Paladin - Oath of the Realms

Paladin

Paladins are divine warriors who blend martial prowess with sacred magic, sworn to uphold their oaths to protect the innocent, vanquish evil, and uphold justice. Your power comes from the strength of your conviction, channeling divine energy to heal the wounded, smite the wicked, and inspire courage. Whether dedicated to a god, an ideal, or a personal code, paladins are paragons of righteousness and resolve. Each paladin's path is shaped by the tenets of their chosen oath, guiding your deeds and granting unique abilities that reflect your sacred mission. A paladin's devotion makes them both formidable in battle and a beacon of hope in the darkest times. The Oath of the Realms is a new option that you can use in an Avaleen campaign.

Oath of the Realms

In a world where the boundaries between the Material Plane, the Elemental Planes, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell are weakening, the Oath of the Realms is sworn by those who seek to protect and preserve the delicate balance between these realms. Paladins who take this oath view their duty not just as protectors of mortals but as guardians of reality itself. They are the shield against the encroaching forces of elemental chaos, fey trickery, and shadowy corruption. These paladins are often scholars and sages, as well as fierce warriors, dedicated to ensuring that the rifts between worlds do not tear apart the fabric of existence.
The Oath of the Realms focuses on guarding the boundary between the worlds, ensuring that no single plane grows too strong and unbalanced. Those who follow this path understand that the Elemental Planes, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell are not inherently evil or good, but that unrestrained power from any of these planes could destabilize the world. As a sworn protector of these borders, the paladin is an ambassador and a warrior, driven to preserve the equilibrium of the multiverse.

Calador Nythris, the Veilkeeper High Elven Oath of the Realms Paladin
Centuries ago, during the Riftfall Cataclysm in Khorun, the planar boundaries that protected the Material Plane began to crumble. Elemental storms ravaged the lands, fey courts spilled into mortal territories, and shadowy corruption spread like a plague from the Shadowfell. In this time of chaos, Calador Nythris, a high elf of unparalleled wisdom and strength, rose to prominence as the first Paladin of the Oath of the Realms. Born in the city of Iryndal, a bastion of arcane knowledge, Calador displayed an affinity for planar magic from a young age. As a squire to a knight of the Radiant Order, he witnessed the cost of unchecked extraplanar power when a Shadowfell incursion destroyed his homeland. Swearing never to let such devastation befall others, he dedicated himself to preserving the delicate balance between the planes.
Calador vanished after the sealing of the Kael Rift. Some believe he perished, his essence becoming one with the planar boundary he swore to protect. Others claim he still walks the realms, watching silently as the guardian of the Veil. His name is invoked by planar guardians and scholars alike, a symbol of hope in Avaleen’s darkest hours.

Tenets of the Realms

Paladins who swear the Oath of the Realms are guided by a strict set of principles:

• Guard the Veil: The boundaries between the realms are fragile. I will protect the veil that separates the Material Plane from the other planes, preventing dangerous forces from spilling through unchecked.
• Balance Above All: No one plane should dominate. I will ensure that the influence of the Elemental Planes, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell does not disrupt the balance of the world.
• Respect the Realms: While I protect the Material Plane, I recognize that the other planes have their place in the cosmos. I will not seek to banish or destroy the denizens of these realms, but I will stop any who seek to bring chaos into my world.
• Seek Knowledge: Understanding the planes and the forces that govern them is key to my duty. I will seek knowledge and wisdom to preserve the balance and protect the realms from corruption.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of the Realms Spells.

Realmkeeper's Bond

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain a connection to the planes themselves, sensing rifts and disturbances in the veil between worlds. You can detect the presence of planar rifts or tears in the fabric of reality within 1 mile of you. You can sense their proximity but not their exact nature, whether they lead to the Elemental Planes, the Feywild, or the Shadowfell.
Additionally, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Arcana, Nature, or Religion. This reflects your training in understanding the magical forces that govern the realms.

Planar Smite

When you take this oath at 3rd level your Divine Smite begins to channel the power of the planes themselves, allowing you to strike with the force of the multiverse. When you hit a creature, you can choose to deal extra damage based on its planar origin. The extra damage is:

• Elemental Plane (Fire, Water, Earth, Air): The smite deals an additional 1d6 of damage corresponding to the elemental type (fire, cold, lightning, or acid).
• Feywild: The smite deals an additional 1d6 psychic damage.
• Shadowfell: The smite deals an additional 1d6 necrotic damage.

Veilwarden's Aura

At 7th level, you learn to exude an aura of protection that stabilizes the boundaries between planes. As an action, you can activate your Veilwarden’s Aura, which lasts for 10 minutes. While the aura is active, creatures within 10 feet of you gain the following benefits:

• Resistance to damage from creatures or magic related to the Feywild, Shadowfell, or Elemental Planes (fire, cold, lightning, acid).
• Advantage on saving throws against being charmed, frightened, or possessed by creatures tied to the Feywild or Shadowfell.
• Resistance to necrotic damage from creatures or effects tied to the Shadowfell.

When you reach 18th level in this class, the aura affects creatures within 30 feet of you.

Extraplanar Defiance

At 15th level, your understanding of the planes allows you to push back against extraplanar threats. When you hit a creature that is from another plane (such as a fiend, fey, or elemental), you can expend a spell slot to force them to make a Charisma saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is banished back to its native plane for 1 minute or until it can escape. On a successful save, the creature takes additional radiant damage equal to your paladin level.

Master of the Veil

At 20th level, you become a living avatar of the boundary between the realms. As an action, you can channel the power of the planes themselves, calling upon the Veil to reshape reality. You can choose one of the following effects:

• Planar Shielding: You create an aura of protection around you and up to six willing creatures within 30 feet. For the next hour, these creatures gain resistance to all damage from creatures and effects tied to the Elemental Planes, Feywild, and Shadowfell. Additionally, they cannot be banished, and you gain advantage on saving throws against magic and abilities of extraplanar origin.
• Veil’s Wrath: You call down the power of the realms to punish those who violate the borders. Each creature of your choice within 30 feet of you must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, a creature takes 10d10 radiant damage and is banished to its native plane for 1 minute. On a successful save, it takes half damage and is not banished.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

The following should only be seen as guidelines and tips, not hard truths. Your campaign, your character, and your game are yours to approach as you please!

Oath of the Realms

Paladins who swear the Oath of the Realms are deeply committed to the balance between worlds. They are scholars and warriors, protectors of the veil between the planes, and often highly respected in societies that understand the importance of the planar boundaries. They may serve as leaders of organizations dedicated to studying the fabric of reality, or they could be solitary protectors who patrol areas where the veil is weakest.

• The Planar Scholar: Your paladin may be someone who has dedicated their life to studying the planes, seeking to understand the forces that connect and separate them. This can be a character who actively seeks ancient knowledge or studies the effects of planar rifts.
• The Protector of the Veil: You are often called to defend places where the planes touch. Perhaps you protect ancient ruins, shrines, or borders where planar rifts are frequent. Your duty is to keep the boundaries intact, ensuring the realms do not merge or tear apart.
• A Reluctant Guardian: Despite your commitment to maintaining the balance, you may struggle with the knowledge that not all beings of the Feywild, Elemental Planes, or Shadowfell are inherently evil. Your oath may compel you to stop those who seek to manipulate the planes but also force you to grapple with your growing understanding of these planes’ inherent beauty and danger.

Examples on how to Incorporate the Oath of the Realms into an Avaleen Campaign

• Cracks in the Veil: As the boundaries between the planes begin to break down, the party may find themselves investigating and preventing planar rifts from spilling too far into the Material Plane. The Oath of the Realms Paladin becomes the key to identifying these cracks and understanding the consequences of planar fusion.
• Planar War: A faction or entity may be intentionally trying to merge the planes for their own goals. The paladin’s role becomes to stop this event from destabilizing the world and unleashing chaos. They may clash with powerful creatures of the Elemental Planes, the Feywild, or the Shadowfell who have different agendas.
• The Veil’s Restoration: The party could seek out ancient artifacts or forgotten rituals that can heal the cracks in the Veil. The Oath of the Realms Paladin might be central to understanding and executing these rituals, guiding the party through the complexities of planar magic.