Jungle Druid

The protectors of tropical rain forests, jungle druids usually grow up in tribes, as jungle pests, vegetation, and climate discourage farming, herding, and city-building. Because most tribal members live closely attuned to the natural world, jungle druids have a greater likelihood of involving themselves directly in the affairs of humans than other druids might. In fact, a jungle druid like Sima (pictured on p. 15) usually holds a position of power and respect, wielding great political authority.

However, jungle druids do not associate themselves with a particular tribe or people, as do most tribal priests or witch doctors. Instead, they adopt a neutral position, mediating intertribal feuds and handling relations between human tribes and jungle-dwelling humanoids, demihumans, or intelligent monsters. In some cases, a great druid becomes a virtual "king of the jungle," wielding power over a coalition of several tribes, nonhumans, and animals.

Minimum Ability Scores: Wisdom 12, Charisma 15.

Races Allowed: Human. Optional--saurial (9).

Armor and Weapons Permitted: No armor, wooden shield; blowgun, club, dart, knife, spear, staff.

Weapon Proficiencies: Recommended-- blowgun, knife.

Nonweapon Proficiencies: Required-- (priest) healing, herbalism. Recommended-- (general) animal taming, weather sense; (priest) local history; (warrior) survival (jungle), tracking.

Spheres of Influence: All, Animal, Divination*, Elemental, Healing, Plant, Weather.

Granted Powers: The jungle druid has the following granted powers:

· Passes through overgrown areas, such as thick jungle, without leaving a trail and at full movement rate.

· Learns the languages of tropical forest and swamp creatures (couatl, lizard men, naga, tasloi, yuan-ti, etc.), gaining one extra proficiency slot for this purpose every three levels (at 3rd, 6th, etc.).

· Identifies plants, animals, and pure water with perfect accuracy at 3rd level.

· Shapechanges into a normal (not giant) reptile, bird, or mammal up to three times per day at 7th level. The druid can use each animal form (reptile, bird, or mammal) only once per day and can choose from only those animals that make their normal habitat within jungles or tropical swamps.

Special Limitation: None.

Holy Symbol and Grove: The jungle druid uses a tom-tom (jungle drum) as a holy symbol. Constructing a replacement takes two weeks. The grove is usually a circle of trees, often near a waterfall.

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