Most druids share a mystical bond with the forest flora, but this rootedness runs deeper for members of the Circle of the Thicket. Hedge mages in a literal sense, they can call upon the undergrowth to distract enemies, shield themselves from harm and even scry on forest dwellers. 

Oftentimes, druids of the Thicket seek out joy in simple things - patterns made by mould on an abandoned stone wall, the sway of a breeze-bound leaf, or perhaps the tang of wild blackberries from the briar. 

Soul of Foliage

At 2nd level, you learn the thorn whip cantrip. In addition, you can cast gentle repose without expending a spell slot or material components and gain the ability to do so again once you finish a long rest. Vines, weeds or flowers entangle the target's body while the spell persists. 

Girdle Growth

Also at 2nd level, you become a conduit of seed and soil. As an action, you can expend one use of Wild Shape to call upon the thicket's protection. Clusters of brambles, thistles or flowers appear in four 5 foot patches within 30 feet of you, lasting for 1 minute or until you fall unconscious.

While inside a patch's area, you gain half cover. In addition, when you cast thorn whip, you may choose any point within a patch. That point becomes the origin of the spell instead of you. For creatures other than you, an area counts as difficult terrain and causes one of the following effects based on the type of plant you conjured: 

Brambles or Thistles
Upon entering the patch for the first time on a turn or staring its turn there, the creature takes a number of d4s equal to your proficiency bonus in magical slashing damage (brambles) or poison damage (thistles). 

Flowers
Upon entering the area for the first time on a turn or starting its turn there, the creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a fail, it becomes charmed by a creature of your choice within 10 feet of the patch until the end of its next turn or until that creature deals damage to it. 

If a creature deals fire damage to a patch on its turn, it may ignore the effects of that patch until the beginning of its next turn. As a bonus action on your turn, you may alter the orientation of one of these patches, moving it up to 30 feet to a point you can see within range.

As you gain levels in this class, the number of patches you can create increases: 5 at 6th level, 6 at 10th level and 8 at 14th level.

Friend of the Forest

At 6th level, your rapport with the forest becomes more acutely honed. When you roll a 9 or lower on a stealth or survival check in an area of foliage, you may treat that roll as a 10.

In addition, you may speak the name of a specific creature or species known to you whilst in a forest or wooded area. If the name belongs to a specific creature, you learn its current position and direction of travel provided that it is within ten miles of you. If the name belongs to a species, you learn their number and position in the forest. You may use this feature once and regain the ability to do so again once you finish a long rest.

Briarwall

Beginning at 10th level, you gain the ability to summon thorned boughs which can distract and maim your enemies. When a creature you can see is targeted by a melee attack, you can use your reaction to interpose a thorny barrier between them and the attacker. The attack roll is made at disadvantage, and if it still hits, the attacker takes piercing damage equal to half your druid level (rounded down). Hit or miss, the attacker must then make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or be restrained until the end of its next turn. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and regain all expended uses once you finish a long rest.

A Force of Nature

At 14th level, while you are in an area created by Girdle Growth, you gain three-quarters cover instead of the normal half cover, and you may designate any number of creatures to be unaffected by a patch's effects. In addition, when you cast thorn whip, you may target two creatures with this spell. Roll attack and damage rolls separately for each. 

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