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The Paladin Goals
By Arhyld

Many people make the mistake of immediately associating the Paladins with the Luminaries or the Daru Monks. While at some level, the three Guilds have similar goals, the mode of their achievement, as well as the Paladin goal itself differ.

Luminaries and the Daru have one goal. Light. Symbolically or literally, they seek to bring the Light to the land and vanquish the Darkness. They actively seek to achieve that through zeal and aggressively, some might say. It is not my wish to insult anyone by what I say here. The Luminaries and Daru have a goal, and they’re good at striving to achieve it. It is just not the same as the Paladin goals. While the other two Guilds take an active approach, Paladins are more passive and act only when needed.

There is no primary goal for a Paladin. Paladins either do all, or consider a career change. To be a Paladin means to make sacrifices for the good of others. Paladins protect the innocent at all costs and defend life in all its’ aspects. They behave with Honour, they act with Valor, they are loyal to one another and they show Devotion to these principles. They oppose Artifice and frown upon those who would use others for personal gain.

Landmarking was also a goal of the Paladins once. Landmarks used to be objects or locations of great power that represented balance. They all had two aspects, one called Elysian, the one we strived to attain and protect, and the Necromantic one which was our enemies' goal. They influenced the rate at which we received Devotion and the rate at which our enemies received Necromancy. This was why everyone wanted the Landmarks on their side. They also symbolized a fight between Good and Evil. After a while, though, one way or another, most Landmarks fell. They were destroyed. Only two Devotion giving Landmarks remained. The Sphinx and the Totem. However, during the turmoil in Ashtan concerning the corruption of the Guardian of the Globe of Balance and his demise, these two landmarks also fell, due to the workings of the Lord of Artifice. Today, only two landmarks remain, and they do not influence Devotion and Necromancy, only the duration of the day and night.

Ask ten Paladins what their Guild does and you will receive ten different answers. There is no definition to what a Paladin does, specifically. He adapts to his surroundings, but whatever he does, the Paladin does with Honour, with Courage, with Valor, with Loyalty and he does it for the greater good.

Essay by Arhyld, Squire of Sir Caldazar

Penned by my hand on 10th of Arios, 181 MA.