Faux Corrupting Qualities

**Faux Corrupting Qualities**, or **False Corrupting Qualities**, are characteristics that a character has at first glance or impression would be considered a corrupting quality. However, after considering the actions and other traits of the character these qualities are not truly corrupting traits. A portion of characters with no corrupting qualities such as Pure Good (Rank 1 +) heroes are capable of possessing these traits. Other characters such as those with corrupting qualities can also possess false corrupting qualities when their corrupting traits do not hold up.

Characters with false corrupting qualities may have their intentions mistaken for those who have true ill-intentions when that is not the case or they may be perceived as a bad individual when they are not.

## General Overview

* On the surface they show traits that are corrupting such as antagonistic traits, hostility, uncaring attitude, etc. However, these traits for one reason or another is shown to not be the case.
* Their false corrupting traits are completely non-malicious, and the character does not have any evil intentions behind their actions.
* The character has benevolent, or at the very least, non-malicious intentions that justifies their actions.
* While their actions may come across as non-justifiable, it is still justified by their acts and characteristics.

## Specific Characters

List of specific characters where this would apply to.

### Antagonists

These characters are usually portrayed as an enemy to the protagonist and can have characteristics and actions that show them to be hostile. However, these characters would have a just reason for going after the protagonist and they do not mean to be malicious against them.

### False Antagonists

They appear to be actual antagonists and can have antagonistic traits but, its revealed that it does not hold up. In fact, these characters are often mistaken to have corrupting qualities such as being rude, jerkish, and hostile when they are not.

### Heroic Liars

While lying under most circumstances is a corrupting trait, these character may have just reason for lying such as lying to a villain in order to protect others. Their lies are not for their sole benefit which would be a corrupting quality, but it is for the benefit and safety of others which would make it a false corrupting quality.

### Righteous Killers

These characters are only killing for one of two reasons: either providing a mercy kill to stop someone’s suffering after something horrible happened to them or after all attempts to reason with a villain has failed, the character has no choice but to kill them to protect others. Their intentions are not self-serving or cruel which would make it a corrupting quality, but it is either to stop someone’s suffering or protect others.

### Sympathetic

This is usually the underlying reason a hero may act out against someone. These characters are motivated by their sympathy and well-intentions for others and could act hard on them because they do not want to see them get hurt.

### Traitors

Treachery is often considered a serious corrupting quality. Exceptions to this would be a character having to betray a villain for noble intentions. It is made clear that their actions are justified and in favor of good for others than for their own self-interests.

### Vengeful

These characters seek justice and would take their vengeance against a heinous villain who caused serious problems to them and others. Their intentions are not solely for them or malicious, but only to bring justice to an injustice that was committed.

## See Also

* Corrupting Qualities
* Faux Corrupting Qualities/Examples