Zeal
The paladin gets zeal with Smite at level 1, holding 5. The pool holds 10, plus your Presence modifier, plus a point per 10 levels, and never less than 6. For example, Presence 12 holds 11 at level 1, and Presence 16 holds 16 at level 30.
- Every blow, shot, or throw of yours that hits builds a point, and so does every blow that hits you.
- It also comes back a point every 10 base turns (a minute), resting too. Spent, it sits at 0, and an empty pool is full again in about ten minutes.
- Smite spends 3, Branding smite 3, Wrathful smite 4, Banishing smite 6, and Lay on hands 6 (3 with Avatar). Retribution (level 25) spends 4 for every blow it answers. So wrath and mercy are paid from the one pool.
- The blow that hits you builds its point first, so 3 zeal is enough for Retribution to answer it. With Zealot you need 2, and every blow that hits you builds 2.
- A holy gift that does not answer (because you are not Kind or better, see Alignment) spends none.
- A deed that moves you toward evil (see Alignment) empties the pool at once: “Your zeal deserts you.”
The talent on it
Zealot (Grit; whoever holds Smite, so the paladin, level 6): every blow that hits you builds 2 zeal instead of 1. A blow you give still builds 1, and the pool holds no more.