Gray guard Among the ranks of paladin s there are some who have seen too much . The archetype of the noble - spirited paladin , resplendent in blessed armor and wielding a holy blade to smite the enemies of goodness , has gotten countless good men and women killed by their enemies ' underhanded tactics . Taking a cue from their foes , certain churches have formed semi - secret groups from their most experienced and hard - hearted paladins and cleric s , and trained them in the shadowy tactics favored by such worthies as the Church of Shar . These gray guards follow a looser code than the average paladin , and do whatever must be done to protect the innocent and helpless from those who would do them harm . Background . The vast majority of gray guards are paladins . Only the most realistic and dedicated holy warriors join a church ' s order of gray guards , knowing that evil runs rampant in the world , always has , and will not be expunged merely by good example . They join out of necessity , not out of resentment for the code of conduct ; those who chafe at their responsibilities are unfit to be paladins , let alone gray guards . Religion . Gray guards typically follow deities concerned with justice , such as Torm , Tyr , or Bahamut . Skills . Gray guards must be proficient at sensing the intent of others , and must have a great deal of religious knowledge . They must also be able to heal the living by laying on hands . They can easily gain skill at bluffing , mental focus , disguise , forging documents , animal handling , healing , intimidation , local lore , government lore , religious knowledge , riding , and sensing motives . Outlook . The gray guard has seen the terrible realities of the world : orphaned children starving in gutters while the rich and powerful feast on the other side of a wall , tyrants abusing the law to expand their own power , and the supposedly devout using and abusing those they see as at best , beneath their notice , and at worst , heretics . The worst evil acts outwardly good and righteous , using honeyed words to seduce the unsuspecting masses . The code of a paladin can only go so far , because it forces them to act in the open , placing them at a disadvantage that can get them killed , and an inflexible code often not only allows evil to remain , but aids its spread . The gray guard has earned the right and freedom to do whatever it takes to take out the trash , even if it means committing a lesser evil to uphold the greater good . Though he works toward the same goals as other members of his faith , he may find himself ostracized by his fellows . At best , he flirts with corruption , and at worst , embraces it . Paladins may see him as weak , for he has not ( in their view ) the courage to fight for justice with honor . The gray guard is not proud of what he does , but rather sees it as a necessity forced upon him by the realities of the world . The freedom is not a boon but a loss , a tarnish of darkness on a once - pure soul . He resolves to do what is necessary , to do battle as valiantly as the greatest paladin , but as brutally as the most vile blackguard . Combat . The gray guard prefers to do battle as a paladin on the field of honor , judging an opponent by his actions . But if the only chance or choice he has is to assassinate a high priest of Bane by knifing him in an alley in a " mugging gone bad , " he does it without qualms . His tactics must change to fit the fight . Mercy is also mutable . Ideally , he would take his foes prisoner , bringing the Thayan slaver operating in the slums before a court of justice in Neverwinter . But if there is no choice but to kill him , such as if he is escaping arrest , or has been acquitted on a technicality , he willingly commits the murder , for some foes simply cannot be allowed to live and rise again . A moment ' s prayer for both his own soul and his victim ' s , followed by a quick death , end the lives of many of a gray guard ' s enemies . Ex - Gray Guards . Though a gray guard ' s code is looser than a paladin ' s , the code does not grant a gray guard " carte blanche " to do whatever he pleases . He must respect legitimate authority and act with honor and good intent . He must help the needy , may not use poisons , and must punish those who harm the innocent . The central tenet is this : a gray guard may not break the code without good reason . As previously stated , the power to access one ' s innate divinity is a privilege , not a right , and unforgivably evil acts ( despoiling a temple of his faith , slaying innocents , etc . ) will cost the gray guard his abilities . Also not permitted are actions counter to the tenets of your faith , and habitual violation of the code . If at any time his deity or a jury of your faith ' s leaders finds you guilty of neglecting your responsibilities and abusing your power , you will be expelled from the order , permanently costing you both gray guard and paladin powers . Not even an " atonement " spell can restore them once lost in this manner . A fallen gray guard who becomes a blackguard can trade in his gray guard levels for blackguard levels , just as he can trade in his paladin levels .