Paladin of Zon-Kuthon

[Xuldarinar]

We know paladins can be devoted to deities of any alignment (outside of PFS), and it is even official for there to be paladins of asmodeus. So, hows about a paladin devoted to a different LE deity. How would one approach the ethos of a paladin (not antipaladin) devoted to Zon-Kuthon? Furthermore, on the crunch side of things, what would be appropriate in terms of archetype/feats/prestige classes/ect. for such a character?

[Nibbens]

How would one approach the ethos of a paladin (not antipaladin) devoted to Zon-Kuthon?

To comment on the fluff side alone, how about this:

Zon-Kuthon (http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Zon-Kuthon) was once known as Dou-Bral (http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Dou-Bral) and was actually a goody-good-guy. So why couldn't the Pally be obedient to what Zon once stood for? (beauty, art, love and music) Since the deity itself doesn't give the pally his powers he could get away with this.

Also, for a more strict approach - Zon's all about pain, envy, darkness and loss, So what if the Pally spent his life dedicated to helping people deal with these issues in a positive fashion. He doesn't quite directly opposed pain, but rather helps people accept it and get through it - the same for loss. In this way he sounds like a funeral director/counselor.

Or, maybe he revers Zon because he gives the pally things to conquer - sort of viewing him as an endless source of challenge to constantly better/perfect himself (sort of like a monk). He might pray for Zon to send more "challenges" his way so he can defeat them and make the world a better place... That one's a stretch, but perhaps it could work in some way. lol.

[Geddy2112]

All of life is pain and suffering, and until you can accept the pain, to the point of reveling in it, you cannot truly live. Life is suffering, but one should not seek to escape from it. Those who truly live revel in the beauty that is pain and agony. Without loss, we never realize what we have. Without envy, we never strive for better. Without darkness, we never know the beauty of the light.

A paladin of Zon-Kuthon would probably consider healing people to prolong their suffering in the mortal plane. Surely every day comes with challenges, but it is because of those that life is worth living. Laying on hands is not a kindness, it is a duty to ensure that nobody goes without experiencing every breath life has to offer. Every challenge must be overcome-nothing is earned without hardship, and anything gotten easy is worthless.

Clearly, you would be far more lawful than evil. The law and society can be expressed in Zon-Kuthon's favorite weapon, the spiked chain. It holds things together with strength, but it comes at the cost of suffering. What unites us hurts us-our societal rules and structure prevents us from being free and punishes those who act against something greater than ourselves. It is like the great chain from bioshock one. It unites and pulls on all of us, under none of our control but all of our influence.

Fluffwise, feats like iron will and other things that make you tougher are good. The clear winner here is agonizing obidence- you literally perform an act of ritual self harm to better yourself. Power through pain http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/agonizing-obedience. Flensing is probably the best for a paladin(immune to disease and better oomph in combat) but if you are a real glutton for punishment take all freaking three. Amputation is also decent, blinding is probably too damaging and the agonies are not that effective.

You want to uphold the law, and when it is broken bring the smackdown on newer-do-wells and other problem causers. So weapon focus(spiked chain) power attack etc is useful. Several oaths fit- vengeance can be taking out your loss against those who caused it, loyalty causes you pain when you protect others(more pain if they don't reward you for your sacrifice), chastity means the pain of being alone(and possibly represent past loss), and oath against chaos because Zon-Kuthon is about order. Enlightened paladin might fit a paladin who came to see Zon-Kuthon as not evil, but a path towards perfection. Those who failed but kept going, and used their setbacks as fuel that fired their achievements.