Oath of Battle: A Paladin Sacred Oath

The attack came with the sun's rise. 

Bursting from his yurt, Urag emerged to a village in chaos—the voices of his comrades only half discernable among the clash and clang of metal, and the cries of the dying. 

The Talons were here. Sent by the humans to drive us from our ancestral home. At the onset of winter, a death sentence. 

Barely able to hear his own labored breathing, his eyes searched frantically for Warleader Batul. Turning aside the thrust of a spear and knocking the man aside, he stumbled through the bitter snowfall, slipping on ice and mud. 

He spied Batul outside the tannery, a bullwark against enemy spears with a small company of warriors. Batul turned, their eyes locking momentarily. Bellowing a war cry, he charged to meet another blow.

"Do not falter! Bathe your axe in blood!" 

The cry was taken up around the camp, and Urag could see the momentum beginning to turn. He found himself echoing the cry. He drew his axe, and charged. 

Why Play This Oath?

Thematically, play this oath if you want to inspire and lead your allies into battle as a clan chief, war leader, or an ex-soldier of rank. It also works great for anyone wanting the flavor of a barbarian while not being so hot on the mechanics, or in viking-themed games.

Mechanically, have you ever noticed how paladin oaths tend to fall into one of two categories: solo offense (conquest, vengeance), and defensive support (the rest). Where are options/features providing offensive support and teamwork?

Originally the brainchild of a member of our group seeking a similar alternative to the Oath of Vengeance, this oath aims to fill that gap by meshing the archetypal tank/support combat role of the paladin with the aggression of the barbarian or fighter (and—if we're being honest—possessing a more interesting flavor than just Fantasy Batman™.)

Take a Look! You can read the full archetype in the preview, so check it out! If the buttons aren't working you should be able to read the full oath in the image previews below. Page 4 is a copy of page 3 with colors removed for easy printing.

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Creator's Note:

This is the second in a series of personal player options scheduled for release in 2020. All of these sub/classes have gone through playtesting by myself and others, with each aiming to explore a theme or trope under-represented in official source material. If you like what you see, please consider showing your support by making a purchase! You can also join the mailing list (https://mailchi.mp/62cb4e9f2fb3/heavyarms) to receive notifications of new product releases (new release notifications only, no spam!) or find me on Twitter @DMheavyarms.