The Circle of the Blighted is composed of druids connected to fanes of natural power that have been corrupted or damaged, either because they failed to protect them and have become corrupted themselves, or because they have been tainted by the influence of an already unhallowed place through one of its inhabitants.[1][2] The Circle of the Blighted was created by Matthew Mercer.
Description[]
These druids tend to physically embody the defiled nature they serve, becoming twisted by that connection. Although some of them embrace that power and exalt the natural process of decay, others seek to end their bond with the corruption that has cursed them.[1]
History[]
Official art of Camellia and the specter, by Adrián Ibarra Lugo from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, page 86.[art 2]
One of the places of origin of the blighted druids is the Shadebarrow, once a sacred place for the sun-worshiping Dawn Circle (druidic allies of Zan Tal'Dorei and victims of the Scattered War), now forsaken and full of undead.[3][4]
At some point before 836 PD the firbolg druid Camellia Springshower left her traveling group and family in the Dividing Plains to explore. She found the monolithic henges of the Shadebarrow, and one of the specters that dwelled in that area touched her chest as she was trying to escape, cursing her and marking her magic as it connected her to that unhallowed territory. Now alone and as a shadow of her former self, the firbolg remained in the Dividing Plains, discovering her new blighted powers, intending to use them for good, even if they appear to serve only to wither all life that comes in contact with her.[5][1]
Powers and abilities[]
This section is based on pp. 171-173 of the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn.
Defile Ground
At 2nd level, once between rests a blighted druid can use their bonus action to create for 1 minute a patch of corrupt land that becomes difficult terrain for their enemies, dealing additional necrotic damage if they get hurt in that space, as long as they are touching the ground and they aren't undead or constructs; moreover, the druid can move the patch as a bonus action. The necrotic damage dice and the size of the defiled ground increase at 10th level, and at 14th level the necrotic damage dice increases one more time.
Blighted Shape
At 2nd level the blighted druid becomes more intimidating, as their appearance manifests some magical corruption. Those physical changes also modify their Wild Shape, with gnarled spines protruding from their animal form, making it more difficult to hit; said beast also gains darkvision, or improves it if it already had it.
Call of the Shadowseeds
Starting at 6th level, as reaction when someone who isn't an undead or a construct takes damage within defiled ground, a blighted druid can summon a blighted sapling next to their enemy (who can attack immediately as part of the druid's reaction to summon it). This corrupted plant creature obeys its master and stays until destroyed, until another is summoned by the same druid, or until the end of the next long rest. The druid can use this feature as many times as their proficiency bonus, and the saplings become stronger like their master, even being able to attack more times when they reach 14th level.
Foul Conjuration
At 10th level, any beast, fey, or plant (including the blighted sapling) summoned or created by the blighted druid's powers becomes bloated with toxins, which grants the creature immunity to poisons and to necrotic damage, but also causes its body to explode when it dies, damaging whoever is near it. The more powerful the summoned creature is, the more necrotic damage this explosion deals.
Incarnation of Corruption
At 14th level, the appearance of the blighted druid becomes even more influenced by their associated land, and some of the physical changes make them more difficult to hit, and grant them resistance to necrotic damage. Moreover, if the druid is within the radius of their Defile Ground feature, they can use their bonus action at the beginning of each turn to gain temporary hit points.
Notable blighted druids[]
- Camellia Springshower: Firbolg traveler roaming the Dividing Plains, marked by the power of the Shadebarrow.
Trivia[]
- Mechanically, in 5th Edition rules, a character can deliberately take actions to change their subclass, or might experience some relevant event that changes the nature of their power, like a paladin changing/breaking their oath,[6] or a druid's protected land becoming cursed. A druid of this Circle might try to find a way to end that curse.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 171.
- ↑ See "Chasing Nightmares" (3x11) at 0:05:15.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, pp. 55–56.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 86–171.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 86.
- ↑ See D&D: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, 5th ed., p. 8.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Camellia Springshower, a blighted druid and nomad, by Lauren Walsh from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, page 171. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Official art of Camellia and the specter, by Adrián Ibarra Lugo from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, page 86. Used with permission.