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Returning 35 results for 'Backstory; Ally and Rival Identities'.
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
an ally. As Dungeon Master, you should wait for a dramatically appropriate moment to reveal this enmity, leaving the adventurer guessing who is likely to become a betrayer.
Fool. You have
yourself. The knight has the same alignment as you and serves you loyally until death, believing the two of you have been drawn together by fate. Work with your DM to create a name and backstory for this NPC
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
damage and the target has the Charmed condition for 1 minute or until Zlan dies. While Charmed, the target doesn’t act as an ally to any creature. Success: Half damage only. Failure or Success: Zlan
rival and an equal. The Zlan Liches table gives a brief description of each component.
Zlan Liches
Name
History
Argent Black
Emerged from the Negative Plane, fed on hate and
Monsters
Dungeon Masters: Ravenloft Play-Along Pack
cares nothing for his domain. But should noteworthy threats or remarkable individuals appear, he seeks to crush or enlist them. The only exception is the spirit of his treacherous former ally, Caradoc
, Soth found himself in the domain of Barovia. For a time, he found an ally in Count Strahd von Zarovich, but the two villains couldn’t abide one another for long. Soth eventually pursued rumors
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Portentia that isn't incapacitated and Portentia doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.Multiattack. Portentia makes three melee
actions, and lair actions) that the new form has but that she lacks.Now the owner and driving force behind Dran Enterprises — perhaps Acquisitions Incorporated's most notable rival in the adventuring-for
Species
Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your people, either by choice or because of the actions of a rival?
particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of your ancestor?
It’s also important to think about why you are traveling with a group of player characters
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Pack Tactics. The Returned has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the Returned’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated
second lives are rarely what they expected—not that they remember what it was they expected. As a result of having followed the Path of Phenax (see chapter 4), the Returned lose their identities
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
, Aleron came to his ally’s aid. A second avatar of death appeared, and Aleron was slain; soon after, his Undead corpse crawled from Withered Vineyard, tainted with plague. Aleron resents his fellow
;rival Jyn for power and together can oppose her. The fact that the three champions rarely agree on anything is a major check on the group’s power. Instead of the Grim Harrow acting as a unified
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
activities in crime, banking, or debt collection could tie you to members of other guilds.
Roll twice on the Orzhov Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Orzhov Contacts table
Orzhov contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
8
My childhood friend is now a Rakdos torturer. We still meet for drinks occasionally.
9
I have the key to a vault where
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
encounters with members of other guilds are more often violent than friendly, but occasional bonds do form.
Roll twice on the Gruul Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Gruul
spiritual guidance at times.
5
Roll an additional Gruul contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
6
An Izzet scientist blames the Gruul for the destruction of his life’s
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
guilds, and often these new guild members maintain friendships with former guild mates.
Roll twice on the Selesnya Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Selesnya Contacts table
Selesnya contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
10
I have a sibling in the Simic Combine, and we argue every time we see each other.
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
meaningful connections with others.
Roll twice on the Golgari Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Golgari Contacts table.
Golgari Contacts
d8
Contact
1
One
.
4
Roll an additional Golgari contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
5
I joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the chief of that small clan thanks
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
even the lowliest attendant to make friends (and enemies) in laboratories across Ravnica.
Roll twice on the Izzet Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Izzet Contacts table
me with conflicted feelings.
5
I helped a minor Gruul chieftain acquire an Izzet weapon.
6
Roll an additional Izzet contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
7
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
the entire city, your place in the Azorius can easily bring you into contact with members of other guilds, for good or ill.
Roll twice on the Azorius Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and
complimented me on my work.
Non-Azorius Contacts
d10
Contact
1
Roll an additional Azorius contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
2
The person who
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
Boros emphasis on order and community, or bitter enemies among the guilds that represent chaos and destruction.
Roll twice on the Boros Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non
; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
3
I showed mercy to an injured, now-grateful Dimir spy.
4
I suspect someone I know is a Golgari assassin, but I can’t prove it
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
in different troupes, which allows for the possibility of a widespread network of contacts.
Roll twice on the Rakdos Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Rakdos Contacts table
Orzhov oligarch has taken an interest in my career, like a patron of the arts.
8
Roll an additional Rakdos contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
9
A Selesnya healer
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
Contacts table, giving you an ally who serves as your contact in Dimir. Then roll twice on the table for your secondary guild. The first roll gives you an ally there, and the second roll gives you a rival
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
members are former members of other guilds.
Roll twice on the Simic Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Simic Contacts table.
Simic Contacts
d8
Contact
1
make a nice sideshow act.
9
I left the Selesnya — and a lover — behind when I joined the Simic.
10
Roll an additional Simic contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Adventures. Adventures should occasionally highlight character motivations or elements of their backstory. Here are a few examples of character-focused adventures: A rival from a character’s past shows up to
from a character’s backstory. As characters continue to adventure, they’ll find different goals to pursue, such as finding a lost relic, honoring an ancestor, avenging a fallen mentor, or defeating a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Sibling or ally of defeated enemy 12 Official seeking to restore a tarnished reputation 13 Deadly foe disguised as a social rival 14 Fiend seeking to tempt the characters to evil 15 Spurned romantic
Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Ally
1 Irik Zal’honen, the mournful spirit of Azalin’s son
2 The Order of the Guardians, ascetics who isolate dangerous magic and prevent supernatural ruin
3 Cardinna Artazas of
familiar
Darkon Rivals d6 Rival
1 Alcio Metus and the Kargat
2 Darcalus Rex and the Eternal Order
3 Madame Talisveri Eris and the Family
4 Ebbasheyth, Azalin’s black
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
characters’ standing with these groups. Characters might gain renown with either faction by performing missions such as these: Capturing or killing a rival agent Planting evidence that a rival committed a
crime Conscripting a powerful ally for the faction Revealing the location of a rival’s hold Revealing traitors within the faction Anytime the characters complete a mission for either group, their Renown
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
. Is this something you proudly embrace, or do you resist it? Each patron ancestor is tied to many Valenar: do you have a particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of
? Are you pursuing an epic quest that mirrors their legendary deeds? Do you seek vengeance for the death of a friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your people, either by choice or because of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Vellynne’s presence in Ythryn, Avarice uses her raven familiar to deliver a written invitation to her rival, asking Vellynne to join her inside her floating lair. Vellynne accepts the invitation unless the
, but Avarice makes it clear she is willing to ignore the rules if nobody lives to find out. When Vellynne leaves the meeting, Avarice sends her familiar out to spy on her rival and see if her demands
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
identification papers establishing your true identity, and you also have ready access to false papers and matching travel documents showing different identities, when you need them for a mission. (Any time you
scenes. You can call in a favor for a wide range of benefits: A legal case against you might be suddenly dropped. A rival might disappear. A much-needed magic item might be delivered to you. These
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
and suspicion? The Tyrants offer an easy way to provide adventurers with information. The Spider can be a strong ally for adventurers, and you can always arrange for an agent of the Tyrants to step out
member of the Tyrants to use as part of an assumed identity. 3 Act as bodyguards for a member of the Tyrants who is pretending to be an important figure. 4 Assume new identities to infiltrate the Sharn
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
creating nonplayer characters in chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to detail the majordomo, giving this individual a vibrant personality and backstory. The majordomo’s goals should be aligned
with the franchise and with Acquisitions Incorporated as a whole, allowing them to properly act as an ally and steward for the party. It can be helpful to a campaign to provide the majordomo with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Example Rival: High Priest Cheldar The temple of Pholtus, god of the sun, seeks to bring as many folk as possible under its sway. Though it has been in town for only two years, the temple is already
town or the temple to be involved in handling any crises that arise. He strongly believes in his goals, yet he might still be made into an ally by good-hearted characters. Cheldar’s Plans Element
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
. The renown system requires the characters to become active participants in the horrors of Kalakeri, encouraging them to ally with evil beings or make uncomfortable concessions to win greater victories
rival through martial skill Loyalists
+1 Evicting rebels from a community Loyalists
+1 Attaining victory over a rival through duplicity Rebels
+2 Completing a mission assigned by the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
character’s backstory, consider how the gods have influenced your life. The gods are pervasive in the stories and cultures of Theros, and even their devout followers shouldn’t feel bound to choose a faith
Nymosyne had her contest interrupted by a cyclops attack, she threw her rival at the creature, then snapped the brute’s neck with her bare hands.
Perhaps most dramatically, though, was the recent victory
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
for the death of a friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your people, either by choice or because of the actions of a rival? Double-Bladed Scimitar The double-bladed scimitar is the signature
whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours? Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
magical weapon.
4 Defeat a rival.
5 Open a planar portal.
6 Summon fiends or undead.
7 Overthrow a peer or superior.
8 Cause a riot in the Cogs.
9 Start a war
between two allies.
10 Collapse Skyway or one of the towers.
The Twist 1d8 Twist
1 A friend or former ally is working with the villain.
2 The villain is not who they appear to be
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
this point, the party can choose to ally with one or the other for a 100-gp reward and a lifetime supply of free meals at their employer’s cart. The request from either vendor is the same: investigate
the shopkeepers’ stands and the surrounding market and prove their rival is sabotaging them. The shopkeeper will take any evidence the characters find, present it to the Dyn Singh Merchant Collective
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
is within 5 feet of an ally of the hobgoblin and that ally isn’t incapacitated.
Army Arcana. When the hobgoblin casts a spell that causes damage or that forces other creatures to make a saving
functions according to Maglubiyet’s will. Masked Devils. Iron Shadows on a secret mission wear masks crafted to resemble devils, both to conceal their identities and to strike fear into their foes. Their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Portentia Dran Now the owner and driving force behind Dran Enterprises — perhaps Acquisitions Incorporated’s most notable rival in the adventuring-for-profit-and-power biz — Portentia Dran is more
the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Portentia that isn’t incapacitated and Portentia doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Actions
Multiattack. Portentia makes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
confront the devil.
In the case of the Rogue card, the enmity is secret and should come from someone thought to be a friend or an ally. As Dungeon Master, you should wait for a dramatically
of yourself. The knight has the same alignment as you and serves you loyally until death, believing the two of you have been drawn together by fate. Work with your DM to create a name and backstory