#magic rolelpay

[nightmarist]

Thanks !

I went into this next ramble thinking it would be short but alas. Here's what I pulled about paladins and oaths (with a bit of dnd history to help showcase why they're viewed the way they are):

Oaths have a lot of leeway. The official Oath subclasses can have the wording changed around to suit the player's needs, as the official wording are mostly just examples if the player or DM struggle with creativity/improv, or just want to quick-build a character.

Haru-sen added somewhere that while the Paladin can be religious, the actual power comes from the Oath itself, rather than a god, which is 100% correct. It's sort of like an internal power brought to the surface by sheer power of will, and as long as your will remains intact and you follow the personal law/creed you gave yourself, you're good.

In 1e Paladins were a subclass of Fighter. In 2e and 3e they were their own class. All three they were also constrained to Lawful Good and essentially say its their Lawful Goodness that gave them powers; if they ever strayed they must either repent to a cleric, lose their powers, or change classes.

In 4e they became associated with gods, being given a patron deity they must share an alignment with. The difference between Paladin and Cleric was minimal on purpose, as the intention was that Clerics were more spellcaster leaning and Paladins were more melee leaning. They had subclasses relating to personal ideologies, but not the Oaths we have now. They were not, however, revoked powers if strayed from their paths. 4e had other rules involving the complexities of ailgnment changes and other things.

It wasn't until 5e that they were given Oaths as subclasses separate from a god. Its a kind of nebulous concept, but I think it sort of reminds me of Magical Girl or Shounen anime, where the character has powers by believing in themselves or their goal hard enough haha. It's kind of interesting.

The way BG3 showcases the Oathbreaker with the Oathbreaker Knight is interesting. Oathbreaker in DnD 5e was initially made for evil paladin NPCs who broke their Oath to pursue evil. BG3 taking the liberty to retcon and make the Oathbreaker just someone who broke their oath while still maintaining "Good" qualities I think was a much better choice IMO. The Oathbreaker Knight helps illustrate that he once served a tyrant and decided not to help someone like that anymore.

Also, BG3 describes the Oath being broken as an emptiness within the player, like the player has Lost something inside them, which is a nice flavorful touch. This I think could embody both the power they are given, as well as perhaps a grief that they realized they went against something they Strongly believed in for whatever reason.

DnD is pretty loose about what goes on with the Oath, how to restore it, why it breaks. Its very "Up to the DM"

For the most part, if a player is determined to have broken their Oath they can try to restore it such as with a personal quest tailored to that character, they can swear a new Oath that better suits the character (usually for people who continuously break oaths which can happen if you rolelpay differently than you thought), be forced to change classes, or unofficially they can become an Oathbreaker subclass.

Zevlor and the other Paladins just magically being restored fits within the DnD canon. I find his letter implies it was just his and others' personal resolve was what restored their Oath when they decided to make sure Baldur's Gate wouldn't turn out like Elturel. I think it's an interesting way to help illustrate the Paladin Oath as we see Zevlor as Oathbroken until he could take up a similar raison d'être to the one he had in Elturel.

Literally alone in the woods, unable to find anyone who'll talk to me about whether or not Zevlor's soul was damned by becoming a Hellrider and whether he got it back before being banished.

[portuscale-hq]

Sharlene “Shock” Lyles | 31 | Fixed–>Wicked Nine | Witch

Realm: Other World

Occupation: Assistant Manager at Boogieman Casino

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: Up to player

FC: Emily Rudd

She is: Clever-->Self Assured-->Fiesty

But also: Selfish-->Domineering-->Bossy

Based on Shock from The Nightmare Before Christmas

OPEN || TAKEN

Kidnap the Sandy Claws, throw him in a bag ||

Oldest of three it was clear who the favorite was. Given everything and more. Every single thing she needed to study what she needed while her brothers were forced to fend for themselves. After all, Sharlene was special. She had magic that the others didn’t and she needed everything she could to master her magic of illusion (her specialty). Sharlene knew what she had to offer and what she could do. Which meant that she was allowed to treat her brothers like they were beneath her. Because they were. Often telling her brothers to do lowly jobs and get her this and that. However, while Lucien grew tired of her ways and challenged her on the daily. Bastion just took it like a dog that had been kicked. Over the years it was obvious that Sharlene harbored no feelings of care or love towards anyone other than their cousin; Osten.

In her eyes, he could do no wrong. She was terrified of him and idolized him at the same time. Wanting all the praise and affection that was given to Bastion. But never succeeding. Not even after gaining the nickname Shock for electrocuting her entire class did she get praise. Instead she was cast to the side and sometimes laughed at. Which was a far cry from what she was used to receiving. Sharlene began to try new and bigger things to try and get the attention she thought she deserved. Going as far as offering up the idea that they befriend his enemy, Jack, to try and bring Osten all his secrets. Though it worked Bastion came out as the favorite once again and Sharlene had to work even harder to try and gain the recognition she needed and wanted so badly. 

When Osten moved, it was her idea to follow. Keep a close eye on what was happening and try to come up with a better plan. But none of her ideas were ever good enough. Still, she prided herself in her cleverness and continued to treat her brothers like they were nothing more than the dirt that encrusted in the bottom of her combat boots. Because to her that is exactly what they were. But now even Lucien is getting more attention than she is and Sharlene feels slighted.

Lock him up for fifty years, then see if he talks ||

Lucien and Bastion Lyles-->”You’re no fun.”

Nothing more than the gum stuck to the bottom of her boots. Even if she won’t admit that she is insanely jealous.

Osten Bogs-->”’Cause Mister Oogie Boogie is the meanest guy around.”

Her darling cousin that she wishes with all her might would give her attention and praise. He can do no wrong in her eyes.

[portuscale-hq]

Adella | 27 | Fixed-->Wicked Nine | Mermaid

Realm: Neverland

Occupation: Match Maker at Love Potion #9

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: Pansexual

FC: Alexandra Daddario

She is: Charismatic-->Gregarious-->Flirtatious

But also: Shallow-->Vain-->Cynical

Based on Adella from The Little Mermaid

OPEN || TAKEN

Ah! If it’s a boy I’m gonna die ||

Even as a child she was hard to handle. Often rebelling in any way she could and way too curious for her own good. At the age of four she became very body curious. Exploring her own body and when caught she would be gentle told by her mother that there was a time and place for everything. That in time she would have all the answers she wanted and needed but for now she needed to focus on being a child. Six years later, when her mother died, everything changed. Adella started attention seeking is bizarre ways and went straight back to exploring her body. This time she used every means she could. Of course, this left her older sister, Attina to give her the sex talk. Which was supremely awkward for the both of them. While the talk toned down her obvious need to explore it didn’t stop it.

As she got older it only escalated. Losing her virginity by the time she was thirteen and exploring her sexuality in other ways. Attina was the one who took her to get on birth control. She told her that while she wasn’t too happy that her little sister was sleeping around that if she was going to be doing sexual activities that she needed to be safe. Adella got ignored most of the time with everyone else chased after Ariel. It was the perfect time for her to sneak away and do whatever she wanted. And that was the male population. But soon after one of her latest conquests, she started to be slut shamed and her name was smeared through the mud. Being the daughter of Triton, Adella needed to fix this. Her father couldn’t have any bad reputation attached to his name. But it was too late and the damage had been done.

Her father was furious with her. Screaming and throwing things and threatening to kick her out of the house. After all, Adella was an adult now and should be out on her own anyways. With most of his daughters already gone to another realm it gave him an idea. But everything that he had previously said had already done its damage. Adella was hurt and couldn’t believe the things her father has said to her. How dare he! She was his child still after all! With that, she wouldn’t listen to another word that her father had to say and packed her bags. Telling him she was moving realms and he would see how wrong he was about her.

I still didn’t get to kiss a boy ||

Attina-->Sisterly love

The only one in the family that she remotely wants to have anything to do with. She was the only one who ever really tried to form a real relationship with her.

Hans Westergaard-->Eye Candy

He’s suave, he’s wealthy and he’s attractive. Everything in a man that she wants. And she will make it happen.