D&D can be a pretty violent game, and rampaging through a bunch of bad guys can be a cathartic experience, but sometimes you may not want to be a rampant killer. Here are a few reasons that your PCs might spare their enemies- or, if the tables are turned, that their enemies might show them mercy.
1. Mistaken identity - It turns out that the target isn't who the attacker is after. They might have been brought onboard after the fact, they might just be similar-looking but be missing a distinctive feature, or might just be a case on being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 2. Parole - The target might offer a valuable price for their surrender, and swear a genuine oath of apology. A knight might offer their horse and armour, a wizard might offer their spellbook, and a rogue might offer the location of their hoard. This needs to be a genuine offer, and honoured on both parts, otherwise it won't mean anything. 3. Connections - The target is descended from a powerful figure of note- a prince, noble heir, or someone that the attacker knows. This might be just enough to spare their life and offer them another chance. 4. Secret - The attacker reveals their identity as someone related- a brother, parent, or child, perhaps someone from the same order. Although they want to beat the target, they don't want to slay them. 5. Code of conduct - The attacker's personal code prompts them to spare the target's life. Perhaps they are good at heart, perhaps they swore an oath to show mercy, perhaps their god or patron prompts them to remember a parable or lesson. 6. Mystical reasons - Some unknown force stays the attacker's hand- perhaps destiny, perhaps the hand of a deity itself. Something in the target's eyes convinces the attacker that they need to spare them- although they may just want to kill them later for some other reason. Also posted on Game Masters Stash on 27 July 2021. Comments are closed.
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