Act 1: Setup

Throughout his winded life serving as a Paladin of the Order of the Golden Cross, Palaven has remained firm in his beliefs and ideals. He had always enforced and upheld the Code of the Cross no matter what the situation. Whether or not it was the right thing to do or not, he always lived by a very strict mantra. “The Code is Mine, and Mine is the Code.” The code was simply put the 4 laws those of the Order followed.

Loyalty: “Those of the Order must not aggress against his own and must follow their own.” (The Order)
Absolution: “The words of the Order are decree, law and unquestionable.”
Resolve:  “You must not show hesitation in upholding the Code.”
Virility: “Intimacy with a woman; bearing a child – are not permitted under any circumstance.”

Though Palaven is a seasoned warrior at 42, he has chosen to remain as a Paladin. Templar’s of the Order often had a hand in secular politics in the Kingdom, and of course influenced the government heavily. He had no interest in these things. He was perfectly fine upholding the ideologies of the Order and upholding the code. Meanwhile, his apprentice, the son of his dear friend who died in battle enlisted in the Order and was quickly gaining attention. He was adept with a sword and very cunning. At the young age of 26, Bartholomew was granted the title of Templar after he had succeeded in several high profile quests for the Order; including the annihilation of the opposing “Brothers of Thorn.” Palaven, still a Paladin, was still regarded as the most revered Knight of the Order. The Order was contracted to rescue a Nobleman’s daughter from remnants of the Thorn. As he succeeded in retrieving her, she began to have quite an effect on him. In addition to her beauty, Palaven was taken by her independent but playful nature.