Introduction:
Divine warriors inspired by their devotion to a set of oaths and principles. Whether sworn before a god's altar and the witness of a priest or in a sacred glade before nature spirits and fey beings Paladins utilize divine magic to advance their beliefs in the world. All Paladins are members of a knightly order that represents their ideals and maintains the sacred words of the oath that empowers the Paladins. Some orders consist of dozens of chapters and hundreds of Paladins while others are made up of two Paladins who share a common oath. The sole exception are the Oathbreakers who are defined by their rejection of their oaths in favor of personal gain.
Those interested in playing a paladin can find the details of the class in the following link;
Paladin
Subclasses:
The following subclasses are available to Paladin characters;
- Oath of Ancients: Paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in principles of honor, courage, and justice.
- Oath of Conquest: Paladins who seek glory in battle and the subjugation of their enemies. It isn’t enough for these paladins to establish order. They must crush the forces of chaos.
- Oath of Devotion: Paladins dedicated to the loftiest ideals of justice, virtue, and order. These are the most common Paladins and the ones often thought of when a Paladin is mentioned in stories and songs.
- Oath of Redemption: Paladins on a difficult path, one that requires a holy warrior to use violence only as a last resort. These men and women are atoning for past sins and are often reformed criminals, scoundrels, and brigands.
- Oath of Vengeance: Paladins who take on a solemn commitment to punish those who have committed a grievous sin. These Paladins come from a number of backgrounds but all have a deep sense of righteousness.
The Oathbreaker is a special case amongst the Paladin subclasses. A PC can only become an Oathbreaker by willfully deciding to contradict their Oath for selfish or evil reasons. The result is a loss of the Paladin's divine abilities that are empowered by their Oath. These Paladins are often approached by an agent of Gargauth, the god of betrayal, and offered a deal in order to regain their divine powers. If they accept this deal they become Oathbreakers. If the table feels like a PC is heading toward being an Oathbreaker, a conversation should be had between the Player and DM as Oathbreakers are explicitly evil. That does not mean they cannot be adventurers but playing an Oathbreaker in a non-disruptive manner requires maturity and skill.
The following subclasses are examples of Paladin Oaths that can be unlocked through gameplay:
- Oath of the Crown: Paladins sworn to the ideals of civilization, be it the spirit of a nation, fealty to a sovereign, or service to a deity of law and rulership.
- Oath of Glory: Paladins who take the Oath of Glory believe they and their companions are destined to achieve glory through deeds of heroism.
- Oath of Providence: Paladins who believe they are the hand of destiny, striking down enemies beyond redemption. From Xanathars Lost Notes.
- Oath of Storms: Paladins called to the salty brine and choppy seas, the altar of the raging storm. From Valda's Spire of Secrets.
- Oath of the Watchtower: Paladins dedicated to protecting their flock and keeping an ever-mindful eye, as danger is always lurking in the shadows. From Griffons Saddlebag.
- Oath of the Watchers: Paladins bound to protect mortal realms from the predations of extraplanar creatures, many of which can lay waste to mortal soldiers.
Note: the above list is not exhaustive, it is merely a list of examples of the sort of content that can be unlocked through play.
Paladins in Thinia:
Paladins in Thinia exist exclusively in Knightly Orders or Chapters. These groups are made up of men and women bound by ironclad oaths that are sworn and adhered to by all members. Not all members are paladins but all members do swear the same oaths. The worst punishment for a member of an order is exile and this occurs when the member breaks the oaths held by the Order. The exception to this rule are the Oathbreakers who are those who break their oaths and embrace evil and selfish gain instead. Some Knightly Orders that can be found in Thinia are detailed below;
- The Honor Knights: An Order dedicated to the Oath of Devotion. The Honor Knights have chapters across Thinia but they are based out of Ornes in Totecum. The Honor Knights can be identified by the royal blue cloaks and Pegasus symbol. The highest-ranked members of the Honor Knights travel on Pegasus mounts.
- The Order of the Owl: An Order dedicated to the Oath of Ancients. The Order of the Owl has several chapters throughout the northern Heartlands. They are sometimes at odds with the Capsan Empire as the Empire attempts to expand civilization into the wilderness. Members wear a green sash around their waste and adorn their armor with feathers. Senior members are awarded a set of Ironwood Armor for their service.
- The Unsetting Sun: An Order dedicated to the Oath of Conquest. This Order is based in Capsa, the Imperial City and capital of the Capsan Empire. The Order is dedicated to the expansion of the Empire in the name of the Empress and Lathander. Many amongst the Order are current or former legionnaires. Members wear crimson red cloaks with the symbol of the Capsan Empire on them.
- The League of Renewal: An Order dedicated to the Oath of Redemption. The Order is based out of Penglai but has chapters in Lokkheimer, Marzana, Utican, and Kulono. The Order is dedicated to reform and counts many former criminals, scoundrels, bringands, and villains amongst their numbers. The League is sometimes looked upon with suspicion by those who cannot forgive the past misdeeds of its members. The members wear vibrant red cloaks with a phoenix symbol emblazoned upon it.
- The Silver Knights: An Order dedicated to the Oath of Vengeance. The Order specifically hunts monsters like vampires and lycanthropes. The Order is based out of Fensalar but has several chapters in the northern Heartlands. This Order exists to avenge the crimes commited by monsters against civilization. The Order is known for their black armor, silvered weapons, the simple silver diamond that adorns their cloaks.
Players who choose to play a Paladin are encouraged to briefly detail the Order their Paladin comes from. The Order can be described in 3 to 4 sentences. The most important information is what Oath they are dedicated to, where they are based, what symbols or clothing identify them, and their general mission.
