Path of Blood Atonement

“…Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness…”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:22‬b

A particularly religious Barbarian has made countless sacrifices, whether they know or not, and at least one member of the pantheon has noticed their contribution. This Barbarian performs amazing feats, but at the cost of their life force. Though not conscious of their magic like a necromancer or bloodthirsty like a vampire, a Path of Blood Barbarian simply is so acquainted with the life-giving qualities of blood that they have attuned themselves to it. On the Path of Blood, a Barbarian may sacrificial give his life force to save others or hoard the life forces of others to try to save their own life! Either way, atonement must come, and the Barbarian may not be too picky whose blood is the price.

Life of the Blood

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭17:11a

At 3rd level, after taking this path, your body thirsts for life. Once every turn, if you succeed on hitting a creature using your reckless attack while raging, you may steal life from your opponent, healing yourself for 1d4 hit points and damaging them for an additional 1d4 hit points. “Life of the Blood” has no effect if you are already at full health, and does not work against constructs or creatures who do not bleed.

Your aging also pauses for the day you use “Life of the Blood.”

At 6th level, the amount healing and damage increases to 1d6. At 10th level, the amount of healing and damage increases to 1d8. At 14th level. The amount of healing and damage increases to 1d10.

Reason of Strength

“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.“ Psalm 90:10 ESV

Beginning at 6th level, you may preemptively strike at an enemy at the cost of your life. As a bonus action while raging, you may make an additional attack on your turn against one creature. If you hit and damage the creature while using this ability, you lose the same number of hitpoints as your target.

Bruised, Not Crushed

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed…” 2 Corinthians 4:8 NIV

Beginning at 10th level, you literally begin to steel yourself, the iron in your blood coalescing into a protective layer under your skin that shields you from damage. When you rage, you may spend a number of hitpoints up to your Barbarian’s level to provide immunity to one damage type of your choice until rage ends. You may use this ability once per long rest.

Tetelestai

"He said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

John 19:30 ESV

Starting at 14th level, you have developed an awareness of your life force and may shape it into power. You may now spend significant amounts of your life force to cause critical hits against your enemies. When you successfully hit when attacking a creature while raging, you may use a bonus action to take away 30% of your hitpoints rounded up  to guarantee that attack is a critical hit.