a Problem with my characters alignment and backstory... [Archive] - Wizards Community

a Problem with my characters alignment and backstory... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shas'O
04-25-04, 11:46 AM Okay, My character (A Psychic warrior) saw her motehr Raped, her family tortured and killed, her town destroyed, then, when she went to to exact revenge, with 10 people going with her, she saw the same thing happen to them. she is now sucked into a differint world, with the people involed (A cult called the Mullenklein). Now, she is NG, but when she sees ANYONE or ANYTHING afiilated with the cult (identified with a gauntlet holding a bleeding heard) she will go after them no amtter what, she will then slowly kill them while asking information. She is ALWAYS humane to every other being if possible, but she will be as cruel as possible to any of the cult members. is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this?
uffinf
04-27-04, 10:32 PM is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this?
Tough question, your character is defiantly not good aligned, I beleive the question would have to be, how careful is she before she starts torturing her captives?
Nedlum
04-27-04, 10:36 PM That's a tough one. One important question: if she's torturing people while asking for information, does she A: expect to find useful information; and B: take pleasuere in the act of torture.

Personally, I'd say that she's decidedly not good. Even if takes no pleasure in the torturing, is doing it only to find those who detroyed her family, she's still after bloody revenge, and willing to harm perfect strangers and innocents who just happen to have a tatoo. I don't know about this "Mullenklein", so it's possible all members are bad to the bone; but I doubt it..
JohnSnow
04-28-04, 03:53 PM She is ALWAYS humane to every other being if possible, but she will be as cruel as possible to any of the cult members. is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this?

(bolding mine)

I hate to tell you this, but what you're describing is textbook Lawful Evil.

Your character believes that by confining her cruelty to members of the cult that she is somehow "better" than common villains. She believes that being humane to others and caring for the innocent keeps her "virtuous." However, she takes what she wants (revenge) within the limits of her code of conduct. She condemns others not according to their actions, but according to their religion (they're cultists, after all). She doesn't generally kill in cold blood (except those cultists), and them she tortures partially for the pleasure of it. She will not let innocents come to harm (if possible). She will claim this is because they seriously wronged her when she was young. She will justify it and think she's doing good. She would be wrong. Palladium Games would call this alignment Aberrant (evil). In D&D, it's Lawful Evil.

Harsh, but true. Excuses don't make your actions any less evil.
uffinf
04-28-04, 05:48 PM Method and intent are important in this case. This character could be defined as taking "just revenge". Torture is an accepted form of punishment in many societies, does the character enjoy it, or simply feel justified in doing it. Does the character go to great lengths make sure her captives are willful members of the cult? Or is she just glad to have an excuse to hurt someone?
Determining alignment requires knowledge of the campaign world as well as character motivation.
LiXinjian
04-30-04, 08:07 AM From what you write, I'd say she's Neutral. Now, we all know there's often a difference between what we think we do, and what we do. Therefore, other things your character partakes in might affect her alignment. You drew what you considered to be the boldest lines, but the portrait isn't complete.

She's neutral simply because she doesn't go out of her way to help people out, but she doesn't purposefully hurt or use them either... with the exception of the dreadful Mullenklein cultists, whom she'll torture without mercy.

Just a regular gall.. ;)
Shas'O
04-30-04, 11:51 PM She will (usually) go out of her way to donate items/money to those less fortunate. and some more Info on the cult.

The cult worships Elatiu, a NE Goddess of Cruelty, Tyranny, and downright violence. all members are required to fight daily, they will kill without second thought or pause, and are Usually NE/LE, She takes No pleasure in the torture, simply saying "fight on their terms", she would be at best a Witch hunter with Radical views on only one group, with Kindness and charity towards mostly everyone else.
Aluroon
05-05-04, 04:57 PM I have to agree with JohnSnow, your character is a textbook lawful evil. I would say more but he basically sums it up. The thing about donating to characty furthers her view that she is not evil and that she is better then villains.

In the end, the end does not justify the means.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shas'O 04-25-04, 11:46 AM	Okay, My character (A Psychic warrior) saw her motehr Raped, her family tortured and killed, her town destroyed, then, when she went to to exact revenge, with 10 people going with her, she saw the same thing happen to them. she is now sucked into a differint world, with the people involed (A cult called the Mullenklein). Now, she is NG, but when she sees ANYONE or ANYTHING afiilated with the cult (identified with a gauntlet holding a bleeding heard) she will go after them no amtter what, she will then slowly kill them while asking information. She is ALWAYS humane to every other being if possible, but she will be as cruel as possible to any of the cult members. is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this?
uffinf 04-27-04, 10:32 PM	is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this? Tough question, your character is defiantly not good aligned, I beleive the question would have to be, how careful is she before she starts torturing her captives?
Nedlum 04-27-04, 10:36 PM	That's a tough one. One important question: if she's torturing people while asking for information, does she A: expect to find useful information; and B: take pleasuere in the act of torture. Personally, I'd say that she's decidedly not good. Even if takes no pleasure in the torturing, is doing it only to find those who detroyed her family, she's still after bloody revenge, and willing to harm perfect strangers and innocents who just happen to have a tatoo. I don't know about this "Mullenklein", so it's possible all members are bad to the bone; but I doubt it..
JohnSnow 04-28-04, 03:53 PM	She is ALWAYS humane to every other being if possible, but she will be as cruel as possible to any of the cult members. is my character Neutral/Evil for doing this? (bolding mine) I hate to tell you this, but what you're describing is textbook Lawful Evil. Your character believes that by confining her cruelty to members of the cult that she is somehow "better" than common villains. She believes that being humane to others and caring for the innocent keeps her "virtuous." However, she takes what she wants (revenge) within the limits of her code of conduct. She condemns others not according to their actions, but according to their religion (they're cultists, after all). She doesn't generally kill in cold blood (except those cultists), and them she tortures partially for the pleasure of it. She will not let innocents come to harm (if possible). She will claim this is because they seriously wronged her when she was young. She will justify it and think she's doing good. She would be wrong. Palladium Games would call this alignment Aberrant (evil). In D&D, it's Lawful Evil. Harsh, but true. Excuses don't make your actions any less evil.
uffinf 04-28-04, 05:48 PM	Method and intent are important in this case. This character could be defined as taking "just revenge". Torture is an accepted form of punishment in many societies, does the character enjoy it, or simply feel justified in doing it. Does the character go to great lengths make sure her captives are willful members of the cult? Or is she just glad to have an excuse to hurt someone? Determining alignment requires knowledge of the campaign world as well as character motivation.
LiXinjian 04-30-04, 08:07 AM	From what you write, I'd say she's Neutral. Now, we all know there's often a difference between what we think we do, and what we do. Therefore, other things your character partakes in might affect her alignment. You drew what you considered to be the boldest lines, but the portrait isn't complete. She's neutral simply because she doesn't go out of her way to help people out, but she doesn't purposefully hurt or use them either... with the exception of the dreadful Mullenklein cultists, whom she'll torture without mercy. Just a regular gall.. ;)
Shas'O 04-30-04, 11:51 PM	She will (usually) go out of her way to donate items/money to those less fortunate. and some more Info on the cult. The cult worships Elatiu, a NE Goddess of Cruelty, Tyranny, and downright violence. all members are required to fight daily, they will kill without second thought or pause, and are Usually NE/LE, She takes No pleasure in the torture, simply saying "fight on their terms", she would be at best a Witch hunter with Radical views on only one group, with Kindness and charity towards mostly everyone else.
Aluroon 05-05-04, 04:57 PM	I have to agree with JohnSnow, your character is a textbook lawful evil. I would say more but he basically sums it up. The thing about donating to characty furthers her view that she is not evil and that she is better then villains. In the end, the end does not justify the means.