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Returning 35 results for 'bards back diffusing court relatives'.
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
Knightly Virtue. The knight has one of the following traits, depending on the court it serves:
Courage (Embereth). The knight has advantage on Wisdom checks and Wisdom saving throws.
Knowledge
its former glory, or seeking to help travelers and remote communities beset by troubles.
Achieving knighthood in one of the courts requires a quest that proves one’s excellence in that court
Bard
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires hard study
of song, speech, and the magic they contain. Bards say that the multiverse was spoken into existence, that the words of the gods gave it shape, and that echoes of these primordial Words of Creation
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Change Shape. Iymrith magically polymorphs into a female storm giant or back into her true form
. In this guise, she has infiltrated Hekaton’s court. While concealing her true nature and agenda from the giants, Iymrith offers counsel to Princess Serissa and at the same time secretly feeds
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
through her veins.
Mother Night. Over four hundred years ago, Katarina came to Barovia and insinuated herself into Strahd’s court, working as a maid in Castle Ravenloft. She came to know the
castle like the back of her hand, and she was present for the wedding of Sergei and Tatyana. After Strahd went mad and murdered his brother, she fled the castle and took refuge with the Vistani. Later
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
eyelashes. Underneath her makeup, her flesh is textured like rotten bark and infested with wood lice and fungus. The windup key sticking out of her back is a part of her body and no easier to remove than one
returned, the hags used this power to trap Iggwilv and her court in temporal stasis. The hags then carved up Iggwilv’s domain, splitting it between them. The sisters couldn’t agree on which
Entertainer
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble’s court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the
)
d6
Bond
1
My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love.
2
Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back
Gnome
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Basic Rules (2014)
stare, then appeared to go back to sleep.
— Richard Lee Byers, The Black Bouquet
A constant hum of busy activity pervades the warrens and neighborhoods where gnomes form their close-knit
over time. Gnome names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. When dealing with humans and others who are “stuffy” about
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
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 with fear or suspicion, and rippling
rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible.
3
A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in
Kenku
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
at the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within
the area patrolled by the guard did she explain that the noises indicated that the wingless folk had claimed that area, and that to trespass would be to court death.
— Gimble, Notes from a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires
hard study and some measure of natural talent that most troubadours and jongleurs lack. It can be hard to spot the difference between these performers and true bards, though. A bard’s life is spent
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Learning from Experience True bards are not common in the world. Not every minstrel singing in a tavern or jester cavorting in a royal court is a bard. Discovering the magic hidden in music requires
hard study and some measure of natural talent that most troubadours and jongleurs lack. It can be hard to spot the difference between these performers and true bards, though. A bard’s life is spent
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
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 with fear or
Prismatic shards rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible.
3
A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel
Court of Whispers The denizens of the Court of Whispers barter for current knowledge. Heralds, criers, bards, and griots buy and sell information from the fifteen founding civilizations active in the
Citadel, as well as other lands. Skilled scouts and spies can also be hired for short-term reconnaissance or long-term infiltration. The Court is a mixed outdoor-indoor space with quiet alcoves and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Court of Whispers The denizens of the Court of Whispers barter for current knowledge. Heralds, criers, bards, and griots buy and sell information from the fifteen founding civilizations active in the
Citadel, as well as other lands. Skilled scouts and spies can also be hired for short-term reconnaissance or long-term infiltration. The Court is a mixed outdoor-indoor space with quiet alcoves and
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your
me of someone I love.
2
Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back.
3
I want to be famous, whatever it takes.
4
I idolize a hero of the old tales and
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
a bridge on a major trade road, terrifying travelers.
3
After an unwise attack from a whaling ship, a dragon turtle pursued the ship back to harbor and now attacks any ship that tries to leave
in a game of dragonchess that has been going on for centuries.
2
An ancient dragon turtle serves as counsel to an empyrean court, tempering the Celestials’ passions with the dragon turtle
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
bards and philosophers to partake in “the Great Dialogue” in the dragon’s mountaintop lair. But only the dragon knows that the Great Dialogue has no end, and no one can leave the lair
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
anger, lying back with fear or suspicion, and rippling in side-to-side waves with amusement or joy.
Visions in Starlight
Many crystal dragons study the stars, recording their observations of the night
the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in “the Great Dialogue” in the dragon’s mountaintop lair. But only the dragon knows that the Great Dialogue has no end, and no one can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
to your relatives or have you had a falling out—or potentially lost your kin in the Last War? Likewise, consider what you did in the war and how that reflects on your current actions. Were you a
soldier, and if so, how did that service end? If not, did you serve your nation in another way, or did you turn your back on it?
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
filled with Janyans enraptured by the low-toned, hypnotic music of a group of bards. Xoese-Addae leads the characters to a private audience suite overlooking the quad, occupied by a single Janyan wearing
fine, billowing robes—this is Zisatta. Zisatta Zisatta The aloof Zisatta is a member of the High Court and commands Janya’s security forces, called the Billowing Patrol for their sable robes that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within the area
patrolled by the guard did she explain that the noises indicated that the wingless folk had claimed that area, and that to trespass would be to court death.
— Gimble, Notes from a Treasure Hunter
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
K2. Center Court Gate Two gates, one north of the keep and one to the south, prevent easy access to what lies beyond them. A massive wall juts out to connect the outer walls of the castle with the
DC 15 Strength check. It can also be opened with a command word that only Strahd and Cyrus Belview (area K62) know. Unless the portcullis is wedged or propped open, it falls back into place once it is let go.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
desperation, and ensure that everyone is supported by family and community. She isn’t a demanding god, but her champions diligently court her favor by trying to further her goals. The Karametra’s Quests
village whose crops are failing.
3 Defend or found an orphanage.
4 Teach a settlement to defend itself from wild beasts.
5 Reunite an orphan with living relatives.
6 Convince
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
Bardic Colleges In addition to the tradition of apprenticing with a master bard, the Sword Coast has some bardic colleges where masters teach students the bardic arts. They hark back to the great
the bards, each of which is named after one of the colleges. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the game statistics of these magic instruments. Long ago, bards who sought the rank of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
records rooms (area H2) at all hours. Behind a desk sits a court clerk (commoner). Uncomfortable wood benches line the walls. A copper plaque mounted above each bench says, in Common, “Please have a
space hold boxes of papers dated by month and year. These papers are records of court proceedings and depositions. H3. Clerks’ Office Two desks pushed together in the middle of the room hold quills
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
. A gynosphinx with oracular powers came back to Morgrave University with a Xen’drik expedition two years ago, and took up residence there. In addition to her first-hand knowledge of Xen’drik, she is
to be brought out of Xen’drik,” she might say. She never explains her proclamations, and never provides information on mundane affairs. Faerie Court. Somewhere deep in the western forest of the Eldeen
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
and fomorians that they are not a threat to the Gloaming Court. If they believe the characters, and particularly if the characters agree (truthfully or otherwise) to help the queen destroy the
Princess of the Shadow Glass, the elves and fomorians can reveal that the Queen of Air and Darkness sent them from the Feywild to slay the marked characters and steal back The Scrivener’s Tale. The queen is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
halfling pluck and dark devotion make the wicked Nettlebees unlikely to back down easily. In fact, Wiggan tries to bribe the characters into defending Bertram and him “against these savages.” He also uses
Wiggan’s guilt. Wiggan is even braver if Bertram is there to help him. Watson might try to stop an open battle, but he is unwilling to fight his relatives. If defeated but left alive, Wiggan can be coerced into telling the truth. The party has to promise to let him live to get him to talk.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn
forests around Windkeep in Kharolis on the world of Krynn. Fizban needs to ask the unicorn to travel back to Windkeep with the characters to help him complete some beneficent magical research
unicorn to live in her stables and bless her court in exchange for a lavish lifestyle. The queen suggests a unicorn may live in the forests around Enstad, the capital.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Duergar Calassabrak A duergar prince named Valtagar Steelshadow traveled to Undermountain to plunder its mines and use the wealth to buy his way back into the court of his older brother, King Horgar
and his duergar followers were forced back into the Underdark by the planetar’s sudden arrival and subsequent bloody crusade. Weeks after retreating, they returned to discover that the mines were much
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
her subjects. She and her soldiers kill anyone who she considers a traitor, a status extended not only to those who back Arijani and Reeva, but even to those who don’t support her vociferously enough
night of the next new moon and rejoins the maharani’s army. Ramya’s living followers consider this deathless state an honor and the ultimate mark of loyalty. Blood Relatives. Ramya never compromises
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Chapter 8: Adventuring Delving into the ancient Tomb of Horrors, slipping through the back alleys of Waterdeep, hacking a fresh trail through the thick jungles on the Isle of Dread—these are the
exploring a dusty dungeon or the complex relationships of a royal court, the game follows a natural rhythm, as outlined in the book’s introduction: The DM describes the environment. The players describe
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Chapter 8: Adventuring Delving into the ancient Tomb of Horrors, slipping through the back alleys of Waterdeep, hacking a fresh trail through the thick jungles on the Isle of Dread—these are the
exploring a dusty dungeon or the complex relationships of a royal court, the game follows a natural rhythm, as outlined in the book’s introduction: The DM describes the environment. The players describe
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
door is a jittery bullywug with a spear, and behind this guard is a wooden crate with hunting gear piled atop it. Huddled in the back of the hut are four more bullywugs. Tension hangs heavy in the
, the bullywugs attack the characters to prevent them from betraying Illig to Gullop XIX. If one or more characters force their way inside, Illig’s allies try to hold the intruders back long enough for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Kayalithica After fleeing Hekaton’s court, Kayalithica, an inscrutable stone giant thane, withdrew to her canyon sanctuary of Deadstone Cleft. There, in its hallowed halls, she hoped to elevate her
empower his runes. Unbeknown to Storvald, the runes are steering the frost giants not to Artus Cimber but to other, closer individuals who carry the Cimber bloodline — Artus’s living relatives, most of whom