He does indeed perform good deeds, and does not kill without reason. He will however sometimes kill for convenience.

Jarlaxle's alignment is Chaotic-Awesome

Sorry for necroing your old comment, but Good vs Evil alignment in DnD 5e, as I understand it, is closer to Altruistic vs Egoistic.

@@kingsting12 Not really. Its closer to fantasy good vs evil. There is a reason neatural is there. Jarlaxel is a perfect example of chaotic neatural. He isnt evil, because he does have compasion and tries to help people. But yes he often times screws people over for his benifit. But not because he enjoys it, because it profits him. He doesnt like hurting people. Evil enjoys the pain of others.

I have to agree with that assessment. Jarlaxle is not

Oh dude totally! From the start in the dark elf series when they mention him Then the first time they meet, jarlaxle treats Drizzt curiously by normal drow standards from the start of their relationship.

Jaraxle def likes drizzt

Such a great moment! "Do you like towers dog? Because I brought a tower for your tower dog!"

Kimmuriel got captured by a house's ilithid ;)

jarlaxl is the definition of chaotic neutral.

He sure is chaotic.

Couldn't agree more with ya guys. If he was evil neutral he would kill or have people be killed without regard. He has always preferred to disable or dart(sleep) his adversaries. He kills only when he is provoked to defend himself.

Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue.

You forget Matron Kyorl Oblodra, the one who actually psionically protected Jarlaxle in order to prevent Matron Yvonnel Baenre's sacrificial dagger from striking him.

Absolutely not. As stated, The Lords Alliance is an organization of The North and the Sword Coast. Powers of other regions, especially those of the Moonsea like Hillsfar, are more than anything the sort of powers the Alliance exists to protect itself against and to spy on.

Isn't it actually explained in one of the early books how come they are allowed to exist? It's so there is an excuse for them to be wiped out if they are involved in a raid on a house and it goes badly? It can be blamed on them, Whilst I much prefer ARtemis Enterei , it is an interesting organisation.

"Pray For me, But not to Lolth." -Person Of Jarlaxle's band ( Ares Hune ) Lolths Will.. Lolths Will...

Not true, that is like saying all humans are bad, Elves are a race, the people inside of said race could be good or bad just like you and me.

@@nuggetenthusiast4 Agreed, just look at the villain of Elaine Cunningham's Novel, "Elfshadow," Kymil Nimesin from an older series within the Forgotten Realm's novels; (Sorry for the spoilers!!!) He's a high-elf (or Sun Elf,) a noble and a mentor to the main figure and by all standards a well-respected and upstanding, "lawful" member of the Harpers for *years,* but he really spent most of his life coming up with plans to murder and eradicate the entire royal family on the sole grounds he believed sun elves were superior to all other races, and even called upon/and or accepted treasure from Lolth to fund his efforts in wiping out dozens of people to reach a select few moon elves because "his race was superior to all others, especially other elves." He's not a dark elf biologically, but his mentality and actions actually follow some of the beliefs that many drow characters we are introduced to through individuals in the lore and series like Drizzt and Jarlaxle don't actually focus on that much in contrast when we, the audience, are allowed to see the story from their eyes. Quite frankly, while this is one of the earliest FR books I can recall reading, it also still strikes me as one that stands out the most because of just how twisted the villain's mentality was, because to him, he was the right party. It doesn't matter the race or background of an individual, it matters what their character and core beliefs/mentality are like. In this case, Jarlaxle is a wonderfully complicated paradox in that he is both chaotic, and optimistically opportunistic, but really, he is an individual whom just wants his freedom as an individual, I think,and he finds that by living outside of drow expectations, beliefs, and society, although he also understands how to play by those same rules, when necessity calls for it. He's a survivor whom came from a people that have come to have some terrible beliefs and practices in the lore, but does not himself follow these beliefs if he can avoid it because that is not how he chooses to live in a sense, and goes his own way. If anything, that is the opposite of chaotic in a sense, although for a Drow perhaps, it is at the same time a paradoxical viewpoint. It is canon that he rejected the favor of the Spider Queen and the opportunity to become a truly evil force, so I do not see this trope applying to him in that way. If someone is useful or interests him, or can assist him in reaching his objectives, whatever they may be at the time, then of course he would probably use his influence to help them because it helps him live on as he pleases, nothing more, nothing less. Also, Chaos and evil are really two different things if you look past D&D alignment and focus more on the philosophy behind the words and what they mean. Corellon Larethian, the Patron God of all elves, is Canonically stated to be the living embodiment of Chaos, or Chaotic Good, but he was also an entity with an endless willingness to learn and understand other beings, both immortal and mortal, to quote the wiki page. But even being an aspect of Chaos, he is not evil, just a part of nature. Now, if Zebassos had mentioned the drow god *Vhaeraun* for his example of a chaotic drow who wants equality for males of the underdark's society and still have that "Dark" aspect of their character just under the surface, they might have had a stronger case in point. Another good example from an entirely different series I suppose of characters whom are not what you would expect them to be would be the Endless from Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman" series, most specifically, "Death," as she is "Not Merciful or Blessed- just herself," or "The Raven Queen"--- whom is technically a death god whom controls a plain of undead, and has a fascination with memories, knowledge, and essence, but is "lawful Neutral" and ultimately avoids causing strife herself (although from what I know of her, The Raven Queen's follower's interpretations of her desires can leave something to be debated at times, but really that's often just how a DM interprets the storyline) and even was an acknowledged Ally of the Lawful Dieties during the wars between the Pantheon. I'm a little bit rusty on Forgotten Realm Lore, to be honest, but really ---- The way that earlier comment by Zebassos was written feels more like a bit of stereotyping without fully understanding the characters, with all due respect to the individual. Please forgive me if I've gone off on a long tangent also, I'm afraid I have a bit of a debative streak. ^.^' Anyway, the basic thing is that the character's are ultimately individuals with both positive and negative aspects of their "Selves." Their race and background does not matter, it's how they are written to view their circumstances and how they handle those instances that count and what make readers notice them. Also, unless Z is referencing when Drizzt gives in to his "Hunter" persona in the Underdark, which is really just his instincts to survive being kicked up to an 11 as they clash with his morals, I don't really see how he of all characters is classified as Chaotic--- then again, I'm afraid I am not up to date with the more recent books by R.A. Salvatore. ^.^'''' His characters are unique, and are chiefly what drew me into his books for a long time, but it's not always easy to follow the plot of his stories --- To me, his writing style as always been a little "Stiff," or "dry," and often there are longer descriptions about things around the main plot than this post, if I had to be honest. And many of the writers do take artistic liberties within certain parameters of the lore, so there are likely some variables that are different depending on what author(s) one prefers. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.