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Returning 35 results for 'bards before desire causing rivals'.
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Monsters
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
been. A redcap’s desire to slay is rooted in its will to survive.
VARIANT: MADCAPS
A madcap is a redcap that soaks its hat in demon ichor instead of blood. Contact with demon ichor makes the
creature even more psychotic, causing it to brood over irrational hatreds. A group of madcaps will sometimes band together over a shared hatred of something, such as music, creatures with curly hair
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
abomination is the final stage of a grafter’s transformation—a hulking monster whose corrupted brain is ablaze with desire for treasure. Its abhorrent transformation erases the last
vestiges of its previous life. It sprouts a tail and clumsy wings and grows to enormous size, barely retaining a bipedal shape. Its stomach churns with acid, causing noxious fumes to waft from its mouth and
Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
wrap around the corpse to animate it, causing it to rise and lurch about like a zombie.
Invasive Species. When a great battle is fought in a fey woodland, the plants of the wood sometimes take on the
implacable foe. Driven only by a desire to conquer and rule, it wages endless war with its army of mobile dead against all creatures it views as a threat to its domination. It might even forge treaties with
Bard
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
set bards apart from their fellows. Only rarely do bards settle in one place for long, and their natural desire to travel—to find new tales to tell, new skills to learn, and new discoveries
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
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
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
wyrmling has befriended a white dragon wyrmling. The wyrmlings’ parents, who are ancient rivals, regard the relationship with concern.
4
A crystal dragon wyrmling encourages nearby farmers to
Nilbog
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Maglubiyet, this trickster god survives in splintered form as a possessing spirit that arises when goblinoids form a host, causing disorder in the ranks unless it is appeased. Goblins have no name for
fearless of reprisal. It gives the goblin strange powers that drive others to do the opposite of what they desire. Attacking a goblin possessed by a nilbog is foolhardy, and killing the creature just
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals
must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
magic set bards apart from their fellows. Only rarely do bards settle in one place for long, and their natural desire to travel — to find new tales to tell, new skills to learn, and new discoveries
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
magic set bards apart from their fellows. Only rarely do bards settle in one place for long, and their natural desire to travel — to find new tales to tell, new skills to learn, and new discoveries
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
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
their rivals. The sonic pulse of their breath weapon sows weakness, leaving the victims unable to fight back.
Luminous Blue
Sapphire dragons’ scales and wing membranes show varied shades of
population, but the galeb duhr are causing trouble for local miners.
4
Two Lolth cultist;cultists seek a magical relic that attracts giant spider;giant spiders, but the relic’s resting place has
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
experienced adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and
and must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
and challenge them. Who Are the Rivals? Determine who issues the challenge. If one or more of the characters have Rivals, pick a Rival to be the challenger. The challenger leads a group the same size
as the characters’ party, which could include other Rivals. If none of the characters have Rivals, students who were part of the opposing Mage Tower team in chapter 4 or from the “Fellow Students
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
identify crisis points where their operatives are needed. Even common citizens might hire folk from the Court to find missing loved ones, locate lost family treasures, or gather information on rivals
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
for.
4 Others excessively revere or fear the Darklord, leaving the Darklord isolated.
5 Imagined or remembered rivals endlessly critique the Darklord, causing them doubt.
6 Society
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
identify crisis points where their operatives are needed. Even common citizens might hire folk from the Court to find missing loved ones, locate lost family treasures, or gather information on rivals
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
a cult’s adoration, a demon receives allies in its struggle against its rivals. To show their reverence, cultists might offer sacrifices of treasure and magic items that the demon can use. Taking
advantage of that same reverence, a demon might send its cultists into battle to soften up an enemy before the demon enters the fray itself. Many cultists gravitate to a demon lord out of a desire for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
Warrior Veteran Warrior veterans have participated in numerous battles and can hold their own against lesser rivals and monsters. Warrior Veteran Medium or Small Humanoid, Neutral
AC 17 Initiative
. Ranged Attack Roll: +3, range 100/400 ft. Hit: 12 (2d10 + 1) Piercing damage.
Reactions
Parry. Trigger: The warrior is hit by a melee attack roll while holding a weapon. Response: The warrior adds 2 to its AC against that attack, possibly causing it to miss.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
. As a campaign villain, Phenax might be driven by a desire to incite conflict against his fellow gods, usually to serve his own ends. Although Phenax doesn’t desire rulership over Nyx, he does love to
engages in a shadow war with Erebos, causing pandemonium in the Underworld. As a result, droves of Returned flood the mortal world.
2 Phenax undertakes a plot to transform Erebos into one of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
A Bard’s Muse Naturally, every bard has a repertoire of songs and stories. Some bards are generalists who can draw from a wide range of topics for each performance, and who take pride in their
versatility. Others adopt a more personal approach to their art, driven by their attachment to a muse — a particular concept that inspires much of what those bards do in front of an audience. A bard who
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
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
. For this purpose, long ago a group of the finest bards in Sharn founded the Circle of Song, an alliance of entertainers and adventurers. The Circle of Song is an informal organization, open to any
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
urge to stand against evil. Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1. Radiant Soul. Starting at 3rd level, you can use your action to unleash the divine energy within yourself, causing
this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest. Scourge Aasimar Scourge aasimar are imbued with a divine energy that blazes intensely within them. It feeds a powerful desire to destroy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Bard Subclasses A Bard subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Bard levels, as specified in the subclass. Bards form loose associations, which they call colleges, to preserve
Harmony with the Cosmos Bards of the College of Dance know that the Words of Creation can’t be contained within speech or song; the words are uttered by the movements of celestial bodies and flow
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
until dawn. Madame Eris then encourages her guests to indulge their desire for violence—and commit crimes that further her plots. Residents of Il Aluk stay indoors during the new moon, believing
Dread. Azalin and Strahd attempted to escape Barovia multiple times, but failure and resentment eventually turned the villains into vicious rivals. When Azalin forsook Castle Ravenloft and reentered the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
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
supporting characters and embellish that NPC as described below. It’s possible for the characters to have two or three rivals at a time, each with a separate agenda. At least one should be a villain, but
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
and falling as the Dark Powers desire. Tales attribute ominous powers to the Mists, from cloaking monsters to causing entire villages to vanish. The Mists are not bound to Ravenloft and slip across
undergo terrifying transformations, whole villages disappear unnoticed, and the Mists bar every method of escaping a threat. Any surreal development you desire is also the will of the Dark Powers, assuring
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
status, and they typically don’t set impossible goals — a lesser demon, for instance, might simply run amok when unleashed into the world, its only desire to spread chaos, but a marilith or other
powerful demon usually has an intent that goes beyond merely causing carnage, and a plan to achieve it. DEMONIC AMULETS: BLESSING AND CURSE
Some demon lords have a way of cheating death, but this great
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Halaster’s voice, “Terrible and painful magical death! Fireballs and lightning bolts! Begone!” It speaks and understands Common, but voices nothing but empty threats and a desire to continue its “work
points or if a successful dispel magic spell (DC 15) is cast on it. Hidden inside the puppet is a flask of alchemist’s fire that shatters as the puppet falls to pieces, causing its remnants to catch
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Dragonflesh Abomination A dragonflesh abomination is the final stage of a grafter’s transformation—a hulking monster whose corrupted brain is ablaze with desire for treasure. Its abhorrent
transformation erases the last vestiges of its previous life. It sprouts a tail and clumsy wings and grows to enormous size, barely retaining a bipedal shape. Its stomach churns with acid, causing noxious fumes
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals. They usually
convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals. They usually know of places
the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond.
8
An
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Battalion. This elite unit fought at the forefront of the Last War, and Brelish bards still sing of the exploits of Khandan the Hammer and Meira the Huntress. At the end of the war, the battalion was split
run both ways. Among the Redcloaks, tensions still run hot regarding their former rivals, particularly those from the following nations: Darguun. The hobgoblins of Darguun fought alongside Brelish
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
College of Creation One bard’s song of creation is the score to another person’s nightmares.
Tasha
Bards believe the cosmos is a work of art—the creation of the first dragons and gods. That
creative work included harmonies that continue to resound through existence today, a power known as the Song of Creation. The bards of the College of Creation draw on that primeval song through dance
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
characters interrupt or otherwise ruin the tune, 1d4 irascible specters emerge from the walls and attack, causing the bards to flee. 10 Three skeleton farmers quietly tend to corpse-white grave
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->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
, but given the extent of the losses against the orcs, it would be little surprise if their newer recruits were more smiths than warriors, serving their realm out of a sense of duty rather than a desire
known written copies have ever been reported. Only a privileged few non-dwarves have ever heard the Dirge in its entirety, and dwarf bards who want to perform this epic must demonstrate great skill in






