Evil?

Eriks · Post by **Eriks** » Tue Nov 26, 2002 8:20 pm

This may seem a very odd and stupid question at first, but... I was wondering why "monsters" in the FR are labeled as evil. I am sure there are good reasons, and in many cases it is obvious, but a lot of the time it seems to me like the monsters are simply defending themselves from the adventurers who want to do "good" in the world. What I am really interested in is any information about the various monsters in the FR (even the most basic ones like gnolls, orcs, xvarts etc.). Why do people constantly fight these creatures? Are both parties equally at fualt? Why can entire species be labeled as evil? If you have any good answers I would very much like to hear them

Lintelyg · Post by **Lintelyg** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:53 am

Well...

Evil: Evil in the realms is seen as how they behave. Orcs for example are always up to something bad: Pillaging and killing. Evil means that they would rather kill and eat a wounded creature rather than nurse it back to health. Gnolls, like the orcs, hate humans and would take any chance at killing one. An elf (except if it was a drow) would never do that, thus making it a "good" creature.

Here is some information about orcs:
-they are mostly led by a leader. Sort of like an alpha-male in wolf packs.
-the shaman in a tribe of orcs is the spiritual leader of the members
-When at war, orcs like to enlist the help of worgs. Worgs are huge direwolves
-they like to use heavy weapons like huge axes and clubs etc.

What other criters are there in the FR... hmmm... oh yeah!

Hook Horrors:
-big creature with a beak and a set of HUGE claws
-very sensitiv to sound
-lives in the Underdark
-hunted by drow war parties in training

P.S.: What's a xvart???

Eriks · Post by **Eriks** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:15 pm

thanks a lot for that Lin!
Xvarts are these small, humanoid, bluish creatures. To tell the truth I haven't seen any outside of Baldur's Gate (1 only) so I am not sure if they are unique to the game or not. Also, do you know WHY orcs and gnolls hate humans so much? Is it because humans kill them on sight? or do humans kill them on sight because orcs do the same? I am interested in discovering how far back this hatrded stems and why it is there in the first place (I am thinking of making a rather unique campaign setting and this information would be helpfull

) I started thinking about this when I realized I had no idea where basic monsters, like orcs, gnolls, goblins and hobgoblins come from. A lot of evil monsters come from the abyss or netherworld (nine hells? whatever you want to call it) but as far as I know Orcs and gnolls etc. do not, so why are they evil by default when most creatures have the potential to be either good or evil?

Another creature I am interested in is the Wyvern. I think this also might be unique to BG (the game) because like the xvarts, I have never heard of them beyond that. If you don't know what it is, a wyvern is a dragon type creature, but significantly smaller and they seem to have poison in their claws. I am wondering if they are neutral like animals or evil.

Lintelyg · Post by **Lintelyg** » Thu Nov 28, 2002 5:28 am

Why there is hatred is for the gods to know.
My own theory in this is this:

Orcs will kill humans and Elves etc. because they are monsters, right? They hate each other because their cultures are different. Besides the hate isn't absolut. There are half-orcs right? Back to the point: Can you imagine gnolls and humans living together peacefully? Gnolls being the fierce creatures that they are will rather go for force than asking, because that's how it works in their group. Also fights between certain tribes of orcs and gnolls against humans can be started out by pure necessity. Like food. The monsters are also thinking, never forget that. They don't purely act on instinct, so if humans are moving in on territory they will defend it with their lives. Get it??? ;-)))

Now wyverns:
A wyvern is a relativly small creature compared to it's dragon cousins. In my experience have mostly been held by mages and sorcerors as pets. They are aggresive and territorial, i think. If not held captive, i guess they would be a wild beast. Thats all i can say bout that.

damien the 3rd · Post by **damien the 3rd** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 11:34 am

Originally posted by Eriks
thanks a lot for that Lin!
Xvarts are these small, humanoid, bluish creatures. To tell the truth I haven't seen any outside of Baldur's Gate (1 only) so I am not sure if they are unique to the game or not. Also, do you know WHY orcs and gnolls hate humans so much? Is it because humans kill them on sight? or do humans kill them on sight because orcs do the same? I am interested in discovering how far back this hatrded stems and why it is there in the first place (I am thinking of making a rather unique campaign setting and this information would be helpfull ) I started thinking about this when I realized I had no idea where basic monsters, like orcs, gnolls, goblins and hobgoblins come from. A lot of evil monsters come from the abyss or netherworld (nine hells? whatever you want to call it) but as far as I know Orcs and gnolls etc. do not, so why are they evil by default when most creatures have the potential to be either good or evil?

Another creature I am interested in is the Wyvern. I think this also might be unique to BG (the game) because like the xvarts, I have never heard of them beyond that. If you don't know what it is, a wyvern is a dragon type creature, but significantly smaller and they seem to have poison in their claws. I am wondering if they are neutral like animals or evil.

Nishrek made orcs, goblin gods(dont know what their pantheon is called) mad egoblins and so forth. The genreral rule is, the orc and goblin gods and goddesses are evil, thus their progeny are too.yet some are, some arent. its just that its hard to have good orcs and gobs because they think that they are insane. Generally, if a goblin questions his tribe and his leaders ideas("why do we kepp killing children?"and so on)they are lilled. so renegades are slain immediatly or flee. back to where the gods are concerned, Gruumsh (chief god of orks) didnt get to pick lands for his people till last. thus he felt cheated and slashed holes in the earth to make caves for his people and told them to take land from others, especially goblins, elves, and dwarves. If humans and such just voluntarily gave their lands away and submitted to the orcs their would be no hostilities. but that's not likely going to happen, so well just join the fray or let the foolsfight the petty fight against the humanopids while we tackle on more deadly enemies. as for wyvenrs, they're natural predators, so they dont have much thought on the bad things they do.

Eriks · Post by **Eriks** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 12:03 am

thank you damien, that was very helpfull

aberrant80 · Post by **aberrant80** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 12:47 am

Originally posted by Eriks
Another creature I am interested in is the Wyvern. I think this also might be unique to BG (the game) because like the xvarts, I have never heard of them beyond that. If you don't know what it is, a wyvern is a dragon type creature, but significantly smaller and they seem to have poison in their claws. I am wondering if they are neutral like animals or evil.

a wyvern is more a reptile-type creature, they just resemble dragons. wyverns are evil (i believe it's CE). also they don't have poison in their claws. they have stinger at the end of their tail which they use to poison prey.