D&D General Inherently Evil?

[Oofta]

My take? I just say they're always evil as far as anyone knows. They are not naturally evolved in the sense that we think, they were created for a specific purpose. They continue to be controlled by whatever force created them. They have a biological "chip" in their brain that affects how they act.

In addition, people make a lot of assumptions about what good and evil means based on our own internal biological imperatives, I don't assume a truly alien intelligence would have those same biological imperatives.

But ... expecting this thread to be shut down in 3...2...1

 

[Steampunkette]

If I might offer an idea, @jgsugden?

Make them brutal. Not just violent toward outsiders. But internally brutal. A lot of people talk about "Alpha Wolves" as if it were a positive and natural thing, which it isn't by any stretch of the imagination, but apply that to your Gnolls.

Instead of reproducing through mating, have them reproduce through cannibalistic acts, like 5e's corrupted hyena followers. And have every individual Gnoll recognize no other gnoll as "Family" because they -aren't- family by any stretch of the imagination. So an enforce hierarchy relies on constant brutal violence. Have practically every gnoll covered in vicious scars, even open wounds. Missing limbs or eyes or ears from being torn up by higher ups in the pack. Go to extremes on the levels of violence they aim at each other, and out into the world as soon as they have a target that isn't themselves.

Yeah, they're slavers who take prisoners to do the work for them. But they're also just as likely to kill and eat a slave when they think they can get away with it.

Petty Tyrants, the lot of them, abusing whatever power they have over literally anyone under them, outraged that they're not able to be the pack alpha.

It wouldn't reflect any specific society that's ever existed... but would reflect the worst aspects of almost every society that has ever existed.

 

[Iry]

But ... expecting this thread to be shut down in 3...2...1

Hopefully not. I genuinely don't have an agenda. This is literally just a thought experiment to see what conditions might be necessary (if possible at all) to count as Inherently Evil instead of socialized to be evil.

 

[BookTenTiger]

A switch seems like a simple solution!

Characters can attempt to grapple them and switch them to Good.

It's about as logical as anything else.

 

[Voadam]

Warhammer 40K Orks. Possibly a biological weapon project that got out of control, fungi that take humanoid form and reproduce by releasing spores when violently killed. They have biological drives to get angry as a group and attack outsiders in order to be killed while angry and fighting.

 

[Helpful NPC Thom]

How would you design a biological race that is Inherently Evil? I think the main way would have to be through some supernatural imperative.

I would mold him from dust and instruct him to eat anything he desires except for the fruit of one particular tree.

 

[Oofta]

Hopefully not. I genuinely don't have an agenda. This is literally just a thought experiment to see what conditions might be necessary (if possible at all) to count as Inherently Evil instead of socialized to be evil.

In my campaign, some creatures are evil because they originate from Svartleheim (I loosely base my cosmology on Norse mythology). Basically it's the equivalent of the underdark and the realm radiates evil. Creatures born there have darkened gray skin, almost like a permanent sunburn. This influence is almost complete to those born there, even creatures that reside there for a decade or two will be influenced.

Drow and duergar call Svartleheim home, drow that manage to escape it's influence become "gray elves". Not in the sense that their skin remains gray (it fades over time) but that their emotions and lifestyle are very gray and dull compared to other elves. They've become the Vulcans of elves so to speak. Duergar that escape just join regular dwarven clans that are already dull and taciturn.

Other species such as goblins originated from they feywild, where the proto-goblins are neither inherently good nor evil. They're related to the trickster fey. However, long ago these fey came to the mortal realm and some embraced their dark side and became goblins while others embraced the light and became gnomes. Some goblins are not evil (although it's rare) and some gnomes are evil because of their beady little eyes.

But others? Orcs are basically manufactured storm troopers and emerge full grown. Fire and Frost giants originate from Jotunheim and are supernaturally molded by their home worlds. Trolls are ravenous eating machines, hill giants are bullies. Both are stupid brutes more than anything.

 

[Scribe]

Other species such as goblins originated from they feywild, where the proto-goblins are neither inherently good nor evil. They're related to the trickster fey. However, long ago these fey came to the mortal realm and some embraced their dark side and became goblins while others embraced the light and became gnomes. Some goblins are not evil (although it's rare) and some gnomes are evil because of their beady little eyes.

I dig that.

 

[Sacrosanct]

It all comes down to personal preference. Some people view that no intelligent thinking creature can be inherently anything.

Others think it's possible, due to "forces", like fiends, fey, etc.

And others don't want their fantasy games to be morally complex or to have any deeper philosophical quandaries, and just want evil monsters for their heroes to battle.

I don't think any approach is wrong.

 

[jayoungr]

So if I'm reading some of this right, "inherently evil" can't actually exist? That seems counterintuitive.

What term would you use in its place, for something that has no free will but is what would commonly be called evil?