Druid Circle: Circle of the Coven
Druids of the Coven are often the servants of hags and other malicious fey beings, though sometimes these so-called witches appear as forces for good. They utilise ancient rituals to bend the more occult forces of nature to their will. As their name suggests, druids of the Coven are much more “sociable” than other druids, forming close-knit communities that are often greater than the sum of their parts.
Witch's Familiar
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you gain the find familiar spell. This counts as a druid spell for you, though it does not count against the number of druid spells you can prepare. Unlike the traditional find familiar spell, your Witch’s Familiar is always a fey, has an Intelligence score of 13, and can speak Common and Sylvan.
Familiar Quirks
Possessed of unusual levels of intelligence, your Witch’s Familiar has its own unique personality. You may choose a personality for yourself, or roll on the following tables to generate its character traits. The familiar’s bond is always “I will loyally serve and assist the druid to whom I am bonded”, and its alignment matches your own.
Personality Traits
| d4 | Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I think little of my witch’s companions, and take every opportunity to point out their failings. |
| 2 | I speak with unfailing eloquence, to the point that people often mistake me for a person. |
| 3 | Despite my unwavering loyalty, I like to huff and complain about all tasks given to me. |
| 4 | I refuse to speak to multiple people, instead leaping to their shoulders and whispering in their ears. |
Flaws
| d4 | Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a habit of shrieking as loudly as possible to intimidate anyone I perceive as a threat. |
| 2 | I like to make messy nests in my witch’s belongings, and those of their companions as well. |
| 3 | I have a habit of “acquiring” shiny objects. |
| 4 | I natter constantly and get in the way when people are trying to cast rituals. |
Forgotten Rituals
Also from 2nd level, you learn ancient coven secrets of spellcasting. You may cast any druid spell you have prepared as a ritual, even if it does not possess the ritual tag.
Spells that do not possess the ritual tag require 20gp per spell level to cast this way, as well as any other material components, as you must use secret herbs and exotic ingredients in the casting. If the spell affects a creature, that creature must remain in range for the duration, else the spell fails. This otherwise obeys all the other rules of ritual casting.
Mark of the Coven
From 6th level, you may magically mark a creature you touch as an action; the creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or become marked for 1 hour (it is unaware of this mark). While marked, you may target the creature with your Forgotten Ritual spells regardless of range, as long as it is on the same plane of existence as you.
Additionally, you may now prepare the hex and bane spells using your Spellcasting feature, which count as druid spells for you when prepared in this way.
Communal Rituals
Also from 6th level, you may gain assistance in your ritual castings. When you cast a spell as a ritual, any creature with the Ritual Casting feature may join in to reduce the overall material cost of the spell by 5% per additional caster. If the spell requires a saving throw against a DC or a spell attack roll, you may choose the highest from among all the participating casters.
Monstrous Forms
At 10th level, you may use your Wild Shape feature to assume the form of any creature of the monstrosity type, such as a hippogriff. You otherwise follow all the regular rules of your Wild Shape feature.
Spellbonds of the Coven
Beginning at 14th level, you are adept at working in tandem with the other members of your coven. When you cast a spell, spellcasting allies within 30ft of you may use their reaction to expend one spell slot to contribute spell levels. For instance, if you cast the spell cure wounds at 3rd level, a friendly wizard within 30ft may choose to expend a 2nd level slot to increase the level of the spell to 5th.
The spell slots contributed by your allies must be of a lower level than the one you yourself cast. You may not use this feature to cast a spell at a total level greater than 6th.