Adorned in a suit of plate armor that sparkles resplendently in the sunlight, untouched by the dust and wear of a lengthy journey, a human woman lays her sword and shield to rest. Tenderly, she places her hands upon the lifeless body of a mortally wounded man. From her touch emanates a divine radiance, a glowing force of purity and healing, as the man’s lacerations slowly knit themselves closed. His eyes, filled with wonder and disbelief, flutter open, reflecting the light of a newfound hope.
In the hidden shadows of night, a dwarf crouches behind a jagged outcrop, his black cloak blending seamlessly with the darkness. His keen eyes, sharpened by years of battle, watch an orc war band reveling in their recent triumph. Moving with a grace that defies his sturdy frame, he stalks silently into their midst, his very presence a whisper of doom. An oath escapes his lips, a promise of retribution, and two orcs meet their end before they even realize that death has come calling.
Bathed in a solitary shaft of light that seems to seek him alone, an elf’s silver hair gleams like threads of moonlit silk. A laugh, full of joy and fierce triumph, escapes his lips, resonating in the air like a melodic battle hymn. His spear, an extension of his very soul, flashes in unison with his vibrant eyes, dancing and jabbing at a grotesque giant twisted by malevolence. Again and again, he strikes, each thrust a symphony of grace and power, until at last, the light within him vanquishes the hideous abyss in the giant, triumphant in its eternal struggle against darkness.
Purpose and Oath
No matter the purpose of oath, the genesis of their calling or the unique purpose that guides them, paladins are bound together by an unbreakable allegiance to righteousness. Their oaths, whether solemnly sworn in the hallowed presence of a deity, whispered amid the mystical embrace of a sacred glade with nature spirits and fey beings as witness, or cried out in a harrowing moment of desperation with only the silent dead to hear, forge a bond as enduring as the very essence of virtue.
This oath, a covenant transcending mere words, becomes a wellspring of power, infusing the devout warrior with a divine grace. It transforms them, elevates them from mere fighters into blessed champions of their beliefs. In the face of evil, where others may falter or give way to fear, the paladin stands resolute, a beacon of hope and a testament to the indomitable force of will guided by conviction.
The power of a paladin’s oath transcends mere ritual; it is a living testament to their faith, a promise that shapes their very being, turning a warrior of conviction into a celestial champion, a bulwark against the tides of darkness that threaten to overwhelm the world.
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.
Paladin Devotion
Paladins embark on a demanding path of discipline and devotion, dedicating years of their lives to the mastery of martial arts. With sword, shield, and a pantheon of weapons, they become experts in the art of combat, donned in armor as resplendent as their unyielding resolve. Yet, the physical prowess they command is but a mere echo of their true strength.
Their martial skills, formidable as they are, remain in the shadow of a more transcendent force. It is a mystical power, ethereal and profound, bestowed upon them to be the keepers of healing and righteousness. With hands that mend the broken and soothe the suffering, they breathe life into the weak and wounded. Their eyes, aflame with a righteous fury, smite the wicked and purge the undead, rendering evil impotent in their presence.
To protect the innocent and stand as guardians for those who join their crusade for justice, they extend a shield unseen, a magical aegis woven from faith and honor. The paladin’s essence is not merely that of a warrior but that of a divine champion, an embodiment of virtue and a beacon in the never-ending battle against darkness and injustice.
Adventuring Paladin
Almost by definition, the life of a paladin is an adventuring life. Unless a lasting injury has taken him or her away from adventuring for a time, every paladin lives on the front lines of the cosmic struggle against evil. Fighters are rare enough among the ranks of the militias and armies of the world, but even fewer people can claim the true calling of a paladin.
When they do receive the call, these warriors turn from their former occupations and take up arms to fight evil. Sometimes their oaths lead them into the service of the crown as leaders of elite groups of knights, but even then their loyalty is first to the cause of righteousness, not to crown and country.
Adventuring paladins take their work seriously. A delve into an ancient ruin or dusty crypt can be a quest driven by a higher purpose than the acquisition of treasure. Evil lurks in dungeons and primeval forests, and even the smallest victory against it can tilt the cosmic balance away from oblivion.
Holy Quest
The most important aspect of a paladin character is the nature of his or her holy quest. Although the class features related to your oath don’t appear until you reach 3rd level, plan ahead for that choice by reading the oath descriptions at the end of the class. Are you a devoted servant of good, loyal to the gods of justice and honor, a holy knight in shining armor venturing forth to smite evil?
Are you a glorious champion of the light, cherishing everything beautiful that stands against the shadow, a knight whose oath descends from traditions older than many of the gods? Or are you an embittered loner sworn to take vengeance on those who have done great evil, sent as an angel of death by the gods or driven by your need for revenge?
How did you experience your call to serve as a paladin? Did you hear a whisper from an unseen god or angel while you were at prayer? Did another paladin sense the potential within you and decide to train you as a squire? Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to your quests? Perhaps you stumbled into a sacred grove or a hidden elven enclave and found yourself called to protect all such refuges of goodness and beauty. Or you might have known from your earliest memories that the paladin’s life was your calling, almost as if you had been sent into the world with that purpose stamped on your soul.
Guardians
As guardians against the forces of wickedness, paladins are rarely of any evil alignment. Most of them walk the paths of charity and justice. Consider how your alignment colors the way you pursue your holy quest and the manner in which you conduct yourself before gods and mortals. Your oath and alignment might be in harmony, or your oath might represent standards of behavior that you have not yet attained.
You can make a paladin quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength should be your highest ability score, followed by Charisma. Second, choose the noble background.
A paladin is a living embodiment of an oath—a promise or a vow made manifest in the person of a holy warrior who has the skill and the determination to see the cause through to the end. Some paladins devote themselves expressly to protecting the innocent and spreading justice in the world, while others resolve to attain that goal by conquering those who stand defiant and bringing them under the rule of law.
Although no paladin in the world could be described as typical, a number of them are narrow-minded do-gooders who refuse to tolerate even the smallest deviation from their own outlook. Paladins who take up the adventuring life, however, rarely remain so rigid in their attitudes—if only to keep from alienating their companions.
You can flesh out your paladin character by using the suggestions below. It’s important to keep in mind that most paladins aren’t robots. They have doubts and prejudices and harbor contradictory thoughts just as any other character does. Some are compelled by an internal motivation that might sometimes be at odds with the principles of their oaths.
