The Complete Paladin's Handbook

8/12/2019 The Complete Paladin's Handbook

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ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS2nd Edition Player's Handbook R les S !!le"ent

#$e Co"!lete Paladin's Handbook

by Ri%k S an

CRED #SDesign: Rick SwanEditing: Allen VarneyBlack and White Art: Ken Frank, Mark Nelson, Valerie Val sek !olor Art: "es Dorscheid, Fred Fields,"# Dean $a%es, &len 'r(ik Electronic )re*ress !oordination: +i% !o %(e+y*ogra*hy: Angelika "okot)rod ction: )a l -anchette

+SR, .nc# +SR "td#/01 Sheridan S*rings Rd# 1/0 !h rch End,"ake &ene2a, !herry -intonW. 34156 !a%(ridge !B1 4"B7SA 7nited Kingdo%

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+his (ook is *rotected nder the co*yright laws o9 the 7nited States o9 A%erica# Anyre*rod ction or na thori ed se o9 the %aterial or artwork contained herein is *rohi(itedwitho t the e *ress written *er%ission o9 +SR, .nc#

Distri( ted to the (ook and ho((y trade in the 7nited Kingdo% (y +SR "td# Distri( tedto the toy and ho((y trade (y regional distri( tors#

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C$a!ter .* Pro(i%ien%ies!o%*iled )ro9iciencies!lari9ications and Modi9ications

New )ro9iciencies!ha*ter ?: E= i*%ent

Standard E= i*%entBadges, Standards, and !restsAdditional E= i*%ent

New Magical E= i*%ent

C$a!ter /* Role0Playin1De%ogra*hicsBeco%ing a )aladinRo tine Acti2itiesA Day in the "i9e!o rtly "o2e

Econo%ics+he )aladin@s )ersonalityStrongholds)ri2ileged Relationshi*sE *erience

C$a!ter * 3ait$!a%*aign ModelsAlternati2es to !h rches& idelines 9or Religio s Edicts+y*es o9 Edicts

C$a!ter 4* OrdersStandard .n9or%ationMost No(le 'rder o9 the Radiant -eartRadiant -eart A iliaryAncient and Re2ered 'rder o9 the +hornDisting ished 'rder o9 the !rystal DawnRighteo s 'rder o9 the .ron Dragon'rder o9 the Di2ine -and

A!!endi5* 6iblio1ra!$y

A!!endi5* Ori1inal AD&D Ga"e PaladinsPaladin C$ara%ter Re%ord S$eets

Paladin -it S$eet#ables 1: !lass ali9ications /: )regenerated A(ility Scores


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4: E *erience "e2els 5: +otal )ro9iciency Slots 3: Sa2ing +hrows ?: )aladin Attacks )er Ro nd 6: +wo>Wea*on Attack Roll )enalties

: )aladin S*ell )rogression


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!lad in shining ar%or, his lance glea%ing in the %orning s n, the knight is the= intessence o9 gallantry, the cha%*ion o9 the *owerless, and the *ersoni9ication o9co rage at least as we re%e%(er hi% 9ro% history# +ho gh The !omplete "aladin's #andbook enco%*asses as*ects o9 the historicalknight, it casts a % ch wider net# While yo @ll 9ind the horse soldiers who ser2ed the

lords o9 the 9e dal age, yo @ll also %eet riders o9 nicorns, killers o9 dragons, andne%eses o9 the ndeadH %en and wo%en who ride %aIestic war horses and wield %agicalswordsH and worshi**ers o9 ancient religions and 9ollowers o9 arcane *hiloso*hies, so%eser2ing *ower9 l ch rches and %onarchies, others answering only to their ownconsciences# +his (ook 9oc ses on the *aladin@s %oti2ations, s*ecial a(ilities, and ni= erestrictions that is, all o9 the ele%ents that disting ish hi% 9ro% other character ty*esand %ake hi% so challenging to *lay# We *ro(e the *aladin@s *ersonality, nra2el hise%otions, and try to nderstand what %akes hi% tickH look at his role in an ad2ent ring

*arty and in society as a wholeH and e a%ine what his religion de%ands o9 hi% and whathe e *ects 9ro% hi%sel9# Along the way, we disc ss %ore than a do en new character

kits, show yo how to design a code o9 (eha2ior 9or yo r *aladin, and descri(e new *ro9iciencies and e= i*%ent# For yo r con2enience, this (ook co%*iles and s %%ari es all o9 the rele2ant r les9ro% the $%& ()& *A+T( J uide Ca((re2iated $* in the te t and "layer's

#andbook Ca((re2iated "# # .t also incl des a new set o9 character sheets in the (ack o9the (ook, designed to record 2irt ally e2ery detail a(o t a *aladin character# Kee* in %ind that all o9 this %aterial is optional # E2ery idea % st ha2e the a**ro2alo9 the DMJ (e9ore it can (e incor*orated into a ca%*aign# All o9 the %aterial in this (ook ses the AD8D /nd Edition r les# )layers sing theoriginal AD8D "# and $* sho ld carefully ada*t this hand(ook to the ca%*aign# Forre9erence, the a**endi o9 this (ook s %%ari es original AD8D *aladin r les# +he %nearthed Arcana (ook, a s **le%ent to the original AD8D r les, declared the

*aladin to (e a s (>class o9 the ca2alier# .n the AD8D /nd Edition ga%e, this no longera**lies# +he *aladin re%ains tied to the 9ighter gro *, with the ca2alier, in a strea%lined9or%, reworked as a character kit in The !omplete -ighter's #andbook # Many conce*ts in +he !o%*lete )aladin@s -and(ook draw hea2ily on the *ro9iciencyr les introd ced in the AD8D /nd Edition "# # We strongly reco%%end yo se

*ro9iciencies in yo r ca%*aign and re2iew the r les (e9ore *roceeding#

#$e Roots o( t$e Paladin

+he li9e o9 the historical knight was less ro%antic than 9ictional acco nts wo ld ha2e

s (elie2e# +he word cniht was 9irst sed to descri(e the sons o9 French *easants whoarri2ed in England 9ollowing the Nor%an con= est in 10??# !r de in %anner anda**earance, the cniht soldiers attracted attention (eca se o9 their e *ensi2e ar%or andhorse%anshi*, a skill held in high regard# Des*ite these ad2antages, the cniht were stillsecond>class citi ens, a notch a(o2e *easants ( t decidedly in9erior to the aristocracy# With 9e dalis% the stat s o9 the cniht Ce2ent ally Anglici ed to knights i%*ro2eddra%atically# +he 9e dal era (egan when wealthy lords ga2e s%all *ieces o9 land togro *s o9 *easants in e change 9or their la(or, and str ggling land>owners signed o2er


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their *ro*erty to a lord in ret rn 9or *rotection# +he relationshi* was sec red (y a (ond o9 honor and a clear nderstanding o9 their % t al res*onsi(ilities# .n ti%e, all *arties in9e dal relationshi*s (eca%e *art o9 the no(ility, and 9e dal o99ers were e tended only tothose o9 acce*ta(le stat re# As a lord@s holdings grew, so did his need 9or skilled warriors to de9end against

9oreign in2aders# Knights %ade ideal candidates# .n the 9e dal tradition, lords sec redtheir ser2ices (y o99ering the% *ro*erty, grand estates incl ding % ch 9ar%land, %any ( ildings, and e2en the *easants who *ro2ided the la(or# As the knights ac= ired wealth,they also gained *restige, (eco%ing a distinct and honored social class that was s allyrestricted to the sons o9 aristocrats# +he stat s o9 the knights solidi9ied in the 11th cent ry when the ch rch, *ro%*ted (ysel9>interest and a gen ine desire to *ro%ote order in an increasingly anarchic society,ga2e its o99icial sanction# Knighthood was declared a sacred calling, and the ordain%ento9 new knights (eca%e a holy rit al# With this new accreditation ca%e newres*onsi(ilities, 9or%ally de9ined in the code o9 chi2alry, a set o9 *rinci*les (ased onreligio s ideals# While contin ing in the lower ranks o9 the *ri2ileged class, the knight

now sy%(oli ed the highest standards o9 %oral (eha2ior and was ad%ired (y *easantsand royalty alike#+ho gh the knight co%%anded res*ect, he was rarely en2ied# -is li9e was dangero s

and (r tal, %arked (y incessant con9rontations and the constant threat o9 h %iliation#Rather than ad2ent ring 9or honor or *leas re, %ost engaged in a constant str ggle 9orinco%e, des*erately seeking any and all o**ort nities to earn an honest li2ing# +he rigidchi2alric code, which %ade a(stract *rinci*les o9 loyalty %ore i%*ortant than li9e itsel9,res lted in a death sentence 9or %ost knights# Few li2ed (eyond age 40# +hose whos r2i2ed o9ten s*ent their re%aining years *enniless and (roken, de*ending on the charityo9 a society that had all ( t 9orgotten the%#

C$a!ter )* C$ara%ter Creation

+his cha*ter co%*iles all o9 the statistics, adI st%ents, and le2el *rogressions 9ro%the "# and $* *ertaining to the *aladin# Altho gh no two *aladins are e actly alike,all o9 the% ha2e these 9 nda%entals in co%%on#

Paladin Re7 ire"ents

.t takes an e ce*tional character to (eco%e a *aladin, as re9lected in the class= ali9ications listed in +a(le 1#

#able )* Class 8 ali(i%ations

Ability Re7 ire"ents Strength 1/ !onstit tion < Wisdo% 14


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:e;el Ad;an%e"ent

)aladins ad2ance in le2el and hit *oints at the sa%e rate as 9ighters# For each le2el *to 1 0 1 /0/ /,/30 / 113 P/ P51? P1 P416>1 0 P/

Cleri%al @a1i%

At le2el *aladin casts the /nd>le2el slow poison s*ell, the e99ects

*ersist 9or 3 ho rsH the s*ell@s d ration is 1 ho r le2el and, as shown on +a(le , a 14th>le2el *aladin casts it at 3th le2el# A *aladin@s s*ells ne2er rise (eyond


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10@ Radi s5 S*ell .%% nity )rotection5 +ong es Di2ination5 "rotect. from /ightning )rotection5 eflecting "ool Di2ination

5 epel Insects )rotection

L .talici ed entries were classi9ied as dr idic s*ells in the original AD8D r les#)aladins sing the 1st Edition %ay not choose any o9 these s*ells#

O!tional s!ell restri%tion* At the DM@s discretion, AD8D /nd Edition *aladins%ay (e 9or(idden to cast the italici ed s*ells on +a(le 1/ C/d? ndead# 'nly one die>roll is%ade *er t rning atte%*t, regardless o9 the co%*osition o9 the ndead gro *#

7se the sa%e die res lt on all a**lica(le col %ns o9 +a(le ?1# CSee !ha*ter / 9or %orea(o t this a(ility#

#able )>*# rnin1 Undead =Paladin?

Paladin Cate1ory o( Undead

:e;el ) 2 + , . / 4 )> )))2 )+

4 10 14 1? 1< /0 > > > > > > >>

5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 > > > > > >>

3 5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 > > > > >

>

? + 5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 >> > > >

6 + + 5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 > > > >


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D + + 5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 > > >

< D D + + 5 6 10 14 1? 1< /0 > >

10 DL D D + + 5 6 10 14 1? 111 DL DL D D + + 5 6 10 14 1?1< /0

1/>14 DL DL DL D D + + 5 6 10 141? 113 DL DL DL DL D D + + 5 6 1014 1?

1?O DL DL DL DL DL D D + + 5 610 14

-ey to Cate1ories

1: Skeleton Cor 1 -D ndead/: To%(ie4: &ho l Cor / -D ndead5: Shadow Cor 5 -D ndead3: Wight Cor 3 -D ndead?: &hast6: Wraith Cor ? -D ndead: M %%y Cor 6 -D ndead


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atte%*ting to detect e2ilH only then will the DM re2eal the rele2ant in9or%ation#

Use and :i"itations

7nlike other senses, the detection o9 e2il works only when the *aladin

concentrates 9or one 9 ll ro nd, re%aining still and taking no other actions# '9ten, *aladins close their eyes, lower their head, and clear their %inds (y 9oc sing on their own (reathing# So%e *aladins e tend their *al%s, to ch their 9oreheads with their 9ingers, orswee* their hands slowly in 9ront o9 the%# Details o9 the concentration ro tine 2ary 9ro%

*aladin to *aladin, and each is 9ree to co%e * with a ni= e ro tine# 'nce settled on aro tine, the *aladin sho ld always e ec te it the sa%e way# .9 attacked, distracted, or otherwise dist r(ed while concentrating, the *aladin9ails to detect e2il# -e %ay try again in s (se= ent ro nds# +he *aladin %ay target an indi2id al or gro * * to ?0 9eet distant, in an areaa(o t 10 9eet wide, or a location where an indi2id al or gro * %ight (e hiding, s ch as acl %* o9 ( shes or a concealed alco2e# +he *aladin % st 9ace the indicated indi2id al,

gro *, or location, ( t need not see the target# .9 (lind9olded or in thick 9og, 9or e a%*le,the *aladin can target an indi2id al (y 2oice or %o2e%ent, or I st take a g ess# .n ashadowed corridor, the *aladin@s detect>e2il a(ility can deter%ine i9 anyone or anything

with strong e2il intent l rks in the darkness#

Eli1ible #ar1ets

A *aladin can detect e2il radiated (y characters and %onstersH ndead created (ye2il %agicH Negati2e )lane in9l encesH e2il arti9actsH certain enchanted swordsH and otherintelligent o(Iects that radiate e2il# +he a(ility can@t detect c rsed o(Iects or tra*s, nordoes it work on creat res o9 Ani%al intelligence or less C.ntelligence 0 or 1 , s ch ascenti*edes or carni2oro s *lants# +he *aladin@s sensiti2ity to e2il res*onds to the target@s intention to co%%it an e2ilact# +he a(ility doesn@t re2eal the *recise nat re o9 the intended act, nor does it re2eal thetarget@s act al align%ent# !haracters who are strongly aligned, who do not stray 9ro%their 9aith, and are o9 at least le2el character nshaka(ly co%%itted to an e2il align%ent %ay radiatee2il e2en when not s*eci9ically *lanning an e2il act or thinking e2il tho ghts# )ower9 le2il %onsters, s ch as red dragons and hill giants, also radiate e2il ncontrolla(ly# A

*aladin can always detect the *resence o9 these ty*es o9 e2il (eings, nless n s alconditions are in e99ect# For instance, in so%e e2il strongholds or *lanes, everything readse2il, e99ecti2ely negating the *aladin@s e2il>sensing a(ility# S (Iect creat res %ay not %ake sa2ing throws to resist a *aladin@s atte%*t tosense e2il# -owe2er, undetectable alignment and si%ilar s*ells cast on a target


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te%*orarily *re2ent the *aladin 9ro% sensing the target@s e2il e%anations# B t as soon asthe s*ell ends, the *aladin is 9ree to %ake another atte%*t# A *aladin can@t detect an e2il *resence thro gh 4 9eet or %ore o9 wood, 1 9oot or%ore o9 stone, or 1 inch or %ore o9 %etal# A thin coat o9 lead also *re2ents the se o9 thisa(ility# A *aladin *ercei2es s ch (arriers as nons*eci9ic o(str ctions, witho t knowing

their co%*osition or widths#

nter!retin1 t$e Res lts

.9 an atte%*t at sensing e2il 9ails, or i9 there@s no e2il *resent, the *aladin 9eelsnothing o t o9 the ordinary# .9 e2il is *resent, the *aladin %ight e *erience ann%istaka(le *hysical sensation# +ho gh the ty*e o9 sensation 2aries a%ong *aladins, agi2en *aladin always has the sa%e reaction# +y*ical reactions incl de tingling in the9ingerti*s, a war% 9l sh, a cold chill, or a d ll thro( (ehind the eyesH the DM can %ake* sensations# 7s ally the sensation lasts only a %o%ent# .9 the *aladin scans a crowd o9 *eo*le, tingling 9ingers won@t *in*oint the

character res*onsi(le 9or the e2il e%anations# .9 scanning a *ool o9 % rky water,thro((ing eyes won@t re2eal the n %(er or s*ecies o9 e2il creat res l rking (elow thes r9ace# -owe2er, the *aladin %ay deter%ine the degree o9 e2il 9ro% the intensity o9 thesensation# +a(le 11 lists 9o r general degrees and e a%*les o9 so rces# +wo ways that a

*aladin %ight e *erience the corres*onding sensations also a**ear# .n an enco nter, theDM descri(es only the sensation when a *aladin s ccess9 lly detects e2ilH the *layer % stinter*ret the %eaning o9 the sensation# At the DM@s o*tion, the *aladin %ay disco2er the general nat re o9 the e2il aswell as its degree# A *ick*ocket %ay radiate an e *ectant e2il, a 2a%*ire@s e2il %ay (e%alignant# +he DM %ay se the sensations s ggested in +a(le 11 to indicate the nat re o9 e2il Cthe *aladin e *eriences an e *ectant e2il as an itch on his 9ingerti*s , or %aye%*loy a di99erent set o9 sensations Ca war%th in the chest indicates e *ectant e2il #

#able ))* De1rees o( E;il

De1ree #y!i%al So r%es SensationsFaint )ick*ocketH Slight itch on ti*s o9 none2il ( lly 9ingersH light thro(

(ehind eyesModerate M ggerH skeleton +iny *in*ricks

created (y e2ilalong 9ingersH

clericH i%*H d ll *o ndingty*ical orc (ehind eyesStrong Mass % rdererH )in*ricks o2er

gho lH 2a%*ire entire s r9ace o9 handsH intense

*o nding h rtseyes

'2er> Venera(le red Shar* *ain in


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whel%ing dragonH lichH handsH agoni ing 2a%*ire %age headache

A%(ig o s sit ations *rod ce a%(ig o s res lts# .9 a 2a%*ire waits (ehind a 4>inch>thick stone wall 9orti9ied with / 9eet o9 wood, a *aladin %ay detect a %oderate orstrong sensation o9 e2il, rather than an o2erwhel%ing one# .9 a % rderer hides (ehind a

window with a coat o9 9laking lead *aint, a *aladin %ay detect a %oderate instead o9 astrong sensation# .9 the DM can@t decide which category in +a(le 11 to se, it@s acce*ta(le to gi2ethe *aladin %i ed signals# .9 a 2icio s % gger hides in a closet, ( t *lans to s rrenderrather than 9ight i9 disco2ered, a *aladin %ay detect (oth 9aint and %oderate sensationsC9ingerti* itches alternating with *in*ricks #

Sa2ing>+hrow Bon s

As detailed in !ha*ter 4, a *aladin@s ethos co%*els hi% to * t his li9e on the line9ar %ore o9ten than other characters# While co%*anions %ay hesitate, a *aladin will 9ight

to the last ene%y, 2ol nteer 9or near>s icidal %issions, and 9ace death to de9end a *rinci*le# +o co%*ensate 9or these risks, a *aladin@s 9aith grants increased i%% nity to

*oisons, death %agic, and si%ilar ha ards# +his i%% nity is %ani9ested as a *er%anentO/ (on s to all sa2ing throws# +he (on ses take e99ect at 1st le2el# +a(le 3 in !ha*ter 1s %%ari es the *aladin@s sa2ing throws# +hese (on ses do not a**ly to a *aladin@s a(ility checks# A *aladin with aStrength o9 1? atte%*ts a Strength check at 1?, not 1 # -owe2er, the *aladin does (ene9it9ro% the sa2ing>throw (on ses a2aila(le to other characters, s ch as those awarded 9orhigh De terity and Wisdo% scores Cshown on +a(les / and 3 in the "# and %agicalar%or#

.%% nity to Disease

A *aladin has co%*lete i%% nity to all 9or%s o9 organic disease# +his i%% nityincl des diseases 9ro% rat, oty gh, and neo>oty gh (ites, as well as nonlethal ( tdisa(ling %aladies like %easles and earaches# A *aladin ne2er catches a cold or s 99ers9ro% tooth decay, and is na99ected (y *arasitic %onsters s ch as green sli%e, 2iolet9 ngi, gas s*ores, *hyco%ids, and rot gr (s# -is wo nds ne2er (eco%e in9ected# +he

*rocess occ rs instantly, a to%atically, and *ainlesslyH the *aladin isn@t e2en aware o9e *os re to a disease# A *aladin@s disease resistance is di2inely gi2en and can@t (e trans9erred to another

character# A %agical (lood trans9 sion, 9or instance, wo ld not grant disease i%% nity tothe reci*ient# Nor are a *aladin@s *rogeny a to%atically i%% ne to diseases, nless they (eco%e *aladins the%sel2es# A *aladin e *eriences the nor%al conse= ences o9 the 9ollowing: )hysical tra %a# All wo nds in9lict nor%al da%age# A *aladin is as s sce*ti(le toconc ssions, (roken li%(s, and e ha stion as any other character, and also s 99ers thenor%al e99ects o9 e tre%e te%*erat re, s ch as s n( rn, heatstroke, and 9rost(ite# )oison# A *aladin is 2 lnera(le to nearly all ty*es o9 ingested, inIected, and


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inhaled to ins# +hese incl de irritants Cacids, %erc ry , organic to ins C*oison% shroo%s, snake 2eno%, crystal oo e , ner2e *oisons C(elladonna, arsenic , and

*oisono s gases C2a*ors that sto* the heart or inhi(it (reathing # +he *aladin can (eco%einto icated (y drinking too % ch alcohol, and %ay e *erience allergic reactions to

*ollen, d st, or other s (stances, ( t does not s 99er 9ro% 2ir s>(ased or (acteria>(ased

to ins, s ch as the sali2a o9 a ra(id dog or (at# ! rses and %agical diseases# "ycanthro*y, % %%y rot, and si%ilar a99lictions arec rses and not diseases# A *aladin s 99ers the nor%al e99ects# CSee the "# , *age /6, andthe $* , *age 141, 9or details# Note that *aladins are i%% ne to the cause disease s*ell# +he DM %ay decidethat 2ery *ower9 l diseases, like % %%y rot, %ay o2erride the *aladin@s nat rali%% nity, ( t co ld (e c red (y the *aladin@s cure disease a(ility# E99ects o9 aging# A *aladin ages at the nor%al h %an rate# Age (rings the a(ility

*enalties gi2en on +a(le 1/, !ha*ter 1 o9 the "# , and also the nor%al de(ilitationsassociated with aging# For instance, e2en tho gh the *aladin@s teeth resist (acterial decay,they %ay still 9all o t as a res lt o9 ena%el erosion# A *aladin whose (ody wears o t dies,

at the sa%e age as a nor%al h %an# )sychological disorders# A *aladin is as *rone as anyone else to hall cinations,night%ares, %e%ory loss, insanity, and si%ilar %ental and e%otional disorders, *ro2idingthe disorder isn@t a conse= ence o9 a disease Cs ch as a 9e2er>ind ced deliri % #

+a(le 1/: "e2el )rogression o9 )owers

)aladin ! re "aying 'n"e2el DiseasesL -andsLL 'ther 1 1 / >/ 1 5 >4 1 ? + rn ndead5 1 Bonded %o nt3 1 10 >? / 1/ >6 / 15 >

/ 1? >< / 1 )riest s*ells10 / /0 >11 4 // >1/ 4 /5 >14 4 /? >15 4 / >13 4 40 >1? 5 4/ >16 5 45 >1 5 4? >1< 5 4 >/0 5 50 >


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L +i%es *er week#LL -it *oints restored#

! re Diseases

A *aladin is not only i%% ne to nat ral diseases, ( t can c re s ch diseases inothers# +his re= ires no %aterials or rit als, %erely a to ch o9 the 2icti% with a 9inger,s ally on the 9orehead, cheek, or hand# 'nly a %o%ent@s contact is necessary, so long asskin to ches skin# +he c re occ rs a to%atically# +he 2icti% %ay (e any h %an,h %anoid, de%ih %an, or nat ral ani%al# A *aladin can@t c re lycanthro*es, ndead, orcreat res o9 e tra*lanar or s *ernat ral origin# A *aladin can se this a(ility once *er week 9or each 9i2e le2els o9 e *erienceCsee +a(le 1/ # A 2icti% recei2es no additional (ene9its 9ro% (eing c red 9or the sa%edisease %ore than onceH % lti*le a**lications won@t accelerate reco2ery or heal da%age#-owe2er, sho ld the 2icti% s cc %( to the sa%e disease at so%e *oint in the 9 t re, a

*aladin %ay c re hi% again#

A *aladin %ay c re any disease# -e can@t se this a(ility to heal *hysical tra %a,c re lycanthro*y Cor %ost other c rses , or ne trali e *oisons# M %%y rot can (e c redwith this *ower# Diseases 9ro% wishes , arti9acts, gods, or si%ilar so rces, howe2er, %ightnot (e c ra(le#

Reco2ery

+he 2icti%@s reco2ery (egins i%%ediately a9ter the *aladin to ches hi%# Reco2eryti%e 2aries 9ro% a 9ew %in tes to 10 days, de*ending on the se2erity o9 the disease andhow long the 2icti% has (een s 99ering# A 2icti% c red o9 a %ild cold or a toothache %ayreco2er in a t rn# A 2icti% with ad2anced *ne %onia or s%all*o %ay re= ire the 9 ll 10

days# +he DM decides the reco2ery *eriod (ased on these *ara%eters# A c red 2icti% doesn@t a to%atically reco2er hit *oints lost as a res lt o9 thedisease, ( t ceases to lose additional hit *oints# -it *oints are reco2ered at a nor%al rate,a(etted (y rest, %edicinal or %agical treat%ents, and *ossi(ly the *aladin@s a(ility o9laying on hands Csee (elow # +ho gh the c ring alle2iates disa(ling sy%*to%s o9 thedisease Cs ch as headaches associated with a 9e2er or (l rred 2ision 9ro% an eyein9ection , it doesn@t correct any *hysical conse= ences Cs ch as *ock%arks or weightloss #

"aying 'n -ands

A *aladin can restore lost hit *oints to hi%sel9, another character, or a nat ralani%al with the laying on hands a(ility# +o se this a(ility, the *aladin (rie9ly *resses (oth *al%s against the da%aged character or creat re s ally against the te%*le orchest, ( t any s r9ace o9 the (ody will do# +o ching the skin directly isn@t necessary# +he

*aladin %ay (e glo2ed or the s (Iect %ay (e wearing clothing, so long as the *aladin *resses hard eno gh 9or the reci*ient to 9eel the *ress re# "aying on hands works a to%atically, restoring a n %(er o9 hit *oints e= al totwice the *aladin@s e *erience le2el Csee +a(le 1/ # A *aladin can se this a(ility only


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once *er day, and only on a single character or creat re# +he 9ollowing restrictions alsoa**ly:

+he reci*ient can@t reco2er %ore hit *oints than he nor%ally has# .9 a ?th>le2el *aladin lays hands on a character who@s lost a total o9 4 hit *oints, the characterreco2ers e actly 4 hit *oints and no %ore# +ho gh the *aladin co ld theoretically restore

1/ hit *oints, the e cess are lost in this case# +he reci*ient % st still (e ali2e# "aying on hands can@t (ring dead characters (ack to li9e#

"aying on hands doesn@t c re diseases that re= ires a di99erent *aladin *owerCdisc ssed earlier # -owe2er, laying on hands %ay restore hit *oints lost to diseaseor *oison# CNote that laying on hands doesn@t negate *oison or lengthen its onset ti%eH theneutrali1e poison and slow poison s*ells ca se these e99ects#

.9 the *aladin is nconscio s or i%%o(ile, a co%*anion can@t *ick * the *aladin@s hands and heal hi%sel9 or anyone else# "aying on hands re= ires the *aladin@s will9 l *artici*ation#

"aying on hands won@t work nless the *aladin e%*loys (oth hands at the sa%e

ti%e# Be9ore sing this a(ility, he % st sheath his sword, * t down his (ag, or takewhate2er other actions are necessary to 9ree his hands# .9 he@s disa(led 9ore a%*le, i9 he@s lost an ar% in an accident he %ay *etition the gods to allow hi%

to heal with a single hand# Ass %ing the *aladin has ser2ed honora(ly, the gods *ro(a(ly grant his re= est#

A ra o9 )rotection

An in2isi(le a ra o9 *rotection contin o sly s rro nds a *aladin# +he a rae tends 10 9eet in all directions, en2elo*ing anyone and anything within its (o ndaries#+he a ra *ersists e2en when the *aladin is aslee* or nconscio s, dissi*ating only when

the *aladin dies# -owe2er, it doesn@t e tend thro gh walls, doors, or any *hysical (arrier# +he %agical a ra has a disr *ting and dist r(ing e99ect on e2il o**onents, ca singthe% to %ake all attack rolls at a P1 *enalty# A99ected o**onents incl de:

Monsters and characters whose align%ents are law9 l e2il, ne tral e2il, andchaotic e2il#

E tra*lanar, conI red, and s %%oned e2il entities, or those s %%oned (y e2ils*ellcasters#

Monsters and characters who ha2e (een char%ed (y e2il casters or otherwiseha2e (een co%*elled to co%%it e2il acts# 'nly e2il o**onents within the radi s o9 the a ra s 99er the attack *enalty# +hea ra a99ects a large o**onent i9 e2en a *ortion o9 its (ody occ *ies the a ra@s radi s#

When an e2il o**onent %o2es o t o9 the a ra, the *enalty no longer a**lies, ( t as soonas the o**onent re>enters the a ra, the *enalty again takes e99ect# An e2il o**onent within the a ra s 99ers the P1 *enalty when directing attacksagainst the *aladin, other characters or creat res within the a ra, or characters orcreat res o tside the a ra# +he *enalty a**lies to all *hysical attacks %ade (y an e2ilo**onent, ( t not %agical attacks# Beca se the a ra disr *ts li2ing creat res and notinani%ate o(Iects, %issile attacks %ade o tside the a ra@s radi s aren@t *enali edH an ogrewho throws a rock at a *aladin 9ro% a distance o9 11 9eet %akes a nor%al attack roll#


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S*ecial considerations incl de these: E2il o**onents e *erience the *aladin@s a ra o9 *rotection as an n*leasant

*hysical sensation, s ch as %ild na sea, a *rickling o9 the skin, a tightening o9 the throat,or a s dden chill# Beca se the sensation is so *rono nced, e2il o**onents can al%ost

always identi9y a *aladin as the so rce, e2en i9 the *aladin is disg ised# Non>e2ilcreat res and characters don@t e *erience these sensations# !onse= ently, they %ay not (es re when they %o2e in and o t o9 the a ra@s range# Nor does the *aladin 9eel anythingn s al when an e2il o**onent enters the a raH there9ore, the a ra in no way hel*s todetect e2il#

A *aladin %ay (ene9it 9ro% a protection from evil s*ell, e2en tho gh the a ra%i%ics %any o9 the s*ell@s *ro*erties# "rotection from evil also (locks atte%*ts ate ercising %ental control and *re2ents (odily contact (y e tra*lanar and conI redcreat res# +he s*ell and the a ra 9 nction si% ltaneo sly 9or the s*ell@s d ration, with the

*aladin recei2ing the (ene9its o9 (oth# -owe2er, the attack *enalties aren@t c % lati2eHe2il creat res s 99er a P/ *enalty to their attack rolls, not P4#

+he a ra o9 *rotection gi2es the *aladin o(2io s ad2antages in %elee co%(at#B t tho gh a *aladin %ay (e inclined to gather co%*anions aro nd d ring a (attle sothat they %ay also (ene9it 9ro% the a ra, this isn@t always a good idea# Strategic%o2e%ent can (e di99ic lt when se2eral *eo*le str ggle to re%ain in a con9ined area, anda 10>9oot radi s doesn@t allow % ch 9reedo%# A cl ster o9 characters also %akes agood target 9or ene%y %issile attacks as well as s*ell attacks a99ecting large areas#

-oly Sword

A holy sword is a s*ecial ty*e o9 consecrated wea*on that *ro2ides a *aladin withni= e (ene9its# +ho gh the sword 23, #oly Avenger Cdescri(ed in the A**endi o9 the

$* is one o9 the %ore co%%on e a%*les, others e ist as well# A 9ew are descri(ed in!ha*ter ? o9 this (ook# Aside 9ro% their e ce*tional cra9ts%anshi*, holy swords are o9tenindisting isha(le 9ro% ordinary %agical wea*ons# A *aladin %ay not (eco%e aware o9the sword@s s*ecial *owers ntil he ses it# .n so%e cases, a *aladin %ay (e a(le toidenti9y a holy sword (y its cry*tic inscri*tion Cwhich %ay re= ire the Ancient"ang ages *ro9iciency or a 9riendly %age@s read magic s*ell to translate # A skilledwea*ons%ith or sage %ay also recogni e a holy sword# 'ccasionally, a holy sword willglow when to ched (y a *aladin, or the *aladin@s ar% %ay tingle when he *icks it *# -oly swords are hard to co%e (y, and a *aladin rarely 9inds %ore than one in hisentire career# 7s ally, a *aladin ac= ires a holy sword nder di99ic lt or e traordinary

circ %stances# A holy sword %ay (e *art o9 a 2enera(le red dragon@s treas re horde,concealed in a ca2e ato* a high %o ntain# A *aladin %ay hear r %ors o9 a holy sword ( ried in a desert r insH in 9act, the r ins contain a %a* that shows the act al location o9the holy sword, e%(edded in a glacier in an arctic wilderness# .9 a *aladin reaches a highle2el witho t ac= iring a holy sword, his deity %ight direct hi% to one in a te%*le on theocean 9loor or a treas re chest on a re%ote island# .n any case, the DM sho ld treat theac= isition o9 a holy sword as a signi9icant ca%*aign e2ent, and design the circ %stanceso9 its disco2ery accordingly#


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When nsheathed and held (y a *aladin, e2ery holy sword *roIects a circle of power 10 9eet in dia%eter# +he *aladin@s hand ser2es as the center o9 the circle# +he circle%o2es with the *aladin and *ersists as long as he gri*s the sword# +he sword *roIects thecircle e2en i9 a glo2e, ga ntlet, or (andage co2ers the *aladin@s hand# Note: +he 9irst sentence in the *aragra*h regarding the *aladin@s holy sword in

!ha*ter 4 o9 the )- C*age /6 sho ld read: A *aladin sing a holy sword *roIects acircle o9 *ower 10 9eet in dia%eter when the sword is nsheathed and held# Within its range, the circle o9 *ower dis*els all hostile %agic o9 a le2el less thanor e= al to the *aladin@s e *erience le2el and creates a %agic resistance o9 30 #S*eci9ically:

All e2il o**onents within the circle are na(le to cast s*ells, incl ding %onstersand characters o9 e2il align%entH e tra*lanar, conI red, and s %%oned e2il entitiesH and%onsters and characters who ha2e (een char%ed or controlled (y e2il casters# +he circlene trali es a s*ell the instant it@s cast# '**onents %ay not %ake sa2ing throws to resistthe circle o9 *ower#

E2il o**onents ha2e nor%al se o9 their s*ell and s*ell>like a(ilities once they

lea2e the range o9 the circle# -owe2er, the *aladin re%ains i%% ne to their s*ells, e2enwhen cast 9ro% o tside the circle# An e2il wi ard can cast a fireball s*ell at a *aladin, ( tthe fireball dissi*ates as soon as it enters the circle# An e2il s*ellcaster@s atte%*ts to%entally *ro(e or control a *aladin Cwith s*ells s ch as (+" and magic 4ar will also 9ail#

Magical ite%s created (y e2il %agic won@t work within the circle# )hysical *ro*erties re%ain nchanged, howe2erH a sword 25 %ay still (e wielded as a nor%alsword# ' tside the circle, %agical ite%s 9 nction nor%ally, ( t the *aladin re%ainsi%% ne to their e99ects# +he 9ollowing restrictions also a**ly:

+he *aladin is always 2 lnera(le to %agic 9ro% o**onents whose le2el e ceedshis own# +he *aladin has the nor%al chances o9 a2oiding the a99ects o9 these %agicalattacks#

+he circle 9 nctions only as long as the *aladin gri*s the holy sword# Sho ld hesheathe or dro* it, he i%%ediately (eco%es 2 lnera(le to e2il %agic#

+he *aladin % st (e conscio s and in control o9 his own actions 9or the holysword to *roIect a circle o9 *ower# A holy sword doesn@t dis*el %agic in the gri* o9 aco%atose or slee*ing *aladin#

An e2il s*ellcaster %ay te%*orarily negate the %agic o9 a holy sword, incl dingits *ower to *roIect a circle o9 *rotection, (y casting dispel magic directly on the wea*on#+he holy sword %ay resist the s*ell with a s ccess9 l sa2ing throw 2s# s*ell, sing the

*aladin@s sa2ing>throw n %(er# .9 the throw 9ails, the holy sword@s %agic is inert 9or 1>5ro nds#

A *aladin is still s (Iect to indirect e99ects o9 e2il %agic# .9 an e2il s*ellcasterses a lighting bolt s*ell to ca se an a2alanche, the *aladin risks da%age 9ro% 9alling

(o lders# !ertain holy swords %ay ha2e additional (ene9its and li%itations# A #oly

Avenger , 9or instance, in9licts O10 *oints o9 da%age on chaotic e2il o**onents# Each holysword descri(ed in !ha*ter ? has its own s*ecial *ro*erties# .n designing holy swords,the DM %ay se the standard (ene9its and li%its descri(ed a(o2e, *erha*s adding a O1 toO3 (on s on attack and da%age rolls against certain kinds o9 e2il o**onents#


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+ rning 7ndead

By ta**ing into the *ower9 l 9orces generated (y his 9aith, the *aladin can (eco%e a li2ing cond it o9 law9 l good energy# -e %ay 9oc s this energy to terri9y

ndead or (last the% o t o9 e istence# A *aladin gains the a(ility to t rn ndead at 4rd le2el# As shown on +a(le 10 in!ha*ter 1, a *aladin t rns ndead at two le2els lower than a clericH that is, a 4rd>le2el

*aladin t rns ndead as a 1st>le2el cleric# 'therwise, a *aladin has the sa%e restrictionsas a cleric:

A t rning atte%*t co nts as an action and takes one co%(at ro nd to e ec te#+he atte%*t occ rs d ring the *aladin@s t rn, deter%ined (y the order o9 initiati2e#

A *aladin can %ake only one atte%*t to t rn a *artic lar gro * o9 ndead# .ngeneral, a gro * consists o9 all ndead that the *aladin can see, within a reasona(lerange Cas deter%ined (y the DM # .9 a *aladin s ccess9 lly t rns 9i2e o9 a gro * o9se2en skeletons, he can@t %ake a second atte%*t on the re%aining two# Another *riest or

*aladin, howe2er, %ay %ake try to t rn the%# +wo or %ore *aladins Cor *riests can atte%*t to si% ltaneo sly t rn the sa%egro * o9 ndead# .9 a *artic lar ndead s 99ers %ore than one *enalty, a**ly the %oste99ecti2e res lt# For instance, i9 a skeleton s 99ers a +@@ res lt 9ro% a *aladin and a Dres lt 9ro% a *riest, a**ly the D@@ res lt#

+he *aladin@s hands % st (e 9ree, and he % st (e a(le to s*eakH he can@t t rnndead (y si%*ly standing in *lace# +he atte%*t sho ld (e acco%*anied (y a dra%aticgest re Cthe *aladin swee*s his ar%s (e9ore hi%, or e tends (oth *al%s towards thendead, then s= ee es his hands into 9ists or *hrase Cs ch as Dis*erse and dis*elU orFall (e9ore the *ower o9 righteo snessU # +he e act ges re or *hrase is * to the

*aladin#

What ha**ens to an ndead when it is t rnedG A D res lt destroys it, instantlyand *er%anently# +he DM deter%ines the *hysical e99ects the 9lashier, the (etter# Askeleton cr %(les to d st# A cri%son 9la%e en2elo*es a gho l, then disa**ears# A s*ectrescrea%s as it is s cked thro gh an in2isi(le *ortal the si e o9 a *inhole# A 2a%*ire %eltsinto a stea%ing * ddle# +he e99ects o9 a + res lt de*end whether the ndead is (o nd (y the orders o9another or has 9ree will# A (o nd ndead, s ch as a skeleton, retreats, h gs the wall, orotherwise gets o t o9 the way o9 the *aladin and his co%*anions# .9 9ree>willed, thendead tries to 9lee# .9 na(le to esca*e, it circles at a distance, co%ing no closer to the

*aladin than 10 9eet# 'nce t rned, the ndead %ay hiss or claw the air, ( t it will take nodirect action against the *aladin, e2en i9 the *aladin t rns away# Sho ld he %o2e within

10 9eet o9 the ndead, the *aladin 2iolates the t rning, and the ndead attacks nor%ally#

Bonded Mo nt

)erha*s the *aladin@s greatest asset is the (onded %o nt, s ally a hea2y warhorse o9 e ce*tional strength, co rage, and intelligence that ser2es its %aster withstead9ast de2otion# +he (ond is *artly instinct al, *artly di2ineH %any (elie2e that thegods (ring the% together to ins re the *aladin has a co%*anion as no(le as hi%sel9# 'nce


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Ioined, the %o nt re%ains loyal so long as the *aladin stays tr e to his *rinci*les# A *aladin (eco%es eligi(le to recei2e a (onded %o nt at 5th le2el# +he %o nt%ay a**ear any ti%e therea9ter# Beca se the %o nt@s arri2al %arks a %aIor e2ent in the

*aladin@s career, the DM %ay wish to delay its a**earance# For instance, i9 a 5th>le2el *aladin is a(o t to e%(ark on a lengthy e *loration o9 an ndergro nd ci2ili ation, the

DM %ay *ost*one the %o nt@s a**earance ntil the *aladin s r9aces# .n all cases, the DMdeter%ines when and how the %o nt a**ears# A *aladin %ay ne2er ha2e %ore than one (onded %o nt at a ti%e# F rther, he canha2e no %ore than one %o nt in the sa%e decade# .9 the %o nt dies or is otherwise lost,the *aladin won@t (eco%e eligi(le 9or a re*lace%ent ntil 10 years a9ter the day heac= ired his original %o nt# Most (onded %o nts are war horses, ( t other creat res can also (eco%e %o nts#+a(le 14 lists so%e o9 the *ossi(ilities# +he DM %ay a g%ent +a(le 14 with othercreat res, so long as they are s ita(le 9or riding, reasona(ly intelligent, and o9 good orne tral align%ent# +he *layer %ay s ggest the ty*e o9 %o nt he *re9ers 9or his *aladin character, ( t

the DM %akes the 9inal choice# +he DM %ay roll on +a(le 14 or select a *artic larcreat re# Regardless o9 the %ethod sed, re%e%(er that only the strongest, s%artest, and (ra2est creat res (eco%e (onded %o nts# +o = ali9y as a (onded %o nt, %ost creat res% st %eet certain statistic re= ire%ents# +hese are reco%%endations, not rigid r lesH theDM %ay %odi9y the% as desired# -it )oints# Most %o nts ha2e at least ? hit *oints *er hit die# A hea2y war horse,9or instance, has /1>/6 hit *oints# .ntelligence# A s*ecies@ listed .ntelligence % st (e at least Ani%al C1 # -owe2er,the .ntelligence o9 the %o nt %ay di99er 9ro% the listed .ntelligence o9 the s*ecies:

.9 a %o nt@s s*ecies nor%ally has Ani%al .ntelligence, the %o nt itsel9 has an.ntelligence score o9 Se%i> C5 # For e a%*le, the war horse s*ecies has an .ntelligenceo9 1, ( t a war horse (onded %o nt has an .ntelligence o9 5#

.9 the %o nt@s s*ecies nor%ally has an .ntelligence score o9 Se%i> or higher, the%o nt itsel9 has O/ o2er the highest ty*ical score# +he *onstrous *anual shows an.ntelligence range o9 />5 9or the gri99onH a gri99on (onded %o nt has an .ntelligence o9 ?# Morale# A s*ecies@ listed Morale % st (e at least 7nsteady C3>6 # +he Morale o9 a%o nt %ay e ceed that o9 its s*ecies:

.9 a %o nt@s s*ecies nor%ally has 7nsteady or A2erage %orale, the %o nt has aMorale o9 11 CSteady #

.9 the %o nt@s s*ecies has a range o9 Morale scores, the %o nt has the highest *ossi(le score# +he gri99on has a Morale range o9 11>1/H a gri99on (onded %o nt hasa Morale o9 1/# 7*graded %o nts# +he DM %ay i%*ro2e any s*ecies o9 (onded %o nt (y adding/O/ -D to its hit dice (ase and 4 to its %o2e%ent (ase# An *graded hea2y war horse

(onded %o nt has 3O3 -D and a %o2e%ent rate o9 1 #

"e2el Restrictions +o %aintain (alance, the DM sho ld consider restricting a low>le2el *aladin@schoice o9 (onded %o nts# For instance, the DM %ay decide that a *aladin can@t ac= ire a


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(onded %o nt other than a war horse ntil he reaches 6th le2el, or an aerial %o nt (e9ore10th le2el# Alternately, a DM %ay restrict all *aladins to the 9ollowing choices:

A *aladin %ay only ha2e a land>(ased %o nt whose hit dice are less than ore= al to the *aladin@s e *erience le2el#

A *aladin %ay only ha2e a 9lying %o nt whose hit dice are no %ore than hal9 the *aladin@s e *erience le2el# 7sing these g idelines, a 6th>le2el *aladin co ld ha2e a 4O4 -D hi**ogri99 as a

(onded %o nt, ( t not a 6 -D gri99on# .9 an nacce*ta(le choice co%es * on +a(le 14,roll again or choose an acce*ta(le %o nt#

!a%*aign Restrictions +he DM sho ld select (onded %o nts with the rest o9 the *arty in %ind, as wellas the *ara%eters o9 the ca%*aign# A gri99on %o nt %ay (e disr *ti2e i9 the *aladin@sco%*anions all ride horses, *artic larly i9 the gri99on has a taste 9or horse9lesh# Ahi**oca%* s won@t (e % ch 9 n i9 the ca%*aign rarely takes the *arty near water# Again,

disregard any ina**ro*riate o tco%e on +a(le 14 and %ake a new roll or chooseso%ething else#

S*ecies )re9erence Bonding re= ires the 2ol ntary *artici*ation o9 the %o nt, and so%e s*ecies %ayha2e their own ideas a(o t what constit tes a s ita(le co%*anion# 7nicorns, 9or instance,will only acco%*any 9e%ale *aladins, while light war horses %ay (e rel ctant to (ondwith o2erweight riders# .9 a %atch doesn@t work, try a di99erent co%(ination#

!haracter Kits !ertain character kits %ay ha2e s*eci9ic %o nt re= ire%ents that take *recedenceo2er other considerations# See !ha*ter 5 9or details#

+a(le 14: Bonded Mo nts

D100 Roll Mo nt01>66 War horseL6 >6< &ri99on0> 1 7nicornLL/> 4 )egas s5> 3 -i**ogri99 ?> 6 &iant eagle> < Dire wol9


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A *ainting o9 a war horse on a ca2e wall %ay co%e to li9e i9 the *aladin ( rns a s*ecialincense# .9 he gathers the scattered (ones o9 a gri99on and casts the% into the sea, a li2inggri99on %ay arise 9ro% the water, ready to ser2e#

Recogni ing a Bonded Mo nt

+ho gh a %o nt always knows when (onding has occ rred, it %ay not (ei%%ediately o(2io s to the *aladin# +he DM sho ldn@t anno nce to the *aladin that he@s

I st (onded with a %o nt, ( t instead descri(e the (eha2ior o9 the %o nt and let the *aladin co%e to his own concl sions# -ere are a 9ew signs the *aladin %ight look 9or:

+he %o nt see%s n s ally (right# A war horse i%%ediately co%es whencalled# A hi**ogri99 9etches on co%%and#

+he %o nt see%s n s ally (ra2e, 9earlessly 9ighting alongside the *aladinagainst 9or%ida(le o**onents or inter2ening when a %onster atte%*ts an a%( sh#

+he %o nt see%s n s ally loyal and a99ectionate# A horse trots *lacidly (ehindthe *aladin where2er he goes, sto**ing when he sto*s, %o2ing when he %o2es# A

nicorn rests its head in the *aladin@s la*# A9ter o(ser2ing s ch actions 9or a day or two, e2en the d llest *aladin sho ldconcl de that he@s ac= ired a (onded %o nt# +o alle2iate lingering do (ts, a 9riendlys*ellcaster %ay 2eri9y the (onding (y casting speak with animals or a si%ilar s*ell#

Ro tine !are

.n general, a (onded %o nt has the sa%e needs as a nor%al steed# For the %ost *art, it can care 9or itsel9, gra ing or h nting when h ngry, and drinking when thirsty#7nless ordered otherwise, a (onded %o nt rests when the *aladin rests# 'ccasionally, the %o nt %ay ha2e to co nt on the *aladin 9or ro tine care# .n thea(sence o9 a s ita(le *ast re or h nting gro nds, the *aladin will ha2e to *ro2ide 9ood# .na dry desert, the *aladin %ay ha2e to share his water# Mo nts o9ten need reg lar doses o9salt to re*lace the salt lost 9ro% sweating# Sick or wo nded %o nts %ay need %edicalattention# So%e %o nts, horses in *artic lar, re= ire daily groo%ing to stay healthy# +he%o nt@s coat % st (e (r shed, then wi*ed down with a so9t cloth# .ts hoo2es % st (ethoro ghly e a%ined 9or cracks, i%(edded stones, and other a(nor%alities that co ldca se serio s da%age i9 le9t nattended# All %o nts a**reciate e *ressions o9 a99ection,s ch as tasty snacks, so9t words, and soothing to ches#

S*ecial +raits

All (onded %o nts, regardless o9 their s*ecies, ha2e the 9ollowing traits inco%%on: Faith9 l ser2ice# A (onded %o nt@s loyalty is nshaka(le# .t o(eys the *aladin@sco%%ands witho t hesitation, ass %ing it nderstands the%# When the *aladin is on 9oot,the %o nt re%ains at his side, 9ollowing where2er he goes nless ordered to stay * t# 'n the (attle9ield, the %o nt re%ains with the *aladin, e2en in the 9ace o9i%*ending death# A (onded %o nt will ne2er a(andon the *aladin to sa2e itsel9H in ga%e


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%ay try again, in2esting another 1>/ weeks o9 training 9or a trick, or />3 weeks 9or a task#When the training *eriod ends, he %akes a second Wisdo% check# .9 this check 9ails, the%o nt is inca*a(le o9 learning that *artic lar trick or task# A (onded %o nt can learn /0 C1d1/O tricks and tasks, in any co%(ination# A *aladin can se the Ani%al +raining *ro9iciency to train other ani%als while

training his %o nt# -e can train three ani%als, incl ding the %o nt, at the sa%e ti%e# A *aladin % st reg larly work with the %o nt to teach it a trick or task# +he e actti%e s*ent is less i%*ortant than working with the %o nt e2ery day# .9 the *aladin 9alls

(ehind 9or instance, i9 he ski*s a training session se2eral days in a row the DM %ayr le that he % st start the training again, (eginning a new *eriod o9 1>/ or />3 weeks# Se2eral e a%*les o9 tricks and tasks s ita(le 9or (onded %o nts are descri(ed

(elow# A *aladin isn@t con9ined to this listH he %ay atte%*t to teach his %o nt any task ortrick he can think o9, so long as the %o nt is *hysically and %entally ca*a(le o9

*er9or%ing it and the DM a**ro2es# A %o nt e ec tes %ost tricks and tasks a to%aticallyH die>rolls or s ccess checksaren@t needed# +he DM %ay ask 9or an a(ility check i9 the o tco%e is ncertain C9or

instance, a %o nt s ccess9 lly walks a *lank s*anning a dee* chas% i9 it %akes aDe terity check # Alternately, the DM %ay assign a *ercentile chance o9 s ccess Cthe%o nt has a 40 chance o9 sa9ely crossing the chas% # +he DM adI dicates all co%(at>related tricks and tasks like any other co%(at action, sing attack and da%age rolls asnecessary# E ce*tionally intelligent %o nts# Mo nts who can co%% nicate with s*okenlang age and whose .ntelligence scores are co%*ara(le with those o9 h %ans need notraining# S ch creat res *er9or% any tricks or tasks their *aladins ask the%, withinreason#

Sa%*le +ricks S*eak# +he %o nt neighs, growls, or %akes so%e other *redeter%ined so nd onco%%and# )ack Ani%al# Nor%ally, (onded %o nts resist (eing sed as *ack ani%als# So%eare only co%9orta(le carrying h %an ridersH others 9eel that ha ling e= i*%ent is (eneaththeir dignity# 'nce a %o nt %asters this trick, howe2er, it e99ortlessly shi9ts (etweencarrying riders and gear# +o a2oid cha9ing and sores, a %o nt s ally re= ires a *acksaddle when carrying gear# +he cost o9 a *ack saddle 9or a horse is 3 g*# +he cost o9 *acksaddles 9or other s*ecies ranges 9ro% 3>13 g*, de*ending on the ani%al@s si e and theDM@s decision# ) rs e# Nor%ally, a %o nt (reaks o99 its attacks when an aggressor withdraws#When ta ght to * rs e, the %o nt chases a retreating ene%y# .9 the %o nt catches theene%y, it res %es its attacks# +he %o nt %ay * rs e inde9initely, ret rning when theene%y has (een de9eated or has esca*ed, or it %ay (e ta ght to ret rn at the *aladin@sco%%and# Stay# +he %o nt stands still ntil the *aladin gi2es it *er%ission to %o2e#

Sa%*le +asks Resc e# .9 the *aladin 9alls nconscio s on the (attle9ield, the %o nt drags hi% tosa9ety, either to a *redeter%ined location, s ch as the *aladin@s ca%*site, or to the nearest


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sa9e location# Strategic attacks# .n a co%(at enco nter, the %o nt %akes its own decisionsregarding strategy and choice o9 targets# +he %o nt %ay te%*orarily lea2e the *aladin tol re away a charging %onster, or it %ay attack an ene%y that the *aladin doesn@t seeCs ch as one a(o t to *l nge a kni9e into the *aladin@s (ack #

& ard d ty# +he %o nt stands g ard at a ca%*site or other location, watching 9orintr ders# Sho ld the %o nt s*ot an intr der, it reacts as directed (y the *aladin# .t %ayalert a slee*ing *aladin Cor other designated character (y n dging hi% awake, crying o t,or attacking# As so%e %o nts %ay not (e a(le to disting ish (etween 9riendly and hostileintr ders, the %o nt will %ost likely react i9 any *erson or creat re enters the g ardedarea# +o i%*ro2e the %o nt@s 2al e as a g ard, the *aladin %ay teach it to res*ond to as*eci9ic ty*e o9 intr der Csay, anyone riding a horse, or any ogre # Recogni ing a s*eci9icty*e o9 intr der is considered a distinct trick, re= iring a se*arate training *eriod# .n other words, the %o nt % st 9irst learn the task o9 g ard d ty, then any n %(er o9 tricks torecogni e s*eci9ic ty*es o9 intr ders#

Search# +he 9ollower can search 9or a *artic lar ty*e o9 ite% in a general locationand, i9 it 9inds it, ret rn the ite% to the *aladin# S ita(le ite%s incl de ge%s, wea*ons, ( ndles, 9lasks, or *arch%ents# S ita(le locations incl de a s%all ca2e, a shallow 2alley,or the interior o9 a ( ilding# +he *aladin % st show the %o nt a sa%*le o9 the so ghto(Iect, the %ore s*eci9ic, the (etter# C.9 the *aladin wants a *artic lar wea*on 9ro% anar%ory, he % st show the %o nt a close co*y# +he *aladin % st also designate the areato (e searched# +he %o nt won@t search inde9initely, s ally ret rning within an ho r i9 itcan@t 9ind the ite%# .9 the circ %stances o9 the search are n s ally di99ic lt, the DM %ay call 9ora(ility checks# For instance, i9 the %o nt searches an ar%ory 9or a *artic lar goldensword, ( t the ( ilding contains do ens o9 si%ilar swords, the DM %ay re= ire the %o ntto %ake an .ntelligence check# +he %o nt locates the correct sword only i9 the.ntelligence check s cceeds# A %o nt %ay also (e ta ght to locate s*eci9ic *eo*le# -owe2er, a %o nt can@tlocate a *erson that it hasn@t (een ta ght to recogni e# +he %o nt % st 9irst learn the task o9 searching, then any n %(er o9 tricks to recogni e s*eci9ic indi2id als# A (onded%o nt can always recogni e its *aladinH no s*ecial training is re= ired#

Bonded Mo nts as Non*layer !haracters

Beca se (onded %o nts are li2ing, (reathing entities with tho ghts and 9eelingso9 their own, the DM sho ld consider r nning the% as non*layer characters# "ike ah %an or de%ih %an N)!, a (onded %o nt has a distinct *ersonality# .t %ay (est ((orn or (old, co%*lacent or c rio s, 9oolhardy or ca tio s# .t %ay ha2e an a2ersionto (earded strangers, a 9ear o9 water, a 9ondness 9or a**les# E ce*tionally intelligent%o nts %ay co%% nicate with head shakes, 9oot sto%*s, or a s*oken lang age, lettingthe% ser2e as con9idantes and ad2isors#

)arting !o%*any


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7nder nor%al circ %stances, a (onded %o nt ser2es its *aladin 9or no %ore than10 years# D ring this ti%e, the *aladin %ay 2ol ntarily dis%iss the %o nt i9 it (eco%escri**led or ill, i9 the *aladin@s Io rneys take hi% to a terrain inhos*ita(le to the %o nt, or9or any other reason o9 the *aladin@s choice# +he %o nt instincti2ely knows when the

*aladin dis%isses it, and res*onds (y d ti9 lly wandering away# +he DM sho ld stagethis *arting as a signi9icant e2ent si%ilar to the %o nt@s arri2al# .9 the *aladin ret rns to the area where he dis%issed the %o nt and calls o t 9or it,the %o nt %ay ret rn# A dis%issed %o nt ret rns i9 all o9 the 9ollowing conditions e ist:

+he %o nt is ali2e and a%( latory# +he %o nt hasn@t le9t the area and can hear the *aladin@s call# +en years ha2en@t yet *assed since the day the *aladin originally ac= ired the%o nt# +he *aladin hasn@t ac= ired a new, con2entional %o nt in the interi%# +he DM a**ro2es o9 the ret rn#

A (onded %o nt a(andons its *aladin 9or either o9 the 9ollowing reasons:

+en years ha2e *assed since the %o nt originally (onded with the *aladin# Manysteeds, *artic larly horses, are too old 9or a li9e o9 ad2ent re at this age# 'thers, likenicorns, (eco%e restless 9or new e *eriences# A9ter a decade o9 ser2ice, the *aladin %ay 2ol ntarily dis%iss his %o nt#'therwise, the %o nt si%*ly disa**ears at the earliest o**ort nity# A *aladin in goodstanding then (eco%es eligi(le 9or a new (onded %o nt# +he o**ort nity %ay arisewithin the ne t 9ew %onths, nder the g idelines descri(ed in the Ac= iring a Mo nt@@section a(o2e# +he new %o nt %ay (e a di99erent s*ecies 9ro% the *re2io s %o nt#

.9 the *aladin is stri**ed o9 his s*ecial a(ilities as a conse= ence o9 2iolating hisethos Csee !ha*ter 4 , the (onded %o nt loses its allegiance to the *aladin and esca*esat the earliest o**ort nity# 'nce stri**ed o9 his a(ilities, a 9or%er *aladin can ne2eragain ac= ire (onded %o nts#

!lerical S*ells

A *aladin ac= ires s*ells thro gh *rayer, I st like a *riest# Ass %ing the *aladinhas adhered to the tenets o9 his 9aith, the deity or greater *ower s ally grants there= ested s*ells# A9ter recei2ing s*ells, a *aladin ses the% the sa%e way as a *riest,e%*loying identical co%*onents, casting ti%es, and e99ects# See !ha*ter 9or %ore a(o t

*aladins and their 9aiths#

!ha*ter 4: Ethos

+he set o9 *rinci*les that str ct res a *aladin@s li9e and reg lates his (eha2ior iscalled an ethos # While an ethos %ay enco%*ass the written laws o9 society, its sco*e is% ch (roader, incor*orating s*irit al edicts and %oral a(sol tes to 9or% an ethical ideal#A *aladin@s ethos de9ines his attit des, sha*es his *ersonality, and in9l ences 2irt allye2ery decision he@ll e2er %ake# +ho gh a g iding ideology is certainly not ni= e to *aladins, the *aladin@s ethosdi99ers 9ro% that o9 other character classes in two signi9icant ways# First, the *aladin@s


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ethos is co%*le , co%*rising a long list o9 general g idelines and s*eci9ic r les# Second,the *aladin@s ethos is nco%*ro%ising, re= iring a(sol te dedication# Violations ha2ese2ere conse= ences, ranging 9ro% re*ri%ands to s s*ensions o9 *ri2ileges# E tre%e2iolations %ay res lt in a co%*lete loss o9 stat s and *er%anent re%o2al o9 all his s*eciala(ilities#

Still, the *aladin considers his ethos a *ri2ilege, not a ( rden# +o hi%, all cond cthas a %oral = ality# E2ery action is a choice (etween right and wrong# With I sti9ia(le *ride, he considers hi%sel9 an e%(odi%ent o9 the highest standards o9 h %an (eha2ior# We (egin with the three general co%*onents o9 the *aladin@s ethos: strictures C9or%al r les , edicts Cco%%ands 9ro% a thorities , and virtues C(eha2ioral 2al es # +he9inal section e *lains how a *aladin %ay 2iolate his ethos, and s ggests s ita(le

* nish%ents and atone%ents#

Strict res

+he %ost i%*ortant ele%ents o9 a *aladin@s ethos are his strictures , a set o9

in2iola(le r les 9ro% the "# that the *aladin % st 9ollow at all ti%es# +he *aladin@sstrict res are as in9le i(le as his a(ility re= ire%entsH they are *art o9 what de9ines acharacter as a *aladin and disting ishes hi% 9ro% other classes#

"aw9 l &ood Align%ent

E2ery *aladin % st (e law9 l good# +he %o%ent he a(andons the conditions o9this align%ent is the %o%ent he sto*s (eing a *aladin# At the heart o9 a law9 l good align%ent is the (elie9 in a syste% o9 laws that

*ro%otes the wel9are o9 all %e%(ers o9 a society, ens res their sa9ety, and g arantees I stice# So long as the laws are I st and a**lied 9airly to all *eo*le, it doesn@t %atter to the

*aladin whether they originate 9ro% a de%ocracy or a dictator# +ho gh all law9 l good syste%s adhere to the sa%e general *rinci*les, s*eci9iclaws %ay (e di99erent# 'ne society %ay allow a wi9e to ha2e two h s(ands, another %ayen9orce strict %onoga%y# &a%(ling %ay (e tolerated in one syste%, 9or(idden in another#A *aladin res*ects the laws o9 other law9 l good c lt res and will not seek to i%*ose hisown 2al es on their citi ens# -owe2er, a *aladin will not honor a law that r ns contrary to his align%ent# Ago2ern%ent %ay (elie2e that nreg lated ga%(ling *ro2ides a har%less di2ersion, ( t a

*aladin %ay deter%ine that the *olicy has res lted in de2astating *o2erty and des*air# .nthe *aladin@s %ind, the go2ern%ent is g ilty o9 a lawless act (y *ro%oting an e *loitati2eand destr cti2e enter*rise# .n res*onse, the *aladin %ay enco rage citi ens to re9rain

9ro% ga%(ling, or he %ay work to change the law# )artic larly a(horrent *ractices, s ch as sla2ery and tort re, %ay 9orce the *aladinto take direct action# .t doesn@t %atter i9 these *ractices are c lt rally acce*ta(le orsanctioned (y well>%eaning o99icials# +he *aladin@s sense o9 I stice co%*els hi% tointer2ene and alle2iate as % ch s 99ering as he can# Note, tho gh, that ti%e constraints,inade= ate reso rces, and other co%%it%ents %ay li%it his in2ol2e%ent# While a *aladin%ight wish 9or a c lt ral re2ol tion in a society that tolerates canni(alis%, he %ay ha2eto content hi%sel9 with resc ing a 9ew 2icti%s (e9ore circ %stances 9orce hi% to lea2e


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the area# When will a *aladin take a li9eG A *aladin kills whene2er necessary to *ro%otethe greater good, or to *rotect hi%sel9, his co%*anions, or anyone who% he@s 2owed tode9end# .n ti%es o9 war, he strikes down the ene%ies o9 his r ler or ch rch# -e does notinter9ere with a legal e ec tion, so long as the * nish%ent 9its the cri%e#

'therwise, a *aladin a2oids killing whene2er *ossi(le# -e does not kill a *ersonwho is %erely s s*ected o9 a cri%e, nor does a *aladin necessarily kill so%eone he *ercei2es to (e a threat nless he has tangi(le e2idence or certain knowledge o9e2ildoing# -e ne2er kills 9or treas re or *ersonal gain# -e ne2er knowingly kills a law9 lgood (eing# +ho gh *aladins (elie2e in the sanctity o9 innocent li9e, %ost kill ani%als andother nonaligned creat res in certain sit ations# A *aladin %ay kill ani%als 9or 9ood# -ewill kill a %onster that endangers h %ans, e2en i9 the %onster is %oti2ated (y instinct,not e2il# While so%e *aladins a2oid h nting 9or s*ort, others %ay h nt to shar*en theirco%(at and tracking skills#

Magical .te% "i%it +he *aladin@s li%ited access to s*ells also e tends to the n %(er o9 %agical ite%she %ay *ossess# 7nder no circ %stances %ay a *aladin retain %ore than 10 %agicalite%s, regardless o9 his le2el, kit, or stat s# )aladins are li%ited not only to the n %(er o9 %agical ite%s, ( t also the ty*e#S*eci9ically, a *aladin can ha2e the 9ollowing: 'ne s it o9 %agical ar%or# +his e cl des all *ieces o9 nor%al ar%or that ha2e

(een te%*orarily enchanted, as well as accessories s ch as a cloak of protection , a helmof protection , or boots of speed Call o9 which co nt against the *aladin@s %iscellaneo site% li%it # A single *iece o9 %agical ar%or, s ch a chest *late, co nts as a 9 ll s it 9orli%itation * r*oses# 'ne %agical shield#

Fo r %agical wea*ons# +his e cl des all nor%al wea*ons te%*orarily a99ected (yenchanted weapon or si%ilar s*ells, ( t incl des holy swords # A = i2er or case o9 arrowsor (olts co nts as one ite%# .ndi2id al arrows and (olts are co nted as one ite% i9 theyha2e s*ecial %agical *ro*erties, s ch as arrows of direction and arrows of slaying # Fo r %iscellaneo s %agical ite%s# +his category incl des rings, rods, sta2es,ge%s, and scrolls# A bag of beans , a set o9 ioun stones , and a deck of many things eachco nt as one ite%# A %agical *otion co nts as one ite%, regardless o9 the n %(er o9doses# .te%s te%*orarily enchanted (y s*ells are e cl ded# +o ens re that a *aladin stays within his li%it, it@s i%*ortant to clari9y who ownseach o9 the *arty@s %agical ite%s# .n general, a *aladin won@t se a %agical ite% nlessit@s his# .t doesn@t %atter who act ally carries the ite%H i9 a *aladin has clai%ed ownershi*,it (elongs to hi%# A *aladin %ay loan ite%s to his co%*anions, ( t so long as he retainsownershi*, loaned ite%s co nt against his li%it#

!on2ersely, i9 a *aladin has 10 ite%s, he won@t (orrow ite%s 9ro% othercharacters# A *aladin won@t look 9or a%(ig ities to e *loitH he re%ains tr e to the s*irit aswell as the letter o9 these r les# '9 co rse, a *aladin %ay not know that an ite% is %agical when he ac= ires it#


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B t as soon as he (eco%es aware o9 its s*ecial *ro*erties, he@s o(ligated to gi2e it awayor to get rid o9 another ite% to re%ain within his li%it# A *aladin %ay 2ol ntarily rid hi%sel9 o9 a %agical ite% i9 he 9inds a %oredesira(le one# For instance, he %ay gi2e * an arrow of direction i9 he disco2ers a 4avelinof lightning #

E cess %agical ite%s %ay (e gi2en to other law9 l good characters, donated tothe *aladin@s religio s instit tion, or si%*ly discarded# Since e cess ite%s technicallydon@t (elong to the *aladin Che won@t clai% ownershi* , they %ay not (e sold or traded,e2en i9 the *aladin intends to 9 nnel the *ro9its to a worthy ca se#

Wealth "i%its

A *aladin has no interest in wealth 9or its own sake# -e seeks s*irit al rather than%aterial satis9action, deri2ed 9ro% ser2ing his 9aith and his go2ern%ent to the (est o9 hisa(ility# +o a *aladin, the *leas res o9 ownershi* are 9leeting, s *er9icial, and lti%atelyde(asing# +he rewards o9 d ty are lasting and dee*#

Still, the *aladin reali es that a certain a%o nt o9 %oney is necessary to s r2i2e#Rather than 9orego %oney altogether, he retains eno gh wealth to %eet his worldlyo(ligations and s stain a %odest li9estyle# A *aladin doesn@t e *ect hando ts, nor does he rely on the generosity o9 strangersor his co%*anions# -e 9eels res*onsi(le to *ay his own way and takes *ride in his sel9>s 99iciency# -e earns inco%e 9ro% treas re, rewards, and 9ees, the sa%e as anyone else#7nlike %ost other characters, howe2er, the *aladin o*erates nder strict g idelines as tohow he can s*end his %oney and how % ch he can sa2e#

B dgetingA *aladin re= ires 9 nds to co2er the 9ollowing e *enses:

Food# A *aladin is res*onsi(le 9or 9eeding hi%sel9 and his steed# +o hold downcosts, the *aladin %ight h nt his own ga%e, and %ay gather 9r its, n ts and 2egeta(les9ro% the wilderness# Wea*ons, ar%or, and clothing# +his incl des the costs o9 * rchase, *kee*, re*air,and re*lace%ent# A *aladin seldo% ski%*s in this area, s*ending as % ch as his 9 ndswill allow to sec re the highest>= ality e= i*%ent# +ack and harness# As with wea*ons and ar%or, %any *aladins s*l rge to ( y the

(est, es*ecially 9or (onded %o nts# "odging# When slee*ing o tdoors isn@t *ractical, *aladins seek o t the leaste *ensi2e inns# +a es and licenses# +he *aladin % st %ake all *ay%ents re= ired (y his liege# -e% st also *ay all 9oreign tolls and 9ees le2ied d ring his tra2els# +raining costs# A *aladin %ay *ay a t tor 9or training, *ro2iding the t tor is o9law9 l good align%ent and the *aladin has *er%ission 9ro% his *atron# CSee !ha*ter 6 9or %ore a(o t training *roced res# Miscellaneo s *ro2isions# .ncl ding %edicines, lantern oil, clothing, (edding, andgroo%ing s **lies# Many *aladins *re9er to 9orage, i%*ro2ise, or %an 9act re theseite%s instead o9 ( ying the% o tright, in order to sa2e %oney# Salaries# Fair salaries are re= ired 9or all ser2itors and hench%en#


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Stronghold e *enses# A *aladin *ays all costs associated with the constr ction and%aintenance o9 his stronghold#Strongholds .n addition to his contingency 9 nd, a *aladin %ay also %aintain a se*arate 9 ndto sa2e 9or a stronghold# As e *lained in !ha*ter 6, constr ction *rices 2ary wildly,

tho gh all are e *ensi2e# A *aladin %ay ha2e to sa2e 9or years, e2en decades, toacc % late eno gh wealth to ( ild a stronghold# A wise *aladin, then, (egins hisstronghold 9 nd as soon as *ossi(leH 1st le2el isn@t too early to start sa2ing# 'nce a *aladin esta(lishes a stronghold, he ac= ires a ni2erse o9 new e *enses,

*artic larly those in2ol2ing *ersonnel and %aintenance# +he *aladin % st adI st his%onthly ( dget accordingly# -e %ay also wish to ( ild * his contingency 9 nd to co2ertwo or three %onths@ worth o9 o2erhead# An esta(lished stronghold ty*ically 9alls into one o9 three econo%ic categories,each o9 which has a *artic lar i%*act on the *aladin@s 9inances: +ubsidi1ed # +he stronghold has no signi9icant agric lt ral or %an 9act ring (ase#Any cro*s or goods *rod ced at the stronghold are ins 99icient to *ay the stronghold@s

%aintenance costs and e%*loyees# +he *aladin % st %ake * the di99erence o t o9 hisown *ocket, which raises his %onthly 9inancial o(ligations dra%atically# .t@s not n s al 9or a *aladin to s (sidi e a new stronghold ntil it gets * andr nning# With care9 l %anage%ent and a little l ck, a stronghold (eco%es sel9>s stainingwithin a 9ew %onths or, at %ost, a 9ew years# So%e *aladins, howe2er, s (sidi e theirstrongholds inde9initely, s ally 9or one o9 two reasons:

+he stronghold was ne2er designed to generate inco%e, 9 nctioning instead as a%ilitary stronghold, training center, hos*ital, or religio s sanct ary# S ch a strongholdre= ires the co%%it%ent o9 a *aladin with considera(le reso rces#

+he stronghold was designed to generate inco%e, ( t d e to %is9ort ne orinco%*etent %anage%ent, ne2er s cceeded# Sho ld the *aladin decide to c t his lossesand a(andon the stronghold, he % st 9irst see to the well>(eing o9 his 9aith9 l e%*loyees,gi2ing the% ade= ate se2erance *ay and doing what he can to 9ind the% new Io(s# +elf6sustaining # +he stronghold *ays its own way thro gh the sale o9 cro*s, goods,or ser2ices# +he *aladin needn@t s (sidi e the o*eration in any way, nor does he ha2e toworry a(o t the *ro*er dis*osal o9 e cess *ro9its Cthere aren@t any # +his is the idealarrange%ent 9or %ost *aladins# "rofit6making # +he stronghold generates reg lar and de*enda(le *ro9its 9ro% thesale o9 cro*s, goods, or ser2ices# +he *aladin ses these *ro9its to e *and his holdings Cto

*ro2ide Io(s 9or %ore *eo*le or to 9 rther glori9y his deity, ne2er 9or *ersonal gain or toincrease his donations to his ch rch or other worthy ca ses# A *ro9it>%aking strongholds ally re= ires e tra ti%e and attention 9ro% the *aladin, or the ser2ices o9 skilled%anagers#

E cess F ndsAll o9 a *aladin@s e cess 9 nds % st (e 9or9eited# +his incl des all %oney

re%aining a9ter he *ays his reg lar e *enses, as well as any %oney not s*eci9icallyallocated to a sa2ings 9 nd 9or ( ilding a stronghold# -e %ay kee* a contingency 9 nde= al to two or three ti%es his nor%al %onthly ( dget Cincl ding %aintenance costs ande%*loyee salaries 9or his stronghold ( t no %ore# -e %ay not stock*ile %oney to ( y


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gi9ts, lea2e to his heirs, or *ay a 9riend@s e *enses# What does a *aladin do with the e cessG -e has three o*tions:

efuse it # .9 an a**reciati2e co%% nity o99ers hi% a sack o9 ge%s 9or destroyinga 2a%*ire, he *olitely declines# C o r gratit de is %ore than s 99icient# .9 he disco2ersa treas re chest 9illed with *earls, gold *ieces, and a (ook o9 *oetry, he takes the (ook

and lea2es the rest Cand he@s likely to gi2e the (ook to a 9riend or a li(rary a9ter he@s9inished reading it # $onate it to the church # +his does not co nt as a reg lar tithing Csee the +ithing

section (elow , as it@s not considered *art o9 his inco%e# $onate it to another worthy institution of lawful good alignment # S ita(le

reci*ients incl de hos*itals, li(raries, and or*hanages# Research 9acilities, %ilitaryorgani ations, and go2ern%ental o*erations are acce*ta(le only i9 the *aladin is certainthat the %oney will (e s*ent on law9 l good *roIects# Within these g idelines, a *aladin %ay dis*ose o9 his e cess 9 nds as he wishes#-e %ay donate treas re to a hos*ital on one occasion, and re9 se a %onetary reward 9orresc ing a kidna**ed *rince on another# -owe2er, he %ay never gi2e his e cess 9 nds to

another *layer character, or to any non*layer character or creat re controlled (y a *layer# Re%e%(er, too, that I st (eca se a *aladin declines a reward 9or resc ing a *rincedoesn@t %ean his 9ellow *arty %e%(ers can@t acce*t it# .9 a *aladin kills an e2il dragon,then walks away 9ro% its treas re hoard, his co%*anions are still 9ree to hel* the%sel2es#

"oansA *aladin 9alling on hard ti%es or con9ronted with nantici*ated e *enses %ay

arrange 9or a loan 9ro% a law9 l good character or instit tion# While (orrowing %oney%ay (e a h %iliating e *erience, it@s rarely an ethos 2iolation nless the *aladin (orrows%oney he doesn@t need or doesn@t intend to re*ay# .n general, a *aladin %ay (orrow only s%all a%o nts o9 %oney Csay, an a%o nte= i2alent to his %onthly ( dget # -e %ay also (orrow the %ini% % a%o nt re= ired 9or an e%ergencyH an o**ort nity to ( y a treas re %a* leading to a holy sword doesn@t= ali9y, ( t %edicine to treat a dying co%*anion %ight# Borrowing %oney to *ay the%onthly o*erating e *enses o9 a stronghold is allowed, ( t only i9 necessary to kee*law9 l good workers e%*loyed or to %ake 2ital re*airs# CA leaking roo9 can waitH acr %(led wall *ro(a(ly can@t# A *aladin sho ld stri2e to re*ay his de(ts as = ickly as

*ossi(le# Re*eated (orrowing is disco raged, and chronic de(t sho ld (e considered anethos 2iolation# .9 a *aladin (orrows %oney 9or se2eral consec ti2e %onths, he %ightlose his stronghold, his (onded %o nt, or any other o(ligation that@s costing hi% %orethan he can a99ord#

+ithing

A *aladin % st gi2e 10 o9 all his inco%e to a law9 l good instit tion# +his 10is called a tithe # .n %ost cases, a *aladin tithes to his ch rch or other religio sorgani ation# .9 he doesn@t (elong to a ch rch or o*erates inde*endently Cas in the case o9the E *atriate character kit descri(ed in !ha*ter 5 , he %ay designate any law9 l goodorgani ation, s ch as a hos*ital or ni2ersity, as the reci*ient o9 his tithes# A *aladin has


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no say in how his tithes are s*ent, tho gh the %oney ty*ically goes towards theinstit tion@s %aintenance, recr it%ent, e= i*%ent, and ed cation costs# A *aladin s allytithes to the sa%e instit tion 9or his entire career# A *aladin@s 9irst tithe s ally co%es o t o9 his starting 9 nds o9 3d5 10 g*# A9terthat, he % st tithe 9ro% all so rces o9 inco%e, incl ding rewards, treas re, wages, and

*ro9its generated 9ro% his stronghold# When he ac= ires a ge% or %agical ite%, he oweshis designated instit tion 10 o9 the ite%@s 2al e Cas deter%ined (y the DM , *aya(le atthe earliest o**ort nity# .9 he 9inds a dia%ond worth 300 g*, he owes 30 g*H i9 the ge% islost or stolen, he still owes 30 g* Cthe instit tion isn@t *enali ed 9or the *aladin@scarelessness # +ithes are d e only on 9 nds the *aladin act ally clai%s 9or hi%sel9# .9 he walksaway 9ro% a treas re or re9 ses a reward, no tithes are necessary# .t@s the *aladin@s res*onsi(ility to get his tithes to his instit tion as soon as

*ossi(le# A %onthly *ay%ent will s 99ice in %ost cases, with the *aladin t rning in 10o9 all the inco%e he@s ac= ired in the *re2io s 9o r weeks# .9 a %onthly *ay%ent isi%*ossi(le or i%*ractical 9or instance, i9 the *aladin is on a %ission hal9way aro nd the

world, or i9 he@s a *risoner o9 war he %ay %ake other arrange%ents, *ro2iding he o99ersa satis9actory e *lanation# A *aladin %ay *ersonally *resent his tithings to his instit tionor he %ay deli2er the% (y %essenger# +ithes carried (y the *aladin ( t not yet deli2ered are still considered to (e the

*ro*erty o9 the instit tion# A star2ing *aladin who has no other 9 nds aside 9ro% 10 g* o9tithes %ay not s*end his tithes on 9ood, nless he 9irst *etitions his deity 9or *er%ission#.9 he@s (eha2ed res*onsi(ly say, i9 he sed his last gold *iece to *ay 9or treat%ent o9 adying child *er%ission is s ally granted, with the nderstanding that the tithes % st (ere*laced#

Align%ent o9 Associates

A *aladin is known (y the co%*any he kee*s# .deally, a *aladin associates onlywith good>aligned co%*anions# Relationshi*s with ne tral characters %ay (e tolerated inli%ited circ %stances, ( t *rolonged contact %ay res lt in an ethos 2iolation# Any association with an e2il>aligned character can (e constr ed as an e2il act# .n general, a

*aladin (ears res*onsi(ility 9or the actions o9 his associates, e2en those taken witho t hisknowledge or consent# -irelings# Witho t e ce*tion, all o9 a *aladin@s %en>at>ar%s and strongholde%*loyees % st (e law9 l good# +he *aladin sho ld do his (est to deter%ine theiralign%ent (e9ore he hires the%# Sho ld a hireling co%%it an e2il act or otherwise re2ealhi%sel9 to (e o9 an align%ent other than law9 l good, the *aladin has no reco rse ( t to9ire hi% and, i9 necessary, t rn hi% o2er to the *ro*er a thorities 9or *rosec tion# .n so%e cases, a *aladin shares res*onsi(ility 9or the e2il actions o9 his hirelings#For instance, a *aladin@s sta(le %aster co%%its % rder# +he *aladin %ay not (e legallylia(le, ( t he %ay (e considered an acco%*lice in an ethical sense# Altho gh thea thorities %ay not *rosec te the *aladin, he %ay still s 99er a * nish%ent 9or 2iolatinghis ethos, *artic larly i9 he was re%iss in in2estigating the sta(le %aster@s (ackgro nd

*rior to his e%*loy%ent# As always, it@s * to the DM to deter%ine i9 an ethos 2iolationhas (een co%%itted#


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-ench%en# A *aladin acce*ts only law9 l good characters as hench%en# As with ahireling, the *aladin sho ld %ake e2ery e99ort to deter%ine a *otential hench%an@salign%ent (e9ore an alliance de2elo*s# +he *aladin % st i%%ediately dis%iss ahench%an who co%%its an e2il act# &ood characters# .n an ad2ent ring *arty, a *aladin nat rally gra2itates to other

law9 l good *layer characters, %aking the% his con9idants and closest co%*anions#Rarely, howe2er, can a *aladin choose the co%*osition o9 his *arty, as 9ate o9ten throwstogether characters o9 2astly di99erent o tlooks# A *aladin coo*erates with a *arty so longas the %aIority o9 the characters are good>alignedH a %aIority o9 ne tral characters or the

*resence o9 e2en a single e2il character %ay *resent *ro(le%s# A *aladin can %aintain a co%9orta(le *artnershi* with a ne tral good characters,des*ite his reser2ations a(o t the ne tral good character@s indi99erence to socialstr ct res# -owe2er, the ne tral good character % st (e working strictly in the interestso9 good# A *aladin is less at ease with chaotic good characters, owing to their inde*endentnat re and lack o9 res*ect 9or a thority# B t a *aladin will work with chaotic goodcharacters so long as their (eha2ior co%*lies with his goals#

Ne tral characters# Ne t to good characters, so%e *aladins 9eel %ost co%9orta(lewith law9 l ne tral characters, ad%iring the% 9or their sense o9 d ty and loyalty to theirgo2ern%ent# +his, o9 co rse, *res %es the law9 l ne tral characters ser2e reasona(ly

(ene2olent go2ern%ents, not des*ots or sla2e traders# A *aladin will coo*erate with a *arty that contains a %inority o9 law9 l ne tral ortr e ne tral characters# B t he %ost likely kee*s ne tral characters at ar%@s length,resisting their gest res o9 9riendshi*# .nstead, he tries to ser2e as an e a%*le to thene tral characters, ho*ing to con2ince the% thro gh words and deeds that a co%%it%entto good res lts in a richer, 9 ller li9e# So long as ne tral characters re9rain 9ro%co%%itting e2il acts, a *aladin contin es to work with the%# A *aladin won@t Ioin a *arty consisting entirely o9 ne tral characters, nless thestakes are e ce*tionally high# -e %ay, 9or instance, work with a ne tral *arty to retrie2e aholy arti9act, resc e his king, or sa2e his ch rch 9ro% destr ction# For less %o%ento sndertakings, s ch as treas re h nts or reconnaissance e *editions, the *aladin sho lde c se hi%sel9# C.9 a *arty %ostly consists o9 ne tral )!s, the DM sho ld e *lain thegeneral nat re o9 a new ad2ent re to a *layer with a *aladin )!# +he *layer sho ld ha2ethe o*tion o9 grace9 lly (owing o t o9 the ad2ent re or choosing another character# E2il characters# Beca se he is d ty>(o nd to s **ress e2il, a *aladin won@ttolerate an e2il )!# -e %ay take the e2il )! into c stody, *hysically restrain hi%, orde%and his e * lsion 9ro% the *arty# .9 all else 9ails, the *aladin se2ers his ties with the

*arty and go his own way# .n any e2ent, inaction is nacce*ta(le# A *aladin 9inds it di99ic lt, i9 not i%*ossi(le, to a2oid contact with e2il N)!s#+hey@re e2erywhere: walking down a street, dining at an inn, sho**ing at a (a aar# A

*aladin@s ethos doesn@t co%*el hi% to attack or e2en con9ront all e2il N)!sH in %anycases, hostile con9rontations co ld (e co nter*rod cti2e, *artic larly i9 s ch an actiondistracts the *aladin 9ro% a %ore i%*ortant %ission, or i9 it triggers retaliation 9ro% the

N)!@s co%*anions against innocent (ystanders# +i%e and circ %stances *er%itting, a *aladin %ay = estion e2il N)!s, 9ollowthe%, or %ake in= iries a(o t the%# None o9 these actions 2iolate a *aladin@s ethos whensed in %oderation# C-owe2er, s*ying and si%ilar actions sho ld (e a last resort, (eca se


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they connote dece*tion # A *aladin walks on shaky gro nd, howe2er, the %o%ent he (egins an association with an e2il N)! that co ld (e *ercei2ed as 9riendly or co%*liant#

Edicts

(dicts incl de co%%ands, instr ctions, and traditions the *aladin has *ledged too(ey, s ally i%*osed (y the *aladin@s *atron# +he *aladin % st 9ollow his edicts to theletterH he takes the% as serio sly as any other ele%ent o9 his ethos# A *aladin doesn@t choose which edicts to 9ollow# Rather, he *ledges to 9ollow anyand all edicts iss ed (y s*eci9ied so rces# +he *aladin chooses his so rces when he

(egins his career# Additionally, the DM %ay %ake reco%%endations or re= ire s*eci9icso rces# Edict so rces %ay (e chosen 9ro% the list (elow# 7s ally, a *aladin@s (ackgro ndwill s ggest a**ro*riate choices# For instance, a *aladin whose *arents e *ect hi% toadhere to their traditions %ay swear to 9ollow all edicts 9ro% his 9ather and %other#

+he DM deter%ines the nat re o9 all edicts# -e also decides how they a**ly andwhen they occ r# At the DM@s direction, a so rce %ay iss e a set o9 edicts at the o tset o9a *aladin@s career# Alternately, a so rce %ay wait to iss e edicts ntil a *artic lar e2entocc rs Cs ch as the ac= isition o9 a stronghold or a declaration o9 war # At any ti%e, aso rce %ay iss e new edicts, %odi9y old edicts, or s s*end standing edicts# .t@s *ossi(lethat a so rce %ay never iss e an edict# .n any case, it@s * to the *aladin to kee* track o9his edicts and 9ollow the% e actly# 'ccasionally, edicts 9ro% di99erent so rces %ay con9lict# For instance, a *aladin@sch rch %ight iss e an edict that clashes with an edict 9ro% his go2ern%ent# .n %ostcases, religio s edicts take *riority o2er edicts 9ro% other so rces# .n all cases, a *aladin@sstrict res and core *rinci*les ha2e *riority o2er strict res iss ed (y any social instit tion#

For %ore a(o t con9licting edicts, see !ha*ter #

Religion and )hiloso*hy .9 the *aladin (elongs to an organi ed religion, the ch rch will *ro(a(ly (e the%aIor so rce o9 edicts# !h rch edicts enco%*ass s*irit al o(ligations, (eha2iorrestrictions, and ser2ice re= ire%ents# )hiloso*hies, too, %ay ha2e their own edicts,i%*osed (y the architects o9 the *hiloso*hy or (y the *aladin hi%sel9# A deity %ay alsoiss e edicts to the *aladin directly, a**earing in a drea% or as an a2atar# !ha*ter disc sses religio s and *hiloso*hic edicts in detail#

&o2ern%ent

A *aladin who has *ledged 9ealty to his go2ern%ent % st 9ollow its edicts# So%ee a%*les: )er9or% %ilitary ser2ice# Donate the se o9 his stronghold 9or any legiti%ate go2ern%ent * r*ose

Cho sing soldiers, entertaining go2ern%ent g ests, storing s **lies, and so on # )ay a one>ti%e ta or 9ee# +e%*orarily loan a stronghold hireling# & ard a *artic lar ite% or *erson# +he *aladin ass %es co%*lete res*onsi(ility


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9or the sa9ety o9 the ite% or *erson# 7ndertake a cavalcade , a long Io rney 9or the * r*ose o9 escorting dignitaries,

deli2ering %essages, or sco ting new territory# Re*resent the go2ern%ent in a Io sting %atch or other contest o9 skill at a

to rna%ent#

A**ear at a state (an= et or other cere%onial 9 nction#

Mentor )aladins who ha2e no ties to an organi ed religion o9ten choose to 9ollow theedicts o9 a %entor# A %entor can (e any teacher, sage, or elder who% the *aladin res*ectsHo9ten, the %entor is the *aladin@s ethical role %odel or the *erson who t tored hi% in

*hiloso*hy# A gro * or organi ation can also = ali9y as a %entor# )ossi(le edicts: +ake reg larly sched led tests that %eas re intelligence or integrity# For

instance, the %entor %ay engage the *aladin in *ro(ing *hiloso*hic disc ssions on thenat re o9 e2il or the o(ligations o9 9riendshi*#

!are 9or the %entor in his old age#

)ass along the %entor@s ideas to a yo ng acolyte o9 the %entor@s choice# C.ne99ect, the *aladin (eco%es a %entor to so%eone else#

! lt re 7nless they contradict the *rinci*les o9 his go2ern%ent or religion, a *aladin %aychoose to 9ollow edicts 9ro% his c lt re# ! lt ral edicts arise 9ro% the long>standingtraditions o9 a *artic lar tri(e, region, or race, and as s ch, they rarely change# E a%*lesincl de:

Marry (y a certain age# Always (ow 9ro% the waist or c rtsy to strangers and elders# -old the li2es o9 ani%als to (e e= al to those o9 %en# A *aladin 9ollowing this

edict ne2er eats %eat, ne2er h nts 9or s*ort or 9ood, and only kills an ani%al to *rotecthi%sel9 or those he@s sworn to de9end#

Fa%ily Fa%ily edicts deri2e 9ro% tradition, o(ligations to relati2es, and the wishes o9

*artic lar 9a%ily %e%(ers# Edicts %ay (e iss ed (y the *aladin@s *arents or grand*arents,or (y a consens s o9 all li2ing 9a%ily %e%(ers# Won@t all *aladins a to%atically choose to 9ollow the edicts o9 their 9a%iliesG Notnecessarily# A *aladin@s 9a%ily %ay not (e o9 good align%ent# +he *aladin %ay (e anor*han and ha2e no knowledge o9 his 9a%ily# Sy%*athetic 9a%ilies %ay not wish to

( rden the *aladin with their *ro(le%s# .9 a *aladin has not 2owed to 9ollow the edicts o9his 9a%ily, his o(ligations to the% are no di99erent 9ro% his o(ligations to anyone else#+y*ical 9a%ily edicts incl de:

Visit the 9a%ily ( rial gro nd once *er year on a designated day# 7*hold a tradition ne2er to har% a *artic lar ani%al# CFor e a%*le, i9 a (ear

sacri9iced itsel9 to sa2e the *aladin@s in9ant sister 9ro% a dragon, the *aladin %ay 2owne2er to har% (ears#

Donate a 9i ed *ercentage o9 all inco%e to the 9a%ily#


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Virt es

7irtues are traits e e%*li9ying the highest standards o9 %orality, decency, andd ty# +hey co%*rise the *aladin@s *ersonal code# Altho gh not s*eci9ically detailed in the

"# de9inition o9 a *aladin, a *aladin@s 2irt es are i%*lied (y his strict res as well as his

o tlook, role, and *ersonality# $ st as a *aladin % st o(ey his strict res, he % st alsore%ain tr e to his 2irt es# +ho gh %ost *aladins adhere to all o9 the 2irt es descri(ed (elow, e ce*tions are

*ossi(le# For instance, a *aladin 9ro% a *ri%iti2e society %ay (e so n9a%iliar withci2ili ed eti= ette that incl ding courtesy as *art o9 his ethos wo ld (e nreasona(le# AlladI st%ents % st (e cleared (y the DM at the o tset o9 a *aladin@s career# +here are no r les 9or adI dicating 2irt e 2iolations# +he DM is ad2ised to err in9a2or o9 the *aladin when the *layer %akes honest %istakes# !on2ersely, the *layersho ld gracio sly acce*t the DM@s r lings and, in the s*irit o9 the *aladin, a2oid looking9or loo*holes to take ad2antage o9 the DM@s good will# +he entries (elow incl dee a%*les o9 how 2irt es %ight in9l ence the *aladin@s (eha2ior in the conte t o9 a ga%e#

Fealty

.n 9e dal ti%es, 9ealty re9erred to the relationshi* (etween a warrior and his lord#A warrior swore allegiance to a lord in e change 9or *rotection, s **ort, and *ro*erty#+he lord, in t rn, co ld co nt on the warrior 9or %ilitary d ty and other ser2ices# Both thelord and the warrior scr * lo sly honored this agree%ent# "erfidy , the (reaking o9 the

*ro%ise (y either *arty, was considered a treachero s (reach o9 9aith# +his (ook takes a (roader 2iew o9 9ealty, de9ining it as loyalty not only to a lord

( t to any law9 l good go2ern%ent, religion, or *hiloso*hy# For con2enience, we re9er tothe reci*ient o9 a *aladin@s loyalty as the patron #

Regardless o9 who or what 9 nctions as the *atron, 9ealty gi2es the *aladin asense o9 (elonging to so%ething greater than hi%sel9# Fealty also sets the criteria 9or a *aladin@s %oral codeH in essence, the *atron esta(lishes the di99erence (etween right andwrong, good and e2il# -owe2er, altho gh the *atron *ro2ides the (asic %oral code, it islti%ately the *aladin who is res*onsi(le 9or and (ears the conse= ences o9 his actions#

A(o t the !ategories "et@s take a closer look at the three categories o9 9ealty *atrons: Religion# A religion is a set o9 (elie9s centering on one or %ore o%ni*otent deitieswith s *ernat ral *owers# +he *atron is s ally a ch rch re*resenting an esta(lishedreligion, ( t can (e a deity#

&o2ern%ent# +his can (e any indi2id al or go2erning (ody with the a(sol te *ower to %ake laws and declare war# .n %ost ca%*aigns, the *atron is s ally a %onarch# )hiloso*hy# A *hiloso*hy is a syste% o9 ideas that e *lains the nat re o9 theni2erse, e cl si2e o9 s *ernat ral (eings# +he *atron %ay (e an esta(lished *hiloso*hyde2elo*ed (y scholars, or a ni= e *hiloso*hy de2elo*ed (y the *aladin hi%sel9#C!ha*ter disc sses the de9inition o9 a *hiloso*hy in %ore detail, incl ding thedi99erences (etween *hiloso*hies and religions# For the * r*oses o9 9ealty, religion and

*hiloso*hy are % t ally e cl si2eH a *aladin can@t *ledge 9ealty to (oth#


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A *aladin always tells the tr th as he knows it# -e %ay decline to s*eak or chooseto withhold in9or%ation, ( t he will ne2er intentionally %islead anyone, e2en hisene%ies# -e %ay ask *er%ission not to answer a direct = estion, ( t i9 *ressed, he@ll tellthe tr th Chowe2er, he %ay 9ra%e his answers in s ch a way as to withhold 2ital

in9or%ation # +ho gh a *aladin doesn@t %ake *ro%ises lightly, once he gi2es his word, healways kee*s it#E a%*les:8 +ir effen has been captured by an evil army. The commander demands to know

the whereabouts of the paladin's companions. +ir effen says nothing. :*y spies inform me that your colleagues plan to arrive at ing elhane's castleby dawn tomorrow,'' says the commander. :Is this true;'' The commander's information is accurate, but effen remains silent. :If you say nothing, I will conclude that I'm correct.'' :


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:!ome with us='' cries 0ordu. :


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his %oral o(ligations# &enerosity# +he *aladin gladly shares his %eager 9 nds and *ossessions withanyone in need# .9 he owns two swords and a elderly h nter has none, the *aladin o99ersone as a gi9t# -e will gi2e his last cr st o9 (read to a h ngry child, e2en i9 he % st gowitho t 9ood 9

The Complete Paladin's Handbook

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