Oath of Suffering

To break a paladin oath on purpose is one of the highest possible offenses, with the title of Oathbreaker reserved for those who do so. But what about those who unintentionally break their oath, and must live through the consequences of their actions in despair? Many take up a new oath, the Oath of Suffering. Those who take the Oath of Suffering are dedicated spreading to others the same misery and anguish that they themselves endure for eternity.

Tenets of Suffering

A paladin who takes this oath has these tenets mystically branded onto their shoulders, and the marks burn with hot energy for one hour after every long rest.

Endure Through Pain. Through all pain and torture, you stand strong and turn the other cheek.

Spare Nothing. Those around you will know of the sorrow you carry, whether through story or force.

Guide the Deserving to Salvation. You act as a beacon to guide the deserving toward the path you should have taken.

 

Channel Divinity

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

Twinned Torment. You can use your Channel Divinity option to share your suffering with another individual. As an action, you may target a creature within 30 feet of you and utter a deep-toned mumble of words foretelling doom, forcing the creature to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, while you and the target are both alive, you take a penalty to your attack rolls, and the target takes a penalty to its AC. The penalty can equal up to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). When one of you two dies, or if the distance between the two of you is greater than 120 feet, this curse breaks.

Triumph Through Agony. You can use your Channel Divinity option to focus your suffering into a potentially powerful surge. As a bonus action, you may imbue one weapon you are holding with powerful negative energy, granting you disadvantage on attack rolls with that weapon for 1 minute. When you hit a creature with this weapon, you deal additional radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier plus your Paladin level.

You can end this effect on your turn as part of any other action. If you are no longer holding or carrying this weapon, or if you fall unconscious, this effect ends.

Aura of Anguish

At 7th level, while you are conscious, you emanate an aura of hopelessness. Enemies within 10 feet of you have their movement speed reduced by half.

At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

Unparalleled Misery

Starting at 15th level, no pain you are dealt could ever equal what you have already endured. You gain resistance to psychic damage.

Additionally, when an enemy deals psychic damage to you, they take psychic damage equal to the amount you take.

Relentless Doombringer

At 20th level, you can channel insurmountable dread, storming towards your enemies to bring swift suffering. As an action, you undergo a terrifying transformation, assuming the appearance of your darkest fears and gaining the following benefits for 1 minute:

• On your turn, your movement speed is increased by 5 ft for each enemy that has reduced movement speed because of you (this bonus is recalculated each turn).
• Enemies who have reduced movement speed because of you are also frightened of you.
• When you miss a weapon attack against an enemy, that creature takes psychic damage equal to your Charisma modifier plus the maximum roll of one of your weapon's damage die.

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