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I'm sure this isn't the first thread with a similar problem, but I feel the need to ask anyway.
The Society's been playing long enough to where I'm certain there's a few Chelaxian paladins out there with good grasp on their In-Character personas. So what I'm asking is this- how do you justify going through with your superior's commands for gaining Prestige Points? Or do you go through with them? I'm considering creating a similar character, perhaps with the idea of progressing to a Hellknight, but I'm wondering how difficult it is to gain what's required, while serving an evil nation. So, fellow righteous, I look forward to hearing from your advice for going down this path.
All help appreciated :)
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In the Grand Lodge commissary, you may have noticed a fellow named Gennadi. He fits in easily with conversations, and he's been quick to jump to another's aid when an injured pathfinder makes it back through the front door, or when rougher venture captains mock newer members for not measuring up to impossible standards. He's the kind of man you'd be glad to have at your side in a tavern, or at your back in a fight.
He's a paladin (of Torag, you'd find out with a little bit of investigation) yet you've also seen couriers come for him, with messages from a particular Chelaxian Paracountess. He's always grim after reading those messages. If you ask him, he'd have this to say:
"My children, Adrian and Tikkie, were taken from our apartments in Kaer Maga, almost three years ago now. My wife and I went after the kidnappers, of course, but they were too well-organized. My wife ... didn't make it. Eventually, they were traded, and re-sold, and came into the possession of some lesser nobles of Cheliax's House Thrune. And this ... woman ... promises me to keep them clothed, fed, and safe, in return for favors.
"Some of them I flatly refuse, but she's usually clever enough to send me on errands that prove innocuous enough. And I always keep my eyes and ears open whenever I'm around Cheliax. Until I have some decent intelligence about where they are and who's holding them ... I bide my time, and do her bidding, and endure her mocking promises of the carnal opportunities I'm missing. As if I would betray the memory of my beloved!
"But one day, I'll have my children safely home. And then," he adds, looking at the greatsword resting close at hand, "we'll see what kind of bite I have. And we'll see who's the 'flesh morsel'."
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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I'm sure this isn't the first thread with a similar problem, but I feel the need to ask anyway.
The Society's been playing long enough to where I'm certain there's a few Chelaxian paladins out there with good grasp on their In-Character personas. So what I'm asking is this- how do you justify going through with your superior's commands for gaining Prestige Points? Or do you go through with them? I'm considering creating a similar character, perhaps with the idea of progressing to a Hellknight, but I'm wondering how difficult it is to gain what's required, while serving an evil nation. So, fellow righteous, I look forward to hearing from your advice for going down this path.
All help appreciated :)
The idea of a Chelaxian paladin is all kinds of delicious.
In regards to the quip about the great nation of Cheliax being "evil" I would point out that in the latest release (4.0) of the Guide to Pathfinder Society none of the factions are labeled with alignments anymore, meaning that the Cheliax faction is not necessarily "evil." And a Chelaxian paladin would surely see them as good.
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Wow, you've had some good responses thus far, especially Gennadi's. Well, common knowledge is that Iomedae was Chelish, before her ascent to the divine, and Faiths of Purity adds that her religion is respected, and even somewhat encouraged in Cheliax proper.
I already have a cleric in the service of Cheliax, but as he's a servant of Zon-Kuthon, there's not any problems carrying out such tasks. So, good to see some others have made this work as well.
Any other advice? :)
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My paladin/hellknight is a member of the Cheliax faction.
In the beginning, his motivation was that it was better to be on the inside of the faction and know what the paracountess was doing rather than be on the outside fighting against House Thrune. He downplayed his paladinhood and simply referred to himself as a 'warrior type.' Either the paracountess didn't know he was a paladin, or more likely - she knew and was trying to corrupt him.
I designed the character so that he could still be quite effective even if he didn't accumulate much fame. I didn't expect him to complete many faction missions. However, since PFS characters can't be evil, they aren't going to be given evil faction missions. Plus, she keeps her motivations behind many of her missions secret even to faction members who aren't lawful good. This character has completed most, if not all faction missions. Few were so blatantly against his paladin code that he refused to do them, and the ones that seemed shady were completed by another character in the party of the same faction on their own.
Now that he is casting paladin spells and bonding celestial spirits to his weapon, he doesn't try to downplay his paladinhood - and the paracountess doesn't seem to mind.
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How can a paladin respect legitimate authority and help people In need when slavery is legal?
Paladin sees a slave, it asks for help....
1) he helps, and falls
2) he doesn't help and falls....
NOTE: The following applies to Golarion and not to present-day morality!
Slavery =/= evil.
A slave that is abused by his or her master is a waste of resources and should be recovered using lawful methods.
A slave that is being taken care of, clothed, fed and educated is not in a situation where he or she needs help.
In any case, a Paladin can try to rescue slaves he or she feels are being mistreated, but it has to be done lawfully. Cheliax and Paladins both are all about the law.
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The evilness wasn't what makes the problem, its the below paladin's code, but your comments are good. My problem is that I doubt chelaxian law cares about mistreatment. And an adventurer just doesn't have the resources or skills to work the system.
Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.
