Pleasure Domain

There is nothing inherently evil about human (or humanoid) sexuality, and being a good character doesn’t necessarily mean remaining a virgin. Certain religions and cultures in the D&D universe encourage or at least condone some people taking vows of chastity, but these are similar to vows of poverty or abstinence—rooted in the belief that giving up the enjoyment of a good and natural thing can have positive spiritual benefits, not derived from an attitude that sex is evil. However, a good character is bound to realize that sexuality is laden with traditions of exploitation and abuse, an area of interpersonal relationships where power dynamics are often manifested in unfortunate—really, evil—ways. A good character is not opposed to sex in principle, but will not condone exploitative or coercive relationships such as the use of slaves for sex, or sexual contact with children or others without the power to enter freely and willingly into a mutual relationship.

In the Forgotten Realms, deities of pleasure include Sune, Hanali Celanil, and Sharess (equivalent to Lastai).

Example Deity: Lastai

Lastai is the goddess of pleasure, love, and passion. She is powerfully sensual. She is depicted as a beautiful, voluptuous woman. Lastai teaches that sensual pleasures are meant to be enjoyed, and is not shy about teaching the proper way to enjoy them. As goddess of love as well as passion, she stresses the importance of equality in all kinds of relationships, from business dealings to sexual intimacy. She teaches the enjoyment of sex without exploitation. Her symbol is a peach. She is chaotic good.

Lastai’s clerics are often called upon to perform wedding ceremonies and counsel lovers. They seek out pleasure for themselves, but that pursuit is less important than bringing others pleasure. Her faith is sometimes reviled by those who view it as prurient or immoral, but Lastai’s clerics argue strongly that sexuality is a good gift meant to be properly enjoyed, not repressed. Lastai has a few small temples, mostly found in large cities, that constantly battle against their reputation as being nothing more than glorified brothels.

Example Deity: Sharess

Sharess is a deity of the Mulhorandi pantheon—a goddess of passion and sex who is referred to as the Festhall Madam. Most of her priests spend their time running brothels and celebrating the Endless Revel of Life, a nearly constant parade of festivals in their goddess’s honor.

Worshippers of Sharess are seducers and hedonists. The goddess’s followers are chaotic and believe that pleasure is to be enjoyed and shared with all.

Divine Order: Pleasure Initiate

When you choose this domain at 3rd level, you gain the prestidigitation cantrip. For you, this cantrip counts as a cleric cantrip. In addition, your mystical connection to the divine gives you a bonus to your Charisma (Persuasion or Performance) checks. The bonus equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum +1). This Replaces the Divine Order sacred role you chose at 1st level.

Level 3: Blessings of the Goddess

Your faith provides you with the following benefits:

• Your unarmored Armor Class is equal to 10 + your Wisdom modifier + your Dexterity modifier.
• You gain expertise with Charisma (Performance) checks.
• You suffer no ill effects from cold weather extremes, and you remain as comfortable in cold weather as if the temperature were that of a balmy day.

Level 3: Pleasure Domain Spells

Level 3: Preserve Life

As a Magic action, you present your holy symbol and expend a use of your Channel Divinity to evoke healing energy that can restore a number of hit points equal to five times your cleric level. Choose any Bloodied creatures within 30 feet of yourself (which can include you), and divide those Hit Points among them. This feature can restore a creature to no more than half of its Hit Point maximum.

Level 6: Aura of Protection

You radiate a protective, unseeable aura in a 10-foot Emanation that originates from you. The aura is inactive while you have the Incapacitated condition.

You and your allies in the aura gain a bonus to saving throws equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum bonus of +1).

Supreme Healing

When you would normally roll one or more dice to restore Hit Points to a creature with a spell or Channel Divinity, don’t roll those dice for the healing; instead use the highest number possible for each die. For example, instead of restoring 2d6 Hit Points to a creature with a spell, you restore 12.