Forbidden Knowledge
The Oath of Forbidden Knowledge occurs when a Paladin finds or stumbles upon a forbidden text. Whether it be a page from the Demonicon, Necromonicon, or a scrap of taboo holy knowledge. The Paladin’s desire to find their Oath and the forbidden knowledge merge into an unwilling Oath that consumes the Paladin. While mostly themselves, these Paladins become more withdrawn and obsessive as they seek more and more profane knowledge.
Ideals: The dark secrets of this world belong with me. I’ll treasure them and protect them. They will be: my precious.
Protect your knowledge and add to it.
Those that seek to separate you from your text must perish.
Never shy from winding down the twisted past.
| Result | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | Page of the Demonicon |
| 2 | Page of the Necronomicon |
| 3 | Scrap of Taboo Holy Text |
| 4 | Scroll of Infernal Rites |
| 5 | Hide Page from a Coven Mother |
| 6 | Piece of a Grey Tablet of Gehenna |
| 7 | Rubbing from the Spawning Stone |
| 8 | Fragment from a Mysterious Monument |
| Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Alarm, Comprehend Languages |
| 5 | Arcane Lock, Locate Object |
| 9 | Intellectual Fortress, Speak with Dead |
| 13 | Leomund’s Secret Chest, Locate Creature |
| 17 | Legend Lore, Scrying |
Subclass Features
Forbidden Knowledge
Your Oath sprung from a piece of knowledge that should have remained forgotten. Roll or choose a source of forbidden knowledge. You keep your source on you or in a safe place at all times. It can be used as your Holy Symbol.
Maddening Smite
Your strikes imbue madness upon those it hits. When you hit a creature with an attack you can use your Channel Divinity to force the creature to make a WIS saving throw equal to your spell save DC. On a failed save they use their turn to make an attack on themselves with advantage.
Oath Spells
Your Oath and devotion grant you certain spells. You know the following spells and they do not count towards the number of spells you can prepare.
Paranoia Aura
Your feelings of suspicion leak out. Creatures you choose within your Aura of Protection have disadvantage on attack rolls as long as they are within 5 ft of two or more creatures.
Profane Arcane Arts
Your prohibited studies have infused your spellcasting. Once per long rest you can cast a spell without expending a spell slot as long as its level is less than or equal to your CHA modifier (Minimum 1).
The Forbidden Arts
Your meddling in forbidden affairs has taught you how to corrupt magic. When you succeed on a spell saving throw that targets only yourself you can use your reaction to force the spellcaster to make the same save as if the spell was cast on themselves. If they succeed the saving throw they take Psychic damage equal to your Paladin level as they struggle to comprehend your profane ability.
You can use this feature once per long rest, or you can use this feature again by expending a fifth level spell slot (No action required).