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Returning 35 results for 'bards before death compared returner'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
denizens of the Feywild. Sages believe that their appearance derives from the primal fear inspired by fiendish creatures, while bards assert that panic, being such a repulsive emotion, is embodied by an
injured and shorn of all hope. The devilkin steal treasures, weapons, and supplies, dooming an expedition to a slow death. The devilkin fly near their victims, taunting them with the items they stole
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
becoming an eldritch lich.
Like other liches, eldritch liches are spellcasters who have cheated death, but an eldritch lich does so by allowing a Great Old One to implant a Far Realm parasite in the lich
lich against destruction, reviving the lich a few days after death. Canny foes can sabotage an eldritch lich’s revival by slaying the lich in a magic circle, thereby forcing the lich to return in
Human
Legacy
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Species
Basic Rules (2014)
(except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone.
Although some humans can be
xenophobic, in general their societies are inclusive. Human lands welcome large numbers of nonhumans compared to the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands.
Exemplars of Ambition
Humans who
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
-Ortheel, the Elf-Eater; Kezef, the Chaos Hound; Kyuss, the Worm That Walks; the Queen of Chaos; Tharizdun, the Chained God; Tyranthraxus, the Flamed One; and Zargon, the Returner. They are all forces of
corruption and evil. Nothing good can come from their influence. Bargains made with them end in catastrophe or death.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
poetry and song. This is why every community has one or more binukots, bards who serve as living repositories of art, culture, custom, and law. The death of a binukot can result in the loss of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
characters of all levels, though unseasoned adventurers determined to face the Returner in combat are almost certainly doomed to fail. Characters killed by Zargon might be resurrected on the Infinite
even in combat—only death can separate the Zargonites from their goal. The cultist on the pedestal refrains from joining combat until the ritual is complete; if they are killed, another cultist takes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
Living the Giant Life Giants are exceptionally long-lived compared to humans, but none are immortal. A peaceful death from old age is a common occurrence among cloud giants and storm giants and isn’t
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
, slashing swords, and beady goblin eyes. Men planted themselves — no running and leaping now — to hew steadily, like harvesters with scythes and many fields in front of them, in a rhythm of death
.
— Troy Denning, Death of the Dragon
Whether doughty warriors, idealistic young soldiers, or hard-bitten mercenaries, fighters are found everywhere in the Forgotten Realms. Even the most peaceful
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
fey creatures. Bards and archfey warlocks are often found among the Greensingers, and the Circles of Dreams works well for Greensinger druids. The Gatekeepers protect the natural world from unnatural
to release bound elementals. Barbarians are often found among the Ashbound, and Berserker and Storm Herald are logical paths. The Children of Winter believe that death is a natural part of life. This
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
Erinyes “They live by the sword and kill by the sword. Their beauty is nothing compared to their wrath.”
— from THE BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS
The most beautiful and striking of all lesser and greater
devils, the erinyes are fierce and disciplined warriors. Sweeping down from the skies, they bring swift death to creatures that have wronged their masters or defied the edicts of Asmodeus. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
lead them to a deadly location in the Mortuary, such as a crematorium. 3 A poshly dressed Duster wight asks the characters to help them write a eulogy that’s due in 10 minutes. 4 A friendly death dog
to expel a dybbuk† from a corpse. The exorcist asks the characters to help in dispatch the Fiend. 9 Two bards† in the Heralds of Dust approach the characters and sing a ballad honoring the dead. If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
firmly in the world by associating the class with a particular race or culture. For example, you might decide that bards, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards represent the magical traditions of four
. You could break that down still further: bards of the College of Lore could be high elves, and bards of the College of War could be wood elves. Gnomes discovered the school of illusion, so all wizards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
forcefully pulled from this work and thrust into life-or-death situations, with or without help from more hardened adventurers. The knowledge and experience of a Civil Servant can often be useful, with
Charisma to work in the service of the state. These characters often come from a noble background and bring proficiency in skills such as Intimidation and Persuasion to their work. Bards are natural fits in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
communication and cooperation between members of different cultures or species. Khoravar who follow this philosophy often become bards, diplomats, mediators, or translators. Others are fascinated by their
You’re part of a tiny Khoravar community in Karrnath that’s fascinated with death and the practices of your Aereni ancestors, transforming your unity meals into grim celebrations of death. 8 You’re part
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
proximity to the City of the Dead, the district of Deathsgate prides itself on being a haven for those who challenge death on a daily basis. The guild’s founder, Kassh “Blackaxe” Droranath, doesn’t care
city of Sharn, which is both the cultural heart of Breland and a nexus for intrigue and diplomacy. Bards have much to gain from the company of other bards, as they exchange news, stories, and songs
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
completely reasonable and plausible explanation. Singing songs and strumming lutes might be fine for most bards. Who doesn’t like a rousing shanty now and then? But standing in a crowded tavern playing for
copper pieces tossed by commoners isn’t for everyone — and it certainly isn’t for bards in the Acq Inc world. The power and magic tied up in the voice of a franchise bard is meant for greater things
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Compared to the other gods, Nylea’s goals are modest. She wants only to keep the natural world free and healthy, shepherd the seasons through their yearly cycle, and enjoy the beauty of the land. But
. Nylea acknowledges death as a crucial part of the life cycle, but scorns Erebos’s obsession with the afterlife. What matters is that nature takes nourishment from the bodies of the deceased, not from
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
learn to use must be ineffectual compared to what illithids are capable of. Arcane Magic Mind flayers consider arcane magic to be an abomination, a twisted cousin of psionic power that will be erased
. The feeling of freedom that comes from this change is liberating, but the specter of death forever after colors the mind flayer’s actions. An undead mind flayer is hated and hunted by other
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
the ruler of Darguun, and many fear that his death could throw the region into chaos. Among the Ghaal’dar, you hold your place through cunning and strength. As a Ghaal’dar goblinoid, you may have been
Dhakaani. The Heirs of Dhakaan are an agnostic society and don’t have clerics, paladins, or druids. Their focus is on martial excellence, and their spiritual leaders are bards, who inspire their warriors
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monstrous Compendium Volume One: Spelljammer Creatures
, they might set foot on the twisting path toward becoming an eldritch lich. Like other liches, eldritch liches are spellcasters who have cheated death, but an eldritch lich does so by allowing a Great
lich’s torso, and the parasite guards the lich against destruction, reviving the lich a few days after death. Canny foes can sabotage an eldritch lich’s revival by slaying the lich in a magic circle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
the Elf-Eater, Dendar the Night Serpent, Borem of the Lake of Boiling Mud, Kezef the Chaos Hound, Zargon the Returner, Camnod the Unseen, Holashner the Hunger Below, Piscaethces the Blood Queen
their relative strength. But they are all forces of corruption and evil. Nothing good can come from their influence. No bargain made with them ends in anything other than madness, plague, death, or worse.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
Rumors and Legends Countless legends have arisen regarding the mysterious Barrier Peaks, and those tales circulate constantly among adventurers, explorers, and bards. Rumors specific to Kwalish and
keep a brain alive long after a creature’s death. 46–50 Kwalish never really existed. The inventor who went by that name was really a construct, created by Ioun to walk among mortals and study our
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
high mountain range. Glorium’s rich, rugged shores are speckled with the blood of a thousand battles, shed by folk who revel in skirmishing and welcome death when it comes for them. In Glorium, every
back the alien armies of Gzemnid, a gaseous beholder god. CoupleOfKooks “Glory? Ha! What do any of us know of glory? We’re still alive! You seek a reward that can be attained only in death
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
area where the Weave has been torn. But surrounded by the Weave, a spellcaster can shape lightning to blast foes, transport hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye, or even reverse death itself.
All
magic depends on the Weave, though different kinds of magic access it in a variety of ways. The spells of wizards, warlocks, sorcerers, and bards are commonly called arcane magic. These spells rely on
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
. So gifted a musician was he that an admiring wizard gave Frody an instrument of the bards—a famous Canaith mandolin called Golden Axe. The mandolin’s magic served Frody well during his many
Sythian Skalderang, who lived many miles away, learned of the famous bard’s untimely death. Sythian had inherited his parents’ estate and debts, but a mysterious poison killed off the family’s olive orchard
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
believe that their appearance derives from the primal fear inspired by fiendish creatures, while bards assert that panic, being such a repulsive emotion, is embodied by an equally ugly creature
. The devilkin steal treasures, weapons, and supplies, dooming an expedition to a slow death. The devilkin fly near their victims, taunting them with the items they stole. Predators in the area learn
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
champions of Nylea understand the cycles of nature—embracing life, death, and rebirth. They might commit violence when necessary but never revel in it, advocating for the proper treatment of animals
onlookers who compared your skill to Nylea’s.
4 Lost in the forest as a child, you were raised by wolves. Nylea intervened to teach you language and enable you to one day take your place in society as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Halflings I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the times I saw our little rogue cheat death, but I remember them all. Let’s see … there was the enraged roper, the flaming lava stream, the
catapulted gelatinous cubes, the Ten Tilting Corridors of Death, the exploding toad trap, the Hall of the Spinning Scimitars …
— Magnificus, wizard extraordinaire
Anyone who has spent time around
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
attack on sight. Lizardfolk The Scaly Death lizardfolk tribe has no leader. Pharblex killed its shaman, Suncaller, and the death left the tribe with an inferiority complex that was ripe for
observation, and await further instructions. The Scaly Death tribe comprises eighty lizardfolk warriors, both male and female. About half of them are in the vicinity of the castle at any given time; twenty
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
The Scaly Death lizardfolk tribe has no leader. Pharblex killed its shaman, Suncaller, and the death left the tribe with an inferiority complex that was ripe for exploitation. When Rezmir promised
instructions. The Scaly Death tribe comprises eighty lizardfolk warriors, both male and female. About half of them are in the vicinity of the castle at any given time; twenty-six live in the castle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
ballroom’s stage is filled with set pieces, props, and costumes. Treasure. Among the many other instruments stored here is Quill’s instrument of the bards (Cli lyre), which is kept in an ornate wooden case
threatened and attacks them. If one or more characters move to within 10 feet of the painting on the north wall, the beholder instructs them (in Undercommon) to keep away from it on pain of death
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Mythrien Sarath CG Abjuration, mythals Arcana,** Forge,* Knowledge Row of three intertwined rings
Naralis Analor NG Healing, suffering, death Life, Grave* White dove
Rellavar
Three lines symbolizing waves
Sehanine Moonbow CG Dreams, death, travel Grave,* Knowledge, Light Full moon under a moonbow
Shevarash CN Vengeance, loss, hatred War Broken arrow over a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
your Charisma modifier. Level 14: Searing Vengeance When you or an ally within 60 feet of you is about to make a Death Saving Throw, you can unleash radiant energy to save the creature. The creature
, the Returner; Hadar, the Dark Hunger; or Great Cthulhu. Or you might invoke several entities without yoking yourself to one. The motives of these beings are incomprehensible, and the Great Old One
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
fickle and insubstantial compared to the power of elemental earth. Black Earth Guard Black Earth guards are the warriors of the earth cult. They are brutal, heavily armored thugs devoted to Ogrémoch
when the guard is slain. These guards are fanatically loyal to the Black Earth priests and the leaders of the cult. They fight to the death if commanded to do so by their superiors. Those with more
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
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
the tower was completed, Ramazith died under suspicious circumstances. Some say he met his end after an ill-fated dalliance with a nymph, but rumors have always persisted that his death was linked to






