Laertes Benedictine's page

A Paladin of Iomedae (the rest don't have 1st level stat-blocks, but the backstories and themes can certainly be pillaged).

A Mendevian crusader who is more interested in bringing her men back alive than having them attain 'glory' posthumously, the Lady Laertes Benedictine, of Vigil. I decided to play around with some ideas from Cities of Golarion, for this one.
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Growing up in Mendev, after a stint in Lastwall, the calling of the paladin was the only choice that made sense to young Laertes, and yet she found the militant nature of Iomedae’s teachings to be perversely undisciplined. Her fellows all followed orders with great enthusiasm, and, to her mind, never learned to truly discipline themselves, being so caught up in doing what they were told, like well-trained warhorses. Where was the honor in being an automaton? She worried that her doubts and questioning would be seen as a betrayal, and certainly she got her fair share of dirty looks from those who toed the line, expecting to be rewarded for their lack of initiative and their gleeful reporting of improprieties on the behalf of their peers, and yet it was she who was accepted as a paladin, while some of the most obedient, and unquestioning, of her classmates never heard the call, and trained instead to become cavaliers and fighters and demon-hunting rangers.

Laertes learned that what she had secretly always believed was indeed true, that it took more to make a paladin than to check off a list of tasks and obediences, like following a mind-numbing and thoughtless rote pattern to assemble a chain-link shirt. But with those doubts, came the noose with which a paladin could hang herself, to fall and lose her way, and stumble into darkness.

She chose to focus on the healing arts, deliberately challenging herself in an area where she knew she was not the most gifted, as her insights had always come more slowly than some of her peers. Strength of arm and force of personality were second nature to her, but the graceful wisdom of the clerics, that would never be her strong suit, it seemed. She recognizes the value in smiting evil, but has heard too many tales of ‘heroes’ of her family and countrymen, who fell before their time, as their fellows seemed too concerned with glory and striking blows, than bolstering and succoring their comrades, so that more would return alive. She knows better than to criticize such tales of heroism, or to make these unpopular opinions known, as such views would be considered disrespectful at best and craven to the most pig-headed, so she continues her studies, supporting those she fights alongside, using her ability to channel energy not merely to smite the demonspawn, but to also heal her comrades, through the secrets of Mendevian Channeling.

Missions that will earn Laertes’ favor are not the traditional ‘kill X number of demons,’ but will be more likely to involve rescuing captives, escorting refugees, defending a prominent healer or even keeping a medical area safe from attack during a battle. Someone who can show her a new healing technique that might help to keep Crusaders alive to fight another day, whether it be surgical, herbal, alchemical or magical, will earn her favor.

Boons Those who already bear a Mendevian mark of justice and have earned her favor need only bring her a flask of holy water and she will cast a righteous blessing on them as soon as she is capable of doing so. She can also teach the necessary rites to cast the spell to any cleric or paladin who serves the cause, although the spell can only be cast by someone who bears at least one of the relevant marks of justice themselves. She can also teach the secrets of Mendevian Channeling, or provide access to Crusader’s Sigils, as well as other demon-fighting tools, such as cold iron weaponry or holy water (although bringing in shipments of either would be likely ways of earning her favor, as well, since the Crusade can never have too much of such things).

Righteous blessing spell, Mendevian Channeling feat and Crusader's Sigil magic item detailed in the profile.