Seelah - Iconic Paladin

Through a select, worthy few shines the power of the divine. Called paladins, these noble souls dedicate their swords and lives to the battle against evil. Knights, crusaders, and law-bringers, paladins seek not just to spread divine justice but to embody the teachings of the virtuous deities they serve. In pursuit of their lofty goals, they adhere to ironclad laws of morality and discipline. As reward for their righteousness, these holy champions are blessed with boons to aid them in their quests: powers to banish evil, heal the innocent, and inspire the faithful. Although their convictions might lead them into conflict with the very souls they would save, paladins weather endless challenges of faith and dark temptations, risking their lives to do right and fighting to bring about a brighter future.

Role: Paladins serve as beacons for their allies within the chaos of battle. While deadly opponents of evil, they can also empower goodly souls to aid in their crusades. Their magic and martial skills also make them well suited to defending others and blessing the fallen with the strength to continue fighting.

Alignment: Lawful good.

Available Deities: Abadar, Alseta, Erastil, Iomedae, Irori, Kurgess, Sarenrae, Shelyn, Torag, Yuelral

Ex-Paladins: A paladin who ceases to be lawful good, who willfully commits an evil act, or who violates the code of conduct loses all paladin spells and class features (including the service of the paladin's mount, but not weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She may not progress any further in levels as a paladin. She regains her abilities and advancement potential if she atones for her violations (see the atonement spell description in Spell Lists), as appropriate.

Hit Die: d10.

Class Skills

The Paladin's class skills are Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (nobility) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).

Skill Points at each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Paladins are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).

Aura of Good (Ex)

The power of a paladin's aura of good (see the detect good spell) is equal to her paladin level. 

This is granted as a useable feat at level 3 in order to be used as a button that turns on the paladins aura and applies all aura feats automatically. This can be used in the event the paladin loses their aura.

Detect Evil (Sp)

When examining a creature, a paladin can sense if the creature is evil. If the creature has an aura of evil the paladin can also sense the strength of the aura.

If you are of good alignment, the evil aura’s power is overwhelming, and the HD or level of the aura’s source is at least twice your character level, you are stunned for 1 round.

Smite Evil (Su)

Once per day, a paladin can call out to the powers of good to aid her in her struggle against evil. As a swift action, the paladin chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, the paladin adds her Charisma bonus (if any) to her attack rolls and adds her paladin level as bonus divine damage made against the target of her smite. If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the paladin possesses. Attacks made with smiting evil bypass DR Silver, Cold Iron, Adamantine, Alignment.

In addition, while smite evil is in effect, the paladin gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) to her AC against attacks made by any evil creature. If the paladin targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect.

The smite evil effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time the paladin rests and regains her uses of this ability. At 4th level, and at every three levels thereafter, the paladin may smite evil one additional time per day, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level.

Divine Grace (Su)

At 2nd level, a paladin gains a bonus equal to her Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws.

Lay On Hands (Su)

Beginning at 2nd level, a paladin can heal wounds (her own or those of others) by touch. Each day she can use this ability a number of times equal to 1/2 her paladin level plus her Charisma modifier. With one use of this ability, a paladin can heal 1d6 hit points of damage for every two paladin levels she possesses. Using this ability is a standard action, unless the paladin targets herself, in which case it is a swift action. 

Alternatively, a paladin can use this healing power to deal damage to undead creatures, dealing 1d6 points of damage for every two levels the paladin possesses. Using lay on hands in this way requires a successful melee touch attack and doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity. Undead do not receive a saving throw against this damage.

Aura of Courage (Su)

At 3rd level, a paladin is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

Divine Health (Ex)

At 3rd level, a paladin is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases, including mummy rot.

Mercy (Su)

At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, a paladin can select one mercy. Each mercy adds an effect to the paladin’s lay on hands ability. Whenever the paladin uses lay on hands to heal damage to one target, the target also receives the additional effects from all of the mercies possessed by the paladin. A mercy can remove a condition caused by a curse, disease, or poison without curing the affliction. Such conditions return after 1 hour unless the mercy actually removes the affliction that causes the condition.

At 3rd level, the paladin can select from the following initial mercies.

• Fatigued: The target is no longer fatigued.
• Shaken: The target is no longer shaken.

At 6th level, a paladin adds the following mercies to the list of those that can be selected.

• Dazed: The target is no longer dazed.
• Diseased: The paladin’s lay on hands ability also acts as remove disease, using the paladin’s level as the caster level.
• Enfeebled: The paladin dispels any magical effects that are reducing one of the target’s ability scores (paladin’s choice).
• Haunted: The paladin’s lay on hands also acts as protection from evil, but only for the purpose of enchantment (charm) and enchantment (compulsion) effects, making the target immune to any attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target, or preventing a life force from controlling the target (all as described in the second effect of protection from evil). Use the paladin’s level as the caster level.
• Targeted: The paladin’s lay on hands also acts as sanctuary, using the paladin’s level as the caster level. The saving throw DC to negate this effect is equal to 10 + 1/2 the paladin’s level + the paladin’s Charisma modifier. Note the sancuary effect is only applied when the paladin targets another creature.

At 9th level, a paladin adds the following mercies to the list of those that can be selected.

• Confused: The target is no longer confused.
• Cursed: The paladin’s lay on hands ability also acts as remove curse, using the paladin’s level as the caster level.
• Exhausted: The target is no longer exhausted. The paladin must have the fatigue mercy before selecting this mercy.
• Frightened: The target is no longer frightened. The paladin must have the shaken mercy before selecting this mercy.
• Injured: The target gains fast healing 3 for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 the paladin’s level.
• Poisoned: The paladin’s lay on hands ability also acts as neutralize poison, using the paladin’s level as the caster level.
• Restorative: The paladin’s lay on hands ability also removes any magical effects reducing one of the target's ability scores. The paladin must have the enfeebled mercy before selecting this mercy.

At 12th level, a paladin adds the following mercies to the list of those that can be selected.

• Blinded: The target is no longer blinded.
• Deafened: The target is no longer deafened.
• Ensorcelled: The paladin’s lay on hands also acts as targeted dispel magic, using the paladin’s level as her caster level (maximum 20).
• Paralyzed: The target is no longer paralyzed.
• Petrified: The paladin’s lay on hands ability also acts as stone to flesh, but only for the purpose of removing the petrified condition from a creature.
• Stunned: The target is no longer stunned.

These abilities are cumulative. For example, a 12th-level paladin’s lay on hands ability heals 6d6 points of damage and might also cure Fatigued and Exhausted conditions as well as removing diseases and neutralizing poisons. Once a condition or spell effect is chosen, it can’t be changed.

Channel Positive Energy (Su)

When a paladin reaches 4th level, she gains the supernatural ability to channel positive energy like a cleric. Using this ability consumes two uses of her lay on hands ability. A paladin uses her level as her effective cleric level when channeling positive energy.

A Paladin can release a wave of energy by channeling the power of her faith through her holy symbol. This energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.

A Paladin channels positive energy and can choose to deal damage to undead creatures or to heal living creatures.

Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot radius centered on the paladin. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two paladin levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the paladin’s level + the paladin’s Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by channel energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost. Using this ability consumes two uses of her lay on hands ability. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

A paladin must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.

Spells

Beginning at 4th level, a paladin gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells which are drawn from the paladin spell list presented in Spell Lists. A paladin must choose and prepare her spells in advance.

To prepare or cast a spell, a paladin must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a paladin's spell is 10 + the spell level + the paladin's Charisma modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a paladin can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Paladin. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Charisma score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells). When Table: Paladin indicates that the paladin gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, she gains only the bonus spells she would be entitled to based on her Charisma score for that spell level.

A paladin must spend 1 hour each day in quiet prayer and meditation to regain her daily allotment of spells. A paladin may prepare and cast any spell on the paladin spell list, provided that she can cast spells of that level, but she must choose which spells to prepare during her daily meditation.

Through 3rd level, a paladin has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, her caster level is equal to her paladin level – 3.

Divine Bond (Sp)

Upon reaching 5th level, a paladin forms a divine bond with her god. This bond can take one of two forms. Once the form is chosen, it cannot be changed. The bond allows a paladin to gain the service of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed to serve her in her crusade against evil.

This mount functions as a druid's animal companion, using the paladin's level as her effective druid level. Bonded mounts have an Intelligence of at least 6.

Once per day, as a full-round action, a paladin may magically call her mount to her side. This ability is the equivalent of a spell of a level equal to one-third the paladin's level. The mount immediately appears adjacent to the paladin. A paladin can use this ability once per day at 5th level, and one additional time per day for every 4 levels thereafter, for a total of four times per day at 17th level.

At 11th level, the mount gains the celestial template and becomes a magical beast for the purposes of determining which spells affect it. At 15th level, a paladin's mount gains spell resistance equal to the paladin's level + 11.

Should the paladin's mount die, the paladin may not summon another mount for 30 days or until she gains a paladin level, whichever comes first. During this 30-day period, the paladin takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Aura of Resolve (Su)

At 8th level, a paladin is immune to charm spells and spell-like abilities. Each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against mind spells.

This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

Aura of Justice (Su)

At 11th level, a paladin can expend two uses of her smite evil ability to grant the ability to smite evil to all allies within 10 feet, using her bonuses. Allies must use this smite evil ability by the start of the paladin's next turn and the bonuses last for 1 minute. Using this ability is a free action. Evil creatures gain no benefit from this ability.

Aura of Faith (Su)

At 14th level, a paladin's weapons are treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Weapons of allies within the aura are also treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

Aura of Righteousness (Su)

At 17th level, a paladin gains DR 5/evil and immunity to dominate spells and spell-like abilities. Each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against mind spells.

This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

Holy Champion (Su)

At 20th level, a paladin becomes a conduit for the power of her god. Her DR increases to 10/evil. Whenever she uses smite evil and successfully strikes an evil outsider, the outsider is also subject to a banishment, using her paladin level as the caster level (her weapon and holy symbol automatically count as objects that the subject hates). After the banishment effect and the damage from the attack is resolved, the smite immediately ends. In addition, whenever she channels positive energy or uses lay on hands to heal a creature, she heals the maximum possible amount.

Code of Conduct

A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

Associates: While she may adventure with good or neutral allies, a paladin avoids working with evil characters or with anyone who consistently offends her moral code. Under exceptional circumstances, a paladin can ally with evil associates, but only to defeat what she believes to be a greater evil. A paladin should seek an atonement spell periodically during such an unusual alliance, and should end the alliance immediately should she feel it is doing more harm than good. A paladin may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts who are lawful good.