Each Dark Bargain is unique, and a character can enter into a given bargain only once. A character could be bound to multiple Dark Bargains at one time, but each one only once.
Kartakass is altered by Harkonโs presence, creating the following effects: Beast Spies. From dawn until dusk, Tiny Beasts in the domain magically gain the ability to understand Common and can communicate telepathically with other Beasts and Monstrosities. Children of the Night. Harkon exerts influence over the animals of his domain. From dusk until dawn, Medium or smaller Beasts within 1 miles ofโฆ
Armor (ring mail), very rare You have a +2 bonus to AC while wearing this armor. This armor is leather armor with heavy rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor.
One of the best ways to learn how to run a D&D; game is to observe other DMs in action. Another DM can give you a solid foundation for understanding the roleโas well as inspire you with cool things you can do in your games. You can use these questions to help you reflect on a game you observe: Beginning the Session. How did the DM start the session? Was there a recap? Body Language. What gesturesโฆ
On the Elemental Plane of Earth, galaxies of gemstones twinkle over vaults of treasure. If dao are there, so is wealth worth hunting. โGundren Rockseeker, Dwarf Treasure Hunter Genies of minerals and gemstones, dao embody the resolve of rock. Using innate magic, they move through the earth unimpeded, exploring depths inaccessible to most. Dao delight in the treasures of the earth, whether rawโฆ
Dark Bargains are binding once sealed. There are tales and legends of those who have outwitted a bargainer or found a way to break a bargainโs hold on them, but the truth of such stories is left to the GM to decide.
Armor (ring mail), rare You have a +1 bonus to AC while wearing this armor. This armor is leather armor with heavy rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor.
Armor (ring mail), legendary You have a +3 bonus to AC while wearing this armor. This armor is leather armor with heavy rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor.
In some settings, laws prohibit the possession and use of poison, but an illicit dealer or unscrupulous apothecary might keep a hidden stash. Characters with criminal contacts might be able to acquire poison easily. Other characters might have to make extensive inquiries and pay bribes before they acquire the poison they seek.
For the duration, you see creatures and objects that have the Invisible condition as if they were visible, and you can see into the Ethereal Plane. Creatures and objects there appear ghostly. Spell Tags: Detection Available For: Bard (Legacy), Sorcerer (Legacy), Wizard (Legacy), Artificer (Legacy), Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard, Artificer, Warlock (Legacy) - The Many, Cleric - Light Domain, Cleric -โฆ
If there are parts of the game you prefer not to handle yourself, assign them to players who enjoy them. If you donโt want to break your narrative stride by looking up a rule, designate another player to be the rulebook reference expert. If you donโt like tracking Initiative, ask another player to do so.
Visit the community forums or find help with D&D Beyond. You can browse articles, contact support, and get answers to common questions.
After dealing with the consequences of failed checks, move to the next challenge.
Camouflaged as rock formations, ropers are aberrant ambushers that lurk in wait for smaller creatures. These bizarre subterranean hunters extend their rubbery tentacles to explore and prod their surroundings, often reaching beyond their fields of vision. Should they encounter prey, these limbs ensnare victims and drag them close to ropersโ toothy maws. If these tentacles are severed, ropersโฆ
From a distance, will-oโ-wisps look like lanterns bobbing in the dark. Through the windows of abandoned structures or around the bends of treacherous paths, these spirits tempt the curious into peril. Once their prey is vulnerable, will-oโ-wisps feed on the life force of those they lay low. Roll on or choose a result from the Will-oโ-Wisp Ambushes table to inspire how a will-oโ-wisp imperils itsโฆ
This chapter provides advice on rules for adventure elements such as poison and traps.
This section provides tools useful for adventures in the Moonshaes, including guidelines on renown, Bastions, and an encounter table for seagoing adventurers.
The Ruinbound are mutants that can be born to any humanoid species that has contact with the Daelkyr or their minions. A Ruinbound is born with a personal symbiontโan unnatural entity bound to the child. Unlike most symbionts, this entity cannot be separated from its host, and the two are permanently fused. Many Ruinbound have additional disturbing mutations; you can roll on the Ruinboundโฆ
| 1d6 | In Lychgate, Adventurers Might Seek โฆ |
|---|---|
| 1 | Azalinโs spirit jar or other magical treasure. |
| 2 | The corpse of an ally whose body rose as a zombie and wandered into the Mists. โฆ |
This section provides tools useful for adventures in Calimshan.
This section provides tools useful for Icewind Dale adventures, including guidance on renown, Bastions, and random encounters.
This section provides tools useful for adventures in the Dalelands.
This section provides tools useful for adventures in Baldurโs Gate.
In nearly all cases, the power that is proposing a Dark Bargain is uninterested in negotiating the duration or eventual cost of this gift. However, there may be extenuating circumstances. There could be roleplaying scenarios or simply the current events in the adventureโs narrative that could cause the power to brieflyโbriefly!โconsider negotiating. The GM has the final say on whether a givenโฆ
The Darklord owns a tavern in Skald called the Old Kartakan Inn and Taverna. The inn occupies a small island on the Sing Song River. Nightly, Harkon Lukas or artists under his tutelage perform there.
Darkon is altered by Azalinโs presence, creating the following effects: Closing the Borders. While in his domain, Azalin can close or open the borders to Darkon at will. While the borders are closed, undead terrors fill the Mists surrounding Darkon. Whenever a creature enters the Mists, one Hostile Zombie Clot (see chapter 5) appears in a random unoccupied space within 30 feet of that creature.โฆ
During the Hour of Ascension, Castle AvernusโAzalinโs seat of rule and magical laboratoryโerupted in a magical conflagration. Now, Castle Avernus stands frozen in time at the instant of its destruction, blasted to magically floating chunks of rubble. Its towers pitch wildly and crumble to pieces amid arcane flames, yet they donโt fall. Although time has halted in the ruins, Azalinโs servants whoโฆ
The preceding example of play shows how one Dungeon Master might run an encounter, but no two DMs run the game in exactly the same wayโand thatโs how it should be! Youโll be most successful as a DM if you choose a play style that works best for you and your players. The Rule of Fun D&D; is a game, and everyone should have fun playing it. Everyone shares equal responsibility in moving the gameโฆ
Bring Light to Banish Darkness The Light Domain emphasizes the divine power to bring about blazing fire and revelation. Clerics who wield this power are enlightened souls infused with radiance and the power of their deitiesโ discerning vision, charged with chasing away lies and burning away darkness. The Light Domain is associated with gods of truth, vigilance, beauty, insight, and renewal. Someโฆ
This content is part of the The Crooked Moon Part One: Player Options & Campaign Setting. You can unlock it by purchasing the book in our marketplace.
