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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Sigil" data-source="post: 2786770" data-attributes="member: 2013">To repeat the gist of a post I made earlier in the thread, one key to the discussion is not found in the paladin himself; rather, it is found in the reaction of the acolyte sent to find him.By the RAW, a paladin's code states that "a paladin’s code requires that she ... act with honor."  The acolyte's reaction to Cedric's brothel activities shows us that Cedric is *not* in fact acting with honor - visiting a brothel is clearly a dishonorable act.This point will again raise the sturm and drang of moral relativism versus moral absolutism, but your justification - that a Paladin is an actual person with wants, needs, and desires of his own is not sufficient to overcome the requirement that he act with honor.  He has them, yes, but he is not permitted (by the paladin's code) to satisfy those wants, needs, and desires in a dishonorable way.  Even if you wish to take up the argument that there might exist a culture where temple prostitution is honorable and encouraged, the simple fact of the matter is that Cedric's culture is not that culture (based on the acolyte's reaction to his exploits), so taking that position is a straw man.A paladin is hungry.  This is a basic human need.  Is he permitted to order a meal from an innkeeper and then not pay him?  No.  That would be cheating (expressly forbidden under the paladin's code).  Is he permitted to lie to get a meal?  No.  Is he permitted to steal a loaf of bread for himself?  Not specifically forbidden, but I submit to you that this is not an honorable act; he ought instead to labor for his food.  The fact that the paladin has to eat does not excuse him from the paladin's code allow him to get a meal any way he pleases.A paladin has sexual appetites, too (like all of us).  This is actually a tricky one to adjudicate.  Is marriage honorable?  Probably.  But is it honorable to take a wife, knowing full well that the wife (and any children she might bear) might be exposed to danger because Evil forces will know that the best way to hurt him is to attack them?  Or to go off on an (unnecessary) adventure once married, knowing that he might die and leave his wife a widow and his children fatherless?  Maybe not.  Is it then honorable to have a series of one-night stands, even though he may leave a string of fatherless children?  Probably not.  Satisfying sexual appetites in an honorable fashion is a very tough call.  It seems to me that the paladin probably has only a couple of choices that don't result in moral quandries later on down the road... (a) celibacy or (b) retirement from active adventuring upon marriage - at least until the kids are grown, and possibly if his wife is an adventurer, she can go with him.However, I'm getting off the subject.  My point is that "need" does not override "code" - a paladin is not permitted to lie or cheat merely because he "needs" to... the code doesn't make convenient exceptions.  So claiming that a paladin has needs and wants and desires is a straw man.  If he cannot satisfy those in an honorable fashion - within the strictures of the code - he must go without or lose his paladinhood.Tough?  Yes.  But then, living a life of virtue (as a paladin is expected to) never was easy.--The Sigil</blockquote>

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