Sword of Malicean

The Holy Order to which Paladins in the Church belong, the Sword is the most politically powerful of the three Sacred Orders. The Sword of Malicean has a long-standing rivalry with the Fist of Reverence. Although both look to the greater good, and the service of ORB, they often find themselves at odds.

The Sword maintains its headquarters, known as "The Armory", in the Spire itself.

The leader of the Order of the Sword of Malicean, the Lord Marshal, also traditionally bears the literal sword of Malicean, Faithbrand, and a stylized depiction of the same emblazons their standard.

Paladins

This character class is available with the following notes:

• Members of the Sword must be of Lawful Good Alignment. Players will be held to this very strictly.
• All Paladins in the Order of the Sword of Malicean must take vows of chastity, along with an oath to uphold their honor and the honor of the Church, and to live by the Paladin's Code of Conduct (see below). They tend to be fanatically obedient, and expect the same of all their companions.
  • According to Jinsei-to, a multiple-century old spirit inhabiting an artifact katana encountered by the Companions of the Rising Sun, the sexual prohibition imposed on paladins is a somewhat recent interpretation of the paladin code.
• A paladin who ceases to be lawful good, who willfully commits an evil act, or who grossly violates the code of conduct, loses all abilities and spells, including the paladin's mount. It may be possible for him to atone for his crimes and regain the abilities, as determined by ORB and the Council (or, usually, their representatives).
• Note that the process of atoning is often fatal, as it usually involves dangerous and solo quests. Additionally, a penitent who dies in the process of atoning is considered dishonored, as it is obvious that he did not have the holy strength to complete his mission, and his name is permanently struck from the roster of the Order.
• A paladin who voluntarily leaves the Sword or multiclasses into a non-paladin class retains all abilities and his mount, but without access to one of the order's training facilities cannot progress in paladin levels.
• Like Monks, Paladins may take levels of the Cleric class without penalty, as long as their paladin level is always at least one higher than their cleric level. The Sword approves of piousness. They retain their affiliation with their original Order.
• Paladins are not knighted at first level, and do not automatically go by the title "Sir". Knighthood is earned (and not just by paladins!), although the general populace will often assume that anyone wearing the emblem of the Sword is a knight.
• The spell Detect Magic is added to the Paladin class spell list, as a first level spell.
• The mechanics for the class power Turn Undead have been significantly revised; please see the appropriate page for more details.

Code of Honor of the Order of the Sword of Malicean

The Paladin shall at all times be the embodiment of the Seven Sacred Virtues: virtus, liberalis, frenum, industria, patientia, humanitas, and humilitas (or in a translation from the Celestial, chastity, generosity, moderation, zeal, peace, charity, and humility).

A Paladin:

• Is at all times chaste, embracing moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment, and rejection of the temptations of the flesh. (Celestial: virtus; Common: chastity; opposes lust).

• Demonstrates generosity, by giving largess to everyone, rejecting material wealth and earthly power, and maintaining at all times a nobility of thought and action. (Celestial: liberalis; Common: generosity; opposes greed)

• Practices constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings, maintaining self-control, abstention, and moderation. (Celestial: frenum; Common: moderation; opposes gluttony)

• Has a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work, suffering no evil to exist while the paladin still draws breath, refusing to recoil before one’s enemy, and making war against the Infidel without cessation or mercy. (Celestial: industria; Common: zeal; opposes sloth)

• Maintains forbearance and endurance through peace of spirit, remembering that redemption cannot be found at either end of a sword. (Celestial: patientia; Common: peace; opposes wrath)

• Offers charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice, respecting and defending weakness. (Celestial: humanitas; Common: charity; opposes envy)

• At all times behaves modestly, selflessly, and respectfully, performs scrupulously their duties, and remains faithful to their pledged word. (Celestial: humilitas; Common: modesty; opposes pride)

Notable Members

• Nigel StoneVault