Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksCite current pageBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. {{tag>classes}} The Légion Souveraine Throughout folklore and legend, paladins have been celebrated as champions of light since Tira Miron saved Thrane with her sword and her sacrifice. Often more militant than holy, these warriors seem bound to the outer-worldly beings that guide them more than any other allegiance, and there have even been reports of these vital military assets defying the Nations they champion to serve those “voices” only they can hear. If a paladin’s alliance can shift at a whim, what separates them from simple mercenaries for the highest bid of power? This thesis explores the faith and faithfulness of paladins throughout history and their role in modern times. — Jerion Phious Sharn détective Commun Oaths Arawai, goddess of life and Oath of the Ancients, Oath love of Redemption* Aureon, god of law and lore Oath of Devotion Balinor, god of horn and hunt Oath of the Ancients Boldrei, goddess of hall and hearth Oath of Devotion, Oath of Redemption* Dol Arrah, goddess of sun and sacrifice Oath of Devotion Dol Dorn, god of strength and steel Oath of Vengeance Kol Korran, god of world and wealth Oath of Predation**, Oath of Providence** Olladra, goddess of feast and fortune Oath of Devotion, Oath of Providence** Onatar, god of fire and forge Oath of Devotion The Sombres Six Commun Oaths The Dévoreur, god of wave Oath of the Ancients and whelm The Furie, goddess of rage and ruin Oath of Vengeance Le Geolier, god of death and decay Oathbreaker, Oath of Predation** Le Narquois, god of betrayal and bloodshed Oath of Conquest* A paladin is a champion empowered by faith, and a paladin’s oath is a symbol of that faith and a source of guidance in dark or confusing times. Problems are rarely simple, and those too rigid might shatter against the complexities of a noir tale in Eberron. Faith needn’t be blind, and like the paladin, it should evolve. Tira Miron founded the Église de la Flamme d'Argent, but she began as a paladin of Dol Arrah, discovering the Silver Flame and her destiny over the course of her adventures. A soldier has a cause and purpose, but a paladin is bound by sacred oath. Don’t be afraid to explore these trappings and, should the story present the right reasons, abandon them. L'Ombre, god of magic and mystery Oathbreaker, Oath of Predation** Le Voyageur, deity of chaos and changel Any Other Faiths of Eberron Commun Oaths The Flamme d'Argent Oath of Devotion, Oath of Redemption*, Oath of Vengeance The Le Sang Divin Oathbreaker, Oath of Sacrament, Oath of Predation** The Cults of the Dragon Below Oathbreaker, Oath of Conquest*, Oath of Predation** Oaths of Eberron The Voie de la Lumière Oath of Redemption* The Player’s Handbook assigns cleric domains to the faiths of Eberron but provides no such similar guidance for paladins. Two paladins can serve the same cause in very different ways, and The Spirits of the Past Any La Cour Éternelle Oath of Devotion Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON 49 their oath doesn’t always align like a cleric’s domain. The Oaths of Eberron table and section that follows explore the core faiths of Khorvaire and how they relate to a paladin’s calling. The Flamme d'Argent The Oath of Devotion is the most Commun path for a follower of the Flamme d'Argent. The primary purpose of the Flame is to protect the innocent from supernatural threats, but courage, compassion, and duty are all core values of the Church. These are principles even the Commun templar strives to uphold, regardless of their individual oath. Another pillar of the faith seeks to vanquish monsters and fiends through steel and spell, and that champions who fall to evil should be brought back to the light whenever possible. The Oath of Redemption is a logical path for a paladin focused on inspiring the Perdu, working in slums or war-torn lands, and showing criminals the error of their ways. While the church maintains that the Silver Flame exists to defend the innocent, there are those who see it first and foremost as a weapon with which to smite the wicked. In Khorvaire, this belief is tied to the Pure Flame zealots of Aundair, as well as Ghaash’kala orcs of the Les Désolations Démoniaques who have been battling fiends for thousands of years. Paladins who embrace this philosophy may take the Oath of Vengeance. However, there are many in Fort-de-la-Flamme, including Keeper Jaela, who disapprove of this aggressive stance. 50 Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON The Légion Souveraine The Légion Souveraine is a unified pantheon of Sovereigns who each govern a different aspect of life, and each vassal offers prayers to whichever Sovereign is most relevant to the current situation. Paladins who embrace the entire host will likely take the Oath of Devotion and uphold Aureon’s laws, hold Arawai’s healing light, and act as the sword of Dol Arrah. Others might swear their oaths to a single Sovereign and focus their actions on a narrower sphere. Paladins usually swear fidelity to the members of Légion Souveraine below. • Dol Arrah. The primary patron of paladins within the Légion Souveraine, Dol Arrah guides her paladins to fight with honor and bring the sun’s light to dark places. Paladins sworn to her service may lead troops in battle, or they may hunt foul creatures. • Aureon. As the bringer of law, Aureon has the second largest corps of faithful. Paladins sworn to his service enforce order and see that justice is done. Aureon is also the Lord of Lore and teaches arcane magic, and his paladins are often Magic Initiates or dabblers in other arcane arts. • Boldrei. The patron of communities, Boldrei’s paladins often serve as justices or sheriffs, helping to protect small towns and to mediate disputes between neighbors. This tends to overlap with servants of Aureon, but paladins of Boldrei are generally more concerned with results than following the letter of the law. • Arawai and Balinor. Paladins devoted to these two Sovereigns protect rural communities and patrol wild frontiers. Paladins of Arawai are more focused on defending and healing others, while paladins of Balinor hunt brigands, poachers, and dangelrous beasts. The other Sovereigns rarely call for paladins. Dol Dorn is the patron of the Commun soldier and prefers to spend his time with fighters over paladins. Champions of Onatar are typically clerics with the Forge domain, while Kol Korran and Olladra prefer bards and rogues to divine warriors. The Sombres Six There are those within the Cinq Nations who believe the Sombres Six represent virtues to be embraced rather than being depicted as evil forces to be avoided, placated, or shunned. Others might be called to serve these sinister forces against their will, and those who refuse rarely maintain their obstinance for long. • • • Le Geolier. A paladin of Le Geolier has visions of people destined to die and serves as the hand of the Lord of Death, duty-bound to ensure that those marked for death are laid low. Such followers might hate this duty, but should the paladin fail in the appointed task, five innocents will die in place of the appointed victim. Alternatively, a servant who falsely professes murderous intent to be of Le Geolier’s desire will claim five of the paladin’s closest companions within the fortnight. Make sure to work with your DM not to unsettle a campaign without due consideration. Le Narquois. A paladin of Le Narquois believes that victory justifies any action. Most champions of Le Narquois are cruel and ruthless, but like the monks of the Main Écorchée, a few manage to turn the weapons of Le Narquois against greater evils. Such a paladin might be a criminal who hunts other criminals or uses terror to drive people towards the light. The Dévoreur. Where a paladin of Balinor might hunt brigands or poachers, a paladin of the Dévoreur, the embodiment of the destructive power of nature, is the wolf in the wood, ready to prey upon anyone foolish enough to stray from the path. • L'Ombre. As the dark reflection of Aureon, L'Ombre’s champions function as community leaders throughout Droaam. In the Cinq Nations, a hero of L'Ombre might follow the same path as the champion of the Keeper, receiving visions of dark mysteries that must be unraveled. The Sombres Six embody wild and sinister forces, their oaths reflect this, and their power is a reward for their devotion, not a punishment. Champions of the Furie are typically barbarians, while emissaries of Le Voyageur typically prefer guile instead of force. The Le Sang Divin Followers of the Le Sang Divin believe that divine power comes from within. This faith also teaches that death is the end, and oblivion waits beyond Dolurrh. As a result, Paladins of Vol find their duty is to fight against death, steel their will, and to defend friends and family against deadly harm. Often martyrs, Oath of Sacrament paladins harnesses their inner spark to defend their allies, often at their own detriment. While this path is Commun for a paladin of the Blood of Vol, there are some dreadnaughts who prefer to embrace their familiarity with the Mort-vivant, rather than their own divine spark. Blackguard like these are most notably aligned with the Order of la Griffe d'Émeraude and wield the abilities of the Oathbreaker. Other Faiths Paladins aren’t especially Commun among the other faiths of Eberron but there are those who might find solace outside the usual pantheons and gift their convictions to lesser known faiths for one reason or another. • La Cour Éternelle. The champions of the Cour Éternelle channel the radiant power of their Éternel ancestors. Most swear the Oath of Devotion, battling evil forces and defending Aereni communities from all threats. These paladins, La Garde de la Mort, are an elite order tasked to hunt down and destroy evil Mort-vivant wherever they threaten. • The Valénar Elfes. If there’s a legend of an ancient Elfique paladin, there will certainly be a modern Valénar following in the footsteps of their heroic ancestor, re-enacting the deeds of this hero along the way. More important than embracing any particular Oath, a Valénar paladin must live up to the example of that sacred ancestry • The Cultes du Dragon d'En-Dessous. Paladins are exceedingly rare among the cults, but those that do typically serve are driven by delusion. A cultist might perceive themselves as a champion of the light while actually wielding the dark powers of an Oathbreaker, a hypocrisy any manipulative deity might grant in a strategic ploy to further some other long-term goal. • The Voie de la Lumière. A kalashtar acolyte seeks to spread serenity as opposed to initiating violence, and though such paladins are rare, their course along the Voie de la Lumière is best cultivated through the Oath of Redemption. Untraditional Beliefs Faith can be categorized best by a confidence or trust that is not based on proof, and in displaying such a confidence, one’s gifts might originate with no doctrine or religion, but rather a belief in an idea, system, or even onesElfee. A cruel paladin might claim to be a herald of the Mourning or be driven purely by the concept of justice at any cost. There are Guerrier de Fer who serve Le Dieu en Devenir, a deity the Guerrier de Fer are creating from an idea, just as they themselves were created. Theologians debate whether such paladins are drawing power from the planes or whether they might be granted power by other gods and theorize Le Voyageur endows such outliers to spread chaos in the world. Regardless, it’s entirely plausible to craft a faith around a paladin as opposed to matching the champion to an existing religion. Origins of Faith In most stories, the origin of a holy warrior with a cause and devotion that grants divine power is just as important as their oath. The origins of faith, along with the driving factors to swear an oath, offer key insights into an individual’s calling and changel of heart. Like Tira Miron or Joan of Arc, a paladin could be driven to fulfill a remarkable destiny. Another paladin might be a templar devoted to the broad principles of the faith, but not driven by visions or bound by a weary path. In Eberron, a paladin’s journey is so remarkable that most inhabitants of the world can’t possibly fathom the thought, and one that few adventurers will ever truly comprehend. For example, you don’t have to be proficient in the Religion skill and might know absolutely nothing about divinity at all. Perhaps you will encounter skeptics who don’t believe your story, and your inclination could present as a thirst for such knowledge or an air of insecurity shrugged off as indifference. Maybe you will suffer fools who attempt to provoke you to defy the tenets of your Oath by claiming you a false prophet or blasphemer, even if you know that you’re empowered directly by the Sovereigns or the Flamme d'Argent. Will you agree to your ignorance or attempt to convince the unbelievers by word or sword? After all, you were chosen, and you’ve got work to do. Whether one of a long line of faithful warriors, called to service by a divine vision, or a direct relationship with a dynamic and compelling mystical source, a paladin’s choice of Oath isn’t just about delving into the past but about establishing a consistent narrative of interaction with the divine as the story unfolds. Below are some ideas to consider while working with your DM to develop your own personal story. Called to Serve. Until recently, you were a normal person with no interest in religion or warfare. You could have been an urchin rooting around in the alleys of Sharn, an entertainer planning to spend your life making music, or even a criminal. Then you had an experience that changeld your life—a divine calling and realization that you have a purpose to fulfill. In following this path, it’s important to remember that gods don’t walk the world in Eberron and you must decide how you interface with the divine. You might receive contact in visions or powerful images of the path you must follow (and perhaps the terrible consequences of success and failure) or a celestial guide who comes to you with information or orders. In this case, is your celestial guide an angel, couatl, deva, or other divine being? Additionally, are these visions an ongoing phenomenon or was this divine contact a singular event to coax you along your destiny. Devoted Service. Raised in your faith, you worked diligently to gain La Tutelle of your patron and earn responsibilities of power. You could be an acolyte who served in a temple, a hermit who spent years in contemplation, or even a soldier who protected the faithful even before you had divine authority. You are well-versed in the traditions and histories of your faith. You may receive visions from the divine, but more often you will receive missions from the priests above you. This can provide you with access to the resources and reputation of your church, but it also means that you’re bound to follow the rules of your faith and to respect the authority of those above you. Dramatic Inspiration. Not every decision is between ethical high roads, and while you’ve always been acquainted with your religion through family or societal pressures, the providence of the paladin was thrust upon you in an unexpected way. Conscript to the Cyre army, you said your prayers to the Sovereigns under your breath before each conflict, but how could you ever expect Dol Arrah’s angels to visit you on the battlefield? Perhaps as a prelate librarian or simple temple guard for the Flamme d'Argent, you went about your daily tasks more concerned with your secular activities until Le Geolier called you into Fort-de-la-Flamme to imbue you with greater power and purpose. You have been given a very specific task and foresee dire consequences should you fail. Almost any background can bend to this end. Unspoken Vow. An unusual approach is to play a paladin who doesn’t yet realize they’re a paladin. As someone with no ties to a church and no training with religion, a soldier, noble, or folk hero could live by a personal philosophy and sense of duty that aligns with the tenets of an oath, but has yet to swear fidelity. Many choose to defend the innocent, to fight with honor and courage, to speak honestly against tyranny—not because that’s the Oath of Devotion, but because it seems like the right thing to do. You consider yourself to be a simple fighter, tax accountant, or town crier, but don’t believe divine forces recognize your righteousness and are working through you. Under these circumstances, you initially have no control over any of your supernatural class features and didn’t know you could cast spells, smite the wicked, Lay on Hands, or had any sort of Divine Sense, but have always had a nose for evil doers and desire to right the scales. If you are uncertain how to approach an Unspoken Vow, discuss the idea with your DM to confirm the story will provide the opportunities to learn the ability when the effect is triggered. Be patient and trust your DM to allow the narrative to indicate where a pervasive and foul presence can be detected by your Divine Sense. When a comrade is struck down from a mortal wound, you might duck blade and bolt, to cradle their limp frame, crying out to them not to leave you, and provoking a sudden warmth to spread through your hands and permeate the hemorrSorcièree, discovering Lay on Hands while creating a dramatic scene. There’s no benefit to following the Unspoken Vow, but it can be an exhilarating alternative as you play a character navigating their faith through these godsent talents. As you come to understand your influence and the forces at hand, will you embrace this destiny or deny it? Will you operate in ignorance until desperate circumstances demand the proclamation of your vows to seize your power and save your friends? How you handle each iteration above could changel the entire narrative for your party over the duration of your adventuring. Consider that your background will influence your odyssey and work with your DM to provide a more satisfying angle on a historically straightforward class by attempting more roads less traveled. {{url>http://vps265505.vps.ovh.ca/5eTools/classes.html#paladin_phb,hideclassfs:true,showfluff:true 100%,800 noborder}}