The Binder

In the multiverse where magic and divinity are no extraordinary, not all deities are blessed with the faith of mortal sentience. When a deity is abandoned, forsaken, or simply forgotten by its followers, it slowly descends into a shadow of its former glory, or known as a vestige. While divinity has a vastly different concept of life and death from those of the mortal beings, those unfortunate enough to dwindle into vestigal status may suffer from the cessation of existence, or what is closest to the death for the gods. Simply put, with strange aeons, even gods may die.

Some mortals, often estranged from the more civilized part of the worlds, would actively seeks and contact such vestiges. By striking a contact with vestiges, these individuals, known as binders, can perform a cryptic rite to suggest their own body as a vessel for the vestiges, who would then bind themselves into the mortal body to manifest what is left of their divine power to interact with the world.

Vestiges Prepared

At 1st level, you can prepare to call forth two vestiges from the list at the end of the class description. You can prepare to call additional vestiges as you gain level in this class, as shown in the Vestiges Prepared column of the Binder table. You may only bind prepared vestiges.

You can change your list of prepared vestiges when you finish a long rest.

Binding Vestiges

You can perform a 1-minute ritual to bind vestiges you know into your body, channeling its remnants of divine power. The ritual can be performed during a short rest or long rest. As long as a vestige is bound to you, you gain specific benefits determined by the vestige, as stated in the vestige's description. When you bind vestiges, you must designate one as your primary vestige for the binding. You may only have one primary vestige, but during a ritual may change which bond is the primary one.

At 1st level, you can bind only one vestige to yourself at a same time. You can bind multiple vestiges when you gain levels in this class, as stated on the Vestiges Bound column from the Binder table.

The vestige is bound to you for a number of hours equal to half your binder level, to a minimum of 30 minutes. After the duration, the vestige is dismissed from you.

While the vestige is bound to you, you can perform the ritual again to dismiss any number of vestiges currently bound to you, and bind other vestiges to yourself.

Vestigal Spell Lists

Each vestige has a list of spells, known as the vestigal spell list. While the vestige is bound to you, you gain access to the spells listed on its vestigal spell list.

When you are concentrating on a Binder spell and the vestige that grants that spell is dismissed from you, you automatically lose concentration on the spell.

Spell Slots

The Binder table shows how many spell slots you have. The table also shows what the level of those slots is; all of your spell slots are the same level. To cast one of your Binder spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spells slots when you finish a short rest or long rest.

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your Binder spells, since you must entreat the vestiges for their power. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a Binder spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spellcasting Focus

You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus for your Binder spells.

Vestigal Gift: The Pagan Grimoire

When bound, Aradia grants you a magical tome called the Pagan Grimoire. When you first gain the Grimoire, choose two cantrips from any class' spell list (the two need not be from the same list). While the Grimoire is on your person, you can cast those cantrips at will. These cantrips count as binder cantrips for you.

When you first gain the Grimoire, it also holds two 1st-level spells that have the ritual tag from any class' spell list (the two need not be from the same list). While the Grimoire is on your person, you can cast any of the spells as ritual. You cannot cast these spells except as rituals, unless you have learned them by some other means. You can also cast a binder spell you know as a ritual if it has the ritual tag.

On your adventures, you can add other ritual spells to your Grimoire. When you find such a spell, you can add it to the Grimoire if the spell's level is equal to or less than your binder level divided by four (rounded up) and if you can spare the time to transcribe the spell. For each level of the spell, the transcription process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp for the rare inks, herbs, and incenses needed to inscribe the spell and practice its ritual. As long as you do not interrupt the transcription process, Aradia will stay bound to you until you are finished if the bond would otherwise end before the inscription is done.

Vestigal Spells

While Aradia is bound to you, she grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Eye of the Witch-Goddess

At 1st level, as an action on your turn, you can allow Aradia to perceive any magical anomalies around you through your eyes. Until the end of your next turn, you know the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the Hallow spell, within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover.

Additionally, as an action on your turn, you can touch an object or a willing creature to end one cantrip that affects it.

Rebuke Magic

Starting at 2nd level, when you see a creature within 30 feet of you casting a spell while your Pagan Grimoire is on your person, you can expend one binder spell slot as a reaction to attempt to hinder the spellcasting process.

If the creature was casting a cantrip or a spell of a level equal to or lower than that of your binder spell slot, the spell automatically fails and has no effect. If the level of the creature's spell was higher, you must make a Charisma check against the creature's spell save DC. On a successful check, the spell fails and has no effect.

This feature has no effect if the creature was casting a spell of 6th level and higher.

Curse of the Witch-Goddess

Beginning at 6th level, while your Pagan Grimoire is on your person, you can cast Crown of Madness once without using a spell slot. Once you do so, you must finish a long rest before you can do so again.

Additionally, when you see a creature affected by one of your binder spells attempt to cast a spell, you can use a reaction to force it to make a saving throw using its spellcasting ability against your binder spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature can't cast spells this turn.

Protection from Magic

At 10th level, you gain advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

When you dismiss Aradia to use a binder class feature, you retain the benefits of this feature until the end of your next turn.

Pagan Arcana

When you reach 18th level, choose one 1st-level spell and one 2nd-level spell from the wizard spell list. The chosen spells are always binder spells for you.

While you have the Pagan Grimoire on your person, you can cast the chosen spells at their lowest level, without expending a spell slot.

Whenever you finish a long rest while you have the Pagan Grimoire on your person, you can change one or both of the spells you chose for different spells of the same levels.

Manifestation of Atropal

When you bind Atropal to yourself, it manifests into your body as follows:

• Your heartbeat slows down, and your skin turns pale and cold, although it does not affect your vitality.

Influence

Atropal's motivation stems from its undeathly origin and its abandonment from divinity.

• Seek Killings. Consumed by its maddened grudge, Atropal has short temper and violent nature. Atropal would not hesitate to kill a living being, even if it makes no difference from nonlethal methods in resolving the problem.

Vestigal Gift: The Dead Pointer

When bound, Atropal grants you a wand made out of a skeletal hand, called the Dead Pointer. You can use the Dead Pointer as a spellcasting focus for your binder spells.

While holding the Dead Pointer, you can use an action to point to a creature you can see within 30 feet of you with the Dead Pointer, cursing it with Atropal's deathly grasp. The creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your binder spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature takes 1d8 necrotic damage. The damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).

Additionally. When you cast a binder spell of 1st level or higher that has a range of touch while holding the Dead Pointer, you can make the range of the spell 30 feet.

Vestigal Spells

While Atropal is bound to you, he grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Vestigal Favors

While Atropal is bound to you, the following features are granted to you.

Chichimec

It With Countless Wings, the Feathered Abomination

Born as a bastard child of deities associated with sky, air, and storm, Chichimec takes on a shape of a amalgamation of numerous wings, restlessly flapping, fluttering, and scrabbling, with a single, long tail emerging from the center. Although it speaks only in a rare occasion, those who seek the Feathered Abomination often describes its singing voice as a clear ring of bells.

Breeze Tunes

At 1st level, as an action, you can start a musical performance with the Windsinger until the end of your next turn. On subsequent turns, you can use an action to extend the duration of your performance until the end of your next turn. The performance ends early when your concentration is broken (as if concentrating on a spell).

While you are concentrating on a binder spell or the performance from this feature, your walking speed increases by 15 feet.

Flyby Steps

Starting at 2nd level, you can expend one binder spell slot to gain the ability to take the Disengage action as a bonus action for 1 minute. If you do so, your walking speed is also increased for that minute.

The increased speed equals 10 feet for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 5 feet per each spell slot level above 1st, to a maximum of 30 feet.

Wind-Whipped Visage

When you reach 6th level, you can cast Blur once without using a spell slot. Once you cast a spell this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

Additionally, while you are concentrating on a binder spell or feature or the performance from Breeze Tunes, a creature that attempts to hit you with a melee attack must make a strength saving throw vs your binder spell save DC or get pushed 10 feet away from you.

Gale Steps

Beginning at 10th level, all opportunity attack rolls against you have disadvantage, and you cannot be charmed. If you are already charmed when you bind Chichimec, the effect is suspended for the duration.

When you dismiss Chichimec to use a binder class feature, you retain the benefits of this feature until the end of your next turn.

Ascendant Tunes

By 18th level, while you are concentrating on a binder spell or feature or the performance from Breeze Tunes, you gain flying speed equal to twice your walking speed.

Manifestation of Dracenetrixa

When you bind Dracenetrixa to yourself, she manifests into your body as follows:

• Much of your skin is covered in scales. If you concentrate you can change their color over 10 minutes.

Influence

Dracenetrixa is a mother and a fierce defender of her brood.

• Broodmother. Dracenetrixa loved her younglings more than she did herself. She would never harm a child of any race, and would go out of her way to protect them.
• Hunter's Foe The fear and hatred of hunters was with Dracenetrixa forever after the day her brood was hurt. Dracenetrixa refuses to hunt any animals for sport, and is quick to anger against those who do.

Vestigal Gift: The Scale of the Mother

When bound, Dracenetrixa grants you one of her scales. Etched on the scale are magical runes of many different varieties. You may you the scale as a spellcasting focus for your binder spells.

While you have the scale on your person, you know the cantrips Fire Bolt, Ray of Frost, and Shocking Grasp. These are binder cantrips for you.

Additionally, you learn Draconic, and have advantage on Charisma checks and saves vs dragons if you are openly holding the scale.

Vestigal Spells

While Dracenetrixa is bound to you, she grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Vestigal Favors

While Dracenetrixa is bound to you, the following features are granted to you.

Table: Eligor Vestigal Spells

Knightclad Stance

At 1st level, you are considered one size larger for the purpose of avoiding or resisting being shoved or grappled.

Additionally, when you are shoved or otherwise forcibly moved by an outer force, the distance by which you are moved is decreased by 10 feet.

Dragonslayer's Will

Starting at 2nd level, when you take damage while you are wearing the Knightclad Armor, you can expend one binder spell slot as a reaction to gain temporary hit points, which takes as much of the triggering damage as possible.

The amount of temporary hit points equals 2d6 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d6 per each spell slot level above 1st, to a maximum of 6d6. You lose all temporary hit points gained this way when Eligor is dismissed from you.

The Golden Steed

When you reach 6th level, you can cast Find Steed at will, without expending a spell slot.

When you cast Find Steed with this feature, your steed summoned this way always takes on the form of a warhorse, is always a celestial, and disappears when Eligor is dismissed from you.

Additionally, you gain the following benefits, but only for the steed you summoned with this feature:

• While you are mounting your steed, you have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off the steed.
• If you fall off your steed and descend no more than 10 feet, you can land on your feet if you are not incapacitated.
• Mounting or dismounting your steed costs you only 5 feet of movement, instead of half your speed.

Knightclad Fortitude

By 10th level, when you bind Eligor, choose one of the following damage types: bludgeoning, piercing, slashing. While Eligor is bound to you, you gain resistance against damage of the chosen type from nonmagical weapons that are not silvered. You can change which one you chose when you next bind Eligor.

When you dismiss Eligor to use a binder class feature, you retain the benefits of this feature until the end of your next turn.

Knightclad Presence

When you reach 18th level, while you are wearing the Knightclad Armor, the area within 5 feet of you counts as difficult terrain for enemies, and other creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you when they enter your melee weapon's reach.

If you are mounted on the steed summoned from The Golden Steed feature, the radius of difficult terrain increases to 10 feet, and any melee weapon that you are proficient in adds 5 feet to your reach when you Attack with it, as well as when determining your reach for Opportunity Attacks with it.

Manifestation of Kagan

When you bind Kagan to yourself, he manifests into your body as follows:

• You grow large tusks from the corners of your mouth, they cannot be used as weapons and do not impede speech.

Influence

Kagan never moved when an enemy would benefit.

• Tactician's Code. No enemy should be underestimated. If he can Kagan will always try to set up a battlefield and get enemies to come to him, rather than the other way around.

Vestigal Gift: Tactician's Pendant

When bound, Kagan grants you use of the pendant he wore whenever in battle or strategizing. While wearing the Tactician's Pendant, you can use your action to swap the locations of two target creatures that are within sight of you and within 120 feet of each other. If any creature is not willing, they must make a Dexterity saving throw against your Binder spell save DC.

Vestigal Spells

While Kagan is bound to you, he grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Vestigal Favors

While Kagan is bound to you, the following features are granted to you.

Manifestation of Leontoeides

When you bind Leontoeides to yourself, he manifests into your body as follows:

• Your hair and pupils turn fiery red, and they shine in the light.

Influence

Even after his fall from the celestial honor, Leontoeides keeps his arrogance and pride above all others.

• Ambition for Ambition's Sake. The cause of the fall of the Prideful Sun was his hubris to usurp his master's throne, and even after being reduced to a vestige, he has not given up his ultimate goal. In fact, he already acts as if he is the almighty, and always demands the authority appropriate for his self-claimed position. Leontoeides approves of those who will do anything to achieve what they want.

Vestigal Gift: The Luster Edge

When bound, Leontoeides grants you a magical longsword called the Luster Edge. You are always proficient with the Luster Edge while you wield it, and when you hit a creature with it, you can choose to deal radiant damage with it instead of its original damage type.

The blade of the Luster Edge shines bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. The light is sunlight. While you are wielding the Luster Edge, you can use a bonus action to toggle its light on or off.

While Leontoeides is bound to you, you can offer one magical scimitar, shortsword, or longsword to him, transforming it into the Luster Edge. To do this, you perform a special ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest or long rest. The weapon must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the weapon and offer it to Leontoeides. You cannot affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way. After the ritual, the weapon appears whenever you summon the Luster Edge thereafter.

You can have only one weapon offered to Leontoeides as the Luster Edge. If you attempt to offer a new weapon, you must first retrieve the first weapon from Leontoeides' possession.

Vestigal Spells

While Leontoeides is bound to you, he grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Vestigal Favors

While Leontoeides is bound to you, the following features are granted to you.

Table: Phaethon Vestigal Spells

Fire Form

At 1st level, as an action, you can turn yourself into a flame form for 1 minute or until you take an action to reform. While in this form, you can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing, you gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed, and you can ignite any flammable object within 5 feet of you. In addition, you can take no actions other than moving, and cannot speak.

Volcanic Smelt

Starting at 2nd level, once on each of your turns when you roll dice to deal fire damage you may maximize one of these dice. You must choose before rolling any dice.

Searing Momentum

Beginning at 6th level, you can attack with the Volcanic Fist twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Call of the Elements

When you reach 10th level, you can summon a Fire Elemental to aid you. This elemental cannot be healed, and cannot be re-summoned until you finish a long rest. When the elemental dies or you dismiss your bond with Phaethon, the elemental dissipates into a puddle of lava.

Molten Body

When you reach 18th level, you gain immunity to fire damage, and whenever you are hit by a melee attack, the attacker takes fire damage equal to half your Binder level.

When you dismiss Phaethon to use a binder class feature, you retain the benefits of this feature until the end of your next turn.

Manifestation of Saqlas

When you bind Saqlas to yourself, he manifests into your body as follows:

• You manifest red teardrop tattoos below your eyes, and skulls on each of your ears.

Influence

Saqlas spent his entire life controlling those around him, and his biggest fear is that others will destroy him by doing what he does, better.

• Manipulator's Weakness. Knowing how easily people can be manipulated, Saqlas will not fully trust anyone he does not actively control.

Vestigal Gift: The Wit's End

When bound, Saqlas grants you a magical dagger called the Wit's End. You are always proficient with the Wit's End while you wield it.

Once on each of your turns when you it a creature with the Wit's End, if you have advantage on the attack roll, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage. This damage increases by 1d6 for each feature Saqlas is currently giving you besides the 1st level feature. For example, at 10th level is Saqlas is your primary bond, it is 4d6 extra damage.

.

While Saqlas is bound to you, you can offer one magical dagger or rapier to it, transforming it into the Wit's End. To do this, you perform a special ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest or long rest. The weapon must be within your reach throughout the ritual, at the conclusion of which you touch the weapon and offer it to Saqlas. You cannot affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way. After the ritual, the weapon appears whenever you summon the Wit's End thereafter.

You can have only one weapon offered to Saqlas as the Wit's End. If you attempt to offer a new weapon, you must first retrieve the first weapon from Saqlas' possession.

Manifestation of Sybil

When you bind Sybil to yourself, she manifests into your body as follows:

• Tattoos of large moons appear on each of your cheeks. They appear to follow the cycles of two unknown moons - each day the tattoos change to show the phase of each of the moons.

Influence

Sybil knows so much, but has still not matured.

• Immature Knowledge. Sybil believes she knows more than anyone else, and is loathe to follow someone she disagrees with. Her pettiness knows no bounds - she once got a man's ship caught in a storm just because he refused to sell her fish.

Vestigal Gift: Deck of Stars

When bound, Sybil grants the binder a special deck of tarot cards called the Deck of Stars. The Deck of Stars allows you to use the cantrips Guidance and True Strike. These count as binder spells for you.

Additionally, as long as the Deck of Stars is in one of your hands, you can cast Identify with one action and without a spell slot or material components a number of times between rests equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).

Vestigal Spells

While Sybil is bound to you, he grants you a list of spells for your Vestigal Magic feature, as follows:

Vestigal Favors

While Sybil is bound to you, the following features are granted to you.

Table: Uriel Vestigal Spells

Angel's Light

At 1st level, you lean the Spare the Dying and Light cantrips. They count as Binder cantrips for you.

Swap Vitality

When you reach 2nd level, you gain the ability to manipulate vitals. As an action, a willing creature that you can see within 60 feet has its current hit points set to your current hit points, and your current hit points are set to what theirs was. If either creature would have more hit points than their maximum, they get temporary hit points equal to the excess, that last until the next short rest or until you are no longer bound to Uriel. Once you use this ability, you must complete a short or long rest before using it again.

Life-Giver

Beginning at 6th level, you can cast Revivify once using a binder spell slot, with no material components needed as long as you wear Umbar-Cuil. Once you do so, you must finish a long rest before you can do so again.

Amplify Healing

By 10th level, you can amplify a creature's energy force to alter how their body heals. As an action you can touch a creature, for 1 minute, all healing they receive is doubled. Once you use this ability, you can't use it again until you complete a long rest.

Healer's Sacrifice

Starting at 18th level, you can cast Resurrection once using a Binder spell slot, requiring no material components as long as you wear Umbar-Cuil. If you do so, your bond with Uriel is immediately broken, and you cannot bind her again for 7 days.

Manifestation of Wymond

When you bind Wymond to yourself, he manifests into your body as follows:

• The area around your eyes and hands take on a metallic sheen.

Influence

Wymond protects his friends not only physically, but also with his honor.

• Honorable Ally. Wymond would never watch a fight, verbal or physical. If his allies get insulted or attacked, he will jump in front to defend them without any hesitation or thoughts of his own safety.

Vestigal Gift: The Battered Shield

When bound, Wymond grants you use of his ancient shield. This shield has protected many, and while magical, it is also well-worn. It provides a +1 armor bonus instead of the normal +2. You are proficient with the Battered Shield.

Additionally, you can spend 1 minute to designate a creature as your charge – the one you pledge to protect. You may designate an additional creature for each feature Wymond currently grants you besides the 1st-level feature. With every charge, the strength of your shield grows to be able to defend them. For every active charge you have pledged to and can see, the Battered Shield grants an additional +1 to AC.

Table: Wymond Vestigal Spells

Guardian’s Strength

At 1st level, you count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

You have additional strength solely to carry your charge out of danger. If you are lifting your charge, as long as you were not over-encumbered before picking them up, and they weigh less than your total carrying capacity, you can carry them.

Selfless Shield

By 2nd level, while holding the Battered Shield, if an attacker hits your charge with a melee attack and you are within 5 feet of your charge, you can instead expend your reaction and force the attack to target you. If you do so, you gain resistance to the damage from that attack.

Blessing of Protection

When you reach 6th level, you can cast Life Transference once using a binder spell slot, with no material components needed as long as you hold the Battered Shield. Once you do so, you must finish a long rest before you can do so again.

Rage of the Iron Wall

Starting at 10th level, while holding the Battered Shield, you may use a bonus action to goad a creature within 5 feet to attack you. It has disadvantage to attack anyone but you until your next turn.

Charging Force

Beginning at 18th level, while holding the Battered Shield, if your charge takes damage and is between 10 and 40 feet away from you, you may rush to their aid. If you expend your reaction, you move to a space adjacent to your charge closest to the attacker. Make a spell attack roll contested by the attacker’s Athletics or Acrobatics, if you succeed, the target is pushed back 10 feet and is prone, if not, they are still pushed back 10 feet but are not prone.