The Circle of Spores was a druidic circle whose members revered the inherent power of mold and other fungi, specifically their role in the maintaining the balance between life, death, and undeath.[1]
Culture[]
These druids believed that mold and fungi held the power to transform decaying organic material into new, and strangely beautiful, forms of existence. They held true that the ongoing cycle of life and death were integral to the balance of the natural world. To them, death was not an end, but rather a new beginning.[1][3]
Unlike other practitioners, Circle of Spores druids did not believe undead were abominations of nature, but rather a third alternative to life and death. Undead beings that sought to snuff out all life, or cheat a deserved death however, were considered abhorrent. For nature to be in balance, all three aspects of existence should be in approximate fluctuation with the other two.[1]
Abilities[]
Early in their studies, Circle of Spore druids could form a halo-like cloud of undetectable, necrotic spores that remained inert and harmless unless otherwise directed. As the druid wish, the cloud upon any creature that passed within 10 ft (3 m) of their person. As they furthered their training, the spore cloud grew in lethality, if not size. By tapping into their inherent powers of transformation, they could form a symbiotic relationship with their spores, confer magical energy into their fungal cloud, and either increase its lethality or imbue the weapon they held with necrotic energy.[1][3]
More experienced druids could use their halo of fungal spores to penetrate, and even animate a deceased corpse for up to an hour's time. The corpse was transformed into a zombie-like creature,[1][3] that closely resembled the spore servants created by myconid sovereigns.[4][3]
While in symbiosis with their spore cloud, druids could launch a tempest of their spores up to a range of 30 ft (9.1 m) away. This expansive spore storm proved just as harmful as the cloud that surrounded the druid.[1][3]
Over time, the bodies of the most experienced Circle of Spores druids were transformed by their spore clouds. Their senses were heightened, and they could not become blinded or deafened, they were entirely fearless, and could not succumb to the effects of poison, whether mundane or magical in nature.[1]
Spellcasting[]
The connection that these druids felt with natural decay, along with the cycle of life and death, granted them access to spells outside the realm of divine magic. As they progressed in their order, Circle of Spore druids gained access to the following arcane spells: chill touch, blindness or deafness, gentle repose, animate dead, gaseous form, blight, confusion, cloudkill, and contagion.[1][3]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Video Games
External links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Circle of Spores article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Jeremy Crawford (November 17, 2020). Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 36–38. ISBN 978-0786967025.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 232. ISBN 978-0786965614.
Connections[]
Artificer
Alchemist • Artillerist
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Death domain • Divine domain • Knowledge domain • Life domain • Light domain • Nature domain • Tempest domain • Trickery domain
Druid
Circle of Dreams • Circle of the Land • Circle of the Moon • Circle of the Shepherd • Circle of Spores • Circle of Stars
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