Neutral Good

A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them.

Creatures of neutral good alignment believe that there must be some regulation in combination with freedoms if the best is to be brought to the world--the most beneficial conditions for living things in general and intelligent creatures in particular. Creatures of this alignments see the cosmos as a place where law and chaos are merely tools to use in bringing life, happiness, and prosperity to all deserving creatures. Order is not good unless it brings this to all; neither is randomness and total freedom desirable if it does not bring such good.

Neutral goods value both personal freedom and adherence to laws. They feel that too many laws may unnecessarily restrict the freedom of good beings. They also believe that too much freedom may not protect society as a whole and encourage counterproductive divisions and in-fighting. They promote governments which hold broad powers, but do not interfere in the day-to-day lives of their citizens.

These characters value life and freedom above all else, and despise those who would deprive others of them. Neutral good characters sometimes find themselves forced to work beyond the law, yet for the law, and the greater good of the people. They are not vicious or vindictive, but are people driven to right injustice. Neutral good characters always attempt to work within the law whenever possible, however.

To a neutral good being, life and the assurance of other creatures' rights take precedence over all else. This is not to say that this character will have an aversion to taking another's life when faced with a choice between an attacker's and his own, however. Neutral good beings also believe that law and chaos are merely tools to use in bringing life, prosperity, and happiness to all deserving creatures. Neither numbers nor individual concerns have any bearing on decisions regarding the needs and rights of any given creature. In other words, in the view of a neutral good being, rarely will either the needs of the many or the personal desires of an individual outweigh the needs of any other creature. All life is given even-handed treatment. As with all alignments neutral with respect to law and chaos, self-reliance is a cornerstone of a neutral good being's personality. In a crunch, neutral good characters trust in themselves and in no other individual or group. This doesn't mean they can't make friends and develop trusting relationships with others, however. Neutral good beings aren't normally as independent as chaotic good beings, and they can cooperate in groups. But they won't always trust a group to be more effective than they could be themselves.

A neutral good character will keep his word to those who are not evil and will lie only to evil-doers. He will never attack an unarmed foe and will never harm an innocent. He will not use torture to extract information or for pleasure. He will never kill for pleasure, only in self-defense or in the defense of others. A neutral good character will never use poison. He will help those in need and works well alone or in a group. He responds well to higher authority until that authority attempts to use the law to hamper his ability to do good. He is trustful of organizations as long as they serve his utilitarian purpose. He will follow the law unless more good can come from breaking the law. He will never betray a family member, comrade, or friend. Neutral good characters are indifferent to the concepts of self-discipline and honor, finding them useful only if they promote goodness.

Here are some possible adjectives describing neutral good characters: self-reliant, helpful, courteous, kind, respectful, sensitive, friendly, loving, merciful, gracious, humane, altruistic, giving, respectful, and protective of life.

## The Ten Neutral Good Commandments

A list of Ten Commandments for a neutral good religion may look like this:

1. You shall lie only to evil-doers.

2. You shall not harm the innocent.

3. You shall not murder.

4. You shall help the needy.

5. You shall honor those who promote goodness.

6. You shall follow the law unless breaking the law results in more good.

7. You shall not betray others.

8. You shall bring evil-doers to justice.

9. You shall steal only to promote goodness.

10. You shall seek unlimited good for others.

## Ten Neutral Good Sins

Likewise, a neutral good religion may list the following as sins. This list is given in the order of least severe infraction to most severe.

1. Refusing to defy authority to perform a good act.

2. Failing to speak out against an evil act.

3. Following a law or keeping your word when you feel that breaking the law would result in more good.

4. Theft, robbery, or willful vandalism unless it harms an evil being or cause.

5. Willful causing of harm to a good being.

6. Failing to assist good beings when they are in need.

7. Turning down a chance to destroy or bring to justice an evil being.

8. Allowing major act of evil to go unavenged. Betraying a friend or ally for evil reason.

9. The murder of an innocent.

10. Aiding the servants of Evil. Committing a heinous or demented act.

## The Neutral Good Adventurer

The following two lists detail common actions undertaken during "adventuring" that are considered honorable and dishonorable for the neutral good alignment. An honorable action is one that is in keeping with the spirit of this alignment, while dishonorable actions tend to be those which bring shame to the character in the eyes of his or her alignment peers. Note that an action which is considered honorable by one alignment may be considered dishonorable by another alignment and vice versa.

The following actions are honorable for this alignment:

* Allowing a disarmed enemy to pick up his weapon
* Allowing the enemy to attack first
* Defeating a superior opponent
* Perpetrate humiliating prank on enemy
* Picking up the funeral expenses of someone you slew in combat
* Refusing medical treatment for the good of the party
* Saving the life of another at great risk to own self
* Taking an arrow or hit for someone else
* Taking prisoners

The following actions are dishonorable for this alignment:

* Accused of crime (innocent or not)
* Attacking an unarmed or obviously inferior opponent
* Being taken prisoner
* Convicted of a crime
* Defeated by an inferior opponent
* Delivering death blow to a helpless opponent
* Desecrating an enemy's corpse
* Dirty fighting
* Falsely claiming the 'bragging rights' that belong to another or outright lying
* Fleeing a battle that's obviously going poorly
* Fleeing a fight with a superior opponent
* Fleeing a fight with an equal opponent
* Killing a host who has provided you food or shelter
* Neglecting to properly bury a member of one's own race
* Rash or improper social behavior
* Refusing a fair contest/challenge
* Surrendering
* Taunting an enemy into fighting
* Treason
* Unjustly slaying a prisoner or unarmed opponent who has yielded
* Walking away from a challenge

## Neutral Good and Society

A neutral good being...

* Values his family, but will not heed their requests necessarily.
* Will provide for friends, and expects to be repaid in some manner.
* Does not seek positions of authority over others.
* Fits in with their society.
* Supports their nation.
* Supports the law when advantageous to do so.
* Is not concerned with politics, most likely.
* Will keep his word.
* Will take risks if the benefits are great.
* Will not want to disappoint his family.
* Will support their family even if it means personal discomfort.
* Will never betray a friend and enjoys having close friends.
* Considers the needs of the community in personal life.
* Will give his life in defense of his community.
* Will take actions to aid others during times of crisis, even if unprofitable to do so.
* Believes everyone should be treated fairly and kindly.
* Feels guilt when he commits a wrongdoing and will seek to right his wrong.
* Uses wealth to help others who are less fortunate.

A neutral good government rarely influences the residents of the community other than to help them when they are in need. Neutral good societies tend to adopt whatever government seems most expedient at the moment. A particular form of government lasts as long as the ruler or dynasty in power can maintain it. Transfers of power are usually marked by shifts in government, though these are often bloodless coups. There is a certain apathy about politics and government. Adventurers are treated the same as everyone else.