For context, in my medieval fantasy story, the MC team consisted of 5 people. They are doing the morally right thing, keeping a dangerous species as their pet a promise from the mother who died, but it's extremely illegal and they've been chased around the whole place trying to protect the pet (it's long but that's basically the idea)
Now I just introduced the stereotypical Lawful Good character, religious and believes heavily in the god/goddess of him/her choosing. But the problem aroses because I desperately really really REALLY want that character to be a new member of the forementioned MC team. But with their character trait, how would they possibly agree to be hunted like wanted criminals as much so associate themselves with the criminals?
I've been thinking the cliché "Oh, they just risk their life save an innocent girl out of danger! So that means they're gud ppl, so that mean I can trust them." but that's just very... tickles me
Any form of suggestion from good to rebuilding the Soviet is appreciated!
When in doubt of something cliche and boring, go for something extreme!
This hyper religious character shows their competence in ruthlessly and efficiently parting the team from the pet, completely and utterly assured in their righteousness. Their deity tells them to follow the law and so they do so. They note the pain of the creature, as well as the philosophical reasonings of the rest of the group (in other words, they aren't an idiot.
They understand the perspective of the other side), but all in all, it does not matter because law is one of their core values. Most people will not bend whatsoever for core values they have fleshed out and ingrained in their character. Perhaps express some concern and empathy, in combination with some disappointment and disbelief that they would willingly become criminals like this character had once been as a child before being taken in by the church.
The only issue is, I don't really know what is at the disposal of the government. What are they willing to do? What methods of torture do they have at their disposal? Is the team responsible for literally anything other than this pet?
But anyway, back to the hypothetical extreme. This character turns in the pet...
And gets stabbed in the back, sword inserted straight through their spinal cord...
"I'm sorry... but I can't let you continue your course... I'll explain. I can help you learn... I hope..."
They are stabbed... an unholy pain radiating out through their whole body, making them limb and wheezing in pain. They look down, irises trembling, and teeth clenched and bared in an ugly, ape-like expression of sheer
agony. Death is rarely a portent of a sweet expression. Salty sweat and tears drip from their taut cheeks and brow, guttural distress moaning out their snarled, shadowed face. A soft pitter-patter of water on the blade jutting out of their stomach emerges in the silence.
Haltingly, stutteringly, they turned around.
"W-w-who are you?" they ask angrily, tears of pain still flowing down their eyes, yet disbelief is plain in their voice.
It is the main character, crying as well!
To explain the motivation, these are people willing to be chased and perpetually criminalized for the sake of a promise. Presumably there are other stakes as well. You need to show their conviction! Eschew a goody two-shoes idea for a brief moment and grip your readers! Changing a core value takes time, and healing procedures normally take time as well, so give yourself time to ingratiate the character into the gang! Give this character an entire arc, full of numerous tragedies where their black-and-white beliefs are continually tested. Make them see-saw between deciding to help and not deciding to help. And you should probably do about an even mixture of both. It doesn't make sense to decide to help from here on out. Make there be consequences, like lost limbs for the other cast, because the person can't relinquish their ideals! And then when they do help, make rewards and make it help multiple people!
I understand if you aren't willing to do a more complex character that will grip people more though. Might not fit, mood-wise, in your writing.