paladins
Righteous warrior defenders
Paladins is the plural of paladin, a heroic champion or defender of a noble cause.
The word originally referred to the twelve legendary knights of Charlemagne's court.
In modern usage, paladin describes someone who fights zealously for a cause: paladins of justice, paladins of free speech.
In fantasy games and fiction, paladins are holy warriors who combine martial prowess with divine magic.
Of folklore, not fact
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- heroesAdmired courageous figures
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
fabled · Charlemagne · Roland · Arthur · chronicles · ballads · tales · storied
Zealous advocate for change
- knightHonored mounted soldier
- cavalierDismissively unconcerned
- armoredProtected by metal covering
- mountedFixed in position
lance · sword · shield · steed · charger · plate armor · gauntlet · helm
Protective caretaker of another
- defenderOne who guards another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- sentinelGuard who monitors
bulwark · watchman · warden · safeguard · vigilant · escort · patron · advocate
mythical
Of folklore, not fact
lore · fabled · Charlemagne · Roland · Arthur · chronicles · ballads · tales · storied · illustrious
crusader
Zealous advocate for change
mounted · lance · sword · shield · steed · charger · plate armor · gauntlet · helm · joust
guardian
Protective caretaker of another
sentinel · bulwark · watchman · warden · safeguard · vigilant · escort · patron · advocate · custodian
divine
Of or from gods
faith · piety · devotion · cleric · smite · aura · laying on hands · exorcism · consecration · holy light
honor
High regard, moral dignity
nobility · loyalty · righteousness · oath · code · duty · sacrifice · faithfulness · courage · integrity
- holy warriorscrusader, holy knight, jihadi, mujahideen, warrior monk
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- medieval knightsknight, knights, armor, sword, swords
- chevalierscrusaders, cavaliers, caballeros, knights errant, black knights
- medieval heroesArthur, Lancelot, Galahad, Roland, Beowulf
paladinsvillains
Evil characters in narratives
blackguards · tyrants · fiends · monsters · oppressors
paladinsmercenaries
Soldiers paid to fight
sellswords · hired guns · soldiers of fortune · cutthroats · freebooters
paladinsnecromancers
Practitioners of death magic
warlocks · cultists · heretics · apostates · blasphemers