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Returning 35 results for 'bards bad diffusing concerns relatively'.
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and
with interests and concerns that transcend local politics and geography, the Alliance has its own cadre of individuals who work on behalf of the organizations, wider agenda. Alliance agents are required
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
of major concerns in their people’s homelands, as well as potential threats to the Citadel, while the Shieldbearers of the Citadel (see the “Palace of Exile” section) seek information so they can
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
of major concerns in their people’s homelands, as well as potential threats to the Citadel, while the Shieldbearers of the Citadel (see the “Palace of Exile” section) seek information so they can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
, the Talons are terrifying. Their numbers are relatively few, but they’re organized enough to oppress Lekar’s ragged survivors and enforce Drakov’s totalitarian laws. In the face of zombie hordes
executions serve the greater good and impose necessary order, but make it clear that zombies aren’t the realm’s only monsters. Only Bad Decisions. There is one simple truth in Falkovnia: the dead are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
agents include sophisticated bards, zealous paladins, talented mages, and grizzled warriors. They are chosen primarily for their loyalty and are experts in observation, stealth, innuendo, and combat
’ Alliance fights the things that the shopkeeper in his bed has never even heard of. We remove threats before the town mayor even knows about it. We make bad things go away. That’s what we’re good at.”
Rameel Jos
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
concerns are beneath a god’s notice. This outlook might put his champions in a difficult ideological situation, stuck between the demands of a wrathful deity and uncomfortable moral choices. The Keranos’s
prophecies, potentially drawing in secrets of the other gods or of reality itself. It is relatively easy for a mortal to lose Keranos’s favor because the god is quick to anger and doesn’t suffer failure
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
these hired helpers to prominence for their importance to the campaign story. And, of course, for comic effect. When the characters are relatively low level, an Acquisitions Incorporated style of play can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and innkeepers, rangers, and the clergy of gods that are
representatives of the cities and other governments that constitute the alliance. But, as a faction with interests and concerns that transcend local politics and geography, the Alliance has its own cadre of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
fidgeting with her clutch all night. Has she gotten some sort of bad news? Maybe she’s about to fire someone! 2 Sometimes the museum keeps displays hidden in the basement at night. The curator must think
concerns, and leaves to mingle with other attendees. Alda’s Clutch. Characters who watch Alda closely notice a fancy clutch she holds behind her back. Inside the clutch is a map of the museum guards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
, blood and offal from butchers, lye and fur from tanners, and indescribable chemical mixtures from alchemists. In the eastern portion of the Styes, the pollution is so bad that the river’s flow has been
organized faith exists in secret in the Styes, and it plays a central role in the adventure — the cult of Tharizdun. Health Disease and infection are real concerns in the Styes. Most residents suffer
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
resemble relatively small frost or stone giants. They use armor and weapons similar to what other combatants on Ysgard use in the eternal battle. The transformation that created fensirs left them with an
seems like a transparently bad idea. What were those giants thinking?
—Bigby
And yet, can we fairly say that the existence of fensirs is “transparently bad”? Some might argue they are a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Scholars, wizards, druids, and bards of other races have different ideas about how halflings escape peril, suggesting that by virtue of something in their nature, they occupy a special place in the
off bad luck or to bring good fortune. Villages or even families might have superstitions observed by no one else, such as the following:
For a safe journey through a forest, leave a few seeds or a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
orange, rests amid a pool of bubbling, hissing water.
This is the crate that concerns Instructor Minexes the most, although the characters are likely unaware of this fact. Several flasks inside the
ascertain that the orange glow around the crate is a bad sign, for it suggests the crate’s contents might have been damaged in a dangerous way. The crate explodes if it is moved or jostled. If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
question mark for a soft limit, indicate any potentially sensitive elements that are problematic. Add any other elements to avoid.
Hopes, Expectations, and Concerns. In the last two boxes, share any
hopes and expectations for the game, and list any concerns about behavior at the table.
Collect all the sheets, and gather your players’ limits into a separate, anonymous document the whole group can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
their concerns and ridicule their beliefs, so they expect a low success rate in their recruitment efforts. The group’s carefully crafted recruitment message has its appeal: all your suffering and all the
bad things in the world are proof that the world is unraveling—and most importantly, none of it is your fault. Those drawn to this message are called aspirants. Each aspirant meets regularly with an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
perfectly still and pose no threat as long as the tomb remains relatively quiet. If any character talks loudly, steps on a piece of broken pottery, or makes any other equivalent noise while in the tomb, read
heaped around Shagambi’s bones: 200 gp, five moonstones (50 gp each), the fine music box activated by the trap (250 gp), and an instrument of the bards (Canaith mandolin). The instrument turns to dust and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Baldur’s Gate! But now I fear I have misplaced a friend amid this odious malevolence.
“My friend’s name is Floon Blagmaar. He’s got more beauty than brains, and I worry he took a bad way home a couple
Guide to Monsters. To make more coin, he began work on a new book, Volo’s Guide to Spirits and Specters. As it happens, his knowledge of spirits mostly concerns the alcoholic variety, and the writing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
let her go, she returns to the tower 3d10 hours later with a squealing boar tucked under one arm. Moog has had some bad experiences with small folk in the past. Her inclination is to attack if
confronted. Her tower contains enough rubble that she won’t run out of rocks to throw anytime soon. Any character who tries to allay Moog’s concerns by speaking to her calmly and soothingly in Giant can make a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
, skimming from the coffers of either temple, running illegal gambling at the Sleeping Giant — any of these activities could net a nice profit with relatively limited risk. Staying on the Good Side If
-work miners. Doing so makes acquiring ongoing concessions or information from townsfolk much easier, but puts the characters in the bad graces of Sharna Quirstiron at the Miner’s Exchange. Leads to the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
limit, indicate any potentially sensitive elements that are problematic. Add any other elements to avoid.
Hopes, Expectations, and Concerns. In the last two boxes, share any hopes and expectations for
the game, and list any concerns about behavior at the table.
Collect all the sheets, and gather your players’ limits into a separate, anonymous document the whole group can access.
Hard and Soft
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Correspondence In some domains, the residents are aware that realms exist beyond the Mists, but most have little interest in lands beyond their own. The Darklords’ obsessions distract them from concerns
to deliver. The Keepers of the Feather make no assurances about the safe delivery of letters in their charge, but their services prove relatively reliable. Rumors speak of more expensive services the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
into hierarchical ranks. Only storm giants, largely solitary and imagining themselves above such petty concerns, have no interest in ranking themselves. Regardless of a giant’s ranking within its kind
betting on the outcome—and at least one giant is meddling behind the scenes to increase the likelihood of one side winning. 5 A cloud giant who recently lost a large amount of money on bad bets tries to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
gripped by overwhelming concerns about assassination plots, revenge-seekers, and other schemes against it. When these thoughts bubble to the surface, the Xanathar might crack down on its lieutenants
constantly wary of betrayal. The only allies it considers relatively safe are individuals that it (or its predecessor) has worked with for years, and most of these are creatures it has no reason to fear
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
receive relatively cordial treatment from those other hags instead. Every hag has a particular status relative to others of her kind and to hags of all sorts, based on age, abilities, influence
on rare magic to the hag’s daughter. THE RULE OF THREE
They say that things come in threes. Good things. Bad things. Strange things. Hags and purveyors of witchcraft embrace the Rule of Three, as it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Battle Balloon Through the winter clouds that surround the castle on this desolate hill, you see a shape emerge. Something so gigantic, you can’t believe it can actually fly. Airships are relatively
franchises. The versatility of an airship allows for the rapid shipping of goods, mercenaries, and loot. Such a vessel also allows a quick escape from sticky developments and deals gone bad. Battle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
, since no one in Mirabar wishes to see the surface city wiped out. It would simply be bad for business. Mirabar spares no expense in defending its wealth, and hires as many mages and adventurers as
dust. Still, despite the city’s overall wealth, there are rich and (relatively) poor Mirabarrans. Not everyone shares in the coin the city’s sales bring in, and wage workers whose income is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
mainly the wealthy or influential who can’t count themselves among the nobility. Other structures are taken up by educational or religious concerns that primarily serve the city at large, not the
neighborhood of many winding streets, where folk are comfortable making deals that might in other places provoke the displeasure of the law.
Field Ward. Of relatively recent vintage, the Field Ward stands
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
city limits, Extremiton creates situations to dissuade them: bad weather, a city-wide lockdown, a festival — whatever it takes. The ulitharid hasn’t researched areas outlying the city. Consequently
concerns. Characters from Waterdeep would know that House Amcathra is one of the city’s wealthiest noble families.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
townsfolk. Chaotic Neutral. (CN) creatures follow their whims, holding their personal freedom above all else. Many rogues and bards are chaotic neutral. Lawful Evil. (LE) creatures methodically take
boastfulness and has a fear of heights resulting from a 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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
value has little if anything to do with monetary concerns. A typical halfling’s most prized possessions are those that have the most interesting stories attached to them. Indeed, entering an elderly
. Halfling settlements survive wars because halflings are so irritating. Why conquer something you want nothing to do with?
Bad Apples Although most halflings are energetic and jovial, as with any
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
. Although some of the dancing is wanton and performed for show, large-scale ring dances in the street for all ages are also popular. All the dancing ends at dusk, after which bards and minstrels perform at
, on his statue in the City of the Dead, and atop the altars of the House of Wonder. Bards perform songs in honor of the wizard all over the city. The Open Lord visits taverns and inns throughout
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
animosity. They have bad blood with the Harmonium, who view the Fated as wrongheaded and dangerous, and Factol Darkwood and Factol Montgomery of the Society of Sensation are bitter rivals. Fraternity of
state of superior being. Factol Saladryn (neutral, elf archmage) guides the relatively young faction. She rarely sojourns beyond Sigil anymore, sacrificing her own journey of personal discovery to lead
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
be with. Stories of Hanali’s romantic adventures among elves and other mortals are perennial favorites when sung by elf bards and poets. In Arvandor, Hanali maintains a hidden pool called Evergold
least a century. More than a few elves claim to have experienced this benefit, and the truth of it is attested by many bards — sometimes in all earnestness, sometimes with a knowing wink. Priests of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
human commoner). She is the fortyish matriarch of her family and a pleasant, sturdy woman. She is increasingly worried about “what’s gathering in the dark” in Red Larch and brings up her concerns with
resale. His true talent is a keen eye for ordinary weapons and armor that can stand up to hard use and bad weather. Ask him which of his battleaxes is best, and Ironhead offers an honest (and accurate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
. Despite how strong the doors and magic of the vaults are, the walls between adjacent vaults are relatively thin. Dealing 40 bludgeoning or force damage to an inner wall creates a hole wide enough for a
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






