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Alignment

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Alignment represents a character’s attitude toward ethical and moral dilemmas. Consider the following scenarios:

  • That Halfling lass just filched a coin from that barman's stash, though from the look on her face, she was clearly desperate. Should I alert the guard or look the other way?
  • Aha! This is the piranha meat that frantic merchant girl in Southern Newport asked for, but we never settled on a reward. Shall I deliver it to her free of charge or threaten to withhold it if the coin she offers up doesn't meet my expectations?


How a character handles situations such as these will determine that character's alignment.

Strictly speaking, alignment is divided into two fields. The first measures one's attitude toward ethics (LAWFUL vs. CHAOTIC), and the second measures one's outlook on morals (GOOD vs. EVIL). A character who does not feel strongly one way or the other in either or both of these fields is said to be NEUTRAL. The combination of these two fields is said to be a character’s alignment, such as a LAWFUL EVIL Enchanter or a CHAOTIC NEUTRAL Gnome.

Note: Note that most new characters enter the game with a default alignment of NEUTRAL NEUTRAL, sometimes referred to as TRUE NEUTRAL. The exceptions to this rule are Shadowknights, Paladins, and Frogloks, whose deities are pre-selected.

Alignment Definitions

Good

Goodness is embodied by decency, altruism, and empathy. Giving to charity, helping a stranger in ndeed, lending a hand even without the promise of a reward, or even simply giving a kind word can all be categorized as GOOD conduct.

Evil

Evil is embodied by selfishness, pettiness, and antipathy. Kaezul himself adheres to this ideal; under his reign, the weak in Ikisith are left to fend for themselves such that Kaezul's empire might be stronger. More broadly, the following actions can all be classified as EVIL: abusing an innocent beggar, acting only for self-interest, or turning one's back on a helpless victim.

Law

Lawfulness is embodied by fairness, justice, concern for society, and respect for both rules and authority. This ideal is centered around the idea that individuals may not always know what is best for them, and that the presence of an authority figure or set of definitive rules is essential for resolving conflicts both social and personal. Taking orders from and accepting the judgment of others is equally important to lawfulness. Ruling against oneself despite one's self-interests, trusting in a superior's orders, or summoning the Newport guard to investigate suspicions of illegal trade next door are LAWFUL actions.

Chaos

Chaos is embodied by freedom, self-indulgence, respect for privacy, and disrespect for both rules and authority. This ideal operates under the tenet that no one person's judgment should supersede that of another. Individuals of a CHAOTIC bent are resistant to the idea of conforming or being told what to do. Bribes, white lies, and half-truths are fair game in the eyes of the CHAOTIC. Rebelling against a superior's orders, deliberately upsetting order, picking the pocket of a passing noble, or deliberately tuning out the questionable sounds next door can all be CHAOTIC actions.

Neutral

Neutrality is embodied by a nuanced view of ethics and/or morals, the refusal to see situations in black and white. A person NEUTRAL on matters of LAW vs. CHAOS, for example, may believe that those who adhere blindly to one or the other hold a simple-minded view of the world. Such persons may prefer to remain aloof during times of social upheaval or quiet on matters of morality, letting things fall into place on their own. Completing a quest without weighing in on or becoming entangled in the ethics and/or morals involved can be regarded as NEUTRAL, as can maintaining a moderate balance of both GOOD and EVIL actions along one's journeys.

Degrees of Alignment

Alignment is measured incrementally. For instance, a player who consistently acts in a LAWFUL way will gradually work his or her way up through the following steps:

  • NEUTRAL
  • LAWFUL
  • HIGHLY LAWFUL
  • DEEPLY LAWFUL
  • GREATLY LAWFUL
  • COMPLETELY LAWFUL
Note: CHAOTIC, GOOD, and EVIL all follow the same scale.

Conversely, committing a CHAOTIC act might cause a DEEPLY LAWFUL character to slip back to HIGHLY LAWFUL.

Alignment and Deities

Each deity of Dalaya has his or her own ideology with regard to alignment and each can bless or penalize a follower in the form of a Specialization bonus. The closer the follower's conduct falls in line with the ideals of one's deity, the greater the bonus, which can range from -20% to +20%.

Althuna, the LAWFUL GOOD goddess of the City of Mercy, might grant a +11% Specialization bonus to a HIGHLY LAWFUL DEEPLY GOOD follower, whereas the CHAOTIC EVIL Tarhyl would frown heavily on such an alignment in one of his followers in the form of a -11% penalty.

Quests

For those looking to improve their alignment for an increased deity specialization bonus. Note that while many quests contain dialog options that are NEUTRAL in nature, there are no NEUTRAL alignment shifts; a player looking to achieve a NEUTRAL GOOD alignment, for example, must either avoid LAWFUL and CHAOTIC conduct altogether or simply maintain a balance between LAWFUL and CHAOTIC shifts so that they cancel one another out.


Good quests

Evil quests


Lawful quests

Chaotic quests

Factions of the Heartlands

Faction Alignment
Council of Innovation GOOD
Order of the Blackscale EVIL
Silver Crown Trading Company LAWFUL

See also

What alignment means