bad bitter diffusing contested reason

Snow Sphinx

monsters

whips around a feline face, revealing piercing blue eyes that can freeze foes with a single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or

spotted markings as its fur; they are strong enough to withstand the bitter winds that whistle across the tundra.Cold, Necrotic, RadiantFreezing Glare (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType

Leonin

Species Mythic Odysseys of Theros

feel smugly superior in my detachment. 2 The meddling of the gods in mortal affairs makes me angry and bitter. I wish they would just leave us all alone! 3 I view the gods as worthy

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

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

curse on a success.The transformation into a demilich isn’t a bitter end for all liches that experience it. Made as a conscious choice, the path of the demilich becomes the next step in a dark

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

;t a native, your reason for leaving “home” probably has something to do with getting away from a bad situation. Feature: All Eyes on You Your accent, mannerisms, figures of

provided. The following section, discussing possible homelands, includes some suggested reasons that are appropriate for each location. d6 Reason d6 Reason 1 Emissary 4 Pilgrim

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

a frivolous lark. You’ve maintained a solitary vigil outside the cavern entrance ever since. 2 You crossed the Guild in a bad way. Fortunately, its members think you’re dead. Less

past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society. Work with your DM to

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

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

. Great Purpose Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The kobolds prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger

Quaggoths

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

can survive on bitter lichens and toxic fungi, they viciously attack anything they can make a meal of, from giant spiders to explorers. Quaggoths sometimes serve as muscle for Underdark-dwelling

—earns the enmity of that quaggoth’s band regardless of reason or fault. These grudges sometimes extend to whole communities rather than individuals. Generations of quaggoths might seek revenge against a

Adversary

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

deal with than the average member of the city watch. If your character’s backstory doesn’t already include a personage of this sort, you could work with your DM to come up with a reason why an

1 The pirate captain on whose ship you once served; what you call moving on, the captain calls mutiny 2 A master spy to whom you unwittingly fed bad information, which led to the assassination of

Roleplaying Sergeant Vilroy

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

for Coal as her reason for hiring the characters, but a character who succeeds on a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by the Germaine’s Charisma (Deception) check can sense that she’s holding

for no reason other than their barbaric attitudes, report them to the Watch and this publication immediately. The Sharn Watch is bound by law to arrest these hooligans when they show their criminal

Appendix: Festive Monsters

compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack

single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or logic. Although a snow sphinx can speak, it generally greets its prey with claws and

it sinking into soft snow and thick fur to ward out the cold. The sphinx’s muscular wings carry the same spotted markings as its fur; they are strong enough to withstand the bitter winds that whistle

Caer-Konig

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

, lake, and snow. Forced to live on what they can haul out of the iced-over lake, the people of Caer-Konig are bitter and angry. They believe that the rest of Ten-Towns has abandoned them. The only thing

that keeps the townsfolk from leaving is the beer at the local tavern, which never seems to run out. As if things weren’t bad enough, the town has suffered several mysterious break-ins recently, with

Dock Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

some respects this area has never truly deserved its bad reputation. Yes, aside from the Field Ward, this is the area where most of Waterdeep’s poor reside. Yes, it is home to some of the least

often have no sign at all. You either know where you are going and have reason to be there — or you are lost, and a likely mark for pickpockets or worse. Streetlamps don’t fare well in the Dock Ward

Plane of Water

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

Plane of Water The nature of water is to flow, not like the gusting wind or the leaping flame, but smoothly and steadily. It is the rhythm of the tide, the nectar of life, the bitter tears of

to the surface or the Sea of Light. Krakens and other mighty leviathans claim this realm. Any land that rises above the surface of the sea is hotly contested by the few air-breathers that live on the

Survival Skills

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

itself to give its fellows time to collapse a nearby tunnel and prevent invaders from getting to the rest of the tribe. All kobolds know that fleeing from danger, especially against bad odds, is the smart

sacrifice when it presents itself. This practice contributes to the reason why most common folk (and adventurers) think kobolds are stupid as well as weak; they’ve seen or heard of a lone kobold trying to

The Stone Bridge

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

to make haste and catch up with him!” Characters who have reason to suspect Gargosh might be lying or holding back information can make a DC 16 Wisdom (Insight) check. A character who succeeds on

Personal Impact

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

fight in the war, how and why did they remain on the sidelines? Did they oppose the war? Did they do something to avoid conscription, or was there a reason they were considered unsuitable for service

of Cyre, or do they have other ideas for the nation’s future? For example, when an Aundairan player character meets a group of Eldeen druids, it’s an opportunity to exploit the bad blood between

Gambler

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

Gambler All you need to make a lot of gold is a little gold. Except at those times when all you need to have no gold at all is a little gold. Whether you’re a good gambler or a bad one rarely matters

be repaid. 2 I’m loyal to the friend or family member who taught me how to gamble. 3 The person who saved me from my gambling addiction is the only reason I’m alive today. 4 A patron

Oracular Conflux

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

from their god. Oracular Conflux Adventures The player characters could come to an oracular shrine for the same reason that most other people do: to receive a prediction about the future. They also

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

Factions in Athas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

the druids. The Lords’ Alliance Templar bureaucracy The sorcerer-kings of the Tyr Region are bitter enemies of each other, so nothing like the Lords’ Alliance is possible. However, the templar

destruction is bad for business, even by House Tsalaxa’s standards. If the house’s agents can seize the cult’s secrets in the process of eliminating the threat, so much the better.

Phenax's Influence

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

metaphorical progenitor of the Returned, Phenax also takes time to provide shelter and opportunities for his children to disrupt the mortal world. Divine Relationships It stands to reason that the god of

Lord of the Underworld and the River Guide. Still bitter over Phenax’s deception, Erebos concocts ways to torment the upstart god. Were he to discover a method to slay Phenax and return him to the

Ability Checks

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

Constitution Stamina and health Endure a marathon, grasp hot metal without flinching, win a drinking contest Intelligence Memory and reason Recall a bit of lore, recognize a clue’s significance

something, think of it in terms of what a very high or low score in those two abilities might mean. A character with a high Wisdom but low Intelligence is aware of the surroundings but is bad at

Adventure Structure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

goal is to prevent the gold from falling into the hands of the bad guys. If all goes well, some of the gold will find its way into the characters’ pockets. Characters will have a hard time claiming it

all for themselves, however. Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8 describe the lairs of the story’s villains and can be used at any time, in any order, or not at all. The characters might have reason to visit one

Elemental Plane of Water

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

islands and driving ships down to the reefs. Any land that rises above the surface of the sea is hotly contested by the few air breathers that live on the plane. Fleets of rafts and ships lashed together

to flow, not like the gusting wind or the leaping flame, but smoothly and steadily. It is the rhythm of the tide, the nectar of life, the bitter tears of mourning, and the balm of sympathy and healing

Where Are You From?

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

a native, your reason for leaving “home” probably has something to do with getting away from a bad situation.

reason. You must fear something truly terrible or seek something incredibly important. Zakhara. As the saying goes among those in Faerûn who know of the place, “To get to Zakhara, go south. Then go

Locations in Phandalin

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

Phandalin” above), Linene works tirelessly to keep the coster operational through good times and bad. Most of the goods in the Player’s Handbook can be purchased here. Linene can special order items

of Maza are those who question the nature of Alger’s death — including a few malcontents who whisper that perhaps the young smith had a compelling reason to kill her master. Whether these rumors hold

Leonin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

The meddling of the gods in mortal affairs makes me angry and bitter. I wish they would just leave us all alone! 3 I view the gods as worthy 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 gods, but I roll my eyes at each new twist of fate and try to

Chaos Incarnate

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

seemingly obliterated in a battle (perhaps to be reborn in another location). For this reason, imposing a sense of order on the relationship between the Abyss’s layers is a fool’s errand. All that can be

determined at any given time is which lord holds sway over which parts of the Abyss, and which areas are being contested by two or more lords. And as soon as such a fact becomes known, it might already

College of Whispers

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

this reason, members of this college rarely reveal their true nature. They typically claim to follow some other college, or they keep their actual calling secret in order to infiltrate and exploit royal

through this disguise by succeeding on a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by your Charisma (Deception) check. You gain a +5 bonus to your check. Once you capture a shadow with this feature, you can’t

Occultant

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

dawn seven days later. I don’t really understand occultants, and to be honest, they scare the Abyss out of me. — Jim Darkmagic Why Be an Occultant? d8 Reason 1 You believe in karmic

balance, but hate the idea that “balance” means good and bad things can both happen to you. Good things happening to you and bad things happening to other people seems perfectly reasonable. 2 You

Map of the Sword Coast

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

ruins of long-lost kingdoms. Amid a lawless wilderness of jagged, snow-capped peaks, alpine forests, bitter winds, and roaming monsters, the coast holds such great bastions of civilization as the city of

others little reason to visit the area. Sword Mountains These steep, craggy, snow-capped mountains are home to scattered tribes of orcs as well as other monsters. Icespire Peak is the tallest among

Castle Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

lavishly decorated, with many halls used by government officials, guildmasters, and nobles for meetings and court proceedings. If you have reason to be invited (not compelled, I should hope!) to meet with

parted ways. Mirt kept on with a life of adventure, while Durnan built the tavern called the Yawning Portal over the Well and now, almost two centuries later, charges coin to descend into it. Not a bad

Overkill Attacks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer

damage other minions with this attack. Outnumbered? Switch to area-of-effect powers. Otherwise you’re gonna have a bad day, which will probably last the rest of your life. The Sun, Senior

creatures succeeding on their saving throw. By contrast, under this book’s minion rules, spellcasters still have a good reason to use high-level spells against minions.

Personal Characteristics

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

bad fall during her career as a thief. Artemis Entreri is always prepared for the worst and moves with a quick, precise confidence. Consider their ideals. Tika Waylan is innocent, almost childlike

very personal reason to hate them with a fiery passion. Her bond might be phrased as “I will do whatever it takes to punish the dragonarmies for the destruction of the Inn of the Last Home.” Artemis

Courthouse: Summer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

and two veterans) down upon the characters, whom “Hyustus” accuses of beating the cell block guards to death. These reinforcements have no reason to believe that Captain Staget isn’t who he appears to

their case while he asks questions. A character who tries to deceive Zastro must make a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the magister’s Wisdom (Insight) check. A character who loses this contest

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