Evil

Evil was the antithesis of good and a trait of some creatures, inhabitants, and deities. "Evil finds its worst enemy in truth and honor."

- Scar

Description
"I've never understood why people talk about evil as if it's a point of view. I find that tawdry and stupid."

- Excerpt from Harping by Moonlight: An Approach to Life.

How "evil" was defined was up to the societies that interpreted it. As such, evil appeared in many different shapes and forms, and those who committed evil acts often did not see the harm or destruction they actually caused. Evil beings, those who were generally unconcerned with chaos or law were known as neutral evil. Evil beings that were concerned with using the laws of society to benefit themselves were known as "lawful evil", and those who disregarded the law and revelled in chaos or bloodlust were known as "chaotic evil".

By and large, evil creatures were associated with killing, hurting, and oppressing others. Some deliberately sought to be evil in order to please a wicked deity or patron, whilst others were naturally compassionless.

"A den of stinking evil. Cover your nose Boo! We will leave no crevice untouched!"

- Minsc, a ranger opposed to all evil

Some evil beings supported rigid caste structures and slavery, as long as it benefited them. Due to the beliefs of many evil inhabitants, good beings would often try and seek them out, either to convince them of their evil ways, or outright kill them.

Notable Evil Creatures

 * Devils, demons, and other natural inhabitants of the Lower Planes were inherently evil. Such creatures did not choose to be this way, neither did they "tend" towards it, but in fact, being evil was in their essence.

"Evil empires often bound themselves in webs of hate toward fabricated enemies, and none in the history of the world were better at it than the drow."

- Drizzt Do'Urden


 * Drow, as with orcs, were mostly considered evil due to the influence of Lolth, a demon-goddess. Throughout the millennia of the Realms, many believed that the drow were innately evil, though noble and heroic drow such as Drizzt Do'Urden and Liriel Baenre proved otherwise.


 * Orcs were usually inclined towards evil, as their nature reflected that of the evil deity, Gruumsh. That said, it was certainly possible for orcs to become good, though they had to struggle against their god's influence.

Notable Evil Deities

 * Auril, a neutral evil deity that was mostly worshiped out of fear.
 * Bane, the lawful evil deity of tyranny.
 * Shar, the neutral evil deity of darkness