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.
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.
