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Returning 35 results for 'backs before death contested rules'.
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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
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the confines of an ice prison from which he cannot escape.
Most of the cultists are Icewind Dale natives who would
have perished in the wilderness had Levistus not intervened on their behalf. The cultists’ stories are all the same: the archdevil reached out to them in their minds as they were freezing to death
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.The Knights of the Black Sword are a secret society of cultists devoted to Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the
’ stories are all the same: the archdevil reached out to them in their minds as they were freezing to death, offering a second chance at life in exchange for their absolute devotion. After they
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
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
will: animate dead (as an action), blight, speak with dead
1 charge each: circle of death, finger of death
2 charges: power word killOrcus can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
Tail or Necrotic Bolt attack.
Creeping Death (Costs 2 Actions). Orcus chooses a point on the ground that he can see within 100 feet of him. A cylinder of swirling necrotic energy 60 feet tall and
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
trained in the arcane tradition of evocation. She likes using her magic to destroy things, and her hunger for magic items knows no bounds. Her supreme confidence means that she never backs down from a
challenge, even when the odds are clearly stacked against her. Seeing other wizards as a threat, paranoia rules her life.
Avarice has been a member of the Arcane Brotherhood for almost two years. She
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
Orcus
Legacy
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Monsters
Out of the Abyss
with dead. Alternatively, he can expend 1 or more of the wand’s charges to cast one of the following spells from it: circle of death (1 charge), finger of death (1 charge), or power word kill (2
.
A Taste of Undeath. Orcus casts chill touch (17th level).
Creeping Death (Costs 2 Actions). Orcus chooses a point on the ground that he can see within 100 feet of him. A cylinder of swirling
Sword of Kas
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
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
race, follow these additional rules during character creation.
Ability Score Increases
When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score
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
)
6
Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful)
Crystal Dragon Adventures
The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures
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
. (Chaotic)
6
Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful)
Crystal Dragon Adventures
The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories
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
Tortle
Legacy
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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
Species
Acquisitions Incorporated
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
easily portable. It is not unusual to see individual verdan or whole families trooping along the roads of the world with their tents and belongings strapped to their backs.
Even when they are happily
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: One
realizing the connection. You got the Guild to back off demands for your death by offering to make amends by working for the criminals, but even so the kingpin still plots a personal revenge.
2
The
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
without the boredom. (Chaotic)
6
Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful)
Crystal Dragon Adventures
The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
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
is learning, but without the boredom. (Chaotic)
6
Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful)
Crystal Dragon Adventures
The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks
Goliath
Legacy
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
mock folk who rely on society’s structures or rules to maintain power.
Survival of the Fittest
Among goliaths, any adult who can’t contribute to the tribe is expelled. A lone goliath has
away in the night to seek the cold will of fate.
In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in
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
than a glorified goblin boss) rules hundreds of goblins, spread out among multiple lairs to ensure the tribe’s survival. Goblin bosses are easily ousted, and many goblin tribes are taken over by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
contested by the goblins’ passive Wisdom (Perception) score to avoid being surprised. See the Basic Rules for more information on ability check contests. Thickets. The thickets around the clearing are
difficult terrain, but they aren’t dangerous—just annoying. They provide half cover to creatures behind them. (See “Difficult Terrain” and “Cover” in the Basic Rules for more information.)
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Damage and Healing Injury and death are frequent threats in D&D, as detailed in the following rules.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
, twenty feet above the floor.
Any character who can see the bridge in area 5 might also notice the goblin guarding the bridge. Doing so requires a Wisdom (Perception) check contested by the goblin’s
the Basic Rules). The ledge between the two escarpments is fragile. Any weight in excess of 100 pounds loosens the whole mass and sends it tumbling down to the east. Any creature on the ledge when it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Damage and Healing Injury and death are frequent threats in D&D, as detailed in the following rules.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
Dying Retainers When a retainer is reduced to 0 hit points, they follow the same rules as player characters. If not killed instantly by massive damage, they fall unconscious, make death saving throws, and can be stabilized or healed.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
School of Magic Each spell belongs to a school of magic. The schools are listed in the Schools of Magic table. These categories help describe spells but have no rules of their own, although some
other rules refer to them. Schools of Magic School Typical Effects Abjuration Prevents or reverses harmful effects Conjuration Transports creatures or objects Divination Reveals information
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
School of Magic Each spell belongs to a school of magic. The schools are listed in the Schools of Magic table. These categories help describe spells but have no rules of their own, although some
other rules refer to them. Schools of Magic School Typical Effects Abjuration Prevents or reverses harmful effects Conjuration Transports creatures or objects Divination Reveals information
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
Basic Rules). The stench of death hangs heavy here, becoming stronger as the characters move toward area A19.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
smart as me, and I need to prove that all the time. 3 There’s a rule for everything. 4 If I can’t seize control, I’ll serve in the meantime. 5 I’m a bully who backs down when faced with any sort of
resistance. 6 Every problem can be solved with the use of force. Devil Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Loyalty. I keep my vows to my superior and respect those who do the same. 2 Law. I might not like the rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Valachan. Losers rot where they fall in the jungle. Violations of the rules are punishable by death. Chakuna closes her domain’s borders while the trial is underway and can change the hunt’s rules on a
Rules of the Trial On the night of certain full moons, Chakuna selects fifteen souls within her domain who she considers worthy prey. She leads the participants to Pantara Lodge, shows them every
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Power of Secrets The characters can learn one secret in this chapter that is applicable to the rules in “The Power of Secrets” section in this book’s introduction: Sarusanda’s Secret. Sarusanda is an
Ulmist inquisitor, but her father, Galias, joined the evil priests of Osybus. Sarusanda expected to find and slay him in Death House. The characters can learn this secret during one of their encounters with Sarusanda, as described in the “Meetings with Sarusanda” section.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Villainous Class Options You can use the rules in the Player’s Handbook to create NPCs with classes and levels, the same way you create player characters. The class options below let you create two
specific villainous archetypes: the evil high priest and the evil knight or antipaladin. The Death Domain is an additional domain choice for evil clerics, and the Oathbreaker offers an alternative path for paladins who fall from grace. A player can choose one of these options with your approval.
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Death Must Be Fair The best way to avoid hard feelings connected to the death of a beloved character is to make sure the players know you’re being fair. Keep these principles in mind: Don’t Cheat in
and as a fair arbiter of the rules. Provide Fair Warning. Let characters face the consequences of their foolish actions, but make sure you give enough cues for the players to recognize self-destructive
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
If you reach 0 Hit Points and don’t die instantly, you have the Unconscious condition (see the rules glossary) until you regain any Hit Points, and you now face making Death Saving Throws (see below
Dropping to 0 Hit Points When a creature drops to 0 Hit Points, it either dies outright or falls unconscious, as explained below. Instant Death Here are the main ways a creature can die instantly






