A Bannik is a guardian spirit of a traditional bathhouse in Slavic folklore, such places were used much like saunas but were also places for childbirth and divination, thus they were seen as significant places of magic and tradition, Banniks would have their own special area and often forbade any Christian imagery within this area as they often invited spirits from the forests to join them in their baths.
A Bannik was normally pleasant enough with humans and would share space with them but if angered or disturbed by an intruder when bathing the Bannik may deliver swift and violent punishments such as scolding them with hot water or even strangling them.
A Bannik was also granted the ability to see the future and would share such knowledge with humans via either stroking their back gently (to signify they would have a good future) or claw at them viciously (to signify that great troubles awaited them).