bad build diffusing close rival

Catoblepas

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of carrion, and wallowing in mire. A catoblepas might be found with the one mate it chooses for life and, on occasion, with a calf. A catoblepas attacks anyone that moves too close, especially if

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

Pidlwick II

Monsters Curse of Strahd

return the courtesy, the duchess commissioned the legendary toymaker Fritz von Weerg to build a clockwork effigy of Pidlwick as a gift for Strahd's family. Although the duchess's heart was in the right

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

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, empathetic, and generally peaceful — unless roused to action. Their flaws and bonds alike grow naturally from their close ties to the community. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait

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

Crab Folk

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

claim the metal. Brutal Raiders. Each year, when the warm summer gives way to the chill of autumn, the crab folk look to the sky for omens. In ancient days, the green hag kept close watch on the fishing

bad luck a gull might happen to land near a crab folk lair and utter the right combination of cries to summon up this ancient compulsion. Driven to action, the crab folk rampage along the coast

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

least get close without arousing suspicion. Once in a position to observe, the dragon studies the day-to-day life of local folk, with a keen interest in any magical phenomena. Emerald dragons&rsquo

found weeks later roaming the forest. They have no memory of the emerald dragon who charmed them for wandering too close to the dragon’s lair. 5 Giant lizard;Giant lizards drawn to the lair

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty

build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves

Young Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, or at least get close without arousing suspicion. Once in a position to observe, the dragon studies the day-to-day life of local folk, with a keen interest in any magical phenomena. Emerald dragons

are found weeks later roaming the forest. They have no memory of the emerald dragon who charmed them for wandering too close to the dragon’s lair. 5 Giant lizard;Giant lizards drawn to the

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

serve as a battering ram if a settlement dares to close its gates, blocking the way to the treasures and tasty food that lie within. A heavily laden wagon that requires the strongest orcs to return it to

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

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to. Their courage in the face of danger makes

violated, or a coup that removed you from a position of authority. QUICK BUILD You can make a barbarian quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Strength

Boros Legionnaire

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. Contacts The ordered structure of the Boros Legion offers abundant opportunities to make friends — and rivals — in higher places. You might have close friends in other guilds that share the

Boros emphasis on order and community, or bitter enemies among the guilds that represent chaos and destruction. Roll twice on the Boros Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

of an arcanaloth seeking a powerful Feywild artifact. 5 An adult moonstone dragon attempts to help a beholder worried that its dreams will soon give birth to a rival beholder. 6 Members of

multiplanar lairs by opening portals between planes at will. They sometimes forget to close those portals, allowing the inhabitants of one plane to wander into others. Moonstone Dragon Lair Features You can

Dragonmarked Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

Dragonmarked Characters Here are examples of characters with the Mark of Warding. Artificer House Agent. Some people want to build a better mousetrap. Better isn’t enough for you — you want to build

. Criminal Rogue. It’s not that you’re a bad person. You’ve just never met a lock you didn’t want to open. It’s like they speak to you, whispering “Free me! Free me!” You’re not even in it for the gold

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

;s activities. 3 I’ve been assigned to get close to an individual in this guild and learn their secrets. 4 I’ve been assigned to recruit a new Dimir spy from the ranks of this

anyone else uncover — including my guild superiors. 2 I formed a close friendship or romance with someone in the guild I’m infiltrating. 3 The Dimir agent who recruited me was

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, you are connected to every other member in some way or another. Convinced that the rest of the world is out to get you, you find it easy to form close bonds with your guild mates, and harder to make

meaningful connections with others. Roll twice on the Golgari Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Golgari Contacts table. Golgari Contacts d8 Contact 1 One

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

out of sight on a high tree branch in the form of a leopard, a human peers out of the jungle at the strange construction of a temple of Evil Elemental Air, keeping a close eye on the cultists&rsquo

, druids take on a more active role in combating the threat, as adventurers. Creating a Druid When making a druid, consider why your character has such a close bond with nature. Perhaps your

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Guild. If either of them ever finds out, your life as you know it will be over. 6 A close friend or relative joined the Guild and vanished mysteriously. You’ve worked your way into the lower

tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Gruul Anarch

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

encounters with members of other guilds are more often violent than friendly, but occasional bonds do form. Roll twice on the Gruul Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Gruul

spiritual guidance at times. 5 Roll an additional Gruul contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 6 An Izzet scientist blames the Gruul for the destruction of his life’s

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

it was sabotage that destroyed my first laboratory and killed many of my friends, and I seek revenge against whoever did it. 4 I have the schematics for an invention that I hope to build one day

even the lowliest attendant to make friends (and enemies) in laboratories across Ravnica. Roll twice on the Izzet Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Izzet Contacts table

Rival Explorers

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

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

in different troupes, which allows for the possibility of a widespread network of contacts. Roll twice on the Rakdos Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Rakdos Contacts table

of Rakdos together. We’re very close. 3 A childhood friend of mine is an attendant in Rix Maadi, the Rakdos guildhall. 4 My parents brought me into the guild and taught me my trade

Story Overview

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

Krenko’s freedom, and are desperate to make him pay. GUILDLESS VILLAINS Not every villain in a Ravnica campaign is a member of a guild, and not every scheme originates in the guildhalls. As you build

A Sordid Past

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

A Sordid Past Neither Skalanthas nor the monks know that until recently, Ronnom led an assassins’ guild that carried out political killings for profit. Rival factions banded together to destroy the

guild, killing most of the guild’s assassins, but Ronnom and his bodyguards escaped and fled to Najkir. Under Ronnom’s influence, Skalanthas has grown territorial, threatening ships that get too close

Dungeon Master's Tools

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

variety of situations. The chapter also includes a selection of ready-to-use puzzles, which you can drop into any campaign. The tools herein build on the material in the Dungeon Master’s Guide and

the Monster Manual. You may use some, all, or none of these tools, and feel free to customize how they work. Your group’s enjoyment is paramount, so make these rules your own, aiming to match your group’s tastes. Tasha prepares to win another game of wizardly chess against her rival Mordenkainen.

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

; scales. It glows like starlight between their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with anger, lying back

above to build their lairs. Then, like gem cutters seeking the perfect diamond, they spend much of their lives refining, polishing, and enhancing the beauty of their lairs. Crystal dragons&rsquo

Ancient Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

dragons’ scales. It glows like starlight between their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with

seek out frigid, picturesque locations with clear views of the sky above to build their lairs. Then, like gem cutters seeking the perfect diamond, they spend much of their lives refining, polishing

Perils at Sea

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

the dingy is a human youngster in danger. Changing course to save the ship delays the characters’ arrival in Grakenok (see the “Arriving in Grakenok” section). The characters might be traveling close

enough to Sytri or Tol that the other hero can hear them. A character who points out the floundering ship to the other hero and succeeds on a DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) check convinces their rival

Creating a Rival

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

Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of

created for themselves. Example Rivals d20 Rival 1 Tax collector who is convinced the characters are dodging fees 2 Politician who is concerned that the characters are causing more trouble than they

House Cannith

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

control. Cannith East Headquartered in Korth (in Karrnath) and led by Zorlan d’Cannith, Cannith East enjoys close ties to the government of Karrnath and the faith of the Blood of Vol. This branch of

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

Adult Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

close without arousing suspicion. Once in a position to observe, the dragon studies the day-to-day life of local folk, with a keen interest in any magical phenomena. Emerald dragons&rsquo

later roaming the forest. They have no memory of the emerald dragon who charmed them for wandering too close to the dragon’s lair. 5 Giant lizard;Giant lizards drawn to the lair of a

Ancient Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

cloak themselves and watch from afar. When an emerald dragon is old enough, the dragon might take on the guise of a creature that can blend in with the local population, or at least get close without

forest. They have no memory of the emerald dragon who charmed them for wandering too close to the dragon’s lair. 5 Giant lizard;Giant lizards drawn to the lair of a legendary emerald

A Life of Danger

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

a town, and he or she plays a similar role as a protector of the people and a leader in times of war. Life in the wild places of the world is fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and

often a way of life for their native tribes, and the rootless life of the adventurer is little hardship for a barbarian. Some barbarians miss the close-knit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties.

Research

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

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

keen intellect and magic to discover the secrets of making steel. Its military shattered rival tribes and developed advanced tactics for fighting in forests and open plains. The civilization grew into a

human society, so they gain influence by controlling enemy rulers — and those close to them — through blackmail, drugs, magic, and the subterfuge of disguised purebloods. From Calimshan and

Mordenkainen

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

visited numerous worlds and planes of existence, making friends and fomenting rivalries on many of them. He maintains a close friendship with his former apprentice Bigby and the famous archmage Elminster of Shadowdale. Mordenkainen’s greatest rival is Iggwilv, a former adventuring companion.

A Life of Danger

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

A Life of Danger A barbarian plays an important role as a protector of their people and a leader in times of war. Life in the wild places of the world is fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly

. Wandering is often a way of life for their native tribes, and the rootless life of the adventurer is little hardship for a barbarian. Some barbarians miss the close-knit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties.

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