubborn and openly appreciative of the doctrine of Bane.  Eventually, it will come to a head.  Plus, the locals might love the guy  (kind of like the Latverians and their love for Doom even though the rest of the Marvel universe thinks he's a dangerous would be world dominator, except that the Banite isn't even as "evil" as Doom in this case).