Bump this is quality thread

what's a paladin?

Hey wait, that's not a paladin! That's a NIGGER!

>>3658824
Original looked better

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>>3658824
Hot take:
"Paladin" comes from an old french word for retainer. So realistically butlers and maids that are devoted to their lord (not king) are Paladins. Although I think framing this is a higher authority who is just unworthy, so this service to someone of a lower status is a form of justice (or spite).

Paladin got conflate with knights through the Arthurian legends. While they were the King's knights, they often championed for other lords and ladies in other kingdoms.
Much like a world trotting RPG hero.
There is a term called "Bastard Feudalism". In that sense, if Samurai are Knights, the Paladins would be Ronin. But technically, Ronins don't have a lord, while Paladins could make anyone their lord or lady, including a peasant. A cultural difference of "lordlyness".

In DnD, paladins used to be devoted to a deity. Being a martial class with "divine" or "holy" abilities channeling their god's power as a form of Theurgy.
Cleric, Paladin, and Warlock are basically Theurgy Classes in the form of "Healing, Melee, and Magic".
Although Paladin can sometimes be dumbed down to a Knight+Healer in a setting without Gods.
Or, there's characters like Hercules with "divine" strength, but it's not "god-given" because he is simply part god. Making the playstyle categorically a "Paladin" regardless of the semantics.

The line gets blurry around vampires and werewolves. As they're more cursed or forsaken by gods.
It's further questionable with Paladins in Diablo's world of Sanctuary. Paladins wield "holy magic" gifted by the high heavens (angels). Tyrael, however is a fallen angel in the 3rd game. While a Paladin in concept, he's not really gifted "holy magic" by heaven.

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>>3658845
Don't make me say it.

just delete this awful board, it has no purpose any more

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>>3658845
Vampirism and Lycanthropy can vary depending on the setting.

For example, in pop culture, the biblical Cain is often imagined as the first vampire. In the undying sense. Because God marked him so that no one could kill him. An odd punishment for fratricide that will look like a "Theurgy" blessing in combat.
Some also believe the "Mark of Cain" was dark skin.
Then again, some believe the same thing about the "Curse of Ham", making Canaan's descendants to be slaves. And odd punishment for...uh, whatever happened in Noah's tent.

In the world of Diablo, Paladins, Templars, and Crusaders are all just names of Sects of the Zakarum Faith. But the Zakarum Church was effectively corrupted by the Lord of Hatred, Mephesto, in D2.
It's basically the Catholic Church with an "inquisition" that goes around looking for demonic possession and killing them. Year 0 of the calendar marks the creation of Zakarum faith as well, although there is no "Before Christ" BC. The places we see them go are the deserts of Caldeum and the jungles of Kurast. They're equivalent to "the middle east" of say Egypt into India.

By the end of Diablo 3, only the Crusaders are active. This is because they took on apprentices. Like a knight's "squire". Replenishing their numbers. Although the Crusader you play as in the game has "failed" to take on an apprentice just yet because he's busy fighting the darkness.

The monk class of Diablo 3 is essentially a Paladin class with a different religion. The Sahptev Faith, which is polytheistic. Living in the mountains next to the barbarians. Think Tibet, I guess. The paladins confronted them in their crusade but the north was just too much for the order. The demonic forces in this region are the goat demons, the Khazra. Which are technically mutated humans. Like Baphomet or something. This is the kind of demonic corruption that the Zakarum wanted to purge. The barbarians, well...that's another story.

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>>3658953
We learn more about the Khazra origins in D4. Although the lore has been hinted at in companion material, like the comic "Sword of Justice". Suffice to say the lore is still being written about.

I suspect the concepts were originally planned for the barbarians. But the barbarians are in the North, and D4 goes south past Kurast.
Basically, instead of Barbarians, you have "the dregs" who are humans that experimented with hallucinogenic plants that put them into a psychotic rage. Which irl, barbarians/vikings were also known for using plants to go into trance states.
It's overlapping barbarians with druids and witch doctors. But of course "hatred" is Mephisto's domain.

Before year 0, you have the Age of Magic. Which resulted in Mage Clan Wars. In D3 you have the sorceress companion from that time who was also supposed to have sisters. One of these appeared in Sword of Justice I believe.
Basically the mortal realm of Sanctuary sits between the eternal warring heaven and hell. As the name suggests, it's supposed to be a Sanctuary. Angels and Demons aren't allowed in, except through summoning/conjuring. The Age of Magic was something like a Cold War, just replace the "Nuclear Weapons" with Demonic Vessels.
The Mage Clans were aware that summoning demons into Sanctuary would eventually destroy it. Like M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction). Instead of radiation, you have corruption. Leading to mutation. So this is how the Khazra came to be. The Khazra are just human enough that their blood can be used for ritual magic. Their bones are also used to ward curses. So you know the mage clans must have thought "Let's exploit this and be morally and magically superior" This made the other clans paranoid. "Are they summoning demons over there? I think they're summoning demons. Let's assassinate some people just to be on the safe side"

Somehow, nobody expected the magical livestock would perform their own summoning rituals.

>>3658865
;-((