When disease and plague ravage the lands, spreading corruption through the wilds and its inhabitants, mystics, druids, and seers unite in an effort to purge this malevolence. Through intricate rituals, these spellcasters harness powerful magic to cleanse the land of its blight. However, the toll of these rituals can be severe. Rather than entirely banishing the corruption, some of it may be unwittingly absorbed, corrupting the very druids who sought to eradicate it. Thus, they become a plague druid—a creature of undeath, perpetuating the same plague and disease they once fought to extinguish in life.
Plague druids roam the wilds aimlessly, driven by a single purpose: to propagate the corruption they now embody. They are rarely found among other creatures due to their deadly aura. Signs of their passage include withered vegetation, decaying corpses, and an overgrowth of weeds.
The primary affliction spread by plague druids is moss skin—a malady that renders the skin dry and flaky, with brown moss growing across affected areas. These mossy patches are sensitive to touch, making even simple motion painful. Without a cure, a victim eventually succumbs, transforming into a shambling mound.
Plague Druid
Medium Undead, Typically Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 97 (13d8 + 39)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 13 (+1) | 18 (+4) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws Con +6, Int +4, Wis +7
Skills Arcana +4, Nature +4
Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages the languages it knew in life
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Aura of Death. At the start of each of the druid’s turns, each creature of its choice within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) necrotic damage, provided that the druid isn’t incapacitated.
Actions
Multiattack. The druid makes two Plague Bolt attacks.
Plague Bolt. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 90 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Consitution saving throw or be diseased with moss skin. While diseased in this way, the target’s speed is reduced by 10 feet and if the target dies, it’s body is consumed by moss and a shambling mound emerges 1d4 hours later.
Spellcasting. The druid casts one of the following spells, using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15):
- At will: chill touch, detect poison and disease, druidcraft, entangle
- 1/day each: blight, circle of death
Downloads
Further Reading
The death left in the wake of a plague druid could spawn Wood-Woven.
Some undead curses that could pair with the plague druid.
Imagery created with Midjourney.
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