@TheEdVerse Hey, Ed! I have a huge issue that is generating controversy in a group of mine. The 5E PHB states that a Paladin does not need to serve any God: just staying true to his Oath is enough to get/keep his powers. But as for FR, does a Paladin need to *SERVE* a God/Deity?
— Lucas Ribeiro (@_lucascr) March 11, 2019
1)
One becomes a paladin by hearing and accepting a call to holy service. That acceptance is cemented by an oath. If a paladin transgresses against their oath, the usual absolution, as the PHB states, is to seek absolution 2)
…from a cleric of the same faith. Paladins DO worship deities, and like any other mortal, may receive requests from mortal priests or divine servitors, or messages directly from a deity (usually through dream-visions, or…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2019
3)
…literal visions appearing to a praying paladin). So although paladins by their very nature are semi-independent agents, fighting evil as adventurers rather than being temple guards, they DO serve deities. Being a cleric or 4)
…a paladin in the Realms is NOT “doing what you want as an armored killer but also having healing spells because some god likes your ilk.” Although you, as a paladin, serve a god or alliance of good gods (to literally fight…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2019
5)
…evil, and do so largely ‘in your own way,’ EVERYONE in the Realms ‘believes in’ all the gods, and you as a paladin may encounter priests who expect to be able to command you. Some paladins DO act within strict church… 6)
…hierarches, but Player Character paladins are more the ‘operate on their own’ agents. However, if your deity commands you to do something (like obey or work with a mortal priest) and you don’t, you shouldn’t…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2019
7)
…expect to retain your paladinhood. What makes you a paladin is a “sacred oath,” and therefore the support of the gods. Yes, you could disobey one god but remain a paladin by obeying the will of another, but that’s a 8)
…very dangerous game. Some deities in the past were micro-management types when dealing with mortals, but increasingly all FR deities are more distant, leaving mortals more to their own devices.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2019
Meaning that the closest thing to “atheism” in the Realms is, “Yeah, they’re powerful and call themselves ‘gods,’ but you’re an idiot to worship them”? Pretty much. There are beings who refuse to worship, but there are almost no sentient beings who are unaware that gods exist.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 12, 2019
I assume that the souls of those “atheists” will be judged as Faithless? Indeed. Illustrating the difference between faith and belief.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 12, 2019
