Base Class: Paladin
To honor the theme of the lost desert dwarvern city of Kaz'karazador and the burning sands of Calimshan, this subclass—the Oath of the Brass Bastion—focuses on the dual nature of fire: a destructive force against foes and a purifying, "cauterizing" light for allies.
Mechanically, it fills the role of a "Sticky Tank," punishing enemies for ignoring you while providing fire-flavored support.
Level 3: Oath of the Brass Bastion Spells
The magic of your oath ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Paladin level specified in the Oath of Vengeance Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
| Paladin Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Shield, Searing Smite |
| 5th | Heat Metal, Warding Bond |
| 9th | Fireball, Protection from Energy |
| 13th | Fire Shield, Wall of Fire |
| 17th | Flame Strike, Greater Restoration |
Level 3: Cauterizing Light
As an action, you can use your Channel Divinity to heal a creature within 30 feet. The target regains hit points equal to $2d8 + \text{your Paladin level}$. Additionally, the fire "seals" their wounds; the target has Advantage on Constitution saving throws until the end of their next turn.
Level 3: Channel Divinity: Forge Brand
As an Action (Channel Divinity), you sear a creature you can see within 30 feet with a brand of cobalt fire. The target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the target gains vulnerability to fire damage for 1 minute or until it takes fire damage — whichever comes first. Once the vulnerability triggers, the brand is consumed.
Creatures with immunity to fire damage are unaffected by this feature.
Level 7: Aura of the Shimmering Hearth
Starting at 7th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have resistance to fire damage.
Additionally, the air around you ripples with a desert mirage. When a creature within your aura is targeted by a ranged attack, the attacker has Disadvantage on the roll as the heat-haze warps their vision. At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.
Level 15: Living Crucible
Starting at 15th level, you can harness the energy of attacks directed at you. When you take damage from a creature within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to deal $2d6$ fire damage to that creature.
Furthermore, whenever you use your Lay on Hands feature to heal a creature, that creature gains Temporary Hit Points equal to half the amount of hit points restored. This represents the "cauterized" toughness of their spirit.
Level 20: The Eternal Furnace
As a Bonus Action, you transform into a living avatar of the Brass Bastion for 1 minute or until you end it (no action required). Once used, you can't use this feature again until you finish a Long Rest — or by expending a level 5 spell slot (no action required).
Forge's Immunity. You gain immunity to fire damage for the duration.
Molten Presence. A 10-foot aura of blue flame radiates from you. Hostile creatures that start their turn within the aura take 3d6 fire damage (no save). Friendly creatures are unaffected.
Searing Strikes. Your weapon attacks deal an additional 2d6 fire damage for the duration.
Immovable. You cannot be moved, knocked prone, or teleported against your will by any effect of 5th level or lower. You are the wall.
Comments