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thomas b.
Acolyte
24 Posts |
 Posted - 29 May 2005 : 22:23:30
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Poll Question:
the notorious mercenary from the darkelf trilogy.he is cunning and devious.although some of his actions leave you questioning his alighnment.is he good.or perhaps he is a follower of vhearun.i would like to know your opinions on this.
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THOMAS BENJAMIN |
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VEDSICA
Senior Scribe
USA
466 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 14:49:28
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| Well he's definitely not good that's for sure.I could have said it doesn't matter.He's awesome eihter way.Okay I do say that,but he is evil.Though if you told me he was chaotic neutral.I would go for that too. |
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Melfius
Senior Scribe
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 15:07:19
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| He is definitly chaotic neutral. He doesn't believe in a set of laws, but has no problem with helping or harming others. |
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Read a tale of my earlier days! - Happiness Comes in Small Packages |
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thomas b.
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 17:06:35
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| yeah i personally agree with you bot although.i think this question is probaly what makes him such an interesting charactor. |
THOMAS BENJAMIN |
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Chosen of Bane
Senior Scribe
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 17:09:24
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I think there are only two possibilities for Jarlaxle; Chaotic Evil or Neutral Evil.
I would lean towards Chaotic Evil. Too many people think that all CE characters must be reckless lunatics who murder people on a whim. However, not all CE people are Orc berserkers and they are capable of having friends and caring about people. Jarlaxle is clearly evil. That's a no brainer for me. He murders people, he steals, and he cares for himself first always. A way I like to think of it, if Jarlaxle walked by a Paladin, would the Paladin be able to detect evil? I think the answer is obvious.
As for the chaotic aspect. He seems to be extremely unpredictable and loves experiencing chaos. You really never know who he is going to help and which side he'll be on. He has saved Drizzt, Artemis, and Regis, sometimes it suited his goals, sometimes it didn't. He is absolutely unpredictable. This is why I consider him Chaotic Evil.
The only reason I would consider Neutral Evil is because if he was purely chaotic the argument could me made that he would not be able to function in an organization such as Bregan D'athaer (sp?). Despite this, I still consider him CE. |
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thomas b.
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 17:33:10
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| true he is evil in a way.but if i had to choose to cross him or dantrag benrae ide choose jarlaxle. i dont think jarlaxle would kill merely for pleasure .i always assume there i s a reason for his actions.wich is understandable considering his position if he does one thing out of sequence all of his operations could be destroyed. if i were him i would look at things from a completely nuetral prospective. |
THOMAS BENJAMIN |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 20:12:53
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Jarlaxle is Evil, but he is alot like Lolth in some ways. Chaos is more fun than anything else. Hence why he has helped Drizzt in the past, and done "good" things at times. As long as it doesn't hurt him, yet will cause all kinds of nice fun chaos, he is pretty much for it.
Also Jarlaxle is a smart and controlled evil. He is a big picture type of guy. |
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Chosen of Bane
Senior Scribe
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 20:24:29
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quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
Jarlaxle is Evil, but he is alot like Lolth in some ways. Chaos is more fun than anything else. Hence why he has helped Drizzt in the past, and done "good" things at times. As long as it doesn't hurt him, yet will cause all kinds of nice fun chaos, he is pretty much for it.
Also Jarlaxle is a smart and controlled evil. He is a big picture type of guy.
I couldn't agree more.
That is exactly my reasoning for him being chaoitc evil. |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 21:47:25
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I believe he is neutral purely so he can focus on chaos no matter what. Whether he sows chaos by doing good or evil acts is irrelevant to him, so long as he causes it :)
Lolth must love him to bits :D |
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thomas b.
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2005 : 22:23:57
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wow these are some great answers. i wish i could be just like jarlaxle,he my idol.
and yes i am screwed up a llittle.
thomas |
THOMAS BENJAMIN |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 05:10:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Bane
not all CE people are Orc berserkers and they are capable of having friends and caring about people.
That's a good point, it could of course be extended to any evil character. I think that's one reason most (all) of the evil campaigns I have tried to run ended badly. The players constantly want to try to kill each other, steal from each other, etc. Without some sort of moral compass to guide their actions, the players often have trouble justifying working as a team with other evil characters. |
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LordAnki
Seeker
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 15:57:28
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| Well hell, I would have to go with chaotic neutral but you know what. Who cares! He's the true star of Menzoberranzen. Jarlaxle can talk how he likes to anyone and they know not to attack him. |
Tip of the Month: don't drink the dirty water. You know what i'm talking about if you know what i mean. |
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thomas b.
Acolyte
24 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 16:38:50
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| thtas true everyone knows the value of his network. he is probaly one of the most infleuential charactors in menzo. |
THOMAS BENJAMIN |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36814 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 17:11:39
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| LordAnki, perhaps you could in the future be a bit more selective with your choice of words? Not all people are comfortable with certain language, and some scribes here live with parents who'd object to certain phrases. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 18:14:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
LordAnki, perhaps you could in the future be a bit more selective with your choice of words? Not all people are comfortable with certain language, and some scribes here live with parents who'd object to certain phrases.
Well met
Thank ye, Wooly. Indeed, language will not be tolerated herein. Some are censored, however that one is not, due to being required for the use of naming natives of Calimshan  Please refrain from using any offensive language at Candlekeep. |
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khorne
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1073 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2005 : 18:36:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
LordAnki, perhaps you could in the future be a bit more selective with your choice of words? Not all people are comfortable with certain language, and some scribes here live with parents who'd object to certain phrases.
That`s bad. Currently I am working on contract-basis for the boss of a certain nine layers.......you know who I mean(don`t even THINK of asking how that came to be, but I assure you, the DM who set me up WILL pay, one way or another) and sometimes a minion or two of his try to possess me so my tongue is not always my own |
If I were a ranger, I would pick NDA for my favorite enemy |
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LordAnki
Seeker
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 16:08:50
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| ah sorry about that guys. I couldn't think of anything else to describe Jarlaxle's awesomeness (is that even a word oh well it is now) |
Tip of the Month: don't drink the dirty water. You know what i'm talking about if you know what i mean. |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 16:18:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Bane
quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
Jarlaxle is Evil, but he is alot like Lolth in some ways. Chaos is more fun than anything else. Hence why he has helped Drizzt in the past, and done "good" things at times. As long as it doesn't hurt him, yet will cause all kinds of nice fun chaos, he is pretty much for it.
Also Jarlaxle is a smart and controlled evil. He is a big picture type of guy.
I couldn't agree more.
That is exactly my reasoning for him being chaoitc evil.
I must argue with your reasoning, although I see this as a matter of perspection more than 'it says this in Menzoberranzan-boxed set'-matter (having not even read that accessory ;)
In my experience as a gamer/player and a reader, my opinion leans towards neutral/chaotic neutral. When has Jarlaxle committed an act of conscious malice, either in written Realmslore or fiction? Certainly he is ambitious, and put his own interests above all, but he has a (somewhat-twisted) code of honour.
Why would he be neutral? Because he has run Bregan D'aerthe, which is/was a highly efficient organization, which is harder to accomplish for a chaotic character (but possible).
When have you seen him act in ways that would justice any evil alignment? |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2005 : 01:24:48
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| Remember the difference between 'evil' and 'not good' :) |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2005 : 22:29:04
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quote:
Originally posted by thomas b.
wow these are some great answers. i wish i could be just like jarlaxle,he my idol.
and yes i am screwed up a llittle.
thomas
Hey, you could honestly have a lot worse idols who are real living, breathing people. :) Jarlaxle is ok!
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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ode904
Learned Scribe
Finland
193 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2005 : 22:49:45
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| ok guys. Try to read Servant of the Shard again. And the Silent Blade. Then you are going to understand that JAralxle is neutral, or possibly good. He kills when he has to. And nothing more. He just wants money. |
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Chosen of Bane
Senior Scribe
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2005 : 23:14:13
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quote:
Originally posted by ode904
ok guys. Try to read Servant of the Shard again. And the Silent Blade. Then you are going to understand that JAralxle is neutral, or possibly good. He kills when he has to. And nothing more. He just wants money.
Sounds evil to me. Extreme greed is definitely an evil trait. |
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Arlenion
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2005 : 23:54:15
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| Like several people have said evil doesn't mean kill everything in sight. I think of Jarlaxle as being evil because he will occasionally do evil acts without remorse then or later. Just as good is not completely perfect in every regard, evil is not necessarily completely murderous and an evil character is not necessarily always doing something wrong. I do agree that he is mostly chaotic. The reason he can hold together Bregan De'arthe(spelling?) is because he is very charismatic and intelligent. |
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magnakanus
Acolyte
Germany
9 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2005 : 17:30:15
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| He is definately Neutral evil and a follower of vhearun. Look at it this way, he looks out for himself mostly. Builds up a goodly ammount of power and money to make sure he is on top, helps people he may need later, and does not adhere to laws NOR act recklessly individualistic. Has to be Neutral Evil. |
All good things come to those who wait... |
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ode904
Learned Scribe
Finland
193 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2005 : 09:10:56
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| He's neutral, but not evil. And yes the first part of alignment is chaotic, but it's neutral, perhaps a little towards good. For example he let Drizzt go and his friends too. And there were no profits for him concerning that |
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magnakanus
Acolyte
Germany
9 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2005 : 10:14:55
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For an intelegent evil character the profits do not have to be immediate. If we look at it objectively, what would Jarlaxle have gained through the betrayal? Not much, a sword of 2 from the Driz and a nice bow from kattie, but what then? Not much.
Having Driz and his friends kinda "owe him one" is worth more than have killed them for the fun of it. To be considered also is the fact that if Driz is out there "doing his stuff" means that the drow need to concentrate some of their resources on him, and less on Jarlaxle. Driz may be good, but he is hunted and reviled and keeps the drow thirst for violance partialy concentrated in another direction. Jarlaxle is one of those problems the drow more than likely consider as "moderately valuable, but to be dealt with at a later time." |
All good things come to those who wait... |
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Forge
Learned Scribe
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2005 : 14:20:02
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I honestly believe Jarlaxle is Chaotic Nuetral. However you have to frame that in context of the society he is around. He is the ultimate opportunist, and will take profit where he finds it. He will perpetrate evil when it is profitable to (and these chances are frequent around the drow) but won't engage in evildoing for it's own sake.
He doesn't give credence to law, but lives as HE deems fitting. (Within the limits he has had dictated to him by the Council) He doesn't have an innate bent to evil, but only act to what benefits him, ie he is very selfish but doesn't care to advance any idealogical cause beyond his own coinpurse.
Qualifying clause: He does what he has to to stay alive. Sometimes this may mean playing flunky to Baenre, or the council, sometimes this means championing the cause of a particular alignment-set... but once he neck isn't in the noose he returns to his ways. |
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magnakanus
Acolyte
Germany
9 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2005 : 13:11:09
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| The above is a great description of what J is and by nature this is what Neutral evil is, the opportunist that takes care of himself. Chaotic neutral is more of the whim character. They ask themselves "what do I feel like today"? Chaotic neutral typicaly lacks the capacity to stick to a plan or course of action once they have calculated their advantages or disadvantages, they are just too whimsy. Whimsy is not J's style so CN is out. |
All good things come to those who wait... |
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Belwar Dissengulp
Acolyte
6 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2005 : 15:25:07
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| i think neutral |
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iamunknown
Acolyte
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2005 : 15:40:47
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| accourding to the tome "villians lorebook" jarlaxle is neutral evil |
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Arlenion
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2005 : 22:14:59
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| So does the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting(pg 211). |
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is jarlaxle good or evil?
Topic Locked
