The paladin path

[siegfriedliner]

So I was wondering what is too murderery for a paladin, I was in a fight against some evil snake god cultist (you know the sort) and one of them said "the serpent grip of "insert evil god name here" will crush you all."

To which my city boy paladin replied in a fit of pique "I will crush your bloody skull with this here mace."

Was that a step to far, at the spur of the moment i just wanted a reply but I am now wondering if I was failing at role-playing a paladin.

So i like flawed characters so my paladin is a city boy who has would prefer to be working as officer of the courts (basically a baliff) which was his previous role.Fate has forced him to adventure but he hates bogs, sand and any difficult terrain that might dirty his lovingly polished full plate.

The only thing he hates more is cruelty, evil and innocents suffering. He has spent most of the adventure whining about not asking for this but has always thrown away complaints when lives are on the line.

So I was wondering if I should have my character be aghast at his murdery gut reaction or does the fact they are evil snake cultist means that it not something he needs to worry about ?

[Leomund "Leo" Velinznrarikovich]

Alignment is very much in the realm of "in the eye of the beholder".

Instead of giving my opinion, I'd refer you to 2 questions to help you answer your own question.

What does it mean to be good?
What does it mean to be lawful?

Other people's opinions matter very little in relation to your own for your character.

[Sibelius Eos Owm]

The GMs opinions may additionally matter. As Leo said, though, it's up to you, but also for perspective I don't think this was over the line. If there were any plausible doubt about the evilness of the evil snake god cultist, perhaps, but also you were responding to a direct threat with a direct threat. If you were a paladin of Shelyn this may be 'worrisomely violent tendencies' according to her peaceful tenets, but even still I'd say not grounds for falling so much as grounds for interesting character internal struggle.

I enjoy when Paladins are played as real people who sometimes struggle to uphold their code in the face of trying circumstances and have to decide what behaviours are permitted and what they feel are unbecoming, even if they're not an infraction.

[Megistone]

Not every paladin is identical, thankfully.
Just play your character as you like it. As long as you (and your table, but mostly you) feel that the LG tag on his sheet is appropriate, have fun!

[The Raven Black]

My Paladin of Torag would be proud of you :-D

[Darksol the Painbringer]

If the GM doesn't have a problem with it and you don't have a problem with it, it's fine. That's really all you have to please to make it work for you.

Objecticely, Paladins can and should be ruthless, especially towards evildoers whom seek to harm the innocent.

"Your death by my hand is the greatest mercy I can offer to one such as you."

[RealAlchemy]

Ragathiel would be cheering you on.
Shelyn or Arshea, not so much.
Depends on who you follow.

[lemeres]

Fun fact: maces were often used as a less lethal weapon by medieval law enforcement, in a role similar to modern police batons. They were effective against armor, but they also didn't have the tendency for heavily bleeding cuts. Sure, broken bones and all- but permanent disfigurement and disability was less of a problem than having a warm body to interrogate or put on trial.

So hey- their bashed in skull MIGHT not be lethal. Let the cleric sort that one out.