Chaotic Evil

A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If he is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. Thankfully, his plans are haphazard, and any groups he joins or forms are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can be made to work together only by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him.

Chaotic evil is sometimes called "demonic" because demons are the epitome of chaotic evil.

Chaotic evil beings believe their alignment is the best because it combines self-interest and pure freedom.

Chaotic evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents the destruction not only of beauty and life but also of the order on which beauty and life depend.

The Philosophy of Chaotic Evil

Chaotic evil is the philosophy that the self is best advanced through the freedom to act independently. It is a philosophy of egoistic individualism. This philosophy holds that people should behave egoistically and that society exists for the sake of its individual members. Chaotic evil can also be associated with egoistic hedonism, individual ethical egoism, and social darwinism. Political and ethical nihilism also feature heavily in chaotic evil thought.

Chaotic evil philosophers generally maintain that there is metaphysical chaos in the multiverse and thus may support doctrines of indeterminism, casualism, tychism, and/or accidentalism. They may believe that fortune or chance determine all outcomes. They tend to be moral subjectivists, holding that values are expressions of emotions, attitudes, reactions, feelings, thoughts, wishes, and desires, and have no independent objective or external reality or reference in the real world.

The ideal government for this alignment is an minimalist state or anarchy supporting a social order in which radical egoism is rewarded and altruism is punished. Chaotic evil beings believe that the best way to advance themselves is by securing the most freedom to act as possible. Retributive justice is used to punish those who act against the chaotic evil.

The Chaotic Evil Code

The personal code of a chaotic evil character may look like this:

1. You shall lie whenever convenient.

2. You shall harm the innocent whenever convenient.

3. You shall kill for pleasure.

4. You shall not aid the weak.

5. You shall not honor any other before yourself.

6. You shall break the law whenever convenient.

7. You shall betray friends, family, community, and nation whenever convenient.

8. You shall harm those who protect the weak or honor laws.

9. You shall pursue all forms of pleasure.

10. You shall seek unlimited power over others and unlimited freedom for yourself.

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Ten Chaotic Evil Signs of Weakness

Likewise, a chaotic evil character may consider the following as signs of weakness. A sign of weakness indicates that the character is straying from the cruel tenets of the chaotic evil philosophy. This list is given in the order of least severe infraction to most severe.

 

1. Failing to show contempt and disrespect for the virtuous and noble.

2. Failing to pursue a new form of pleasure.

3. Failing to give in to a sinful or chaotic impulse.

4. Avoiding injury to others at the cost of your own pleasure.

5. Refusing to display power over underling when appropriate.

6. Refusing to commit cruel acts that are in your best interest.

7. Refusing to kill when in your best interest.

8. Turning down a chance to gain power or wealth.

9. Acting altruistically.

10. Aiding the forces of Law and Goodness.

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The Chaotic Evil Adventurer

The following two lists detail common actions undertaken during "adventuring" that are considered honorable and dishonorable for the chaotic evil alignment. An honorable action is one that is in keeping with the spirit of this alignment, while dishonorable actions tend to be those which bring shame to the character in the eyes of his or her alignment peers. Note that an action which is considered honorable by one alignment may be considered dishonorable by another alignment and vice versa.

The following actions are honorable for this alignment:

Accused of crime (innocent or not)

Attacking an unarmed or obviously inferior opponent

Convicted of crime

Delivering death blow to a helpless opponent

Desecrating an enemy's corpse

Dirty Fighting

Falsely claiming the 'bragging rights' that belong to another or outright lying

Fleeing a fight with a superior opponent

Gloating over a victory

Killing a host who has provided you food or shelter

Neglecting to properly bury a member of one's own race

Paying off an extortionist or shake-down

Perpetrate humiliating prank on enemy

Refusing a fair contest/challenge

Reporting the illegal actions of enemies to the authorities when profitable

Taking a bribe

Taunting an enemy into fighting

Treason

Unjustly slaying a prisoner or unarmed opponent who has yielded

Walking away from a challenge

The following actions are dishonorable for this alignment:

Allowing a disarmed enemy to pick up his weapon

Allowing the enemy to attack first

Being taken prisoner

Picking up the funeral expenses of someone you slew in combat

Refusing medical treatment for the good of the party

Saving the life of another at great risk to own self

Surrendering

Taking an arrow or hit for someone else

Taking prisoners

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Chaotic Evil and Society

A chaotic evil being...

Is not concerned with the desires of family members.

Values flexible relationships with romantic partners.

Considers himself above the law.

Finds most people to be narrow-minded and inflexible.

Believes those who seek to rule others are, by nature, corrupt.

Seeks to undermine the authority figures of his community or nation.

Finds the legal procedures of his nation corrupt.

Believes luck determines wealth.

Will break any contract when he feels like it.

Will betray family members for personal gain.

Will betray friends if profitable.

Will seek to undermine his community and nation, especially if profitable.

Is not trusted by the community and may have enemies.

Will kill others to get ahead.

Uses any means necessary to evade justice.

Will use wealth to destroy others.

The residents of a community with a chaotic evil government live in abject fear because of the unpredictable and horrific situations continually placed upon them. In a chaotic evil society, the people are ruled by, and live in fear of, those more powerful than themselves. Local government usually amounts to a series of strongarm bosses who obey the central government out of fear. People look for ways to gain power or keep the power they've got. Assassination is an accepted method of advancement, along with coups, conspiracies, and purges. Adventurers are often used as pawns in political power games, only to be eliminated when the adventurers themselves become a threat.