Page 59 - D&D 5e - SRD

Lawful neutral (LN) individuals act in accordance Languages
with law, tradition, or personal codes. Many monks
and some wizards are lawful neutral. Your race indicates the languages your character can
Neutral (N) is the alignment of those who prefer speak by default, and your background might give
to steer clear of moral questions and don’t take sides, you access to one or more additional languages of
doing what seems best at the time. Lizardfolk, most your choice. Note these languages on your character
druids, and many humans are neutral. sheet.
Chaotic neutral (CN) creatures follow their Choose your languages from the Standard
whims, holding their personal freedom above all else. Languages table, or choose one that is common in
Many barbarians and rogues, and some bards, are your campaign. With your GM’s permission, you can
chaotic neutral. instead choose a language from the Exotic
Lawful evil (LE) creatures methodically take what Languages table or a secret language, such as thieves’
they want, within the limits of a code of tradition, cant or the tongue of druids.
loyalty, or order. Devils, blue dragons, and Some of these languages are actually families of
hobgoblins are lawful evil. languages with many dialects. For example, the
Neutral evil (NE) is the alignment of those who Primordial language includes the Auran, Aquan,
do whatever they can get away with, without Ignan, and Terran dialects, one for each of the four
compassion or qualms. Many drow, some cloud elemental planes. Creatures that speak different
giants, and goblins are neutral evil. dialects of the same language can communicate with
Chaotic evil (CE) creatures act with arbitrary one another.
violence, spurred by their greed, hatred, or bloodlust. Standard Languages
Demons, red dragons, and orcs are chaotic evil.
Language Typical Speakers Script
Alignment in the Multiverse Common Humans Common
For many thinking creatures, alignment is a moral Dwarvish Dwarves Dwarvish
choice. Humans, dwarves, elves, and other humanoid Elvish Elves Elvish
races can choose whether to follow the paths of good Giant Ogres, giants Dwarvish
Gnomes
Gnomish
Dwarvish
or evil, law or chaos. According to myth, the good- Goblin Goblinoids Dwarvish
aligned gods who created these races gave them free Halfling Halflings Common
will to choose their moral paths, knowing that good Orc Orcs Dwarvish
without free will is slavery.
The evil deities who created other races, though, Exotic Languages
made those races to serve them. Those races have
strong inborn tendencies that match the nature of Language Typical Speakers Script
their gods. Most orcs share the violent, savage Abyssal Demons Infernal
nature of the orc gods, and are thus inclined toward Celestial Celestials Celestial
evil. Even if an orc chooses a good alignment, it Draconic Dragons, dragonborn Draconic
Deep Speech
—
Aboleths, cloakers
struggles against its innate tendencies for its entire Infernal Devils Infernal
life. (Even half- orcs feel the lingering pull of the orc Primordial Elementals Dwarvish
god’s influence.) Sylvan Fey creatures Elvish
Alignment is an essential part of the nature of Undercommon Underworld traders Elvish
celestials and fiends. A devil does not choose to be
lawful evil, and it doesn’t tend toward lawful evil, Inspiration
but rather it is lawful evil in its essence. If it
somehow ceased to be lawful evil, it would cease to Inspiration is a rule the game master can use to
be a devil. reward you for playing your character in a way
Most creatures that lack the capacity for rational that’s true to his or her personality traits, ideal, bond,
thought do not have alignments—they are and flaw. By using inspiration, you can draw on your
unaligned. Such a creature is incapable of making a personality trait of compassion for the downtrodden
moral or ethical choice and acts according to its to give you an edge in negotiating with the Beggar
bestial nature. Sharks are savage predators, for Prince. Or inspiration can let you call on your bond
example, but they are not evil; they have no to the defense of your home village to push past the
alignment. effect of a spell that has been laid on you.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. System Reference Document 5.1 59