Paladin

There are two components to every paladin: an oath and a patron. The oath is what binds the paladin and drives them forward; the patron grants them power as long as they uphold it. Halcyon granted the Lunar Pantheon the unique right of granting paladinhood, selecting mortals they deem fit to be paladins and coming to them in dreams to bind them to their oath. Lunar Gods are likely to select mortals who they either feel are useful or share similar ideals.   Paladins are hardly all "lawful" or "good"; their oaths are diverse and can vary wildly as long as their Lunar God patron approves it. So outright evil paladin oaths are rare but can happen as long as they align with one of the God's values. Paladins are not sworn to the absolute will of their patron unless that is part of their oath. The patron acts as a judge of whether they upheld their oath, and a hostile patron can make a paladin's life miserable, but the oath is the fundamental source of a paladin's strength.   Paladins are typically chosen by their Lunar God patrons, rather than self-made. Some rare warriors are able to actively attract the attention of the Gods and some elite zealots are able to use religious organizations to make a divine connection, but most paladins are chosen from above.   Paladins can commune with their Lunar Patron in dreams via Dream Contact, with the connection being stronger if the paladin's oath is discussed.  An "oath of devotion," sworn to act by the tenets of honesty, compassion, courage, honor, and duty - to never lie, to fight fair, to show mercy, to aid the weak - could honestly be sworn to any of the Lunar Gods. None of the Lunar Gods are outright evil and all of them see themselves as good, so such an oath would be commonly accepted. Other generally-good oaths, such as the Ancients (protect good, grow communities and nature, destroy supernatural evil) and Vengeance (relentlessly find and destroy obviously evil things) oaths, are also fairly common in areas with lots of supernatural threats but are less common outside of those contexts.   Understanding what oath a paladin might have and how it might be judged, it would be wise to consider the Gods individually:

• Jade, God of Order favors oaths sworn to institutions and traditions, like a kingdom or a religion. She values laws, codes of honor, chivalry, hierarchies, and social codes of duty.
• Ishkibal, God of War and Forgiveness favors oaths sworn with a good-versus-evil military mindset: redeem the good, destroy the irredeemable. He values individual intent, self-improvement, and responsibility to one's comrades. He often seeks the worship and obedience of those he empowers.
• Orchid, God of Progress favors oaths sworn to philosophies, causes, and ideologies. She tends to embrace a big-picture utilitarian mindset and thinks more like a philosopher or a politician than a warrior.
• Hiku, God of Inspiration favors oaths that are interesting, exciting, and ambitious. She tends to support paladins that are interesting even if they are a bit morally dubious or unusual, and generally is more open-minded about what a paladin oath can be. She will often seek her paladin's worship and obedience (unless it is more fun or interesting not to)
• Theia, God of Freedom favors oaths that are sworn to an ideal of good that go beyond institutions or social frameworks. She values those with the courage to fight for good against institutions or even against other less-principled paladins. Not all of her paladins are rebels, but many are.
• Agamine, God of Invention favors oaths that restrict behavior and prevent harm. He is known to care more about not doing evil than about doing active good. He has the fewest paladins, as many people chafe against his restrictons.
• Wimbo, God of Heroism favors oaths focused on the individual traits, behaviors, and qualities of the paladin. He values individual intent, self-improvement, and oaths and actions that could inspire others. He often supports his paladins when they take risks, but can be harsh when judging inaction.
• Emesh, God of Knowledge favors oaths sworn to ideologies, traditions, or strong moral principles. He values those who commit to a belief system, even if others consider that belief system flawed or problematic. All that matters is that it represents a firm and genuine belief system of a person or community. He values consistency, diversity, open-mindedness, and tradition.
• Haru, God of Healing favors oaths focused on the individual traits, behaviors, and qualities of the paladin. They value individual intent and the prioritization of helping the hurt or vulnerable - paladinhood is about selflessness and giving for Haru.
• Lily, God of Nature and War favors oaths sworn to institutions and traditions, like a kingdom or a religion. She values chivalry, duty, a willingness to challenge evil, loyalty to one's comrades, and religious zeal. She often seeks the worship of her paladins.

  The first paladin was Theia the Liberator, the freedom fighter of Sunken Vytara, who was lifted up into the Lunar Pantheon by the Architects. The greatest paladin of all was Patana the Painted (born in Lakara, Maradia in 1700ME).