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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dragonblade" data-source="post: 2673813" data-attributes="member: 2804">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.</blockquote>

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