I enjoy Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. I know some of you have jumped on the “I Hate WOTC” club, but I enjoy 5th Edition. Is there room for change? You betcha, are they moving the game in the right direction? Probably not, but that’s not what I’m going to talk about here.

I Also love Mystara. Mystara was classified as a “Campaign Setting” back in the day. It is not. Mystara is a World, Like Toril. “The Known World” is a Campaign Setting in Mystara, “Red Steel” is a Campaign Setting in Mystara, and “The Hollow World” is a Campaign Setting in Mystara. But they are different Settings that exist on the Same planet.

One of the difficulties with Running Mystara in 5e is Clerics, for multiple reasons, but let me list a few here:

• Mystara has no Gods. It has Immortals.
• Most Clerics in Mystara don’t worship 1 God / Immortal, they worship a pantheon of Immortals.
• Many Clerics in Mystara don’t even worship the Immortals, they worship natural concepts. (Universal Chaos, Universal Law, The “divine” bloodline of a king, etc.)

The Immortals instead of Gods is a flavor thing. Immortals are divine beings that rule the heavens and have incredible power. They are not Gods in the sense that one has to earn his Immortality through a series of quests and world altering activities WHILE THEY ARE MORTAL. Children of Immortals are…. Mortal. No special Demi-god level, nothing. And most importantly, there is a level of Power ABOVE the Immortals known only as the “Old Ones”.

This was an attempt to ward off the “Satanic Panic” back in the day, so that they could market the basic D&D game to children. (10 and up)

Clerics that worship concepts, are easy enough to run in 5th edition, until you try the “Divine Intervention” Power from 10th level. I recommend each DM replace this power with one that relates to the domain better, but I will reserve that for another day.

Clerics and Churches who worship a pantheon, instead of a domain are a bit more tricky, and requires more work on the DM’s part. I Put together a little guide, and then used it myself on the “Church of Karameikos” and the “Church of Traladara” from the Nation of Karameikos in the Known World.

First you have to make note down what the core beliefs of the church are. The founding philosophy. Everything will relate back to this. Then after this list the Immortals that are connected to this church. I recommend putting them into an order from least important to most important.

Then you look through the Clerical Domains related to those Immortals, and select 2 domain spells for the levels. Or you can choose domain spells that are not directly from the Immortal’s lists.as long as they follow this pattern.

• Two 1st level spells (To be available at Clerical level 1)
• Two 2nd level spells (To be available at Clerical level 3)
• Two 3rd level spells (To be available at Clerical level 5)
• Two 4th level spells (To be available at Clerical level 7)
• Two 5th level spells (To be available at Clerical level 9)

Next look over the Domain abilities from the related Immortals from levels 1, 2, 6, 8, and 17. Choose the best ones from your church’s Philosophy but try to select from as many of the Immortals as possible.

I will walk you through this in regard for the Church of Karameikos, and then finally I will link to the Church’s Cleric Write up page (Posted separately)

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I am using the “Church of Karameikos” Write up by John Biles on the Pandius Website.

“The Church of Karameikos’ most fundamental practice is that of taking responsibility for one’s ill deeds and doing penance for them. Anyone can be redeemed if they are willing to accept their own guilt and pay for it. The state of your soul at death is determined by how many of your sins you have done penance for.
The Church’s ideal is the marriage of discipline and creativity of thought and deed, but in practice, the disciplinary aspect tends to predominate. This often leads to clashes with the various Traladaran faiths and with anyone else who deviates from the cultural norms of the Thyatian elite who currently dominate the Church.

So When I choose any domain spells, or abilities, it is related to redeeming oneself, or helping others to redeem themselves.

The Immortals in relation to this Church (In order from the Article of Importance) are:

• Valerias, Patron of Lovers and Girder-on of Weapons – representing the virtue of Love (Love Domain)
• Koryis, Patron of Peace and Prosperity – representing the virtue of Peacefulness (Peace Domain)
• Petra the Holy Defender – representing the virtue of Defence of the Weak (Guardian Domain)
• Zirchev, the Hunter – representing the virtue of Respect for Nature (Nature Domain)
• Kagyar the Artisan – representing the virtue of Craftsmanship (Dwarf Domain)
• Halav Red-Hair – representing the virtue of Courage (War Domain)
• Chardastes the Healer – representing the virtue of Compassion (Life Domain)
• Tarastia the Just – representing the virtue of Justice (Order Domain)
• Djaea, Averter of Catastrophes – representing the virtue of Discipline (Knowledge Domain)
• Korotiku the Trickster – representing the virtue of Cleverness. (Trickery Domain)
• Khoronus, Father of Time – representing the virtue of Patience (Time Domain)
• Ixion the Adventurous Scholar – representing the virtue of Scholarship (Light Domain)

Domain Spells that could be chosen from are:

• Level 1: Ceremony, Charm Person / Heroism, Sanctuary / Absorb Elements, Shield / Animal Friendship, Speak with Animals / Thunderous Smite, Bless / Divine Favor, Shield of Faith / Cure Wounds / Command / Command, Identify / Disguise Self / Feather Fall / Longstrider / Burning Hands, Faerie Fire
• Level 3: Calm Emotions, Warding Bond / Aid, Warding Bond / Barkskin, Spike Growth / Find Traps / Magic Weapon, Spiritual Weapon / Lesser Restoration / Hold Person, Zone of Truth / Augery, Suggestion / Mirror Image, Pass Without Trace / Blur, Misty Step / Flaming Sphere , Scorching Ray /
• Level 5: Leomund’s Tiny Hut, Sending / Beacon of Hope, Sending / Glyph of Warding / Plant Growth, Wind Wall / Counterspell, Meld into Stone / Crusader’s Mantly, Spirit Guardian / Revivify / Mass Healing Word, Slow / Clairvoyance (Djaea would never use Non-Detection), Speak with Dead / Blink, Dispel Magic / Haste / Daylight, Fireball
• Level 7: Death Ward, Dimension Door / Aura of Purity, Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere / Stoneskin / Dominate Beast, Grasping Vine / Stone Shape / Freedom of Movement / Guardian of Faith / Compulsion, Locate Creature / Arcane Eye , Divination (Again Djaea hates misinformation and would not support a Confusion Spell) / Dimension Door, Polymorph / Wall of Fire /
• Level 9: Dream, Greater Restoration / Greater Restoration, Rary’s Telepathic Bond / Circle of Power, Hallow / Insect Plague, Tree Stride / Hold Monster, Wall of Stone / Flame Strike / Mass Cure Wounds, Raise Dead / Commune, Dominate Person / Legend Lore, Scrying / Dominate Person, Modify Memory /

After pouring over these with the philosophy of Helping others, or guidance to morality, I chose these spells:

• Level 1: Charm Person, Heroism
• Level 3: Lesser Restoration, Magic Weapon
• Level 5: Clairvoyance, Mass Healing Word
• Level 7: Divination, Guardian of Faith
• Level 9: Greater Restoration, Mass Cure Wounds

The 1st Level Features available are:

• Blessing of Valerias: (Imbue another with Magical Confidence for Social Situations.)
• Emboldening Bond: (Mass Barding Inspiration)
• Fortress: (adding your Wisdom adjustment to a friend’s rolls)
• Acolyte of Nature: (Free Druid Cantrip & Proficiency)
• Gift of Kagyar: (OSR Dwarf Magic Resistance)
• War Priest: (Extra Attacks)
• Disciple of Life: (+2 hp when using Healing Spells)
• Voice of Authority: (Give a friend an extra attack)
• Blessing of Knowledge: (2 free Languages, and expertise in 2 new skills)
• Blessing of the Trickster: (Give others Stealth abilties)
• Oracle & Mire: (History Skill, Guidance Cantrip, & Restraining an other)
• Bonus Cantrip & Warding Light: (Light Cantrip & Flash of Light between the attacker & you)

I look over these and wonder which will most follow the Church’s Philosophy. I choose Emboldening Bond. I will repreat this process for all of the features.

Look here for the final Product.