Circle of the Cioban

The Circle of the Cioban embodies the ancient pastoral traditions, weaving together the harmonious coexistence with nature and the mystical power of the bucium horn. These druids take on the role of shepherds and guardians, drawing strength from their connection with spectral creatures and the ethereal realm. Through their mastery of the bucium horn, they communicate across great distances and ward off malevolent spirits. Guided by their deep understanding of the natural world, Circle of the Cioban druids protect their flocks and commune with the unseen, utilizing spectral animals and powerful rituals to heal, defend, and navigate the challenges that arise. With their profound bond with spirits and their attunement to the unseen realm, they stand as protectors of both the physical and ethereal realms

Bucium Mastery

At 2nd level, you gain proficiency with the bucium, a mystical horn used to communicate across great distances and ward away malevolent spirits. The bucium is usually used as a spellcasting focus for your Druid spells. In addition, you gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill and the cantrip thunderclap.

Shepherd's Aura

At 2nd level, you learn to emanate an aura of protection and calm, granting you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you a bonus to their AC equal to half your Wisdom modifier (rounded down), minimum of +1, as long as you are not wearing heavy armor.

Spiritual Herding

Starting at 3th level, you gain the ability to summon spectral animals to aid you in defense or help guide lost souls. As an action, you can expend a number of uses of your Wild Shape equal to or fewer than your Wisdom modifier (minimum of one) to summon one or more of the following spectral creatures within 30 feet of you:

• Spectral Wolf: providing tracking abilities, pack tactics to aid in combat, and the Spectral Ability - Flock's Defender.
• Spectral Goat: providing powerful charging attacks, the ability to break through barriers, and the Spectral Ability - Sure-Footed Blessing.
• Spectral Bison: providing enhanced durability, the ability to knock prone enemies, and the Spectral Ability - Protective Presence.

You can issue verbal or telepathic commands to the spectral creatures, guiding their actions within the limitations of their capabilities. The creatures act on your turn and follow your instructions to the best of their abilities. They remain until you dismiss them as a bonus action, they drop to 0 hit points, or until you finish a short or long rest. You regain all expended uses of this feature after finishing a long rest.

Outside of combat, the spectral creatures can accompany you as pets or companions without a specific range limitation. Here are some examples of how you can utilize the spectral creatures outside of combat scenarios:

1. Spectral Wolf:
   • Tracking: Ask the spectral wolf to track a specific scent or find a trail, utilizing its keen senses to locate creatures or objects.
   • Exploration: Scout ahead with the spectral wolf, gathering information about the surroundings or potential dangers.
   • Fetching: Request the spectral wolf to retrieve or bring back objects within its capabilities, such as small items or messages.
2. Spectral Goat:
   • Barrier Breaking: Ride the spectral goat and use its charging ability to break through obstacles or doors.
   • Transportation: Utilize the spectral goat as a mount for swift travel or to navigate difficult terrain.
   • Strength Assistance: Request the spectral goat's help with physically demanding tasks, such as moving heavy objects.
3. Spectral Bison:
   • Riding: Mount the spectral bison, utilizing its enhanced durability and strength to overcome challenging terrain or engage in mounted combat.
   • Intimidation: Use the presence of the spectral bison to intimidate or deter potential adversaries.
   • Work Assistance: Employ the spectral bison's strength to assist with tasks like carrying heavy loads or plowing fields.

These examples are not exhaustive, and you are encouraged to find innovative ways to utilize the spectral creatures. Remember to discuss with your Game Master to ensure their usage aligns with the narrative and maintains game balance.

Spiritual Attunement

At 6th level, through your deep connection with the spirits and ethereal creatures, you gain profound insight into the unseen realm. This spiritual attunement allows you to choose two of the following abilities:

• Guardian's Awareness: You have advantage on initiative rolls. Your heightened senses enable you to quickly assess the situation and take immediate action.
• Protective Presence: When a friendly creature within 30 feet of you is targeted by an attack, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. Drawing upon your connection to the spirits, you instinctively intercede on behalf of your allies, disrupting the attacker's focus or aim.
• Enhanced Connection: You can now communicate telepathically with the spectral creatures summoned through your Spiritual Herding feature, regardless of distance, as long as they are on the same plane of existence. This allows for precise coordination and strategizing in and out of combat.

Enhanced Connection

You can now communicate telepathically with the spectral creatures summoned through your Spiritual Herding feature, regardless of distance, as long as they are on the same plane of existence. This allows for precise coordination and strategizing in and out of combat.

Guardian's Awareness

You have advantage on initiative rolls. Your heightened senses enable you to quickly assess the situation and take immediate action.

Protective Presence

When a friendly creature within 30 feet of you is targeted by an attack, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You instinctively intercede on behalf of your allies, using your connection to the spirits to disrupt the attacker's focus or aim.

Ethereal Resonance

At 10th level, your connection with the ethereal realm deepens, granting you resistance to necrotic and psychic damage. Additionally, your bond with spirits and ethereal creatures allows you to tap into their knowledge and insights.

Spectral Insight: You gain the ability to communicate with spirits and ethereal beings, granting you glimpses into their emotions and intentions. When interacting with spirits, you have advantage on ability checks related to understanding their messages or deciphering their cryptic signs. This ability does not grant the ability to engage in full conversations or compel spirits to act against their will.

Haunting Melody: Your bucium resonates with ethereal energy, enabling you to cast the Fear spell once per long rest without expending a spell slot. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell. Additionally, when you cast the Fear spell using this feature, its range is increased by 30 feet.

Nature's Shielding Grace

At 14th level, your mastery of healing is enhanced by the spirits' favor. Whenever you cast a spell that restores hit points to a creature, you can also bestow upon them resistance to a non-physical type damage of your choice for the next 2 turns. This spectral safeguard encompasses options such as acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, poison, psychic, radiant, or thunder damage, providing them with spectral protection in times of need. In addition you gain Ethereal Sight: you can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when you're on the Material Plane, and vice versa.