Defenders of Truth; Warriors of Light

I am a Paladin; a Paladin in training, nevertheless a Paladin. For those among you who are still ignorant about who or what a Paladin is, allow me to shed some light on your knowledge and understanding of what such a title truly merits, while extending an invitation to you, who now read my words, to live up to what a Paladin truly entails.

Paladin: a battle-ready Knight who takes faith as his shield and protection, he fights for all that is good and stands for all which is right. A Holy Warrior of Virtue, his steadfastness gives him powers to do good upon his friends and to wreak cruel justice upon his enemies. Verily, as it is written, he is a Knight-errant who defends all that is just in the name of God.

Paladins are pure at the heart and follow closely the teachings of Zakarum, otherwise known as the religion of the Light. This Holy Warrior of Virtue is bent on driving the blinding darkness of temptation and the crippling power of corruption from before his face, by making Light and Truth his strongest allies. In a by-gone age, they hailed form the Church of Zakarum, deep within the walls of Westmarch, and were known throughout the land as the “Knights of Westmarch,” the heavenly-aided hosts that felled the corrupt armies of mighty Leoric, King of Khanduras.

Maintaining strictly ordered lives and constantly upholding the cause of Virtue and Light, they must never succumb to worldly temptation lest they risk being deceived into following “False Lights” – demons masquerading as heavenly beings.

Paladins are endowed with power from on high and grow in the might and stature of this power according to their level of righteousness. To reflect the powers of the High Heavens given to him, a Paladin must refine his acquired combat skills, which range from tactical attacks to spirtually-enhanced measures of protection. A Paladin uses these skills to increase his prowess with sword and shield, as well as lending blessing “Auras” to enhance his equipped items and armor, thus increasing the effectiveness of his attacks and offering increased protection to himself and the righteous Followers of Light who cross his path. Auras are intangible “Halos” of spiritual protection which emanate from the Paladin and which affect any and all whom they come into contact with (either positively or negatively) depending on the aura and the intentions of those who enter his sphere of influence, whether they be bearers of good or agents of evil.

There are those who call the Paladin an overwrought zealot, but others recognize in him the strength and goodness of the Light. “Faith is a shield in battle. The holiness of the Light, above all else, is sacred and must be upheld. Spiritual cleanliness of mind and body is the cornerstone of our lives. Strength of body is there only when there is no peaceful resolve. We fight to preserve and spread the Word of the Light and let nothing stand in our way or oppress our people or beliefs, or it shall face a wrath the likes it has never seen nor will survive to tell about!”