Bloodsworn

Among orcs, the greatest warriors are not those who avoid harm. They are those who answer every blow with one of their own. The Bloodsworn embody this truth completely. To step back is to surrender. To be struck is to be given an opening. They stand, they bleed, and they fight back.

Where other fighters learn to minimize damage taken, the Bloodsworn learn to weaponize it. Their lowered guard is not a weakness. It is an invitation. And every enemy foolish enough to accept it will find that striking a Bloodsworn is the last mistake they make.

Level 3: Unbroken Stance

You adopt the fighting posture of the Bloodsworn: wide, aggressive, welcoming the strike so you can answer it. You permanently lower your Armor Class by 2. This reduction cannot be negated or offset by any feature, spell, or item that does not specifically reference Unbroken Stance. In exchange, all damage you deal with weapon attacks and Unarmed Strikes increases by 2, and you add your Proficiency Bonus to all Death Saving Throws.

This is not a choice you make each day — it is who you are.

Level 3: Answer In Kind

When a creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your Reaction to immediately make one melee weapon attack or Unarmed Strike against that creature, provided it is within your reach. You have 2 additional Reactions, but these can only be used for Answer in Kind. All Reactions used for Answer in Kind replenish at the start of each of your turns.

Level 7: Ironblood

Pain has become language to you — one you speak fluently. All attacks made through Answer in Kind gain a +2 bonus to their attack roll. This bonus is always active and requires no tracking.

Level 7: Challenge

As a Bonus Action, you issue a challenge to one creature you can see within 30 feet. Until the start of your next turn, if that creature makes an attack against any creature other than you, it takes psychic damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus.
You can use Challenge once per turn with no resource cost.

Level 10: Unyielding

You cannot be frightened or charmed while you have at least 1 Hit Point. If an effect would impose either condition on you, it fails automatically. Additionally, your Answer in Kind attacks score a Critical Hit on a roll of 19 or 20. When making a Death Saving Throw, a roll of 18, 19, or 20 counts as a critical success, granting 3 successes instead of 1.

Level 15: Warcry of The Bloodsworn

Once per turn when you use Answer in Kind, you can forgo making an attack roll. Instead, the strike automatically hits and deals your weapon's maximum damage dice plus all applicable modifiers. You regain the use of this feature when you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Level 18: Undying Answer

When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points by a melee attack, you do not fall unconscious immediately. Instead, you remain standing until the end of your next turn, during which you can act normally, including using Answer in Kind. If you use Answer in Kind during this time, that attack deals an additional 2d10 damage. At the end of your next turn, if you have not received healing to bring you above 0 Hit Points, you fall unconscious as normal.