bad back diffusing court roles

Cadaver Collector

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of a conquering army on the Material Plane. These fearsome Constructs obey their summoners until they are dismissed back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might

Skabatha Nightshade

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

. Personality Trait. “When dealing with outsiders, I present myself as a kindly old grandmother.” Ideal. “Children are better off working for me than picking up lots of bad habits

eyelashes. Underneath her makeup, her flesh is textured like rotten bark and infested with wood lice and fungus. The windup key sticking out of her back is a part of her body and no easier to remove than one

Cadaver Collector Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might wander the Material Plane for centuries, collecting corpses while searching for a way to return home. Sweeping the Dead

Knight of Eldraine

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

Knightly Virtue. The knight has one of the following traits, depending on the court it serves: Courage (Embereth). The knight has advantage on Wisdom checks and Wisdom saving throws. Knowledge

its former glory, or seeking to help travelers and remote communities beset by troubles. Achieving knighthood in one of the courts requires a quest that proves one’s excellence in that court

Iymrith

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Change Shape. Iymrith magically polymorphs into a female storm giant or back into her true form

. In this guise, she has infiltrated Hekaton’s court. While concealing her true nature and agenda from the giants, Iymrith offers counsel to Princess Serissa and at the same time secretly feeds

Urchin Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

of questions. 3 I like to squeeze into small places where no one else can get to me. 4 I sleep with my back to a wall or tree, with everything I own wrapped in a bundle in my arms. 5

I eat like a pig and have bad manners. 6 I think anyone who’s nice to me is hiding evil intent. 7 I don’t like to bathe. 8 I bluntly say what other people are hinting at

Pidlwick II

Monsters Curse of Strahd

sneak out of the closet in the middle of the night, smother the guest with a pillow, and then retreat back to the closet. The castle staff never considered that the effigy might be responsible

Ideal. “I wish I could make people happy.” Bond. “I would like to find someone—anyone—who isn't afraid of me and who enjoys my company.” Flaw. “When I'm upset, I do bad things.”Poison

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

contrast, throw themselves into the thick of society, putting their charisma and social skills to great use in diplomatic roles or as swindlers. Half-Elf Names Half-elves use either human or elven

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

relieved of their other roles and taken to the lair’s whelping pens, where they are tended to by Luthic’s followers. Orcs don’t take mates, and no pair-bonding occurs in a tribe

raid just as another group returns, laden with severed heads, sacks of loot, and armfuls of food. Warriors also serve as scouts, bringing back detailed reports about the surrounding area so that the

Madam Eva

Monsters Curse of Strahd

through her veins. Mother Night. Over four hundred years ago, Katarina came to Barovia and insinuated herself into Strahd’s court, working as a maid in Castle Ravenloft. She came to know the

castle like the back of her hand, and she was present for the wedding of Sergei and Tatyana. After Strahd went mad and murdered his brother, she fled the castle and took refuge with the Vistani. Later

Crab Folk

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

spell gave the crab folk an insatiable love for silver. When they see it, all crab folk feel an irresistible urge to seize it and carry it back to their lairs. If necessary, they resort to violence to

bad luck a gull might happen to land near a crab folk lair and utter the right combination of cries to summon up this ancient compulsion. Driven to action, the crab folk rampage along the coast

Entertainer Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble’s court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the

) d6 Bond 1 My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love. 2 Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back

Olhydra

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

— bad weather, strong tides, and increasing aggression from dangerous sea life. Violent downpours become frequent within 10 miles of the lair. A downpour occurs once every 2d12;{"diceNotation

mortal world to dwell near those points. If Olhydra is destroyed or banished back to her home plane, the regional effects fade over the next 1d10;{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType":"roll"} days.Acid, Cold, PoisonLightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. 4 I will become the greatest thief that ever lived. 5 I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it. 6

. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

conclave has a deeper connection to the Worldsoul than I do. 6 I’m trying to atone for the life of crime I led before I joined the Selesnya, but I find it hard to give up my bad habits

Dimir agent. 4 I know a disgruntled Golgari assassin who is ripe for recruitment. 5 I’m friendly with a Gruul centaur who almost joined us a few years back. 6 I once had a heated

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

at the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within

the area patrolled by the guard did she explain that the noises indicated that the wingless folk had claimed that area, and that to trespass would be to court death. — Gimble, Notes from a

Cloistered Scholar

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

assume roles of greater responsibility and prominence. You might be one of Candlekeep’s own, dedicated to the curatorship of what is likely the most complete body of lore and history in all the

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

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

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

work, do what needs to be done, and get paid. Anyone who pursues crime for thrill-seeking, to strike back at unjust authorities, or anything else are amateurs, and they’re liable to get you

Entertainer - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your

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

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

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

roles that protect and sustain the tribe. The strongest kobolds are trained to be hunters and warriors, the most clever are crafters and strategists, the toughest are miners and beast-wranglers, and so

tribe is balanced again. In this way, the tribe can quickly repopulate with just a few survivors. Because of these factors, kobolds don’t have assigned gender roles for young or adults. A leader

Urban Bounty Hunter

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

to a generous benefactor. 2 My ill-gotten gains go to support my family. 3 Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. 4 I will become the greatest thief that

things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires hard study

experience earns renown among other bards. Indeed, after telling so many stories about heroes accomplishing mighty deeds, many bards take these themes to heart and assume heroic roles themselves

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

a bridge on a major trade road, terrifying travelers. 3 After an unwise attack from a whaling ship, a dragon turtle pursued the ship back to harbor and now attacks any ship that tries to leave

in a game of dragonchess that has been going on for centuries. 2 An ancient dragon turtle serves as counsel to an empyrean court, tempering the Celestials’ passions with the dragon turtle

Urchin - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

. 3 I like to squeeze into small places where no one else can get to me. 4 I sleep with my back to a wall or tree, with everything I own wrapped in a bundle in my arms. 5 I eat like

a pig and have bad manners. 6 I think anyone who’s nice to me is hiding evil intent. 7 I don’t like to bathe. 8 I bluntly say what other people are hinting at or hiding

Familiar Faces

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

Familiar Faces This campaign provides many NPCs for you to do with as you please. They all have roles to play in the encounters and events of the adventure, but what happens to them after that is up

to you. Every NPC could be a potential ally, enemy, or foil later in the campaign. If the players take a shine to one, bring that character back — or better yet, make the NPC an integral part of the

Learning from Experience

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

Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires

experience earns renown among other bards. Indeed, after telling so many stories about heroes accomplishing mighty deeds, many bards take these themes to heart and assume heroic roles themselves.

Learning from Experience

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires

experience earns renown among other bards. Indeed, after telling so many stories about heroes accomplishing mighty deeds, many bards take these themes to heart and assume heroic roles themselves.

Good Wolf, Bad Wolf

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

out of sight. If Koran is unable to convince the characters to follow it back to the frost giant’s lodge, Kanan steps in and plays the “bad” wolf, baring his fangs and threatening to eat the

Good Wolf, Bad Wolf When the characters first approach the outskirts of Dougan’s Hole or shortly after they first leave town, they encounter two winter wolves named Koran and Kanan. Here’s how the

Kenku

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within the area

patrolled by the guard did she explain that the noises indicated that the wingless folk had claimed that area, and that to trespass would be to court death. — Gimble, Notes from a Treasure Hunter

K2. Center Court Gate

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

K2. Center Court Gate Two gates, one north of the keep and one to the south, prevent easy access to what lies beyond them. A massive wall juts out to connect the outer walls of the castle with the

DC 15 Strength check. It can also be opened with a command word that only Strahd and Cyrus Belview (area K62) know. Unless the portcullis is wedged or propped open, it falls back into place once it is let go.

D6. His Royal Majesty Gullop XIX

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

lap—Bavlorna’s Big Book of Bad Blood—in which the hag’s displeasure with her enemies is spelled out in detail. He procured the book from a darkling merchant (see area B10), who stole it from Bavlorna

of the Soggy Court are allowed to speak with Bavlorna (a falsehood he knows to be untrue), and he invites the characters to join the group. If they accept, he instructs them to proceed to the palace

Life in Djaynai and Janya

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

. The security forces that protect Djaynai—including the scouts known as Lightsea Lancers—are highly effective in their roles, but Djaynaian law emphasizes redemption over punishment. In the direst

by a group called the High Court, some members of which are able to contact key leaders in Djaynai on rare occasions through magical means. Members of the High Court—and the many agents and liaisons

Table Rules

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

. Here are some fundamentals: Foster respect. Don’t bring personal conflicts to the table or let disagreements escalate into bad feelings. Don’t touch others’ dice if they’re sensitive about it. Avoid

players wandering away from the table and back, but some players prefer planned breaks. Have snacks. Decide before a session who will bring food and drink. This is often something the players can handle.

Vorn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

deactivated shield guardian that once served as a wizard’s bodyguard. The wizard died from extreme bad luck decades ago — he fell out of a tree during a particularly bad bout of blue mist fever, hit his

finds footprints in the dirt — evidence of nomadic tribes of goblins, grungs, and vegepygmies that revere the construct as a lesser god. They trim back the jungle vines and creepers that would

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