Background for a Mage Hunting Paladin (Long) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Background for a Mage Hunting Paladin (Long) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
00_Whupass
11-16-05, 04:34 PM Alright the homebrew campaign in which I'm playing has an organization of warriors and mages that moniter and oversee the use of magic in the kingdom, the Magus Empirium, I don't have a lot of details, they tend to be a secret organization, which means the DM hasn't given us a lot of information. The reason I know anything about the organization at all is that their hunting my current Warlock character, so I've started building a back up character in case they suceed in thier hunt. I thought it might be cool to play a member of the Magus Empirium, in that light I've built a character using paladin as the base progressing into the Shadowbane Stalker and Shadowbane Inquisitor PrCs since I feel those PrCs could easily represent what I've seen so far of the Magus Imperium, so now that I have the mechanical aspects of the character down its time to move on to the good stuff, background and attitudes.

Caerwyn, is 36 and a vetran of the royal army. He grew up a serf in the countries southern farmlands (have to work with the GM to hammer out the geography) with the typical farmboy dreams of glory and accolades. As a bonded serf he lacked the means to seek adventure on his own, and without noble patronage could not get a post to the king's army.

He grew up and his dreams died, only to return when he was conscripted in the summer of his 19th year. But his military service was not the glorious adventure he'd dreamed about, he spent the next four years as a porter, carrying provisions and minding the baggage train. Still he took the opportunity to learn, chatting up anyone who had anything to say about swordsmanship and the basics of combat. That way when the ranks were low and reinforcments still days away he was able to jump at the opportunity and finally take up arms. After finally becoming a footman he served another eight, mostly peaceful, years before coming to the watershed moment of his life.

His regiment was guarding at pass in the eastern mountain ranges, when word came that their neighbor to the east had raise a force and was marching against them, still worse was the news that the enemy had a large number of arcanists in tow. Knowing that his men's steel was no match for the arcane power of the enemy, Caerwyn's commander sent a rider to the nearest garrison, a weeks ride back west, to request magical aid. Knowing that the rider wouldn't return before the enemy reached the pass the commander sent Caerwyn and a party of riders to a Wizards College seeking succor and magical aid. However, their requests fell on deaf ears, the schools headmaster felt that "trivial matters of the state matter not to my students, we follow a higher path, and couldn't dirty our hands in this affiar". Crestfallen Caerwyn returned to his regiment to face what was likely his certian death.

On the next nightfall the enemy came against them, the typical waves of troops and volleys of arrows, were supplemented by the more spectacular summoned beasts and bursts of flame, but the regiment held. For four days they were able to hold the pass without magical aid, but on the fourth night the regiment had been reduced to Caerwyn and three others, all of whom were resloved that they wouldn't survive to see the sun rise. That was when the Magus Imperium arrived riding into the pass on thier white geldings, surprising the enemy who had not expected arcane resistance, blasting their closed formations scattering there troops and forcing a rout.

That morning in the camp of the Magus Imperium, Caerwyn sat down to tell the tale of the battle, he didn't get far before the members of the Magus stopped him. After hearing of the headmaster's refusal of aid the mages mounted there steeds and rode out burning the Wizards College to the ground. Explaining to Caerwyn that for those with exceptional power to refuse the call of state was a blasphemy, that should meet with harsh retribution. On that day Caerwyn pledged himself to the ideology of the Magus Imperium, took up arms against those magically inclined enemies of the kingdom both from within and from without.

Comments, Suggestions, and Implications of this background would be appreciated.
Fithero
11-16-05, 07:24 PM Good story, i like the whole "determined to see the sun rise" part.

But where does he become a paladin? Its not somthing you can just choose to become, a god actually has to choose you to be a paladin.

Also, the Magnus Imperium, it seemed a tad off that they just went and burnt down a wizards school for not helping. They either would have taken them out long ago (for being wizards) or would have gone and put them on trial (im assuming these guys are Lawfull Good), not simply burn them alive in their own school.

But if the wizards put up a fight then yeah, they could have all been killed/

So apart from those two things, its a pretty damn good story.

I like it.

Later
Jedipilot24
11-18-05, 12:32 PM If this guy spends all his time hunting down magic users, consider making him a Magehound, if your DM will let it. Also consider taking Mage Slayer feat.
erbmjw
11-18-05, 09:37 PM It doesn't seem to me that they would automatically take out all wizard schools - because the orginization oversees all magic with the aid of mages.

In a time of war{invasion} the wizard school seems to have commited an act of gross treason - ie not something small as it lead to many valiant soldiers deaths. So I can see the Lawful Good guys verifying the truth with a quick spell or two on the messanger who was also a survivor of the battle, Caerwyn.

Then they lay waste to the school with a very short and terse message.

"For refusing to aid the soldiers of the Magus Empirium against magical attacks, you have all been judged and found wanting, your sentance. Death!"

***

After all according to the information that was given to us - it's not magic itself that causes the mages to punish the wizards at the school - it was the headmasters refusal to provide aid to the soldiers of the Magus Empirium in a time of great need.

***

As for how he becomes a paladian - same way a deityless cleric becomes a cleric - sheer belief. After an extremely stressful four days of battle like the one his character has gone through then their is a basis for a alteration in the abilities and outlook of the character that would account for an immdiate conversion into a paladin.

Especially if he converts into a mage hunting paladin - mages after all were the ones who betrayed both him and his fellow soldiers, and other mages were the ones who punished the betrayers.

The four survivours were "resolved that they would not see the sun rise" in defiance of the invading forces. If that's not a acceptance of death and near miraculous survival experience { which would alter most peoples thoughts and beliefs } I don't know what you would consider it?

So no need for a deity - but equally a deity could have chosen him because of his defiant stand against overwhelming odds and his resolve{courage} to face the enemy in a battle he could not win.

Either way - he's a paladin.
Good Agnostic
11-25-05, 05:50 PM Just a note of caution about using LG characters as "hunters" or "revenge seekers." Make sure you and your DM are on the same page about what being LG means. For our group, LG wopuld mean that deadly force is a last resort.

Perhaps you might consider a CG Ranger? Your charater was the porter, dealing with the pack animals, wild animals, and keeping his eyes on the trails - learing the tracks of the different horses and units, etc. In addition, Rangers always seem like the natural choice for a hunter type character. Favored Enemy human and a magebane great bow, anyone?

Of course, you'll find out more when your warlock finally encounters the magic police. Do they strike you down where you stand? (sounds LE to me) Do they make you sign an allegianece to the crown or tax you? There are a lot of ways this could go.

Good luck!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
00_Whupass 11-16-05, 04:34 PM	Alright the homebrew campaign in which I'm playing has an organization of warriors and mages that moniter and oversee the use of magic in the kingdom, the Magus Empirium, I don't have a lot of details, they tend to be a secret organization, which means the DM hasn't given us a lot of information. The reason I know anything about the organization at all is that their hunting my current Warlock character, so I've started building a back up character in case they suceed in thier hunt. I thought it might be cool to play a member of the Magus Empirium, in that light I've built a character using paladin as the base progressing into the Shadowbane Stalker and Shadowbane Inquisitor PrCs since I feel those PrCs could easily represent what I've seen so far of the Magus Imperium, so now that I have the mechanical aspects of the character down its time to move on to the good stuff, background and attitudes. Caerwyn, is 36 and a vetran of the royal army. He grew up a serf in the countries southern farmlands (have to work with the GM to hammer out the geography) with the typical farmboy dreams of glory and accolades. As a bonded serf he lacked the means to seek adventure on his own, and without noble patronage could not get a post to the king's army. He grew up and his dreams died, only to return when he was conscripted in the summer of his 19th year. But his military service was not the glorious adventure he'd dreamed about, he spent the next four years as a porter, carrying provisions and minding the baggage train. Still he took the opportunity to learn, chatting up anyone who had anything to say about swordsmanship and the basics of combat. That way when the ranks were low and reinforcments still days away he was able to jump at the opportunity and finally take up arms. After finally becoming a footman he served another eight, mostly peaceful, years before coming to the watershed moment of his life. His regiment was guarding at pass in the eastern mountain ranges, when word came that their neighbor to the east had raise a force and was marching against them, still worse was the news that the enemy had a large number of arcanists in tow. Knowing that his men's steel was no match for the arcane power of the enemy, Caerwyn's commander sent a rider to the nearest garrison, a weeks ride back west, to request magical aid. Knowing that the rider wouldn't return before the enemy reached the pass the commander sent Caerwyn and a party of riders to a Wizards College seeking succor and magical aid. However, their requests fell on deaf ears, the schools headmaster felt that "trivial matters of the state matter not to my students, we follow a higher path, and couldn't dirty our hands in this affiar". Crestfallen Caerwyn returned to his regiment to face what was likely his certian death. On the next nightfall the enemy came against them, the typical waves of troops and volleys of arrows, were supplemented by the more spectacular summoned beasts and bursts of flame, but the regiment held. For four days they were able to hold the pass without magical aid, but on the fourth night the regiment had been reduced to Caerwyn and three others, all of whom were resloved that they wouldn't survive to see the sun rise. That was when the Magus Imperium arrived riding into the pass on thier white geldings, surprising the enemy who had not expected arcane resistance, blasting their closed formations scattering there troops and forcing a rout. That morning in the camp of the Magus Imperium, Caerwyn sat down to tell the tale of the battle, he didn't get far before the members of the Magus stopped him. After hearing of the headmaster's refusal of aid the mages mounted there steeds and rode out burning the Wizards College to the ground. Explaining to Caerwyn that for those with exceptional power to refuse the call of state was a blasphemy, that should meet with harsh retribution. On that day Caerwyn pledged himself to the ideology of the Magus Imperium, took up arms against those magically inclined enemies of the kingdom both from within and from without. Comments, Suggestions, and Implications of this background would be appreciated.
Fithero 11-16-05, 07:24 PM	Good story, i like the whole "determined to see the sun rise" part. But where does he become a paladin? Its not somthing you can just choose to become, a god actually has to choose you to be a paladin. Also, the Magnus Imperium, it seemed a tad off that they just went and burnt down a wizards school for not helping. They either would have taken them out long ago (for being wizards) or would have gone and put them on trial (im assuming these guys are Lawfull Good), not simply burn them alive in their own school. But if the wizards put up a fight then yeah, they could have all been killed/ So apart from those two things, its a pretty damn good story. I like it. Later
Jedipilot24 11-18-05, 12:32 PM	If this guy spends all his time hunting down magic users, consider making him a Magehound, if your DM will let it. Also consider taking Mage Slayer feat.
erbmjw 11-18-05, 09:37 PM	It doesn't seem to me that they would automatically take out all wizard schools - because the orginization oversees all magic with the aid of mages. In a time of war{invasion} the wizard school seems to have commited an act of gross treason - ie not something small as it lead to many valiant soldiers deaths. So I can see the Lawful Good guys verifying the truth with a quick spell or two on the messanger who was also a survivor of the battle, Caerwyn. Then they lay waste to the school with a very short and terse message. "For refusing to aid the soldiers of the Magus Empirium against magical attacks, you have all been judged and found wanting, your sentance. Death!" * After all according to the information that was given to us - it's not magic itself that causes the mages to punish the wizards at the school - it was the headmasters refusal to provide aid to the soldiers of the Magus Empirium in a time of great need. * As for how he becomes a paladian - same way a deityless cleric becomes a cleric - sheer belief. After an extremely stressful four days of battle like the one his character has gone through then their is a basis for a alteration in the abilities and outlook of the character that would account for an immdiate conversion into a paladin. Especially if he converts into a mage hunting paladin - mages after all were the ones who betrayed both him and his fellow soldiers, and other mages were the ones who punished the betrayers. The four survivours were "resolved that they would not see the sun rise" in defiance of the invading forces. If that's not a acceptance of death and near miraculous survival experience { which would alter most peoples thoughts and beliefs } I don't know what you would consider it? So no need for a deity - but equally a deity could have chosen him because of his defiant stand against overwhelming odds and his resolve{courage} to face the enemy in a battle he could not win. Either way - he's a paladin.
Good Agnostic 11-25-05, 05:50 PM	Just a note of caution about using LG characters as "hunters" or "revenge seekers." Make sure you and your DM are on the same page about what being LG means. For our group, LG wopuld mean that deadly force is a last resort. Perhaps you might consider a CG Ranger? Your charater was the porter, dealing with the pack animals, wild animals, and keeping his eyes on the trails - learing the tracks of the different horses and units, etc. In addition, Rangers always seem like the natural choice for a hunter type character. Favored Enemy human and a magebane great bow, anyone? Of course, you'll find out more when your warlock finally encounters the magic police. Do they strike you down where you stand? (sounds LE to me) Do they make you sign an allegianece to the crown or tax you? There are a lot of ways this could go. Good luck!