A Paladin who swears the Oath of Atonement has walked through blood and shadow and turned away from it. Often, they are former warriors who have been turned for whatever reason to commit horrible crimes to no fault of their own. Or is it? They now seeking redemption, not through purity, but through reckoning. They do not forget their sins. They carry them. They turn the shame and pain into a need to defend those who have been wronged. They fight to ensure no one else makes the same mistakes. The Oath of Atonement is not one of peace or kindness—it is a burden, a vow to protect life even if it means sacrificing one's own soul. These paladins stand at the edge of damnation and dare to face it with open eyes.

Tenets of Atonement
Remembrance: Never forget the blood you've spilled. Let it temper your judgment.
Restraint: Power should serve mercy, not feed the ego or the god of death.
Sacrifice: Redemption costs. Pay it in pain.
Shield the Innocent: You once served death. Now, you serve those who need protection from it.

Channel Divinity:
3rd level Oath of Atonement features

Chains of Responsibility
As an action, you force a creature within 60 feet that you can see to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC13). On a failed save, the creature is restrained by spectral chains of radiant light for 1 minute (save ends at end of its turn). This represents your vow to stop harm. When a creature within 30 feet makes a melee attack against an ally, you can use your reaction to force it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it takes radiant damage equal to your paladin level and must choose a new target or lose the attack.

Burden of the Redeemed
You carry a weight others cannot see. Whenever allies take damage from a spell or attack, you can choose to reduce that damage by half and redirect the other half to yourself as necrotic damage that cannot be reduced or avoided. You absorb the pain willingly, marked by the souls of the slain. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.

Level 3: Oath of Atonement Spells

The magic of your oath ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Paladin level specified in the Oath of Devotion Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.

Oath of Devotion Spells

Paladin Level	Spells
3	Detect Magic, Shield of Faith
5	Lesser Restoration, Hold Person
9	Counterspell, Revivify
13	Death Ward, Guardian of Faith
17	Greater Restoration, Wall of Force

 

Channel Divinity

3rd level Oath of Atonement features

Chains of Responsibility
As an action, you force a creature within 60 feet that you can see to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC13). On a failed save, the creature is restrained by spectral chains of radiant light for 1 minute (save ends at end of its turn). This represents your vow to stop harm. When a creature within 30 feet makes a melee attack against an ally, you can use your reaction to force it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it takes radiant damage equal to your paladin level and must choose a new target or lose the attack.

Burden of the Redeemed
You carry a weight others cannot see. Whenever allies take damage from a spell or attack, you can choose to reduce that damage by half and redirect the other half to yourself as necrotic damage that cannot be reduced or avoided. You absorb the pain willingly, marked by the souls of the slain. 
You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.

Aura of Remorse

7th- and 18th-level Oath of Atonement features

Your presence radiates the pain of your past deeds. As an action you can chose to have any hostile creatures within 10 feet to have disadvantage on saving throws against being Charmed or Frightened. Additionally, if a creature within the aura drops to 0 HP, you can use your reaction to stabilize them at 1 HP instead—even if you dealt the killing blow. Aura range increases to 30 feet at 18th level.

Final Penance

15th-level Oath of Atonement

You can assume a form that embodies both your fall and your rise. As an action, you become a spectral knight surrounded by burning chains and ethereal wings for 1 minute: You gain resistance to all damage. Your weapon attacks deal an extra 1d8 radiant or necrotic damage (your choice). Enemies that attack you take radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier (once per turn). You may cast Raise Dead once without material components during this form. Once used, you can’t use this feature again until after a long rest.

Burden of the Redeemed

20th level Oath of Atonement features

You carry a weight others cannot see. Whenever allies take damage from a spell or attack, you can choose to reduce that damage by half and redirect the other half to yourself as necrotic damage that cannot be reduced or avoided. You absorb the pain willingly, marked by the souls of the slain.

You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.