【Deus Vult】

Every paladin and antipaladin belongs to an order. Rather than a specific code, they must adhere to a Vult - a prime motivation. This is not an unthinking edict, but informs their motives and dictates how they may spend excess cash, downtime, and make hard choices.

NOTE: Lawful Good and Lawful Evil Clerics may also belong to these orders, but they are less restricted. What is considered to be a Vult for a Paladin or Antipaladin, is a portion of the larger body of scripture for a cleric. Nevertheless, hardliner clerics can be roleplayed if a player so chooses to.

If a paladin or antipaladin consistently fails to uphold his or her Vult, an atonement ceremony must be performed at the earliest possibility. Failure to do so will wrack the character with vivid nightmares until it is done, preventing the statistical benefits of rest or regaining per-day abilities - no new spells may be prepared, no HP is recovered, and no conditions not caused by a lack of sleep are restored. If the Vult is intentionally, deliberately cast aside, or the character's alignment changes, he or she loses all paladin or antipaladin special abilities, permanently. A greater atonement may be sought, requiring several weeks of downtime in ritualistic prayer and contemplation, and a dangerous quest performed in their depowered state. The character may not level up while on such a quest. Success requires yet more weeks of prayer before their abilities are restored, and consumes all XP they have accumulated during the process, placing them at the minimum for their current level.

If their alignment has shifted to the opposite Lawful alignment, they may seek out an order for the opposing type to convert. This process is the same as for a greater atonement. A paladin or antipaladin character may only have a greater atonement OR conversion performed once, ever. Discarding the Vult a second time will completely forfeit all paladin or antipaladin special abilities. They may no longer gain paladin levels, though humans may dual-class to continue their adventures (the rare fallen paladin commonly chooses to continue as a fighter.)

【Example Paladin Orders and their Vults】

Order of the Hand

- Protect the innocent

- Heal the ill, no matter if they are friend or foe - so long as the latter truthfully agrees to surrender or truce.

- Recover magic and holy relics, they may be used to serve the Vult, fight evil or donated to Lawful Good religious purposed - Churches, clerics, other paladins - but not sold.

- Donate excess wealth to the church

Order of the Eye

- Root out evil in dark places

- Discover lost holy relics, and record them. If recovered, they may be used to serve the Vult, fight evil or donated to Lawful Good religious purposed - Churches, clerics, other paladins - but not sold.

- Provide confession for the troubled and record the good deeds of the virtuous

- Exorcise the unseen

Order of the Painted Maiden (Halfling)

- Destroy Gnomes

- Protect the innocent

- Donate to the needy

- Do great deeds in Her name

Order of the Lily of the Valley (Antipaladin)

- Discover new power and keep it out of the hands of others

- Kill with honor and grace, do not allow enemies to do the same

- Develop personal power through servitude and skillful training

- Make favorable deals, and hold others to their debts - Donate excess wealth to the order

- Bring glory to the order