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Sunflowers by Brankauti

 

"...by working together against injustice, we can always prevail."
- Darla

 

Agave by TxPaladinWarrioress

 

Tailen

Why am I a Paladin? I'm honestly not sure that I am. I do not think the mantel fits ill on me, simply, I do not think it covers me enough.

Whatever external fires and trials forge the life of a Paladin, I have not been burned in. My roots are those of a Wizard and Rogue and even a Warrior; yet whatever burned in those fires -now bearing their touch and shape- held inside something quite different, and that is what glows inside of me; what holds the fires that forged me.

As a child my parents dropped me off at the library instead of the daycare, and books were nearly all I had for friends. While everyone else read Clifford and the Gingerbread man, I learned Poe and Stephen King and dreamed with Enstien.

I always burned to stand up for what I believed in and was admittedly talented at martial arts, stood up to teachers, adults, bullies, etc.

I also was naturally adept at clever pranks and contrivance, loved ciphers, secrets, gizmos, etc. and I even loved the stage -though perhaps for a very different reason than anyone else I know. -and could stand up for something, against someone if need be that a direct approach would fail at, with my talents and/or pranks. I can still make a dead accurate classroom-range catapault from a large paperclip as need be, and wear a very old ring of mine made with a sliver of mirror, temp glue and paperclip wire for peaking around corners and signal spots.

Just, somehow, I never grew up to be any of those things. I'm growing as a Paladin and as the science of a Wizard suggests, I've taken the test a couple times to eliminate error and discovered that every time, I am Paladin (22), with nothing ever higher.

I reread just now, what a paladin is and means, and I realize I fufill every quality.

I am the sweetest guy in many people's lives, full of compassion and care.

I prefer to see the past full and alive but in a way that is timeless and new and a part of the present, while all of today is being wisely guided to the future.

I have a core character trait which is a constant thirst and expression of genuineness, realness, of being natural without being arbitrary, so doing what feels real and genuine isn't much different from doing what's right because for me, they're one and the same if you trust a higher level of knowing, of awareness than what is written in law. You trust your heart, your mind, your faith most of all.

I greatly prefer feminine company because of how many ways you can have to show them you care, and the contented satisfaction I get from doing so. Rogues may find me pleasantly shocking company; I am one of the quiet ones, yet my penchance for grace and skill of romance has never had less than the deepest of blushes and acceptance.

Yet mind you, I show I care to everyone I discover is worth it. I've learned that naivette is not the friend of wisdom, only innocence is, and innocence isn't an easily damaged or lost trait; it's simply the absence of corruption, and will survive giving into temptation if doing so hasn't corrupted you. I myself have tasted the joys of gluttony and lust and found that I cannot stomache them, for they weren't real or natural joys.

I tend to look for beauty where mainstream avoids or abhors it while equally delighting where it is easily found. You'll find me in love with the peace of a tranquil country valley or in halcyon beauty at a local cemetary beneath the wings of a concrete angel-quietly paying my respects to the artist and the passed.

Natural or needed Death is as beautiful as it is horrible. Untimely, murderous, etc. however, are often how death is painted, and then yes, it is ugly indeed.

Am I a Paladin? I honestly don't know. All I can say is, no matter what, no matter when or where, I am ALWAYS my own genuine self, and seek genuineness in others. I believe that genuiness is open and kind, gentle as well as firm, and that it a way to transcend obstacles so you can connect to another person's spirit. I am always there to talk to, even if I don't know what to say, I'll always have something to cheer you with, cooking, a sincere embrace, a flower or other gift, music, words or to even sit with you in your pain and darkness for a while until you're ready to see that it keeps away numbness and depression-for how like undeath are those states?-and help you cope with the pain, to grow with what you're dealing with until you've drawn all its strength into your own strength.

If I am a Paladin then it is because I live for and love true beauty; strive for ever more dynamic balance within me; and most of all I know what it is like to be someone, because I've known their shoes and even worn them for a time. It keeps me from judging people the way others do; my only judgement on a person is how genuine they are in every way.
I'm Paladin (22), and I'm 22 years into this life. I wonder if there is a connection.

Fit Falcon

Why am I a Paladin? I have often wondered this myself, and honestly up until awhile ago I wouldn't have been able to answer. Recently a friend of mine went though a rough time. She turned to me because I happened to be the only other person around. I listened to her problem and gave her my assessment. I never told her what to do as I feel it is important for people to figure things out on their own. Still, just my listening was all she needed to see things through, and is now quite happy.

That is why I am a Paladin. Because no matter what you think, a single person really can make a difference. It doesn't even have to be anything really huge either, just the simple act of listening is sometimes all it takes. To know you have helped just one person makes all the hardships that come with being a Paladin well worth it. All that matters to me is that someone, somewhere is better off, even if just a little, because I lived. That is what brought me to this lifestyle, and that is what will hopefully keep me on it for as long as I live.

Kate

I am a Paladin because I yearn for things that are not currently in my life. I want to save the world, one day at a time. I believe that there are problems in this world that people like to ignore. For example, I approached my husband about adopting a child. I feel that I have the time and energy and certainly the drive to help another soul. He said that if a child was on his doorstep, he would answer and help that child, but he didn’t feel we needed to go out of our way to seek that child out.

I can barely express how much I disagree with this. It is easy in the big world of small cliques to ignore problems you do not see. I believe that it is everyone’s problem. There are children without parents to love them and who do not get Christmas- it is everyone’s problems. Some sweet loving dog gets euthanized because no one wants him- it is everyone’s problem. The rainforest gets bulldozed to make cattle farms- it’s everyone’s problem. Another species goes extinct- it’s everyone’s problem.

I believe in seeking these and other things out because someone needs to. Because I cannot save them all, but it makes a difference to the one I can save. Because if I was not there as a friend, she would feel alone during the worst time of her life. And that matters to me. It may be hard on this path. I may be tempted to give up, but I will not. There are many easier paths, but the difficulty of the path is not even a consideration. I will have the strength, because I have been to my worst personal hell and came back again.

Mikey

I feel I didn't choose to be a Paladin, but rather that's how I was put together. A higher sense of duty, loyalty, friendship and eventually family. A lot of things could be different in my life. I could be less fortunate than I am now. I try to look past the " cover " of people and see straight to spirit. I have been proven wrong before, but so far a person's eye's tell a lot. Not just looking at clothes, shoes, skin, hair and other things. But what I feel after looking a person directly in the eye. There no way of pinpointing why, how where or under what circumstances. Just instinct.

Strength is another topic all together. Strength and spirit come from within. No one gets anything done alone. I can't get strength or get stronger by myself. I depend on the past memories of people, places, situations, women, vanity and pride to help me get through the struggle of everyday living ( or dying ).

With all that said let me help explain 3 main types of strength. Physical, Mental and Spiritual. Physical = the body, Mental = the mind, Spiritual = the soul. None can surpass the other or survive without the other. The mind body and soul work just like any other muscle in the body. Exercise to gain mass and strength. Get lazy and the muscle will deteriorate and eventually die = the mind body and soul.

So the mind can get stronger by reading learning new thing with application of course. The body must be exerted and worked to get strong. But the spirit, how to make the spirit stronger? Believers know the answer to this question because the created is never greater than the creator. So give praise where it is due and things will get smooth.

Brankauti

Though there are times in everyone's life in which they change dramatically and grow into something they once weren't, because of circumstance, and sometimes even terrible tragedy, I don't think I became a Paladin in so jolting a manner. When I look back on my life, I see a girl who grew up with the seeds of a Paladin's love, concern, and creativity in her heart, and they took root over years, and not with the pain and necessity of a change that happens in an instant.

There were hard times as a child for me. Anyone who knows me in person understands that my family is not usual, and due to whatever it is that makes my mother afraid of socializing, we weren't allowed to have other children over to visit, nor to visit others for almost my entire youth. This was agonizing for the child I was, and led to many fights with her over how lonely I was, and how increasingly lonely I became as I had to turn down invitations to visit friends. They misinterpreted, and thought I lied about not being able to go over for lunch in the afternoon because I didn't want to go. It was too impossible that I truly was not allowed to go to anyone's house, or have anyone over. People thought I was prissy and thought I was better than they were. In reality, I desperately wished I knew how to interact with others, but seemed to botch it at every turn. The only folks I spent any time with were my brothers and my family, especially my grandmother. I was great at passing conversation with people many years older than I was, but had no idea how to play silly games with the other kids. My own silly games were too off-beat for them, and I got a reputation as a nerd, goofball and teacher's pet.

During these times, I plunged myself into learning all I could, and read so many books that I couldn't name them all even now. In these tales, I was enchanted by the heros, and recognized myself in some of their actions and emotions. I could sympathize with the pain in their hearts when others misunderstood their gentle intentions. I also wanted to reach out to others and let them know they were appreciated, perhaps because so often I was not appreciated. I could see in my real life when others around me were hurting, and I never dismissed anyone simply for being different. I spoke with everyone, and tried my best not to be rude or ignore anyone who approached me (an unusual thing for a kid and then teenager to do, I noticed). By the end of high school, I might not have had very many close friends, but I was known by almost everyone from every clique as a nice person, and felt secure in myself. Getting my license surely helped me to get out and see people more often, and I was able to make some lasting friendships and take a crash-course in socialization.

These days, I am blessed with many friends, all of whom are very important to me. My door is always open to those I am friends with, in whatever circumstance. I have often put up people in need of a space to live for a few weeks or even months while they search for a job, or get over a break-up, or whatever it is. My friends are my family. And I am warmed in my heart to know that they do the same for me, and anyone in need. I am known among my friends as the one who keeps us all in touch. I do it because I love to, and also because I know what it is like to be unable to reach out to others, and I want my friends to know they are loved and thought of no matter how far away we all live from each other these days.

Something else that helped me grow into the woman I am today was the example of my grandmother, and my dad. These two people were simply the most generous, sweet, and patient people I have known in my life. Perhaps I am a Paladin because I want to be like them. Or perhaps I am a Paladin because I always was. In any case, in my mind, it is the desire to assist others in life and provide an excellent example of good living through my own behavior that makes me what I am. I don't always succeed, but I am content knowing that my intentions are good, even when I fail. I am happy to give the best of myself to the world. And in essence, I think that defines any hero, and not just a Paladin!

Paladin in Blue Jeans
by Txpaladinwarrioress

The Setting

Various locations. A college campus nestled amidst the pines in Nacogdoches, a church in Houston and the theatre located in Nacogdoches. There should be just enough scenery to suggest the locations. It’s the characters that matter.

The Characters

SARAH: 22-year-old college senior who is a theatre major. She’s tall with an earthy healthy frame and a presence that can fill a room—she walks with a Southeast Texas country girl swagger. She dresses casually most of the time, but she takes the time needed to look presentable. Her personality varies on her mood—most of the time she is very friendly and easygoing; she does have her swings where her temper comes out and she turns very acidic and biting. She is a woman of passion and conviction.

NARRATOR: Can be just a voice over.

*Lights up on the Quad area of Stephen F. Austin State University. It is a crisp winter day and students—cowboys, the jocks, and the frat people that are more numerous than pine needles—are making their way to various destinations. The air is filled with the sounds of random conversation*

NARRATOR: She is a paladin, the holy warrior, the upright crusader, and the paragon of virtue. She is the knight standing proudly in her armor—just, faithful and true. . .

*SARAH enters in the middle of his sentence wearing faded blue jeans, a red pullover sweater and brown motorcycle boots and glasses. Her hair is down and the jewelry she wears is simple: silver earrings in a Celtic knot work design, a silver watch and two James Avery rings and the necklace her boyfriend made her with her messenger bag draped over one shoulder and her glasses. She doesn’t wear much makeup and what she does wear is very subtle. She walks looking at everybody and the interactions, just taking in the scene and watching the people. *

SARAH: * Special on her as she stops walking and looks in the direction of the voice. * Will you shut up already!

NARRATOR: What did I say???

SARAH: *skeptical* ‘The holy warrior, the upright crusader’?!?! Making me sound like Saint Joan of Arc. *Sighs and then turns to the audience* Never mind him anyways. My name is Sarah Sweny and I am a paladin and it is very nice to meet each and every one of y’all. Now I know that there are people out in the audience who are thinking ‘what in the world does she mean when she says paladin?’ It’s simple really: I have a set of morals and values and I try my best to stick to them everyday. Now this sounds too simple upon first hearing, but like Oscar Wilde wrote in Importance of Being Earnest ‘The truth is rarely pure and never simple.’ The fact is it isn’t easy, but the rewards outweigh the bad every time. *the scene shifts to reveal the inside of a church sanctuary* My journey started here in church. I was one of those ‘born on Saturday, in church on Sunday’ kids—still am. Faith has shaped my life and shaped my quest to become a paladin; *looks down at her rings one of them a James Avery cross* This isn’t just fashion or a trend for me. *looks back up and continues talking, walking amidst the audience, making eye contact with everyone and offering an occasional pat on the shoulder and a smile to all of the audience members* I became a Christian when I was in 7th grade and I haven’t looked back since then; it’s a defining part of who I am. I guess you could say that being a paladin was innate in me from the beginning—I didn’t become a paladin because anybody told me or it was the thing to do. I did it because I simply knew it was the right thing to do. Now am I perfect because of this—not by any stretch of the imagination. I am just as screwy as your average gal with my own trippy quirks and the things that make me human. But I still believe in honor, I still believe in justice, I still believe in doing the right thing, I still believe in being noble and helping people in order to make their lives a little brighter.

*scene shifts to the theatre where people are working on getting a set up and hanging lights* My home away from home. Theatre has also influenced my life as a paladin in a roundabout way. A tech is called upon to be a fixer, and sometimes a miracle worker if the situation demands it. If there’s a light busted in the first catwalk, you climb up and troubleshoot it because you’ve got to have that light working for the show to function as a whole. It’s the same thing with people; if somebody is out of whack for whatever reason they aren’t working to their full potential and sometimes they need a little help getting back on track. I don’t like seeing broken people... it sounds kinda trite, but I hurt whenever I do. So I try to help them in anyway I can by being a shoulder to cry on or just doing whatever the situation demands. It’s not easy, and let me tell you there are times when I could not help the situation and it’s driven me to distraction. But that’s part and parcel of being a paladin I guess; you gotta take the good with bad.

*The scene is struck and now what is visible is the black walls of the theatre and lights on Sarah* So that’s it—I don’t wear flashy armor or carry a flaming sword of justice. I'm a paladin because I believe in the cause; I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Until next time, take care. *Sarah bows as a knight would and then exits. Fade to Black*

Cristiona

I think this is one of the most intriguing tasks that I have come across since being led to this site. Intriguing in a deep sense because it is actually a very spiritual inquiry to me. Some of us scored extremely high as a Paladin with much lower numbers for the other totals ... others, from what I have been reading in the introduction threads on our forum, scored high in more than one description. That does not make one person "more" of a Paladin than another - it only shows our diversity as a wonderful group of humans. We, as Warriors, Rogues, Wizards and Paladins, have not consciously made the decision, as we journey through life, to choose to "be" one or the other. We came to this earth as the Hero that we are ... it is our inherent nature.

Perhaps a different phrase would have been "How I am a Paladin" or "My journey as a Paladin". Statements I could comment on in more of a physical - in the flesh - sense. But that is not the wording used so I will begin by answering this in the only way I know how ... spiritually.

Our Creator gave us all a Free Will and through this gift we are allowed choices. Before my soul took flesh my life path was determined. Not the outcome of my journey ... but my inherent nature. How I chose to react to the situations that life placed before me would determine not only my character as a person but the outcome of my journey.

We are born into this world to learn and to grow - and while we do this, we also teach, mentor and guide as our paths overlap the paths of others for an undetermined length of time. Each person we come into contact with - even for only a moment - touches us, as we also touch them, sometimes in the most minuscule way, and we make the choice if this contact will be positive or negative by our words and actions. Each moment of the day brings with it decisions and we choose whether or not these decisions will make us or break us. I believe that is what is meant by "choosing the path of the Paladin".

I came into this world a female. You may wonder why I felt the need to mention gender. This is actually important because gender also has it's own inherent nature and if you speak with a male and a female Paladin, you will see slight differences in the way they would naturally react to various situations. A female is inherently a nurturer ... a care - giver. Whereas a male is inherently a care - taker.

... And I entered into this world a Paladin.

As a child I was bright, articulate, charming, loving, giving, caring and willful; but as I got older I found myself masking many of my core traits by learning how to self-shield. I instinctively knew that survival required me to be "invisible" ... not my outside self, but my inside self - my core. A protective measure. And a shield that, through the years, I still find myself working hard to lower.

I love deeply ... but find it hard to allow myself to be loved. I give completely ... but find it hard to accept when given to. I care totally ... but find it hard to allow myself to be cared for.

Very early on in this life I became an expert in management - learning quickly how to cope with sudden events. Life, for me, although I meet each day with a passion, is an ongoing challenge of survival and because of that, I am a defender in every sense of the word. This is not a voluntary choice but is best described as primal or instinctive. Even as a child I would literally throw myself physically between two people fighting ... only to find myself being chastised by the Warriors and Rogues in my life.

I have already walked far and there have been many obstacles thrown onto my path. Some of them I walked around, others I stepped right over ... and then there are yet others that I had to climb high to cross. But, given the chance, I would never make the decision of going back to "do it all over again" knowing what I know today because if I did, I'd still make the same choices. I accept the decisions I have made, I accept the situations I found myself in ... and I embrace them with love. Each of my life situations have made me the woman I am today ... and, even with all of my quirks, I like who I am.

Negal

The first time I used this name was in a mud, a multiplayer D&D game. The chainsword represented a great sword that would give its wielder a great power and a great weakness: it would give the power of speed and swiftness and the weakness of the eternal dependence. The one that would wield it would become unbeatable and unbreakable but could never leave the sword behind, even on his sleep, or would be killed by it.

But this was a game, it had no conscious thought behind it. Later I start thinking on the name’s meaning. Why did I choose a sword for a name? Was because I consider my self a warrior? No because I don’t like fights. Normally, in most of the games I’ve played, I would go by the magic way only fighting when obliged to it.

So, why a sword? Then the answer came. I didn’t name myself a sword, I named a chainsword. It was more than a sword. The sword represented the values of the knights (honour, friendship, chivalry) and the chains represented a course of action, a binding to someone or something. It wasn’t a sword to hurt or damage it was a sword to protect and inspire.

It was without surprise that I found myself as a paladin. The ideals were already there, I’ve followed them all my live. Now I’ve just been given a title. Now I’m more than I’ve been before. Now I’m a Paladin.

Now I am Chainsword.

To be honest, I had never heard the word ‘Paladin’ before I played Quest for Glory 2. At that time I was only ten years old, so I suppose that is only natural. Quest for Glory gave me my initial impressions of what it means to be a Paladin – to strive for goodness and justice at all times. It became my favourite character class (even my thief was suspiciously Paladin-like).

As to why I became a Paladin in real life, I shall tell about some of the experiences that made it happen.

I was very fortunate to be raised in a loving, caring family. My parents are still happily in love, and my brother, sister and I are very close. I was raised to believe in treating others the way you wish to be treated, and to always be polite, even to those who are not as courteous. I believe this upbringing quite naturally made me the person I am today.

Despite a happy family life, I was bullied at school. A lot. This happened all the way up to High School, when I was 14 or so. It wasn’t that I didn’t stand up for myself, because I did. It was just that there was only one of me, and many of them, so they just kept on coming. The bullying ceased almost instantly when I became friends with another victim – it is amazing the effect that two (or more) people standing together have upon the sort of people who are bullies.

After this point I was never bullied again. But my experience, albeit unpleasant, had taught me a valuable lesson: that by working together against injustice, we can always prevail.

My experience in school also made me utterly determined to never be victimized again, and to stand up for others who are receiving this treatment.

I have always held to the ideals of goodness, justice and decency. But joining the How to be a Hero school has re-affirmed my commitment to doing the ‘right’ thing. I was actually really thrilled to not only meet people for whom Quest for Glory had had a meaningful effect on their life, but others who were also determined to uphold these ideals. It makes it so much easier, as I learned in school, to be a Hero when there are others standing with you.