Paladin Subclass: Oath of the Cursed Guardian

Paladins who take the Oath of the Cursed Guardian are solemn warriors who understand the true power and danger of curses. They seek out cursed items and beings, not to destroy them, but to understand, control, and sometimes protect them. These Paladins believe that curses, while perilous, can be harnessed for the greater good. They themselves bear curses as a testament to their commitment.

Oath Tenets

Paladins of the Cursed Guardian uphold these sacred tenets:

• Burden of the Cursed: Embrace curses as a part of your being, understanding their power and potential.
• Guardian's Vigilance: Protect the world from the dangers of unchecked curses, but also from the overzealous who seek to destroy all cursed beings and items.
• Measured Sacrifice: Recognize that power often comes with a cost, and be willing to pay it if it serves the greater good.
• Balance of Power: Strive to maintain a balance between the curses you wield and the purity of your soul.

Level 3: Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of the Cursed Guardian Spells table.

Level 3: Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:

Reveal the Cursed

As an action, present your holy symbol to magically sense the presence of curses within 60 feet of you.

Curse Manipulation

As an action, you can touch a cursed item or creature to temporarily suppress or alter the effects of its curse. This effect lasts for 1 minute, or you can expend a spell slot to extend the time the curse is suppressed or altered, increasing the time by 10 minutes per spell slot level expended.

Level 3: Baleful Curses

Upon reaching 3rd level, you can select one curse from the following list. You have the flexibility to exchange this curse for another when you gain a level in this class.

• Curse of Agony: Each curse you bear increases your damage output, granting you a +1 bonus to damage rolls for each active curse.
• Curse of Aptitude: Your resilience is enhanced by your curses. You gain a +1 bonus to all skill checks for each curse affecting you.
• Curse of Alacrity: The energy of your curses quickens your movements, providing an additional +5 feet to your movement speed per active curse.
• Curse of Detection: Gain the ability to detect whether an item is cursed by touch.
• Cursed Crafting: DM Advised. Gain the ability to imbue items with curses or create a custom curse to afflict a creature. This process should be detailed and intricate, requiring rare components and a ritual.
• Divine Curse: Gain an additional use of Channel Divinity.
• Curse of the Martial: Gain an additional fighting style.
• Curse of the Darkness: Gain darkvision up to a range of 60 ft.
• Critical Curse: Whenever you critically hit, you roll one additional damage die based on the base damage type.
• Arcane Curse: You gain an additional spell slot equal to one fourth your level rounded down (minimum 1).

Additional Curses: As you grow in power and understanding of your oath, you gain the ability to bear additional curses. At 7th level, you can choose a second curse; at 15th level, you gain the capacity for a third; and at 20th level, you gain the capacity for a fourth. These curses can be the same as or different from your initial choice, allowing you to tailor your powers to suit your journey and challenges.

Level 7: Aura of Cursed Resilience

At 7th level, you emit a 10-foot aura. Any allies within this aura receive a +1 bonus to their attack rolls for each curse actively affecting you, rounded down (minimum 1).

At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

Level 15: Curse Bearer

You can cleanse yourself of all curses and nullify any cursed effects on you. This affects any ability that would grant a bonus or empowerment from cursed effects.

Level 20: Master of Curses

As an action, you unleash the power of all curses affecting you, generating a 30-foot aura in which all curses within this aura are nullified.

For the next 1 minute, you and any ally within this aura gain a bonus to damage and attack rolls equal to the number of curses nullified by this aura.

You gain a free use to cast the Heal or Harm spell once without expending a spell slot.

Usage Limit: Once this ability is used, it cannot be used again until you finish a long rest.