“Power does not wait for permission. It offers a hand and watches who dares to take it.”
A divine contract has formed between you and a sealed god whose name has long been buried — Animus, the Forger of Monsters, the Betrayer of Creation. This pact was not asked for. It was not signed. It simply is. Now, a fragment of Animus' divine radiance pulses through your soul — not by prayer, but by proximity to his chained will.
The gift is immense. So is the price.
Boons of the Contract
While this contract remains active, you gain the following benefits:
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Echo of the Forger:
After finishing a short rest, you gain Temporary Hit Points equal to your total Hit Dice + your Constitution modifier. These fade after your next long rest or when depleted. -
Veil of Dominion:
You gain a +2 bonus to AC against magical spell attacks (such as Fire Bolt, Guiding Bolt, or Scorching Ray). This bonus does not apply to saving throw-based spells or magic weapon attacks. -
Animus’ Smite:
You learn the cantrip Animus’ Smite, a powerful corrupted-radiant strike granted only by Animus. You can cast this cantrip normally. It does not count against your number of spells known or prepared, and it is available to you regardless of your class.- Animus’ Smite deals 3d8 radiant damage (scaling with level), bypasses radiant resistance in undead, fiends, and celestials, and inflicts conditions like Frightened and Blinded at higher levels. The corrupted light is unmistakable — and dangerously effective.
Curses of the Betrayer
No power from Animus comes without consequence:
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Deathbound:
You suffer disadvantage on all death saving throws. The tether between your soul and the sealed god disrupts your passage between life and death. -
Possession Clause:
If you die while this contract is active, Animus may attempt to fully possess your body. Your soul is pulled toward his prison — or sealed within the weapon itself — and your body may rise again as a vessel of his will (DM discretion). Only a Wish, True Resurrection, or direct divine intervention can undo this fate.
The more you call on his strength, the more the chain tightens around your fate.
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