backs before death contested race

Brackish Trudge

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

vegetation that thrive in the bayou. They are living examples of the conflicting forces of life and decay existing in a harmonious cycle. Flowers and other plant life grow on their backs, necks, and heads

with deadly fungus spores can make short work of the unwary. Trudges are also notoriously difficult to slay; the energies of life and death within them allow them to survive harrowing injuries.Fire

Armanite

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

", "rollAction":"Lightning Lance", "rollDamageType":"lightning"} lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.Great herds of armanites race across the blasted fields of

the Abyss, bent on slaughter and death, driven by unrestrained bloodlust. Whether they’re controlled by more powerful demons or charging into battle for the sake of it, armanites use their

Undercity Medusa

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

medusas of Ravnica, often called gorgons, are a monstrous race of creatures that appear superficially similar to human women. In place of hair, a gorgon has a writhing mass of black, serpentine

undercity like hungry predators. LUDMILLA, THE TUNNEL VIPER Ludmilla is the last surviving member of the Sisters of Stone Death, the trio of power-hungry medusas who slew Svogthir, the original

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

30 feet of you. The fighter is of the same race as you and serves you loyally until death, believing the fates have drawn him or her to you. You control this character. Moon. You are granted the

. Skull. You summon an avatar of death--a ghostly humanoid skeleton clad in a tattered black robe and carrying a spectral scythe. It appears in a space of the GM's choice within 10 feet of you and attacks

Tortle

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Tortles have a saying: “We wear our homes on our backs.” These turtle folk live on many worlds, most often journeying up and down coasts, along waterways, and across the sea. Tortles don

’t have a unified story of how they were created, but they all have a sense of being mystically connected to the natural world. Carrying their shelter on their backs gives tortles a special

Sword of Kas Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

) from it: call lightning, divine word, or finger of death. Once you use the sword to cast a spell, you can’t cast that spell again from it until the next dawn. Sentience. The Sword of Kas is a

Kas. The creature must cast the wish spell and make a Charisma check contested by the Charisma check of the sword. The sword must be within 30 feet of the creature, or the spell fails. If the sword

Minotaur

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

powerful backs, and some have long patches of hair on their chins and cheeks. Their legs end in heavy, cloven hooves, and they have long, tufted tails. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you

choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases

Shadar-kai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Material Plane to forge their own destinies. Once shadar-kai were Fey like the rest of their elven kin; now they exist in a state between life and death, thanks to being transformed by the Shadowfell

, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

then passing through the shadow of That-Which-Endures changed them forever. Now the newest race to call Faerûn home, the verdan do their best to find their way in an unfamiliar world

who study this entity claim that it is clearly evil and destructive. Others call it simply a necessary part of the cycle of death and rebirth. In the end, though, That-Which-Endures shows precious

Yakfolk Warrior

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

face is worn smooth into a featureless mask. The deity is appeased by sacrifice, which its followers carry out by capturing Humanoids and putting them to death by fire (immolation), earth (live burial

communal creches once they are weaned, never to recognize them again. Yakfolk feel no loyalty to their families—only to their god and race. Skin Crawlers. A yakfolk’s most frightening

Yakfolk Priest

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

a male Yikaria, but its face is worn smooth into a featureless mask. The deity is appeased by sacrifice, which its followers carry out by capturing Humanoids and putting them to death by fire

parents pack children off to communal creches once they are weaned, never to recognize them again. Yakfolk feel no loyalty to their families—only to their god and race. Skin Crawlers. A yakfolk

Acquisitions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

description of the different locations throughout the outpost as a guide to opportunities. Taking something without being noticed requires a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by the

of death. What equipment and treasures the characters claim during their escape depend on how much of the outpost they are able to explore before fleeing. For some characters, it might be a fun

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

death becomes a hero eternal. Young hobgoblins start soldiering when they can walk and heed the mustering call as soon as they can wield their weapons capably. Every legion in the hobgoblins&rsquo

; entire society forever stands prepared for war. Brutal Civility Hobgoblins hold themselves to high standards of military honor. The race has a long history of shared traditions, recorded and retold

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

test, and make new acquaintances. Life of a Tortle A tortle hatches from a thick-shelled egg and spends the first few weeks of its life crawling on all fours. Its parents, old and near death, spend

our homes on our backs.” The shells they carry around provide all the shelter they require. Consequently, tortles don’t feel the need to root themselves in one place for too long. A tortle

Archaeologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a

Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good) 2 Greed. I won’t risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Any) 3 Death Wish. Nothing is more

Gith Legacy

Species Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

The story of the gith is rooted in a cruel twist of cosmic fate. Inspired by the great leader for whom the race is named, the gith rose up to overthrow the mind flayers that held them in

distanced themselves from one another to pursue their separate agendas. They remain bitter enemies today, each side willing to fight to the death whenever they cross paths. The githyanki were motivated

Chapter 1: Character Creation

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

the following choices: Race. Choose one of the playable races detailed in this chapter, or pick a race from the Player’s Handbook and learn here how Eberron has affected that species’ development

in your group, decide which of the great powers in the world backs your group. This decision can shape your entire campaign.

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

(except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone. Although some humans can be

seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame. More than other people

Cultural Chameleons

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

belongings strapped to their backs. Even when they are happily steeped in a culture, the verdan remain on the lookout for oppression and curtailment of freedoms. They understand the need for laws that

speak out against cultural restraints on individuals, particularly those based on physical characteristics such as gender, race, or appearance.

Lady Wachter's Wish

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

claims that he keeps a watchful eye on all strangers, though he doesn’t mention the name of his employer. If the characters threaten him, he backs off and reports to Lady Wachter after he believes he’s

sighted leaving. The Vistani, worried that the characters might be more than a match for them, send one emissary on horseback to race ahead of the characters and inform Strahd. If Arrigal is alive, he makes the ride himself. Otherwise, the rider is a young Vistana bandit named Alexei (see area N9c).

Supplemental Tables

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

chaotic neutral (50%) 4–5 Lawful evil 6–8 Neutral evil 9–12 Neutral 13–15 Neutral good 16–17 Lawful good (50%) or lawful neutral (50%) 18 Chaotic good (50%) or chaotic neutral (50%) Cause of Death d12

Cause of Death 1 Unknown 2 Murdered 3 Killed in battle 4 Accident related to class or occupation 5 Accident unrelated to class or occupation 6–7 Natural causes, such as disease or old age 8 Apparent

Humanoids and the Gods

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. A single charismatic prophet can convert an entire kingdom to the worship of a new god. With that prophet’s death, the religion might wax or wane, or the prophet’s followers might turn against one

cataclysmic shift to replace him. With that in mind, consider the role of the gods in your world and their ties to different humanoid races. Does each race have a creator god? How does that god shape that

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

gather and celebrate, dwell the followers of Yurtrus, the god of disease and death, and Shargaas, the god of darkness and the unknown. Orcs too weak for battle (because of bodily weakness, malformation

, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death. Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who

The Zhentarim

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

another. A winged snake is trained to serve a particular master. If its master dies, the snake has been known to remain nearby and starve to death. Zhentarim agent and winged snake Dread Warriors

possessed in life. No race is immune from being transformed into a dread warrior. Once set upon a task, these undead will do nothing—will not pause or turn aside—until they’ve fulfilled their orders. Dread warriors make up the terrifying undead army of the Red Wizards. Dread Warrior

Marked for Death

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

Marked for Death Agents of the Queen of Air and Darkness dispatch four fomorians to intercept the party. Riding in howdahs strapped to the fomorians’ backs are four wood elf wizards (use the drow

Goblins

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

someone clubbed to death in their sleep, hire bugbears. If you want mean little fools, hire goblins.” — Stalman Klim, Slave Lord Malicious Glee. Motivated by greed and malice, goblins can’t help but

sleep underground during the day. Like wolves, they are pack hunters, made bolder by their numbers. When they hunt from the backs of wolves, goblins use hit-and-run attacks. Worshipers of Maglubiyet

Dealing with Amrik

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

paying it back. Characters who plan to rip off Amrik must succeed on a Charisma (Deception) check contested by Amrik’s Wisdom (Insight) check, as described under “Contests” in chapter 7 of the

the death, and he surrenders if he can’t fight, talk, or slither his way out of a perilous situation. If the characters defeat Amrik’s bodyguards and take him prisoner, he does what he’s told until an

Brackish Trudge

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

harmonious cycle. Flowers and other plant life grow on their backs, necks, and heads. When these plants die, they decay and become the ideal habitat for fungi. The older a trudge is, the wilder and

energies of life and death within them allow them to survive harrowing injuries. Brackish Trudge Large Plant, Unaligned Armor Class 12 (natural armor) Hit Points 68 (8d10 + 24) Speed 30 ft

Chapter 12: Doom of the Desert

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

by storming the dragon’s lair in the desert of Anauroch. If the characters were unable to rescue the storm giant king, or if Hekaton didn’t survive, Princess Serissa vows to avenge her father’s death

a match for a party of 10th-level adventurers, but the characters have storm giants watching their backs. Hekaton or Serissa also gives each character a potion of giant size (see appendix B) from the

Random Settlements

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Random Settlements The following tables allow you to quickly create a settlement. They assume that you’ve already determined its size and its basic form of government. Race Relations d20 Result

powerful monster 12 Mysterious, anonymous cabal 13 Contested leadership, open fighting 14 Cabal seized power openly 15 Doltish lout 16 On deathbed, claimants compete for power 17–18 Iron-willed but

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

moves its tribe to another area, ceding the contested territory to its more successful neighbors. As demonstrated by their hatred of gnomes, kobolds have a persecution complex and easily take offense

at the actions or deeds of other races. They aren’t forgiving of other races, and they enjoy nursing their hatred until they get a chance to wreak revenge on a creature or a race that has wronged

Necromancer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal

Necromancer Necromancers are specialist wizards who study the interaction of life, death, and undeath. Some like to dig up corpses to create undead thralls. A few use their powers for good, becoming

hunters of the undead and risking their lives to save others. Necromancer Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12) Speed 30 ft

Gladiator

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

who command huge fees but rarely fight to the death. Gladiator Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield) Hit Points 112 (15d8 + 45) Speed 30 ft. STR

Gladiator Gladiators battle for the entertainment of raucous crowds. Some gladiators are brutal pit fighters who treat each match as a life-or-death struggle, while others are professional duelists

Death Slaad

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

their race by dragooning mobs of red and blue slaadi and invading other planes. Humanoids who survive the incursion become incubators for new slaadi. Death Slaad Medium aberration (shapechanger

Death Slaad Death slaadi are suffused with energy from the Negative Energy Plane and exemplify evil’s corruption of chaos, and they take sadistic pleasure in bringing harm to others. They propagate

Emerald Claw Campaign Themes

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

village from a necromancer who is sucking the life out of the land, or race through a dungeon to acquire a necromantic relic before the Claw can claim it. The Emerald Claw is ideally suited to pulp action

secrets of her inactive dragonmark, the Mark of Death. If she succeeds, she could come to possess unimaginable power. This makes her a formidable villain to drive the action of an entire campaign.

D&D Beyond

Search Results