roleplaying the oath of the ancients

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

pukunui

Dec 31, 2014 17:37:06

Hi folks,

 

I'm looking at playing a paladin who's taken the Oath of the Ancients. I really like the sound of the oath's tenets, but I'm not entirely sure how I would go about applying them to my character's actions in-game. In case you haven't got your book handy, they are:

 

  • Kindle the Light. Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair.
  • Shelter the Light. Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren.
  • Preserve Your Own Light. Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can't preserve it in the world.
  • Be the Light. Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds.

#2

CulveDaddy

Dec 31, 2014 18:07:53

You are basically an incarnation of benevolence. I feel like this is simple to roleplay.

#3

pukunui

Dec 31, 2014 18:17:59

CulveDaddy wrote:
#4

BRJN

Dec 31, 2014 18:24:36

You tend to Chaotic Good (random acts of kindness).

 

You are a patron of the arts.  Look for a "Shakespeare" - a master craftsman of language.  Send him a chunk of your loot, with an attached note "My normal seat in Box Five, next performance due at the top of the month."  Also be charitable to "street musicians"; one of them may turn out to be a 'diamond in the rough'.

 

"God has a soft spot in his heart for children, fools, drunks, and the United States of America" - The "Iron Chancellor", Otto von Bismarck.  Your character can easily find the first two, anyways, and may have to grit teeth to endure the third.

 

If that family heirloom magic sword can Banish Outsiders, use IT to smite the final blow.  The other devils &c will take care of the messy stuff for you, when their defeated companion shows up.

 

Ask your DM what he thinks about "all orcs are always irredeemably Evil" &c.  No point in launching a personal genocide campaign if they do not in fact deserve it.

 

Offer mercy when your side has such obvious advantage that retreat or surrender is the enemy's best option(s).  They might ignore you, but you DID make the effort.

 

You might be able to excuse committing misdemeanors in order to prevent somebody else committing a felony.  Own up to your deeds; don't try to slide out with 'I'm a Paladin trust me'.  Star Trek 3(?) Admiral Kirk's statement to the Court and his general demeanour at his Starfleet court-martial should be your guide.  Also this: 

"Yes, Your Honor, I did break into the Necromancer's lair in the City sewers.  I did encourage my companions to come with me.  We did do much damage to his property.  I did steal from him that paper which is in the scroll case before you.  If you would allow your Court Wizard to examine it, he can tell you about the ritual written thereon - which will slay every child within a mile of the caster, should it be performed.  I believe you will agree that the threat of such mass murder provides mitigating circumstances unique to this case.  I do not ask you to let me go scot-free; I submit to you that the proper punishment for myself, would be the minimum the Law demands."

 

Haggling for a discount should be no problem if haggling is the normal form of price-setting (market / bazaar).  If merchants put out a price tag, pay it without further ado (USA).

 

If the other PCs are a bunch of murderhoboes, they likely won't want a Paladin in "their" group anyways.  Better ask before too much longer.  (Although if this is a long-term group you should already have a good feel for if a major problem is likely in the near future.)

 

Magic mind control: the low-level spells are self-limiting because the target hates you when the spell wears off.  This works for your purposes: the cost must be weighed before using, so no lightly suborning another's will.

(Reply to #3)

CulveDaddy

pukunui wrote:
#6

pukunui

Dec 31, 2014 18:42:24

CulveDaddy wrote:
#7

iserith

Dec 31, 2014 22:11:09

pukunui wrote:
(Reply to #7)

Reius

iserith wrote:
#9

pukunui

Dec 31, 2014 22:33:56

iserith wrote:
#10

Erifnogard

Jan 01, 2015 7:38:40

pukunui wrote:
#11

The_Stray

Jan 01, 2015 8:59:13

One of our PCs back in the day was a holy warrior in the Goddess of Love and Beauty's service. The Oath of the Ancients would have fit that character perfectly.

 

Here is how he played it: he was Chaotic Good, interested in protecting art and beauty in the wolrd. He took time to keep up personal appearances to serve as an example to others. He was a poet (though with no ranks in Perform, not a great one). He stuck to these principles:

 

  • Seek beauty and love in all its forms. If you may make the world more beautiful, do so, through kindness, acts of charity, or simply being a friendly ear.

  • Follow your passions in love and art wherever your heart might lead you. If your life and your toil may protect or recover something that makes the world better, give it freely.

  • Bring light to the darkness, and hold back the tide of evil. Never lose hope or faith, and help those who have learn to find their way once more.

This was the code we'd worked out to allow him to play a Chaotic Good paladin, and it works for a follower of the oath of ancients. Basically, his goals were to protect people and serve as an example to others. He had no qualms about fighting the good fight against things like demons and devils, but he gave other creatures, creatures which had the capacity to change, the benefit of the doubt. He was also a bit of a flirt, but was in a long-term relationship with one of the major NPCs of that campaign.

 

I hope this is helpful.

#12

BRJN

Jan 01, 2015 9:00:17

Reius wrote:
#13

BRJN

Jan 01, 2015 9:07:30

pukunui wrote:
#14

pukunui

Jan 01, 2015 11:20:30

BRJN wrote:
#15

cowleymen

Jan 01, 2015 12:55:51

pukunui wrote:
#16

Reius

Jan 01, 2015 17:26:54

BRJN wrote:
#17

pukunui

Jan 01, 2015 17:57:27

I don't know anything about Green Lantern myself.

#18

BRJN

Jan 02, 2015 10:04:34

Upon further review, I have to correct the record:

 

The Blind Green Lantern won for Coolest Avenger's Oath, followed by the normal one (as reprinted above). 

A tolling bell, instead of a shining light.

 

Pukunui -

My (teenaged) kids laughed when I had them read "Bill and Ted oath a paladin".  Neither of them know who Bill and Ted were, though.

My daughter made a connection with the "surfer dude" turtle in Finding Nemo

 

There could be a fun-to-play Paladin of Neptune in there someplace.

#19

Psikerlord

Jan 02, 2015 19:07:44

pukunui wrote:
#20

pukunui

Jan 08, 2015 13:35:42

While I realize on an intellectual level that an Ancients paladin needn't be a tree-hugging vegetarian, I can't seem to shake that impression out of my mind. I suppose one might take inspiration from the American Indian way of life - eg. You take only what you need, be it animal or plant. I imagine an Ancients paladin would disapprove of hunting for sport.

 

What if an Ancients paladin finds herself in a situation requiring deception and subterfuge and is faced with things that go against her oath, yet to act would be to blow her cover (and possibly that of her allies)? Would she have to just suffer in silence? I am put in mind of the phrase "don't hide your light under a basket", which would seem to be something an Ancients paladin would say, and yet it seems like in a situation like this, that's exactly what she would have to do.

 

By way of example, say the paladin and her allies are forced to play nice to an obviously evil lord who delights in animal cruelty and that sort of thing. How would the paladin react in a situation like that without giving the game away? Would she even be able to do that, or would her oath compel her to act in a forthright way to defend the animals or whatever? Would she just privately vow to make up for the creatures' suffering in some small way that doesn't involve directly confronting the cause of the suffering?

 

What if the paladin and her allies were invited to a party thrown by the villain. I imagine Ancients paladins love parties, but this party involves cruelty and decadence. What then? Does the paladin just grin and bear it and make the most of it?

 

 

I guess what I'm getting at here is: how would an Ancients paladin react to a situation where the darkness is clearly beating the light in some small way and yet she is powerless to stop it?

#21

Beldak_Serpenthelm

Jan 08, 2015 13:57:14

pukunui wrote:
#22

pukunui

Jan 08, 2015 14:25:58

Beldak_Serpenthelm wrote:
#23

Leugren

Jan 08, 2015 15:33:45

pukunui wrote:
#24

pukunui

Jan 08, 2015 15:45:03

That makes sense. I imagine a paladin would also be focused on the greater good / greater evil. The evil king might like to torture animals or whatever but assassinate him and who's to say someone even worse won't take his place?

#25

Leugren

Jan 08, 2015 16:00:37

pukunui wrote:
#26

BRJN

Jan 08, 2015 18:36:57

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom:

Willie is stuffing the stolen diamond-filled "sacred stones" into a backpack.

"Indiana, it's time to go."

Indy hears a whip crack and a scream from deep in the tunnels.

"Right.  ALL of us."

 

Who your Paladin wants to be when he grows up to be a Real Hero.

 

When your group plans out the assault on the animal-torturing king's fortress, you are the one to point out that the PCs cannot be the only ones who take their leave.

 

Comic inspiration: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

#27

Psikerlord

Jan 08, 2015 19:06:02

pukunui wrote:
#28

pukunui

Jan 08, 2015 20:57:08

Psikerlord wrote:
#29

shpelley

Jan 09, 2015 9:38:47

pukunui wrote:
#30

pukunui

Jan 09, 2015 10:21:27

Good stuff! Thanks.

#31

Istbor

Jan 09, 2015 15:14:38

shpelley wrote:
#32

pukunui

Jan 09, 2015 15:20:58

Istbor wrote:
#33

The_Stray

Jan 10, 2015 9:47:15

I think much of the character's responses to the outlined situations are actually going to depend more on the Paladin's judgement, personality, and whether or not the Oath is something that is supernaturally enforced (the paladin loses powers if they fail to live up to their code) or more a set of ideals the paladin strives for (in cases where punishment for breaking the oath comes from one's peers in the order). People fail to live up to their ideals all the time, either for the sake of tact, expediency, a lack of courage, or out of concern for the consequences (either real or imagined). It might also be helpful to consider whether your character is more concerned with keeping to the letter of the oath, or the spirit of the oath. This is, natrually, at the heart of roleplaying, and these are decisions only your character can make. Put yourself in your character's head, and ask her--has she ever encountered a situation like the one described in the hypotheticals? How did she react? Or has she not yet encountered such a test to her ideals and oath?

#34

Knight_Marshal

Jan 11, 2015 6:52:29

The_Stray wrote:
#35

Jargogle

Jan 11, 2015 17:05:10

My take is that Ancients paladins are obviously kind, etc. but that's not good enough; they have to be the Light. They have to be a beacon. They should live life fully and delight and bring life, love, and happiness. They can live life large. They'll be the paladin to sing a great song in the inn, buy everyone a round of drinks (but not to excess), tell tales of beauty, dance, share jokes, and even indulge in a little romance and roll in the hay (life, love, happiness!) leaving their partner with a smile on their lips and a fond memory of a great night when they and all around them felt truly alive. A night when all were happy, when beauty, song, and love were all, and despair was vanquished. They breathe deep of the sweet air and smile, pause to watch the sunrise in all its glory (encouraging their allies to stop and savour it too) and clap their comrades on the backs with a broad grin and hopes for the day ahead. They are paladins you want to spend time with; they love life and beauty, they shine with it, they are often irrepressibly positive and good-natured, and whether brash and a little bombastic (ala Porthos of the Musketeers or Aquaman from Batman: The Brave and the Bold) or quieter and more relaxed, there's absolutely no mistaking their presence.

#36

pukunui

Jan 11, 2015 17:27:27

Thanks Jargogle. Especially for the specific examples. So far I've got Qui-Gon Jinn, Glorfindel (and other Tolkien elves), and Porthos as role models. Anyone got any more suggestions?

#37

Jargogle

Jan 11, 2015 18:25:58

If you've never watched Batman the Brave and the Bold, seek out 'Journey to the Centre of the Bat' episode and watch Aquaman for a great, larger-than-life bombastic inspiration. Outrageous! Even the clip of the episode on YouTube gives you a flavour (though it gets much better when he meets Platelet, his trusty steed, and even Atom is having fun by the end of the episode).

#38

pukunui

Jan 11, 2015 18:42:37

I have not. I will look into it. Thanks.

 

EDIT: I've found heaps of good examples of neutral good characters on TV Tropes. How could I forget James T Kirk?!


Qui-Gon is there too. I reckon he might be the best role model. Not only is he a good example of the neutral good alignment, but also of an Oath of the Ancients style paladin. Paladins and Jedi have a lot in common, after all.

#39

Jargogle

Jan 11, 2015 18:40:46

Some clips:

Clip One

Clip Two

Clip Three

#40

pukunui

Jan 11, 2015 18:50:45

Yes, I can see what you mean there. It seems compelled to always put a positive spin on things. I can see an Oath of the Ancients paladin being like that. It'll be a challenge for me.

#41

shpelley

Jan 12, 2015 5:43:43

Istbor wrote:
#42

pukunui

Jan 12, 2015 9:58:27

I wasn't even talking about doing jobs for the evil king. Just hanging out with him at a party.

#43

Istbor

Jan 12, 2015 14:34:30

pukunui wrote:
#44

pukunui

Jan 12, 2015 15:15:54

Istbor wrote: