Circle of Stones

Druid Subclass

Comments from the writer: Magnificent stone henges are as perfect a match for druid lore as an area control subclass is a match for their mechanics. Raise safe haven for your allies and travel the ways between with this druid subclass from Valda’s Spire of Secrets. Originally developed in 2020 with our friend Grand Moff Xela, this is the most up-to-date version.

Age-old monuments crafted in forgotten times attest to a simple truth: there is power in stones. Druids who join the ancient Circle of Stones carry on the tradition of raising stone henges in places of great power, where leylines intersect and magic strengthens. Such locations are marked as nexuses of power, where the Forgotten Laws of the Old Gods are still heeded—but such things are known only to a few druids today. Others merely see the looming stone monuments as enigmatic circles, grim reminders of the enormity of time.

Raise Henge

When you select this circle at 2nd level, you learn to create patterns of stones which strengthen magic. You can expend a use of your Wild Shape as an action to magically create a henge, a set of standing stones, around a point you can see within 60 feet. A henge is composed of six stones, each 5 feet high, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot thick, arranged evenly in a 10-foot-radius circle. Such a stone can generally grant three-quarters cover from ranged attacks for a Medium creature. You can only create a henge in a location which can support the stones’ weight.
When you begin your turn in your henge, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier + half your druid level (rounded down). Additionally, you can choose any number of allies to also be affected by the henge. A creature you choose gains temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier when it begins its turn within the henge. Temporary hit points granted by the henge last only while the creature is within the henge.
Your henge maintains its magical properties for 8 hours. After this duration, you can expend another use of your Wild Shape ability to render the stones permanent, though they no longer grant temporary hit points; otherwise, they vanish.
As you gain higher levels in this class, you can raise larger henges. At 10th-level, you can create a 15-foot-radius henge consisting of 10 stones, and at 14th-level, you can create a 20-foot-radius henge consisting of 20 stones. You choose the henge’s radius when you create it.

Warding Stones

At 6th level, your henges can hold great threats at bay. While within a henge, you can cast the magic circle spell as an action, without expending a spell slot or material components. The spell is centered on the henge and its radius and height matches that of the henge. Once you cast this spell in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Ley Passage

By 10th level, you can use your henges to travel through the leylines that connect the world. By spending 1 minute concentrating as if on a spell while within a henge, you can create a magical link between that henge and another henge on the same plane of existence, as per the spell teleportation circle. You must have seen or touched the destination henge at least once before. For the next minute, any creature can use an action to step into the target henge and exit from the destination henge.

Great Henge

Beginning at 14th level, when you cast a druid spell that requires concentration while you are within a henge, you can transfer the spell to the henge, which manifests as a series of burning runes on the stones. You can only use this ability on a spell of 5th level or lower whose effect is entirely contained within the henge. If the spell’s area of effect would be larger than the area of the henge, you can limit the spell’s area to the henge’s boundary. The henge maintains concentration on the spell instead of you for the spell’s duration, allowing you to maintain two spells which require concentration at once. The spell ends early if any part of its effect leaves the area of the henge or if you use this feature to transfer another spell to a henge.