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Returning 35 results for 'bad battle down could read'.
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
great battle—either where one is in progress, where one is imminent, or where one once took place. They encase themselves in the armor and weapons of fallen warriors and impale the corpses of those
Cadaver Collector
Legacy
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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
. Cadaver collectors respond to a summons from a mortal only when they are called to the scene of a great battle — either where one is in progress, where one is imminent, or where one once took place
Magic Items
Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
you and can speak, read, and understand any language it knows (see “Random Properties” below).
Life Support. Whenever you end your turn with 0 hit points, the docent can make a Wisdom
attached to. One of the simple functions of a docent is to serve as a translator. The docent’s properties are under its control, and if you have a bad relationship with your docent, it might refuse to assist you.
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
the creature has such a feared reputation that stories about it are ingrained in the popular culture. Any rumor of a catoblepas taking up residence nearby is taken to be a bad omen, even if the rumor is
, drinking the monsters’ milk and using them as guardians or pets. Other legends say that those of impure heart can tame a catoblepas and whisper of malevolent warlocks and wicked knights who ride them into battle.
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts. Wisdom (Insight) checks to ascertain the
.
Returned Masks. Adventurers who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Turn Resistance. The Returned has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its
shadow plays without weight or substance.
Returned Masks. Adventurers who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
.
Turn Resistance. The Returned has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its
.
Returned Masks. Adventurers who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
":"Dart","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.After her husband died in battle, Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya set her sights on becoming Count Strahd von Zarovich's bride, but she failed to win his
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
Whelm
Legacy
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 120 feet.
The weapon communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Dwarvish, Giant, and Goblin. It shouts battle
Orc
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
ward off diseases if they are worn.
Don’t stand inside a ring of stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle.
Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must
the plane of Acheron. It is there in the afterlife where the chosen ones will join Gruumsh and his armies in their endless extraplanar battle for supremacy.
Gods of the Orcs
Orcs believe their gods
Species
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
, or belligerent. The truth is that many leonin simply enjoy fighting, whether verbal or physical. They take pleasure in argument, wrestling, sparring, and even battle, enjoying the opportunity to
adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games.
4
I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts. Wisdom (Insight) checks to ascertain the
who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its composition and craftsmanship
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
carve their horns to sharpen their edges, etch symbols of power into them, or sheathe them in bronze to prevent them from shattering during battle.
Thick hair extends down minotaurs’ necks and
those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.
Languages
Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is
Aarakocra
Legacy
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying
changes in the prevailing winds that they regarded as a bad omen.
Unlike the aarakocra of other worlds on the Material Plane, the aarakocra of the Realms rarely travel to the Elemental Plane of Air
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
The Battle Begins When the battle begins, read the following boxed text aloud: The night is dark, and torrential rain beats down on the rooftops. An hour before dawn, the bell on the newly erected
south gate begins to toll urgently. A cry goes up from the wall as troops dash to man their positions:
“The dead! The dead are coming!”
The Battle of Leilon has begun.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. “Not a bad place to die,” the mage says with mild amusement. The doppelganger posing as Gargosh doesn’t take part in the fight, remaining on the fringes of the battle and rooting for the characters to
The Stone Bridge See chapter 2 for more information on the Stone Bridge. When the characters reach the middle of the bridge, read the following text: You see half a dozen figures on the bridge ahead
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
, though, they’re fighting a losing battle against foes whose numbers only grow. And every time a Talon falls, Lekar’s final defeat grows closer. Talon soldiers use the guard stat block, while commanders
executions serve the greater good and impose necessary order, but make it clear that zombies aren’t the realm’s only monsters. Only Bad Decisions. There is one simple truth in Falkovnia: the dead are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
knowledge, but the dragon is cagey on that point. Seeing good and bad in equal measure among the lesser races, Ileuthra recognizes that helping the humanoids is less a case of deciding whether they are worthy
to remain in the world if the humanoid races are aware of where they are. If the characters agree that all dragon masks will be handed over to the metallic dragons as soon as they are found—including any masks captured after the final battle—his attitude can be improved.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
Grand Master’s cloak fly apart into its various faces during battle, attacking as a swarm of bats. Throne Gate. The Grand Master might have long ago figured out how to activate this gate. If things go
bad for it in combat, it might choose to do so in order to escape (if you wish to preserve the Grand Master as a future villain), or to summon an ally (if the fight against it proves too easy).
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
makes good people bad and bad people worse. In its mean streets, gritty detectives contend with corrupt law officers while trying to foil the efforts of merciless gangs and monstrous thugs. In the highest
, and monstrous mercenaries do battle with heroes from all walks of life, while unscrupulous collectors and smugglers carry on a brisk trade in artifacts brought back from the cyclopean ruins of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
others have yet to board a boat. The remaining boats have enough space for them and the characters. Before the characters head to their boats, read the following text: “Hold the boat!” a voice rasps from
as Jeyev Veldrews, Cudgel’s lieutenant. He says he’s been sent by Becklin to pass on the following information: The battle with the Red Dragon Army went poorly, but a few of the Ironclad Regiment
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
makes the whole company look bad). Either way, read: “I’ve been told about the misunderstanding regarding your identities. I can’t say much for your relative inexperience and lack of skill. But it looks
franchise makes the whole company look bad. I’m sure you understand.”
Omin then levels a hard stare. “I want you to appreciate what an incredible opportunity this is for you. You’re skipping countless
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
knowledge, but the dragon is cagey on that point. Seeing good and bad in equal measure among the lesser races, Ileuthra recognizes that helping the humanoids is less a case of deciding whether they are worthy
to remain in the worldin the world if the humanoid races are aware of where they are. If the characters agree that all dragon masks will be handed over to the metallic dragons as soon as they are found — including any masks captured after the final battle — his attitude can be improved.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Battle Begins When the characters are ready, Darrett or a militia member guides them into line with the other Vogler troops. Read the following description: After much laughter and jostling, the
, a reenactor hoots and yells, “Let’s send those Istarian rats running!”
A moment later, a trumpet blast signals the start of the battle. “For Istar!” yells the mercenaries’ leader, a tall half-ogre
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
” section that follows. 4. Strahd’s Enemy Flip over card 4, and read: This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness. This card determines where the characters can
Card Reading When you perform a card reading before running the adventure, write down the results for reference later. If the characters have their fortunes read in the adventures, do the card
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
encounters. Each monster features an “As a Mythic Encounter” section that highlights its mythic trait, notes how using it changes the difficulty of the encounter and the rewards, and includes read-aloud text you can use mid-battle to signal a terrifying shift in the conflict. (SAM ROWAN)
monsters. If you so choose, you may simply ignore a monster’s mythic trait and mythic actions. If you wish to increase a battle’s stakes, though, using a monster’s mythic trait results in some mid-battle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle. Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must swallow a stone. A tribute of elf ears brings favor from Gruumsh. If you bury
around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should react to them. As a race, orcs
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
a conquering army on the Material Plane. These fearsome Constructs obey their summoners until they are dismissed 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. A cadaver collector responds to a summons from a mortal only if it is called to the scene of a great battle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
Trial by Combat Xedalli asks the characters to serve as her champions. If the characters accept, read: Xeleth sneers. “Very well, sister, since you won’t face me yourself, I, too, name a champion
the zodar to 0 hit points. The zodar wins the battle if all the characters are at 0 hit points at the start of the zodar’s turn or if the characters who are still standing concede defeat. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
franchises. The versatility of an airship allows for the rapid shipping of goods, mercenaries, and loot. Such a vessel also allows a quick escape from sticky developments and deals gone bad. Battle
Battle Balloon Through the winter clouds that surround the castle on this desolate hill, you see a shape emerge. Something so gigantic, you can’t believe it can actually fly. Airships are relatively
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
Battle of Elturel Legions of devils camped on the shores of the River Styx below Elturel are the biggest threats for characters attempting to flee the city. Characters who fly, glide, or balloon over
the siege can avoid the main body of the devils’ army, but come under attack by forces to the rear. Adjust the boxed text below accordingly as you read it to the players to set the scene: Armored
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
Vistani Lore Characters who read the Book of the Raven learn the following information about the Vistani: The Vistani are planar travelers often encountered in the Shadowfell, and they seem to be
believe that ravens carry lost souls within them. Hence, killing a raven is considered bad luck in Vistani culture.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
the characters wrap up a day of their new courses and head toward Bow’s End Tavern on the central campus for some socializing.
In this scene, the characters learn about the Battle of Strixhaven, a
you’re ready to begin, read or paraphrase the following, altering the text to incorporate the student’s name or other details:
Your peers’ shouts of camaraderie punctuate the air as you finish your
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
her temple collapses to ash and bone is a memorable way to wrap up a campaign — but the characters might not survive as anything more than memories. During the battle in the temple, read the following
Facing Tiamat When the forces of good have been deployed and the battle begun, the characters will take on the most important goal of assaulting the Temple of Tiamat. Making their way through the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
cold and rain, waiting for battle while hunger gnaws at their bellies? Many wish to reap the rewards of a good harvest, but few care to remove the stones and till the fields for planting.
“The Lords
’ Alliance fights the things that the shopkeeper in his bed has never even heard of. We remove threats before the town mayor even knows about it. We make bad things go away. That’s what we’re good at.”
Rameel Jos






