Circle of the Volcano
There is Fire. There is Earth. There are the elements themselves, and their powers can be harnessed by many wizards and sorcerers. Their respective planes are well-known and the City of Brass is a popular destination for planeswalkers. And then there are the primordial forces that formed the world we live on. Born from Earth and Fire, volcanoes created, reshaped and destroyed. Despite most of the time being hidden from us, deep within the earth's mantle, they are still alive. And sometimes, when the time comes, they awake again - causing cataclysmic eruptions, spewing molten rock and ash to cover the ground, taking back what civilication claimed to own and providing new ground for nature to thrive - only to fall into a deep slumber once more.
In ancient times, some radical druidic circles tried to harness these primordial forces with rituals, sacrifices and in other ways. This was no easy task though, and certainly very dangerous. What they wanted was to reshape the world, to destroy newly developing civilization to allow untamed wilderness to take over again - although many of them succumbed to the very forces they tried to control, torn asunder by a primal rage that overcame them when they attempted to practice their magic. Over aeons, these radical druidic circles fell into oblivion; although some say that the legacy of these primal druids lives forth to this day in the Circle of the Wildfire.
Circle Spells
Your connection to the volcanoes, your attempt to harness primordial powers from the very beginning of the earth, grants you access to certain spells. At 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to the spells listed for that level in the Circle of the Volcano 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 |
|---|---|
| 2nd | hellish rebuke, fog cloud |
| 3rd | Maximilian's earthen grasp, scorching ray |
| 5th | fireball, erupting earth |
| 7th | summon elemental, wall of fire |
| 9th | cloudkill, transmute rock |
Harbinger of Devastation
You can speak, read and write Ignan and Terran and gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you already have said proficiency, you can choose another skill from the druid list instead. In addition, you learn the create bonfire cantrip and when you cast it, it does not require your concentration.
Volcanic Rage
Starting at 2nd level, you gain the ability to embrace the primordial force of the volcano. As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Wild Shape feature to enter a Volcanic Rage. When you do so, you gain temporary hit points equal to four times your druid level, the earth around you starts shaking, small fissures open, through which lava splatters and deep rumbling can be heard out to 500 feet. The moment you activate this feature, all creatures of your choice within 15 feet of you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or are knocked prone and take fire damage equal to twice your proficiency bonus.
While your Volcanic Rage is active, the area within 15 feet of you is subjected to the following effects:
- The area is difficult terrain for your enemies and lightly obscured by volcanic fog.
- The area is filled with bright light, and flammable objects within this area that aren't being worn or carried are instantly set ablaze.
- Nonmagical plants within the area are destroyed by fire and toxic gas.
Your Volcanic Rage ends after 10 minutes, when you use your Wild Shape feature again or when you fall unconscious. When your Volcanic Rage ends, you lose any remaining temporary hit points. The area affected by your Volcanic Rage feature increases to 30 feet when you reach level 14 in this class.
Epicentre of Destruction
Starting at 6th level, when your Volcanic Rage is active and you cast a druid spell of 1st level or higher that deals fire, bludgeoning or poison damage, a surge of destructive energy erupts from you, causing an effect within the area of your Volcanic Rage depending on the spell:
- Fire: All creatures of your choice within the area take fire damage equal to twice your proficiency bonus.
- Bludgeoning: All creatures of your choice within the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or be knocked prone.
- Poison: The area is heavily obscured until the start of your next turn and all creatures of your choice within the area must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or be poisoned until the end of their next turns.
Reflavoring Spells
Most of the spells that deal bludgeoning damage already are earth-related, such as Erupting Earth. However, there are some spells. that instead are water-themed, like Tidal Wave. You can reflavor these spells easily, such as by replacing the water with lava or volcanic mud, which is a threat on its own, when it flows down a volcano's flank as a lahar.
Revelation in Desolation
Starting at 10th level, your spells deal double damage to objects and structures. Furthermore, your body has adapted
itself to the inhospitable environment created by volcanic eruptions. You gain resistance to fire and poison damage, can tolerate extreme heat, can breathe normally in any environment and you have advantage on saving throws made against poison, harmful gases and vapors (such as cloudkill and stinking cloud effects and the breath weapons of some dragons).
Primordial Cataclysm
Starting at 14th level, you can unleash the unparalleled elemental voilence of a volcanic eruption. When you cast a spell that deals fire, poison or bludgeoning damage while your Volcanic Rage is active, you can turn it into a cataclysmic eruption. When you do so, the spell deals maximum damage and if it affects an area, the area's dimensions are doubled in all directions, but your Volcanic Rage immediately ends after you cast the spell. Once you have used this ability, you cannot use it again nor cannot activate another Volcanic Rage until you have finished a long rest.