On Wed, 20 May 1998, Jim Berger wrote:

> > Question: Would it be at all appropriate for LightRaiders who
> > captured such a device, to turn it about and shoot a load of
> > Loadstones or a Muk toward a Dark Creature contingent? Would that be
> > against codes of Light Raider behavior or would it just be poetic
> > justice?
> 
> The issue of the allegory of Dark Creatures has been debated almost
> as long as the red moon has been rising in Talania. But I thought we
> decided that they ultimately are the representation of sin. If their 
> enchantments are sin and loadstones or muk tainted mud their
> way of passing it: Aren't we talking about having LightRaiders use
> sin against sin?
> 
> I'm all for stomping vile DCs into whatever soil or mud I can find
> and washing the stones with their acidic blood when ever appropriate.
> That's loving God and hating sin. But it seems using their enchantments
> against them gets us into weird symbolism. Besides, wouldn't gathering
> the spiritually toxic stuff to use be dangerous? (the old beware lest
> ye also become entangled kind a warning?)

That's sort of what I was wondering. There is a line, I think,
between actively using their methods or sort of "allowing" the natural
consequences of their methods - for instance, if LightRaiders were
purposefully gathering "spiritually toxic" ammo to use, that wouldn't
be legitimate.  ("My character uses tongs to try to pick up the
loadstones to use in his own sling" would be a big violation.) And if
a fleeing LightRaider steered toward a Muk in the path on purpose, and
a pursuing Orc stepped into it instead, that would be the Orc's own
fault.  But what to do with a catapult that's already loaded...
    I guess maybe I should just structure the catapult mission so that
the question doesn't come up. ("You see some DragonSlaves near the
impact area and you wouldn't want to be responsible for a stray shot
hitting them.") (Or "Obviously only Grims can sight this; you don't
know where it would land.")
    Thanks for the input, Joe and Jim. I am getting used to the
allegory and hoping not to make serious gaffes. (Let me know how the
"catapult paratroops" go if you ever try that...) 

      Joe Long, Mercer Main Library xt 2961
                The way of the sword:
               Kill not, be killed not, hesitate not;
                 Go forth! Return not;
                The way is focused.             -Kunii Zen'ya