Alignment and a Prisoner...

[LuYangShih]

A Paladin of Ellistrae? That violates the one step rule, which is particularly important to enforce for Paladins. Since the core rules no longer apply, the situation described here is inherently flawed, and thus the only possible resolution for you to arrive at is one unique to your own campaign.

 

[Wraithdrit]

This is most definately not a 'screw the paladin' situation. And to be clear, I did not write the adventure, I'm only running it (at least this portion).

The text of the adventure actually states (peers around to make sure his players aren't looking) that she will turn on them if freed if she gets half the chance. She has more class levels in barbarian than in cleric, but all that is really just an FYI, as it should not weigh on the paladin's decision in the slightest.

I am firmly NOT in the camp of Paladins should slay all evil regardless of situation. Its total bunk to me. A paladin is a holy warrior, aka the knights of the round table, joan of arc, etc. Their purpose is to right wrongs and protect the innocent and vanquish evil. Paladins of Eilistraee have the additional mandate to try and convert followers of other drow dieties to following Eilistraee.

That does not mean that all drow the party meets the paladin has to parlay with. On the contrary, there have been veritable bloodbaths were the party slaughtered drow coming at them from all angles. But the drow were able bodied, armed, and angry.

This is completely different.

As to what someone said about the paladin making a deal with the archmage and needing to atone... why? If that were the case it was a no win situation. The archmage was invisible, had the drop on the party, and was flying out of reach of many party members. It was parlay or die (when you are 11-12 level and someone introduces themselves as ARCHMAGE Solom... in the FR... you listen).

So anyways. Lively discussion. I love hearing all the opinions on it.

 

[Wraithdrit]

I don't see why a good aligned diety should not be allowed Lawful Good followers, even if the deity is CG.

Heck, I made an order of Paladins for Tempus in my version of Faerun (of course it was a splinter group, not a large order).

 

[LuYangShih]

Because the principles of a Chaotic deity are anathema to the Lawful code a Paladin follows.

 

[LuYangShih]

The Paladin should have a solid set of rules to follow for situations just like this. If you have not provided him with a strong foundation in his code, you cannot blame him for making mistakes, since he has no guiding light to carry him along the righteous path. Of course, you would rarely, if ever, see such well defined rules among Chaotic deities, but that is why there are officially no Paladins of such deities.

 

[Wraithdrit]

I would probably not penalize him however he plays it. Well perhaps if he skinned her alive or otherwise tortured her. I would remind him of his need to convert followers of Lolth if he did not think of it. But I would not force him to spend a long time on it. I am not strict on the code for him, but I expect him to act in a Lawful Good manner.

You make a good point, but I still feel a lawful good character could follow certain chaotic good dieties.

 

[LuYangShih]

Ah, but what is acting in a Lawful Good manner in your campaign? This should really be defined, if just for the peace of mind of the player controlling the Paladin. It is extremely irritating to have to constantly obsess over every action you take, wondering if it might cause you to lose all of your class features.

 

[hong]

Ah, but what is acting in a Lawful Good manner in your campaign? This should really be defined, if just for the peace of mind of the player controlling the Paladin. It is extremely irritating to have to constantly obsess over every action you take, wondering if it might cause you to lose all of your class features.

... or the DM could just stop obsessing over every action he takes, like some sort of trainspotting weirdo.

 

[LuYangShih]

You know as well as I do that such behavior would require electroshock therapy to modify.

 

[Valiantheart]

As to what someone said about the paladin making a deal with the archmage and needing to atone... why? If that were the case it was a no win situation. The archmage was invisible, had the drop on the party, and was flying out of reach of many party members. It was parlay or die (when you are 11-12 level and someone introduces themselves as ARCHMAGE Solom... in the FR... you listen).

No he should have fallen. So if for instance if Mordred beat Galahad to submission and then said lets parley, "I spare you and you never bother me again." if Galahad said sure he would lose his Paladin status. He made a bargain with a being who he knew would most likely commit more evil acts. It doesnt matter if its a no win situation a Paladin NEVER knowingly associates or deals with a known evil being. NEVER. Death before Dishonor.

Oh and though I cant really see the Drow goddess with Paladins, Sune also has Paladins and shes CG.