Detect Evil spell - A question about AD&D rules and possible SPOILER

[bariumdose]

Beware - possible spoiler ahead!

I had a question about Detect Evil: does it work absolutely? In other words, are there ways in AD&D that allow an evil person to avoid being detected? And, as a related question, can an evil person/demon/god/goddess avoid being known through the Know Alignment spell?

The basis for my question involves Arundel and your party's encounter with him after completing the Dragon's Eye quest. I played a different party where, before completing Dragon's Eye, I had my paladin cast Detect Evil when the so-called "Arundel" was around, but nothing was detected, if you get my drift. Granted, possibly for the purposes of furthering the plot, Detect Evil was not allowed to work, but I'm curious as to whether or not there is a better reason, based on the ruleset, that would allow for Detect Evil to fail.

[Aerich]

SPOILERS AHEAD - anyone who has not completed the game should not read this post

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When exactly are you casting the Detect Evil?

The failure of Detect Evil to work prior to finishing Dragon's Eye has nothing to do with the spell. As I understand it, the real Arundel (who is not evil) is always attacked while your party is in transit back to Kuldahar after killing Yxunomei. The presence of neo-orogs in Kuldahar is the clue that the Arundel you meet on the bottom floor of the tree dwelling is false. iirc, he talks to you as soon as you enter, making it impossible for you to cast Detect Evil before the conversation starts.

If you cast Detect Evil before the conversation starts after killing Yx, just ignore what I just said and continue your speculations.

It only makes sense that a being of sufficient power could prevent the operation of a low-level divination spell. In 2nd AD&D, there are two low level wizard spells that can block the detection spell, although neither is a spell in the IWD game; Misdirection (2nd lvl) and Delude (3rd lvl). I would assume that the 8th lvl spell Mind Blank, which is a spell in the IWD game, is also capable of preventing this divination.

[bariumdose]

Originally Posted by Aerich

SPOILERS AHEAD - anyone who has not completed the game should not read this post

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When exactly are you casting the Detect Evil?

The failure of Detect Evil to work prior to finishing Dragon's Eye has nothing to do with the spell. As I understand it, the real Arundel (who is not evil) is always attacked while your party is in transit back to Kuldahar after killing Yxunomei. The presence of neo-orogs in Kuldahar is the clue that the Arundel you meet on the bottom floor of the tree dwelling is false. iirc, he talks to you as soon as you enter, making it impossible for you to cast Detect Evil before the conversation starts.

If you cast Detect Evil before the conversation starts after killing Yx, just ignore what I just said and continue your speculations.

It only makes sense that a being of sufficient power could prevent the operation of a low-level divination spell. In 2nd AD&D, there are two low level wizard spells that can block the detection spell, although neither is a spell in the IWD game; Misdirection (2nd lvl) and Delude (3rd lvl). I would assume that the 8th lvl spell Mind Blank, which is a spell in the IWD game, is also capable of preventing this divination.

Ahh, so Arundel was still the real Arundel before the neo-Orogs invade Kuldahar? That's why my Detect Evil did not register. I casted Detect Evil before finishing Dragon's Eye and before initiating parley with Arundel.