Base Class: Druid
Every druid represents some aspect of nature. And nearly all draw on life. Many druid spells and abilities draw from the power of life, whether it be the life of the land, the life of the beasts, or even the life of the stars. But life is only one side of the coin that is nature. There exists few druids who take the path of death. Drawing energy from the land of the shadowfell and using the undead who reside there to make sure that nature is in balance, for life will always fail to exist without death to keep it in check.
Bonus Cantrip
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you learn the Toll the Dead cantrip. This cantrip doesn’t count against the number of druid cantrips you know. Additionally, you can target as many creatures as your proficiency bonus when you cast this spell. This spell can be cast this way as much as your Wisdom modifier, and you regain these uses on a long rest.
Form of Death
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your link with nature to harness the powers of death and necrotic energy. By expending 2 uses of your Wild Shape as a bonus action, you draw on the dark power of the Shadowfell, taking on a necromantic form. You gain temporary hp equal to your Wisdom modifier + half your druid level. Additionally, you can summon a special scythe in your hands. This weapon has the two-handed, heavy, and reach properties. You are considered proficient with this weapon. On your turn, you can use this weapon to make a melee spell attack against a creature within reach. This attack does 1d10 + your Wisdom modifier necrotic damage. If you reduce a creature to 0 hit points by this attack you can use your reaction to expend a spell slot of first level or higher and have it resurrected at the end of the round as an undead of your choice, the CR of which cannot be more than half of your druid level rounded down. This undead is friendly to you and your allies and obeys your commands. You must take a bonus action to command any number of undead servants. If not given a command an undead will attack the nearest enemy to you. If none are within its movement speed it will take the dodge action. This undead remains animated until you use your undead summoning feature again. This Form of Death lasts for 5 minutes, or until you use your Wild Shape again.
You can determine what defining feature your Form of Death has by rolling for it or picking it yourself
1. You grow white ivory antlers, which remain while you are in this form.
2. Your shadow comes off of the ground and wraps around your shoulders, acting as a dark translucent billowing cape.
3. Your bones glow through your flesh, making your skeletal structure visible and making your skin seemed hallow and worn.
4. You grow a singular black wing, as large as you are. This wing does not provide a flying speed.
5. 3 skulls that look like they are eternally screaming grow from your collarbone, and chains appear from your wrists
6. A vertical aligned eye appears in your forehead, and your skin turns deathly white. You grow sharper teeth; and long horns from your forehead, and your hair grows long.
Circle Spells
Your mystical connection to death infuses you with the ability to cast certain spells. At 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to spells connected to the dark powers of the Shadowfell where you take power from.
Once you gain access to one of these spells, you always have them prepared, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain access to a spell that doesn’t appear on the druid spell list, the spell is nonetheless a druid spell for you.
| Druid Level | Spells |
|---|---|
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3rd |
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5th |
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7th |
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9th |
Necrotic Power
Starting at 6th level, undead under your control are enhanced by your necrotic power. Skeletons and Zombies you summon with Animate Dead are always under your control, and you do not have to recast Animate Dead to keep them that way. Any undead under your control does an extra 1d4 necrotic damage when hitting a creature with an attack roll while you are in your Form of Death. This damage increases to 1d6 at 10th level in this class, and 1d8 at 14th level. Additionally, they add your proficiency bonus to any attack rolls they make.
In addition, while in your Form of Death, when you take an action to attack with your Death Scythe, you may make two attacks instead of 1, as if you had the Extra Attack feature.
Spirit Reaper
When you reach 10th level, youve nearly mastered the art of balancing life. While in your Form of Death, your Death Scythe and spells you cast that do necrotic damage ignore resistance to necrotic damage.
Additionally, any undeads attack is considered magical for the purpose of overcoming non magical resistance while they under your control.
The Might of Undeath
When you reach 14th level, you have reached the pinnacle of undeath. You gain resistance to necrotic damage, which turns to immunity when in your Form of Death. When in your Form of Death, your Death Scythes damage changes to 1d12 instead of 1d10. As an action while youre in your Form of Death, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature. On a hit, the creature takes 3d10 necrotic damage, and must make a Constitution saving throw against your Druid spell save DC. on a failure, the creature is paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. Once you hit this spell attack, you can not use it again until you drop and reactivate your Form of Death
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