Michael Morris
First Post
Champions of good and purity, paladins are the rarest of all warriors in Telzoa. As agents of Aurnon, they are called upon to deal with the worst of dangers to the faith.
Religion: Paladins serve Court Aurnon, and in particular Tean, God of the Twin Suns. They are directly responsible to the priests of Tean, then to the priests of Court Aurnon.
Background: Paladins are called. The when, the why, and even the how is a personal experience unique to each paladin, but after the call comes the Test of Purity. This test occurs just before the paladin reaches first level. The player and the DM are encouraged to detail the events of the test, as they can be life shaking. Characters attempting to multiclass into the paladin class must role play out the test. The test shakes the character's wisdom, constitution and charisma - the character must successfully roll an ability check for each of these during the test. The wisdom test is one of insight - the character must solve a moral dilemma. The constitution test is one of sheer endurance of pain to see whether the character can maintain his faith through physical adversity. The third test, of charisma, pits the character against his worst fear. The nature of each test is customized to the would-be paladin.
Organizations: While paladins lead several notable groups, they are too few and far between to form sizable groups.
[h2]The Paladin's Code[/h2]
The paladins of Telzoa must follow a set of 15 rules arranged into 3 precepts, 5 dictums, and 7 virtues. The precepts are the most broad, but if violated the loss of paladin status is permanent. Breaking a dictum causes temporary paladin ability loss until atoned for. Breaking a virtue causes the loss of one paladin ability temporarily.
Precepts
Dictums
Virtues
Religion: Paladins serve Court Aurnon, and in particular Tean, God of the Twin Suns. They are directly responsible to the priests of Tean, then to the priests of Court Aurnon.
Background: Paladins are called. The when, the why, and even the how is a personal experience unique to each paladin, but after the call comes the Test of Purity. This test occurs just before the paladin reaches first level. The player and the DM are encouraged to detail the events of the test, as they can be life shaking. Characters attempting to multiclass into the paladin class must role play out the test. The test shakes the character's wisdom, constitution and charisma - the character must successfully roll an ability check for each of these during the test. The wisdom test is one of insight - the character must solve a moral dilemma. The constitution test is one of sheer endurance of pain to see whether the character can maintain his faith through physical adversity. The third test, of charisma, pits the character against his worst fear. The nature of each test is customized to the would-be paladin.
Organizations: While paladins lead several notable groups, they are too few and far between to form sizable groups.
[h2]The Paladin's Code[/h2]
The paladins of Telzoa must follow a set of 15 rules arranged into 3 precepts, 5 dictums, and 7 virtues. The precepts are the most broad, but if violated the loss of paladin status is permanent. Breaking a dictum causes temporary paladin ability loss until atoned for. Breaking a virtue causes the loss of one paladin ability temporarily.
Precepts
- Precept of Law: Obey righteous laws. A Just authority makes Good Laws, which are righteous. Unjust authorities make laws which must be overthrown along with their creator, for law is as powerful a tool in the hands of the wicked as it is in the hands of the righteous.
- Precept of Good: Serve the many. Love all who love the law and their fellow men. Good without guidance cannot stand long against evil - this must be prevented. Neither can judgment be trusted to the weakness of the human heart. Good without guidance can destroy order and in so doing destroy itself.
- Precept of Justice: Law moderated by Good forms Justice, and this is the goal of the paladin - to bring justice and truth to the land. Justice exists only where law guides a righteous mind.
Dictums
- Thou shalt not murder: Killing a combatant is necessary. Killing anyone defenseless is evil. Killing anyone grossly beneath your own skill at arms in single combat is the same as murder.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not lie. Silence is a lie when you know the truth and do not come forward with it. Repeating a lie unwittingly is not a violation of this dictum.
- Thou shalt obey just authority.
- Thou shalt not swear falsely. Cursing anyone in the name of any deity of any court is a violation of this dictum.
Virtues
- Humility: A paladin must be humble. He must not brag of his skills, his abilities or his faith. Silence is confidence.
- Service: A paladin serves the people. He must give all he is to their defense. He should only keep the equipment necessary to sustain himself, and give everything else away.
- Honor: Honor is paladin's lifeblood. It is a measure of how well others can trust him. Honor means keeping the pacts, oaths and obligations one makes.
- Faith: Belief in the powers of Tean and Court Aurnon above all other gods.
- Clarity: Never cloud the mind with drink or substance. Be pure in thoughts (some paladins take this virtue to the extreme of chastity).
- Mercy: Be kind to those who use you wrongly. Forgive transgressions against your person, but do not forget. When mercy is asked of you, give it in return.
- Respect: Defer to authority, and honor their accomplishments in your words. While you cannot sing your own praises, do sing the praises of others.
