bad blade diffusing caution regarded

Mind Flayer Arcanist Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

":"Spellcasting"} to hit with spell attacks). The mind flayer arcanist has the following wizard spells prepared: Cantrips (at will): blade ward, dancing lights, mage hand, shocking grasp 1st level (4 slots

creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.A few mind flayer;mind flayers supplement their psionic power with arcane spells. However, they are regarded as deviants by their illithid peers and usually shunned.

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

The Grand Master

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

deal an extra 6d8 slashing damage instead. You might also have the shards be from a polymorph blade, a blade of the medusa, or some other type of weapon. Another option is to allow decapitated

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).

Epilogue: Croc Hunt

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Epilogue: Croc Hunt Either as a way of apologizing for making a bad first impression on the lizardfolk, or to provide some extra excitement for combat-loving characters, this encounter pits the party

crocodile prowled in the marsh nearby. Crocodiles are sacred to this tribe and they regarded its presence as a good omen. The lizardfolk have much experience with crocodiles and thus perceived it as not

Arms, Armor, and Combat

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

, is legal only if it occurs in a location registered with the city for that purpose. Additionally, any blade more than one foot in length is subject to an extra tax whenever it is sold, which helps to

the city with such protection. As such, the sight of armed and armored individuals walking the streets who aren’t in the livery of the city or one of its noble houses inspires caution in most

Vistani Lore

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

another Vistana. It is the burden of the Vistani’s great gift that their own fates can’t be divined. Vistani curses are potent, but they are invoked with great caution. Vistani know that to curse one

who is undeserving of such punishment can have grave consequences for the one who utters such a curse. Ravens carry lost souls within them, so killing one is bad luck. (The ravens don’t carry souls within.)

Fey Outlook

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory

Fey host might be regarded as an insult and cause a hubbub, if not a revocation of the Fey host’s hospitality. A trusty Fey guide can provide invaluable assistance in navigating such delicate

dessert recipe Sensational, applause-worthy performance Haircut or bath Bad Gifts to Give Fey Item that has outlived its usefulness Item you intended to get rid of Half-hearted performance Cursed, evil, or broken item

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

lair are difficult for characters of lower than 5th level to overcome. You can gently steer characters in a different direction, drop hints that urge them to use extreme caution, or make deadly

Difficulty Class

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

hurt. If you find yourself thinking, “This task is especially hard,” you can use a higher DC, but do so with caution and consider the level of the characters. A DC 25 task is very hard for low-level

say a door requires a successful DC 15 Strength check to be battered down. A fighter with a Strength of 20 might helplessly flail against the door because of bad die rolls. Meanwhile, the rogue with a

Factions in Athas

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

fiercely competitive and seek out any advantage to use against their rivals, but House Tsalaxa of Draj is widely regarded as the most ruthless of them all. Agents of House Tsalaxa do not hesitate to

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.

Matriculating from the Schools of Magic

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

creatures for scouting or guard duty, or using dimension door to slip away from a deal gone bad. The hard part of that last one is always figuring out which of your franchise mates you’ll bring with you

nightmare of franchise-branded zombies running amok. Still, if things get bad, there’s nothing like a general marketing campaign reminding local folk that necromancy means raise dead. Even if you can’t cast

The Zhentarim

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

knows that demons at large in the world are bad for business. The organization thus views the possible presence of the demon lords in the Underdark with the same concern as any other external threat

Resources: Zhentarim thugs Graceful and elegant as a blade, Davra Jassur ostensibly recruits promising new talent for the Zhentarim. But she also deals with internal problems, ensuring those problems

Failed Merchant

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

Failed Merchant Maybe you come from a long line of merchants. Perhaps you were an entrepreneur. Regardless, your ventures ended poorly. Whether it was because of outside influences, bad luck, or

forward. (Good) 3 Excitement. Caution got me nowhere in my previous business. I’m not going to let it hold me back now. (Chaotic) 4 Wealth. With enough coin, I can buy comfort, power, knowledge

Sylvira Savikas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

regarded as a hero who saved his city from an undead scourge, giving rise to the holy nation of Elturgard. “Hailed as a savior, Thavius made all citizens of Elturel swear an oath called the Creed

Candlekeep. Unfold the poster map of Avernus at this time and let the players study it. Sylvira then gives the characters a word of caution: “This map might not be entirely reliable,” warns Sylvira

Mind Flayer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

the effect on itself on a success. VARIANT: MIND FLAYER ARCANIST A few mind flayers supplement their psionic power with arcane spells. However, they are regarded as deviants by their illithid

Intelligence (save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The mind flayer has the following wizard spells prepared: Cantrips (at will): blade ward, dancing lights, mage hand, shocking grasp 1st

Narration in Combat

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

damage is a bad wound for the enemy, say: “You swing wildly, and the knight brings his shield up just a second too late. Your blade catches him along the jaw, drawing a deep gash. He recoils, bleeding

Welcome to the City of Blades

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

can be shackled and shipped beyond the Darklake District. Resisting arrest is a truly bad idea; every duergar around is reinforcement. If the characters get arrested, you can interrupt their transfer

foreign mercenaries). Possible offers of employment in the Blade Bazaar can also be turned into timely rescues for the adventurers. Otherwise, they end up in Overlake Hold, interrogated by Errde Blackskull.

Example Complex Traps

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

, imposing disadvantage on the blades’ attacks against the creature while it isn’t incapacitated. Attack. A creature in the area can ready an attack to strike at one of the blades as it goes by. The blade

gains advantage on its attack against the creature. The creature then attacks. Each blade has AC 15 and 15 hit points. Destroying a blade reduces the Whirling Blades attack bonus by 2. Dexterity check

Building Combat Encounters

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

). Challenge Rating When putting together an encounter or adventure, especially at lower levels, exercise caution when using monsters whose challenge rating is higher than the party’s average level. Such a

their enemies to move around, such as chandeliers, kegs of gunpowder or oil, and whirling blade traps Enemies in hard-to-reach locations or defensive positions, so that characters who normally attack at range are forced to move around the battlefield Different types of monsters working together

City Celebrations

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

this world and the faerie realm of the Feywild is thought to be weak on this day. Though this phenomenon provokes caution in rural areas (with folk avoiding woodlands, putting offerings of food on

Nimoar. The illusion typically lasts from midday to sunset (unless someone has the audacity and magical might to dispel it) and is regarded as a stunning work of magical art. Flamerule 3–5: Sornyn Sornyn

The Lords' Alliance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

is a stern warrior dedicated to discipline and results. Having risen through the ranks of the Flaming Fist by the might of his blade and the sharpness of his wits, he sometimes lacks sophistication and

consistently argues for caution and more information, and nothing the adventurers say seems to make any difference. That changes when it is revealed that his lost son Neronvain has become the cult’s

The Lords' Alliance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

a stern warrior dedicated to discipline and results. Having risen through the ranks of the Flaming Fist by the might of his blade and the sharpness of his wits, he sometimes lacks sophistication and

consistently argues for caution and more information, and nothing the adventurers say seems to make any difference. That changes when it is revealed that his lost son Neronvain has become the cult’s

The Lords' Alliance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

is a stern warrior dedicated to discipline and results. Having risen through the ranks of the Flaming Fist by the might of his blade and the sharpness of his wits, he sometimes lacks sophistication and

consistently argues for caution and more information, and nothing the adventurers say seems to make any difference. That changes when it is revealed that his lost son Neronvain has become the cult’s

Ship Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

extended. This last document is a request from the lizardfolk for more weapons. You should exercise caution here in not making the document too explicit — the lizardfolk would not want the document to

Dexterity check using thieves’ tools. The chest is trapped with a swinging blade trap. Noticing the trap requires a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation) check. A successful DC 12 Dexterity check

N3. Burgomaster's Mansion

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

). In addition to his weapons, Izek carries an iron ring of keys that unlock the stocks in the town square (area N8). If the characters get on his bad side, the baron accuses them of being “spies of the

ghost: Magic mirror on the wall, Summon forth your shade; Night’s dark vengeance, heed my call And wield your murderous blade. The entity in the mirror is the spirit of a nameless assassin who

Dungeon Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

humanoid to squeeze through. IMPRISONED CHARACTERS If the characters are defeated in Vanthampur Villa or the dungeon below, you can have the bad guys stabilize dying party members, strip them of their

ceremonial dagger stolen from Tiamat’s hoard: a curved ivory blade bearing Draconic runes that spell out “Fang,” along with a bone hilt wrapped in leather strips and studded with gemstones. A mending

Locations on the Dungeon Level

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

can escape. Treasure. The tribe’s leader has four gems worth 100 gp each. Nine of the other troglodytes have single gems, seven worth 50 gp each and two 10 gp ones. These gems are regarded as holy

total of 13,000 cp). Opening the second chest triggers a scything blade trap that targets the opener (+7 to hit), dealing 10 (3d6) slashing damage on a hit. With a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception

Locations I - L

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

at them (and they at her). The dragon is quite insane, and she wears a saddle to which is strapped the dead, withered corpse of a wizard she once regarded as a great friend. Arveiaturace occasionally

. Refugees are pouring into Loudwater, and those who can’t afford to stay at the local inns are being herded like cows into warehouses overlooking the harbor. As if that weren’t bad enough, stone giants have

Lair Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

room. All the chests are unlocked. Each contains personal effects and a small ivory statuette of Semuanya. These are of no value but are regarded as very valuable by the shamans. Treasure. The chests

blade trap. Noticing the trap requires a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation) check. A successful DC 12 Dexterity check is required to disarm the trap. Opening the chest without disarming the

Wedding Itinerary

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

its slam attack is a blade attack that deals slashing damage. When all other business is done, Rizwin addresses the wedding party one last time. “Your vault awaits, ready for the gifts each family has

Zardak appears to notice something odd about one of the characters or the body they inhabit, but this ends up just being his bad eyesight. Fifteen minutes after they arrive, the two take their leave

Locations on the Fortress Level

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a1

ghostly blue and swings open silently. Scythe Trap. If someone tries to open the door without first deactivating the lock, a scythe blade springs forth, targeting the area immediately in front of the door

: +5 to hit, 4 (1d8) slashing damage. The blade is concealed in a slot in the ceiling, 10 feet up. A character who succeeds on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check can find the slot before the trap is

D&D Beyond

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