Can a paladin wield a sword of sin? [Rise of the Runelords Spoilers]

[Sadnerd]

Basically what the question is asking. My pc's in RotR just found one of the Seven Swords of Sin and they're wondering if it's against her code to use the artifact to fight with. She's comfortable that she can pass the will save to avoid being dominated but she's not sure if Iomedae is cool with it since the sword us evil.

[ohako]

If the sword is unholy, then the sword itself is going to give you a hard time (negative levels).

If the sword is intelligent and evil, that goes against the code about working with evil allies, but there's the proviso on that part that says you can do it, but only when strictly necessary. The sword will still give you problems with its Ego.

It's otherwise difficult for me to justify an 'evil' sword, because a sword only does bad things if the arm holding it wants that to happen. Maybe the sword casts an evil spell when it strikes someone? That would do it. Maybe the sword gives a buff to evil people who use it (without being intelligent), and so evil people would seek it out to perform evil acts with.

If I had a choice between using a powerful sword that was evil, and on the other hand resisting the temptation of that power in favor of upholding your moral code...that's a choice you have to make!

Maybe it's a cool concept that your paladin uses the sword and falls! Maybe your code means more than your sword! It's your choice, and you get to choose what fits your narrative best.

[Val'bryn2]

Alternatively, when they were first crafted, they weren't evil. The Seven Sins of Thassilon were corruptions of the Seven Virtues of rule so a paladin wielding one could be reclaiming a tradition.

[Claxon]

If the sword is awakened, yeah it would definitely be against your code to work with it as it is an intelligent evil artifact sword. And even if it wasn't awakened, if you are aware of what it is it seems likely you would avoid wielding it as it will actively attempt to mind control you should it awaken.

Also, when it's not awakened it's only a +2 sword, IIRC.

Edit: Click here

[blahpers]

I suppose you could try to cleanse the blade, returning it to the original Virtues of Rule or even the opposing virtues (e.g., charity instead of wealth/greed).

[VoodistMonk]

There's negative levels associated with using an aligned weapon that opposes your alignment.

Also, no Paladin's deity would allow the Paladin to divine bond with a weapon of opposing alignment. Unless, maybe, you were really playing the reclaiming artifacts in an effort to correct it.

[Roonfizzle Garnackle]

My two copper. (as someone running Rise, who inserted all seven blades, and allowed the party to walk off with up to 3 blades barring one around book 3. I think I know precisely what you are referring to.)

A: Ask your GM for their opinion, perhaps backed up by an in game Knowledge Religion roll, or some prayer, how about a Phylactery of Faithfulness, Divination spells, Commune style spells, Stave off Corruption, or similar?
B: You are entering the final stretch.
C: The Seven Sins are a corruption of the Seven Virtues (mentioned above).
D: A Paladin of the Goddess of Honor, Justice and Valor, sounds like the perfect person to redeem a blade that's fallen on hard times, even if it's NOT the blade I'm thinking of.
E: Sounds like a wonderful hook for continuing the adventure to me!
F: I'm an old foggy, who thinks that Tithing a chunk of one's adventuring income is just the right thing to do for the truly devout (when I play a paladin, I voluntarily tithe 10% of my income as it happens), and would give a circumstance bonus of +2 if that's something you had previously established as a thing.
G: Were it my campaign, I'd allow it, but I wouldn't let it be ... EASY.

But, really, See A. Ask.

[wraithstrike]

It's not aligned until it's awakened so no. Once it's awakened I'd change the answer to yes.

[Val'bryn2]

For those who say that the alignment is an issue, I would remind them that there are examples of Lawful Evil and Paladins working together. If they couldn't work together, the Hellknights would be a lot smaller an organization. Plus the romance that has been suggested between Seelah and Seltyiel. It's a doomed relationship, but one the devs have said could happen.