Tree Spirit

Tree spirit permanently links the soul of the caster with a tree, usually chosen carefully for its health, vigor, and remote environment. Casting this spell joins the life force of the druid with that of the tree; as long as the tree lives, the caster ages at one-tenth the normal rate. (Because the spell causes the tree to devote all its energy to maintaining health rather than growth, it always remains exactly the size it was at the time of casting.) Moreover, the caster's spirit merges with the tree at the character's death. No form of reincarnation or resurrection (except a wish) on the character's body will work unless it lies within 10 feet of the tree.

One year after the caster dies, the druid's spirit animates the tree as a treant. (DMs should roll up treant statistics for the tree at the time the spell is cast, to determine the tree's Armor Class, Hit Dice, etc.) The chosen tree must be of treant height; the exact size determines the size of the new treant, which possesses the caster's memories and personality but has no granted powers or spellcasting ability. It must communicate as a treant.

The DM decides whether to consider this treant an NPC or allow the player to control it. (DMs should use the guidelines that apply to PCs who become lycanthropes or undead.)

However, a druid who uses tree spirit to link with a tree suffers any physical damage inflicted on the tree. For instance, if someone hacks at the tree with an axe and causes 4 points of damage, the druid also loses 4 hit points; the druid knows the tree has been harmed, but does not know the nature of the injury.

If the tree dies but does not sustain enough damage to kill the caster, the druid is stunned for 1d6 rounds and must make a successful System Shock roll to avoid death. Spells that heal the druid do not affect the tree.

Damage to the druid does not affect the tree, as the extra energy the tree expends on strength and health makes any damage the druid sustains negligible to the tree. However, it's usually in the druid's best interest to have an animal friend or two guard the tree.

In addition, the druid should choose the tree carefully. If the surrounding land is cleared for construction work or lumber before the druid's prolonged life span finally ends, the druid is in trouble.

Casting tree spirit first requires a full month's preparation. The druid lives near the tree during this time of prayer and meditation. Then a private bonding ceremony is conducted at the height of a solstice. This spell often is cast by ancient druids, who wish to preserve their wisdom or make sure their groves remain defended even after their death.