back bards defusing constantly ready

Energy Bow

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon, which has no string. Each time you pull your arm back in a firing motion, a magical arrow made of golden energy

appears nocked and ready to fire. An arrow produced by this weapon deals Force damage instead of Piercing damage on a hit, and it disappears after it hits or misses its target. Until it disappears, the

Maw of Yeenoghu

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

its mouth fills with multiple rows of sharp teeth. These teeth constantly grow, driving the maw to bite and chew on anything within reach. Some maws desperately rip the teeth from their mouth for

relief, but the teeth quickly regrow. Cunning maws use this phenomenon as a ready supply of weaponry, throwing clusters of teeth at their foes. A maw of Yeenoghu charges at its prey on all fours with its mouth wide open, scraping the ground like a plow.

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of song, speech, and the magic they contain. Bards say that the multiverse was spoken into existence, that the words of the gods gave it shape, and that echoes of these primordial Words of Creation

still resound throughout the cosmos. The music of bards is an attempt to snatch and harness those echoes, subtly woven into their spells and powers. The greatest strength of bards is their sheer

Goliath Werebear

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

polymorph into a Large bear–humanoid hybrid or into a Large polar bear, or back into its goliath form. Its statistics, other than its size and AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is

snow. Elders invoke her name to keep young goliaths from wandering too far from home before they’re ready. Adult goliaths sometimes encounter this legendary individual in their travels to the far

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Flint squinted into the setting sun. He thought he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing, Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better. The man’s walk was

. EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS Many half-elves learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and

Mudslick Tower

Magic Items Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

tower that remains until you use an action to touch the tower and speak the command word again, whereupon the tower shrinks back to a 1-inch-diameter granite sphere. The tower must be empty to shrink in

this way. The tower bristles with muddy knobs that constantly extrude and retract across its surface, as though the tower were breathing through a coating of thick mud. Each creature in the area where

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

back into the air. Those that make it to a world in the Material Plane find it a strange place. They sometimes forget or ignore vertical distances, and they have nothing but pity for those earthbound

it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. An aarakocra who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses. Confinement terrifies the

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Regis the halfling, the only one of his kind for hundreds of miles in any direction, locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket of the tree trunk. Regis was short

nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home

Lesser Star Spawn Emissary

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

damage. Change Shape. The emissary polymorphs into a Small or Medium creature of its choice or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is

emissaries are the fingers of alien realms, digits that tip the scales of reality toward terror. Heralded by ominous astrological events, these ravenous invaders make worlds ready for unimaginable masters or

Ulitharid

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

staff; when the ulitharid is ready to give up its life, it attaches the staff to the back of its head, and the staff cracks open its skull, enabling its brain to be extracted. The brain and the staff

Crystal Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with anger, lying back with fear or suspicion, and rippling

rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible. 3 A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in

Faction Agent

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and

Personality Trait 1 I idolize a particular hero of my faith, and constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example. 2 I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies

Azuredge

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

, electrum, and steel alloys whose edges constantly shimmer with a deep blue luminescence. You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The shield spell provides no

feet and a long range of 180 feet. Whether it hits or misses, the axe flies back to you at the end of the current turn, landing in your open hand or at your feet in your space (as you choose). The axe

Folk Hero - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

dozen adopted grandparents inviting you in for a meal. 3 Seeing a lost patriar after dark in the Outer City, you guided the wayward noble through back streets to safety. The patriar repaid your

for one last chance to win back the goodwill you’ve drunk away. 5 You once defeated a raging bugbear with a hand mirror, a mounted deer’s head, and two kicks to the groin. Later, you

Gauth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

can survive on meat but prefers to sustain itself with power drained from magic objects. If starved of magic for several weeks, it is forced back to its home plane, so it constantly seeks new items

Young Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

starlight between their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with anger, lying back with fear or

Prismatic shards rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible. 3 A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

I’m incapable of admitting a flaw in my logic. Contacts The laboratories of the Izzet League are constantly starting up new projects and dissolving old ones, so it’s easy for

Azorius inspector seems interested in my work. 2 I was ready to join the Boros before I decided on Izzet, and I sometimes still hear from the sergeant who tried to recruit me. 3 One of my

Amethyst Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, seeking to understand itself. (Any) 3 Self-Improvement. I am a complex gem, and I constantly polish and refine my many facets to make the whole that much more perfect. (Any) 4 Responsibility

swapping back. 5 A cult devoted to a Great Old One of the Far Realm seeks an alien monolith that can summon its master, but the site is guarded by an amethyst dragon. 6 An amethyst dragon

Creating a Bard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

Creating a Bard Bards thrive on stories, whether those stories are true or not. Your character’s background and motivations are not as important as the stories that he or she tells about them

a story. Some bards acquire their magical music through extraordinary means, including the inspiration of fey or other supernatural creatures. Did you serve an apprenticeship, studying under a master

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. (Any) 3 Self-Improvement. I am a complex gem, and I constantly polish and refine my many facets to make the whole that much more perfect. (Any) 4 Responsibility. Having knowledge and

restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

We had a tabaxi come through once, a few winters back. She kept the taproom packed each night with her stories and spent most days napping in a chair in front of the fireplace. We thought she was

hand, which you constantly fidget with. 7 You are always in debt, since you spend your gold on lavish parties and gifts for friends. 8 When talking about something you’re obsessed

Young Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, and I constantly polish and refine my many facets to make the whole that much more perfect. (Any) 4 Responsibility. Having knowledge and power gives one a responsibility to those who have less

adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5 A cult devoted to a Great Old One of the Far Realm

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

;Kurtulmak: God of Kobolds” sidebar). In the world they occupy, kobolds are often bullied and enslaved by larger creatures — or, when they live on their own, they are constantly fearful of

some other convenient way (or, in a cannibalistic tribe, eaten). Kobolds believe that if they die in service to their tribe, Kurtulmak immediately sends each of them back to life as the next egg laid in

Sapphire Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

their lairs fiercely, ambushing intruders and plotting assaults against their rivals. The sonic pulse of their breath weapon sows weakness, leaving the victims unable to fight back. Luminous Blue

"} Trait 1 I often fixate on specific historical battles or wars and won’t rest until my hoard contains that conflict’s most significant artifacts. 2 I am constantly aware of a

Cloistered Scholar

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

were apprenticed and taught that knowledge is a more valuable treasure than gold or gems. Now you are ready to leave your home—not to abandon it, but to quest for new lore to add to its storehouse

great deeds and win it back. d6 Flaw 1 I am easily distracted by the promise of information. 2 Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on

Entertainer - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

find ready audiences, and the constant flow of travelers means that both new spectators and new spectacles are always passing through. You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them

me of someone I love. 2 Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back. 3 I want to be famous, whatever it takes. 4 I idolize a hero of the old tales and

Young Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

their rivals. The sonic pulse of their breath weapon sows weakness, leaving the victims unable to fight back. Luminous Blue Sapphire dragons’ scales and wing membranes show varied shades of

or wars and won’t rest until my hoard contains that conflict’s most significant artifacts. 2 I am constantly aware of a call from beyond this world. I must prepare to answer that call

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

; scales. It glows like starlight between their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with anger, lying back

bards and philosophers to partake in “the Great Dialogue” in the dragon’s mountaintop lair. But only the dragon knows that the Great Dialogue has no end, and no one can leave the lair

Ancient Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

anger, lying back with fear or suspicion, and rippling in side-to-side waves with amusement or joy. Visions in Starlight Many crystal dragons study the stars, recording their observations of the night

the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in “the Great Dialogue” in the dragon’s mountaintop lair. But only the dragon knows that the Great Dialogue has no end, and no one can

Keresta Delvingstone

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

Shapechanger. If Keresta isn't in sunlight or running water, she can use her action to polymorph into a Tiny bat or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into her true form. While in bat form, Keresta

bats are plentiful. In areas where they are not specifically mentioned, droppings and guano betray their presence, and they can be heard constantly scuttling and shrieking in the distant darkness. If

How does readying a spell work? Do you lose your spell slot if the trigger never occurs?

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

How does readying a spell work? Do you lose your spell slot if the trigger never occurs? When you take the Ready action to ready a spell, you immediately expend any resources used to cast said spell

, including any spell slot. You don’t get any of these resources back if the trigger never occurs. See appendix C of the Player’s Handbook.

The Infernal Machine of Lum the Mad

Magic Items Infernal Machine Rebuild

discovered the crash site removed the command console and brought it back to civilization, not understanding its true purpose or powers. In later years, the console came into the possession of Baron

object on the same plane as you and have the compass point constantly in the direction of the named target. You gain no knowledge of the distance to the target. A specialized clockwork compass floats

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

’ serpent gods into their religions. These victories sent a constant influx of food, ore, and slaves back to the home cities. The wealth of the empire allowed the ruling elite plenty of time to

remained ensconced in their hidden strongholds, biding their time until they were ready to strike again. Today, with their numbers greatly depleted and their enemies much stronger than in ages past, the

Bardic Colleges

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

Bardic Colleges In addition to the tradition of apprenticing with a master bard, the Sword Coast has some bardic colleges where masters teach students the bardic arts. They hark back to the great

the bards, each of which is named after one of the colleges. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the game statistics of these magic instruments. Long ago, bards who sought the rank of

Military Contacts

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

haze of intoxication 3 A grim officer who expects the Last War to reignite at any moment and intends to be ready 4 A cheerful officer with a dark sense of humor who merrily sends you into grave danger 5

A kindly officer who is hesitant to send you into danger and constantly reminds you to be careful 6 A bitter officer who carries deep grudges against your nation’s enemies in the Last War and leaps at

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