Paladins

The paladin is a special case on the world of Keedrah. Shortly after the Fall of the Dragons, the domed Great Temple was constructed on the isthmus that connects the Aeg and Windman Continents. When the capstone on the dome was placed, the final covenant of The Balance was said to have been enacted, ensuring the gods would keep the mortal creatures of Keedrah from the destruction the dragons were visited, as long as they always stayed faithful to the gods. The masons and builders who were commissioned were imbued by their gods with special powers that would travel through hereditary lines. These workers would become the first paladins.

Rites

A paladin goes through several rites during their life time.

1. Rite of Birth – After birth, a future paladin is baptized by a priest of the order they belong to, and at the ceremony invested with a name.
2. Rite of Training – Age: 10 – The young child is presented with his or her first training sword.
3. Rite of Horsemanship – Age: 12 – The young child is presented with a horse to train with. From this point on their training not only includes combat on foot, but combat on horseback as well.
4. Rite of Protection – Age: 15 – At this age, the growing child is presented with his first real suit of armor.
5. Rite of Adulthood – Age: 17 – The paladin-in-training must perform and pass tests of speed, strength, mental prowess, religious knowledge, and combat. Only after passing these tests is the paladin-in-training presented with his family weapon, and another suit of armor. They then will usually begin doing work for which ever parent is a paladin.
6. Rite of Independence – Age: 19 – A feast usually accompanies this. The paladin-in-training is presented with gifts from his or her parents and friends, and are expected to leave home on holy quests in the name of his or her god.
7. Rite of Paladinhood – 4th Level – The Paladin-in-Training now gains the right to be called a Paladin. Paladins of Lykora choose a last name they feel exemplifies themselves.
8. Rite of the Holy Sword – Usually after completing a Quest for a Holy Weapon – At this ceremony, the last of the rituals placed upon the weapon. The family weapon is then stored away for the paladin's child's use
9. Rite of Scionship – Upon Scion's Death – This rite is unique to the church of Lykora, this comes when a current scion passes away and is replaced by their successor on the Council. The Current Scions turn over the Robes of Office and present the paladin with his or her parent's place on the Council of Scions. Only Scionic paladins go through this right.
10. The Final Rights – A paladin who has perished or is about to perish must have these spoken over their remains by a priest of thier deity before their soul may depart and go on to the next world. Many churches maintain records of paladins and during this ritual, the final record of the paladin's death is taken down. Fallen paladin will usually have such records burned after their betrayal is revealed.