Page 134 - D&D - Player's Handbook

Courtesy. Treat others with respect despite how they ing the River Chionthar. The Companions safeguard civ-
treat you. Give honor to those above your station. Earn ilization against dangerous and wild forces, particularly
the respect of those below your station. unnatural creatures. Of the options in the Sacred Oath
Lawfulness. Laws exist to bring prosperity to those class feature, the Oath of the Crown (described below)
under them. Unjust laws must be overturned or and the Oath of Devotion (described in the Player's
changed in a reasonable fashion. Handbook) are equally represented among their ranks.
Bravery. Gain glory through battle. Defend any charge
unto death. ORDER OF THE GILDED EYE
Pride in one's actions. Lead by example. Let your
The monastery and cathedral of Helm's Hold stands on
deeds speak your intentions.
the edge of the Neverwinter Wood in the North as a safe
Humility in one's deeds. Do not boast or accept
haven for travelers. The Order of the Gilded Eye safe-
rewards undue to you.
guards the hold and serves the surrounding community,
Unselfishness. Share resources, especially with those
but their mission has a much broader focus: to guard the
who have the most need.
world from dangers originating on other planes of exis-
Good-temperedness. Render service cheerfully and
tence, especially on the Lower Planes. Many paladins
without disdain.
and non-paladins have joined the order in response to
Wisdom. Cause the most good through the least harm.
its call to cast fiendish incursions out of the world. In re-
Piety. Be faithful to the precepts of your god.
cent years, many have ventured forth from Helm's Hold
Kindness. Protect the weak. Grant mercy to those who
to do the order's work in the wider world.
seek redemption.
Of the options in the Sacred Oath class feature in the
Honor. Hold true to the code. Death before dishonor.
Player's Handbook, paladins of the Gilded Eye most
Every paladin grades and emphasizes these virtues often follow the Oath of Devotion, although a few zealots
based on his or her own personal ethos and religious are followers of the Oath of Vengeance.
background. A paladin of Sune would emphasize as-
pects of courtly love and courtesy, whereas a paladin of ORDER OF SAMULAR
Tyr would be more concerned with justice and fair treat- The Holy Order of Samular, also known as the Knights
ment of foes. of Samular, is made up of warriors in the service of Tyr.
Most paladins in the Forgotten Realms, like clerics, The order is based at Summit Hall, while also maintain-
are devoted to a particular deity. The most common ing a chapter house in Waterdeep. Legendary paladin
paladin deities are those that embody action, decision, Samular Caradoon founded the order in 952 DR after
watchfulness, and wisdom. Torm and Tyr are both the Second Troll War and the deaths of his brothers
popular deities for paladins, as is Ilmater, who stresses Renwick "Snowcloak" and Amphail the just during the
self-sacrifice and the alleviation of suffering. Although war. When Tyr fell silent and the paladins in his service
less common, there are paladins of the following dei- lost their powers, many turned to other gods such as
ties: Helm, Hoar, Lathander, Sune, Corellon Larethian, Torm, but the Kights of Samular stayed true to Tyr.
the Red Knight, Clangeddin Silverbeard, Arvoreen, Their patience was recently rewarded when, upon Tyr's
and Mystra. return to the world, many of their dwindling number
Their devotion to a higher ideal makes paladins pop- were invested with the powers of a paladin. Known for
ular folk heroes in the Realms. Many tales are woven their support of the law, many paladins of the order fol-
about noble knights and oath-sworn champions, al- low the Oath of the Crown, which is described below.
though pragmatists note that the tales often end with a
tremendous sacrifice on the part of said champions. SACRED OATH
The most common patrons of paladins of the Oath of
Devotion and the Oath of the Crown (which is described Paladins in the Forgotten Realms have the following
below) are Helm, Torm, and Tyr- protection, courage, Sacred Oath option, in addition to those in the Play-
and justice-although Ilmater has his share of devoted er's Handbook.
champions. Those green knights sworn to the Oath of
OATH OF THE CROWN
the Ancients might honor Arvoreen or Corellon, while -------
avengers of the Oath of Vengeance follow patrons like The Oath of the Crown is sworn to the ideals of civili-
Hoar, although there are also avengers of Helm and Tyr, zation, be it the spirit of a nation, fealty to a sovereign,
meting out harsh justice. or service to a deity of law and rulership. The paladins
who swear this oath dedicate themselves to serving
PALADIN ORDERS society and, in particular, the just laws that hold society
together. These paladins are the watchful guardians on
The following orders can be found in various parts of
the walls, standing against the chaotic tides of barba-
the Forgotten Realms.
rism that threaten to tear down all that civilization has
ORDER OF THE COMPANION built, and are commonly known as guardians, exem-
plars, or sentinels. Often, paladins who swear this oath
Based in Elturgard in the Western Heartlands, the Or- are members of an order of knighthood in service to a
der of the Companion is sworn to guard that nation. It nation or a sovereign, and undergo their oath as part of
formed in the wake of the Spellplague and helped to cre- their admission to the order's ranks.
ate Elturgard, centered on the city of Elturel, overlook-

CHAPTER 4 I CLASSES
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