bards bad diffusing contests religious

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

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 collection of religious texts stuffed into an attic and forgotten when a believer’s patron deity died. In this solitary work, you’ve learned secrets no one else knows. 5 You killed

Faction Agent

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

to one day rise to the top of my faith’s religious hierarchy. (Lawful) 5 Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful

Vistani Lore

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

prosperity, sharing their good fortune with friends and strangers alike. Vistani resolve disagreements through contests that end with reconciliatory singing, dancing, and storytelling. Vistani families can

believe that ravens carry lost souls within them. Hence, killing a raven is considered bad luck in Vistani culture.

The Gods of Two Peoples

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

The Gods of Two Peoples There are no half-elven gods, so half-elves follow elven or human deities of their choosing — although just as many religious half-elves believe that their gods choose them

for rangers, Milil or Corellon for poets and bards, and so forth. Many half-elves worship Sune or Hanali Celanil in appreciation for the love their parents felt for one another, and the two goddesses

Lords' Alliance

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

Hermit

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

Hermit

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

Sphinx

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

appeared in Meletis during moments of historical import, such as religious ceremonies, coronations, and the onset of wars. For decades, he has brought his cryptic knowledge of future events to the people

, but since his predictions tend to be dire, his arrival is generally viewed as a bad omen. Although they possess great wisdom, sphinxes won’t share their secrets with just anyone (JESPER EJSING)

Beshaba

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

cruel and capricious goddess who must be propitiated to avoid attracting her attention and interest in a negative way. Beshaba’s name is invoked when someone is beset by bad luck — which could be as

which good luck wouldn’t play a part but bad luck might. For example, someone rolling dice would invoke Tymora because they want random chance to fall in their favor, but someone about to cross a

Build Your Group

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Build Your Group Religious orders attract people from all walks of life. It can be fun to play against type—to make a devout character with the criminal or charlatan background, for example

there simply so that Sir Baerdren can keep his eye on her and ensure that she doesn’t sabotage the templars from within? Fixer. The Fixer might work for a religious order for entirely non-religious

Neighbors, Rivals, and Allies

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

religious viewpoints has created bad blood between the two cities, though neither city has been eager to test the military might of the other. Port Nyanzaru Baldur’s Gate serves as one of the main ports

Elturgard and Cormyr view Baldur’s Gate as a lawless cesspool that might have to be dealt with someday. These nations especially frown on the city’s broad religious tolerance. Candlekeep To enter the

Neighbors, Rivals, and Allies

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

Elturgard and Cormyr view Baldur’s Gate as a lawless cesspool that might have to be dealt with someday. These nations especially frown on the city’s broad religious tolerance. Candlekeep To enter the

territory in Elturgard’s eyes, Elturel has responded by imposing a heavy tax on shipments headed downriver. This sort of economic brinkmanship coupled with radically different religious viewpoints has

Worshiping Iroas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Worshiping Iroas Iroas is interested not in pretty words, but in great deeds. The faithful of Iroas show their piety by comporting themselves well in contests of athleticism or skill. Swearing an

religious leaders—particularly those who have retired from athletic competition—warn of growing addicted to triumph. Ultimately, they teach, only Iroas can drink endlessly from the river of glory and suffer

Ability Checks

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

. Contests A contest is a kind of ability check that matches two creatures against each other. Use a contest if a character attempts something that either directly foils or is directly opposed by another

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

Special Calendar Days

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

and speedy growing season. Midsummer. The midpoint of summer is a day of feasting, carousing, betrothals, and basking in the pleasant weather. Storms on Midsummer night are seen as bad omens and signs

peoples. Many tournaments and contests of skill are held on Shieldmeet, and most faiths mark the holiday by emphasizing one of their key tenets. The next Shieldmeet will be observed in 1492 DR

Difficulty Class

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

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

contests, saving throws, or attack rolls. Having proficiency with a skill or tool can also grant automatic success. If a character’s proficiency bonus applies to his or her ability check, the character

Droaam

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

whole creature and still be hungry. If you’re bad, she’ll come in the night and carry you away. She’ll make a lantern of your skull and torment you until the end of time. And she’s the least

grow larger and more organized every day, and the rest of Khorvaire is uneasy with the potential power of a fully realized Droaam. The monsters that inhabit Droaam retain their racial subcultures. Most worship the Dark Six, but other religious traditions flourish as well.

Life in the Styes

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

the councillors impose steep taxes on the faithful, to prevent religious leaders from becoming too popular and eroding the council’s authority. But beyond this, even the most dedicated members of the

Halflings

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

Celebrations in Sylvania

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

both bad at the game (which she’s never played) and far too competitive for this group. She might also attempt to use the Mosaic Mimir as a ball—which doesn’t harm it but might make some characters

happened. Other Celebrations There are countless other celebrations around Sylvania. Use the events here and challenges like those outlined in the “Contests” section of chapter 9 to create more festivities and chances for Kopoha to confide in the characters.

Festivities

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Contests. Characters can participate in the fish catch as many times as they like. On future rounds, the best villager catches fish totaling 1d4 + 3 feet. Mayor Raven doesn’t participate again. Bad

Background

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

from home at an early age and found refuge in a temple. 2 My family gave me to a temple, since they were unable or unwilling to care for me. 3 I grew up in a household with strong religious convictions

acquaintance, or someone I loved into religious service. 6 After encountering a true servant of the gods, I was so inspired that I immediately entered the service of a religious group. Charlatan d6 I became a

Complications and Rivals

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

, though. Other Acq Inc franchises all compete with the characters’ franchise, seeking to expand their own reach and impress Head Office. Governments, merchants, guilds, religious institutions, and noble

campaign story unfolds. Perhaps the characters were forced to slay an evil guard in a raid gone bad. Later, their majordomo engages in a little gambling as part of a franchise task … and finds the

Camp Vengeance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

veteran). Reporting to them is a fighting force comprised of eight veterans and twenty-four guards. This is supplemented by a religious corps of six acolytes led by Sister Cyas (LG female Chondathan

human priest of Helm). Technically, the religious templars are part of the fighting force, but in practice, they spend most of their time tending the sick and wounded. Finally, the fort is supported by

City Celebrations

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

. Many festhalls sponsor Founders’ Day costume contests, with prizes going to those who wear the best recreations of the garb of historical personages. Once banned as frivolous and distracting, the

Other Religious Systems

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

Other Religious Systems In your campaign, you can create pantheons of gods who are closely linked in a single religion, monotheistic religions (worship of a single deity), dualistic systems (centered

shadows, sometimes aiding the other deities, and sometimes working against them with the pantheon’s enemies. Mystery Cults A mystery cult is a secretive religious organization based on a ritual of

Factions

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

Factions Factions are like political parties, religious organizations, or secret societies. Players can choose a connection to one of five factions: the Harpers, the Order of the Gauntlet, the

least discretion. Bards and wizards are their most prominent members. Harpers operate in small cells throughout the North. One is based in Triboar: Darathra Shendrel, the Lord Protector, belongs to the

Alignment

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

Market Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

out that my avocados went bad. What a mess.” –Digny Vots, Market Ward shopper Market Ward Encounters d8 Encounter 1 A Transcendent Order instinct (see Morte’s Planar Parade) asks to spar with

. Members hone their bodies and minds through rigorous conditioning, and they regularly challenge others in the Market Ward to contests of artistic, athletic, or spiritual prowess. Because Ciphers tend to

Upper City Gazetteer

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

building serves as a quasi-religious museum for the magnificent inventions wrought in Gond’s name. Unlike the similarly named High House of Wonders, which serves as both temple and workshop housing

patriars, traveling nobles, famed bards, and socially ambitious Lower City residents hoping to rub shoulders with the elite. The inn is unfussy, but conducts its service with flawless technique and the

Upper City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

building serves as a quasi-religious museum for the magnificent inventions wrought in Gond’s name. Unlike the similarly named High House of Wonders, which serves as both temple and workshop housing working

patriars, traveling nobles, famed bards, and socially ambitious Lower City residents hoping to rub shoulders with the elite. The inn is unfussy, but conducts its service with flawless technique and the

Elturgard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

will not ascribe the Companion to any one god, nor allow religious differences to come between themselves and others. Those who swear the Creed Resolute also promise to serve the High Observer and

-called “First Folk of Berdusk,” have made a great show of their piety since the founding of Elturgard, and a great many of the high-ranking priests hail from their families. Over the years a few bad

Lair Locations

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

clasps an Instrument of the Bards (Ollamh harp), which she acquired in her youth. Taking the harp, plucking one of its strings, or removing the glass key from around Yemi’s neck ends the Sequester spell

and religious zealots—and made many powerful enemies in doing so. Decades later, after an assassin killed Yemi’s spouse Mertyl Swooney in pursuit of the maestro, Yemi sought out Nakari. Sympathetic to

Giants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Giants The giants presented here are more powerful than others of their kind, either because their gods have shown them favor or because fate has dealt them a bad hand and forced them to seek out

other paths to power. Cloud Giant Smiling One Cloud giants aren’t, on the whole, religious. They tolerate many conflicting ideas about their patron deity, Memnor. The smiling ones strain that tolerance

Roleplaying a Giant

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

worth by its size. The small folk are beneath my concern. 7 The small folk are vermin. I enjoy torturing and killing them. 8 Good or bad, Annam’s sons represent the ideals that we, as giants, must

. Often in legends these contests are bloody battles, but some tales have the brothers acting side by side on grand adventures. Surtur is seen as the more clever of the two, and fire giants emulate his

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