After having game mastered counsel of thieves i have gotten a lot of love for chelax and would like to try an original character.
I would like to make a paladin of Asmodeus. Now before i hear the drama outbreak i would like to justify why a paladin would be able to belief in the faith of Asmodeus.
As you all know, clerics need only be within one step of their deity, this means that clerics of Asmodeus can be LN LE NE.
Now imagine clerics of Asmodeus who are LN, they would focus their faith on law rather than evil. To them the key aspect of Asmodeus preaching are lawful in nature. They perceive other interpretations as loaded. They are bound to agree with the LE clerics on law aspects, but despise NE clerics as they misinterpret the will of Asmodeus by just performing evil acts, as this is not what they see Asmodeus as a patron of.
Any cleric is forced to pick two domains, being the main focus of their beliefs in a deity. So a cleric of Asmodeus can be LN who has Law and Fire. This interpretation could be that any who does not follow the law needs to be punished trough fire.
This small group of clerics of Asmodeus has then preached for a young boy, who grew to be a young man under these tales of righteous furry. This man is a firm believer of Asmodeus, but not as a cruel and tricky god, but as law and punishment. This man is also a good person, he wishes the best for his nabours, and his lessors.
For yes Asmodeus preaches that there is a difference between the quality of persons, and species. While normally this would be interpret to mean that you are free to exploit the stupid and the weak, he sees it as nature, that he is stronger and better than others. But unlike the usual understanding of this aspect of Asmodeus, he sees it as his duty to help the less fortunate, for they are clearly unable to do so them self. Slaves are clearly lesser beings, but as they are so, they are not able to withstand a hard life as he is, and therefore he treats them good. Sometimes even better then himself.
Being a man of Asmodeus tought from an early age that there are many who misinterpret the teachings of Asmodeus, he has a vendetta against those who befoul his name, and as such he intends to be a righteous inquisitor of the church of Asmodeus.
Having formed his own understanding of Asmodeus based on the teachings of a LN understanding of the texts he does not understand the true nature of Asmodeus.
He does however when confronted by examples of Asmodeus exploitation of an unfair deal which leaves men as poor thralls, he argues that Asmodeus is truly beyond us all, and that to imitate his acts would be to perceive oneself as Asmodeus equal for only he has the necessary understanding of all things to act as such. This form of blasphemy should be punished with flame.
So what do you think. Is this a viable background for a paladin of Asmodius. There are no rules against it, especially as clarified in council of thieves: mother of flies article of Asmodeus worshipping paladins. They also mention that the only paladins of Asmodeus who does not fall are those who die young.
Is this a concept character i should continue to build on, or do you think it is a bad idea?