To ensure the success of future missions, the Church set about training holy warriors, [[Paladin]]s, to accompany and safeguard their missionaries. These "[[Protectors of the Word]]" proved to be more successful at converting the native peoples than the Priests they were assigned to defend. Impressing the locals with daring deeds, powerful weapons, and martial prowess was far more convincing than the condemnations of a soft-spoken monk. However, once the Word had been spread to every major city of the West, the "Protectors of the Word" faded from public view.