Paladin of Freedom Code?

[Ed_Laprade]

All I have to say is that, if there isn't some sort of 'Steal from the rich and give to the poor' part of the code, he ain't no Robin Hood!

 

[roguerouge]

The Harm Principle

John Stuart Mill: On Liberty

“The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is self-protection. The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others… In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”

“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”

 

[freyar]

Not necessarily. Ideals aren't limited to law and order. A Paladin of Freedom can have a codex to live by, things they vow to themselves not to do or always to do. They might not be quite as absolute about those ideals and will go against them if it serves the greater Good (and/or Freedom), but they still have a higher calling.

The vows they take will be personal. They will apply them to themselves and not force them upon others, and they will set up these rules for themselves, not letting others tell them what they are meant to do or to avoid, but Chaos isn't totally random and undisciplined.

That's true (well, unless you're talking about a Slaad, maybe). But I think the very idea of spelling things out specifically is pretty lawful. Here's an example: my UG college had (maybe still has) an honor code, meaning that you aren't supposed to cheat, etc. Lots of colleges do, and some go so far as to follow it (like not proctoring exams). The main point of it is that the college trusts the student to have an internal sense of honor and to know the difference between right and wrong. This is a pretty chaotic legal system IMO. So imagine how ridiculous it seemed to me when people at my college wanted to write out everything specifically in the honor code ("You can do this, but you can't do that.").

I agree completely that a CG character can be every bit as noble, honorable, and self-sacrificing as any LG paladin. I agree completely that a CG paladin of freedom would have ideals, goals, slogans, etc. But IMO codifying such a core part of your life/character is inherently lawful. That's all.

 

[Nifft]

I will to my nobler self be true and faithful.

I will not place bonds upon another man against his will, nor will I coerce any man with force of arms.

I will not suffer a tyrant to live, nor will I tolerate slavery that is within my power to destroy.

I will place the rights of the few above the convenience of the many.

I will aid and defend those who are working to better themselves.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kae'Yoss]

But I think the very idea of spelling things out specifically is pretty lawful.

I'm not sure if the character will have those written down, or if it's just for the player. I'd like stuff like that written down for myself - the character knows his vows by heart, but he's that character all the time, I'm only that character for a couple of hours every other week, and even then I'm not really that character, I only play him.

 

[DarkKestral]

He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. -- Thomas Paine

This is a very 'paladin of freedom' quote, I think, since it encapsulates so much of how he is supposed to act, in one sentence. It basically sums up how the paladin of freedom thinks, in one sentence, and provides one of those unbreakable codes of honor that occasionally crop up in chaotic people.

Honestly, if I were playing one of those paladins, I'd probably use that quote somewhere as a 'life motto' or something, perhaps as one of those dictums paladins often say in stories.

 

[rgard]

Speaking of the Paladin of Freedom...it's a great class for filling pre-reqs for the Ur-Priest prc.

You get the +2 fort save and bluff is a class skill.

Of course you will need to 'fall', take spell focus 'evil' and meet the other prereqs before attempting to take your first level of Ur-Priest.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[I'm A Banana]

Of COURSE Chaotic can have a code of conduct, even one that's spelled out. I mean, they can fall from Chaotic alignment into Lawful, after all. In addition,the Paladin of Freedom seems a specific kind of Chaos: that of individual autonomy.

So for the purposes of the Paladin of Freedom, here's an idea:

"I will not suffer captivity. All beings are created with Free Choice, the noblest of thoughts, the ability to determine for themselves what their lives will be like. It is sinful to infringe upon this in any way. One may not be held captive, in body, mind, or spirit, in any way. One may not be under another's control -- that is destroying this noblest essence. We are free to choose, free to fall, and no being may take that from us."

A Paladin of Freedom would believe in the Emancipation Proclamation, in a lot of the rhetoric of revolutionary America, in some of the bolder theological ideas about Free Will.

It may be pointed out by critics that the Code is itself a cage for the Paladin's thoughts and actions, but a Paladin of Freedom wouldn't see it that way. Rather, the Code has been embraced freely, and can be abandoned at any time, though a power arises from its specific application -- the love of a free spirit in all.

Any talk of destiny or fate or the stars or gods determining the world would be roundly rejected. For a Paladin of Freedom, no one determines his actions but him.

 

[Rhun]

I thought this quote from Babylon 5 might apply well to a Paladin of Freedom type:

Whoever speaks for the Alliance does so with the understanding that it is the inalienable right of every sentient being to live free, to pursue their dreams, to address wrongs within their own society without fear of retribution, to believe as their conscience requires in matters of faith, but also to respect the rights of others to believe differently, or not at all.

 

[Phlebas]

If you want to avoid the oaths / lawful thing, but still have some 'rules' why not make them individual promises... (much more Paladin of Freedom since the spirit, rather than the letter, becomes all important)

"I promised my mother on her death bed i would always fight tyranny, where-ever it was found!"

"I swore on my uncles gravestone to protect everyones right to live as as they wish"

"I swore to defeat slavery, in memory of my late / abducted fiancee"

"My grand-father always said 'even an orc has feelings too' - silly old bugger!"

its memorable enough, plus it opens up backstory and gives that cool / cinematic factor