Base Class: Paladin
A Paladin based on the idea and description from @Lair-Master 's post on Tumblr from July 19th, 2019.
The Oath of the Stone Martyr is sworn by those who believe that true strength is not measured by the enemies one defeats, but by the burdens one is willing to bear. Hidden from the eyes of the world, these paladins belong to ancient orders whose cathedrals are adorned with countless stone sentinels—figures said to be holy guardians, though few know they were once living knights.
According to the order's secret tradition, the First Gorgon was not a monster, but a martyr. Whether she was a saint unjustly condemned, a divine guardian cursed for her sacrifice, or a victim of jealous gods differs from one chapter to another. Yet all agree that she endured unimaginable suffering so that others might be spared. Rather than curse her name, the Stone Martyrs kneel before her memory, believing that her petrifying gaze is not merely a weapon, but a sacred trial capable of revealing unwavering conviction.
Every initiate willingly undergoes this trial. Before a relic of the Gorgon—a preserved head, a fragment of her gaze, or another sacred remnant—they stand in silent prayer and accept whatever fate follows. Many are transformed into lifeless stone, their statues forever standing watch over the order's halls as honored guardians. Those who endure awaken forever changed. Veins of pale marble spread beneath their skin, their flesh hardens against blade and arrow, and the first whispers of the ancient curse take root within them.
To outsiders, these paladins appear stoic, reserved, and almost unnaturally calm. They do not seek glory through conquest, nor do they rush recklessly into battle. Like mountains weathering an endless storm, they stand where others would fall, shielding the innocent and refusing to yield. Their divine gifts manifest not in radiant fury alone, but in the slow certainty of stone—restraining foes, fortifying allies, and enduring wounds that would fell lesser warriors.
Yet every Stone Martyr knows the price of their oath. The petrification they survived never truly leaves them. With each passing year, the sacred stone claims another fragment of their body. The aging of flesh is replaced by the creeping stillness of marble, and though miraculous salves, sacred oils, and ancient rites can delay the transformation, none can halt it forever. The greatest among the order eventually choose to lay down their arms and take their place among the silent guardians that crown their temples, watching over future generations with unblinking eyes.
Far from viewing this fate with despair, the order embraces it as the final act of devotion. To become stone is not to perish, but to keep an eternal vigil. They believe that when the First Gorgon is one day restored—or when the gods themselves acknowledge her sacrifice—the faithful who stood beside her in life and in stone shall awaken once more, their long watch finally ended, to march together in a heavenly cause.
Level 3: The Creeping Stone (Optional)
"The curse does not claim the faithless, for they perish at the trial. It claims only those who endure."
—Inscription above the Hall of Sentinels
The blessing of the First Gorgon is never truly dormant. Although those who survive the Rite of the Gaze master its power, the sacred petrification continues to spread through their bodies throughout their lives. Members of the order call this gradual transformation the Creeping Stone. Every Stone Martyr bears the curse differently. For some, it begins as pale veins of marble beneath the skin. Others awaken to find a hand, shoulder, or eye forever turned to polished stone. The order teaches that these changes are neither disease nor punishment, but visible proof of one's devotion. To resist them completely would be to reject the oath itself. The transformation itself cannot be halted, only delayed. Every chapter of the order maintains gardens where rare herbs are cultivated and sacred oils are distilled. These remedies do not remove the curse, but slow its advance, allowing a knight to continue their vigil for many decades before finally taking their place among the Silent Sentinels.
For this reason, Stone Martyrs are taught not only the arts of war, but also the careful preparation of these remedies.
Stone Points
Your DM may choose to track the progression of the curse.
Whenever you use one of the following subclass features, you gain 1 Stone Point:
- A use of your Channel Divinity
- Living Marble
- Apotheosis of the First Martyr
Stone Points represent permanent changes to your body rather than a resource. They are intended as roleplaying milestones rather than mechanical rewards or penalties.
The order's sacred oils can delay the curse. After completing a long rest during downtime in a settlement or monastery, you may spend 10 gp in herbs and alchemical reagents mixed with a Herbalism Kit to remove 1 Stone Point, to a minimum of 0.
A DM may instead decide that some Stone Points cannot be removed, emphasizing the inevitability of the oath.
Stages of the Curse
3 Stone Points — Marble Veins
Fine veins of white stone begin spreading beneath your skin, and your eyes take on the appearance of polished granite.
You have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks against creatures that can see you.
6 Stone Points — Weight of the Mountain
Your body has become unnaturally heavy.
You can not be moved against your will and have advantage on Saving Throws against being knocked prone.
In addition, you count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
10 Stone Points — Silent Sentinel
One limb, much of your torso, or your face has become polished stone. Most common folk immediately recognize that something divine—or terrible—has touched you.
You gain a +1 bonus to AC.
However, you have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks made against creatures unfamiliar with your order.
15 Stone Points — The Final Vigil
Very little flesh remains.
Your voice has become slow and resonant.
Your heartbeat is barely perceptible.
The order now considers you ready to become a guardian.
Whenever you finish a long rest, the DM may describe another visible portion of your body becoming marble.
This stage carries no additional mechanical benefit or penalty, serving instead as a reminder that your final transformation draws near.
The Last Watch
Few Stone Martyrs die peacefully.
Instead, when age, injury, or exhaustion finally overcome them, they willingly travel to one of the order's sanctuaries. There, surrounded by prayers and incense, they take up a final watch at the cathedral gates, in the halls of kings, or beneath the boughs of sacred groves. Over the course of days or weeks, the Creeping Stone completes its work, transforming them into one of the Silent Sentinels that stand eternal guard over the order's most sacred places.
Some believe these statues are little more than monuments. Others whisper that on moonless nights, their stone eyes still follow those who pass, and that when the First Gorgon is restored, every sentinel will awaken with sword in hand to answer her final call.
Level 3: Herbal Remedies
When you swear this oath at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the Herbalism Kit. If you are already proficient, you instead gain proficiency with one artisan's tool or skill of your choice.
In addition, you gain proficiency in the Medicine skill. If you already have proficiency in Medicine, you gain expertise in the skill instead.
These proficiencies reflect your training in preserving both life and the slow advance of your own sacred transformation.
Level 3: Oath of the Stone Martyr Spells
The magic of your oath ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Paladin level specified in the Oath of the Stone Martyr Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
| Paladin Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Entangle, Shield of Faith |
| 5 | Hold Person, Lesser Restoration |
| 9 | Slow, Meld into Stone |
| 13 | Stoneskin, Stone Shape |
| 17 | Hold Monster, Wall of Stone |
Level 3: Gorgon's Judgement
As a Bonus Action, you can expend one use of Channel Divinity and present your holy symbol. One creature withing 30 feet of you must succeed on a Constitution Saving Throw equal to your Spell Saving Throw. On a failure, the creatures speed becomes 0 and until the end of your turn your attacks have advantage against it. Wether the creature saves or fails, your speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of your next turn, as marble spreads around your joints.
Level 3: Martyr's Flesh
As a Magic Action, you can expand one use of Channel Divinity as your skin partially calcifies for one minute. You gain resistance against non-magical Bludgeoning, Slashing and Piercing, you cannot be moved against your will and Opportunity Attacks against creatures leaving your range have advantage, but your movement is reduced by 10 feet.
Level 7: Aura of Calcification
Your divine curse spreads to those you protect. You and allies within 10 feet gain a +1 to AC and Advantage against being Grappled or Restrained. Additionally, whenever an enemy hits an ally inside your aura you may use your Reaction to force that enemy to make a Constitution save. On a failure its speed becomes 0 until the start of your next turn and can't take Opportunity Attacks.
At level 18 the aura expands to 30 feet.
Level 15: Living Marble
You learned how to accelerate your transformation, you gain Resistance to Poison, immunity to the Petrified condition and your subclass features also don't slow your movement anymore, as you get a better grasp on moving with these calcified limbs.
Your body also no longer ages naturally. Instead, every few years, another small portion of your body permanently becomes marble. Though this causes no mechanical penalties, it is unmistakable. Many Stone Martyrs eventually retire to watch over their cathedrals as living statues.
Additionally, whenever you take damage from a creature within 10 feet of you, it takes Radiant damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus, as stone spikes erupt from your body.
Level 20: Apoptheosis of the First Martyr
As a Bonus Action for 1 minute, you fully embrace the Gorgon's blessing. Granting you the following benefits:
Stone Body
you gain resistance to all damage, but gain vulnerability to Force and Psychic damage, even if another feature grants resistance against one of these damage types, such as a Kalashtar's Mental Discipline or Githyanki's Psychic Resilience.
Petrifying Presence
Enemies that start their turn within 15 feet of you must make a Constitution Saving Throw, on a failure their speed becomes 0. If a creature fails this saving throw three times before this feature ends they are petrified until this ability ends.
Unyielding Sentinel
You cannot be kocked Prone or Pushed and automatically succeed on Strenght and Constitution Saving Throws.
Shared Protection
When a creature you can see within your Aura of Calcification would take damage, you can use your reaction to become the recipient of that damage instead. This damage retains its original damage type and is resolved against you normally, applying your resistances, immunities, vulnerabilities, and any other effects that modify damage you take. After applying those effects, reduce the damage by your Charisma modifier (minimum 0). If this reduces the damage to 0, the ally gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.
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