Parmandur
Book-Friend
Well, according to the book, which was finalized before the Mighty anein even got to the Dynasty, Essek canonicaly is indeed Neutral Evil.Well, he murdered the Scourger personally to cover his tracks (2X77) clearly, and under the various felony murder rules out there he would be liable for all the deaths in the war caused by his thefts. So ... you might argue mass murderer may not be technically true under some definitions, but under others it is clearly true.
Regardless, what he did caused horrific deaths on a monsterous scale - and the only thing he has ever said he regretted was betraying his new friends. He even called regret a new sensation to him.
He recognizes there is no redemption for him. And when he notes that, his focus is on his own safety, not on morality.
Matt has hinted that the ability to avoid death forever using the beacons allows some beings more freedom to be immoral as there is no punishment in the afterlife to 'pay' when the end comes. He did not say he was speaking of Essek specifically, but Essek's complicitous role was unknown at the time.
Essek seems to be neutral evil. "... do whatever they can get away with, without compassion or qualms..." That is exactly how Matt played Essek. There is no concern for the greater good - just what is good for Essek. Amongst what is good for Essek is the benefits of a friendship with the Mighty Nein... so he is not the epitome of Neutral Evil, but he is clearly Neutral Evil.
I thinknitnis genius DMing that Mercer let his players essentially will a bit of a conversion out of him.