New Animal Spells

[Lysander]

Uplift
Druid Lvl 4
Target: Any animal
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 minute/druid level

The affected animal has its intelligence raised to 10, and gains comprehension of and the ability to converse in any one language known to the druid, other than the druidic tongue. The animal does not learn how to read however.

Companion Shift
Druid Lvl 3
Target: Druid's Own Animal Companion
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 day

This spell imbues the druid's companion with the ability to shapeshift, on its own volition, once into any single animal the casting druid could otherwise have as a companion. It can choose to use this ability at any time for 24 hours after the spell is cast, the druid need not be present for this. This transformation lasts 1 minute/druid level or until the animal wants to change back into its true form.

Soul Steed
Druid Lvl 5
Target: Druid's Own Animal Companion
Range: Touch
Duration: 3 minutes/druid level

The druid and his carried items are transformed into spiritual energy that possesses the body of his animal companion. As a possessing spirit the druid cannot speak or affect the world in any way, but gains access to all the animal's senses and can command their companion telepathically. At the expiration of the spell the druid reappears adjacent to the animal. If the animal is killed while possessed the druid dies as well. A possessed animal gains +2 hp/druid level.

[DracoDei]

Soul Steed actual seems a bit weak for a Druid who can already change into something like their animal companion anyway... the major thing I can see with it is a possible way to sneak into a place gaurded by True Seeing or alignment dependant wards. Would it work in either of these cases?

Uplift seems like a cruel trick to play on an animal... "A taste of honey (or in this case higher level thought) is worse than none at all".

Companion Shift looks useful.

[Lysander]

Soul Steed would be mainly for stealth or travel. For instance you could possess a hawk and have it fly you on top of a cliff or a snake to pass through a narrow pipe, all without using any of your wild shapes for the day. True Seeing doesn't reveal you since you are not invisible, you'd still be affected by alignment wards though.

Uplift would be useful for getting information from an animal, or for asking an animal to perform a task too complex for it to do with handle animal alone (though you now might have to make a diplomacy check instead).