Page 115 - DnD_5e_Players_Handbook_(BnW_OCR)

T i k a a n d A r t e m i s : C h a r a c t e r D e t a i l s doing what seem s best at the time. Lizardfolk, most
Consider how the names Tika Waylan and Artemis Entreri druids, and many humans are neutral.
set these characters apart from each other and reflect their Chaotic neutral (CN) creatures follow their whims,
personalities. Tika is a young woman determined to prove holding their personal freedom above all else.
that she's not just a kid any more, and her name makes her Many barbarians and rogues, and som e bards, are
sound young and ordinary. Artemis Entreri comes from an
chaotic neutral.
exotic land and carries a more mysterious name. Lawful evil (LE) creatures methodically take what they
Tika is nineteen years old at the start of her adventuring
want, within the limits of a code of tradition, loyalty, or
career and has auburn hair, green eyes, fair skin with freckles,
order. Devils, blue dragons, and hobgoblins are lawful evil.
and a mole on her right hip. Artemis is a small man, compact
and all wiry muscle. He has angular features and high Neutral evil (NE) is the alignment of those who do
cheekbones, and he always seems in need of a shave. His whatever they can get away with, without com passion or
raven-black hair is thick and full, but his eyes are gray and qualms. Many drow, som e cloud giants, and yugoloths
lifeless— betraying the emptiness of his life and soul. are neutral evil.
Chaotic evil (CE) creatures act with arbitrary
violence, spurred by their greed, hatred, or bloodlust.
A l i g n m e n t
Demons, red dragons, and orc s are chaotic evil.
A typical creature in the worlds of D u n g e o n s &
D r a g o n s has an alignment, which broadly describes A l i g n m e n t i n t h e M u l t i v e r s e
its moral and personal attitudes. Alignment is a For many thinking creatures, alignment is a moral
combination of two factors: one identifies morality choice. Humans, dwarves, elves, and other humanoid
(good, evil, or neutral), and the other describes races can choose whether to follow the paths of good or
attitudes toward society and order (lawful, chaotic, evil, law or chaos. According to myth, the good-aligned
or neutral). Thus, nine distinct alignments define the gods w ho created these races gave them free will to
possible combinations. choose their moral paths, knowing that good without
These brief sum m aries of the nine alignments free will is slavery.
describe the typical behavior of a creature with that The evil deities w ho created other races, though, made
alignment. Individuals might vary significantly from those races to serve them. Those races have strong
that typical behavior, and few people are perfectly and inborn tendencies that match the nature of their gods.
consistently faithful to the precepts of their alignment. Most orcs share the violent, savage nature of the orc
Lawful good (LG) creatures can be counted on to do god, Gruumsh, and are thus inclined toward evil. Even if
the right thing as expected by society. Gold dragons, an orc chooses a good alignment, it struggles against its
paladins, and m ost dwarves are lawful good. innate tendencies for its entire life. (Even half-orcs feel
Neutral good (NG) folk do the best they can to help the lingering pull of the orc god’s influence.)
others according to their needs. Many celestials, som e Alignment is an essential part of the nature of
cloud giants, and most gnom es are neutral good. celestials and fiends. A devil does not choose to be
Chaotic good (CG) creatures act as their conscience lawful evil, and it doesn’t tend toward lawful evil, but
directs, with little regard for what others expect. Copper rather it is lawful evil in its essence. If it som ehow
dragons, many elves, and unicorns are chaotic good. ceased to be lawful evil, it w ould cease to be a devil.
Lawful neutral (LN) individuals act in accordance Most creatures that lack the capacity for rational
with law, tradition, or personal codes. Many m onks and thought do not have alignments—they are unaligned.
som e w izards are lawful neutral. Such a creature is incapable of making a moral or
Neutral (N) is the alignment of those w ho prefer to ethical choice and acts according to its bestial nature.
steer clear of moral questions and don’t take sides, Sharks are savage predators, for example, but they are
not evil; they have no alignment.

D w a r v i s h S c r i p t : S a m p l e A l p h a b e t