[Shenae]

Chapter One: Divine Spellcasters in Campaigns

The Paladin’s Code
It is possible, and in fact likely, that different paladins probably follow different codes of conduct. The code defines what a paladin is, what he does, and how he acts. When deciding how a paladin should act, do not simply seize upon notions of what is “good” or “lawful” and take them to the extreme. Being a paladin is more than that. It is about honor and nobility. It is about dealing harshly with evildoers because in so doing one preserves what is good. It is about being forgiving and generous with those who are innocent and good—putting others before oneself and putting higher principles such as truth, nobility, and purity above all else. To live such a lifestyle is obviously difficult. To help, paladins develop codes that they follow like a road map toward what is right and good. Often, a paladin’s code of conduct is very simple. Some say, for instance, that you can judge a warrior by how he treats his enemies:

Do not maim when harming will suffice.
Do not kill when maiming will suffice.
When you must kill, do it quickly and take no pleasure in it,
For killing is a product of evil, to be sure.
If there were no evil in the world, there would need never be any killing.

More often, however, a code deals not only with one’s enemies, but how one treats all others, including friends (and helps define whom a paladin calls friend). For example, consider a chivalrous code. It involves paladins acting with honor and courtesy. Chivalry requires that knights be brave, loyal, and just. It demands that they speak only the truth, be fair to their enemies, help people in distress, show mercy to
the weak and defenseless, and to never harm women or children. (Traditional chivalry assumes that paladins are male.) A typical chivalric paladin code of conduct might read as follows:

Thou shalt respect the weak and shalt constitute thyself their defender.
Thou shalt make war against evil—those who attack the weak and the poor— without cessation, and without mercy.
Thou shalt never lie and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
Thou shalt be generous and give largesse to everyone.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

A paladin’s code might be broken down into various tenets, like the dogmatic structure of a religion. For example:
• Prowess: Seek excellence in all endeavors expected of a paladin, martial and otherwise, gaining strength to be used in the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement.
• Justice: Seek always the path of good, unencumbered by personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy.
• Loyalty: Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places in life where compromise may be needed. Loyalty is not among them.
• Defense: Seek always to defend your nation, your lord, your family, your companions, and those whom
you believe worthy of loyalty.
• Courage: Being a paladin often means choosing the more difficult path, the personally expensive one. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. At the same time, a paladin should seek wisdom to see the difference between courage and foolishness. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie.
• Faith: A paladin must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and offers hope against despair.
• Humility: Place value upon the contributions of others. Do not boast of your own accomplishments, wait
for others to do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds.
• Largesse: Be generous insofar as your resources allow. Place the needs of others before your own. Keeping this in mind makes decisions regarding justice much simpler.
• Nobility: Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a paladin. Realize that,
though one can never teach such ideals, the quality of striving toward them makes one truly noble. Through your nobility you can also influence others, offering a compelling example of what one can accomplish in the service of good.
• Principle: Although a paladin shows wisdom in his actions and commits no act without due consideration, when in doubt, do what is right and good for its own sake. Truth, virtue, fidelity, and honor are motives unto themselves, and each is larger than any single paladin.
• Franchise: Seek all these achievements as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure, you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue.