Do baby kobolds detect as evil?

[MerakSpielman]

I mean, newly-hatched.

Same question for trolls and other "evil" giants/humanoids. Is the evil in them inherent?

Would the kobold babies be evil even if taken and tenderly raised by the most benevolent elves in the world?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Of course. They are EVIL to the core. They aren't misunderstood, they aren't quasi-bad, they aren't "bad jr", they are evil! Put 'em to the sword!

 

[Chronosome]

Depends on if your using the "cultural influence" or "legacy of the creatures origin" explanation for their "usually Lawful Evil" alignment. Check out Pg. 12 in the MM.

I'd say kobold babies are Neutral until taught by their society that to be evil is just "the way the world works". (At least that's how it is in my campaign.)

But you might decide that, because of a kobold's draconic heritage (and dragons have the "always" in front of their alignment) the evil ones are evil straight from the egg.

Hope that helps.

 

[Nifft]

Kobolds IMC aren't inherently evil.

Goblins, on the other hand, are demon-twisted fey, and will always detect as evil.

-- Nifft

 

[hammymchamham]

Trolls' are "Alignment: Always chaotic evil"

So even baby trolls would detect as evil. Of course if durring their life they turn good (or neutral) they wouldn't detect as evil any more.

"Always: The creature is born with the listed alignment. The creature may have a hereditary predisposition to the alignment or come from a plane that predetermines it. It is possible for individuals to change alignment, but such individuals are either unique or one-in-a-million exceptions. "

Kobolds are "Alignment: Usually lawful evil" As it says in the SRD

"Usually: The majority (more than 50%) of these creatures have the given alignment. This may be due to strong cultural influences, or it may be a legacy of the creatures’ origin.
Often: The creature tends toward the listed alignment, either by nature or nurture, but not strongly. A plurality (40-50%) of individuals have the given alignment, but exceptions are common. "

With Kobolds it depends on what the tribe (and their parents) are.

 

[MarauderX]

Interesting dilemma for a party I bet, try to convince the paladin to put the axe to the kids by using detect evil. I would judge they don't come across as evil but as neutral with not enough Int to know the difference yet, just like a dog or other animal. It would be funny trying to find a shelter to drop the kobold baby off... or it could be a quest, but I wouldn't be that mean to the party.

 

[MerakSpielman]

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.

 

[Nail]

Kobolds IMC aren't inherently evil.

Goblins, on the other hand, are demon-twisted fey, and will always detect as evil.

-- Nifft

Amen, brother Nifft.

 

[hong]

AAAaaiieee!!!!

Ahem. Carry on.

 

[Nail]

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.

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".)