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Returning 35 results for 'bad bringing diffusing clever reason'.
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
a patriar’s scion in an illegal duel. The family swore revenge, and you fled to the slums rather than risk bringing their wrath down on your kin.
6
You aren’t originally from Baldur
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
led her down a path of evil and deceit. For that reason, Kasimir wants to see the vampire destroyed so that his sister can be rescued from her eternal damnation.
Secrets of the Amber Temple. Patrina
more important, he believes that the Amber Temple holds the secret to bringing the ancient dead back to life.
With the characters' help, Kasimir thinks he might be able to find out how to restore
Species
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
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
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
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
strong social structure that stresses devotion to the tribe, are clever with their hands, and viciously work together in order to overcome their physical limitations.
In the kobolds’ version of
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
Aarakocra
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
Kenku
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
a talent for learning and memorizing details. Thus, ambitious kenku can excel as superb spies and scouts. A kenku who learns of clever schemes and plans devised by other creatures can put them to use
. The kenku lack the talent to improvise or alter a plan, but a wise Master sets multiple plans in motion at once, confident that underlings can follow orders to the letter.
For this reason, many
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
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
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->Lost Mine of Phandelver
heads are trophies from the hobgoblins’ recent victory over an elf hunting party. Clever characters might try to reason with Targor by urging him to think of himself as Grol’s successor rather than
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
. We’ve visited Waterdeep before, but not like this. Clever heroes will respect the city’s rules. Those who get on the city’s bad side are in for a rough time, as the City of Splendors is home to some of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
create new things, they have a talent for learning and memorizing details. Thus, ambitious kenku can excel as superb spies and scouts. A kenku who learns of clever schemes and plans devised by other
. For this reason, many kenku make an easy living serving as messengers, spies, and lookouts for thieves’ guilds, bandits, and other criminal cartels. A network of kenku can relay a bird call or similar
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
where to go in the Lower City and Outer City for anonymity. In these slums and alley camps, you can get a damp bed and a bad meal, but also a degree of privacy and no questions asked. Living here
.
2 You crossed the Guild in a bad way. Fortunately, its members think you’re dead. Less fortunately, maintaining that deception might require you to stay in hiding until you actually are.
3
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
where to go in the Lower City and Outer City for anonymity. In these slums and alley camps, you can get a damp bed and a bad meal, but also a degree of privacy and no questions asked. Living here
crossed the Guild in a bad way. Fortunately, its members think you’re dead. Less fortunately, maintaining that deception might require you to stay in hiding until you actually are. 3 You study the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
determine the outcome. A Charisma check can’t deceive or persuade most devils into a bad deal because the fiends are too clever and experienced in deal-making to be fooled. If devils do get involved in a
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy
Adventure Hooks All the characters have volunteered, for whatever reason, to join Spelljammer Academy: a shadowy enclave of spellcasters and swords-for-hire situated on the remote and mysterious
choose to downplay initial introductions and discussion of the characters’ backstories, bringing up any connections between the characters only after the adventure’s initial encounter has been resolved
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
. What better way to think of the big bad monster at the center of a web of even bigger and badder plans than as the CEO of a megacorporation, using every resource to dominate the market? What is an
-reaching power of global corporations allied with political power doesn’t just inform our own real world — it molds it. Bringing that concept of powerful corporations working with or against nobility to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
other orcs and its intelligence to surprise enemies on the battlefield. Many an overconfident elf, human, or dwarf commander has watched a “simple” orc warlord execute a clever maneuver to outflank and
foremost — because they believe that the gods have strength beyond reason, and physical might is all they respect. Servants of Darkness. Mistrusted by orcs, some orogs form independent mercenary war
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
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
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
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
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle
enlightenment. There, the characters learn about the dangers facing Stormwreck Isle. Each character has a specific reason for coming to the cloister, as shown on the character sheets. You can also let
keep their reasons secret for now. Ask the players to give you the party’s marching order as they start toward the cloister. Who’s in front, and who’s bringing up the rear? Make a note of this marching order. When you’re ready, continue with the “Drowned Sailors” section.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. It has now been almost a month, and the delegation never showed up at Goldenfields or any other outpost. Powerful factions have good reason to worry about the missing delegation. The Harpers are
concerned about a noted dwarf historian who was part of the delegation. The Emerald Enclave wants to know what happened to a pouch of magical seeds one of the delegation members was bringing to Goldenfields
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
paraphrase the following: “Not bad. You are clever—I acknowledge that much. But I wonder how you would fare against the master of this chamber. I hereby challenge you to a dragonchess match: winner takes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
that is craftily executed and might offer all manner of clever assistance to mortals he deems worthy. What did you do to garner his attention? What set you apart in his eyes from petty schemers, grifters
him look ridiculous or ineffectual through acts such as these: Forthrightly assisting lawgivers in their duties Swearing and then honoring an oath Bringing order in times of chaos Phenax’s Devotee
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
realize what the party is up to, they immediately suspect the characters are out to make them look bad. In that case, they become surly and tight-lipped. All the militia guards have been assured by
superiors and fellow guards, and she doesn’t need any more trouble in that area. If she’s reassured that the characters aren’t trying to make the militia look bad, Jute gives a frank account of her
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
them—yet they need not do so alone. Groups like the Harpers, the Lord’s Alliance, and even the wicked Zhentarim might be rallied to oppose the Cult of the Dragon, but only if clever souls convince
bringing several of D&D’s most ferocious foes to life. As Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat numbered among the first fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons products, an online supplement for these
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
—yet they need not do so alone. Groups like the Harpers, the Lord’s Alliance, and even the wicked Zhentarim might be rallied to oppose the Cult of the Dragon, but only if clever souls convince them to
, magic items, and monsters from both adventures into comprehensive references. Additionally, an entirely new concept art gallery reveals a glimpse behind the scenes at the work that went into bringing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
them—yet they need not do so alone. Groups like the Harpers, the Lord’s Alliance, and even the wicked Zhentarim might be rallied to oppose the Cult of the Dragon, but only if clever souls convince
bringing several of D&D’s most ferocious foes to life. As Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat numbered among the first fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons products, an online supplement for these
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
yochlol. The yochlol knows that Gromph’s inability to harness the faerzress is the reason why the ritual failed, but it doesn’t know Gromph’s present whereabouts. If the characters ask “Y’lara” what
for bringing the demon lords to the Underdark. Treasure Gromph’s grimoire rests atop the lectern near the circle and bears the title Zhaun’ol’leal (“The Book of the Eight” in Elvish) and describes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
plan to use the kraken’s blood—or if they did learn his plan, but never told Fhenimore and Whymsee about it. Regardless of the reason, the kraken priests are not alarmed or on guard when Gar
. Gar casts heal on himself, bringing him back to his hit point maximum, and begins the process of drawing blood from the kraken, storing it in massive five-gallon bladders he brought along for this
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






