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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Firstborn" data-source="post: 594327" data-attributes="member: 9767">Quote:  Anybody can tell a hero's actions from a villain's!If that were true then this question would not have been posted.I believe the following is true when trying to determine whether an action is evil or not.Not based on religion: There are religions that espouse all kinds of various things which one would you base it on.Not based on culture: The idea that an action is not evil because the society from which the individual taking that action is from condones it is ludicrous.  Actions are good or evil no matter what the culture allows.  A culture can be evil if it is one which freely accepts or enforces actions that are evil in nature.Not based on a code: Chivalry, Bushido or any other.  Both are designed to allow a ruling class to rule.  Both espouse might as right.  They also claim that the warriors that are subject to it are due a certain respect from the commoners simply because of their station not because of their actions.Not based on military accords: They are based on what heads of states of head deem right and wrong.It is certainly not based on what one expects from others.  Orcs do what they do because their society rewards the strong and granting mercy is a sign of weakness.It is based on what one would want granted to them were they in the prisoner’s position.  Mercy.It is based on what one can be if the decision is made to do so.  Merciful.I wonder how many of us have ever run over a stray dog.  I have purely by accident.  It made me feel miserable because I watched the dog die unable to do anything about it.  I cannot fathom what I would feel if I took the life of another human being when I had to in order to defend myself or to stop someone who was bringing harm to others let alone imagine the self loathing I would feel if I took the life of someone who surrendered to me.  I believe that I would have to harden my heart to my own feelings and emotions in order deal with the pain I would feel from my actions.  I would try to rationalize my behavior to myself and tell myself that I had no choice.  But what about the next time I had to do it.  It would probably be easier the second time.  And then it would get even easier with each time after that.  Eventually I would feel nothing at all as I slit the throat of my captive whilst they pleaded for their mercy.  Wait then again maybe I would.  I would feel powerful as I felt my victims hot blood spurt onto my skin.  Oh what a thrill that would be.  After all I would wield the power and life and death in my hands, raw power unlike anything else in the world.  I would be as a god to these sniveling, wining beings.  The light of fear in the eyes as I draw my blade forth, the momentary struggle, and then ecstasy as I draw my razor sharp blade across the neck of my helpless victim.  The life of another person would be nothing to me except for an opportunity to enjoy a moment of pleasure.  Just like Jeffrey Dahlmer, Albert De Salvo, Ted Bundy, etc…  I WOULD HAVE BECOME A MONSTER.  I HAVE BECOME A THING OF GREAT EVIL.The following is not a line from the movie ‘Gladiator’ but rather from a Roman Emperor who was a great philosopher as well.Quae in vita facimus in aeternitatem resonant. What we do in life, echoes in eternity. --Marcus Aurelius I heard this next line in ‘Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves’.Nobility is not a birthright, it is defined by ones actions.--Robin HoodI really like this next one.Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you. --Friedrich Nietzsche Beyond Good and Evil In my mind these quotes sum up what defines who and what a person is to include whether that person is good or evil in his heart.I have made my argument for whether the act is evil but I would like to make another argument for what can cause this issue to arise in the game.Part of the problem with D&D is that to many DM’s think that if you free an orc he should:A. Jump up the second you free him and try to grab your sword so that he can kill you.B. Shadow you until he has an opportunity for revenge.C. Lie to you so that he can lead you into a trap.D. Or some other DM desired action that will punish the PC’s for being merciful which only ends up making PC’s unwilling to grant mercy to any captive.What if instead the orc did the following:A. Recognized the party as the powerful warriors they are and decided to serve them, as he would get more booty from being part of their group as opposed to his tribe.B. Was honorable despite the fact the he is currently evil (redemption may be possible – XP for PC’s) and decides to pledge himself to the characters who argue to spare his life.  It is possible to keep ones word even though you are evil.  Remember most orcs are only evil because of their social norms.C. Ran off, and did not warn his fellow orcs because he has had enough of his chief’s warmongering attitude and does not want to face the PC’s in battle again.D. Something similar that gets the orc out the PC’s hair or makes him an ally.By the way has the use of poison and whether the action is evil or not been discussed?</blockquote>

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