Druid Circle: Circle of the
Universal Tree
Druids of the Circle of the Universal Tree devote themselves to being protectors and followers of the Tree of the Living, the spiritual and omnipresent tree connecting all things in life throughout the universe.
These druids believe that all things lead back to the Tree of the Living, and use this to their advantage by using seeds of the Universal Tree to slow and bind enemies with the force of the Tree.
Connection to the Universal Tree
Your connection to the Tree of the Living allows you to tap into the knowledge and branching nature of the universe and binding force grants you access to certain spells. At 2nd level, you learn the guidance cantrip. At 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to the spells listed for that level in the Circle of the Universal Tree Spells table.
Once you gain access to one of these spells, you always have it 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 |
|---|---|
| 3rd | augury, hold person |
| 5th | clairvoyance, sending |
| 7th | dimension door, divination |
| 9th | commune, hold monster |
Seed of Singularity
At 2nd level, you are able to use the gravitational pull of the Tree of the Living to affect those around you. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape to plant a seed of the Universal Tree in a space within 30 feet of you. Once this seed planted, it creates a 20 foot radius of difficult terrain for a number of creatures of your choice that you can see. This radius lasts as long your as Wild Shape duration or when you dismiss it as a bonus action.
Additionally, when you cast a spell that forces a creature within the seed's radius to make a saving throw, if the creature fails the saving throw you can force the creature to be pushed to the center of the radius and take an amount of radiant damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Branching into the Soul
At 6th level, when you plant your Seed of Singularity, you can cause it to instantly grow into one of the branches of the Universal Tree. When you do so, you can choose from the following options from the branch to do on the same bonus action.
• You use the Tree of the Living to peer into what the creature's soul is saying. You can cast detect thoughts on a creature within the Seed of Singularity radius without expending a spell slot and doesn't require concentration. If you choose to shift your attention to a different creature they must also succeed a Wisdom saving throw, staying on the original target on a failure or switching to the new target on a success.
• You can use the Tree of the Living to bind creatures with roots from the Tree. You can attempt to grapple a creature within the Seed of Singularity radius for an amount of rounds equal to your Wisdom modifier or until the creature breaks free with an attempt at the end of their turn. Additionally, you can use your Wisdom modifier in place of Strength when you attempt this grapple.
• You can use the branches of the Tree of the Living to strike at and disorient a creature. You can make a melee spell attack against a creature within the Seed of Singularity radius, dealing 1d10 radiant damage and imposing disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of your next turn.
On your subsequent turns, you can use your bonus action again to command this branch to repeat the chosen option from before for the duration of your Seed of Singularity.
Improved Universal Connection
At 10th level, when you plant your Seed of Singularity, the radius increases to 30 feet.
Additionally, whenever a creature ends it's turn in the radius, it takes 1d6 radiant damage as roots from the Tree of the Living lash out against them. This deals an additional 1d6 damage to any creatures that are restrained or grappled within the seed's radius.
Under the Tree's Protection
At 14th level, the Tree of the Living acts as the perfect defense for any attacks. When you or a creature within 30 feet of you is hit with an attack or fails a saving throw to a damaging spell, you can use your reaction to instead summon a branch of the Tree of the Living to block the attack, negating the damage and returning an amount of radiant damage equal to half of the damage of the attack. You can do this an amount of times equal to your Wisdom modifier per long rest.
Created by Hicks
Edited by the wonderful people of the Discord of Many Things server.
Art by Derlaine and love--or--death.