BoM/TWS Message Forum

Well, I never imagined I'd see this discussion ever again.

For those who don't know: this discussion has run rampant in D&D forums. There's a spell in one of the editions called "Sanctify the Wicked", which essentially has the creature's soul trapped in a diamond for one year, and during that year, the creature gets confronted with its wickedness and given the chance to atone for its misdeeds. At the end of the year, the creature adopts the alignment of the caster and ends up as a "sanctified" creature, which means most of its evil powers are either altered or eliminated. (Did I mention that this spell is supposed to work even on purely Evil creatures such as demons?)

The consensus of most D&D players? Despite being on a supplement that's meant to represent the concept of Goodness, the general population of players considers it an Evil spell. Mostly, because (despite the creature being capable of resisting the spell) it infringes on the creature's free will. The argument is that the spell is akin to brainwashing, despite the spell clearly stating that it confronts the individual with its sins and gives it time to meditate upon the potential for goodness that they can have. It's also meant to be the opposite of an actual Evil spell, "Mindrape", which is self-explanatory.

When I saw the effect of the Banks in action, that bit came to mind. You get sequestered from existence, pretty much, and the only way to be released is to become a good person by force, rather than work your redemption through more mundane and specific actions (i.e., atonement, retribution). Personally, I'm not on the boat of the people that think "Sanctify the Wicked" is an evil spell because it robs the individual's free will, though I believe it should be a choice willingly made by the subject as a way to allow its innate evil to be purged away. If I were to disbelieve in the concept of the Banks, then by definition I should disregard the concept of rehabilitation, which involves...removing someone from society, finding out the reasons why they underwent crime, and then give them the tools to return them into society as functional, truly repentant people. In specific - if I were to accept the concept of the Banks as something evil and inhumane, I should also oppose to the very concept of police and justice.

That said - the methodology is a bit dark, and it fits the Stellae. They have the ultimate redemption method (of sorts), and while some undertake it willingly, others are forced to; and, while some do escape, some never do. Being forced into becoming good (even if you're still yourself, speaking in terms of identity) or being unable to live your natural life is kind of a cruel punishment, and the only reason it can be considered "noble" is because the Stellae are a small organization that's willing to go for more traditional methods.

You want to see true horror? Imagine Fane getting ahold of the Banks, and retooling it to work for them.