"Paladins and Immortals"
by Drongol

Alright, again with the disclaimer. What you're reading here is just my opinions and has nothing to do with Waerd Aev, its editors, or anything. You have a problem with what I say, you come to me.

One thing what I want to talk about is the role the Immortals play in the Guild. I've been hearing a lot of talk about this, but it doesn't seem like anyone has any clue how a Paladin should properly hold the Immortals dear while remaining true to the guild. I figure it's about time I set the lot of you straight.

The first thing I want to clear up involves the worthless blind lion himself. Chadatru is not the patron of the Paladins' Guild, so stop talking like he is. Chadatru is the patron of kings and the deification of justice, which admittedly is a value the guild holds close. However, it is his positive aspect, Rutilor, that is the patron of the Paladins' Guild. I imagine our crest has a lion on it because some bleeding tree-hugging Elf designed it and thought a lion would be prettier than some mongoose. Kertigen's beard, never can trust an Elf to get it right.

But you can trust me, since I'm never wrong, unlike those folks what say that Paladins cannot worship the "dark" aspects of the Immortals. All thirty-nine Aspects are worthy of respect, and all of them have something that a Paladin can draw on to promote justice and protect the people. Just because an Immortal isn't some sort of pacifistic goody-two-shoes doesn't mean that a Paladin cannot worship him or her.

Trothfang's bloodlust can be harnessed to destroy one's foes before worse comes to pass. Asketi's dread can be a useful tool in preventing a battle. Even Aldauth's penchant for pain can be useful in learning more of an enemy's plans. Even smite shield and smite weapon can be traced back to Zachriedek, the negative aspect of Kertigen.

There are many risks involved in worshipping a dark aspect of the Immortals, however. First and foremost, a Paladin must remember what he is and not allow the worship of his or her patron to cause him to disgrace himself in the eyes of the Guild. A Paladin worshipping Trothfang, for example, cannot go around killing everything in sight, after all. There is one Immortal which merits very specific discussion, however. Botolf, being the patron of fallen Paladins, would be an incredibly difficult Immortal to venerate while remaining in good standing with the guild. What he stands for--injustice, cowardice, and selfishness--has no business in the Guild, and Paladins would be well-advised not to worship him lest they fall from grace. In short, don't do it.

What everyone needs to understand is that no matter what Immortal (or group of Immortals) a Paladin chooses to worship, he or she is still a Paladin and held to a certain moral standard implied by the code. A Paladin of Albreda and a Paladin of Trothfang might not get along, but they are both still Paladins.