Village Druid (Character Kit)

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==Village Druid==
Kabil the Village Druid (next page) associates himself closely with a single rustic village or hamlet. As he gains experience, his influence can extend to cover a shire, barony, or entire region. However, his focus remains rural. A Village Druid always hopes to see ordinary folk live in harmony with Nature.
As a Village Druid, Kabil's aim is twofold: to keep people from exploiting Nature (by short-sighted agricultural practices, etc.) and to defend and protect villagers who follow the proper druidic path. Thus, although he will not stand idly by to see the wilderness threatened, his more vital interest lies with the local crops, domestic animals, and his own followers. Kabil uses his skills and magic to protect all living things within his village from foes, disease, drought, forest fires, or natural disasters.
Role: A Village Druid normally replaces a conventional priest or cleric in villages where most inhabitants subscribe to the druidic ethos. As well as offering protection and guidance, the druid leads the citizenry in ceremonies to observe births (of humans and animals), deaths, marriages, harvests, the changing of the seasons, and so on. (See Chapter 4: Role-playing Druids for details.)
This kit suits PCs when the DM decides to set the campaign in a rural area under a threat or perhaps near unexplored ruins.
Branch Restrictions: None.
Weapon Proficiencies:
* Required—sickle or scythe.
* Recommended—staff.
Secondary Skills: Farmer, forester, groom.
Nonweapon Proficiencies:
* Bonus—agriculture.
* Recommended—(general) animal training, brewing, rope use, weather sense; (priest) healing, herbalism, local history, religion.
Equipment: The druid should spend his initial allotment of gold pieces entirely upon equipment, as he loses all unspent starting money in excess of 1 gp.
Special Benefits: With the DM, decide which village a druid like Kabil protects; the druid lives in or near this village.
Locals respect Kabil highly and provide him with information about happenings in the area. He receives a +2 reaction bonus from people and domestic animals in the village—as long as he remains diligent about his duties. In addition, the villagers support Kabil at a middle-class lifestyle (DMG, p. 34). This hospitality, rather than tithes, represents the generosity of a grateful people willing to provide their Village Druid with the best of everything he needs to live in their midst.
Special Hindrances: As a Village Druid, Kabil doesn't have a lot of free time. Locals ask him for help with all their problems, ranging from bandit raids to a child lost in the woods. In addition, the druid must spend at least one day each week attending to village matters: listening to grievances, mediating disputes, finding lost livestock, tending animals, offering advice on crops, curing diseases, delivering babies, etc. If he misses a week, his reaction bonus drops by 1 point (minimum 0) and his income declines a step (from middle class to poor to squalid) as people become less hospitable. The druid can avoid these penalties if he arranges with someone else (another druid or a ranger) to look after the village in his absence.
Kabil's villagers also expect him to protect them from serious harm. If he fails or if no one sees him at least making an honest effort the DM may reduce or eliminate his reaction bonus and benefits for as long as the villagers likely would feel resentful. Role-playing can win back a Village Druid's lost respect; Kabil can regain his lost reaction bonus and benefits quickly by doing a great deed to benefit the village, or slowly by simply completing his duties diligently for several months.
Wealth Options: 3d6x10 gp.