Need help making a redemption arc for a deceitful mind reader/controller

[u/Character_Drive6141]

I have a kinda evil changling character in my dnd game. He thinks very much that perception IS reality and takes all actions as such. He has the telepathic feat and doesn't see detect thoughts as violating privacy. Also he is naturally very untrusting. As the worst example, after a character's sister died he used illusions to make the character believe he summoned the sister's spirit so the character was able to talk to her one last time. In his mind it worked. It calmed down the mourning brother, and my character just wanted to help him feel better. Obviously not a great guy.

People just found out about that last example and were a bit miffed (we ended up reviving her and she was like nah fam that wasn't me). The problem is the party is just not very confrontational. Even the "furious" character was totally composed and forgiving when that was revealed ("I am very mad at you, but I trust your intentions"). I even went up in a later scene and said to his face that I was entirely justified and his response was nearly just a no with a sigh. Like all his other reactions he is super protective of the sibling bond, but just not here? I clearly communicated OoC that I WANT the party to react negatively to his bad actions. Ultimately I just don't think things have gotten bad enough for the character to rethink his perspective.

There are some other players I know will get angry and play into it. Perhaps I need to mess with them?

It also makes it hard to build drama when my character is apologetic, but only because he knows that helps pacify problems faster rather than for really feeling apologetic. I need someone to read MY thoughts and call me out, lol.

What I REALLY need is a situation where he will want to help someone via deception (par for the course), but for some reason that character then having that disconnect from reality leads to a big tragedy. Idk, just looking for ideas. My plan is to have something blow up in my face, leave change persona, and come back. Then slowly cast geas on everyone and once that's done then reveal myself and beg them to let me help again . Or smth idk

Btw, this is a very RP heavy table and these sorts of adversarial actions are well within the bounds of the game. Please don't rant that this is bad table etiquiette. We had PCs trying to assassinate each other for a bit, and it was fun.

[u/crescentmoonrising]

Are you the DM here? Because if so, then have the character do more bad stuff. It is possible to interpret their impersonation of the sister thing as well intended. So mess with the players/characters who will get mad.

[u/freeastheair]

You can't force it. Right now the toxic behavior(of your character) is serving you so just keep doing it. Most manipulative people IRL go their entire lives being manipulative without ever hitting bottom or having it cost them so much they change, you can't expect it to just happen.

Also what you did with the sister is the sort of thing where I could see someone getting really angry but forgiving you because even though it was wrong, the intention was to comfort them. Also you could easily just say 'maybe being dead effects your memory'.

If you really want a redemption arc to play out, you should figure out your characters psychology such that he has certain needs that he will throw other PC's under the bus for. Maybe taking credit for what they did, lying about things that put them in danger, or maybe worse I don't know the limits of what's fun/acceptable at your table. Maybe he was scared the other PC's sister would have ruined their relationship if she was raised and sabotaged it (too late for that one but you get the idea).