Do baby kobolds detect as evil?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

My characters are going to be invading a kobold settlement soon. It wouldn't be realistic for the whole thing to be made of fighting warriors. There will be non-combatants, young, and eggs. Otherwise, it would not be a viable community.

The hero's mission, interestingly enough, is to eradicate "monster presence" in the location. They will be in a tough spot, since there will be no easy way out except through more monster-infested areas. They will have no way to care for or feed the babies.

I wonder how they will react.

Well when the party I DM was in a similar situation they busted out the barrels of oil they had in the wagon and rolled 'em into the main cave. A quick fire spell and bam! Kobald problem delt with.

I have been told that there may have been a more compassionate way to deal with them...

 

[Chun-tzu]

"Dude! I'm telling you, that baby is evil! It just stuck it's tongue out at me! Hey, did you just see that? It gave me the finger! You little bastard! Hey! HEY!! Stop trying to bite me, you little monster!"

 

[MerakSpielman]

So are the adult Kobolds in this encounter evil?

Presumably the age to maturity of kobolds is ~10 years. If so, then the children will have "learned" the parent's alignment by age 2 or so. Perhaps even 12 months.

(Note to self: Delete Hong's on-line version of "Return of the Jedi".)

Yes, the adults are evil. They are ruled over by an evil sorcerer and necromatic cleric.

I will have to crunch the numbers, but there will be a certain percentage of eggs and hatchlings (under 1 year) in the population.

At least the party doesn't have a paladin.

 

[diaglo]

kobolds are evil through and through.

but just b/c they are evil doesn't mean good aligned characters have to kill the young.

 

[Holy Bovine]

My characters are going to be invading a kobold settlement soon. It wouldn't be realistic for the whole thing to be made of fighting warriors. There will be non-combatants, young, and eggs. Otherwise, it would not be a viable community.

The hero's mission, interestingly enough, is to eradicate "monster presence" in the location. They will be in a tough spot, since there will be no easy way out except through more monster-infested areas. They will have no way to care for or feed the babies.

I wonder how they will react.

If they have been aksed to wipe out the Kobolds and they are being paid for it I don't see why any of them would hesitate to put ever Kobold to the sword. 'Monsters' are just that - monsters. Deal with them as you would any vermin.

 

[dren]

Evil is as evil does

I would have a hard time as a DM letting paladins detect evil from baby kobolds, goblins, orcs, etc. Evil, at least in my game isn't a relative term but there are some nuances, and looking at any mortal creature is very hard whether to determine if someone's actions are evil or simply corrupt. When a paladin does his detect, unless it's an outerplanar demon/devil or a high priest from an evil god, there is usually just a faintness of evil, meaning redemption is possible.

I love the roleplaying scenario when a paladin or a good cleric tries to redeem evil creatures...so much more interesting than simply putting everything to the sword. Few mortal creatures are beyond hope, sure only 1/100 could be helped in this matter, but there is always the chance...

Evil is as evil does, and while they may not believe in redeption or mercy but most good aligned creatures should.

 

[Psyckosama]

If they have been aksed to wipe out the Kobolds and they are being paid for it I don't see why any of them would hesitate to put ever Kobold to the sword. 'Monsters' are just that - monsters. Deal with them as you would any vermin.

I'd let them do that... then inform them of a party level elignment change towards evil.

Woe is the Paladin.

 

[Henry]

Knights of Myth Drannor

Kobold daycare

Est. DR 1357

"You raze 'em, we'll raise 'em"

 

[Nail]

Point: Be sure the players know about how you, the DM, view Evil and Evil creatures.

This should not be something they discover "after the fact".

 

[Mort]

The real question is how much moral ambiguity you want to inject into your campaign. Do you want the players to struggle with the decision of what to do with the kobold young (a potentially monstrous logistic problem) or do you want them to finish the adventure and move on.

Some groups thrive on the questions presented when notions of “good” and “evil” are challenged. Other groups dislike the drag it puts on the campaign and just want a straightforward good is good, evil is evil and that’s that. Find out what your players want before answering your question and everyone should have more fun (which in the end is the entire point).