Frozean Dragonwhite, 3rd Level Dragonborn Oath of Vengeance Paladin. When waiting for duties in the Frost Guard (The army of a town in the Frozen Wastelands), we were playing Dragonchess. A whole day went by without orders, so I checked on our leader. I found his corpse in the hallway, brutally murdered by an assault group sent by the Foresters. Heartbroken, I took the armor he was to give to me, and swore vengeance against the Foresters for all eternity.
The concept is meant to be a very support focused tank. Uses the spells and shield to buff, heal, and defend teammates. Backstory is influenced by Roman history. I imagine he’s like an old centurion, totally loyal to the state.
Name: Giaus Vorenus Race: Dragonborn - Brass Draconic Ancestary Class: Paladin (Oath of the Crown) Alignment: Lawful Neutral STR 16 DEX 10 CON 14 INT 08 WIS 10 CHA 16 (Point Buy)
Appearance: Vorenus still wears and maintains his legionnaire armor. The resplendent plate mail armor has been painstakingly polished and maintained. A gold and purple sash draped across his chest bearing the insignia of the 13th legion, and medals from his innumerable campaigns.
In his shield is a magnificent golden emblem of the 13th Legion’s coat of arms across a purple banner. The emblem serves as his holy focus. His god is the state and his church is the army.
Personality: Vorenus is an honorable and good natured man. His brothers in arms love him and would do anything for him, especially those he served with in the 13th.
He’s seen a lot in his time, and uses hard won experience to help the younger soldiers and recruits who served under him. Some don’t like his harsh methods but he believes men are not born brave, but must become so through training and force of discipline.
He has a deep respect for the crown and anyone in the service of the state. He does not assort with outlaws or subversives. He would not risk anything that would bring him and his family dishonor or threaten their social status.
He can be stubborn and even cruel in upholding the law, serving justice, and enforcing the will of the crown. He has little compassion for enemies of the state. Woe to the vanquished.
Background: Vorenus comes from a long, humble but honorable line of soldiers. Some of his ancestors had risen above the rank and file, his great great uncle Crassus had even been appointed a luteniet, and his father was a respected member of the Preatorian guard. But most of his family were simple hard working foot soldiers. They were decidedly not part of the upper class nobility, but they were content serving a just and righteous ruler. The kingdom was accepting of the Dragonborn, and had been particularly good to his family. They had brought peace, stability, commerce to the region within its boarders, outside the reach of the monarchy was war, disease, and famine.
He joined the army as a young man of 15, eager to serve his country and bring honor to his family. He was just in time for the wars that would nearly tear the Kingdom asunder. He spent the next two decades with the 13th legion, first marching up and down the coast defending their glorious cities from the invaders. When the tide turned and the army was able to take the offensive, he was the first man over the walls at the battle of Fort Trebia. It was a turning point in the war, and his life. The 13th took heavy casualties during the assault, but Vorenus rallied his brigade to charge into the breach. For his bravery, he was made the first shield of the 13th legion, and took the oath of the crown.
After the war he joined the city guard, and had aspirations of following in his fathers footsteps and joining the elite Preatorian guardsmen. While nothing could match the excitement of the war, the city guard was plenty interesting in a cosmopolitan hub like his home town. But as Vorenus advance he found himself mired in the beaurocracy of managing his men, and began to consider other ways of serving his country and furthering the honor of his family.
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Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Dame Eldraine Hastings. Human Paladin of the Silver Flame and a taker of the Oath of Devotion. Short dark hair, pale complexion, just under six foot tall, Lawful Good, Noble Background (hence 'Dame' Hastings), wields a simple mace and a large shield. Estranged from her family due to her Divine Calling (they had hoped to marry her off as a financial move), they stripped her of all but her title and just enough gold to not starve. Now, she roams both Eberron and the wider Multiverse, smiting evil wherever it may manifest. For the Flame!
This is a character I've been playing for a while now, and I've slowly loved playing him more and more. Andrus Winter, Tiefling Paladin of the Raven Queen. A lot of the terms used won't make a great deal of sense, because our DM created this awesome world with it's own intriguing lore. The setting is Tafiel, the world of the three towers, The Rose Tower, devoted to arcane power, The Ivory Tower, devoted to divine magic and power, The Sapphire Tower, devoted to science and innovation. The three towers were once at war with each other, and have a fragile alliance, according to our DM. The world of Tafiel is new and has much to explore, and so far there is only one "true" religion practiced that of Moradin, the All-Father, I was told Andrus would face speculation as to his claims as a paladin given his goddess, but I still went for it. Because there's a lot to his story, I'm posting the cliff-notes of it all. Also heavily Jon Snow inspired.
Andrus was born a bastard child to Athen Crawnstein, a human Baron who sworn allegiance to the Rose Tower. Andrus grew up treated better than most bastard children, as he was kept within his father's estate, and eventually made friends with his half-siblings; but he was closest to his eldest brother Cayde, and youngest sister Emilya. His step-mother Mertha was not pleased by Andrus' presence but tolerated him at her husbands request. Cayde and Andrus both trained in the way of the sword, they both wanted to become devote and honorable knights to their city. Cayde was the only one eligible for that honor, Andrus instead would become a city watchmen, however he was sent to a small village, Astrawood, instead of his home as he had hoped. Taking it as an opportunity to prove himself to those who claimed to be his superiors. There he made three friends that made him feel that the world could accept him as he was, and found love with Cevel a red headed human that would fight beside him. While in Astrawood, Andrus would find the small church of the Raven Queen, being of the Rose Tower's territory, Andrus thought relying on deities for power was odd, but when listening to the priest, Father Orion, give sermons, Andrus felt at ease. A Goddess who only asked that her followers respect the dead, the process of dying, and that they live a full life. He felt moved by it.
He was stationed at Astrawood for two years, during winter he and his unit came across an elven necromancer, and they battle with his thrall. Andrus watched his friends, including Cevel, fall to the thrall, and in the battle Andrus called out to the Raven Queen. "Grant me power to destroy your enemies, those who would insult you, and I will pledge my life to your service!" He did not expect anything, so you can imagine his surprise when he felt a surge of divine power fill his very body. The battle then turned in his favor, though the necromancer escaped. Father Orion helped bury the dead, and taught Andrus about the Raven Queen, as the Father knew what he was, her Paladin, the first in recorded history. Andrus dedicated the next three years to training and studying, and then set out to carry out his Queen's will.
He came across the party which consisted of a young adolescent half-elven wizard, Milo, and an undead (vampiric) wood elven fighter, Kathriana, their first adventure consisted of them going to a small village, Port Sol, out in "No-Man's Land" (an area that is not claimed by any of the three towers) and discovered that all the adults were missing, save for a number of bandits patrolling the streets. They eventually discovered that the adults were all at a casino, where they all became cursed to stay and gamble there. They discovered it was part of a much larger plot, that some warlock was trying to use the energy from the villagers to resurrect his deceased wife. The party was aided by a halfling-paladin of Moradin, after confronting and defeating the warlock, the paladin revealed himself to be an oathbreaker named Dassan Soth, stole the warlocked raised wife, and teleported out.
The actions of the party caught the eye of a mysterious individual called the Inquisitor, who kidnapped the party individually and forced them into working for his Inquisition, an organization that polices all the towers in secret, along side a mindflayer named Purple, or "Purple the Sexy" as it liked to call itself. They were to investigate a possible sabotage issue arising at a researching site backed by the Sapphire Tower, and pass judgement upon completion. Upon investigation, the party determined it was done by extremist from the unheard of, yet very powerful, Emerald Tower, a tower dedicated to nature. The party captured the leaders of the extremists, one dead, the other had been manipulated into causing the conflict. They left the judgment for the leader's crimes to those of the Emerald Tower, she was sentenced to exile. Andrus caught her before she left, and told of Port Sol, how it's a good village that needs help getting on it's feet. The exile agreed to think about it and went off.
The next job was to investigate an uprising that took place in Andrus' home. His father killed, Cayde missing, and the family being held supposedly hostage. When they went to investigate the party got split up and learned two sides of the story. Andrus ended up finding his brother, and agreed to help retake the family estate. It was later revealed that the Inquisitor had cut a deal with Andrus' family that in exchange for causing trouble along the board, the Inquisition would provide aid to the Crawnsteins, and Cayde was apart of it. Purple turned on the party as his loyalties were to the job. That night Purple was killed, and with help Andrus, Kathriana and Ortegra a cleric that had just joined the part, defeated the Inquisitor, removing the armor, as it was the armor controlling the man inside.
Now when Andrus hit third level, I kinda dreaded it, as I had been pondering for a long while which Oath I'd take up, because our party didn't have a tank, Kathriana our Fighter has killed more enemies than anyone, Milo our Wizard is kinda a pacifist, and Purple was...well Purple XD. We already had DPS so Oath of Vengeance wasn't helpful, and I'm not . I did not want to take up an oath that would force me into killing Kathriana because I didn't want to be a party killer, so I came up with a homebrew oath that I ran by my DM which got approved after some modifications. Andrus is now the first ever Paladin Oath of the Grave Warden. This oath is kinda tailored to help me fighting Undead, and the tenants allowed me to work along side undead that did not swear allegiance to the Raven Queen. I will provide the details of the class down below.
Oath of the Grave Warden
Those that take up this Oath serve to nurture life and protect all things from the cruelty of undeath. While the paladin understands all lives must end, it is the paladin’s job to ensure that a life is not ended prematurely, whether it be healing a sickly youth, or protecting a hapless citizen from a group of bandits, the Paladin will defend life. However, Paladin’s under this oath are expected by their deities to seek out those who would try to extend their life through unnatural means, and punish them with little mercy. Throughout time these Paladin’s have been simply called the Wardens, but can be easily mistaken for either dark knight or death knights, and can behave very similarly to Vengeance Paladins. Paladins of this Oath are not discouraged for participating in resurrection spells, so long as they convince their deity to help.
Tenets of the Grave Warden
The tenets of the Grave Warden’s are often revealed to a Paladin once they make their Oath, requiring them to commune with their deity in some fashion, whether it be through a dream or the knowledge implanted by the deity themselves. The oath stress the importance of protecting the warmth of life, and allowing it to flicker into the cold embrace of death, and punishing those who insult the very essence of this natural process via necrotic means.
Death is The Natural End. Death is the natural end to life, it is not something to be feared, or pity. Spread this knowledge to those don’t understand. Let the dead rest, and ease the dying’s suffering.
Kindle Life. Life is a precious gift, so those who haven’t fully grown must be kept alive in order to enjoy this gift. Protect those that can inspire others to live greatly.
Punish the Arrogant. Pursue those who would use unnatural means to extend their lives, and show them the arrogance of their ways, by sending them into the afterlife.
Purify the Unholy. Should you come across any undead, and it is within your power, you must free their soul and send them to the afterlife. However, if it wishes to protect the living, cautiously work with it.
Oath Spells
You also learn the cantrip Spare the Dying, along with Oath spells listed below.
Paladin level Spells
3rd lvl Armor of Agathys, Healing Word
5th lvlGentle Repose, Lesser Restoration
9th lvl Speak with Dead, Slow
13th lvlStoneskin, Fire Wall
17th lvlDestructive Wave, Antilife Shell
Channel Divinity
When you take up the Oath of the Grave Warden you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.
Warden’s Armor. Declaring a prayer to your chosen deity, for 1 minute any undead creature or necrotic spells against you have disadvantage. This takes one full action. Requires a long rest to reuse.
Warden’s Blessing. As a bonus action you can hold your holy symbol, offer a prayer and select an ally within 30 ft of your vision, and grant resistance to cold for 1 minute. Can be reused after a rest. At 18 Level this extends to 60 feet.
Aura of Preservation
At 7th level you and allies within 10 feet of you have resistance to necrotic damage and you are immune to disease. You must be conscious for this effect to be active. At 18th level the aura extends to 30 ft.
Shelter the Living
At 15th level, whenever an ally within 30 ft of you is reduced to 0 HP you can use your reaction to make it drop to 1 HP instead. This ability does not work on undead or constructs, and each ally can only be targeted by this ability once, until a long rest.
Warding Angel
At level 20 you assume the form of an angel dawned in armor with the symbol of your deity. This transformation last for 2 minutes, and you gain the following benefits:
You sprout wings from your back that grant you 60ft of flight movement.
The warden armor grants you resistance to necrotic and cold.
You regain 10 hit points at the start of your turn.
This feature cannot be used again until you attain a long rest.
Inspired by Oath of the Raven Knight, Oath of the Grave, and Oath of Death. This Oath was created to be tankish without having to be as boring as Oath of Devotion, and so my tiefling Paladin of the Raven Queen would not be compelled to strike down our party's Vampire Fighter once 3rd level was reached.
I created a backstory (apologies if it's too long for those with attention spans like mine). Happy to hear the thoughts of those who read it, Thanks!.......
My Dragonborn clan, shunned by the common folk, lived in the borderlands, fending and caring for ourselves. When the famine came, civil war began with many lords warring for whatever they could scrap. My father, a city watchman, caught on sentry duty during a night time raid did not survive and I was left fatherless at age 8 with my mother left to care for me and my younger brother.
By the time I was 10, an order of Paladins came through my town looking for men and boys to recruit to continue the war. My mother, tired and skeletal thin from trying to feed three mouths gave me over to the Paladins. I understood why she did it, but I still felt rejected.
I was taken in as a squire for which I had neither the patience or the temperament for. My master caught me violently swinging his sword and shield inside his tent and recognised that although I was only 10, my Dragonborn size and strength meant I fought like a man, and my innate skill with the blade meant I was more suited as a swordsman than a squire. I learned to ride a horse and fight on horseback so we could cover more distance and attack farther into enemy lands.
Our Order was charged with swift attacks against enemy prison and labour camps to free the prisoners of war and child labourers. We would never be daunted by how many enemies we faced or how high their walls were, we would tackle all our problems head on and directly. Through countless attacks and victories over 10 years I only came to know my warrior brethren and found it hard to commune with those who I could not share my experiences. Through 10 years of experience I was quickly promoted to the rank of Colonel. I saw many men come and go but I could only respect those who had proven to me that they deserved to be in this fighting unit.
It was not until my 10 year of combat that I sustained my first injury. In the middle of a night time raid on an enemy camp I was struck in the shoulder by a javelin, piercing my chain mail and knocking me to the ground.
While on light duties, I was charged with escorting our freed slaves back to our homeland, and it was at this time I learned the truth that my Order was led by mercenary oath-breakers. We met with a man on the outskirts of our capital city, and were handed gold which I thought was to pay for our war supplies. It wasn’t until I saw the captees being loaded, bound and blind folded on to a wagon that I realised my Order was profiteering from this war by re-selling captives and children back into slavery. I was outraged, despite being injured I launched myself at my fellow men at arms, slaying two of them and then I rode down the slave caravan, butchering their guards and freeing the slaves within.
My honour was divided, I had upheld my oath to and freed the child slaves, but I had also murdered my brethren. I could never return to a soldier’s life or join another Order of Paladins. I must live out my days as an independent sell-sword, fighting to achieve vengeance for those who cannot obtain vengeance for themselves.
For hundreds of years the Raknif noble family has been one of the most respected and famous houses in all of Flananess. Generations of Shield knights have come from its grand halls, bringing glory and prosperity in turn to the Shieldlands.
It was argued that the greatest of all was Dagonet, Knight Baronette of the Western Keep, and my Father.
In the year of Broken Chalice, my Father was given an impossible choice. The Knight Commander had ordered him to march his forces from the Borderkeep to Admundfort. As he was preparing his troops, Dagonet received a second message bearing his own house seal. It was a desperate message from my mother begging him to our castle - Stoneshield. Iuz had sent a two great invasion forces to sweep past the lay siege to the capital city and a small army had broken off from the larger force to take the nearby castles including Dagonets home. The force was only days away from destroying his home and family.
Dagonet received a command to immediately gather his forces and ride straight for the capital to help defend it. Dagonet sent an urgent a message to the High Commander in return pleading with her allow him to first save his family or even to just allow him to send the bulk of his troops back but take just his personal guard with him on the rescue. The Knight Commander refused, stating that the protection of the city was more important than any single family, even his. My father was left with the worst decision of his life.
I still remember the innocent wonder I felt watching the army of monster’s march toward my home that day. I should have been terrified but I wouldn’t have been more than seven. Today, the vision still haunts me. I remember standing confused when my mother rushed out onto the parapets and tried to pull me away before I broke free of her grasp and weaved among the soldiers to find a place to watch. The noise was deafening as the army charged the walls with ladders but it was what came next that changed my life forever.
I saw him. My father. Even from afar I could make him out the gleam of his armour, his sapphire cloak and our family banner. He charged straight through the unsuspecting invaders with his vanguard, like he was cutting through wheat. It was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen. Watching him at that moment, I thought he could win the day single handily. I remember fighting like a feral cat to escape my mother’s grasp when she eventually found me. I wanted to watch. I didn’t realise that he could never win with the hundreds of orcs, ogres and bugbears, that he was just buying us time.
My Father bought my family enough time to escape that day and we fled to the safety of an allies’ manor in Critwall. My mother and older brothers were summoned to the Knight Commander not long after. I was too young to understand what happened next but I now know that my mother was seized as a traitor and brothers killed trying to defend my parents honour. As our people of the city fled the approaching horde, people loyal to my family used the chaos to smuggle my younger sisters and I away from the vengeful Commander’s wraith. We were separated and I still remember how distraught I was watching them leave.
The Shieldlands had lost our northern lands and our capital - Admundfort and the Knight Commander was looking for a scapegoat. My Father and family was it. Before he was captured by Iuz’s forces, my family was stripped of all title and lands and declared traitors to the Shieldlands.
I was secreted away and entrusted into the care of my Fathers old mentor, Sir Mordrid of the Valley. A knight of great renown in his day, he took me under his protection and we lived the life of wanders. Never staying for long anywhere, working when we could, training and preparing me otherwise. I was his squire and but he was more like a grandfather to me in the end. The only thing I had left from my family was my family crest that adorned a necklace that I never took off, I still don’t.
Mordrid was an unbending in his teachings of honour, chivalry, valour and his faith in Hieroneous. Heaven help you if you failed to respect a lady, protect the needy or flee from battle.
Eventually the old knight died by the side of the road, sleeping next to the fire I had made for him. Mordrid had always promised me his possessions, but it was with great sorrow that I buried him and claimed his armour, sword and steed. I would have rather had him grumbling by my side than take the items and ride on alone.
For over two years I wandered aimlessly, praying to Heironeous for guidance, for direction in my pilgrimage. When I was at my lowest and felt my god had abandoned me completely, he sent a sign. A knight bearing a shield of Heironeous came to my aid. I pledged my servitude to her order, the Knights of Samular, and dragged myself from the dirt to earn the privilege of residing in their keep -Summit Hall.
Within the fortified monastery, the Knights of Samular train relentless in honour of Heironeous. The order was founded by a paladin of Heironeous named Samular Caradoon. His tomb is within the monastery. The order was founded by a paladin of Heironeous named Samular Caradoon. His tomb is within the monastery.
It was the current commander of the knights, Ushien Stormbanner, that rescued me that day but it was her lieutenants that continued my training and instruction in the "Rule of Knights". I eventually earned the right to resume my training as a squire and was offered a path to gain my spurs as a Knight.
Today I am a man without family, without friends and without a home. I’m eager to prove my valour and rid the world of the evil I see seeping into its foundations everywhere I look. Hopefully I can do that in the service of the Knights of Samular.
Great back story - highly entertaining. Have you played him yet? what level is he? I am running a 9th level oath of vengeance paladin and have a great time confusing my other party members who think old school paladin while I am thirsty for my revenge.
Yes I've played him. I started off roleplaying him like the typical heroic gallant knight who tried to be what his father had been and old mentor always wanted him to be. He always went over the top with his chivalry. I also gave him plenty of quirks - love of cheese and fine wine, his cantankerous horse who needed to be feed apples before he would ride and way he needed to have every dent and scratch to his mentors armour fixed between adventures. Eventually he started to learn more about his past that his mentor had shielded him from and his bitterness grew and so did his distrust of orders and nobles. It was great to see how the gradual transformation surprized and effected the rest of the party when he first killed an unarmed goblin (creature of Iuz!) after always previously dragging unconscious villains to receive justice with the local authorities.
In the end I took the character all the way to 6th level before he sought out a pact with a dark entity to better bring him the skills to find the justice that consumed him and became a multiclass Paladin/Warlock. Was a fun character to play and roleplay especially with a Imp who continually tested him and tried to drive him to acts of evil.
The idea that an otherwise very dangerous and battle worthy character such as a Paladin is also... fussy about his appearance is great. Having another character casually walk by and smudge his armor with some dirt and that would drive him nuts cleaning it is good fun.
I have used this character a multitude of times, but have recently re-upped him for Adventure League and have been having a great time with him with some insane luck at early levels. (hoping I just didn't jinx myself... *Knocks on wood)
Brazelton- Oath of Vengeance Paladin of Tyr, Soldier of Order of the Gauntlet. (Human Var. Shield Master)
((most of these facts were rolled from XGtE and just snowballed from there))
In a Modest upbringing, he is the oldest of four, raised only by his father in a small village outside of a large town. Aside from losing his Mother at an impressionable age to marauders, he led a relatively happy childhood (=/.) Luck hasn't been on his side majority of his life but that hasn't stopped his determination and duty. The lord of the land had forced young able-bodied youth of his village to join the army which sent him and his siblings into service. His brother refused and was cast to exile (non-confrontational) and last his family has heard from him, he found work on a merchant ship outside of the kingdom. His sisters also sent to join the ranks, both seem to be doing exceptionally well as soldiers, with the youngest also following in the paladin traditions. Inside of this large town, he fell for a free spirited woman who made him feel at home. She lost her life to a raid brutally and unceremoniously. This lead him to the teachings of becoming a paladin and an avenger of the innocent.
He is quick to act. Quick to decide. All decisions are made in the service of those he protects. Whether it be to the ruling of authority, or to save those who cannot save themselves, it is not a matter of if he is going to save them, its a matter of how many he can save. His teachings are his beliefs and there is no reason he should fight them with indecision. In mission, or combat he carries the intensity of the protector and follows the law of justice. His actions and duty are enough to strike awe in others and inspires others to join him. His shield is just as valuable as his warhammer and he is equally efficient with both. He wears Tyr's symbol on the face of this shield showing all what type of justice he believes in.
I have used multiple renditions of this character in the past. Many of them less direct and unphased by death than this one,(traditionally more charismatic and imperious) but this is what is most current and wasn't sure HOW much of this would come out in AL. (as of current: none of the backstory but he often rushes into combat and puts himself between the evil and the innocents.)
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Current campaigns - DM - Tomb of Annihilation home game
theory crafter and character builder.
Past campaigns -DM- modern post-apocalypse custom home game.
- Human Paladin, Brazelton - multiple games
- lv 12 Human Ranger, Mattias Shaw - 3.5e Homebrew
Tobias Abbey was found on the steps of a monastery dedicated to Chauntea in his mother's lifeless arms. Most of the monks wanted to ship him off with the next merchant train that came through, but Father Joiakhim (later to raise to the rank of Elder) reminded the other monks that each seedling should have the chance to grow in Chauntea's garden, so the boy was released from his mother's arms and raised as best as they could manage.
As he grew, Tobias became energetic and fidgety. His looks garnered a lot of cruel taunts from the kids of the nearby village, which lead to a lot of fights...which he lost. Before they completely burned through their supply of healing herbs, Joiakhim hired the services of a semi-retired adventurer named Harmon to teach Tobias how to channel his anger into disciplined strikes. Despite their constant arguments and more than occasional threats of quitting, the half-orc became quite skilled and learned to find joy as much in fighting as he did at harvest time.
As the years passed, Tobias found himself occasionally wandering the woods in search of healing herbs. On one particular day, he saw a traveler being attacked by three bandits. He set his basket of herbs down, drew his greatsword and charged at the bandits with phrases from the Chauntean Prayer Book flowing from his mouth. Rather than face the zealous warrior in proper combat, the bandits fled.
With the immediate threat taken care of, Tobias knelt by the man, who was bleeding profusely. With the herbs too wild and unprepared, Tobias tried to stem the flow of blood with the cleanest part of his tunic and fervent prayer. Some part of his words or his compassion for this man he'd never met reached Chauntea's ears. Her heart warmed, she bestowed upon the young man enough power to keep the traveler from dying. Leaving his herbs behind, Tobias took the man home and recounted his story.
When the traveler was well enough to speak, he said that he used to work for a bandit named Marshall the Black. 'You know,' he said, 'you look a bit like him. He did have a taste for the exotic before he lost his missus. Don't know if he's still in the business these days,' the traveler said before slipping back to sleep.
With a new purpose, Tobias the paladin bid Elder Joiakhim goodbye and set out to find the man who might be his father. It shouldn't take too long. After all, how many humans could there be?
Also, it doesn't come up in his backstory, but he's got mutton chops. Really nice ones.
Here's the blurb backstory for my Paladin. Well, he's not quite a Paladin at the moment. I'll explain after the story.
Since you were kind enough to purchase this round, allow me to tell you the tale of a great warrior. He rode to battle without fear and his sword slew the enemies of his temple without mercy. He was renowned for his bravery and for his grace. All who knew him loved him and he loved all in return. However, this love caused jealousy in some.
There were some in his temple who secretly hated him as much as he was loved. They sought to undo the great warrior and throw him from his lofty perch. Unbeknownst to him, their plan was set in motion. It was insidious and brutally efficient.
A young acolyte that the warrior was tutoring, who also sought his heart, was encouraged to bed the warrior and given wine to tempt him with. Reluctantly, and plied with drink, the warrior agreed. He saw no harm since these dalliances happened often in the temple. When he awoke the next morning, mind bleary and head throbbing from more than the simple wine of the previous night, the girl was dead.
Those who plotted against the warrior brought him before the high masters of the temple with words of evil and deceit. However, with the dead acolyte and no knowledge of what transpired, the warrior could not defend himself from the accusations. He allowed himself to be stripped of all glory the temple once heaped upon him.
Some say that the warrior killed himself, but he died long before those rumors began. Some say the warrior became a drunkard, but those rumors presuppose he has coin. Some say the warrior made promises with dark entities to gain vengeance upon those who wronged him, but those rumors are… my drink is empty. Are you buying another round?
Levels 1-4 (Paladin and Warlock): Volund is pretty much happily drunk in taverns at this point. He's never met a bottle he didn't like after what happened with the Temple. He was approached by the Society of the Raven Queen. They promised him revenge and somehow gave him a power to do it, but he doesn't really care. He does odd jobs to earn money for drink.
Levels 5-10 (Paladin, Warlock, Sorcerer): Volund found that his god no longer speaks to him, but his prayers are not unanswered. Instead, they are answered by another entity who grants him the powers of darkness rather than those of light. He also learned that his powers are stronger than when he served the temple.
Levels 11-16 (Paladin): Volund, now a Paladin of the Raven Queen, is actively seeking out his former temple. It's now corrupted-halls are ruled by a powerful Necromancer.
Levels 17-20 (Paladin): Volund is now seeking to do the will of his deity through the world.
The way my paladin was created is a story in itself. My DM told me about the game 2 weeks ahead of time and said to make a character. I make a lot of back-ups I never use and a lot of my characters have a hard time fitting in with the group cause of how I built them and their backstory.(plus my DM has the bad habit of just throwing our PCs in a room and go 'work together now') So I told him I wasn't going to create a PC, I'm going to rng it! Everything controlled by my dice! And (of course), he had the book 'Table Fables' That let me roll out everything...from race and class to the color of my eyes, hair, and even my age!
So I'm a 60 year old lesbian half-orc paladin knight named "Clever Dove" Olga that's partially blind with 3 retainer kobolds that call me 'granny' and I beat with a switch. The best description I have of her is she looks like Brienne of Tarth (from game of thrones) if she was a half-orc and the disposition of Mom from Futurama (kids and all) My deity is RNJesus....
I did loose my left arm in a out of campaign battle royale with the other party members cause of a nat 1. (can't wait to see how the DM explains that in the story.)
Group of friends wanted to try to see how playing D&D online turned out so we all decided to random characters on dndbeyond and play whatever we got.
Here is Coro Stormwind, Air Genasi Paladin of Ioun, Oath of the Ancients.
For much of his early life Coro had faced adversity because of his heritage, considered to be an outcast by many of the towns living in the outskirts. Superstitious farmers believed the hazardous dust storms that would threaten their crops were caused by his very presence. Other villagers believed him to be some malicious entity, an elemental fiend that could curse them. This adversity didn't discourage Coro, it only strengthened his resolve. Seeking to do good, Coro quickly began work as a mercenary, using his heritage as a Genasi to grant him recognition. Simply threatening a few superstitious bandits with a few gentle winds would cause them to flee. When they wouldn't flee, often they would wish they did.
However, such a life didn't grant Coro any satisfaction with his life. What was his purpose? It would be a faithful job of securing some stolen tomes from a Library of Ioun that Coro realized he could seek more information about his Air Genasi heritage. With this new found information, Coro found purpose in serving Ioun, realizing that the adversity faced was due to ignorance and misinformation. Knowledge and information are the most important foundations to a brighter future and to end suffering in the world.
Coro swore an oath to serving Ioun, to preserve and secure knowledge in the face of bitter ignorance and fear. But even this newfound purpose doesn't fully satisfy Coro. Deep down, he's conflicted in what his true purpose is. But he hopes that Ioun's prophecies aid him finding peace.
Adgwyn Otigrax, variant human Paladin of Devotion.
Adgwyn started life as the son of a thief and grew up amongst the con artists pickpockets and burglars of the underground. Since his father was a thief Adgwyn took up the family trade and spent most of his time between the ages of six and thirteen opening doors and standing as lookout for more experienced criminals. Once puberty hit and he began to feel full of himself Adgwyn decided he would try a solo job, robbing an old widow at the edge of the slums. After setting up a fence and picking out the appropriate tools he set out at twilight, letting the fading sun and spreading shadows hide him from prying eyes. A quick jimmying of the widows window and he was in, grabbing everything that looked semi valuable and checking for hiding spots, unfortunately for him the widow wasn't just the old woman he thought her to be, which he found out rather abruptly when she stepped out of invisibility and struck him unconscious.
Upon waking, Adgwyn found himself chained to a stone table in the hags basement as she stirred a nearby cauldron while muttering in a language he didn't understand. When the hag finished her enchantment she ladled out a bowl full of her foul poultice and poured it over Adgwyn's face, burning him as his willpower was stripped away. Adgwyn does not remember how much time passed after that, only that he was strapped in armor and given a sword. Magic runes were burned into him which allowed his new owner to channel magic into and through him as a bound bodyguard. One day while the hag was distracted by some interlopers attacking, Adgwyn was able to briefly break free of the enchantment and run, he ran and ran until his lungs burned and his legs gave out, falling at the doors of the Gymnasium of Kord. He begged sanctuary from the priests and, after removing his weapons and armor, they let him inside. The hallowed ground of Kords temple prevented the hag from regaining control while Adgwyn recovered.
Once Adgwyn had recovered enough to recognize his surroundings he was approached by the Chief Athlete, who told him it was time to learn. Adgwyn was then trained by the priests, taught theology and the importance of maintaining ones body, and as he learned Adgwyn repeated a mantra to himself, not noticing it change as the months rolled into years.
"That wasn't fair, I didn't deserve that just for wanting to steal a bit.
That wasn't fair, I didn't deserve what happened.
That was wrong, I didn't deserve what happened.
That was wrong, it shouldnt have happened.
That was wrong, it shouldnt happen to anybody.
That was evil, I wont let it happen to anybody.
That is evil, I refuse to let it happen to anybody ever again."
At the age of 23, Adgwyn had reached the point in his training where he could prevent the hag from usurping his will and he approached the Chief Athlete who had begun his training. With solemnity he swore his oath to devote himself to the cause of righteousness, to be a shield for the innocent and a blade to be used by Kord against the unrepentantly evil. Adgwyn stepped out into the world a paladin, bearing the scars of his past life and knowing that as long as he stays true to his faith he will not falter.
Mechanically Adgwyn is a level 7 Devotion paladin with the redeemed criminal background, meaning he understands thieves cant and knows his way around a lockpick but can always find a bed amongst the worshipers of Kord. With the variant human he has the feat magic initiate (warlock) granting him blade ward, chill touch, and Armor of Agathys. Don't have any art for him but he was mostly inspired by a bit of art I saw of a guy in full plate firing off a ray of light while flipping the bird to a demon.
Morgann Solbeard, the youngest fighting son in a long line of warriors, priests and clerics under the watchful warmth of the Dawnfather, Pelor, had learned the rudimentary martial skills and holy arts of the Paladin under his father, old Markus, in their hilltop village-keep holdings of Dawn's Crest, ancestral home of their clan. The land has been defending against raiding parties of Druegar from beyond the hills, and out of concern that a full-on siege may be in their future, he has reluctantly bid his wife Soltie, and his daughter Skye, an oath that he would return from the capital's Temple of Dawn, not only with stalwart adventurers and soldiery, but his storied uncle, the heroic and nigh-legendary paladin Mordecai the Daybreak. He's had to make a short repose in a farming village along the main road, before the mountain pass leading on through to their kingdom's capital, to amass coin and supplies for the long journey ahead, doing hard, honest work as barkeep, farmhand, guard and general strongarm.
Being young and having received only basic training from his father and the guards of Dawn's Crest, he is untested in true combat, and yet he exudes a certain optimistic confidence. While no stranger to drink, he tempers it with a sense of duty to his family and kin, honest to a fault, hard-working, and with a firm, fond respect for the common, working-class folk, having been raised in a home where everyone was brought up pulling their own weight. His formative years in the highland hills surrounding his family's keep has earned him a working friendship with the Giants that reside there, and his current residence in the farming village at the foot of the hills affords him a wealth of knowledge about the local halflings and their ways. He wears a sturdy chain mail beneath his clan's garb, and brings a sturdy warhammer and a shield emblazoned with the emblem of Pelor. Despite his martial upbringing, he's fairly erudite, with a love for stories of old, ancient lore, and feats of stonework and architecture.
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Working on a supplement for the adventure-minded. A project including (and crediting) homebrew subclasses from the community, a world of my own design, premade characters, magic items, and even a prologue adventure to start things off!
Past and Current Characters: Morgann 'Duskspear' Solbeard, Hill Dwarf Paladin/Fighter/Warlock; Ephemeral 'Skye' Solbeard, Hill Dwarf Artificer; Zaldrick Lawscrip of Orzhov, Hobgoblin Wizard; Eremys Spydrun, Shadar'kai Monk; Cuchulainn, Wood Elf Blood Hunter.
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Frozean Dragonwhite, 3rd Level Dragonborn Oath of Vengeance Paladin. When waiting for duties in the Frost Guard (The army of a town in the Frozen Wastelands), we were playing Dragonchess. A whole day went by without orders, so I checked on our leader. I found his corpse in the hallway, brutally murdered by an assault group sent by the Foresters. Heartbroken, I took the armor he was to give to me, and swore vengeance against the Foresters for all eternity.
Pretty sad in my opinion, but to each their own.
Dragonborn - Oath of the Crown.
The concept is meant to be a very support focused tank. Uses the spells and shield to buff, heal, and defend teammates. Backstory is influenced by Roman history. I imagine he’s like an old centurion, totally loyal to the state.
Name: Giaus Vorenus
Race: Dragonborn - Brass Draconic Ancestary
Class: Paladin (Oath of the Crown)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
STR 16 DEX 10 CON 14 INT 08 WIS 10 CHA 16 (Point Buy)
Appearance: Vorenus still wears and maintains his legionnaire armor. The resplendent plate mail armor has been painstakingly polished and maintained. A gold and purple sash draped across his chest bearing the insignia of the 13th legion, and medals from his innumerable campaigns.
In his shield is a magnificent golden emblem of the 13th Legion’s coat of arms across a purple banner. The emblem serves as his holy focus. His god is the state and his church is the army.
Personality: Vorenus is an honorable and good natured man. His brothers in arms love him and would do anything for him, especially those he served with in the 13th.
He’s seen a lot in his time, and uses hard won experience to help the younger soldiers and recruits who served under him. Some don’t like his harsh methods but he believes men are not born brave, but must become so through training and force of discipline.
He has a deep respect for the crown and anyone in the service of the state. He does not assort with outlaws or subversives. He would not risk anything that would bring him and his family dishonor or threaten their social status.
He can be stubborn and even cruel in upholding the law, serving justice, and enforcing the will of the crown. He has little compassion for enemies of the state. Woe to the vanquished.
Background: Vorenus comes from a long, humble but honorable line of soldiers. Some of his ancestors had risen above the rank and file, his great great uncle Crassus had even been appointed a luteniet, and his father was a respected member of the Preatorian guard. But most of his family were simple hard working foot soldiers. They were decidedly not part of the upper class nobility, but they were content serving a just and righteous ruler. The kingdom was accepting of the Dragonborn, and had been particularly good to his family. They had brought peace, stability, commerce to the region within its boarders, outside the reach of the monarchy was war, disease, and famine.
He joined the army as a young man of 15, eager to serve his country and bring honor to his family. He was just in time for the wars that would nearly tear the Kingdom asunder. He spent the next two decades with the 13th legion, first marching up and down the coast defending their glorious cities from the invaders. When the tide turned and the army was able to take the offensive, he was the first man over the walls at the battle of Fort Trebia. It was a turning point in the war, and his life. The 13th took heavy casualties during the assault, but Vorenus rallied his brigade to charge into the breach. For his bravery, he was made the first shield of the 13th legion, and took the oath of the crown.
After the war he joined the city guard, and had aspirations of following in his fathers footsteps and joining the elite Preatorian guardsmen. While nothing could match the excitement of the war, the city guard was plenty interesting in a cosmopolitan hub like his home town. But as Vorenus advance he found himself mired in the beaurocracy of managing his men, and began to consider other ways of serving his country and furthering the honor of his family.
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Dame Eldraine Hastings. Human Paladin of the Silver Flame and a taker of the Oath of Devotion. Short dark hair, pale complexion, just under six foot tall, Lawful Good, Noble Background (hence 'Dame' Hastings), wields a simple mace and a large shield. Estranged from her family due to her Divine Calling (they had hoped to marry her off as a financial move), they stripped her of all but her title and just enough gold to not starve. Now, she roams both Eberron and the wider Multiverse, smiting evil wherever it may manifest. For the Flame!
Laska the Paladin of Love, I'm using http://walrock-homebrew.blogspot.com/2016/07/sacred-oath-oath-of-love-remaster.html as my sacred oath and my personality is heavily based off of this guy, so it should be a really good time
Ralston Edgemere, only surviving paladin from Fort Morninglord, wielder of the Blade of Helm, Wearer of the Horns, Reborn Light.
Him and his kin have slain Demogorgon, the Tarrasque, and the two mightiest wyrms in all of Faerun.
And, for all of that, my first Paladin to make it past level 5. First character ever to make it to level 20.
This is a character I've been playing for a while now, and I've slowly loved playing him more and more. Andrus Winter, Tiefling Paladin of the Raven Queen. A lot of the terms used won't make a great deal of sense, because our DM created this awesome world with it's own intriguing lore. The setting is Tafiel, the world of the three towers, The Rose Tower, devoted to arcane power, The Ivory Tower, devoted to divine magic and power, The Sapphire Tower, devoted to science and innovation. The three towers were once at war with each other, and have a fragile alliance, according to our DM. The world of Tafiel is new and has much to explore, and so far there is only one "true" religion practiced that of Moradin, the All-Father, I was told Andrus would face speculation as to his claims as a paladin given his goddess, but I still went for it. Because there's a lot to his story, I'm posting the cliff-notes of it all. Also heavily Jon Snow inspired.
Andrus was born a bastard child to Athen Crawnstein, a human Baron who sworn allegiance to the Rose Tower. Andrus grew up treated better than most bastard children, as he was kept within his father's estate, and eventually made friends with his half-siblings; but he was closest to his eldest brother Cayde, and youngest sister Emilya. His step-mother Mertha was not pleased by Andrus' presence but tolerated him at her husbands request. Cayde and Andrus both trained in the way of the sword, they both wanted to become devote and honorable knights to their city. Cayde was the only one eligible for that honor, Andrus instead would become a city watchmen, however he was sent to a small village, Astrawood, instead of his home as he had hoped. Taking it as an opportunity to prove himself to those who claimed to be his superiors. There he made three friends that made him feel that the world could accept him as he was, and found love with Cevel a red headed human that would fight beside him. While in Astrawood, Andrus would find the small church of the Raven Queen, being of the Rose Tower's territory, Andrus thought relying on deities for power was odd, but when listening to the priest, Father Orion, give sermons, Andrus felt at ease. A Goddess who only asked that her followers respect the dead, the process of dying, and that they live a full life. He felt moved by it.
He was stationed at Astrawood for two years, during winter he and his unit came across an elven necromancer, and they battle with his thrall. Andrus watched his friends, including Cevel, fall to the thrall, and in the battle Andrus called out to the Raven Queen. "Grant me power to destroy your enemies, those who would insult you, and I will pledge my life to your service!" He did not expect anything, so you can imagine his surprise when he felt a surge of divine power fill his very body. The battle then turned in his favor, though the necromancer escaped. Father Orion helped bury the dead, and taught Andrus about the Raven Queen, as the Father knew what he was, her Paladin, the first in recorded history. Andrus dedicated the next three years to training and studying, and then set out to carry out his Queen's will.
He came across the party which consisted of a young adolescent half-elven wizard, Milo, and an undead (vampiric) wood elven fighter, Kathriana, their first adventure consisted of them going to a small village, Port Sol, out in "No-Man's Land" (an area that is not claimed by any of the three towers) and discovered that all the adults were missing, save for a number of bandits patrolling the streets. They eventually discovered that the adults were all at a casino, where they all became cursed to stay and gamble there. They discovered it was part of a much larger plot, that some warlock was trying to use the energy from the villagers to resurrect his deceased wife. The party was aided by a halfling-paladin of Moradin, after confronting and defeating the warlock, the paladin revealed himself to be an oathbreaker named Dassan Soth, stole the warlocked raised wife, and teleported out.
The actions of the party caught the eye of a mysterious individual called the Inquisitor, who kidnapped the party individually and forced them into working for his Inquisition, an organization that polices all the towers in secret, along side a mindflayer named Purple, or "Purple the Sexy" as it liked to call itself. They were to investigate a possible sabotage issue arising at a researching site backed by the Sapphire Tower, and pass judgement upon completion. Upon investigation, the party determined it was done by extremist from the unheard of, yet very powerful, Emerald Tower, a tower dedicated to nature. The party captured the leaders of the extremists, one dead, the other had been manipulated into causing the conflict. They left the judgment for the leader's crimes to those of the Emerald Tower, she was sentenced to exile. Andrus caught her before she left, and told of Port Sol, how it's a good village that needs help getting on it's feet. The exile agreed to think about it and went off.
The next job was to investigate an uprising that took place in Andrus' home. His father killed, Cayde missing, and the family being held supposedly hostage. When they went to investigate the party got split up and learned two sides of the story. Andrus ended up finding his brother, and agreed to help retake the family estate. It was later revealed that the Inquisitor had cut a deal with Andrus' family that in exchange for causing trouble along the board, the Inquisition would provide aid to the Crawnsteins, and Cayde was apart of it. Purple turned on the party as his loyalties were to the job. That night Purple was killed, and with help Andrus, Kathriana and Ortegra a cleric that had just joined the part, defeated the Inquisitor, removing the armor, as it was the armor controlling the man inside.
Now when Andrus hit third level, I kinda dreaded it, as I had been pondering for a long while which Oath I'd take up, because our party didn't have a tank, Kathriana our Fighter has killed more enemies than anyone, Milo our Wizard is kinda a pacifist, and Purple was...well Purple XD. We already had DPS so Oath of Vengeance wasn't helpful, and I'm not . I did not want to take up an oath that would force me into killing Kathriana because I didn't want to be a party killer, so I came up with a homebrew oath that I ran by my DM which got approved after some modifications. Andrus is now the first ever Paladin Oath of the Grave Warden. This oath is kinda tailored to help me fighting Undead, and the tenants allowed me to work along side undead that did not swear allegiance to the Raven Queen. I will provide the details of the class down below.
Oath of the Grave Warden
Those that take up this Oath serve to nurture life and protect all things from the cruelty of undeath. While the paladin understands all lives must end, it is the paladin’s job to ensure that a life is not ended prematurely, whether it be healing a sickly youth, or protecting a hapless citizen from a group of bandits, the Paladin will defend life. However, Paladin’s under this oath are expected by their deities to seek out those who would try to extend their life through unnatural means, and punish them with little mercy. Throughout time these Paladin’s have been simply called the Wardens, but can be easily mistaken for either dark knight or death knights, and can behave very similarly to Vengeance Paladins. Paladins of this Oath are not discouraged for participating in resurrection spells, so long as they convince their deity to help.
Tenets of the Grave Warden
The tenets of the Grave Warden’s are often revealed to a Paladin once they make their Oath, requiring them to commune with their deity in some fashion, whether it be through a dream or the knowledge implanted by the deity themselves. The oath stress the importance of protecting the warmth of life, and allowing it to flicker into the cold embrace of death, and punishing those who insult the very essence of this natural process via necrotic means.
Death is The Natural End. Death is the natural end to life, it is not something to be feared, or pity. Spread this knowledge to those don’t understand. Let the dead rest, and ease the dying’s suffering.
Kindle Life. Life is a precious gift, so those who haven’t fully grown must be kept alive in order to enjoy this gift. Protect those that can inspire others to live greatly.
Punish the Arrogant. Pursue those who would use unnatural means to extend their lives, and show them the arrogance of their ways, by sending them into the afterlife.
Purify the Unholy. Should you come across any undead, and it is within your power, you must free their soul and send them to the afterlife. However, if it wishes to protect the living, cautiously work with it.
Oath Spells
You also learn the cantrip Spare the Dying, along with Oath spells listed below.
Paladin level Spells
3rd lvl Armor of Agathys, Healing Word
5th lvl Gentle Repose, Lesser Restoration
9th lvl Speak with Dead, Slow
13th lvl Stoneskin, Fire Wall
17th lvl Destructive Wave, Antilife Shell
Channel Divinity
When you take up the Oath of the Grave Warden you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.
Warden’s Armor. Declaring a prayer to your chosen deity, for 1 minute any undead creature or necrotic spells against you have disadvantage. This takes one full action. Requires a long rest to reuse.
Warden’s Blessing. As a bonus action you can hold your holy symbol, offer a prayer and select an ally within 30 ft of your vision, and grant resistance to cold for 1 minute. Can be reused after a rest. At 18 Level this extends to 60 feet.
Aura of Preservation
At 7th level you and allies within 10 feet of you have resistance to necrotic damage and you are immune to disease. You must be conscious for this effect to be active. At 18th level the aura extends to 30 ft.
Shelter the Living
At 15th level, whenever an ally within 30 ft of you is reduced to 0 HP you can use your reaction to make it drop to 1 HP instead. This ability does not work on undead or constructs, and each ally can only be targeted by this ability once, until a long rest.
Warding Angel
At level 20 you assume the form of an angel dawned in armor with the symbol of your deity. This transformation last for 2 minutes, and you gain the following benefits:
This feature cannot be used again until you attain a long rest.
Inspired by Oath of the Raven Knight, Oath of the Grave, and Oath of Death. This Oath was created to be tankish without having to be as boring as Oath of Devotion, and so my tiefling Paladin of the Raven Queen would not be compelled to strike down our party's Vampire Fighter once 3rd level was reached.
Hey all
I created a backstory (apologies if it's too long for those with attention spans like mine). Happy to hear the thoughts of those who read it, Thanks!.......
My Dragonborn clan, shunned by the common folk, lived in the borderlands, fending and caring for ourselves. When the famine came, civil war began with many lords warring for whatever they could scrap. My father, a city watchman, caught on sentry duty during a night time raid did not survive and I was left fatherless at age 8 with my mother left to care for me and my younger brother.
By the time I was 10, an order of Paladins came through my town looking for men and boys to recruit to continue the war. My mother, tired and skeletal thin from trying to feed three mouths gave me over to the Paladins. I understood why she did it, but I still felt rejected.
I was taken in as a squire for which I had neither the patience or the temperament for. My master caught me violently swinging his sword and shield inside his tent and recognised that although I was only 10, my Dragonborn size and strength meant I fought like a man, and my innate skill with the blade meant I was more suited as a swordsman than a squire. I learned to ride a horse and fight on horseback so we could cover more distance and attack farther into enemy lands.
Our Order was charged with swift attacks against enemy prison and labour camps to free the prisoners of war and child labourers. We would never be daunted by how many enemies we faced or how high their walls were, we would tackle all our problems head on and directly. Through countless attacks and victories over 10 years I only came to know my warrior brethren and found it hard to commune with those who I could not share my experiences. Through 10 years of experience I was quickly promoted to the rank of Colonel. I saw many men come and go but I could only respect those who had proven to me that they deserved to be in this fighting unit.
It was not until my 10 year of combat that I sustained my first injury. In the middle of a night time raid on an enemy camp I was struck in the shoulder by a javelin, piercing my chain mail and knocking me to the ground.
While on light duties, I was charged with escorting our freed slaves back to our homeland, and it was at this time I learned the truth that my Order was led by mercenary oath-breakers. We met with a man on the outskirts of our capital city, and were handed gold which I thought was to pay for our war supplies. It wasn’t until I saw the captees being loaded, bound and blind folded on to a wagon that I realised my Order was profiteering from this war by re-selling captives and children back into slavery. I was outraged, despite being injured I launched myself at my fellow men at arms, slaying two of them and then I rode down the slave caravan, butchering their guards and freeing the slaves within.
My honour was divided, I had upheld my oath to and freed the child slaves, but I had also murdered my brethren. I could never return to a soldier’s life or join another Order of Paladins. I must live out my days as an independent sell-sword, fighting to achieve vengeance for those who cannot obtain vengeance for themselves.
Tegyr Raknif Paladin, Oath of Vegence
For hundreds of years the Raknif noble family has been one of the most respected and famous houses in all of Flananess. Generations of Shield knights have come from its grand halls, bringing glory and prosperity in turn to the Shieldlands.
It was argued that the greatest of all was Dagonet, Knight Baronette of the Western Keep, and my Father.
In the year of Broken Chalice, my Father was given an impossible choice. The Knight Commander had ordered him to march his forces from the Borderkeep to Admundfort. As he was preparing his troops, Dagonet received a second message bearing his own house seal. It was a desperate message from my mother begging him to our castle - Stoneshield. Iuz had sent a two great invasion forces to sweep past the lay siege to the capital city and a small army had broken off from the larger force to take the nearby castles including Dagonets home. The force was only days away from destroying his home and family.
Dagonet received a command to immediately gather his forces and ride straight for the capital to help defend it. Dagonet sent an urgent a message to the High Commander in return pleading with her allow him to first save his family or even to just allow him to send the bulk of his troops back but take just his personal guard with him on the rescue. The Knight Commander refused, stating that the protection of the city was more important than any single family, even his. My father was left with the worst decision of his life.
I still remember the innocent wonder I felt watching the army of monster’s march toward my home that day. I should have been terrified but I wouldn’t have been more than seven. Today, the vision still haunts me. I remember standing confused when my mother rushed out onto the parapets and tried to pull me away before I broke free of her grasp and weaved among the soldiers to find a place to watch. The noise was deafening as the army charged the walls with ladders but it was what came next that changed my life forever.
I saw him. My father. Even from afar I could make him out the gleam of his armour, his sapphire cloak and our family banner. He charged straight through the unsuspecting invaders with his vanguard, like he was cutting through wheat. It was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen. Watching him at that moment, I thought he could win the day single handily. I remember fighting like a feral cat to escape my mother’s grasp when she eventually found me. I wanted to watch. I didn’t realise that he could never win with the hundreds of orcs, ogres and bugbears, that he was just buying us time.
My Father bought my family enough time to escape that day and we fled to the safety of an allies’ manor in Critwall. My mother and older brothers were summoned to the Knight Commander not long after. I was too young to understand what happened next but I now know that my mother was seized as a traitor and brothers killed trying to defend my parents honour. As our people of the city fled the approaching horde, people loyal to my family used the chaos to smuggle my younger sisters and I away from the vengeful Commander’s wraith. We were separated and I still remember how distraught I was watching them leave.
The Shieldlands had lost our northern lands and our capital - Admundfort and the Knight Commander was looking for a scapegoat. My Father and family was it. Before he was captured by Iuz’s forces, my family was stripped of all title and lands and declared traitors to the Shieldlands.
I was secreted away and entrusted into the care of my Fathers old mentor, Sir Mordrid of the Valley. A knight of great renown in his day, he took me under his protection and we lived the life of wanders. Never staying for long anywhere, working when we could, training and preparing me otherwise. I was his squire and but he was more like a grandfather to me in the end. The only thing I had left from my family was my family crest that adorned a necklace that I never took off, I still don’t.
Mordrid was an unbending in his teachings of honour, chivalry, valour and his faith in Hieroneous. Heaven help you if you failed to respect a lady, protect the needy or flee from battle.
Eventually the old knight died by the side of the road, sleeping next to the fire I had made for him. Mordrid had always promised me his possessions, but it was with great sorrow that I buried him and claimed his armour, sword and steed. I would have rather had him grumbling by my side than take the items and ride on alone.
For over two years I wandered aimlessly, praying to Heironeous for guidance, for direction in my pilgrimage. When I was at my lowest and felt my god had abandoned me completely, he sent a sign. A knight bearing a shield of Heironeous came to my aid. I pledged my servitude to her order, the Knights of Samular, and dragged myself from the dirt to earn the privilege of residing in their keep -Summit Hall.
Within the fortified monastery, the Knights of Samular train relentless in honour of Heironeous. The order was founded by a paladin of Heironeous named Samular Caradoon. His tomb is within the monastery. The order was founded by a paladin of Heironeous named Samular Caradoon. His tomb is within the monastery.
It was the current commander of the knights, Ushien Stormbanner, that rescued me that day but it was her lieutenants that continued my training and instruction in the "Rule of Knights". I eventually earned the right to resume my training as a squire and was offered a path to gain my spurs as a Knight.
Today I am a man without family, without friends and without a home. I’m eager to prove my valour and rid the world of the evil I see seeping into its foundations everywhere I look. Hopefully I can do that in the service of the Knights of Samular.
It’s time to stop hiding.
Great back story - highly entertaining. Have you played him yet? what level is he? I am running a 9th level oath of vengeance paladin and have a great time confusing my other party members who think old school paladin while I am thirsty for my revenge.
Yes I've played him. I started off roleplaying him like the typical heroic gallant knight who tried to be what his father had been and old mentor always wanted him to be. He always went over the top with his chivalry. I also gave him plenty of quirks - love of cheese and fine wine, his cantankerous horse who needed to be feed apples before he would ride and way he needed to have every dent and scratch to his mentors armour fixed between adventures. Eventually he started to learn more about his past that his mentor had shielded him from and his bitterness grew and so did his distrust of orders and nobles. It was great to see how the gradual transformation surprized and effected the rest of the party when he first killed an unarmed goblin (creature of Iuz!) after always previously dragging unconscious villains to receive justice with the local authorities.
In the end I took the character all the way to 6th level before he sought out a pact with a dark entity to better bring him the skills to find the justice that consumed him and became a multiclass Paladin/Warlock. Was a fun character to play and roleplay especially with a Imp who continually tested him and tried to drive him to acts of evil.
The idea that an otherwise very dangerous and battle worthy character such as a Paladin is also... fussy about his appearance is great. Having another character casually walk by and smudge his armor with some dirt and that would drive him nuts cleaning it is good fun.
I have used this character a multitude of times, but have recently re-upped him for Adventure League and have been having a great time with him with some insane luck at early levels. (hoping I just didn't jinx myself... *Knocks on wood)
Brazelton- Oath of Vengeance Paladin of Tyr, Soldier of Order of the Gauntlet. (Human Var. Shield Master)
((most of these facts were rolled from XGtE and just snowballed from there))
In a Modest upbringing, he is the oldest of four, raised only by his father in a small village outside of a large town. Aside from losing his Mother at an impressionable age to marauders, he led a relatively happy childhood (=/.) Luck hasn't been on his side majority of his life but that hasn't stopped his determination and duty. The lord of the land had forced young able-bodied youth of his village to join the army which sent him and his siblings into service. His brother refused and was cast to exile (non-confrontational) and last his family has heard from him, he found work on a merchant ship outside of the kingdom. His sisters also sent to join the ranks, both seem to be doing exceptionally well as soldiers, with the youngest also following in the paladin traditions. Inside of this large town, he fell for a free spirited woman who made him feel at home. She lost her life to a raid brutally and unceremoniously. This lead him to the teachings of becoming a paladin and an avenger of the innocent.
He is quick to act. Quick to decide. All decisions are made in the service of those he protects. Whether it be to the ruling of authority, or to save those who cannot save themselves, it is not a matter of if he is going to save them, its a matter of how many he can save. His teachings are his beliefs and there is no reason he should fight them with indecision. In mission, or combat he carries the intensity of the protector and follows the law of justice. His actions and duty are enough to strike awe in others and inspires others to join him. His shield is just as valuable as his warhammer and he is equally efficient with both. He wears Tyr's symbol on the face of this shield showing all what type of justice he believes in.
I have used multiple renditions of this character in the past. Many of them less direct and unphased by death than this one,(traditionally more charismatic and imperious) but this is what is most current and wasn't sure HOW much of this would come out in AL. (as of current: none of the backstory but he often rushes into combat and puts himself between the evil and the innocents.)
Current campaigns - DM - Tomb of Annihilation home game
theory crafter and character builder.
Past campaigns -DM- modern post-apocalypse custom home game.
- Human Paladin, Brazelton - multiple games
- lv 12 Human Ranger, Mattias Shaw - 3.5e Homebrew
Tobias Abbey was found on the steps of a monastery dedicated to Chauntea in his mother's lifeless arms. Most of the monks wanted to ship him off with the next merchant train that came through, but Father Joiakhim (later to raise to the rank of Elder) reminded the other monks that each seedling should have the chance to grow in Chauntea's garden, so the boy was released from his mother's arms and raised as best as they could manage.
As he grew, Tobias became energetic and fidgety. His looks garnered a lot of cruel taunts from the kids of the nearby village, which lead to a lot of fights...which he lost. Before they completely burned through their supply of healing herbs, Joiakhim hired the services of a semi-retired adventurer named Harmon to teach Tobias how to channel his anger into disciplined strikes. Despite their constant arguments and more than occasional threats of quitting, the half-orc became quite skilled and learned to find joy as much in fighting as he did at harvest time.
As the years passed, Tobias found himself occasionally wandering the woods in search of healing herbs. On one particular day, he saw a traveler being attacked by three bandits. He set his basket of herbs down, drew his greatsword and charged at the bandits with phrases from the Chauntean Prayer Book flowing from his mouth. Rather than face the zealous warrior in proper combat, the bandits fled.
With the immediate threat taken care of, Tobias knelt by the man, who was bleeding profusely. With the herbs too wild and unprepared, Tobias tried to stem the flow of blood with the cleanest part of his tunic and fervent prayer. Some part of his words or his compassion for this man he'd never met reached Chauntea's ears. Her heart warmed, she bestowed upon the young man enough power to keep the traveler from dying. Leaving his herbs behind, Tobias took the man home and recounted his story.
When the traveler was well enough to speak, he said that he used to work for a bandit named Marshall the Black. 'You know,' he said, 'you look a bit like him. He did have a taste for the exotic before he lost his missus. Don't know if he's still in the business these days,' the traveler said before slipping back to sleep.
With a new purpose, Tobias the paladin bid Elder Joiakhim goodbye and set out to find the man who might be his father. It shouldn't take too long. After all, how many humans could there be?
Also, it doesn't come up in his backstory, but he's got mutton chops. Really nice ones.
Here's the blurb backstory for my Paladin. Well, he's not quite a Paladin at the moment. I'll explain after the story.
Since you were kind enough to purchase this round, allow me to tell you the tale of a great warrior. He rode to battle without fear and his sword slew the enemies of his temple without mercy. He was renowned for his bravery and for his grace. All who knew him loved him and he loved all in return. However, this love caused jealousy in some.
There were some in his temple who secretly hated him as much as he was loved. They sought to undo the great warrior and throw him from his lofty perch. Unbeknownst to him, their plan was set in motion. It was insidious and brutally efficient.
A young acolyte that the warrior was tutoring, who also sought his heart, was encouraged to bed the warrior and given wine to tempt him with. Reluctantly, and plied with drink, the warrior agreed. He saw no harm since these dalliances happened often in the temple. When he awoke the next morning, mind bleary and head throbbing from more than the simple wine of the previous night, the girl was dead.
Those who plotted against the warrior brought him before the high masters of the temple with words of evil and deceit. However, with the dead acolyte and no knowledge of what transpired, the warrior could not defend himself from the accusations. He allowed himself to be stripped of all glory the temple once heaped upon him.
Some say that the warrior killed himself, but he died long before those rumors began. Some say the warrior became a drunkard, but those rumors presuppose he has coin. Some say the warrior made promises with dark entities to gain vengeance upon those who wronged him, but those rumors are… my drink is empty. Are you buying another round?
Levels 1-4 (Paladin and Warlock): Volund is pretty much happily drunk in taverns at this point. He's never met a bottle he didn't like after what happened with the Temple. He was approached by the Society of the Raven Queen. They promised him revenge and somehow gave him a power to do it, but he doesn't really care. He does odd jobs to earn money for drink.
Levels 5-10 (Paladin, Warlock, Sorcerer): Volund found that his god no longer speaks to him, but his prayers are not unanswered. Instead, they are answered by another entity who grants him the powers of darkness rather than those of light. He also learned that his powers are stronger than when he served the temple.
Levels 11-16 (Paladin): Volund, now a Paladin of the Raven Queen, is actively seeking out his former temple. It's now corrupted-halls are ruled by a powerful Necromancer.
Levels 17-20 (Paladin): Volund is now seeking to do the will of his deity through the world.
The way my paladin was created is a story in itself.
My DM told me about the game 2 weeks ahead of time and said to make a character. I make a lot of back-ups I never use and a lot of my characters have a hard time fitting in with the group cause of how I built them and their backstory.(plus my DM has the bad habit of just throwing our PCs in a room and go 'work together now')
So I told him I wasn't going to create a PC, I'm going to rng it! Everything controlled by my dice!
And (of course), he had the book 'Table Fables' That let me roll out everything...from race and class to the color of my eyes, hair, and even my age!
So I'm a 60 year old lesbian half-orc paladin knight named "Clever Dove" Olga that's partially blind with 3 retainer kobolds that call me 'granny' and I beat with a switch.
The best description I have of her is she looks like Brienne of Tarth (from game of thrones) if she was a half-orc and the disposition of Mom from Futurama (kids and all)
My deity is RNJesus....
I did loose my left arm in a out of campaign battle royale with the other party members cause of a nat 1. (can't wait to see how the DM explains that in the story.)
Group of friends wanted to try to see how playing D&D online turned out so we all decided to random characters on dndbeyond and play whatever we got.
Here is Coro Stormwind, Air Genasi Paladin of Ioun, Oath of the Ancients.
For much of his early life Coro had faced adversity because of his heritage, considered to be an outcast by many of the towns living in the outskirts. Superstitious farmers believed the hazardous dust storms that would threaten their crops were caused by his very presence. Other villagers believed him to be some malicious entity, an elemental fiend that could curse them. This adversity didn't discourage Coro, it only strengthened his resolve. Seeking to do good, Coro quickly began work as a mercenary, using his heritage as a Genasi to grant him recognition. Simply threatening a few superstitious bandits with a few gentle winds would cause them to flee. When they wouldn't flee, often they would wish they did.
However, such a life didn't grant Coro any satisfaction with his life. What was his purpose? It would be a faithful job of securing some stolen tomes from a Library of Ioun that Coro realized he could seek more information about his Air Genasi heritage. With this new found information, Coro found purpose in serving Ioun, realizing that the adversity faced was due to ignorance and misinformation. Knowledge and information are the most important foundations to a brighter future and to end suffering in the world.
Coro swore an oath to serving Ioun, to preserve and secure knowledge in the face of bitter ignorance and fear. But even this newfound purpose doesn't fully satisfy Coro. Deep down, he's conflicted in what his true purpose is. But he hopes that Ioun's prophecies aid him finding peace.
Vandarion Kross AKA "Deathwisperer"
Fallen Aasmir conquest paladin of myrkul
Great weapon mastery mounted combatant
Roleplayed as a glass cannon easing the souls of the living to their final destination.. evil paladins so much fun
Adgwyn Otigrax, variant human Paladin of Devotion.
Adgwyn started life as the son of a thief and grew up amongst the con artists pickpockets and burglars of the underground. Since his father was a thief Adgwyn took up the family trade and spent most of his time between the ages of six and thirteen opening doors and standing as lookout for more experienced criminals. Once puberty hit and he began to feel full of himself Adgwyn decided he would try a solo job, robbing an old widow at the edge of the slums. After setting up a fence and picking out the appropriate tools he set out at twilight, letting the fading sun and spreading shadows hide him from prying eyes. A quick jimmying of the widows window and he was in, grabbing everything that looked semi valuable and checking for hiding spots, unfortunately for him the widow wasn't just the old woman he thought her to be, which he found out rather abruptly when she stepped out of invisibility and struck him unconscious.
Upon waking, Adgwyn found himself chained to a stone table in the hags basement as she stirred a nearby cauldron while muttering in a language he didn't understand. When the hag finished her enchantment she ladled out a bowl full of her foul poultice and poured it over Adgwyn's face, burning him as his willpower was stripped away. Adgwyn does not remember how much time passed after that, only that he was strapped in armor and given a sword. Magic runes were burned into him which allowed his new owner to channel magic into and through him as a bound bodyguard. One day while the hag was distracted by some interlopers attacking, Adgwyn was able to briefly break free of the enchantment and run, he ran and ran until his lungs burned and his legs gave out, falling at the doors of the Gymnasium of Kord. He begged sanctuary from the priests and, after removing his weapons and armor, they let him inside. The hallowed ground of Kords temple prevented the hag from regaining control while Adgwyn recovered.
Once Adgwyn had recovered enough to recognize his surroundings he was approached by the Chief Athlete, who told him it was time to learn. Adgwyn was then trained by the priests, taught theology and the importance of maintaining ones body, and as he learned Adgwyn repeated a mantra to himself, not noticing it change as the months rolled into years.
"That wasn't fair, I didn't deserve that just for wanting to steal a bit.
That wasn't fair, I didn't deserve what happened.
That was wrong, I didn't deserve what happened.
That was wrong, it shouldnt have happened.
That was wrong, it shouldnt happen to anybody.
That was evil, I wont let it happen to anybody.
That is evil, I refuse to let it happen to anybody ever again."
At the age of 23, Adgwyn had reached the point in his training where he could prevent the hag from usurping his will and he approached the Chief Athlete who had begun his training. With solemnity he swore his oath to devote himself to the cause of righteousness, to be a shield for the innocent and a blade to be used by Kord against the unrepentantly evil. Adgwyn stepped out into the world a paladin, bearing the scars of his past life and knowing that as long as he stays true to his faith he will not falter.
Mechanically Adgwyn is a level 7 Devotion paladin with the redeemed criminal background, meaning he understands thieves cant and knows his way around a lockpick but can always find a bed amongst the worshipers of Kord. With the variant human he has the feat magic initiate (warlock) granting him blade ward, chill touch, and Armor of Agathys. Don't have any art for him but he was mostly inspired by a bit of art I saw of a guy in full plate firing off a ray of light while flipping the bird to a demon.
Morgann Solbeard, the youngest fighting son in a long line of warriors, priests and clerics under the watchful warmth of the Dawnfather, Pelor, had learned the rudimentary martial skills and holy arts of the Paladin under his father, old Markus, in their hilltop village-keep holdings of Dawn's Crest, ancestral home of their clan. The land has been defending against raiding parties of Druegar from beyond the hills, and out of concern that a full-on siege may be in their future, he has reluctantly bid his wife Soltie, and his daughter Skye, an oath that he would return from the capital's Temple of Dawn, not only with stalwart adventurers and soldiery, but his storied uncle, the heroic and nigh-legendary paladin Mordecai the Daybreak. He's had to make a short repose in a farming village along the main road, before the mountain pass leading on through to their kingdom's capital, to amass coin and supplies for the long journey ahead, doing hard, honest work as barkeep, farmhand, guard and general strongarm.
Being young and having received only basic training from his father and the guards of Dawn's Crest, he is untested in true combat, and yet he exudes a certain optimistic confidence. While no stranger to drink, he tempers it with a sense of duty to his family and kin, honest to a fault, hard-working, and with a firm, fond respect for the common, working-class folk, having been raised in a home where everyone was brought up pulling their own weight. His formative years in the highland hills surrounding his family's keep has earned him a working friendship with the Giants that reside there, and his current residence in the farming village at the foot of the hills affords him a wealth of knowledge about the local halflings and their ways. He wears a sturdy chain mail beneath his clan's garb, and brings a sturdy warhammer and a shield emblazoned with the emblem of Pelor. Despite his martial upbringing, he's fairly erudite, with a love for stories of old, ancient lore, and feats of stonework and architecture.
Working on a supplement for the adventure-minded. A project including (and crediting) homebrew subclasses from the community, a world of my own design, premade characters, magic items, and even a prologue adventure to start things off!
Past and Current Characters: Morgann 'Duskspear' Solbeard, Hill Dwarf Paladin/Fighter/Warlock; Ephemeral 'Skye' Solbeard, Hill Dwarf Artificer; Zaldrick Lawscrip of Orzhov, Hobgoblin Wizard; Eremys Spydrun, Shadar'kai Monk; Cuchulainn, Wood Elf Blood Hunter.