Circle of Abhorrent Skin (5.0)

In the far distant past, there existed a band of powerful and corrupt druids bent on the conquest of the natural world. For their transgressions, they were agonizingly cursed into horrific Aberrations and banished to the deepest forests. However, over centuries, scholars fascinated by the myths worked with these beings in secret to synthesize their experience and pass on their knowledge of unnatural bodily manipulation to those mad enough to seek it out. Some still suffer the abhorrent wrath of nature as punishment for their deeds, but the most unstable and ambitious among druids seek out the curse purposefully for it's potential. The secrecy of this circle is not upkept through any effort, as few people who meet an Abhorrent Skin Druid have had the desire to speak of what they've witnessed. Many Druids in the Circle of Abhorrent skin wear masks or cloaks resembling forest animals to hide their appearance in polite society. Upon joining the Circle of Abhorrent Skin, roll on the table or choose an animal to resemble.

Dangerous Body

2nd-level Circle of Abhorrent Skin feature

Your body can distort subtly to aid you in combat. You gain the "Remove Hand" cantrip without it counting against your number of known cantrips.

Your cursed physiology allows your body to twist and warp in ways that should be impossible, allowing you to do things with effects virtually indistinguishable from magic. At 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level you learn the following spells without needing to prepare them. To cast these spells you must expending hit points equal to twice the level of the spell instead of a spell slot. A maximum of two spells may be cast this way per short rest.

Druid Level	Spells
2nd	Disguise Self
3rd	Blindness/Deafness
5th	Bestow Curse
7th	Stoneskin
9th	Bigby's Hand

Abhorrent Transformations

2nd-level Circle of Abhorrent Skin feature

The Circle of Abhorrent Skin is named aptly in reference to their unique form of wild shape. Druids of this circle are cursed with dark knowledge of anatomy, allowing them to manipulate their very flesh into monstrous and vaguely animalistic forms.

When you use the Wild Shape Feature as an action, spend d8 hit points and choose 2 wild shapes you have access to create a new creature.

 

To create an Abhorrent Transformation, first consult your list of available wild shapes as per your Druid level, then choose two (or three) creatures of that level you would like to combine.

Create a new stat sheet for this creature following the guidelines below.

Size: Choose the size of either Creature.

Armor Class: Choose the AC of either Creature.

Hit Points: Choose/Roll the Hit Points of either creature.

Speed: Choose 1 speed of either creature, additionally choose 1 movement option from either creature.

Stats: Choose 3 stats [STR, CON, DEX, INT, WIS, and CHA] from one creature, and choose 3 stats from the other. In the case of Abhorrent Transformations utilizing 3 creatures, choose 2 stats from each creature.

Skills: Choose 2 skills from either creature.

Resistances: Choose 2 resistances from either creature.

Immunities: Choose 1 available immunity from either creature, this immunity becomes a resistance.

Senses: Choose 1 sense from either creature.

Features: Choose 2 available features (ex. "Hold Breathe", "Keen Sense", etc.) from either creature. Use as stated on Stat Sheet.

Actions: Choose 2 available actions (ex. "Bite", "Claw", etc.) from either creature. Use as stated on Stat Sheet. Actions included in a multiattack count as one action. Languages: Choose 1 available Languages.

 

You have disadvantage on all Animal Handling, Performance, Persuasion, and Deception checks while in this shape, but you have advantage Intimidation checks while in this shape.

Additionally, you wildshape scales at certain druid levels

Druid Level	Challenge Rating
2	CR 1/2
4	CR 1
8	CR 2
12	CR 3
16	CR 4
20	CR 5

Horrendous Visage

Your wildshape augments your body in a way that is nothing short of horrific to behold. When you take the wildshape action you can use your bonus action to use this feature. Choose one creature within 30 feet to make a wisdom saving throw against your Spell DC, on a failed save the target is frightened until their turn. At 8th level, you can choose up to 2 creatures, and up to 3 creatures at 14th level.

You can also use this feature as a reaction immediately after a creature sees you in this form for the first time. This feature may be used twice per short rest.

 

Scarring Attack

6th-level Circle of Abhorrent Skin feature

Starting at 6th level, when you hit a creature while in wildshape  you can expend one spell slot to add 1d6 to the damage and change all damage to psychic. For each spell level higher than 1st, add d6 psychic damage to the roll to a maximum of 3d6. This damage is conferred to all subsequent attacks made on this turn. You can use spell slots higher than 3rd but they do not give you any additional benefits. At level druid level 11 the d6's turn into d8's. 

 When you use a 3rd level spell slot or higher you also receive that number of d6's or d8's  in psychic damage as the monster within eats part of your soul.

Monstrous Empathy

10th-level Circle of Abhorrent Skin feature

At 10th level you gain knowledge of the nature of beasts and monsters. You now have the ability to use your wildshape feature to transform into non-animal Beasts of appropriate CR (ex. mimic, Dragon Wyrmling, etc.).

Whenever you use this ability, the d8 hit dice expanded is exchanged for d10. You may never wildshape into constructs, celestials, elementals, plants, oozes or undead. Additionally, any game breaking monster features may be vetoed at the discretion of the DM (ex. brain devour).

Master of Abhorrence

14th-level Circle of Abhorrent Skin feature

You have proven to nature through your power of will that you are worthy to wield its power and the curse is lifted. You can now use your Spells and Wildshape feature normally, as well as Abhorrent Transformations. Upon the curse lifting, you gain the ability to combine up to 3 Wild Shapes.

You also gain some control over your power. The amount of hit dice you expand to use Wilds Shape decreases to a D6 or a D8 if you are using Monstrous Empathy.