I attempted to deconstruct the “Always Chaotic Evil” trope. My race of Gnolls were carnivorous hunter-gatherers, who one day ended up targeting humans out of necessity for food. As humanity was apalled by the cannibalism, they responded with genocidal war. I give players hints that the gnolls have family and loved ones, and thus aren’t incapable of mercy.

The reconstruction comes in when after the apocalypse happens, the Gnolls become a lot more democratic and friendly, as an atonement for not appreciating life when it was there, and it was through this democratic decision, the Gnolls made the leap to agriculture, proving that they are capable of good just as easily.

So while evil may be inherent, it is not inherently evil.