Oath of the Plaguefather

The Oath of the Plaguefather is sworn by those who embrace the gifts of Nurgle, the Lord of Decay. These paladins do not see disease and entropy as curses but as vital parts of existence, bringing both suffering and renewal. Unlike other warriors of faith, they do not seek to purge corruption, but to spread its gifts, ensuring that all creatures experience the cycle of decay, death, and rebirth.

While they may appear monstrous, their purpose is not solely destruction; rather, they are heralds of endurance and persistence, standing unyielding against the horrors of the world. They protect their allies with unnatural resilience and spread plagues to weaken their foes, all while embracing the grotesque blessings of the Plaguefather.

Paladins who take the Oath of the Plaguefather adhere to these unholy yet surprisingly nurturing tenets:

• Endure and Persist – Life is suffering, but through hardship comes strength. Embrace pain, for it is Nurgle’s love given form.

• The Gift of Decay – Death is not the end, but a transformation. Disease is a blessing that brings change and rebirth.

• Cherish All Life, Even as It Rots – Every creature, no matter how sick or weak, has value. Protect those who accept their fate, and pity those who resist.

• Jovial Resignation – Fear is pointless; all things will rot in time. Accept the cycle of life and death with joyous laughter, for Nurgle welcomes all.

Nurgle's Rot

As an action, you unleash a wave of blessed disease. Each creature of your choice within 10 feet must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the target is poisoned for 1 minute and takes poison damage equal to your Charisma modifier at the start of each of its turns. A poisoned creature may repeat the saving throw at the end of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Level 3: Blessing of Resilience

As a bonus action, you touch a creature (including yourself) and imbue them with Nurgle’s endurance. They gain temporary hit points equal to twice your Paladin level, and while they have these hit points, they have advantage on Constitution saving throws.

Aura of Virulent Vitality

Your presence exudes an aura of resilience and pestilence. You and friendly creatures within 10 feet gain the following benefits:

• Resistance to necrotic and poison damage.

• Any disease affecting you or your allies does not impose disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, or saving throws—instead, it grants advantage on Constitution saving throws as your bodies embrace the Plaguefather’s gifts.

Plaguebearer's Flesh

Your body is fully blessed by Nurgle’s touch, making you a true avatar of resilience and decay.

• You gain immunity to disease and poison damage.

• When a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack, they take poison damage equal to your Charisma modifier.

• As an action, you can choose to fail a saving throw against a disease or poison effect in order to absorb and nullify it, preventing it from affecting others.

Avatar of Nurgle

As an action, you fully embrace the will of the Plaguefather, transforming into a bloated, unkillable herald of decay for 1 minute. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:

• Plague Aura (10 feet): Enemies within this aura take poison damage equal to your Charisma modifier at the start of their turn.

• Festering Resilience: You gain resistance to all damage except radiant, and immunity to the poisoned condition.

• Nurgle’s Generosity: Whenever you reduce a creature to 0 hit points, you and an ally of your choice within 30 feet regain hit points equal to your Paladin level

Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.