Exemplar Class

Whether sworn before a god's altar and the witness of a priest, in a sacred glade before nature spirits and fey beings, or in a moment of desperation and grief with the dead as the only witness, an exemplar's oath is a powerful bond.

Where a Chaplain is granted power, an Exemplar must work for it. They devote themselves to whatever cause they believe in, and this endless faith forges a contract with their god. One that comes with rules as well as responsibilities.
EXEMPLAR
Sacred Oath When you reach 3rd level, you swear the oath that binds you as a paladin forever. Up to this time you have been in a preparatory stage, committed to the path but not yet sworn to it. The following choices are available to you: Ancients, Conquest, Crown, Devotion, Glory, Oathbreaker, Redemption, or Vengeance
Ancients: The Oath of the Ancients is as old as the race of elves and the rituals of the shamans. Sometimes called fey knights, green knights, or horned knights, exemplars who swear this oath cast their lot with the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in principles of honor, courage, and justice. They adorn their armor and clothing with images of growing things-leaves, antlers, or flowers-to reflect their commitment to preserving life and light in the world. ANCIENTS
Conquest: The Oath of Conquest calls to exemplars who seek glory in battle and the subjugation of their enemies. It isn’t enough for these paladins to establish order. They must crush the forces of chaos. Sometimes called knight tyrants or iron mongers, those who swear this oath gather into grim orders that serve gods or philosophies of war and well-ordered might. Some of these exemplars go so far as to consort with the powers of the Nine Hells, valuing the rule of law over the balm of mercy. The archdevil Bel, warlord of Avernus, counts many of these exemplars – called hell knights – as his most ardent supporters. Hell knights cover their armor with trophies taken from fallen enemies, a grim warning to any who dare oppose them and the decrees of their lords. These knights are often most fiercely resisted by other exemplars of this oath, who believe that the hell knights have wandered too far into darkness. CONQUEST
Crown: The Oath of the Crown is sworn to the ideals of civilization, be it the spirit of a nation, fealty to a sovereign, or service to a deity of law and rulership. The exemplars who swear this oath dedicate themselves to serving society and, in particular, the just laws that hold society together. These exemplars are the watchful guardians on the walls, standing against the chaotic tides of barbarism that threaten to tear down all that civilization has built, and are commonly known as guardians, paladins, or sentinels. Often, exemplars who swear this oath are members of an order of knighthood in service to a nation or a sovereign, and undergo their oath as part of their admission to the order's ranks. CROWN
Devotion: The Oath of Devotion binds an exemplar to the loftiest ideals of justice, virtue, and order. Sometimes called cavaliers, white knights, or holy warriors, these exemplars meet the ideal of the knight in shining armor, acting with honor in pursuit of justice and the greater good. They hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, and some, for better or worse, hold the rest of the world to the same standards. Many who swear this oath are devoted to gods of law and good and use their gods' tenets as the measure of their devotion. They hold angels – the perfect servants of good – as their ideals, and incorporate images of angelic wings into their helmets or coats of arms. DEVOTION
Glory: Exemplars who take the Oath of Glory believe they and their companions are destined to achieve glory through deeds of heroism. They train diligently and encourage their companions so they're all ready when destiny calls. GLORY
Oathbreaker: An oathbreaker is an exemplar who breaks their sacred oaths to pursue some dark ambition or serve an evil power. Whatever light burned in the exemplar's heart been extinguished. Only darkness remains. OATHBREAKER
Redemption: The Oath of Redemption sets an exemplar on a difficult path, one that requires a holy warrior to use violence only as a last resort. Exemplars who dedicate themselves to this oath believe that any person can be redeemed and that the path of benevolence and justice is one that anyone can walk. These exemplars face evil creatures in the hope of turning them to the light, and the exemplars slay them only when such a deed will clearly save other lives. Exemplars who follow this path are known as redeemers. While redeemers are idealists, they are no fools. Redeemers know that undead, demons, devils, and other supernatural threats can be inherently evil. Against such foes, the exemplars bring the full wrath of their weapons and spells to bear. Yet the redeemers still pray that, one day, even creatures of wickedness will invite their own redemption. REDEMPTION
Vengeance: The Oath of Vengeance is a solemn commitment to punish those who have committed a grievous sin. When evil forces slaughter helpless villagers, when an entire people turns against the will of the gods, when a thieves' guild grows too violent and powerful, when a dragon rampages through the countryside – at times like these, exemplars arise and swear an Oath of Vengeance to set right that which has gone wrong. To these exemplars – sometimes called avengers or dark knights – their own purity is not as important as delivering justice. VENGEANCE