Greetings!
Excellent post Dragonblade!
Well, Storminator, here are a few comments that I have made in an earlier thread about paladins in my campaigns. It discusses some things that are "out of bounds" for paladins.
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Executing Judgment On Paladins, Who, When Weighed In The Balance, Are Found Wanting!
Paladins are generally held to a high standard of conduct, and behaviour. In thinking about designing different knight orders for Paladins, I put some thought into detailing a simple, workable code that any of my players seeking to play paladins in the campaign could understand. I think it is important to detail these kinds of concepts before the start of a campaign, and to have such details on hand, for every important order of knights, and especially Paladins, in the campaign world. Having such on hand for players and even for designing npc’s can be of great help in not only remaining consistent, but most importantly, avoiding and or adjudicating different courses of action taken by various Paladins. Of course, in my own campaign, I have different codes for different orders of knights and templars, as different religions and such are going to have to some degree, differences in what they expect and so on from Paladins that serve that particular religion. Here is one example from my own campaigns:
An Ecclesiastic Tribunal is held for any Paladins that are accused of violating Church Law, the King’s Law, or somehow have violated their code of Honor. To wit, it is the following breaches of code that a Paladin may be punished for, as follows:
(1) If the Paladin commits rape.
(2) If the Paladin refuses a Lawful Order given by proper authority. (Higher templar officers, priests, the King, and various appointed authorities.) If the Paladin and his defense proves that such an order was unlawful, or despite being lawful, the disregarding of said orders was appropriate because of information that the Paladin possesses, but the authority in question does not, then no punishment is warranted.
(3) If the Paladin purposely, and with malicious intent, murders someone who—
(A) Isn’t attacking him, or anyone, with deadly force, or threatening to do so.
(B) The Paladin does not have warrant to attack; i.e. (No fore-knowledge of said villain, dangerous criminal, rebel, cultist, and so on.)
(C) A creature or class of beings that are not generally assumed to be evil. For example, within the Vallorean Empire, the King has declared with Church sanction, that:
“Demons, and any, and all supernatural creatures which are evil are to be exterminated by anyone, by everyone, at all times, and whenever practical.
Great and Terrible Monsters, like Dragons, Bulettes, Purple Worms, and so on, are to be swiftly attacked and destroyed.
Races of humanoids that have been officially judged Anathema, vile, wicked, and Evil are to be attacked and slain at every opportunity. They are the Spawn of Darkness! These races, enslaved to Darkness, must be rooted out wherever they are found. Death and Fire shall be their portion!”
Races that are usually considered Good are generally Elves, (Standard) Halflings, Dwarves, and in most areas, Urrgan, (Wolf-people), and Ogres. In my campaign, Ogres are somewhat more intelligent, and can be a variety of alignments. Mutated humans, or any race for that matter, with strange colours, extra limbs, bizarre blends of humanoid or animal parts, etc, along with other races not mentioned, can pretty much be attacked on sight.
However, for example, in some areas of the empire, things are applied differently. The above is “In General.” In a specific city, for example, that has friendly relationships with a nearby settlement of friendly Giants or Minotaurs; the ordinary person IN THAT AREA would not attack such creatures on sight. Further into the backwoods of the Vallorean Empire, however, where no such relationship has been established, the local authorities could be certainly expected to attack a wandering Giant or Minotaur on sight.
(4) If the Paladin is found to have purposely, maliciously been deceitful for purposes beyond serving the “Ultimate Good.” Being deceitful to save a comrade’s life is forgivable, while being deceitful for personal, worldly gain is not acceptable. In any event, being deceitful is a sure way to be tried and interrogated vigorously. If one doesn’t have a very good reason for an instance in deception, then severe punishment is assured.
(5) If the Paladin commits theft of whatever amount or value. Stealing an apple is, in the larger context, dishonorable in the same way that stealing a masterwork great-sword, money, jewels, and so on. The punishment meted out is different of course, but the philosophical conviction against it is the same.
(6) If the paladin becomes involved within a lifestyle of sexual immorality, the Paladin can be certain that censure will some from any in the faith that discover such licentious or lascivious behavior. Depending on the particulars, the Paladin can expect various forms of punishment. Paladins of most orders are expected to be married; live a chaste life; or at a minimum, conduct their private affairs with the utmost in dignity and discretion.
(7) If the Paladin should act in any way that is dishonorable, punishment can be expected. Naturally, the deity in question is aware of such, but also the various Church hierarchy may be made aware of such through prophesy or dreams, and expect the Paladin to confess, and repent from the ways of error. Penance and punishment alike are certain to be handed down. If the breach is grievous enough, expulsion from the order, or even execution is distinctly possible.
(8) If the Paladin should offer sacrifices and offerings to false gods, evil gods, and so on, then punishment can be expected. The Paladin’s patron deity expects faithfulness from such a worshipper who has been so blessed as paladins have been.
(9) If the Paladin should begin to embrace attitudes or adopt philosophies that are anathema or heretical to the “True Faith”, then censure and punishment can be expected. This type of violation, while not damnable in one instance, over time represents a form of “spiritual adultery” that will, eventually, bring wrath and judgment down upon the compromising Paladin.
(10) If the Paladin should take direct actions, or refuse noble duties and requests, out of a sense of greed. The attitude of constantly wanting more and more wealth, and being willing to sacrifice a friend, or the mission, or the Paladin’s principles so that the Paladin may gain wealth—gold, gems, magic, whatever. Even the prospect of acquiring a “Vorpal Holy Avenger,” while honorable in itself, acquiring it at the expense of one’s comrades, or one’s honor, is thus guilty of getting a “right thing” by the wrong methods or attitudes.
For example, a deceptive villain, seeking to cause the Paladin to stumble and fall from the road of righteousness, may tempt the Paladin by promising there is a “Vorpal Holy Avenger” that the Paladin can have, IF the Paladin will only take his time to go and get it, while the vampire feeds on the young peasant girl. The vampire may in fact be honest, and honorable in actually giving the Paladin such a powerful sword. By agreeing to such a proposition, however, by the time the Paladin returns with the powerful sword in hand, the vampire will be gone, and the young girl will remain cursed as a vampire herself. The Paladin will indeed have the mighty sword that he, in his pride and greed, so desired.
Paladins that violate these commandments can expect to be severely punished. Though different orders have different codes and punishments, and they sometimes argue with each other, Royal Proclamation forbids open conflict between the different knight orders serving the Vallorean Empire. There are strong rivalries between the various knight orders, and competitions in great jousting tournaments are popular. Competition for glory on the battlefield is also common, and pursued with passion. There are individuals who may have a fistfight, or maybe a duel on occasion. However, as a whole, deadly combat is unusual. Tournaments are established by season, and travel an ordered circuit. Thus, a non-lethal method is established to vent personal rivalries.
In the case of a Paladin found guilty of some severe violation of the code of honor, an Ecclesiastic Tribunal tries the guilty Paladin. When judged, depending on the severity of the offense, the Paladin may be sentenced from serving an offended Paladin as a “squire” for a year and a day, to a demanding challenge, a quest, or a humiliating expulsion from the Paladin order. If the transgression is very serious, an absolute and unforgivable transgression, then the Paladin will endure the following:
(1) The Paladin is first officially denounced, and condemned. Then, the Paladin is ceremoniously stripped of status in front of a vast gathering of assembled Paladins, Knight-Templars, and Priests.
(2) The Paladin’s insignia brooch is taken, and the Paladin’s personal Holy Symbol is stripped from him as well. The Paladin’s distinctive tunic and tabard are torn from him, and the damned Paladin is again denounced, thrice, according to the holy rituals established in the order from beyond ten generations. With that, a corps of drummer’s plays a long, low beat in rhythm, abruptly halted by a solo trumpet sounded three times.
(3) A Lord-Priest leads a solemn prayer, and a responsorial, in unison by all who are present. Once completed, the Paladin is publicly flogged with the scourge, and dragged to the stake. Once bound, each of the Paladins in the condemned Paladin’s platoon, (usually about sixty Paladins) approach, and embrace the bound Paladin, and perhaps offer a kiss upon the cheek, or a word of love or sorrow. As the knights embrace their condemned comrade, gazing at the bleeding Paladin, they are reminded, graphically, and personally, of the cost of being a Paladin. The cost of being honorable, loyal, noble, and courageous. They remember that they are all brothers, in honor, and in shame. Here, in judgment, they honor their gods, and their order, but they also weep in shame and loss of a Brother. Then, all of the Paladins who served with the condemned knight walk solemnly past his bound form, and add an armful branches. Each then ceremoniously takes a turn at spilling an ornate urn of oil over the wood, praying, and expressing their grief. Then, at the Lord-Priest’s solemn command, they each then extend a flaming torch to the pyre.
As the flames reach higher, and the moaning rises, slowly breaking into screams, the Paladins all stand at crisp attention in their full ceremonial dress, draw their swords, and offer a sharp salute in final honor. Sheathing their swords, the Paladins stand vigil as their brother burns, and offers up his spirit to eternity. Once the spirit has departed, the Paladins turn, and march to stand in rigid formation. An ancient prayer is offered to the gods in unison, and the ceremony, and the judgment, is over. With a sharp command that echoes across the formation, the Paladins are dismissed.
Thus, there are my “Ten Commandments” that I use for Paladins and knight orders within my campaign. There are some that differ by religion, culture, and region, but this provides a good framework to go by. Paladins who violate these will bring judgment and wrath upon themselves, as they are “weighed in the scales, and found wanting!”
What do you think? What kinds of honor codes have you developed for Paladins and knights in your own campaigns?
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
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