Princess of the Woodlands

Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten. - Neil Gaiman

 

Beauty. Grace. Determination. These are some of the many qualities that embody a Princess. But your heritage means so much more than a life of luxury and poise. As a Princess, you have a higher calling, and a duty to serve your people, even on the battlefield. Your position of power gives you the ability to inspire change in the realm, and you play an integral part in ensuring your allies are aided and your enemies are slain. Thankfully, you will never have to fight these battles alone.  A Princess is only as strong as the people who serve them, and under the Woodlands archetype you are granted all the regal splendor and magic of mother nature and her allies.

Title of Power

A Princess can be of any race and creed, and is considered especially fair and beautiful according to their culture.  A Princess is entirely dependent on their title as a source of power, but creatures need not know of this title to be affected by their abilities.  A Princess that falls out of power must find a justification to retain their powers and prowess.  Talk to your DM beforehand about the origin your your nobility, and what your title means to you and your people.  Are you a rebellious heir to a great kingdom?  The noble child of a tribal chief?  The last survivor of a royal culling or coup? Is there a gender implication to the title in your culture?  Don't be afraid to push the boundaries of what the term "princess" means in your society.

Animal Companion

At 3rd level, you gain an animal companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. Choose a beast that is no larger than Large and that has a challenge rating of 1 or lower. Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals the hit point number in its stat block or four times your ranger level, whichever is higher. Like any creature, it can spend Hit Dice during a short rest to regain hit points.

The animal obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative. On your turn, you can verbally command the animal where to move (no action required by you). You can use your action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, or Help action. If you don't issue a command, the animal takes the Dodge action. Once you have the Extra Attack feature, you can make one weapon attack yourself when you command the animal to take the Attack action.

If you are incapacitated or absent, the animal acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself. The animal never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack.

While traveling through your favored terrain with only the beast, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.

If the beast dies, you can obtain a new companion by spending 8 hours magically bonding with a beast that isn’t hostile to you and that meets the requirements.

Enchanted Body

When choosing the Princess of the Woodlands archetype, the power of nature flows through you, altering your physicality.  Choose 1 of the following manifestations: Eyes like the Sea, Hair of Silken Gold, or Lips of Luster.  Each of these choices comes with a unique ability.

Eyes like the Sea

Once per short rest, you may use Enchanting Gaze as an action to attempt to charm a creature within 10ft  of you by compelling them to look into your eyes.  The creature makes a CHA saving throw against your spellcasting DC.  On a fail, they are charmed for 1 minute, after which they will have no memory of their actions while charmed in this way.  On a success, they resist the effect, and have no inclination that you attempted to charm them with magic.

Hair of Silken Gold

Your hair shines like fine silken gold, and grows at an accelerated rate- an average of 6 inches per week.  It is considered especially valuable, and you have advantage on any persuasion checks while attempting to sell it.

Lips of Luster

Your lips become silky soft and deeply saturated in a color of your choice.  As an action on your turn, you may cast the spell haste on one creature of your choice without expending a spell slot by kissing them on the head, cheek, hand or lips.  You may use this ability once per long rest.

Share Spells

Beginning at 7th level, when you cast a spell targeting yourself, you can also affect your beast companion with the spell if the beast is within 30 feet of you.

Blessings of the Earth 1

As you advance in the Woodlands Archetype, your connection to magic grows stronger.  At 7th level, you may choose 1 spell from the Druid spell list that is equal to or less than 1/2 your Ranger level (rounded up) and cast it once per long rest without expending a spell slot.  You can cast another spell in this manner at level 11 and 15.

Return to Magic

At 11th level your body becomes permanently intertwined with your magical origin.  You may use an action to recover 1 spell slot at the cost of 10 HP per level of the spell slot.  Alternatively, you may touch an ally to grant them a spell slot at the cost of 15 HP per level.  If your HP reaches 0 on the same turn after using this ability, your body dissolves and dissipates into pure magical energy, returning to the location of your magical origin.

Blessings of the Earth 2

As you advance in the Woodlands Archetype, your connection to magic grows stronger.  At 11th level, you may choose 1 spell from the Druid spell list that is equal to or less than 1/2 your Ranger level (rounded up) and cast it once per long rest without expending a spell slot.  You can cast another spell in this manner at level 15.

Exceptional Training

Beginning at 7th level, on any of your turns when your beast companion doesn’t attack, you can use a bonus action to command the beast to take the Dash, Disengage, or Help action on its turn.

In addition, the beast's attacks now count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Blessings of the Earth 3

As you advance in the Woodlands Archetype, your connection to magic grows stronger.  At 15th level, you may choose 1 spell from the Druid spell list that is equal to or less than 1/2 your Ranger level (rounded up) and cast it once per long rest without expending a spell slot.