The Paladin Spymaster

A figure slipped down the alleyways of Low Town, doubling back two and sometimes three times to make sure they weren't being followed before continuing on deeper into the crooked, leaning alleys. Rats scurried through midden heaps, and they passed occasional bodies sprawled in the garbage. Drunk or dead, the figure didn't pause to check as they made their way into the maze.

In time they made their way to an unremarkable door set into a place stinking of cabbage and urine. They knocked thrice at the door, two short and one long. A moment later a small slot opened. Without hesitation the figure slipped a dark coin into the slot, and whispered the words, "Knowledge of the shadows."

The slot shut, and a heavy bar slid back from the other side. The door opened, and the figure stepped into darkness. A hand fell on their shoulder, and guided them through the pitch blackness. Doors opened and closed, and they turned this way and that through hallways until it was impossible to say precisely where they were. Then a final door closed, and the hand removed itself. A sparker struck in the darkness, and a candle flame spilled soft illumination into the room.

A man sat at a desk. He wore black leathers that covered him from boots to neck, and his hands were hidden by supple gloves. A hood shrouded his head, and a plain, white mask covered his face. In the dimness of the room, it was impossible to see whether there were eyes behind that mask. The man set the sparker down, and steepled his fingers.

"It has been some time since you have darkened my doorstep, Hakar," the masked man said, his voice seeming to come from everywhere, and nowhere. "I trust you have something worthy of my time?"

"Yes, Shadow," Hakar said, pushing back his own hood. His face was seamed with scars, and one cheek bore brands marking him as a thief and a killer. "The Spiders are massing. Talk of assassination is beginning to run through the ranks."

"That is their stock in trade," the masked man said, waving one hand. Hakar shook his head vigorously.

"Not like this," he said. "This is not a single target. This is a mass uprising. Blood will fill the gutters, and a thousand lives will be snuffed by poison."

"When?" the Shadow asked, his tone airy.

"The marking of the city's anniversary in three days," Hakar said. "They mean to cut the head from those in leadership that they may seat themselves and their puppets in the halls of power."

The Shadow said nothing for a time. Then, just as sweat was beginning to bead on Hakar's brow, he opened a drawer in his desk, and took out a small purse. It clunked heavily on the desktop, the coins inside packed too closely to jangle with the impact.

"Where, when, and whom," the Shadow said. It was not a question.

Hakar answered as best he was able. He listed locations, gave names and descriptions, and told as much of the plans as he was able to. He was beginning to grow hoarse when he reached the end of his knowledge. As his throat clicked, the Shadow gestured at the bag. Hakar reached for it, and the Shadow grabbed his wrist.

"Great evil will be prevented from your actions, Hakar," the masked man said. "Mind your path that you do not fall beneath the shadow, yourself."

"I will," Hakar said. His voice didn't quaver, but it was a near thing. This close to the figure, he felt something. A presence. A power that he could not explain. The Shadow released Hakar's wrist, and he snatched the sack of gold. No sooner had he stepped back from the desk than the light was snuffed. The door opened, and another hand led him toward an exit. An exit which, he knew, would be somewhere other than where he had entered.

In the darkness the Shadow removed the mask, and set it down on the desktop. Grayson Stonejoy would be known to every leg breaker, hustler, sneak thief, and false beggar that entered the doors, if they ever saw beneath his mask. The head of the City Watch, he was also one of those who sat on the Great Council. He had taken his vows before men and gods as he knelt with the blade of his sword clutched in his hands, and he swore to uphold peace, and to fight against wickedness.

None would ever have thought this was how he chose to do it; by turning lesser evils one against the other, using silver and gold instead of steel to ensure that whispers made their way to him through a thousand informants. The Shadow was a false legend known to all, but only approachable by some. And it had proven a decidedly effective tool.

Grayson rubbed his temples. There was much to do to prevent the mass assassination that Hakar and several others had brought to his doorstep, and which they had confessed to while within a zone of truth. He turned a sconce on the wall, and stepped into the hidden recess behind it.

He hoped they all took his warning to heart. Mortal vices were not his concern, and he had no desire to stop those who wished to pursue them. But there was a line, and when they crossed it, there would be no coming back.

The Paladin Spymaster

When most of us think of paladins, we tend to think of knights in shining armor, with their holy blades raised high and their shields glimmering with the touch of the divine. They are bound by oaths and vows, drawing power from these things to help them in their quest to push back against the darkness and terrors of the world.

However, there is often a loophole listed in the codes of paladins that allow them to work with those who are evil, provided that it is in service to stopping a greater, more immediate evil. And though not always stated, the hope is that the paladin may lead those lesser evils off their current paths and toward another way.

Which presents a unique opportunity for the existence of the paladin spymaster.

Paladins are characters who possess a great deal of martial skill, and they gain access to more than a little magic. They're highly charismatic individuals, as well, which can help them gather information and make contacts. While they're capable of wearing full plate and riding a glowing charger into battle, they're equally able to wear lighter armor, and to move through the shadows so they're undetected on their missions.

While paladins do not have the same skills available as rogues, they can diversify their class skills either through multiclassing, through background traits (for Pathfinder), or by coupling it with unique background choices (for DND 5E). Their ability to call on the divine for aid, and the unique powers they gain access to, can make them a terrifying threat for those who expect them to announce themselves and their intentions.

The key for a paladin spymaster is that they need to maintain their own oaths, while also attempting to influence the behavior of those in their employ. Even if those who operate as their agents may never be truly good, instilling a code of conduct that prevents them from doing greater harm is important in ensuring the integrity of the spymaster's operation.

While a difficult concept to master, and one that most would look askance at, getting into the details is what can make this one really interesting.

Recommended Reading

If this character concept interests you, then I would recommend checking out some of the following:

- 5 Tips For Playing Better Paladins: A more general list, much of the advice given here is applicable to this particular character concept.

- 100 Secret Societies: Whether you're looking for organizations for your paladin to be part of, or merely orders that they have a working relationship with, there's a lot of potential in this supplement!

- 100 Cults to Encounter: While cults are often thought of as small, strange clusters of religious fanatics, they're often far larger than people think. And no few of them may have paladins among their ranks.

Also, for those interested in seeing mysterious figures serving good from the shadows, consider checking out the Silver Raven Chronicles, the ongoing series detailing my table's run through the Hell's Rebels adventure path.

- Part One: Devil's Night

- Part Two: From The Ashes

- Part Three: The Raven's Nest

- Part Four: Circles in Salt

Looking For Even More Content?

That's all for this installment of my Unusual Character Concepts series! Hopefully this one gave you something to chew over, whether you're a player, or a game master.

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