Characters in town claim to eat the flesh of player races.

[Munroe]

Jun 8, 2023 16:58:33 GMT -5 shadou said:

I would like to have a couple of things clarified regarding the server rules and the cormyrian laws regarding the eating of thinking beings. 

Twice now, I have personally seen half-orc characters emoting eating bones or flesh, and either claim that the bones or flesh are elven, or the description of what they're eating points to elven. I have talked with other players of elven characters indicating the same thing. Half-orcs seem to be keen to use eating elf as a way to incite elven characters and create drama. What does the Cormyrian law say about anyone eating thinking beings? Whether it's human, elf, halforc, halfling, gnome, or whatever, is there any law which protects the dead from being eaten? Can this be reported as a crime? 

The human characters that have been around when this has been done have pretty much ignored it. Which I don't think is right. Whether it's human, elf, halfling, gnome, or whatever kind of flesh is being eaten or claimed to be eaten, it should disgust any observers. Especially those of good alignment should be repulsed by this action. But good characters are ignoring it, and worse, they are turning against the elves that, offended, confront the half-orcs doing it. 

Do elves have ANY recourse to see that the bodies of their departed kin are not desecrated and eaten? 

Should humans that ignore or support such actions be given alignment points toward evil?

Since I am retired, I did not want to respond to this in the DM Q&A, but I do have a response.

Basically, when I see this from half-orcs (or other characters) in town, I have ALWAYS interpreted it as the half-orc (or other character) want to incite the elf/gnome/whatever, so claims to eat elf flesh, rather than the character is actually eating elf flesh. If the half-orc says they're eating elf or gnome or whatever, they just say so. If they emote it as elf flesh or gnome flessh, or whatever, that is a different case.

Gorgathod: This elf-flesh is real tender. Are you sure you don't want to taste?

The above statement appears to be just a half-orc attempting to pick a fight or goad an elf.

The below statement, which identifies the flesh as elven, would actually appear to be the consumption of a humanoid race:

Gorgathod: *bites into the elf-flesh, his tusks scraping along the bone as he pulls the flesh away*

To that end, I will generally interpret the first statement sample above as not actually humanoid flesh, unless it is accompanied by the bottom statement, which indicates rather directly that it is elf-flesh. If the emote is not precise about the kind of meat, then my character cannot tell what kind of meat is being consumed.

So this is really going to vary on a case-by-case basis as to what is the appropriate response. Those characters that are "ignoring" the half-orc may simply be waiting for any indication that what the character is saying is actually true. Of course some of them are probably Evil themselves and don't care either way.

[Script Wrecked]

And people wonder why half orcs get spat on.

Characters "ignoring" what is taking place may be the player not wanting to engage in your RP.

The half orc player is abusing "the Rulez" because in "real life" such a person would be tied behind a team of horses and dragged, but that's "not allowed" under "the Rulez".

You do not have to participate in RP you do not consent to.

[ladyphoenix]

If you read the laws, there are disturbing the peace and other charges listed that can be used to jail such a person for a few days. Just tell a DM for local militia to react or have a pc law enforcement type present.

So there are explicit laws that can be used as much as implied laws. Someone pulling that stuct in town is asking to get a couple days without that character because he or she will be fined and in lock up.

[DM Betelgeuse]

Late to the party here but let's also remember the difference between an emote and a dialogue.

Using Munroes example:

Gorgathod: *bites into the elf-flesh, his tusks scraping along the bone as he pulls the flesh away*

Your pc would not be aware, in this instance, that Gorgathod is eating elf flesh. Especially if it is a none descript hunk, or a half chewed ear (given that a fair few races have pointy tips). Unless of course it is immediately identifiable - such as it currently being attached to an elf at the time of consumption.

Gorgathod: This elf-flesh is real tender. Are you sure you don't want to taste?

In this instance Gorgathod is telling you that he is eating Elf Flesh. But. Here is the question, would your PC believe him or even be able to identify it as elf flesh?

In both instances, it is an attempt to provoke the other pc's around them either by emotes or dialogue. Personally, I do not like to see people using emotes to describes thoughts or things they are doing in a way that you have no way of knowing IC. Your PC ultimately decides how to react to it. You can either go down the chaotic path and pvp, try to smash the none Orc. You can go down the lawful path of reporting the individual to the guard.

In my opinion as a player though, which is not representrative of the entire teams feelings and merely my own, I would just ignore it because it is a tired old cliche that people seem to use to try and provoke other pc's around. If a guard comes over and says "what are you eating!?" the entire narrative will suddenly change to a none humanoid, acceptable protein source and unless the meat is directly identifiable there is nothing the guards can do to prove otherwise. And if it's an emote that was used to provoke? There is not a lot the guards could do. Because, again, unless it is directly identifiable - the individual is just eating.

I was dissapointed to see this unfold, however, because I really enjoy Half Orcs. They are my favourite race and I really enjoy playing them. Unfortunately, this tired old stereotype persists where players roll up a Half Orc and immediately forget that they are not an Orc, and always have an element of humanity, and they start acting in a way that is provocative and hostile to all around them. The low intelligence, thuggish brute who eats random inedible stuff and acts completely idiotic. I have even seen pc's act in this way even when they have higher than average attribute points to qualify for mechanical feats (Such as intelligence).

So, yeah, in a round about way - that is why I would probably ignore people acting in this way and I would be more inclined (especially in the case of using emotes to attack other players) to report the behaviour team to be handled as what it is - ridiculous.