What would a paladin do

[Dragonblade]

Being a paladin doesn't necessarily mean law-abiding, especially if a law is evil or unjust. A paladin is lawful, but all that means is they follow the law of their church. Divine law takes precedence over any mortal law. Otherwise, all any evil dictator has to do is declare the very existence of a paladin illegal, and all paladins would then instantly lose their powers upon entering the evil dictator's lands. Since they would not, man's judgement and law is obviously not binding upon paladins. Only the laws of their church and god have any relevance.

Now a paladin may decide to respect local law and custom simply to avoid the shedding of otherwise innocent blood and out of a basic sense of decency. But it is not required. If their god says they shall smite evil whereever they find it, then they shall do so, and any local law to the contrary is irrelevant and may be ignored as the paladin thinks best.

Furthermore, alll it takes for a paladin to prove their innocence, or the righteousness of the action they were arrested for, is to swear upon their honor that they are innocent, or acted righteously, and if they lie then may their god take their paladin gifts.

They then proceed to demonstrate that they have in fact retained their gifts. Laying on hands is the easiest demonstration, but summoning a warhorse works as well. A paladin who truly fell from grace would be unable to heal without spellcasting or would be unable to call for a warhorse.

Once the paladin has demonstrated such divine proof of innocence, or righteousness, any further holding of the paladin would rightfully be declared unjust and evil and frees the paladin to then use any force necessary to end such an unjust and evil detainment. In a fantasy world, where gods are real, secular authorities answer to divine authority. Not the other way around.

 

[Crothian]

Zone of truth is an Enchantment (Compulsion) and is mind-affecting, for a start. It's possible even protection from evil would block it. Mind blank certainly would. The defendant could have a magic item or long-duration ability that granted one of these effects without doing anything visible in the courtroom.

If the court has Zone of Truth, the court has detect magic and would dispel any effect or remove any item that gave these.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I think there are some books and plays that deal with exactly this question (or a question like it). The applicability is easier to see if you leave the paladin name and the fullplate at the door and just take them as a moral exemplar.

In Crito, Socrates is faced with the judgement of the Athenians for his "crime" of philosophy and is expected to drink hemlock. His friend, Crito offers to bribe his guards and buy him passage on a ship to another island where he would not be subject to the unjust punishment of the Athenians. Socrates turns Crito down, and claims that, since he has lived in Athens by choice his entire life and has benefited from her laws, he is obligated to abide by the laws of Athens even when they are unjust. If you buy Socrates' argument then the paladin question has a clear answer.

That said, Socrates' statements in Apology seem to indicate that there is a level of the same reasoning behind civil disobedience in his motives: by demanding either the strictest punishment for his "crime" or a reward and eschewing any middle ground, Socrates forced the Athenians to come to terms with the injustice of silencing him. They couldn't get off easy by sentencing him to a small fine or by having him slip off quietly to Crete. Absent those reasons, the argument from duty alone might not be compelling. (Especially since, in this case the paladin would not be highlighting the injustice of the system by accepting his punishment).

Other stories, however, offer other answers. Lancelot, for instance, after being falsely (or truly, depending upon which telling of the legend you read) accused of adultery with the queen, fled to France. When the queen was set to be executed, he returned secretly and championed her, but slew Sir Gareth in the attempt and was sentenced to die by King Arthur. He fled and stayed away until the death of Arthur. Depending upon how you read the story, you could say that Lancelot is a fallen paladin at that point and is an example of what not to do or you could see him as evidence that chivalric virtue allows flight from an unjust conviction--especially when defending one's life and liberty is likely to result in the death of friends and worthy men.

The biblical story of David also describes him fleeing into the wilderness and even taking refuge with the Philistines at one point when King Saul had decided that David was a threat to his rule and resolved to kill him. At several points, however, David demonstrated his innocence to Saul (by sneaking into his camp and taking some of Saul's things thereby demonstrating that he had the opportunity to kill Saul but chose not to out of loyalty) and was pardoned for a while. This story isn't clear either because even the Bible does not depict David as an unfailing paragon of virtue (something which the Bathsheba story should make abundantly clear) so everything he does is not worthy of emulation. (And Testament doesn't stat him up as a Paladin either Furthermore, the stories seem to offer support to both sides here: David fled from the king's wrath and stayed away, but at several points demonstrated his innocence and trusted to the king's justice.

It's been a while since I read it, but I think that King Lear has several plotlines that deal with similar issues as well.

So I think you could defend either choice as worthy of a paladin though submitting to the justice system is more obviously defensible. The stories I suggested though, are full of good scenes and arguments that could be stolen wholesale and imported into the game--most likely without your players even noticing.

 

[Peter Gibbons]

As others have said, the NPC may be a paladin no longer by the time the PCs catch up with him, if he has resisted arrest or broken out of lawful custody.

Bah!

Lawful (as an alignment) != "obeys local laws"

 

[Squire James]

I think the best answer is for the paladin to "plea bargain" a time of imprisonment for himself for the explicit purpose of allowing a chosen group of people (i.e. the PC's) to prove his innocence. In other words, I think this would make the best story.

Other than that, there are many ways he can go... few of them will push him out of paladin permanently (chaotic stuff may push him out temporarily, but as long as it's not bad enough to cause an alignment change and doesn't involve evil he can get back in). If I were playing the paladin, I'd avoid being caught unless innocent lives are at stake. Avoiding punishment for a crime not committed is, at worst, an act of true neutrality that would have to be continued for a long time to trigger an alignment change.

 

[Terwox]

Please note the trial of Socrates.

The paladin will drink some hemlock!

In seriousness, the paladin and the party will work to prove his innocence along non-shady grounds. If that fails, another host of things could happen, but the first option will almost also get tried first.

Also, don't don't don't neglect the power of magic in proving innocence, as everyone said above -- there needs to be a reason, and perhaps even a good one, why someone is distrusting a paladin who still retains their deity's favor.

 

[Sejs]

Depends on the individual paladin.

He could stand trial and do his utmost to prove what he already knows to be true: that he didn't do it, and that he was framed.

He could just as easily say bugger this, I know I didn't do it, it's a frame-up, and it's being perpetrated by someone within the very system I would have to work within in order to prove my innocence. The spider that set me up is going to know that particular web far better than I am, and will be able to pull threads I can't even see. Screw this noise, I'm out of here. Then run for it.

What is the paladin in your story more likely to do? Is he more of the staunch, forthright, straight-back and pressed-collar, stiff upper lip kind of guy? Is he a man who Kicks Ass For The Lord? My advice to you would be to come up with the guy's action based on who he is as a person, and lets what class he is come after the fact.

 

[Nightfall]

If I was the paladin? I'd go to another prime world, follow that god and say "Screw you guys, I'm going to the Scarred Lands!"

But then I'm biased that way.

 

[jdrakeh]

I'd expect him to try to prove his innocence within the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. Failing that, I'd expect him to cut and run. Note that this latter option will likely lose him the assistence of his church (for political reasons), but not necessarily his god. In other words, this latter option could make for an really fun kind of Fugitive (yes, a capital F) scenario in which the Paladin and his fellows hunt for the person/s that framed him to clear his name.

 

[Steverooo]

Law vs. Good

In matters of The Law vs. The Good, which is paramount? Gary Gygax has said that it is The Law. I believe that it must be The Good. Hence, the dilemma!

The Law is the handmaiden of Justice. When The Law has ceased to serve her mistress, she is of none effect. When the salt has lost its savour, it is cast out into the street, fit for no purpose other than to melt snow, or kill plants. When The Law has ceased to serve Justice, it is time for new law! We could insert lines from the American Declaration of Independence, here...

Anyway, what would a Paladin do? Depends upon the Paladin, and his beliefs. A Paladin who favors The Law over The Good will obey the law, trusting others to prove his case, and set him free. A Paladin who favors The Good over The Law will don a mask, take a new name, and carry on the fight, always looking to clear his name.

So, what does your NPC believe?