Animist Domain (5A)
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This is a Cleric domain for 5A.
Animism is not a matter of gods and great powers. Rather, the animist worships the little gods, spirits of nature, places, and even items. Things like a mountain have large and powerful spirits, but even the most humble rock or tool has a spirit the animist can cajole and work with. Animists are similar in outlook to druids, but most are firmly on the side of folk against the willfulness of spirits and nature. They guard the border between mundane lands and the world of the spirits.
Race Restriction
Animists need to be mundane creatures opening themselves up to the world of spirits. In most worlds, animists need to be humanoids—other creature types are not allowed. In very humanocentric settings, only humans can be animists. Even if more exotic creatures can become animists, their abilities will be limited against creatures of their own type.
In the Greyhawk setting, humans, dwarfs, halflings, and the various beastman races can be animists.
Animist Domain Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Animist Spells table. These spells count as cleric spells for you, but they are always prepared and don’t count against the number of cleric spells you prepare.
| Cleric Level | Spells |
| 1 | Faerie Fire, Identify |
| 3 | Healing Spirit, See Invisibility |
| 5 | Clairvoyance, Summon Fey |
| 7 | Arcane Eye, Banishment |
| 9 | Dream, Commune with Nature |
Taboo
At 1st level you select one taboo and gain the corresponding blessing from the Animist Taboos table. If you break this taboo you are unable to cast spells and lose the effect of your blessing until you have taken a long or short rest to perform a purification ritual.
Some animists routinely break their taboo, only purifying themselves before they fulfill their religious duties. They see this as respecting the spirits by not draining their power frivolously. Other animists disagree and seek to constantly uphold their taboo. Either way, there are no consequences
| Taboo | Blessing |
| Taboo of Air: Also known as being skyclad. You must expose yourself to the wind and weather and must be nude (or as nude as the genre allows) when preparing spells. You may never wear clothes of armor except hats, boots, gloves, and shields. | Add Mage Armor and Shield to your spell list. These spells count as cleric spells for you, but they are always prepared and don’t count against the number of cleric spells you prepare. You can cast Mage Armor on yourself without expending a spell slot. Add 10 ft. to your land speed and 20 ft. to your flying speed, if you have a flying speed. |
| Taboo of Aliens: You cannot communicate with outsiders who are humanoids without losing power. You must not speak to or otherwise communicate with those not in your tribe or community, tough listening to them is allowed, as is silent use of Intimidation to keep them at bay. Adopted members of the tribe can be communicated with. Adventuring animists can communicate with their fellow party members, but not with strangers. | You always have the Sanctuary spell prepared and it doesn't count against the number of cleric spells you can prepare. You can cast Sanctuary without expending a spell slot, but then it does not protect against beasts, humanoids, and creature of your own creature type. After you cast Sanctuary without using a spell slot, you must wait one minute before you can do so again. |
| Taboo of Death: Death is a barrier you should not come near. Touching a creature that is dying, died within the last day, is poisoned, or is diseased breaks this taboo. Such creatures can be healed, but doing so breaks the taboo after the healing spell or ability has been used. You can deal freely with undead. This taboo is from Shinto and common in Japan-inspired settings. | You have resistance against poison damage, immune to the poisoned condition, and have advantage on saving throws against disease. |
| Taboo of Earth: You may not touch the ground; you must ride or be carried whenever you go outside. You can walk indoors and on floors and carpets. This taboo is common among mounted nomads. | Any creature carrying you adds 10 ft. to its speed. If you have or gain a fly speed, add 10 ft. to that speed. |
| Taboo of Fire: Fire separates folk from nature, you gave up the use of fire as a concession to the spirits. You can't use any spells that do fire damage or summons creatures that can do fire damage. You may not ignite a fire or carry a burning objects such as a torch or lantern. You may still use firelight provided by others and may stay in heated rooms as long as you are not tending the fire. | You gain resistance to fire damage. |
| Taboo of Gender: You must not communicate with members of one chosen gender, as in taboo of aliens, but there is no exception for party members. | You become proficient in the Intimidation skill. If you already are proficient in Intimidation, you may select another Charisma-based skill to get proficiency with. |
| Taboo of Life: Life is sacred. The you must not inflict damage on a living creature. Constructs, elementals, celestials, fiends, and undead are not considered living creatures for this limitation. | Whenever you use a spell of 1st level or higher to restore hit points to a creature, the creature regains additional hit points equal to 2 + the spell's level. |
| Taboo of Metal: Metal is the manifestation of man’s dominion over nature and at odds with the natural order of the spirits. You may not wear metal armor (all armor except cloth, leather and hide) or use metal weapons. These work normally when not made of metal: blowgun, club, dart, great club, javelin, short bow, sling, whip, and quarterstaff. You are allowed to use soft precious metals, such as copper, silver, and gold. | You gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class and weapon damage rolls. |
| Taboo of Identity: You may not show naked skin or hair, especially your head. You must constantly wear a cowl, be masked, or wear thick facial body paint and shave all head hair. This gives disadvantage on Charisma (Deception, Persuasion) checks. | You gain the constant effects of the Nondetection spell. At 5th level you add Nondetection to your spell list. It counts as cleric spell for you, but is always prepared and don’t count against the number of cleric spells you prepare. |
| Taboo of Water: Water is a civilizing influence, and you can give this up to get closer to primeval nature. With this taboo you cannot touch water but drinks containing water, such as lemonade, milk, beer, and wine, are ok. You can use raincoats and umbrellas to keep water away from you. If you fail a Dexterity check when within 5 ft. of open water or within an hour after a heavy rain, you break this taboo. | You cannot suffer the prone condition unless you willingly accept it. |
Detect Spirits
Beginning at 1st level, you can cast Detect Evil and Good at will. This version of the spell can also detect constructs, dragons, giants, goblinoids, monstrosities, oozes, and plants. That is, all creature types except beasts and humanoids.
Channel Divinity: Placate Spirits
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to cast Charm Monster. This version of the spell cannot affect beasts, humanoids, and creatures of your own creature type.
Magic Circle Against Spirits
At 6th level, you gain advantages with the Magic Circle spell.
- It is always prepared and don’t count against the number of cleric spells you can prepare.
- It works against all types of creatures except beasts, humanoids, and creatures of your own creature type.
- It is a ritual spell.
Rebuke Spirits
At 8th level you rebuke spirits, causing additional damage. Once on your turn when you damage a creature with a cantrip or weapon attack, you deal an additional d8 radiant damage, except against beasts, humanoids, and creatures of your own creature type.
Protection from Spirits
At 17th level, you gain protection against all types of creatures except beasts, humanoids, and creatures of your own creature type. All such creatures have disadvantage when attacking you or using ability checks to harm you or affect your behavior, and you have advantage on saving throws against any ability used by such a creature.