Sacred Oath: Oath of Penitence

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_Kill a killer, and the amount of killers in the world does not change... but I am already a killer. I will take this blood. I will take this sin. I will take them all, lest they stain an innocent. If one is to be damned, let it be me. If one is to be harmed, let it be me. If one is to choose this..._
___
_Let. It. Be. Me._

##     Oath of Penitence

The Oath of Penitence is one of regret and self-sacrifice.         Its adherents - sometimes called penitent knights or         martyr knights - are often atoners, driven by the guilt of         their own past actions. Some seek absolution for their         sins; others accept there is none to be found, and         dedicate their lives to the protection of others, to spare         them the same fate. Others still find the oath forced         upon them, sworn into service when given the choice of         penitence or death by a martyr knight bringing them to         justice for their crimes.

####       Tenets of Penitence
        The Oath of Penitence is a joyless one, epitomized in its         tenets.

* **Be the Bulwark.** Stand between those who cannot defend themselves and those who would do them harm.
* **Bear the Sin.** Battle and bloodshed is a heavy burden. Carry it so others need not.
* **Life is Precious.** Take solace in the joys of those you protect, and know the worth of your sacrifice.

* **Spend It Well.** Your life belongs to a higher cause. Do not throw it away needlessly.

####  Oath Spells
  You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.

##### Oath of Penitence Spells
| Paladin Level  | Spells |
|:---:|:-----------:|
|  3rd  | _absorb elements_, _shield of faith_ |
|  5th  | _prayer of healing_, _warding bond (no material component)_ |
|  9th  | _life transference_, _protection from energy_ |
|  13th  | _death ward_, _freedom of movement_ |
|  17th  | _geas_, _mass cure wounds_ |

#### Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

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**Vow of Protection**. You can cast the _warding bond_ spell as a bonus action without using a spell slot or requiring a material component. If cast in this way, the spell has a range of 60 feet and a duration of 1 minute. If you are under the effect of _warding bond_ when you use this feature, the spell is suppressed for the duration.

___

**Take the Pain**. As a bonus action, you can touch a willing creature and transfer one disease or condition affecting it (as by the _lesser restoration_ spell) onto yourself. If the effect was caused by a creature, then while affected by it, the damage of your Divine Smite and Improved Divine Smite features increases by 1d8 against that creature. When you reach 7th level in this class, you can instead use this feature as an action to transfer effects as if by the _greater restoration_ spell.

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#### Aura of Martyrdom
Starting at 7th level, you learn to use your own suffering to protect the innocents around you. Whenever you and another creature within 10 feet of you both take damage from the same effect (such as the explosion of a _fireball_, a dragon's breath, or an attack hitting the target of your _warding bond_), you can have that creature take only half as much damage. If you are damaged by an ongoing effect (such as _moonbeam_ or _spirit guardians_), you provide this protection to creatures of your choice until the start of your next turn.

When you reach 18th level in this class, the range of the aura increases to 30 feet.

#### Respite of the Selfless
By 15th level, you become inured to pain and suffering - but its easing still invigorates you. Whenever you regain hit points, or restore hit points to another creature, you gain temporary hit points equal to the hit points restored, up to a maximum equal to your paladin level, which last until the end of your next turn.

> [Forgotten Knight](https://www.deviantart.com/sinakasra/art/Forgotten-Knight-191801321 "sinakasra") - Sina Pakzad Kasra<br />
> [Shield](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qQAQln "Nolan Yu") - Nolan Yu<br />
> Uses stains by [Jared Ondricek](https://watercolors.giantsoup.com "Jared Ondricek").
> ___
> ***Y**et **A**nother **v**on<wbr>**B**oomslang **O**riginal - [More here!](https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-NAEglrmxO4IqdywOILv)*

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#### Undying Determination
At 20th level, as an action, you can deny the call of mortality, even if incapacitated or otherwise prevented from taking actions. For 1 minute, you appear more real than your surroundings, and a mournful, ghostly dirge can be heard around you. You gain the following benefits:

* Other creatures of your choice within 30 feet are protected as if by the *warding bond* spell. If any are reduced to 0 hit points, they are automatically stabilized.
* You are immune to the charmed, exhausted, frightened, incapacitated, paralyzed, poisoned, stunned and unconscious conditions.
* You cannot die from any effect which does not utterly destroy your soul or body; any effect which would kill you outright instead reduces you to 0 hit points and gives you three death saving throw failures. While at 0 hit points, you cannot become stable, and receiving healing instead removes one death saving throw failure for every 5 hit points that would be restored. If you have six or more failures when this effect ends, you crumble into dust.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

<div class='descriptive'>
 
 ##### Rules Tip: Fighting with 0 hit points
 Taking damage while at 0 hp causes only one failed death saving throw unless it is from a critical hit (such as when attacking an unconscious creature), and none if only temporary hit points are lost.
 
 </div>

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### Oath of Penitence

The Oath of Penitence is one of regret and self-sacrifice. Its adherents - sometimes called penitent knights or martyr knights - are often atoners, driven by the guilt of their own past actions. Some seek absolution for their sins; others accept there is none to be found, and dedicate their lives to the protection of others, to spare them the same fate. Others still find the oath forced upon them, sworn into service when given the choice of penitence or death by a martyr knight bringing them to justice for their crimes.

#### Tenets of Penitence
The Oath of Penitence is a joyless one, epitomized in its tenets.

#### Oath Spells
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.

#### Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

When you reach 18th level in this class, the range of the aura increases to 30 feet.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

> ***Y**et **A**nother **v**on<wbr>**B**oomslang **O**riginal - [More here!](https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-NAEglrmxO4IqdywOILv)*