Matrix

The nine alignments describe a creature’s moral and ethical outlook along two axes:

Law vs. Chaos: attitudes toward order, tradition, and authority.
Good vs. Evil: attitudes toward altruism, respect for life, and dignity.
Neutral on either axis indicates balance, pragmatism, or indifference rather than indecision.

Alignments are descriptive, not prescriptive—they capture typical tendencies, not hard rules.

	Lawful	Neutral	Chaotic
Good	Lawful Good — do the right thing as expected by society; uphold order and altruism. Examples: gold dragons, paladins, most dwarves.	Neutral Good — help others according to their needs; prioritize kindness over rules. Examples: many celestials, some cloud giants, most gnomes.	Chaotic Good — follow conscience with little regard for expectations; value freedom and compassion. Examples: copper dragons, many elves, unicorns.
Neutral	Lawful Neutral — follow law, tradition, or personal codes above moral concerns. Examples: many monks, some wizards.	True Neutral — avoid moral extremes; do what seems best in the moment. Examples: lizardfolk, most druids, many humans.	Chaotic Neutral — value personal freedom and whim above all; unpredictable but not malicious. Examples: many barbarians and rogues, some bards.
Evil	Lawful Evil — pursue self-interest within a code, hierarchy, or tradition. Examples: devils, blue dragons, hobgoblins.	Neutral Evil — do whatever you can get away with; no compassion or qualms. Examples: many drow, some cloud giants, yugoloths.	Chaotic Evil — act with arbitrary violence driven by greed, hatred, or bloodlust. Examples: demons, red dragons, orcs.

Anchor sections Add these sections somewhere in the same note (or keep them collapsed) to create stable link targets.

Do the right thing as expected by society; uphold order and altruism. Examples: gold dragons, paladins, most dwarves.

Help others according to their needs; prioritize kindness over rules. Examples: many celestials, some cloud giants, most gnomes.

Follow conscience with little regard for expectations; value freedom and compassion. Examples: copper dragons, many elves, unicorns.

Follow law, tradition, or personal codes above moral concerns. Examples: many monks, some wizards.

Avoid moral extremes; do what seems best in the moment. Examples: lizardfolk, most druids, many humans.

Value personal freedom and whim above all; unpredictable but not malicious. Examples: many barbarians and rogues, some bards.

Pursue self-interest within a code, hierarchy, or tradition. Examples: devils, blue dragons, hobgoblins.

Do whatever you can get away with; no compassion or qualms. Examples: many drow, some cloud giants, yugoloths.

Act with arbitrary violence driven by greed, hatred, or bloodlust. Examples: demons, red dragons, orcs.