A Paladin Sacred Oath

The world survives on the foundation of what has gone before: Today's peace was hewn won by forebears' blood, and today's world was hewn by yesterday's kings. Every mortal springs forth from this foundation of history, born to parents, growing through society, and learning from the mistakes and successes of yore. Despite this, the past is an ephemeral thing, surviving on the merits of fragile archives and errant memory. And when a mortal dies, they are removed from this plane, doomed to be forgotten if vigilance and care are not taken.

Those whom swear the Oath of Tradition recognize the value of history, of lore, of the past. Called knight-chroniclers or yoreguards by some, these paladins are protectors of traditional institutions as well as keepers of those stories that would otherwise be forgotten, be it the grand epic of a dead empire, recorded on but one surviving manuscript, or the joyful memories of an elder recollecting the first harvest festival of a village no longer so young.

These paladins can be found in service to gods of home and civilization, such as Estanna or Erathis, under the authority of grand archives and keepers of history, or in temples and shrines dedicated to the remembrance and veneration of deceased ancestry. Many can be found questing through the world in search for stories that would otherwise be forgotten. Others travel in order to stand in opposition to forces that threaten to destroy what came before.

Tenets of Tradition Different cultures vary slightly in how each articulates the oath of tradition. Neverthless, it is universally handed down from effectively antiquity, no matter the place or time of its bearer. Heritage. Carry on the old traditions, yesterday's way of life, connecting the past to the present and enlivening both. Remembrance. Write the stories of people and cultures and places upon both crude matter and upon your mind. By remem-bering these tales, that which is gone yet lives. Joy. Celebrate successful preservation, revel in surviving legends, and savor traditions still observed. When heritage is respected, all become part of something more. Sorrow. When history is lost, when stories are forgotten, when cultures die, and when traditions are trampled, weep. Mourn ancient beauty and horror alike, for it mattered.

Oath Spells You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed. Oath of Tradition Spells Paladin Level Spells 3rd *ceremony, unseen servant 5th healing spirit, zone of truth 9th sleet storm, speak with dead 13th guardian of faith, stoneskin 17th commune, legend lore

Channel Divinity When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options. Turn Machination. As an action, you use your Channel Divinity to abjure fabricated locomotion. Each construct or undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action. Invoke Legacy. You call upon the spirits of those who have passed, using your Channel Divinity. As an action, choose a number of creatures up to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one creature) that you can see within 60 feet of you. Each creature gains advantage on the next ability check or attack roll it makes within 1 minute. Alternatively, you can touch one creature as an action and grant it advantage on Intelligence (History) checks for the next 10 minutes.

Archivist By 3rd level, you understand that records can connect the past to the present. You gain proficiency in calligrapher's supplies.

Aura of Reverence Beginning at 7th level, your presence wards against desecration and decay. Dead creatures within 10 feet of you cannot be reanimated as undead, and written material cannot be destroyed unless you permit it. Additionally, whenever you or a friendly creature within 10 feet of you takes necrotic damage, you can use your reaction to grant that creature immunity to that instance of damage. At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

The Old Ways At 15th level, your connection to the past deepens, making your frame as firm as the earth. You gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws. You also can read all writing and can perfectly recall any creature's name that you learn.