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PALADINS
Paladins are holy fighters.
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A paladin is an elite holy warrior, chosen from the best men and women of the realm. Paladins must possess strength and wisdom and have considerable constitution and charisma (create a paladin, name a paladin). In return for their strict adherance to goodness and lawfulness, Sesamar and Desamar grant them considerable powers.
Paladin hierarchy is skills-based and consists of this order:
| Devotee | Level 1 |
| Guardian | Levels 2 - 4 |
| Champion | Levels 5 - 8 |
| Paladin | Levels 9 - 11 |
| Master Paladin | Levels 12+ |
The title Knight is given to a paladin who accomplishes a noteworthy deed and who remains in good favor with the granter of the title. Only a paladin who has achieved the skilled rank of Paladin can grant the title of Knight to another paladin.
To receive training, a would-be paladin must eventually travel to Kornas, where they will be processed. Paladins will be taught by scholars in academic disciplines that include history, language, governance, and civic duty. Priests (see clerics) will provide tutelage regarding divinity with respect to Sesamar and Desamar. Swordsmen (see fighters) will impart their knowledge of tactics, weaponry, and armor. It is an expensive endeavor, which means it requires being a member of an affluent family, generous sponsorship, or special approval for bequeathal of endowment.
Paladins are driven to further lawfulness and goodness, unlike anti-paladins. If they willingly commit an act of selfishness or evil, they must seek the assistance of a priest (see clerics) of lawful good alignment to confess their transgressions. The atoning cleric may require penance, such as donation or a quest, depending upon the nature and severity of the act.
Paladins from the Western Lands are usually well-respected by all good characters in the realm.
Special Abilities
Paladins have several abilities:
- Detect evil in a 60' direction, as often as they like.
- Immunity to diseases.
- +2 on all saving throws.
- By laying a hand on a target, the target is healed +2 hit-points per level of the paladin (up to the maximum hit-points of the target). This can be done once/day.
- There is a permanent protection from evil emanating from the paladin in a 1" radius.
- At the level of Champion, the paladin can turn undead at a level of proficiency two levels lower as a cleric.
- At the level of Champion, the paladin may call for his steed, which may be a horse or some other creature.
- Paladins are driven to possess a holy weapon. This weapon, in addition to its to-hit abilities, may offer some other benefit, such as bless, know alignment, remove curse, ...
- At the level of Paladin, paladins can cast cleric spells. The following table indicates how many spells a paladin can memorize, which is dependent upon their experience level.
| Paladin | Level of Cleric Spell |
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5* |
| 9 | 1 | | | | |
| 10 | 2 | | | | |
| 11 | 2 | 1 | | | |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 13 | 3 | 2 | | | |
| 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | |
| 16 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | |
| 17 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| 19 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| 20 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 21 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 22 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 23 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 24 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 25 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
* In order for a paladin to cast 5th level spells, the paladin must receive extensive training from a 10th level or higher lawful good cleric. The cleric will require a hefty donation to his church for time and study materials or demand the paladin complete a quest.
To reconfigure spells, see Spell Memorization.
Weapon Proficiency
Paladins who are trained in the Western Lands and the Chain of Islands are all proficient with the lance. In addition, paladins have a +1 skill level with the lance per two levels of experience (rounded down). A 3rd level paladin would have a +1 skill with a lance.
Orisons
All paladins can cast this orison starting at the fifth level.
Detect Undead:
The paladin will be able to detect if there is an undead presence. The area of effect is a circle that has a diameter of 1 mile per level of the caster. The caster will receive a direction and distance if an undead presence exists, but no details of the presence will be received. If there are multiple groups of undead, the paladin will gain the direction and distance of the largest undead presence (for each group of undead, the sum of their hit dice will be compared for this purpose).
Once paladins are able to cast spells, they can start casting additional orisons, one orison available to clerics per level of the paladin.
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