The Thing About Chaos

From Troy's Email Wed May 23 2007 4:50 AM

Like my Evil, Monte says there is a difference between Chaotic and chaotic. Though Monte didn't go all the way and say that chaotic still doesn't trigger things that trigger off the alignment, like a Detect Chaos spell. Though, just like I did with my Evil, I'm officially declaring that right now. In fact, whenever I say Chaos, I generally mean, "power or act related to the Galchutt, or bringing about the End of Days, or something closely related". Chaos is NOT the opposite of Law. Its the opposite of Order, which has no alignment representation in D&D (though Law & Order are obviously related).

So, here are the things that would detect as Chaotic:

• Chaotic Outsiders (which is going to be Outsiders created by or serving the Galchutt basically)
• Chaos Priest (someone getting power from the Galchutt, like a Vested of Galchutt or simply a Cleric of Galchutt - but NOT, say a Chaotic Good God, which, despite it being a God, I'm ruling is more a "chaotic Good God", in other words, a "Good God who hates Law", as opposed to a "Good God who encourages Chaos", if you get my drift)
• Creations of the Galchutt or Vested of the Gulchutt (like Undead, Rhodinators or maybe even automatons)
• Chaostech
• Artifacts with strong ties to Chaos
• An active spell/power fueled by True Chaos or Chaostech (NOT, say, Protection from Law)
• Somebody with such a spell memorized
• Somebody currently committing or contemplating "an Act of Chaos". So this would cause most, and certainly the most dedicated, cultists to detect, but NOT someone who happens to be defying Law, or breaking the law. The most common act of chaos is committing any evil in the name of the Galchutt, or an act intended to bring about or hasten the End of Days.

So a Sword vs. Lawful Good Outsiders is NOT Evil nor Chaotic. This may be contrary to a previous ruling. Basically, detecting Evil or Chaotic in an artifact is a significant data point. It means the item was created by a very powerful Evil/Chaotic Force, or has some significant ties to them, or has some powerful Evil/Chaotic purpose, or intent even. An item that is +1 against Angels has no alignment. An item that compels its weilder to commit Evil or Chaotic acts, would detect appropriately. And most Chaos will also detect as Evil, but not all Evil is Chaos. Just like people, the items have to have some sort of Evil or Chaotic purpose or intent to be detected as such. Simply having the ability to hurt Lawful or Good isn't enough.

Summary

from Paul Fri May 25 2007 2:16 PM

All that detects as Chaostech is also Chaos. But not everything that detects as Chaos is Chaostech.

Detect Chaostech does NOT detect Chaos unless, of course, its Chaostech. Which makes sense to me. Detect Chaos is a level 1, Detect Chaostech is a level zero. At least according to the Church AND the book that we just found, Chaostech is significantly WORSE than Chaos. But they're both pretty damn bad.

from Troy May 30 2:56AM

Finding someone who detects as Chaotic and NOT Evil as well will be pretty rare (as we said earlier, not all Evil is Chaotic, but all Chaos is pretty Evil).