I found that hard to swallow.
I also suspected that she might not find herself to be well-liked among her own people.
Then I saw that she wanted to be Lawful Good, and I got more confused.
Wouldn't someone with a disciplined and ordered outlook on the world strive, along with her brethren, to pull the world into the next Age? While I realize that Alignment does not fully sum up one's entire personality and world view, it's also supposed to reflect them somewhat.
Perhaps someone could take a Devil's advocate approach and help me see things her way...before I approach her directly about the seeming incongruity.
Forget the fact that they are Kalashtar for a moment:
Lawful Good suggests a strong motivation to act. To do good deeds is pro-active, to merely react is neutrality. A good character takes action. What defines good as opposed to neutrality or evil is the urge to act even when the cause appears hopeless.
Needless to say an apathetic attitude does not suit a Kalashtar with regard to the Dreaming Dark. Kalashtar do not 'believe' in the existence of the Dreaming Dark, they know it is there, it is real and it wants to kill them. It is hard to remain apathetic when somebody is out to kill you, unless you have a deathwish.
This strikes me as a poorly thought out character - yes it is interesting to play characters that do not fulfil racial stereotypes or even run contrary to them, but in this case, the conflict between the Kalashtar and the Dreaming Dark and it's allies is hard to ignore by the latter. I could buy this in a neutral or evil character ... but how do they define their alignment as good if they are unmoved by the presence of great evil? The only possibility I can think of is that they may have discovered larger fish to fry ... but as you have not mentioned this, I can't assume it exists.
It sounds like maybe this player either wants the crunch of a Kalashtar character without the fluff, or else they are trying to turn a stereotype on its head - in which case there are better ways to do both.
I think I'll have to have a chat w/her and raise some of those exact issues.
My thanks
Now, what I DO find odd is the idea that this character is lawful good. Saying "I'm a philosophical rebel who doesn't care about this big struggle against evil" is fine... if you're netural or at least chaotic (or especially chaotic neutral). But being devoted to noble causes and simply choosing to ignore the one that poses the greatest threat to your own people seems a little odd... unless, like the character I was playing, she literally knew nothing about kalashtar culture.
'm not saying she won't act against the forces of evil--I'm just saying that in her mind, the issue of the age changing from one thing to another is not the issue--saving individuals who need help is. She's more focused on the saving/assisting of the current individual than the "cause" of the age moving from dark to light. She's involved with the "little picture", not the big one.
If you've ever read the motivational story about the beach of starfish, you'd know what I'm going for. Basically, a man is walking and sees someone putting beached starfish back in the ocean. The man says there are too many starfish for them all to be saved, and the rescuer can't make a difference. The rescuer smiles, and says, "It made a difference to that one."
I guess my character doesn't care about the cosmic issues--as long as she's making a difference to this person in distress right now, this need or conflict right in front of her. Who cares about 100 years from now, or even a year ahead--there's hurting/starving/possessed people to help right here, and right now.
Still thinking Neutral Good might be best, honestly. But bringing back 'the Light' by spreading good works on the Prime Plane does seem a viable perspective.
Her reply to my inquiry actually helped clarify her position for me a bit more;
*snip*
Still thinking Neutral Good might be best, honestly. But bringing back 'the Light' by spreading good works on the Prime Plane does seem a viable perspective.
Now that's a good way to put it.
For a kalashtar in Khorvaire, there is no clear, simple way to fight the Dreaming Dark. They have no obvious presence in Khorvaire; sure, there are Inspired ambassadors, but most of them aren't actually working directly for the DD. Are you saying that she wouldn't stop a DD plan if she stumbled onto one, or simply that she is trying to focus on helping as many people as possible, dealing with evil of all sorts, as opposed to concentrating on trying to track down the DD?
If the latter, I think that's very appropriate for the kalashtar. Yes, the DD is a clear and active threat. But I could see a kalashtar arguing that the best way to fight the DD is to promote light throughout the entire world. Whether helping the poor or combating the Cults of the Dragon Below, every noble act may move the world a step closer to il-Yannah. The Dreaming Dark tries to hold this back, but if you create a river of light, how can they? So sure, I don't think that she has to take a personal interest in hunting down the Dreaming Dark... because doing any good deed is, in a sense, opposing them. Now, if she actively says "If I ran into a DD guy doing a bad thing, I wouldn't even care", that's weird - but if it's "I'm not going to devote my energy to hunting for them when I could devote that same energy to helping those in immediate need", I think that's perfectly valid.
Remember that the average kalashtar of Adar doesn't actively, physically oppose the Dreaming Dark; he opposes them through acts of prayer and meditation, which he believes will hasten the coming of il-Yannah. Her decision to actively do good in the world mirrors that; she doesn't believe that she has to FIGHT the Dreaming Dark to defeat them.
Her reply to my inquiry actually helped clarify her position for me a bit more;
Still thinking Neutral Good might be best, honestly. But bringing back 'the Light' by spreading good works on the Prime Plane does seem a viable perspective.
Actually this:
'm not saying she won't act against the forces of evil--I'm just saying that in her mind, the issue of the age changing from one thing to another is not the issue--saving individuals who need help is. She's more focused on the saving/assisting of the current individual than the "cause" of the age moving from dark to light. She's involved with the "little picture", not the big one.
... Is actually described in the Races of Eberron as exactly how the kalashtar expect to turn the wheel: They do a lot of little things, and the little things add up to big things in their minds. So they are, in fact, acting just as Kalashtar would act. What they are saying in real terms is: "I'm too small to fight the dreaming dark directly, but I can make a difference on the small scale, and on that scale things will grow." OK, this character will be unlikely to become an Atavist or other dedicated foe of the Dreaming Dark, but they will be 'doing their bit.'
Yep, it figures, and LG is reasonable.
Still thinking Neutral Good might be best, honestly. But bringing back 'the Light' by spreading good works on the Prime Plane does seem a viable perspective.
You know, Lawful good doesn't mean she'll go against undefeatable ennemies, only because she's lawful. She's doing the right thing, and I think she got the LG profile.
I think we've got it all hashed out now.
Thanks for the help, all.
Needless to say an apathetic attitude does not suit a Kalashtar with regard to the Dreaming Dark. Kalashtar do not 'believe' in the existence of the Dreaming Dark, they know it is there, it is real and it wants to kill them. It is hard to remain apathetic when somebody is out to kill you, unless you have a deathwish.
This strikes me as a poorly thought out character - yes it is interesting to play characters that do not fulfil racial stereotypes or even run contrary to them, but in this case, the conflict between the Kalashtar and the Dreaming Dark and it's allies is hard to ignore by the latter. I could buy this in a neutral or evil character ... but how do they define their alignment as good if they are unmoved by the presence of great evil? The only possibility I can think of is that they may have discovered larger fish to fry ... but as you have not mentioned this, I can't assume it exists.
Except she is not specifically being hunted, her race is. Compare to the American Revolution: Not every American fought the British, despite their actions of basically killing any American. Same with the French Revolution. Some people just want to be quiet and forget their enemies exist, which is what she is doing.
Though I do agree that she is neither Lawful in any aspect, and she may be Good, but I'd say NG is anything.
Except she is not specifically being hunted, her race is. Compare to the American Revolution: Not every American fought the British, despite their actions of basically killing any American. Same with the French Revolution. Some people just want to be quiet and forget their enemies exist, which is what she is doing.
Though I do agree that she is neither Lawful in any aspect, and she may be Good, but I'd say NG is anything.
Yeah, but half of the Americans or Frenchs in these war didn't had half of their souls being immortal beasts from the Plane of Dreams, genetically and spiritually made to oppose their ennemies. I guess a Kalashtar's opinion is biased.
Even their fluff calls for the fact that without the meditation/Il-Yannah, they grow more and more erratic. It's part of them to oppose the Dreaming Dark.
Good ways of making characters take sides is to show them in game why the enemy is really an enemy and villain. Make the DD attack close to home, attacking their loved ones using intrigue and politics, and in the meanwhile hunting their friends in while they dream. That might make the character take up arms against the DD.
Except she is not specifically being hunted, her race is. Compare to the American Revolution: Not every American fought the British, despite their actions of basically killing any American. Same with the French Revolution. Some people just want to be quiet and forget their enemies exist, which is what she is doing.
Though I do agree that she is neither Lawful in any aspect, and she may be Good, but I'd say NG is anything.
Please see my later posting - I now feel the character's actions are consistent with the kalashtar attitude to how the wheel of the age should be turned, now that the character's motivation has been explained in greater detail.