Class begins in one hour! Today we take a closer look at the Paladin school, which has a direct effect on your future! So please, be ready and in your seats!

*Takes a seat in the middle row*
Hello, sir. I hope that the homework was not explosive?

I'm here and ready. When will we be getting feedback on our spells, if you don't mind me asking?

*Crashes through the window* hey guys, the catapults work.

Very well, let's begin. Now, there is a creed that each Paladin, myself included, must swear to in order to take up the mantle of the order. Can anyone here tell me what that creed might be? It is in three parts.

1310619
*looks at wreckage*
I hope that the fees are lighter than the punishment.

1310673
Does it involve protecting the innocent, hunting the monsters and serving the four Avatars?

1310687
Very good. The creed, known as the Oath of The Strong, goes as such. "I will be the shield in darkness, the warder against evil. I swear to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to destroy the dark and dangerous wherever it is found, and to obey my masters, lord, and liege." Regardless of which Avatar they serve, all Paladins take this oath.

1310673
I'm guessing it has something to do with the seven rules from last class. Probably something to do with protecting the innocent, ending those who consort with demons, and trying to keep the shadow at bay?

Now, who can tell me the primary strengths of Paladin magic?

1310698
Cool. So all paladins are grouped under one order even though there are many different brotherhoods?

1310711
Wards and shields?

1310722
Yes. The typical Paladin is a martial expert and a magical rock, able to withstand all manner of attacks and slay monsters or seal away dark magic. As it is, they create excellent wards and shields.

1310711
Paladins bind. They can shield and heal their allies while wearing down their foes. Their magic is especially effective against creatures of the darkness (Not to be confused with the actual Shadow).

1310736
Indeed. They are very powerful magic users, and very widely known and publicized. Their goals lie in protecting the innocent and weak, and so the Paladin usually keeps very little of what he makes. It often goes back to his School, to train the next generation of Paladins. Now, there are several distinct Disciplines in the Paladin School, which is what we shall be covering tonight. But first, perhaps you could tell me which Avatar the Paladin is usually associated with?

1310733
If Paladin is rock, is Mage scissors and Mentalist paper With Cleric being the medic that keeps the game going, so to speak?

1310753
The Avatar of Binding and Order, Celestia.

1310755
Paladins are more like Earth, with Mages being Fire, Clerics Water, and Mentalists Air.

1310765
That analogy makes way more sense.

1310753
Probably the avatar of binding, Celestia.

1310761
Good. Celestia typically keeps many Paladins in her employ, ready to maintain Order in her lands. They work closely with Lady Everstar's orders of Paladins, and account for nearly fifty percent of Celestia's magic users.

1310765
Would then the who tops who be like the magic system in the game Lost Odyssey?

1310788
What?

1310774
So Luna tends more toward Mentalists, Cadence to Clerics and Lady Everstar seems to prefer her Mages?

Now, we will come to the first prominent Discipline of the Paladin School.

Those who specialize in magical barriers are known as Wallmasters, and their services are highly sought after in both military and civilian defensive applications. Wallmasters are not just able to summon simple dome shields, or force fields for personal use only. These masters of defensive magic are able to create enormously complex and detailed barriers that can span wide areas, often with a set of predetermined instructions on which forces to let in or keep out. The most proficient of Wallmasters have been able to encase entire cities in protective fields, allowing normal citygoers through the barriers while preventing those who would do harm from breaching the defenses.

Though they are widely associated with permanence, solid defense, and unwillingness to move, the most legendary of Wallmasters could summon and disperse these defenses at will, and even maintain them while moving vast armies or refugee columns while completely protected. Corps or Wallmasters can easily spell defeat for an invading force, especially if they are able to use natural chokepoints to their advantage

Wallmasters are usually trained at the Collegia Tactica, one of the most prestigious schools of Paladin craft in existence. There they are taught the finer points of multi-layered shields, interlocking defenses, temporal displacement, and other lofty topics that tend to disprove the public view of a solid-as-rock numbskull. In addition to training as a Paladin, the aspiring Wallmaster can expect at least another year of training to be considered proficient in the arts

Let me be perfectly clear. Wallmasters are the elite of the elite. They require an intimate knowledge of geometry, thaumaturgy, physics, and many other schools of thought. If you choose this path, prepare for a grueling experience. You will train, and train, and train until you can literally quote facts in your sleep and wield a blade with no more thought than it would take for you to raise and lower an arm.

1310793
Fire tops air, air tops earth, earth tops water, and water tops fire. Sorry but that was the first thing that came to mind when you mentioned the elemental analogy.

1310800
Is this the pinnacle of what a Paladin can be?

1310797
Very good. You can always find work in the courts of the Avatars, but they seem to have an affinity for certain types of magic users. The Evening Court is responsible for some of the most impressive displays of Magecraft that I have ever seen, the Moonlit Tower in Astropolis is a haven for Mentalists who wish to escape from the constant noise of Equestria, and the Castillo del Alba is generally considered to be the default gathering spot for Clerics.

1310827
They are among the best. Wallmasters are considered to be the paragons of Paladin magic, and the reputation is definitely earned.

The closest relation to the Wallmaster is a similar but still very distinct Discipline of the Paladin School. Those who master the arts of Repressive magic, that of magically sealing a non-magical threat, are referred to as Guardians. Guardians require both magical and physical proficiency, as they must sometimes subdue threats of a more animated nature than they would be used to, such as Changeling dens or dragon lairs. Of course, this usually is handled by a group of Guardians, as they tend to travel in groups of four or five traditionally. This ensures both security and ease of completion in their task, whether it be curbing a forest fire or sealing a mineshaft from which toxic gas is flowing.

The proficient Guardian is able to see unorthodox and practical uses for magic, utilizing the mantra of "working smarter, not harder", which lies in counterpoint to much of the Paladin school. Though no formal training for Guardians exists, those who find practical applications for shieldcraft can make a very lucrative business of rounding up a few like-minded individuals and solving the problems of small townships in exchange for a modest fee.

Indeed, many who do not succeed as wildly as they had hoped in another field of Paladin magic find themselves in this position, where work is plentiful, difficult, and rewarding. There is hardly anything better than seeing the fruits of one's spellcraft used to solve the problems of mundane individuals who would otherwise be unable to handle a situation. Many Guardians grow to appreciate the unique peace and small rewards of this field, and as a result the Guardian is one of the most common of the Paladins.

A Guardian is something to be admired. They are the most common type of Paladin, and they accomplish amazing feats of heroism with little in the way of resources and equipment. They are the true image of the "knight errant", and recently the Collegia Tactica has begun formal training for Guardians.

1310860
Don't Guardians have an order or a brotherhood that they can organize with, aside from their traveling companions?

1310860
This was the first thing that popped up in my mind

1310884
Yes. They include the Brotherhood of The Wandering Path, the Light of Noon, and The Striders.

1310885
Essentially, yes. They take very little in payment as a matter of principle, often requesting nothing more than lodging and board. If they perform well, they are usually rewarded with gifts in the form of armor or coin. What they don't need is often sent back to their old schools or the headquarters of their Order for use there.

For magic used to combat latent magic, one would turn to the field of Repressive magic, and the expert curse breaker, colloquially known as a Lifter. Lifters specialize in two things. The first is the prevention of the spread of latent and harmful magic, such as entropy curses or small hexes. Once the spread is halted, a team of Lifters is usually called in order to safely remove and clean up after the harmful spell. While not as notorious or heroic as Binders, who specialize in active magical threats, the Lifter is nonetheless an important part of the Paladin School. Lifters are among the most observant and detail-oriented of the Paladins, and possess a keen and intelligent mind, placing it ahead of physical prowess. This is not to imply that they are fragile or incompetent in combat. The Lifter must undergo severe magical stress when facing backlash from most curses and hexes, and those who practice Lifting frequently and exclusively garner an extreme amount of respect and admiration from their peers.

It is one thing to seal a curse, but another thing entirely to lift it. To do so safely usually takes either an extremely proficient Lifter, or a team of them working in tandem. This could take time, as gathering a team of Lifters requires sending out messages over a wide area in order to gather them. The Lifter is a solitary creature by nature, traveling singly or at the most in pairs in order to discover and contain as much harmful magic as possible. Generally higher priority is given to sealing than removal. The magical bindings prevent entry to a cursed area just as it prevents the spread of the curse out of the barrier. Once contained, a tainted area can be held indefinitely, the seal powered by the magic of the curse itself. At the leisure of the Lifter, then, the curse or hex can be removed safely and efficiently.

Lifters are trained, not at the Collegia Tactica as most of their counterparts, but instead at the Academia Magica near the Regia. Such high priority is given to their training that political discourse and petty squabbles are set aside. For the public services they provide, Lifters are handsomely rewarded upon retirement, and many such Paladins choose to use their material gain to help other Lifters sustain themselves. While certainly under no obligation to do so, most Lifters have at one time or another accepted this form of charity, and it is considered rather gauche among the ranks of the Paladins to not return the favor.

Is anyone still here?

1310918
Your world sounds like a big scary place with more zombies and cursed tombs that it probably actually has.

1310955
*Sitting alone in the room while crickets chirp.*
Yes.

1310956
Nearly four hundred years of darkness and chaotic magic will do that.

1310962
Sounds like cool beans.

1310959
Right. At least I have one dedicated student. And so long as someone listens, I will talk.

Then we turn to the field of constructive magic, and the Masons who wield it. Evidence of their craft can be found in all major cities, and master Masons become very rich through the undertaking of public works projects. They are the main source of funding for the Collegia Tactica, and are generally tasked with promoting the good name of Paladins in places where it can do the most good. Masons are experts at laying seals and bindings on roads, bridges, wall, and more. Oftentimes working in conjunction with Mages, the Masons are responsible for such works as the Regia's famed aqueduct system, the roads crossing the Evening Kingdom, and the Wall separating that nation and the Celestial Empire. While they are not traditionally considered to be combat specialists, the Mason is often well-equipped to defend themselves, not by magical prowess, but rather by the trinkets and amulets they use to focus and amplify their power.

Masons traditionally work in guilds that enjoy a friendly competitive atmosphere, constantly outdoing one another with feats of skill and durability that serve to promote notoriety among competitors and also to recruit new and fresh young minds into the ranks of the Masons. Masons are chosen from among the ranks of Paladins who have already completed their training, but do not show an inclination for combat while simultaneously demonstrating intelligence and creativity. Offers of work will be made to the young graduate, and they will be trained in the arts of constructive magic in return for a set term of service in the guild that teaches them, traditionally a period of seven years.

Masons and Mages are often in competition with one another, but on the whole it can easily be ascertained as to which marvel belongs to which field. Mages tend to work in the areas of enchantment, alchemy, and spellcraft such as scrolls and magical texts, whereas the Mason will create things like constructs, magically powered machines, and strengthened materials like adamantium. Adamantium is the most notorious material created by Masons, and the best quality metal is usually a matter of some debate. On the whole, it is agreed that the Evening Kingdom can produce exceptional pieces of weaponry and armor, but they cannot rival the production speed of the Celestial Empire. This is demonstrable of the different approaches to magic in each region, and the high priority the Avatar of Dusk assigns to powerful spellcasters, around which the defense of her nation revolves.

1310955 1310959
*stops taking notes*
Huh?

1310955
Still here, just a little issue on my end that was unexpected.

1310975
Do I get a gold star for being a good noodle?

1310975
I would think that while the fields of enchanting/warding armor and buildings may overlap they would be separate markets.

1310985
No, but you do get my continued scrutiny. Now, can anyone here tell me about adamantium? How it's made, what ingredients it uses?

1310994
Mythril, Star Metal, and Steel all made very hot and mixed very carefully.

1310994
Supposedly the toughest metallic alloy in existence?

1311007
The fact of the matter is that the exact process of adamantium creation is a very closely kept secret. The ingredients are a secret, the ratios are kept secret, and the processes are kept secret. Each producer of adamantium uses a slightly different method, which produces different results. There are, however, two separate processes, which give us the two different kinds of adamantium.

Hot casting produces excellent defensive armor, without peer. It can stop crossbow bolts at point blank range, as well as musket balls and bucker shot. It is amazingly strong.

Cold casting is used in making weapons. Specifically, anti-spellcaster weapons. The metal, once lodged in the body of a magic user, will actively leach magic away from their body, leaving them helpless. This is why all Paladins will perform some of their tests with a sliver of it in their body. To be a Paladin is to ensure that you do not rely on your magic alone, but your skills in physical combat as well.

1310975
So there are paladins that protect, paladins that remove curses, paladins that seal threats, and paladins that build. Are there paladins who practice combat exclusively?