Virtuous Bravo (Paladin Archetype)
Keeping up on the paladin entries this week, we have a more traditional goodly paladin, though they hardly use traditional paladin arms.
Indeed, the ones known as virtuous bravos combine the divine blessings of a paladin with the daring and panache of a swashbuckler for another one of those “hybrid” archetypes.
Perhaps they choose this path out of a love for the flair of the life of a dashing swordsperson, or maybe they live in a land or noble station where heavy armor simply isn’t fashionable, but these warriors are no less devoted to the cause despite their flamboyant nature.
Regardless, their expert swordplay results in them fighting circles around their foes, keeping control of the battlefield as they strike down the wicked.
Light and agile, these paladins forgo heavier armor and shields, and they also train themselves in finesse weapons, using practice and daring over cleverness when learning advanced techniques.
Their smites remain the same, though they do not grant protection as they do for other paladins.
They make up for this, however, by being extremely nimble, avoiding incoming attacks.
Rather than learn the art of spellcasting, these swashbuckling warriors instead learn to harness their panache and learn many of the same deeds associated with the swashbuckler class. Later on, they learn even more such techniques.
The most powerful of these bravos, however, can learn to knock unconscious, stun, or even outright slay foes by empowering divine energy into a critical blow.
If you really want to mix paladin protections and smiting with the panache and precision damage of a swashbuckler, this archetype is certainly for you. You’ll definitely need to mix paladin and swashbuckler philosophy when picking your feats, and remember that you don’t have spellcasting to rely upon with this archetype.
Given that this archetype comes from Heroes of the High Court, one can easily see these paladins attending fancy parties and the like, perhaps hunting hidden threats and corruption even as they play the role of a dandy. Other paladins might look down on them as flighty, but the wise will recognize that their devotion is no less than any other.
Though he was no mighty knight upon a powerful steed, Sir Armandine nevertheless showed his bravery as a holy warrior when he prevented no less than ten assassination attempts with his flashing blade and acrobatic maneuvers. So great were his accomplishments that he was immortalized in an animate graven guardian in the temple of the guardian of kings, a polished marble statue with a swift rapier blade.
Though clumsy and slow on land, Brother Brine has proven more than capable as a diplomat and guardian for the queen, his throwing daggers proving just as capable as his sword. The triton is rarely far from her side, his presence providing all manner of divine protections.
Holy warriors of the Shining Poet prefer a different battlefield to the ones favored by other paladins. Theirs is a battlefield of intrigues and subtle blades, protecting the righteous rulers from threats that armor and shields are poorly suited for.
