Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5692033" data-attributes="member: 92511">Excellent question. I do, in fact. If a player is playing a paladin (or druid or monk or cleric)  in my games, they are a member of an order and would be aware of the hierarchy thereof.Do I expect a player to memorize it? Generally not (cuz you know they won't!) so the occasional "Do I outrank this guy?" or "Do I have to do what he says?" is to be expected.You will note, I try to keep it relatively simple. A low-ranking title/range, a mid-rank and the "big guys". Something like knowing/understanding the titles/ranking system of a religion that is not your own would require a Knowledge: Religion check. But most temples/orders (at least of good or neutral alignment) are all too happy to explain their system, accepting people's questions to be the innocent ignorance of the uninitiated.They would, understandably, be less forthcoming with things like, "How do you become [the next rank]" or "What does the ceremony involve when you reach [insert title]"...those kinds of things are for the initiated only. But just 'how do you properly address somebody" or "who outranks whom" is no big deal.In the case of the temple of Celradorn (which I think is what you're asking about) where you the priestly branch and the paladinic branch, there is some room for administrative tangles and power struggle among the higher-ups, but generally speaking, yes, the paladins are subordinate to the clerics...to a point.Upon achieving the rank of Crimson Star (7th level) the paladin receives a great deal more autonomy to either a) venture the world seeking out evil of their own (though they are asked to "check in" with the order from time to time to report on what they've seen, evils they've thwarted, provide general recon/info, but they are not bound/ordered to as lesser level paladins are.)or b) fall into a position in the order's hierarchy that sees to the organization, training and distribution of "Redstar Knights" for the order (keep in mind this is a huge organization that spans a good amount of the continent. So choosing option "b" is not tantamount to becoming a pencil- pusher. Though I've never had a paladin PC reach 7th level in play yet, so...).Crimson Stars are only subject to Highshields. Anyone in either branch is subject to the orders of a Highshield - think of them like a "Cardinal" in the Catholic system. But a lot more "Thor" than red-flowy robes and prayer beads <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />. A Highshield's decrees are generally presented as "requests" to those of higher (above 7th) ranks, rather than "commands." While I find it unrealistic that a 2nd level cleric would have the gumption to order around a 6th level paladin, in certain circumstances, I don't see why it couldn't happen. I've just never had a Celradornan paladin and a Celradornan cleric PCs in the same party before.Monks (as in the kung-fu/martial artist class) are all their own orders/temples that have their own set of titles/hierarchy. Each temple, ya know, up on some hidden secret mountain that's impossibly treacherous to get to...led by a "master" teacher or council of masters, its all very Shiaolin. So they do not fall into/under the scope of any of the established temples of the Orean gods.Druids are also a world-wide organization, the Ancient (Holy) Order of Mistwood. Very secretive. Very old (older than the organizations of the current gods). They have a somewhat 1e heirarchy...lesser numbers the higher in level you get, but I don't start that til after 10th level and it does not necessarily become a fight to the death. (Though, again, in play, I've not had to deal with the details as no PC has gotten to that point)The 13 highest level druids, in the world, comprise the organizations ruling (though ultimately advisoral) body, the Grove.The leader of the Grove, final authority on all things druidic, "keeper" of the druids' most sacred and largest holding (the primordial forest of Mistwood) and highest leveled druid on the planet is the Lord (or Lady) of Oaks.Following him, there are the Lord/Lady of Birch and the Lord/Lady of Ash, watching over the order's second and third, respectively, most sacred sites/druidic holds.Then there's the rest of the Grove, some with specific sites under their care, some roving, the Lords and Ladies of: Rowan (Keeper of Ef'Thriel), Aspen, Elm, Fir, Willow, Blackthorn, Alder, Ivy, Yew and Apple.--SD</blockquote>

Verification