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Returning 35 results for 'bad before defenses contested rival'.
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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
guilds, and often these new guild members maintain friendships with former guild mates.
Roll twice on the Selesnya Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Selesnya Contacts table
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
advancing civilization, nature needs some help from biomancers and terraformers. If, along the way, you happen to create super-soldiers and mutant monsters that can bolster the combine’s defenses
members are former members of other guilds.
Roll twice on the Simic Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Simic Contacts table.
Simic Contacts
d8
Contact
1
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
rival orcs first and foremost as competitors for food and victims.
On some occasions, though, tribes that have a common concern band together. The result is an orc horde — a sea of slavering
everywhere in the world 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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
Rival Explorers Morgrave University teems with unscrupulous adventurers and researchers driven by avarice. Additionally, the university itself has academic rivals—the University of Wynarn in Aundair
, the Library of Korranberg, and others—whose scholars might become personal foils to adventurers associated with Morgrave. Goals of Rival Explorers Create a team of rival explorers who oppose the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
against itself (real or imaginary), planning attacks against known rivals, and preparing its defenses against all possible threats. It considers itself the center of the world, in a narcissistic way
; of course the clan of duergar moving into its territory is because a rival is trying to oust it, of course the gang of adventurers in its lair were sent to kill it by a cowardly rival, and so on
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
character astray, especially if the object of the research is known to the rival. The rival might plant false information, bribe sages to give bad advice, or steal key tomes needed to find the truth. In
that guards the place. Complications. The greatest risk in research is uncovering false information. Not all lore is accurate or truthful, and a rival with a scholarly bent might try to lead the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Crime Sometimes it pays to be bad. This activity gives a character the chance to make some extra cash, at the risk of arrest. Resources. A character must spend one week and at least 25 gp gathering
) if the character succeeds on only one check. If the character’s rival is involved in crime or law enforcement, a complication ensues if the character succeeds on only two checks. Crime Complications
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
other with their tales of the sea. Fights erupt as rival crews cross paths, and the town guard keeps a high profile in hopes of maintaining the peace. The quantity and quality of the catch in recent
d20 Result 1–6 Poor Catch. The townsfolk are frustrated and prone to bickering; everyone is in a bad mood. 7–12 Bountiful Catch. Music and merriment echo through town as everyone celebrates. 13–20
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
, and how the franchise’s enemies — or potential enemies — might get caught up in those complications. When a complication or a rival comes into play during downtime or franchise activities, the DM
.) When a complication occurs during a downtime or franchise activity, the DM determines whether and how that complication connects to a rival. Certain complications might be caused by rivals, as when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
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
Calamity d20 Calamity 1 Suspected vampire infestation 2 New cult seeks converts 3 Important figure died (murder suspected) 4 War between rival thieves’ guilds 5–6 Plague or famine (sparks riots) 7
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond
defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city built in the caldera of a dormant volcano. The vaults fell into disuse
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond.
8
An
(and more paranoid) dragons employing several layers of such defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, the kobolds are usually put to work enlarging their masters’ living area and protecting vital areas of the lair with traps and other defenses.
Some human communities hire kobolds to dig their
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
playing them off against each other. If his bodyguards are defeated and he is facing death, Yahru offers small bits of information for the promise of freedom. In addition to the layout and defenses of the
temple, Yahru knows the following: Ras Nsi commands the yuan-ti of Omu, but his command is tenuous. The high priest, Fenthaza, is Ras Nsi’s chief rival. Ras Nsi is slowly being eaten away by a magical
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
the house specializes in siege weaponry and defenses, though its most innovative experiments explore the creation of constructed undead—a hybrid of warforged and zombie. In addition to Karrnath, Cannith
rival the old house headquarters in Whitehearth as a hotspot of innovation. Additional cells in Breland, Zilargo, Darguun, and even Stormreach (in Xen’drik) carry out Merrix’s plans and produce
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Alluvial Sand Wastes is Tyr, struggling to find its way after the death of King Kalak. The templars of Tyr can’t allow a new threat to grow on their doorstep — or allow the templars of a rival city such
engage in assassination, bribery, or even sponsoring raids against the caravans of rival houses. For the Tsalaxa, the Cult of Elemental Evil represents a threat to the existing order; widespread
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Adventures in Bluetspur While Bluetspur’s otherworldly hazards and the mind flayers’ defenses can challenge even the highest-level heroes, the domain’s menace proves most pernicious when it intrudes
on other domains. Taking inspiration from sci-fi horror and tales of alien abduction, adventures involving Bluetspur’s mind flayers might begin anywhere with bad dreams or a stranger’s impossible
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
essential to many of its defenses and habits. Portions of its lair — especially the remote part where it sleeps — usually aren’t reachable on foot, which makes it harder for its minions to take over the
use such defenses to protect its inner sanctum, allowing it to roam freely through the area while hostiles must dodge or overcome multiple obstacles. Unless its opponents are concealed by fog
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
, a rival goblin gang that often deals in illicit arms. Rumors swirled that Krenko killed Dargig, the youngest of the three brothers, after a weapons drop went bad. The remaining two brothers, Rikkig
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
revealing her location. Any character who peers up through the hole in the ceiling can spot Kella lurking in the shadows with a successful Wisdom (Perception) check contested by Kella’s Dexterity
abandoned village ripe for conquest while leaving its defenses more or less intact. Kella isn’t alone. The morning after the cloud giants attacked, a flying snake carrying a message from her Zhent
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
9. Contested Caves The drow of House Freth maintain a tenuous hold over these caves. Their defenses are tested daily by troglodytes, trolls, and infiltrators loyal to House Auvryndar. 9a. Hidden
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
guilds 19 Patriotism 20 Ancient ruins Current Calamities 1d12 Calamity 1 Monsters infest the settlement. 2 A key figure died; murder is suspected. 3 War brews between rival guilds or gangs. 4 A
Mysterious, anonymous conspirators 7 Contested leadership (with open fighting) 8 Acrimonious council unable to make decisions 9 Doltish lout 10 Dying leader (with disputed succession) 11 Iron-willed and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
an amphitheater often revolve around deception. Great performances get audiences immersed in what they’re seeing, lowering their defenses and allowing pickpockets and spies to work. Backstage, the
a criminal cabal from a rival gang’s assault.
4 Take the place of a group of performers on stage to impress an audience member.
5 Assassinate an audience member during a performance
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, you can offer to let the character succeed at the cost of a complication or hindrance. Such complications can run along any of the following lines: A character gets her sword past an enemy’s defenses
automatic failure is bad enough. And characters typically make so many attack rolls that they’re bound to roll dozens of natural 1s over time. What might seem like an interesting consequence, like breaking the weapon used for the attack, will quickly get tiresome.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
, rival legions compete constantly for reputation and status. Meetings between legions erupt in violence if troops aren’t restrained, and only exceptionally powerful leaders can force legions to
surround it first to cut off escape routes and supply lines, then slowly starve their enemies out. Hobgoblins fortify their own holdings, bolstering existing defenses with innovations of their own
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
off, the dragon might start to test its outer defenses in advance of mounting a larger assault. This strategy can take years to come to fruition, but from the dragon’s perspective it is time well
by creatures it can catch in the open, including the travelers that enter and exit the place. On occasion, this state of (relatively) peaceful coexistence is shattered when a devious rival dragon with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
rumors, and building a bad reputation around town. As a rule of thumb, a character has a 10 percent chance of triggering a complication for each workweek of carousing. Lower-Class Carousing Complications
the streets seemed like a great idea at the time. 8 Everyone is calling you by some weird, embarrassing nickname, like Puddle Drinker or Bench Slayer, and no one will say why.* *Might involve a rival
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
maintains docks, ships, and fortified harbors on many of the islands in the Sea of Swords, and as such the city is always seeking magical and military support for these defenses. Where other cities
might use such vast mountains of coin as Mirabar possesses on shows of prosperity, Mirabarrens use it for more functional goals, making sure that the city’s defenses are new, that its gates close
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
serve the guild’s interests well, it promises to take care of you. Guilds hate to waste valuable assets, after all—that’s just bad business. Types of Guild The guild structure covers a swath of business
for a guild project or for a paying client. Your group must gather the missing components from a dangerous location or a recalcitrant owner while outpacing a rival to the prize. 3 Eliminate a Rival
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
defending against fiendish incursion. 6 Sky Warriors. This military force consists of winged creatures, employs magical flight, or sails airships as a sky navy. Traditional defenses are ineffective against
both power and subtlety. Your missions could run the risk of shattering a fragile peace recently established with a rival nation and plunging multiple nations back into war. Or perhaps your group’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
some rival skulls, that’s just the way of war. And if those skulls sometimes turn out to belong to people on your own side of the ledger, well, that’s just business. You are anything but reckless
usually end a fight quickly.
3 You fight with your off hand at the start of a battle, so that your opponent sets their defenses and attacks to one side. Then you quickly switch hands at the most
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Aberrant Mind Tentacles, psychic powers, beings from beyond the stars—one person’s bad dream is another person’s good time.
Tasha
An alien influence has wrapped its tendrils around your mind
by the spell. Psychic Defenses 6th-level Aberrant Mind feature You gain resistance to psychic damage, and you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened. Revelation in Flesh
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
. For any tasks in which the outcome includes a complication due to a rival, the Six could be attempting to undermine the characters’ franchise to eliminate their threat. Business as Usual Even as the
to be resolved, with those complications revealing useful information concerning the Six’s plots, the ritual site’s possible location, and the defenses around the site.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2
Mountain Door, the orc army burrowed into the hillside to circumvent the dwarven defenses. The tunnel is still passable, but its entrance is choked with brush and debris. If the characters enter this area
reinforce the defenses in the complex (see area 5 and area 14). Captured orcs can describe in some detail the general arrangement of the Mountain Door. They don’t know anything about the rest of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Collect the materials necessary to create a revolutionary oracular device.
12 Protect an oracle who must deliver bad news to a worshiper who is both influential and unpredictable.
Oracular
issued it.
4 A cult fanatic from a rival shrine gets the temple’s animals drunk on fermented fruit, throwing off their predictions.
5 An angry athlete (gladiator) takes the conflux’s