Ancients
The Oath of the Ancients is as old as the race of elves and the rituals of the druids. Sometimes called fey knights, green knights, or horned knights, paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in principles of honor, courage, and justice. They adorn their armor and clothing with images of growing things — leaves, antlers, or flowers — to reflect their commitment to preserving life and light in the world.
Branch Features
Tenets of the Ancients
The tenets of the Oath of the Ancients have been preserved for uncounted centuries. This oath emphasizes the principles of good above any concerns of law or chaos. Its four central principles are simple.
- Kindle the Light: Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair.
- Shelter the Light: Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren.
- Preserve Your Own Light: Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can’t preserve it in the world.
- Be the Light: Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds.
Bonus Spells
As an ancients paladin, you gain the following spells once you can cast spells of that level. Once you gain an oath spell, you always have it prepared and it doesn’t count against the number of spells that you can prepare each day.
If you have an oath spell that doesn’t appear on the divine spell list, that spell is nevertheless a divine spell for you.
| Spell Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | Ensnaring Strike, Speak with Animals |
| 2nd | Moonbeam, Misty Step |
| 3rd | Plant Growth, Protection from Energy |
| 4th | Ice storm, Stoneskin |
| 5th | Commune with Nature, Tree Stride |
Talents
| Talent | CP | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Oath of the Ancients | 5 | - |
| Aura of Warding | 15 | Oath of the Ancients and Aura of Protection |
| Undying Sentinel | 65 | Cleansing Touch and Aura of Warding |
| Elder Champion | 50 | Greater Auras and Undying Sentinel |
Oath of the Ancients
Cost: 5 Character Points
You gain the ability to channel the power of your oath, using that energy to fuel the following magical effects.
When you use your oath powers, you expend 1 mana and choose which effect to create. Some oath effects require attack rolls. When you use such an effect, your disciple spell attack roll is used.
Nature’s Wrath
Actions: 2 actions
You can cause spectral vines to spring up and reach for a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see. The creature is restrained on a successful spell attack roll vs the target’s Strength or Dexterity defence. While restrained by the vines, the creature makes a Strength or Dexterity defence against your spell skill at the end of each of its turns. On a success, it frees itself and the vines vanish.
Turn the Faithless
Actions: 2 actions
You present your holy symbol, make a spell attack vs the Wisdom defence of each fey or fiend within 30 feet of you that can hear you. On a hit, the creature 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 is limited to 2 actions on its turn, that can only be used for the Stride action or to try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
If the creature’s true form is concealed by an illusion, shapeshifting, or other effect, that form is revealed while it is turned.
Aura of Warding
Cost: 15 Character Points
Prerequisite: Oath of the Ancients and Aura of Protection
You and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have resistance to damage from spells.
Undying Sentinel
Cost: 65 Character Points
Prerequisite: Cleansing Touch and Aura of Warding
When you are reduced to 0 stamina and are not killed outright, you can choose to drop to 1 stamina instead. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Additionally, you suffer none of the drawbacks of old age, and you can’t be aged magically.
Elder Champion
Cost: 50 Character Points
Prerequisite: Greater Auras and Undying Sentinel
You can assume the form of an ancient force of nature, taking on an appearance that you choose. For example, your skin might turn green or take on a bark-like texture, your hair might become leafy or mosslike, or you might sprout antlers or a lion-like mane.
Using your action, you undergo a transformation. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:
- At the start of each of your turns, you regain 10 hit points.
- Once per turn, when you cast a divine spell that has a casting time of 2 or more actions, you can cast it using 1 less action, to a minimum of 1 action.
- Enemy creatures within 10 feet of you have -1d to their defences vs your divine spells and oath powers.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.