employee salaries for his stronghold) but no more. He may notstockpile money to buy gifts, leave to his heirs, or pay a friend's expenses. What does apaladin do with the excess? He has three options: Refuse it. If anappreciative community offers him a sack of gems for destroying a vampire, he politely declines. ("Your gratitude is morethan sufficient.") If he discovers a treasure chest filled with pearls, gold pieces, and a bookof poetry, he takes the book and leaves the rest (and he's likely to give the book to afriend or a library after he's finished reading it). Donate it to thechurch. This does not count as a regular tithing (see the Tithing section below), as it's not considered part of his income. Donate it toanother worthy institution of chaotic good alignment. Suitable recipients include hospitals, libraries, and orphanages. Researchfacilities, military organizations, and governmental operations are acceptable only if thepaladin is certain that the money will be spent on chaotic good projects. Within theseguidelines, a paladin may dispose of his excess funds as he wishes. He may donate treasure to a hospital on one occasion, andrefuse a monetary reward for rescuing a kidnapped prince on another. However, he maynever give his excess funds to another player character, or to any nonplayer character orcreature controlled by a player. Remember, too,that just because a paladin declines a reward for rescuing a prince doesn't mean his fellow party members can't accept it. If apaladin kills an evil dragon, then walks away from its treasure hoard, his companions arestill free to help themselves.Loans A paladin fallingon hard times or confronted with unanticipated expenses may arrange for a loan from a chaotic good character orinstitution. While borrowing money may be a humiliating experience, it's rarely an ethosviolation unless the paladin borrows money he doesn't need or doesn't intend to repay. In general, apaladin may borrow only small amounts of money (say, an amount equivalent to his monthly budget). He may also borrow theminimum amount required for an emergency; an opportunity to buy a treasure map leadingto a holy sword doesn't qualify, but medicine to treat a dying companion might.Borrowing money to pay the monthly operating expenses of a stronghold is allowed, butonly if necessary to keep lawful good workers employed or to make vitalrepairs. (A leaking roof can wait; a crumbled wall probably can't.) A paladin should strive torepay his debts as quickly as possible. Repeated borrowingis discouraged, and chronic debt should be considered an ethos violation. If a paladin borrows money for severalconsecutive months, he might lose his stronghold, his bonded mount, or any other obligation that'scosting him more than he can afford.Tithing A paladin mustgive 10% of all his income to a chaotic good institution. This 10% is called a tithe. In most cases, a paladin tithes to hischurch or other religious organization. If he doesn't belong to a church or operates independently(as in the case of the Expatriate character kit described in Chapter 4), he may designate anychaotic good organization, such as a hospital or university, as the recipient of histithes. A paladin has