The Blood Pool: Sacrificing Integrity for Buffs

[Cyrus_Blackfeather]

Hey guys, 

 

So, I'm crafting a Bleak Walker Crusader to serve as a sort of Knight of Galawain (Until we get a proper priest of Galawain class). His whole purpose is seeking greater and greater challenges until one of them eventually kills him, and he has few qualms about committing morally questionable acts to ensure he remains as an apex predator (Absorbing Maerwald's soul, absorbing the souls from the Machine in Heritage Hill, etc.). I want to present a character who's not above helping people who offer sufficient payment, but who wholeheartedly adheres to the Bleak Walker philosophy of absolute devastation and carnage for the sake of bringing conflict to a swift end. 

 

My issue comes with the Blood Pool, and the Companion I'm considering sacrificing to it (Zahua). Taking this choice would plunge my character firmly into the Neutral Evil side of the alignment chart and, while I'm not exactly opposed to that, it's also a choice I can't exactly come back from. Understand that this is NOT the character I played in the first game, he took one look at that thing and refused its offer. This character? Well... there are definitely some of his traveling companions that he likes, but there are also those he wouldn't be against getting rid of if the price was right. Zahua just happens to be one of those (And it's totally not because his additional buff is the best out of all of them, by far).

 

So, I guess my question to you fellow Watchers on the Evil side of the alignment axes... How did you justify sacrificing a companion, with the knowledge that once they were gone, they were gone for good? No one would know what you did, but they'd all have to live with the fact that someone they'd gotten to know over the months had suddenly and inexplicably died in a horrible and brutal fashion right in front of them. What was going through your heads, when you pressed the button? 

 

Honestly, I haven't even gotten too far into the game. Attempting to determine choices like this for my character has been way too much fun. 

[Ildun]

I don't think there will be a priest for Galawain, because he represent nature, druids are the one who worshiping him.

 

If you said you pledge to Galawain, then you should sacrifice Hiravias, consider it as a trial for Galawain follower.

[KDubya]

I liked to sacrifice Durance as he gave +1 con and +5% hit points which effectively gave you +10% health. Add in the Gift from the Machine and you get another +5% for +15% health.

 

You justify it for the power you gain. As a Bleak Walker anything that makes you more powerful helps you solve problems faster and even without violence as the mere threat of your power can stop the fight before it starts.

 

Honestly most every RPG lets you play Neutral Evil (the most power and benefit for you) while choosing the 'good' path. Usually the 'good' path gets you the best companions, the best items as rewards, the best experience gain and the best gold. Being 'good' usually all ways pays better.

[gkathellar]

Are you asking how people see their characters justifying it to themselves? Because in general, I'm pretty sure that the answer is always going to be, "I wanted power." Even if you murder a jerk like Durance, you're still ultimately doing it because the Blood Pool told you, "HEY YOU YES YOU WANT TO KILL SOMEONE FOR A POWER BOOST"

[mishona]

Are you asking how people see their characters justifying it to themselves? Because in general, I'm pretty sure that the answer is always going to be, "I wanted power." Even if you murder a jerk like Durance, you're still ultimately doing it because the Blood Pool told you, "HEY YOU YES YOU WANT TO KILL SOMEONE FOR A POWER BOOST"

Sometimes you're a rogue thinking this Kana guy got you spotted out and nearly killed one too many times because he felt that it would be a good idea to start singing to raise morale while trying to sneak past a Fampyr.

[ShakotanSolari]

I can not speak for your characters motivations, but I can look at this situation from my own character's point of view: 
 

As a Bleak Walker, I have killed hundreds, maybe even thousands of kith. Most of them probably had families, loved ones, children, they were all just trying to get by and make a living for themselves. I killed all these men and women because it served a greater purpose, because it is my duty to right the wrongs that plague this world and to do that, I must have power. Now, why would I think twice about killing some old man who has already accepted his own death and has no mortal ties to the world, heck Zahua would probably jump at the opportunity to sacrifice himself for some greater purpose, he may even see it as a form of atonement. He failed his people in life, with the power granted me through his death I will save the world.

Edited May 28, 2018 by ShakotanSolari