Burial Domain
The Burial Domain is a third-party D&D 3.x domain concerned with funerary protection, keeping the dead at rest and defending burial places from undead intrusion. It is not the opposite of the Death Domain; it is a separate funerary tradition with its own emphasis and rules.
At a Glance
| Divine Sphere | Burial, graves, funerary protection, restless dead and cemetery guardianship |
|---|---|
| Rules Origin | Third-party D&D 3.x material |
| Source | Celtic Druids and the Tuatha de Dannan |
| Strong Campaign Patron | Arawn |
| Other Editions | No official same-named Pathfinder 1e, 5e/2014 or 2024 Cleric domain |
Edition Applicability
The rules below are third-party D&D 3.x material. They are not presented as an official 3.5e SRD, Pathfinder or modern D&D domain.
Burial Domain — D&D 3.x Third-Party
Rules status: third-party d20 material.
Granted Power
You gain Extra Turning as a bonus feat.
Burial Domain Spells
| 1st | Detect Undead |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Gentle Repose |
| 3rd | Speak with Dead |
| 4th | Halt Undead |
| 5th | Summon Monster V — traditionally a white, red-eared hound of Arawn using yeth-hound statistics |
| 6th | Guards and Wards |
| 7th | Control Undead |
| 8th | Antipathy — undead only |
| 9th | Soul Bind |
Burial, Death and Repose
Death, Repose and Burial overlap around mortality but are not interchangeable. Burial focuses on funerary places and keeping the dead properly contained; Repose opposes undeath in its published rules tradition; Death covers lethal and necromantic power in editions where it appears.
How the Burial Domain Plays
Burial is strongest in campaigns with tombs, cemeteries and undead. Extra Turning supports repeated confrontations with the restless dead, while the spell list moves from detection and preservation into warding, control and finally preventing a soul’s return.
What Are Burial Priests Doing Now?
Burial priests are protecting cemeteries, investigating opened graves, identifying improperly buried dead, sealing haunted tombs and deciding when a spirit must be laid to rest rather than destroyed.
Related Domains and Character Options
Rules Sources and Licensing
The granted power and spell list follow Dominique Crouzet’s Celtic Druids and the Tuatha de Dannan. They are presented as third-party D&D 3.x material.