[WiC] Druid of Winter

Add an option for winter to the seasonal D&D 4E Druid with guest blogger Matt Maranda from Monsters, Mazes, and Magic.
Part of the Winter Is Coming RPG Blog Festival.

I wanted to contribute to “Winter is Coming” and the most obvious place to begin was to fill out the seasonal druids. To that end I began thinking about what earth cultures would be likely to have druids, or similar priests. I initially thought about the Celts, they were the traditional resource for druids. However, Viking beliefs and culture also seemed compatible. The more I thought about them and their belief that the land was made up out of two components Fire and Ice the more it intrigued me. The raven icon for this event also drew my thoughts towards Odin, with his two ravens Hugin and Munin. This ultimately prompted me to settle on the raven as the Druid’s animal companion.

Art courtesy of @symatt.
Click through for larger image.

To determine the benefits I wanted them to induce a bleak fatalism while also representing something as inevitably timeless as the coming of winter. Providing proficiency in the scythe provides a clear connection to the Wests traditional views of death. The aura and imagery of the raven also supports this feel of a representative of death. It even dovetails into the “Nentir Vale” goddess of the Raven Queen. The other benefits improving saving throws and defenses hopefully demonstrate the nature of the Winter Druid as an unflagging force that will not be disrupted easily.

Druid of Winter: You represent the inevitability of death, the harsh reality of winter and the planning necessary to survive before spring’s rebirth. You can be as harsh and unforgiving as a northern storm to those that cross you, while also offering succor as good as any fire to friends and those in need lost on a cold winter’s night.

Benefit: You gain the following benefits

• Your animal companion is a raven.
• You gain proficiency with the scythe.
• You gain a +1 bonus to all defenses.
• You gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws.

Animal Companion Raven

Raven
small natural beast

HP your bloodied value                                                     Initiative equal to yours

AC 15; Fortitude 13, Reflex 15, Will 11                          Perception equal to yours +2, Low-light vision

(Add your level your level to each defense)
Speed 4, fly 6 (hover) May not fly carrying more than 1lb         

Traits

 Bleak Reminder  Aura 1

Any enemy that enters its aura receives a -1 to all saving throws until the end of its turn.

Standard Actions

 Animal Attack  At-Will

Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +7 vs. AC

Hit: 1d6 + your wisdom modifier + your constitution modifier damage.

Level 13: 1d6 + 2 + your wisdom modifier + your constitution modifier damage.

Level 23: 1d6 + 4 + your wisdom modifier + your constitution modifier damage.

Str 10    Dex 20     Wis 14
Con 17   Int 4        Cha 6

Level 1 Daily

Freezing Sleet

An unnatural sleet begins pelting your enemies freezing them in place.

Daily        Cold, Primal, Weapon
Standard Action      Area burst 1 within 10

Target: Each enemy in the burst

Attack: Wisdom vs. AC

Hit: 2d6 + Wisdom modifier damage and the target is slowed save ends.

Miss: Half damage and the target is slowed until the end of your next turn.

Level 5 Daily

Flame and Frost

You lash out with your weapon imbued with searing heat and shattering cold, leaving the target reeling from alternating burning and frostbite.

Daily        Cold, Fire, Primal, Weapon
Standard Action      Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Wisdom vs. AC

Hit: 2[W] + Wisdom modifier damage

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: Until the end of the encounter target gains vulnerability 5 Cold and vulnerability 5 Fire.

Level 9 Daily

Ferocity of the Stag

Gaining the obstinacy and tenacity of the Stag you strike out at any with the temerity to attack you.

Daily        Primal, Weapon
Standard Action      Area blast 3

Target: Each enemy in the burst

Attack: Wisdom vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Wisdom modifier damage and knock the target prone.

Miss: Half damage and knock the target prone.

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, any time an enemy attacks you as an immediate reaction you may make an attack Wisdom vs. Fort if you hit deal Wisdom modifier damage and knock the target prone.

See more entries in the Winter Is Coming RPG Blog Festival.