Paladin
The Cause of Righteousness
A paladin swears to uphold justice and righteousness, to stand with the good things of the world against the encroaching darkness, and to hunt the forces of evil wherever they lurk. Different paladins focus on various aspects of the cause of righteousness, but all are bound by the oaths that grant them power to do their sacred work. Although many paladins are devoted to gods of good, a paladin's power comes as much from a commitment to justice itself as it does from a god. Paladins train for years to learn the skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armour. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the sick and injured, to smite the wicked and the undead, and to protect the innocent and those who join them in the fight for justice. The defining characteristic of a paladin is their oath, which most frequently calls upon a paladin to battle the forces of evil and to defend justice wherever they can. Precisely how a paladin defines these values differs from one paladin to another and some swear their oath as a form of religious devotion, dedicating themselves to the values of a particular god. Others, however, simple hold themselves to a particularly powerful sense of right and wrong, which is in of itself enough to attract the favour of the divine. Evil paladins sometimes serve as champions of primordials or fiends, committing atrocities like the sacrifice of sapients in exchange for unholy power. All paladins, regardless of whom they serve and how they act, are expected to serve as sworn defenders of their beliefs, smiting those who would debase or devalue them. Few paladins truly “choose” their career and for many becoming a paladin is more like answering a call to destiny, sometimes quite literally from a god or angel. A rare few feel compelled to the paladin's path since their early youth, as though sent into the world with a divine purpose. It is often said that becoming a paladin is something that is either within one's nature or not and though an individual can reject the divine call that beckoned them, no one can become a paladin who does not have the necessary conviction. Most people who do feel the compulsion to become a paladin begin their training early in life, often as adolescents. Many were squires or assistants to more experienced paladins, training for years before they came into their own as champions of their cause. Others hear or answer the call only late in life, after having pursued a different career, possibly in response to a terrible catastrophe like the destruction of their home.Beyond the Mundane Life
Almost by definition, the life of a paladin is an adventuring life. Unless a lasting injury has taken him or her away from adventuring for a time, every paladin lives on the front lines of the cosmic struggle against evil. Fighters are rare enough among the ranks of the militias and armies of the world, but even fewer people can claim the true calling of a paladin. When they do receive the call, these warriors turn from their former occupations and take up arms to fight evil. Sometimes their oaths lead them into the service of the crown as leaders of elite groups of knights, but even then their loyalty is first to the cause of righteousness, not to crown and country. Adventuring paladins take their work seriously. A delve into an ancient ruin or dusty crypt can be a quest driven by a higher purpose than the acquisition of treasure. Evil lurks in dungeons and primaeval forests, and even the smallest victory against it can tilt the cosmic balance away from oblivion.Breaking their Oath
A paladin tries to hold to the highest standards of conduct, but even the most virtuous paladin is fallible. Sometimes the right path proves too demanding, sometimes a situation calls for the lesser of two evils, and sometimes the heat of emotion causes a paladin to transgress his or her oath. A paladin who has broken a vow typically seeks absolution from a cleric who shares his or her faith or from another paladin of the same order. The paladin might spend an all-night vigil in prayer as a sign of penitence, or undertake a fast or similar act of self-denial. After a rite of confession and forgiveness, the paladin starts fresh. If a paladin willfully violates his or her oath and shows no sign of repentance, the consequences can be more serious.
Type
Military
Famous in the Field
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