Druids

Druids in the World:
Druids who choose to follow the Circle of the Land are rooted to the land they have chosen to take under their stewardship. They form a link with the land through a conduit that connects them to nature. In return for guiding and protecting the land and creatures within their region, the druid is granted great power. The druids follow a principle of group mentorship, believing the combined knowledge of different mentors creates a more tempered and balanced population of druids. Near Longreach Elder Trees are the conduit used by the local elves.

Druids who follow the Circle of the Moon are a different beast. In comparison to those who follow the tenets of the Circle of the Land, Moon Druids/Skinwalkers tend to roam the lands, seeking power and ancient secrets while protecting lands far and wide from those who seek to exploit nature. Masters take on a single disciple who trains under them. Following the rules of the wild and in order to constantly strengthen their Circle, A Moon Druid cannot take on a disciple of their own until they have defeated their master. If the master is allowed to live they are deemed to have served their purpose and are not allowed to take on another disciple. The only exception is if another disciple has lost their master mid-training. When the time to pass the mantle comes mercy is not expected and never given, survival of the fittest.

Circle of the Land
To join the Circle of the Land you must complete a ritual lasting an hour at an Elder Tree during daylight.
Level 2:
Wildshape- Unlocked following the ritual
Natural Recovery- Unlocked following the ritual.
Bonus Cantrip- Unlocked following the ritual.

Circle Spells- To get your first Circle Spells you must attune an Elder Tree to your chosen land, transforming the nearby area to your chosen type. If a tree is already attuned to a different druid you must find an unattuned one. Each time you gain additional spells your tree will exert your chosen terrain over a larger area and its ability to defend itself increases. The tree gains access to the Circle Spells you have and can cast them within its region of influence. In addition natural creatures in the area will fight to defend it against those who seek to harm it and it becomes physically tougher to destroy. If your tree is destroyed you will lose access to all Circle Spells and Circle of the Land features (Land’s Stride, Nature’s Ward, Nature’s Sanctuary) until you can repair the tree. If you need to start with a new tree you will need to redo each of the rituals.

Level:
3rd- Choose an Elder Tree to attune. It does not need to be the same one you used to join the Circle of the Land. You must perform a ritual that takes 24 hours and expends all of your spells for the day as you infuse the tree with your magic. You must have all of your spells prepared at the start. Your tree will transform the surrounding ¼ mile radius into your terrain type or enhance it if it’s already that kind.

5th- You must attend a Circle and learn the secret of shaping the land. You will have attracted the attention of similarly minded druids who will leave clues to finding the gathering. Then, with this knowledge, you will use the same Elder Tree and perform the same 24 hour ritual. However, during this time you must plant a seed that will grow on the tree during the ritual. It will not grow an additional Elder tree but will exert your chosen terrain in directions of your choosing. They must be planted within half a mile of your Elder Tree and all currently planted will now convert a radius of ½ mile.

7th- You must journey to land that matches your circle (and it cannot be the same region if your circle matches the surrounding terrain) and learn from a powerful druid in that region. Once you have done so you may return to your tree and perform the 24 hour ritual. This time you will have an additional seed and all currently planted expand influence to 1 mile radius

9th- You must find a new druid that has dedicated themselves to your type of terrain and leave clues to lead them to a Circle, where you will teach them how to use their Elder Tree as a conduit to the world. Your tree will produce 2 more seeds and all planted will expand influence to 2 mile radius.

Each level after:
You gain 1 seed with an area of influence of 2 miles.

Terrain Effects: Appropriate denizens will also appear over time.
Arctic: The air becomes unnaturally cold, rain becomes snow, water freezes over, and evergreens (of which your elder tree will become one) flourish.
Coast: If near a large body of water it expands, forming inlets and lengthening the coast. If none is around ponds and lakes will spring from the ground and rivers will flow to larger bodies.
Desert: The air becomes arid and hot, soil becomes sand, and the Elder Tree becomes gnarled and weathered, though healthy.
Forest: Trees and foliage grows thick and plentiful, unnaturally large plants may exist.
Grassland: Forests and mountains give way to rolling hills and tall grass.
Mountain: At first foothills will appear, but eventually large, craggy mountains will break through the surface.
Swamp: The land will become sodden and sunken into large pools of water. Swamps will not override the current terrain, but be shaped by it, becoming murky forests or plains of mist.
Underdark: The tree will sink into newly formed natural caverns beneath the earth, tunnels and caves connecting to the world above.

Circle of the Moon
To join the Circle of the Land you must complete a ritual lasting an hour at an Elder Tree during a moonlit night.
Level 2:
Combat Wild Shape- Unlocked following the ritual.
Circle Forms- Up to CR 1 unlocked following the ritual.

Level 6:
Circle Form Upgrade
Primal Strike
To gain access to these abilities you must prove your strength as a druid to attract the attention of a master who will teach them to you. You must kill at least 4 people seeking to exploit nature for profit. These can be poachers, lumberjacks, etc. During you must kill at least 1 person in your normal form and at least one in your wildshape and during the combat(s) you must change forms at least once.

Level 10:
Elemental Wild Shape-
Destroy a significant piece of property used in profiting from the exploitation of nature utilizing a barrage of elemental spells, the Circle will look more favorably on a druid who kills workers as part of the attack. Examples could include lumber yards or whaling ships.

Level 14:
Thousand Forms-
Defeat your master.