Nature's Avatar (Druid/Monk)

Some druids feel that the first step to becoming one with nature is to become one with oneself, so as to properly realize how to synergize with the world around them. By utilizing a pool of ki, such a druid can merge with the animal who she holds dearest, and even take such features upon herself. (Original Concept by Lindley Court)

Primary: Druid.

Secondary: Monk.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The nature’s avatar may select three monk skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal druid class skills. The nature’s avatar gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A nature’s avatar is proficient with all simple weapons plus the brass knuckles*, cestus*, kama, nunchaku, sai, short sword, shuriken, siangham, and temple sword*. She is also proficient with light armor, medium armor, and with shields (except tower shields).

Embodied Bond (Ex): This is exactly like the druid’s nature bond, except that the nature’s avatar must bond with an animal and select an animal companion from the following list: ape, bat, bear, boar, crocodile, eagle, lion, rat, shark, snake, or wolf. In addition, a nature’s avatar immediately undergoes a physical change and takes on the appearance of her chosen companion. For example, a nature’s avatar that selects a lion as her animal companion might gain cat-like eyes and a shaggy mane-like head of hair, while one who chooses a snake might gain snake-like nose and scaly skin.

Wild Empathy (Ex): This is exactly like the druid ability of the same name, except that she can use the wild empathy against any animal of her animal companion’s type as a full-action round (instead of 1 minute) with a +4 bonus to her check.

Unarmed Strike (Ex): At 2nd level, a nature’s avatar gains the monk’s unarmed strike ability and deals damage with his unarmed attacks as shown on Table: Nature’s avatar. In addition, a nature’s avatar deals her unarmed strike damage whenever she uses any natural attacks while in her hybrid or animal form if the damage is greater than its normal damage dice (see Wild Ki Pool and Totemic Transformation). This ability replaces woodland stride and resist nature’s lure.

Fast Movement (Ex): At 3rd level, a nature’s avatar gains the monk’s fast movement ability. She adds this speed increase to all movement modes when she assumes her hybrid or animal form. This ability replaces trackless step.

Wild Ki Pool (Su): At 4th level, a nature’s avatar gains the monk’s ki