Ever have a moment in a campaign where the evil just hit too close to home, the description was too vivid, the emotional reaction was too intense?
Yes, but the only player at the table affected was me. I didn't openly show my reaction, thus the game continued fine. Suffice to say; the bad guy paid for it. Harry's baseball bat definitely served as some inspiration.
There are human beings that treat other human beings like cattle, and don't even have the excuse of being Monsters. They sacrifice babies for magic and it doesn't even WORK. I can barely fathom the evil of someone doing it knowing it WOULD genuinely give them power.
Not everyone would agree that it doesn't work. But it is definitely
wrong. However, I actually think that if this were to be used as an adventure; it shouldn't work. It should be simple 'Witchcraft' from the modern day, not any high-powered thaumaturgy from the DFRPG point of view. Why? Because as you say, it makes the situation all the worse; and makes the people far more evil. Of course, they should still believe it works.
[Edit:] Or perhaps it
used to work. Perhaps the 'cult' gained the ritual from a book released by the White Council to render the cosmic vending machine useless. Now not only are the cultists evil, but so are arguably the White Council; although the latter would claim it is for the greater good, preventing Cults from using the real power thing - but when babies are dying anyway, does that really hold up against the Heroes moral standards?
Are things like this too dark to have in an RPG? I mean, on the one hand it is something that fits in perfectly with what wardens or other heroes would try to stop. There would be a huge climactic battle, demons summoned, and helpless abused humans saved.
That would depend on the group/rpg.
Just a thought though, if you were to ease of the demons and keep with more mundane monsters, think of the opportunities for a Wizard's inner-conflict. As you say, these people are
monsters. But the laws of magic don't agree with the difference. Would you end the life of said monster, to save the life of the human he is about to sacrifice? If it were a Vampire, the decision would be easy. Not so much now.
Of course, the above only works if a player is happy to go down that route. Either to decide at the last minute to use non-lethal force, or to end the pathetic excuse for a human-being's life in a tide of dark emotions. Such a character doesn't necessarily instantly become evil, just several shades of grey darker- and likely jaded.
Hell, the same applies for many types of character, its just Wizard's have the most obvious consequences. Not all characters find the concept of murder acceptable, even when its a necessity. Think Murphy when she first had to kill humans. Sure, in the heat of battle she would be fine with it, but she does reflect upon it. Even Renfield's made her uncertain. Other characters can also grow darker, or at least greyer, based on such a situation.
I don't have a limit on gritty or realistic.
Each group is different, though.
This. Whilst I would both be happy to play in, and run, an adventure with the above concept in mind; be it with supernatural elements, or kept purely 'closer-to-home' and mundane - not all groups would. You'd have a better idea then us as to how your group would handle it.
Thank you for sharing your find, and the news story. It made for an interesting, if slightly disturbing, read. I may actually use it as the basis for an adventure.
