Druid Circle: Circle of Pestilence

Although the Circle of Pestilence has skittered about in the darkness for centuries, the recent presence of demon lords such as Juiblex and Zuggtmoy felt throughout the Underdark in the Rage of Demons saga has drawn many more to its ranks. This includes Sladis Vadir, a member of the Underdark Expeditionary Force, and the enigmatic Bez, a masked servant of a being called Incabulos.

## **Vermin Lords**

Members of the Circle of Pestilence are commonly referred to as Vermin Lords, as they prefer the caress of the crawling legs of an insect or the fluttering wings of a fly more than human contact. The Vermin Lord offers his or her own body as a host for all manner of parasitic organisms and insects that feed on the body. Most Vermin Lords are loners or hermits, considering even the company of other Vermin Lords nearly insufferable without the constant droning of their clattering children. When they find dealing with others a necessity, they often wear hoods or masks to conceal their hideous countenances. As a member of this circle, you cultivate your power from the crawling masses that infest you, and you possess a disturbing bond with vermin that few can comprehend.

## **Pestilent Forms**

When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you gain the ability to use Wild Shape on your turn as a bonus action, rather than as an action. Additionally, your Wild Shape forms are not limited by land, sea, or sky (you ignore the Limitations column of the Beast Shapes table, but must abide by the Max. CR column there).

As a member of the Circle of Pestilence, your Wild Shape restricts you to assuming the shape of insects or swarms of insects only.

Starting at 9th level, you can use your Wild Shape to transform into a beast or monstrosity with a challenge rating as high as 3, but the creature must resemble an insect or swarm of insects.

## **Noxious** **Covenant**

When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you learn the *poison spray* cantrip and you become immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition. If you already know *poison spray*, you may select another cantrip from the druid spell list.

You are also able to cast *animal friendship* once with this feature, using Wisdom as your spellcasting ability. This version of the spell only affects insects or swarms of insects. Once you cast the spell, you cannot do so again with this feature until you finish a short or long rest.

In addition, the covenant augments your bond with the clattering vermin. When you summon an insect or swarm of insects using any spell or ability, it has additional benefits:

* The creature adds your proficiency bonus to its weapon damage rolls as additional poison damage.
* The creature is considered under the effects of the *beast sense* spell, which does not require your concentration.

## **Skittering** **Shroud**

Beginning at the 6th level, you can command the vermin crawling on your body to protect you from harm. As an action, you can summon your children to huddle about you, granting you temporary hit points equal to twice your druid level.

As long as you have at least 1 of these temporary hit points, any creature within 5 feet of you that hits you with a melee attack takes 2d4 piercing damage from the swarming, stinging insects.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.

## **Swarm Step**

Starting at the 10th level, you can become a cloud of flying insects to avoid an attack. You learn to use your Wild Shape to transform into a **swarm of insects (wasps)** if you do not already know how to. When an attacker you can see is about to hit you with an attack that targets only you, you can use your reaction to shapeshift into the swarm, completely avoiding the attack. You may immediately move up to the swarm's flying speed without provoking an opportunity attack. You remain in swarm form until the start of your next turn. If you are reduced to 0 hit points while still in swarm form, you revert to your original form and suffer any leftover damage as if you were in Wild Shape. This feature does not expend any uses of Wild Shape, however.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

## **Vile Servant**

Beginning at the 14th level, you can call forth a terrible, insect-like creature, which you have complete dominion over. The creature appears in an unoccupied space that you can see within 60 feet of you. It remains for 1 hour and requires you to maintain concentration as you would for a spell. Choose one of the following options for what appears: **chasme**, **chuul**, **mezzoloth**, or **umber hulk**.

A creature disappears when it drops to 0 hit points, when the hour ends, or when you lose concentration.

The creature is friendly to you and your companions. Roll initiative for the creature, which has its own turn. It obeys any verbal commands that you issue to it (no action required by you). If you don't issue any commands, it defends itself from hostile creatures and may decide its own actions.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.