Post
by Chastened Phoenix » Thu Jun 22, 2017 1:05 am
Ok! So, best place to start, I guess, is with the worldview I'm attempting to RP (I suppose it's also somewhat my worldview, but I'm not sure...)
Einar's Beliefs:
*All Sapients are born with the right to exist, the right to freedom from avoidable suffering, and the right to seek self-improvement. However, these rights can be forfeited by their actions.
* The Needs of Sapient Beings can be justifiably given priority over nonsapients' needs. (i.e. he doesn't believe that the needs of a dog are morally equivalent to those of a person.) However, preservation of the environment is ultimately in the interests of all lifeforms, sapients included. (So, wantonly harvesting or hunting for no particular purpose isn't a good idea.)
* No one/no sapient is "purely" good, evil, lawful, or chaotic. (roughly how he might put it.) Or at least, nothing absolutely pure would be likely to persist and function for any significant period of time. ("pure" good would dissipate itself in an effort to help others, evil would self-destruct, law would be incapable of action (immobile and stagnant), chaos would be incapable of maintaining any form for any useful period of time.)
* No being, whatever it's nature, deserves death or harm just for existing. Nor is the mere existence of a being justification to attack it. Utility can be, if it's to save or better lives (for example, killing animals to produce leather or food) but, sapient beings shouldn't be treated thus. They should only be harmed if no other way exists to save lives, or prevent even greater suffering.
* Each sapient being is an individual, and should be thought of as such. (I suppose hive minds would muddy this point, alot. But... so far as I know, Einar hasn't run into any, so...) The upshot is: the "sins" of a race do not immediately translate into blameworthiness for new individuals. No matter how many others of their kind have done wrong in the past. That said, this doesn't mean one should automatically trust, say, a troll, or a goblin, or a devil. But it does mean that the idea of "Oh, all (creature x) are horrible, so killing them like vermin is OK!" holds little water with him.
That said, Einar could be said to be a hypocrite. Though largely, that's because there seems to be little choice other than being one, that I've seen. (which, I'm guessing is at least partly due to limits on resources, and engine capability...) Even so, that doesn't make the above beliefs wrong, does it?
I suppose another factor is I'm trying to ignore the difference between NPCs, and PCs. strictly speaking, the distinction in and of itself shouldn't matter. And, I can't help but extend the same principle to at the least, "monsters," I know to be sapient. Also, and arguably this is entirely my "fault," Einar comes from a world where many of these creature types, or some individuals, at least, are productive members of society. Sure, maybe not ones he agrees with or likes much, but definitely not monsters to be slaughtered just for existing! And, that includes fiends! (note, there's president for this even in CoPaP, in the form of Sigil.)
So... I acknowledge the mindset I'm trying to RP is inconvenient. But... please tell me, is it wrong?