Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'bards before direct compared refuse'.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
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
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
might hear you!” hisses another.
Ebbin Fulchre and his three companions are unarmed commoners who refuse to enter the cabin, even on a dare. Morbid curiosity brought them here, but they’re nothing
imparts the following information: Grave Theft. Two halflings dug up his grave in the dead of night and stole his Canaith mandolin (an instrument of the bards). Frody wants it back. (“It was a gift
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
passageways or consume refuse. Likewise, an ooze can be enticed into a pit trap, where its captors feed it often enough to prevent it from coming after them. Crafty creatures place torches and flaming
have no sense of tactics or self-preservation. They are direct and predictable, attacking and eating without cunning. Under the control of Juiblex, they exhibit glimmers of sentience and malevolent intent. Ooze Nature. An ooze doesn’t require sleep.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
ushers each one in and out on schedule, but when angered, she might refuse to change to the next season, or even call upon one out of its proper time. Mortals pray to her to ward off unseasonable
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
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->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Bard: College of Spirits Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions—and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards
, you can use a bonus action to expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration and roll on the Spirit Tales table using your Bardic Inspiration die to determine the tale the spirits direct you to tell. You
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Bladesinging When faced with the endless onslaught of magical possibilities, many wizards suffer identity crises. Some overcome, some break, and some become sword-bards.
Tasha
Bladesingers master
the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, you can cast one of your cantrips in place of one of those attacks. Song of Defense 10th-level Bladesinging feature You can direct your magic to absorb damage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
characters can refuse Vizeran at any time, at which point the archmage tells them to leave his home and wishes them good luck surviving in a world dominated by the demon lords. He says he will find
that summoned the demon lords. In his research, Vizeran has located potential sources for all these components, and he can direct the characters to retrieve them as detailed in subsequent chapters. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
The Direct Approach Although he doesn’t like unexpected guests, Sythian has enough grace to briefly entertain visitors who arrive at the conservatory without an appointment. Characters who knock on
laugh and orders the characters to leave at once. If the characters refuse, Sythian and Joster flee to area C15, where Sythian equips himself with Golden Axe and tries to escape out the window using the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
identifies the ingredients as including impossibly bright-red blood. If questioned, the muralists talk of working in the tomb in the service of its art, which transcends all other concerns. They direct the
first four pits are each 10 feet deep and empty except for refuse. The pit leading to area 7 is 30 feet deep and contains a ladder. Characters who watch this area long enough see the muralists
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
grow up to be a powerful ally or a dangerous adversary? Most war chiefs treasure their positions so highly that they would refuse to relinquish the title, even to a clearly superior creature. Thus, a
chief. Keeping the Balance What most war chiefs don’t realize, or trust in, is the fact that orogs aren’t a direct threat to their rule. By nothing more than their presence, orogs serve as a balancing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Azrok hold it currently, and the hobgoblins’ orders are to defend it against drow incursions. The captain, Kliyuse the Skull Cleaver, has further instructions to direct adventurers northward to the
container. Nerozar uses its Telekinetic Ray to direct the gas spores on collision courses with intruders. The gas spores’ poison has no effect on the beholder zombie. Nerozar challenged Xanathar for lordship
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
this kind of work. Characters with the criminal background excel at putting their skills and contacts to use on the church’s behalf. Prophet. The Prophet is a visionary with a more-or-less direct
Persuasion (or sometimes Intimidation) and Religion can be useful for this character. Many clerics fill this role, but devout bards can also be effective Teachers. Some Teachers bring skills from the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
to the highest standards of behavior, and wields cold magic. The Brass Order could be a loose affiliation of good-hearted scoundrels, including rogues and bards, who favor fire magic and trickery. An
in direct conflict with the other two factions, but that doesn’t always inspire cooperation. For example, the Chromatic Circle might focus on self-aggrandizement, as each member of the faction tries
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
a sandbar. 4 The ship is sinking. Help with Purpose Ship crews looking for help with their purpose approach the characters asking for direct aid in a task. For instance, mercenaries ask for help
are willing to haggle. If the characters refuse to trade, evil-aligned crews and passengers might attack to get what they want.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Enemy Starting at 7th level, if you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with another creature outside combat, you can learn certain information about its capabilities compared to your own
Strike. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can forgo one of your attacks and use a bonus action to direct one of your companions to strike. When you do so, choose a friendly creature who
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
gray figures with armored bodies and bladed limbs flank the gate.
Two ferrumach rilmani (see Morte’s Planar Parade) guard the entrance to Dendradis. They’re indifferent to the characters but refuse
plumach or Ascetelis can direct the characters there (see the following section). If the group fails to get the plumach to speak with them, Ascetelis can find them another plumach willing to talk, but
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
largely by how they perceive outsiders and how much of a threat those outsiders might pose. Hill Dwarves. Most of the dwarves on Oerth are hill dwarves. Compared to the mountain dwarves, they have a
. Hill dwarves view their mountain cousins as overly grim shut-ins who refuse to believe that life is anything but a constant battle for survival. Mountain dwarves view their hill-dwelling relatives as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
difficulty grasping the passage of time and the state of the world compared to its original era. 6 Fallen Muse. Your contact is a fallen celestial. Whether they regret their transgressions or hunger for
them into permanent disgrace, or must you resort to more direct methods? 4 The Masterpiece. An exquisite work of art for an influential client, either created by your guild or acquired through agents
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
size and strength as tools to extract wealth and power from communities of smaller folk. The boss might threaten to harm adventurers or those they care about if they refuse to do the giant’s bidding. Or
demonstrating just how superior a giant’s strength is compared to smaller creatures. Such a boss might run a protection racket, a group of highway robbers, or a kidnapping ring. A giant boss might even take to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
. Exploration is open-ended; the players don’t take turns moving around the dungeon the way they do in combat. As they explore, direct the players to freely move around on the map, but stop them when they reach
skitter about, picking at the refuse.
Two Giant Centipedes scavenge this cave. The centipedes are Hostile toward all other creatures and fight anyone who enters their den.
The kobolds are afraid of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
chain shirts instead of the usual hide armor. Bugbears are never outfitted with ranged weapons (which they refuse to use) or with heavy armor (which compromises their stealthiness). If some bugbears
on each head that direct the beast by controlling the view of its blinkered eyes. Former slaves, often soldiers who once fought against the host, who now fight alongside the host to gain better
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
. Two magic items are displayed here as well. Anstruth Harp. An exquisitely crafted harp sized for a human rests on a shelf. This instrument of the bards was acquired from a human bard who counseled
the constructs in area 27 to assist. If one or more characters surrender after causing harm to him or his family, he spares their lives but commands them to leave Lyn Armaal at once. If they refuse, or if they leave only to return at a later time, Thullen turns hostile and attacks them.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
ruined galley has buckled, and is cluttered with trash, driftwood, and other refuse washed up on the tide. To the east, the galley’s prow juts into the channel like a jagged fang, while the west side of
a tightly sewn oilcloth — an instrument of the bards (Cli lyre) found by a cultist years before. The lyre is the cult’s greatest treasure, and has been kept as a gift for the leader that the cultists
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
to hurl enormous, 200-pound rocks to land as close as possible to a target on the ground. If the characters refuse to play, the galeb duhr are disappointed and return to their rest. Development. The
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a1
Intelligence (Investigation) check, a character can deduce the presence of the pressure plate from variations in the mortar and stone around it, compared to the surrounding floor. Wedging an iron spike
and spends much of his time nowadays in nightmare-ridden sleep in his bedroll. With the loss of his charge, Meepo’s status is in the gutter. He doesn’t react to anything short of loud noise or direct
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Nest of the Eldritch Eye
greatly. Upon noticing the characters enter, the ghost beseeches them for help in recovering its previous identity. If the characters refuse, the ghost sulks but isn’t hostile. Discovering the
holy symbol of Oghma, god of knowledge and patron to bards and wizards. If the check succeeds by 3 or more, the character intuits that rededicating the shrine to Oghma could help against the zombies
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
horned devil who turned their back on the Nine Hells long ago. Kind and merciful, the new high priest hopes the congregation will see their redeemed nature, but some of the temple’s clergy refuse to
, supposedly impartial magistrate appointed by the Guvners. Punishments are tailored to fit the crime, and advocates are strongly encouraged. Lawyers and orators, these civil servants include bards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
higher can take control of the globe by succeeding on a DC 10 Intelligence check. As part of its movement and with a successful DC 10 Intelligence check, the controller can direct the globe to move
it is a contact stone.
Creatures. Twenty unarmed skeletons stand here, waiting to cart refuse that arrives from other areas through the black gate. They attack only if attacked. If a character drops
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
his superiors in the Black Network. The bugbear bodyguards know this fact too, and because of it, they are less than enthusiastic about working for Rasqel. Tactics. If the characters refuse to back
no direct involvement from the characters — at least not to start.
These kinds of side ventures can easily expand to become adventures of their own. For example, one of the franchise NPCs handling
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
characters toward area G6 if he believes them to be cultists and also reminds them of the pass phrase to cross the stone bridge (area G9) safely: “We walk in the shadow of Ogrémoch!” If the characters refuse
is a tunnel cloaked by a 6th-level major image spell to look like a solid stone wall. Discovering its nature from a distance requires a DC 19 Intelligence (Investigation) check, although direct
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
of its magically binding employment contract prevent Nebukath from taking direct action against Vrakir, his forces, or his property (for example, by attacking the hold’s defenders). If Nebukath
here when he isn’t conducting business in area B25 or entertaining visitors in area B26. Treasure. The lyre is an instrument of the bards (Cli lyre) decorated with carvings of phoenixes. Jarazoun
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
worship Madarua or Usamigaras, Artha tells the characters to turn back or suffer Gorm’s thunderous wrath. If the characters attack the guardians or refuse to heed their warnings, the guardians produce
experienced warrior in the faction, Pandora believes any problem can be solved with swift, direct action. She and the other warriors are initially indifferent to the party. Meeting Pandora. When Pandora
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
, Cipolla and Porro silently direct the hands to attack. Meanwhile, the sages flee toward Piyarz in the scholars’ hall (area T17), where they can more freely use their magic. Once there, Cipolla or Porro
any who refuse. In addition to the coffer, Piyarz’s private chamber contains a bed, a chair, and a desk, all painted dull gray to match his robes. Treasure. The desk has a drawer containing parchment
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
described as a boundless realm full of wonders, but her parents refuse to let her leave, and she’s furious at them. She has a low opinion of her younger brother, Zaltember. Eighteen-year-old Cinderhild
creature that ends its turn in the room takes 5 (1d10) fire damage, or 11 (2d10) fire damage if it’s wearing metal armor. A creature that comes into direct contact with the superheated shell of the