The Wizards Cabal is presented quite differently in the DA modules compared to the ZGG version. I am still debating how to handle it IMC. Is it possible to reconcile these two published versions? In DA1 you have
agents of the Wizards Cabal kidnap the king. The problem is that the current Cabal isn't evil. One sollution is to have the Cabal be slowly corrupted, having the good forces within the Cabal being driven out, leaving an utterly evil organization around with influence in every court in Blackmoor

The Wizard's Cabal made a deal with Uther. Every nobleman in Blackmoor has a Court Wizard from the Cabal. This deal serves both groups: The Cabal provides the nobility with all the arcane services a nobleman could ever desire, but at the same time they get a heavy influence within the courts. The Wizards are even privy to many of the innermost secrets of the nobility and this is before taking into account the chance of unauthorized mind scanning magic used on employers. The influences of the Cabal also extend to other groups like powerful merchant houses and even some mercenary bands.

The Cabal Inquisition not only hunts down Sorcerers, but also has an internal branch which can be used to control the members of the Cabal itself. (I'm thinking of portraying them like the Babylon 5 Psi Cops.) People like Sildonis, the Fetch and Robert the Bald are good-hearted people, trying to make sure the Cabal remains a good organization serving the interests of Blackmoor, but other forces are working against them, which is why Robert the Bald has generally isolated himself from the Cabal working on his own.

The Church of Blackmoor is the major check against the Cabal as it denies them monopoly of magic. Not sure how this would play in. Also not sure how much I would want a Cleric vs. Mage situation. The fact that many of Blackmoor's enemies are religious fanatics might weaken the positicion of the Church. (Though it could also strengthen it).

The Egg of Coot might easily be behind the corruption of the Cabal. Wizards are likely to become fascinated with the technologies possessed by the Egg.


Another way to handle this is to have the Eldritch Underground, play the role that the WC played in the DA material and keep the WC as a force of good as per the ZG material.

What do you think?

-Havard

Maybe they had a really good reason to kidnap the king. Maybe it was a feint to distract from another action. Maybe it was for his protection. There are a lot of ways to reconcile these actions. If you want the Cabal to continue to be good, then their actions should work toward the greater good. It's okay to perform evil actions or ones that seem to contradict your stated goals if you are working toward a goal that is, in the end, good. Well, some people of certain alignments might see it that way. Remember, "good" has several shades to it.