Corolinth wrote:
It doesn't stop at CG deities having paladins. Paladins and monks belonging to certain orders have more relaxed multiclassing rules, too. Remember, in the Player's Handbook, it specifically states that any paladin or monk who multiclasses may never take monk or paladin levels again. There is not even a caveat for prestige classes. In Forgotten Realms, this is not the case. Paladins who worship Azuth (and presumably Mystra, judging by feats and prestige classes) may continue to advance as a paladin. Paladins of Lathander are allowed to multiclass as clerics, and several prestige classes (including the cleric-equivalent of archmage). Monks of the Dark Moon (Shar) may multiclass as sorcerers. Monks of the Old Order (no specific deity) may multiclass as rogues, sorcerers, and shadowdancers.
Forgotten Realms has several monk and paladin orders, each of which is dedicated to a particular god (or group of gods) and carries its own rules and restrictions. Remember, the campaign world predates third edition, and thus the "one-step rule." Is it stupid for Sune to have paladins? Why shouldn't any deity have a knight order? Back when these knight orders were first being introduced to the world, there was no rule that said a chaotic god couldn't have lawful followers. You might have something if 1) paladin weren't a base class or 2) there was a base class (in the PH, not in some extra supplement) for evil and chaotic knights.
Minor point of order: the one step rule only applies to receiving divine spells. (Which would restrict paladins, normally.) Monks can worship any god they feel like, or none at all (regardless of the implications in FR when they die)...they don't cast spells.