CREDITS

Designer: Westley Braswell

Template: Simple Microsoft Word Template by Laura
Hirsbrunner
Cover Illustrator: Vagelio Kavila
Interior Illustrators: Wizards of the Coast
Special Thanks: James Introcaso for providing a
recommendation and link to Laura’s incredible work,
Valaska Ur-Inanna for her review and playtesting, and being
one of my best and oldest friends.

ON THE COVER

Gar-ogar, the lizardfolk paladin, spends a moment in silent

contemplation. His mind turns to the violence he unleashed
upon his enemies in his younger days. The blood that stains his
soul. And the vow he swore to never again lift his blade if not in
defense.
This wonderful piece was illustrated by Vagelio Kavila.
Please support her work at DriveThruRPG - Vagelio

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Ravnica and all ot her Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
pp
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with permissio n under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

Some artwork provided by Wizard of the Coasts. All rights reserved.

Some artwork © 2015 Vagelio Kaliva, used with permission. All rights reserved.

All other original material in this work is copyright 2024 by WESTLEY BRASWELL and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters
Guild.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Credits ................................................................................ 1
Table of Contents............................................................... 2
Introduction ....................................................................... 3
Oath of Atonement .................................................................... 3
Backgrounds ......................................................................4
The Marked Outcast ........................................................... 4
Magic Items ....................................................................... 5

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INTRODUCTION LEVEL 3: SHIELD OF SACRIFICE
As a reaction when a creature within 30 ft. of you is hit by
an attack, you can expend a use of your Channel Divinity
Kaia threw wide open the doors of the temple, and stepped feature and move up to 30 ft., ending the movement
adjacent to the creature. You gain temporary hit points
toward the altar. The tip of her sword screeched the song of
equal to 2d6 + your Paladin level, and you become the
violence as she dragged it across the stone floor, before she new target of the attack.
let it drop and clatter to the floor. With each step, more of the
LEVEL 7: AURA OF FORGIVENESS
blood she was awash in fell from her body, leaving a
When you make a Charisma (Persuasion) ability check
crimson cut across the holy body of the temple. against a creature within your Aura of Protection, you
may add +5 to your check’s total.
She arrived at the altar, and fell to her knees. Her pale
In addition, when a creature with your Aura of
eyes looked to the effigy of St. Dorri, Guardian of the Protection takes damage, you can reduce the amount of
Hearthfire. His own gaze fell upon her, lifeless and stone as damage they take by half (no action required). You then
take the same amount of damage, which cannot be
his eyes were.
reduced in any way.
“All my life,” she said, “I’ve thought you were my enemy. You can use this feature a number of times equal to 1 +
Getting in the way of all that I had to achieve. Had to…” she your Charisma modifier (minimum of one), and regain
all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
stopped, and placed a hand on St. Dorri’s hammer. “But
none of that matters anymore.” She closed her eyes, and LEVEL 15: SALVE OF THE MARTYR
When you use your Lay on Hands feature on a creature
bowed her head to the effigy that cast its silent judgement
other than yourself, you may expend up to three of your
upon her. Hit Dice, adding 10 to the amount of Hit Points restored
“Forgive me,” she said, as her tears mixed with the blood for each Hit Die expended.

of her enemies, and fell to his mercy.

LEVEL 20: ATONED
As a Bonus Action, you gain the benefits below for 10
OATH OF ATONEMENT minutes or until you end them (no action required). Once
you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
Walk the path of forgiveness, and help others along the way finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of it by
There are those who commit crimes and sins without a expending a level 5 spell slot (no action required).
single weight upon their conscious, and have no regard
for those whom they harm with their actions. Yet, every
Armor of Forgiven Sins: You have resistance to all
so often, a mortal realizes the weight of sin they carry damage dealt by other creatures. At the start of your
upon them, and pledges to a god that they will live a turn in combat, if you are Bloodied, you regain Hit
virtuous life in order to make right all that they’ve done Points equal to 5 + your Charisma modifier. This
wrong. Yet the mark of a sin is not so easily wiped away, cannot restore you to more than half your Hit Point
and holding themselves to virtue is the greatest maximum.
challenge anyone faces when they swear the Oath of Sword of the Sanctified: When you use your Divine Smite
Atonement. feature while you are Bloodied, you can use d12’s for
the damage dice instead of d8’s.
Paladins who swear this oath share the following
tenants:
• Violence is a last resort, as life is sacred
• Work to build bridges, rather than burn them
• Forgive others for their sins, as you ask yours to be

LEVEL 3: OATH OF ATONEMENT SPELLS OATHBREAKERS

The magic of your oath ensures you always have certain The Oath of Atonement makes for a good replacement
spells ready; when you reach a Paladin level specified in for a paladin that has broken their oath in a way that
the Oath of the Ancients Spells table, you thereafter would otherwise cause them to become an Oathbreaker.
always have the listed spells prepared. If the paladin seeks redemption or atonement for the
transgression, the player should talk to the DM about
O ATH OF ATONEMENT S PELLS switching their oath to the Oath of Atonement, with the
Paladin possibility that they could switch back once they have
Level Spells made amends for their failure to upkeep their oath
originally.
3rd Expeditious retreat, healing word
5th Calm emotions, hold person
9th Slow, tongues
13th Divination, freedom of movement
17th Commune, hold monster

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BACKGROUNDS
THE MARKED OUTCAST
Skill Proficiencies: Survival, Stealth
Languages: Any one of your choice
Tool Proficiencies: Land or Water Vehicles, or disguise
kits (your choice)
Equipment: A token of your homeland, a map of a
nearby area, a glass bottle with a drink of your choice
in it, a set of travelers clothes, and a pouch containing
10 gold pieces.

THE SHAME
You were once a respected member of your community,
one whom people could turn to and count on. Then, you PERSONALITY T RAITS
broke it all, by committing an act vile or shameful
enough to warrant your exile and forever place a mark d8 Personality Trait
upon your name. You can roll a d8 or choose from the 1 When someone blames me for something, I just
options in the Shameful Past table to determine what it accept it
was that ruined your reputation.
2 I put myself down in almost every conversation
S HAMEFUL PAST
3 I do my best to hide my shame from others
d8 Event
4 I throw myself at whatever challenge comes my way,
1 You murdered someone, and they didn’t deserve it in the hopes it’ll make up for what I’ve done
2 You broke someone’s heart, and you couldn’t fix it 5 I don’t hide the bitterness and anger I feel over being
throw out
3 You stole something, and couldn’t give it back
6 I don’t like people, and they don’t like me. That’s fine.
4 You betrayed someone, and they couldn’t forgive you
7 Anytime someone asks me about my past, I shut
5 You ran away, and someone needed you down or lash out
6 You destroyed something precious, and you meant to 8 I never accept responsibility for anything, even if
do it really should sometimes
7 You lied to someone, and then they found out

8 You made a promise, and then you broke it I DEALS

d6 Ideal
FEATURE: OUTCASTS SANCTUARY 1 Home. No matter what happened, I still love and
The mark upon your name means you’ve learned how to cherish my homeland. (Any)
keep a low profile and avoid unwanted attention. In
settlements, you know the places where one can rest and 2 Order. A wrong act can only be answered by a right
avoid being found (even if they’re not the most sanitary one, and I seek to restore the balance. (Lawful)
or safest conditions). If it’s a settlement that knows your 3 Restorative. The only way to fix the wounds between
shame, you can count on there being at least one contact people is for the person that wronged the other to do
within the settlement that still calls you a friend, and so, as much as they can. (Good)
would be willing to shelter you as much as is reasonable.
4 Acceptance. There’s nothing to be done about what
SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS people think of me. I should just roll with it. (Chaotic)
As someone who was once a part of a community and 5 Revenge. The people that shamed me called me a
was then forced to leave it, your character exists in a monster. I will show them that they were right. (Evil)
place between society and the freedom of the wilderness. 6 Family. While my old home is no more, I know that
They may be searching for a new place to call home, or
there’s one out there that will accept me. (Any)
desperately trying to find a way back to the one that
forced them out.

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B ONDS
d6 Bond
MAGIC ITEMS
1 I finally got a letter from home; one that calls me BLADE OF MERCY
back to do something right for once. Melee weapon that deals slashing damage, legendary
(requires attunement)
2 Someone else was also responsible for the shame
that exiled me. I will find them and make them share With one edge sharpened to kill and the other blunted,
my fate. this weapon possesses the ability to kill, and to spare. It
is the will of the wielder to choose. You add +3 to your
3 There was a person from my past life I cared about
attack rolls and damage rolls you make with this
dearly and had to leave behind. They’ve since gone
weapon. While attuned to this weapon, it gains the
missing, and it’s up to me to find them. following benefits.
4 I know that if I face a foe dangerous enough,
Edge of Mercy: You are under the effects of a sanctuary
overcome a trial great enough, my people will spell while you are attuned to this weapon (Save DC
welcome me back. 18) and have advantage on Wisdom and Charisma
5 A person in a position of power placed the mark upon saving throws. This effect ends for seven days if you
my name. I will force them to remove it. reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with an attack and kill
them.
6 I’ve heard tale of a great treasure to my people. If I
Edge of Murder: When you reduce a creature to 0 Hit
find it and bring it to them, maybe that will make up
Points with an attack from this weapon and choose to
for what I’ve done.
kill them, you have advantage on your attack rolls and
add 1d10 extra slashing damage for seven days.
F LAWS However, you also have disadvantage on Wisdom and
d6 Flaw Charisma saving throws for the same duration.
The Choice: When you critically hit a creature with this
1 Death may absolve me of my crimes. So, I seek it weapon, you may choose to deal an extra 3d10 force
wherever I can. damage to the creature. However, if you reduce the
2 I take credit for other people’s good work in the hope creature to 0 Hit Points, you cannot choose to knock
it will help my reputation. them unconscious.
3 I keep all those who would attempt to get close to me
at a distance. I do not want to hurt anyone again.
WARRIORS VESTMENTS
Robes or common clothing, very rare (requires attunement
4 I tell people about my past as soon as they get to by a cleric or paladin)
know me; better they know now rather than later.
Those sworn to higher powers that are called to fight for
5 I can’t help but defend my reputation against even their faith, these vestments serve as protections for both
the smallest slight, often with disproportionate the traveler and the warpriest. While attuned to these
actions. vestments, you gain the following benefits while
6 I indulge in vices to keep my mind busy from thinking wearing them.
about my shame. • Your AC is equal to 13 + your Wisdom or Charisma
modifier (your choice). You can use a shield and still
gain these benefits.
• When you use your Channel Divinity feature, you gain
temporary Hit Points equal to 2 × your cleric or paladin
level. While you have these temporary Hit Points, you
have resistance to radiant and necrotic damage.

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