D&D 5E Moral Agency

[WayOfTheFourElements]

Very few groups enjoy everything you do to the full extent that you do. Cooperating despite reasonable differences is a good skill to have!

Which is why I am very selective about players I allow to join my table. Nevertheless, I have found 22 players (divided into two groups) who all fit wonderfully with my playstyle. If I can do it, I believe everyone can do the same, given sufficient desire and disagreeableness.

 

[Oofta]

Ask your DM because it's going to vary depending on how they run your game.

In my campaign you could always try to redeem that demon, but honestly it's never going to work. You can try to rewrite the rules of the universe, but if a meer mortal can do it, some other power would have done it long ago.

But maybe it doesn't matter if you succeed or not, maybe all that matters is that you try.

 

[chipinoh]

Play with a group who enjoys the things you do. If nothing else, find/start a new group.

Or, better yet, settle the matter like men: Trial by Combat! (Either between characters, or just bust out the judo mats and crush skulls in the living room.)

The vengeance paladin and I are kinda figuring it's going to come to that eventually. He's probably going to do the math and determine that eliminating me allows him to eliminate more evil in the world more effectively and efficiently.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

The vengeance paladin and I are kinda figuring it's going to come to that eventually. He's probably going to do the math and determine that eliminating me allows him to eliminate more evil in the world more effectively and efficiently.

Sounds like he is going to need redeeming.

Actually . . . does he already have a solid backstory and concept sorted? If not you could suggest that you have a linked story. - He is a powerful paladin who went too far and fell, and you redeemed him and are guiding him back to the path of righteousness. That way a lot of your redemption efforts are centred within the party and share the spotlight.

(Check with your DM about the setting and their stance of whether creatures of evil like devils, demons, paladins, goblins etc are actually capable of redemption. Proficiency in Religion and Arcana or History could be useful, so if another member of your party has those skills, that would a way of bringing them into your quest as well.)

 

[Seramus]

Intending to change the laws of the universe to allow redemption to creatures that might otherwise not have free will? A linked background about two paladins, one who fell from grace and is struggling against her nature, while the other tries to guide her back to the path of the merciful?

Bravo, internet. Such beautiful storylines.

(Check with your DM about the setting and their stance of whether creatures of evil like devils, demons, paladins, goblins etc are actually capable of redemption. Proficiency in Religion and Arcana or History could be useful, so if another member of your party has those skills, that would a way of bringing them into your quest as well.)

Side note: I fall on the side that thinks demons and devils can be redeemed. Devils especially, since they are tortured souls of former mortals. But it's ultimately up to the DM, as everything is.

 

[Shiroiken]

It's going to depend on how the DM views the setting's multiverse. In my Greyhawk campaign, almost everything mortal can be redeemed, but the likelihood is based on the individual type of creature. Inner planar creatures and fey will rarely change their alignment, but it's possible. Outer planar creatures are meant to be the epitome of their alignment, and any change for such creatures is going to be legendary. I consider aberrations to be mortal creatures corrupted by the far realm elder gods, and as such are completely irredeemable.

 

[chipinoh]

These are such great responses! Thank you for all the insights. Any thoughts on constructs? I'm assuming not capable of redemption, but curious if anyone disagrees.

 

[Eltab]

Constructs can be reprogrammed - see the Terminator movies.

That could really mess up a group (of rivals or BBEG's troubleshooters) that follows you into a dungeon and figures "we will catch up to those 'heroes' and trap them Here" ... you are gone and the room's guardian is giving them the sceptical data scan ...
Your group presently becomes aware of the sound of combat coming from behind you.

 

[Eltab]

P.S. I as DM hold that devils and demons are embodiments of their alignment so are unredeemable. An exception would become a myth / legend of that Paladin's faith, and is beyond a multiplayer campaign's scope - you would have to play that out solo with a supporting cast of NPCs.

 

[DEFCON 1]

If Zariel was an angel that fell and became a devil, I'd find it very odd to believe that devils couldn't rise to become angels.

Same thing with the Fey Llolth becoming a demon. That can happen, but not in the opposite direction? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.