Paladin

_{<< Back to Classes}

Overview

A paladin swears to uphold justice and righteousness, to stand with the good things of the world against the encroaching darkness, and to hunt the forces of evil wherever they lurk. Different paladins focus on various aspects of the cause of righteousness, but all are bound by the oaths that grant them power to do their sacred work. Although many paladins are devoted to gods of good, a paladin’s power comes as much from a commitment to justice itself as it does from a god.

Paladins train for years to learn the skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armour. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the sick and injured, to smite the wicked and the undead, and to protect the innocent and those who join them in the fight for justice.

Class Stats and Adjustments

Paladins must select a primary God of worship. Untainted Knights cannot be Good, they are either Neutral or Evil.

Race Specific Interpretations

Humans - By and large the majority of Paladins on Lathlenn are worshipers of Ord, following the Oath of Conquest. These paladins have long been the enforcement arm of the Church, stamping out minor religions and cults in the name of Ord and righteous fury. Since the Cataclysm, and the return of other Gods, a number of different Paladin factions have arisen on Lathlenn, including some import from Shrouded Talgen. On Shrouded Talgen, only the Gallow worshipers produce Paladins, their Untainted Knights, called so for their fanatical devotion to keeping their blood clean and pure. This purity is an internal battle, rather than an ethnic one and as such Gallow welcomes any and all who understand that blood is the tie that binds us all and it must be kept pure to provide strength.

Elves - High Elven Paladins are almost all followers of Isarrel, the notions of nobility and honour producing paladins that follow the Oath of the Crown, meanwhile among the Wood Elves, though rare, Pyria produces Paladins that follow the Oath of the Ancients, becoming divine protectors of the natural shrines and masters of the Hunt.

Mac'Tirnen - Given that the religious apparatus of the Mac'Tirnen is closely entwined with the daily life of the people and these places will often require martial arms to protect their valuables and artifacts it should be no surprise that Paladins would arise from these conditions, luckily for the Mac'Tirnen, their Paladins often follow the Oath of Redemption, a compassionate following that emphasises the Mac'Tirnen devotion to the betterment of all.

Dragonborn - Fanatical devotion to Threanax, the queen of all dragons has given rise to massive temples and shrines all in service of worship of her. This fanatical worship has resulted in a number of very driven Dragonborn Paladins, following either Oath of Glory or the Oath of Devotion. These Paladins look down on any other God, believing them all to be inferior to Threanax, up to and including Ord.

Tiefling - With their portal to this world closed behind them, the Tieflings created an order of knights who kept watch to either save any stragglers who managed to open the portal again or defend them against their pursuers who happened to open it as well. This order keeps the tenets of Kacius, the God of understanding Devils and Demons. These Paladins take the Oath of the Watchers, to be better prepared.

Sub-Classes

Oath of Conquest (Xanathar’s Guide to Everything)

Oath of Devotion (Players Handbook)

Oath of Glory (Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything)

Oath of Redemption (Xanathar’s Guide to Everything)

Oath of the Ancients (Players Handbook)

Oath of the Crown (Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide)

Oath of the Watchers (Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything)

Oath of Vengeance (Players Handbook)

Oathbreaker (Dungeon Masters Guide)

Untainted Knight (Godsfall)