Circle of Companions

Druids of the Circle of Companions, sometimes called "Kinship Druids", understand that the many wonderful creatures of the world are vessels for the spirits of Nature, brought to life. They seek these creatures out, and befriend them, and fight along side them. Companion Druids do not see these creatures as pets, but as equals.

Kinship

At 2nd level, you gain a powerful bond to all creatures of nature. Due to the strong mutual respect between you and all creatures, these creatures will fight alongside you like family. You gain the ability to recruit beasts to fight for you (creatures under the "Beast" designation).

You recruit beasts during a long rest, and if a beast that you recruited dies, you can recruit a new beast during another long rest. You can also change which beasts you have recruited during a new long rest. 

In order to recruit a beast, you must fill in spell slots. Filled in spell slots behave as though those spells have already been cast. The cost to recruit is 2 spell slot levels for every 1 CR amount, or 1 spell slot level for every 1/2 CR. 

You cannot recruit beasts over CR 5. Beasts with a CR rating of 0 are counted as having a rating of “1/12th” for the purposes of this feature. You can recruit any number of beasts with a total CR amounting to your Druid level. These beasts act immediately after you in initiative order, and you control their turns. You also gain the ability to speak to animals at all times.

Strength of Many

At 3rd level, you take on a more wild aspect in your Wildshape, and the kinship you feel with your fellow beasts boosts your fortitude in battle. Whenever you use your Wildshape, you now transform with temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier plus your Proficiency bonus.

Unbreakable Bonds

At 6th level, your connection to your beast companions is so strong that you can channel your own magic to pull them away from the grasp of death itself. You can now use a charge of your Wildshape to revive a number of fallen beasts up to a total CR amount equal to half of your Druid level. Whenever you cast a spell, choose one of your recruited beasts of CR 1 or greater. That beast restores 1d4 hit points for every level of the spell you cast.

Return to Nature

At 10th level, your primal connection to your beast companions has grown so fierce that when one perishes in battle, its essence is scattered back into The Weave. Whenever one of your beasts of CR 1 or higher dies, roll 1d4. You regain a number of spell slot levels equal to the number rolled.

Alpha Status

Starting at 14th level, you and your companions are a deadly pack of apex predators. Whenever you finish a long rest, you may appoint one of your beast companions of CR 1 or higher as your pack's alpha. Until your next long rest, that beast companion has a +2 bonus to its AC, a +5 bonus to its attack rolls, and its first successful attack each turn deals an extra 1d8 force damage.