Neutral evil

Neutral evil is pure pragmatism without honor and without variation&mdash;survival of the fittest.

A neutral evil character does whatever he can get away with. He is out for himself, pure and simple. He shows no remorse for those he kills, whether for profit, sport or convenience, and he has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make him any better or more noble. On the other hand, he does not have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has.

Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies.

Career criminals, particularly those who harm others for money, such as hitmen, are the most obvious example of neutral evil.

Characters
Some characters identified as neutral evil in the Forgotten Realms setting include:
 * Elaith Craulnober
 * Ilcanorr of Luthcheq
 * Iraun
 * Jarlaxle
 * Nether the Elder
 * Obould Many-Arrows
 * Shradin Mulophor
 * Srivven
 * Szass Tam
 * Vierna Do'Urden

Non-canonical:
 * Draconis
 * Eldoth Kron
 * Viconia DeVir
 * (Jon Irenicus, Illasera, Montaron, Phaere Despana, Tamoko and Tazok are canonical characters whose non-canonical versions have been identified as neutral evil.)