Paladin
Paladins are valiant warriors who gain divine favor through the embodiment of a sacred oath to a god or gods.
Contents
Paladins in Arthos
"I've never given it much thought as to why Elenora favors me so. I tend to leave the intellectualizing to the folks back at the temple, no offense intended; they do great work. Perhaps Elenora recognizes my forgiving nature, my willingness to elevate my duty of care above my personal feelings. Maybe she was really quite impressed by that maneuver back in Vailisham, wherein I held off a dozen ghouls long enough for the entire village to evacuate. Or maybe Elenora is just a sucker for a cheery attitude and a pretty smile." laughs "I couldn't blame her."
- —Gunthor Westingbrooke, paladin of redemption
Practice
To become a paladin, one must first gain prominence within some kind of religious institution. Paladins will often get their start working as an acolyte while undergoing martial training on the side. Once they are deemed ready to do so, the paladin will swear an oath either to a deity directly or through an important figure acting as a middleman, typically a monarch. From then on the paladin is expected to embody their oath, be it loyalty, strength of moral character, or unyielding bravery. As validation for their virtue and piety, paladins are bestowed divine magics from their god.
Protectorates of the Faithful
Many ordained paladins throughout Arthos are tasked at times in defensive roles. These paladins are trusted to watch over and, if necessary, fight for a place of worship directly related to their religion. This place may be a church, a temple, a monastery, or even a grove. In times of religious persecution, paladins are at their most needed.
Vassals
Any paladin swearing an oath to a king or queen may be expected to take up a military role in the form of a vassal. Vassals can either be found acting in high ranking military posts or as knights, riding together in elite units of allied paladins. Dimelivean knights are world renown for their fiercely effective cavalry maneuvers.
Adventurers
It may not be obvious on its face, but paladins are a very natural fit for the role of an adventurer. Often their oaths task them with exploring Arthos, all the while exemplifying those virtues expected of them. It seems to be that the paladins who test their oaths in a variety of trials and environments are the ones who gain the most favor with their god, becoming very powerful in the process.
