History Characters / ShinMegamiTenseiForcesOfLaw

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Usually appearing as AmazingTechnicolourPopulation humanoids, but their designs for ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' are very different from their older designs, due to the artist change from Kazuma Kaneko to several different artists. Specifically, the ''SMT IV'' designs are way more like the Talmudic descriptions of angels, with their "bodies" built ''around'' their heads and whatnot and also being made out of ''lacquer'', though they can make themselves look human ([[spoiler:as Sister Gabby shows]]).

* WorldOfSilence: The end results should they get their way in ''Strange Journey''. The world they create is devoid of passion and instinct, all being one with the universe in a harmonious unity devoid of ego or ambition.

** Again, in spite of being the faction of order, they are the most prone to outright rebelling against their faction head if they go a step too far even them; after all, if they aren't going by their own standards, then they too need to fall. This reaches it's logical conclusion with Ronaldo in ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'', a Lawfully-minded protagonist who outright leads the ''LaResistance'' of that game. Meanwhile, Chaos never had anyone necessarily disobey Lucifer's way, though certainly most likely [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority not without trying]].

* WorldOfSilence: The end results should they get their way in Strange Journey. The world they create is devoid of passion and instinct, all being one with the universe in a harmonious unity devoid of ego or ambition.

* WorldOfSilence: Very commonly their end results should they get their way. The worlds they make tend to be devoid of passion and instinct, all being one with the universe in a harmonious unity devoid of ego or ambition.

* LightIsNotGood: Wholeheartedly associated with the colors white and the [[LightEmUp "Hama/Kouha"]] line of spells, but are oftentimes completely unfettered in their pursuit for utopia.

* BlueIsHeroic: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. While they aren't necessarily ''completely'' evil, calling them heroic [[LightIsNotGood is a stretch]].

** It's never commented outright, but while they are known to be extremely racist towards Chaotic-aligned demons, they find prejudiced among or against humans in very low opinion. [[EqualOpportunityEvil It certainly explains why they don't care about your ethnicity, gender or features, only that you're one of God's chosen]].

** It's never commented outright, but while they are known to be extremely prejudiced towards Chaotic-demons, they find racism among or against humans in very low opinion. [[EqualOpportunityEvil It certainly explains why they don't care about your ethnicity, gender or features, only that you're one of God's chosen]].

* KnightTemplar: Lawful characters off the deep end or demons have a tendency to be this; to them, their ideals of peace are entirely non-negotiable, [[WithUsOrAgainstUs and you either stand with them, or against the]].

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: [[NotSoDifferent Much like Chaos itself]]. Law fundamentally subscribes to ideals of peace, equality, and above all else, fairness - but this often wraps in on itself and makes Law [[WellIntentionedExtremist more than willing to commit horrific atrocities in the name of said perfect world]], ranging from [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood brainwashing]], to [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill totalitarianism]], to even [[FinalSolution outright genocide]]. Lawful demons see no dissonance in their actions versus their ideals, because it's all in the name of a better world. A better way perhaps to describe Law as an alignment is less the alignment of order so much as ''fairness'' - it's very much willing to hold itself to the greater sum of things, even if that sum tends to the horrific.

* TheExtremistWasRight: While it is ''highly'' [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment debatable]] to say that Law's actions are at all right on an ''emotional'' level, it's hard not to deny their results on a ''logical'' level: worlds where Law wins the Alignment War always tend to be the most happy as a wholesale on an institutional level, always having enough for everyone and giving everyone what they need - even at the cost of what came to human civilization beforehand. However, it's worth noting that while Law's ends tend to be the most "perfected," it is very subjective as a wholesale whether it is ''[[MoralSociopathy right]]''.

* TheHeavy: Out of all the games that focus on the OrderVersusChaos conflict, Law very regularly ends up instigating much of said conflict through either orders on high from YHVH to obliterate human civilization or just generally destroying the world to birth something new. Frankly, it'd be easier to list the games where Law ''wasn't'' the source of the apocalypse in their games.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the world of ''Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse'', Law - alongside Chaos - was explicitly a villainous faction than the BlueAndOrangeMorality deal they usually were. They were far more rude and ruthless than in other depictions throughout the series, and choosing to side with them [[spoiler:simply repeats the cycle YHVH has in store to keep humanity at the bottom no matter what]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Despite being MoralSociopathy: The Faction and often ''the'' reasons why each of the ''Shin Megami Tensei'' game locales [[CrapsackWorld suck so much]], there are lines even they would refuse to cross:

* AllLovingHero: [[ZigZaggedTrope While most of Law is generally to distant to really exhibit these qualities]], many of the Light-aligned scions of Law on the wholesale tend to have a very high sense of empathy for others. [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney Zelenin]] (pre-FaceHeelTurn and post-HeelFaceTurn), [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV Jonathan]], [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor Amane and Remiel]] all are tendencied by their bleeding-heart empathy and acceptance of everyone around them.

* TheChosenMany: Those who are chosen by God are chosen to live in the Millennium Kingdom; everyone else, regardless, of race, status or faith, is killed. Those who are chosen by God to live in the Millennium Kingdom are given a paradise, but are otherwise subject to the Kingdom's strict laws.

** YHVH may be their figurehead, but the moment he steps out of line or causes an atrocity bad enough that the angels themselves are horrified with it, such as [[spoiler:the Megiddo Ark [[EarthShatteringKaboom obliterating the Earth]]]], they immediately step down from whatever they're doing and work to take him down. "All are equal of sin" indeed.

* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: They are willing to do anything for their ideal MillenniumKingdom, no matter how many atrocities they have to commit.

* StartXToStopX: They are a pretty {{Egregious}} offender of this trope, and ultimately their idea of stopping any perceived sins is often committing them all the same: wanting to ensure an equal commune that has everyone in peace and harmony? [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood Brainwash everyone to remove their conflicting personalities]]. Humanity is proving unable to manage itself? Directly intervene and apply the aforementioned methods. Demons broke out and[=/=]or it's not working? Kill everyone, possibly through liberal usage of [[NukeEm nuclear bombardment]].

* TheExtremistWasRight: While it is ''highly'' [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment debatable]] to say that Law's actions are at all right on an ''emotional'' level, it's hard not to deny their results on a ''logical'' level: worlds where Law wins the Alignment War always tend to be the most happy as a wholesale on an institutional level, always having enough for everyone and giving everyone what they need - even at the cost of what came to human civilization beforehand. However, it's worth noting that while Law's ends tend to be the most "perfected," it is very subjective as a wholesale whether it is ''[[MoralSociopathy right]]''.

* TheExtremistWasRight: While it is ''highly'' [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement debatable]] to say that Law's actions are at all right on an ''emotional'' level, it's hard not to deny their results on a ''logical'' level: worlds where Law wins the Alignment War always tend to be the most happy as a wholesale on an institutional level, always having enough for everyone and giving everyone what they need - even at the cost of what came to human civilization beforehand. However, it's worth noting that while Law's ends tend to be the most "perfected," it is very subjective as a wholesale whether it is ''[[MoralSociopathy right]]''.

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[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_smt_law.png]]
The alignment associated with the embodiment of the belief in one true {{God}}, order, equality and peace. The Law alignment promotes order, safety and {{The Needs of the Many}}, but at its worst, leads to dictatorship, elitism, and/or {{Totalitarian Utilitarian}}ism. The main goal of the Law alignment is to rid the Earth of all demons and establish a eternal paradise that worships and is ruled over by God. However, the truth is that only a select few who are judged worthy would be allowed to live in these paradises, with the rest being cast out or killed, including the loyal followers that did said killing to build the system. Law is rather unique amoung the alignments as it is often at odds with its own leaders, due to holding everyone to their high standards, no matter what their postion is.

[[folder:YHVH]]
!!YHVH
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yhvh_4.png]]
->''"Not even a thousand deaths would be fitting punishment for thy sins! I shall smite thee, and in Hell I shall torture thee over and over! After an aeon, I shall reincarnate thee, and thy lives shall be those of endless torment, thy bodies tortured in life and thy souls in death! The same shall come to thy children, and thy children's children, throughout all eternity until the end of time! Feel the wrath of my divine lightning, and plummet into the bowels of hell, burning in its unending flames!"''
-->-- '''Shin Megami Tensei II'''
'''Warning: As a major recurring figure throughout the series, there will be spoilers for multiple games. You have been warned.'''

The most recurring entity among agents of The Great Will, YHVH is [[{{God}} the Abrahamic God]]. However, he is far from the kindly god you'd expect; instead, most incarnations of this being tend to be selfish, totalitarian tyrant obsessed with forcing warped standards upon the world; often by brutally slaughtering those who oppose him or those he deems unclean and unworthy of his salvation, and/or forcibly converting all mortal life into worshiping him. In extreme cases, the lives of his followers - even his angels - are no more than means to keep himself in power; caring for nothing but himself and his power.