Do you have an "Evil" race in your world?

[Jay R]

"Evil" isn't the only, or even necessarily the primary, cause of strife.

If there's a monster species that only eats humans or other sentient species, then they aren't evil. They just want to survive.

They are, however, our enemies, and must be killed whenever found.

[hamishspence]

Generally you don't find "just want to survive" on its own though.

Mind flayers may need to eat sapients to survive (non sapient brains just don't provide enough of certain energies) - but, they're also pretty arrogant and sociopathic - hence Evil.

[VoxRationis]

Generally you don't find "just want to survive" on its own though.

Mind flayers may need to eat sapients to survive (non sapient brains just don't provide enough of certain energies) - but, they're also pretty arrogant and sociopathic - hence Evil.

Eh. Most things tend to be "arrogant and sociopathic" from the perspective of their food.

[Donnadogsoth]

Generally you don't find "just want to survive" on its own though.

Mind flayers may need to eat sapients to survive (non sapient brains just don't provide enough of certain energies) - but, they're also pretty arrogant and sociopathic - hence Evil.

One sapient willfully killing another is called murder. I might die without your bread, but if I kill you for it, no matter how humble and empathetic I may be, I am still a murderer.

[hamishspence]

BovD defines murder as requiring "nefarious purpose" - a certain amount of debate can be made about whether "survival" is nefarious under normal circumstances.

That said - it also points out that the sacrifice of others to save oneself is clearly an evil act: "It's a hard standard, but that's the way it is".

[Raimun]

Uh, haven't you noticed that orcs have tusked teeth and crudely made axes and scimitars? It's pretty clear that they are Evil and have to die.

[Hawkstar]

For Illithids (Seeing them mentioned) - I don't have them considered "Evil", as much as "Humans squared". As far as they're concerned, no other species is truly 'sapient' - they regard a psionic human with the same fascinating contempt one might have for a talking cat or parrot. There's an SMBC comic that sums it up.

But for other species - For me, Goblinoids are supernatural manifestations of assorted types of evil humans can fall to. Hobgoblins are unyielding loyalty to an oppressive social contract ("Hobbe's Goblins"), with Goblins and Bugbears being ugly, brutish and short in life and appearance. Theoretically, they have free will, and they appear to have it - but they have never been observed to actually demonstrate decency and civility. Evil is not fair, it does not play by rules. Good tries to have "Racism is evil and wrong". Evil made a species that IS always Evil, with a smug "Checkmate." Well-meaning adventurers who think the malevolence of a goblinoid is nurture instead of nature are responsible for a LOT of dead caretakers, orphans, and other well-meaning social workers. The injustice is enough to drive some people mad (And Cosmic Evil loves it when people fail to grasp the "Inherent evil" nature of goblinoids properly, and either result in suffering from the futile task of redeeming them, or from extrapolating "Goblins are always evil, and thus [not always evil race is too!"

Orcs, meanwhile - I use them as violent parody. They are not actually people, but manifestations of raw violence, with identities tacked onto them. They also often defy physics and reason. Inner cities are often plagued by gangs of marauding Orcish Skatesworders - Orcs that do nothing but violently kill people while pulling off sweet tricks on their surprisingly-mobile Skateswords (Greatswords that function as Skateboards), with Tony Horc being the most formidable of them. Meanwhile, there are also Helorcopters, Orcs that raid the air by spinning giant double-bladed axes above their heads. They have headquarters on mighty Helorcarriers. Their greatest heroes (Villains?) are the Avengorcs, Orcs of legendary power and dual-identities:
* Tony Storc, eccentric billionaire business orc who is also the legendary Oricalcum Orc
* Bruce Bannorc, a mad orc scientist who, in battle, transforms into the Incredible Horc (no relation to Tony Horc, Pro Skatesworder)
* Roceye/Clint Borkton. An orc who's archery skills are unmatched.
* Steven Rojorc/Captain Orcmerica - While just as violent and remorseless in battle as any other orc, he's also prone to giving stirring heroic speeches while smashing through opposition with his indestructible shield.
* Natalya Romanorc, the Black Widork. A stealthy, creepily attractive orcish infiltrator and assassin.
* The Mighty Thorc, an orc of almost deific power, and wielder of the legendary hammer Mjolnorc.

[2D8HP]

* The Mighty Thorc, an orc of almost deific power, and wielder of the legendary hammer Mjolnorc.

Just so much from this post is sigworthy!

[Max_Killjoy]

* Tony Storc, eccentric billionaire business orc who is also the legendary Oricalcum Orc
* Bruce Bannorc, a mad orc scientist who, in battle, transforms into the Incredible Horc (no relation to Tony Horc, Pro Skatesworder)
* Roceye/Clint Borkton. An orc who's archery skills are unmatched.
* Steven Rojorc/Captain Orcmerica - While just as violent and remorseless in battle as any other orc, he's also prone to giving stirring heroic speeches while smashing through opposition with his indestructible shield.
* Natalya Romanorc, the Black Widork. A stealthy, creepily attractive orcish infiltrator and assassin.
* The Mighty Thorc, an orc of almost deific power, and wielder of the legendary hammer Mjolnorc.

That gets better every time I read it.