bards being dead could rule

Sammaster (Lich Form)

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

, Prestidigitation 2/Day Each: Speak with Dead, Wall of Force 1/Day Each: Create Undead (level 8 version), Disintegrate, Power Word KillProtective Magic. Sammaster casts Counterspell or Shield in

as leader of these disparate zealots, whom he named the Cult of the Dragon. He perverted their fascination with his necromantic lore, revealing that dracoliches were destined to rule Faerûn

Sammaster (Dracolich Form)

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

, Speak with Dead 1/Day Each: Create Undead (level 8 version), Power Word KillLegendary Action Uses: 3. Immediately after another creature’s turn, Sammaster can expend a use to take one of the

rule Faerûn. His Cult of the Dragon devotes itself to helping evil dragons become dracoliches to bring this evil new age to fruition. Sammaster was killed in battle, but had prepared contingencies

Orlekto

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

breathing Roleplaying Information Orlekto is in love with Princess Mirran and wants to see her become Queen of the Wyrmskull Throne. (If Mirran is dead, Orlekto aims to avenge her.) If the opportunity

to eliminate Hekaton or Serissa presents itself, Orlekto seizes it. Until then, he conceals his treacherous nature. Ideal: “Storm giants should rule the world. Weak leaders have let dragons and

Screaming Devilkin

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

of its faculties. When such an event occurs, the creature's scream echoes through the Feywild. If it echoes at just the right angle between a rocky outcropping in the dead of night, the scream gains

Syndra Silvane

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

maximum drops to 0, Syndra dies and can’t be brought back from the dead until the death curse has ended (and if her soul hasn’t been devoured). Destroying the Soulmonger is the only way to halt

) spellcasters dedicated to the study of the arcane arts. Benevolent ones counsel kings and queens, while evil ones rule as tyrants and pursue lichdom. Those who are neither good nor evil sequester

Needle Lord

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

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

Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

their race, allowing them to shed their frail humanity like dead skin. Those that did not transform eventually became slaves or food for the blessed of the serpent gods. The yuan-ti empires withered

impossible to manipulate, influence, or control by nonmagical means, even as it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe. Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can

Sage Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

master in your fields of study. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead

can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in

Yakfolk Warrior

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

that image until the strangers can be disarmed and taken prisoner. In their seemingly idyllic hideaways, the yakfolk rule with iron fists, and for all their learning and culture, they are enormously

evil overlords. Yakfolk care for their hapless prisoners only to the extent that a live one is more useful than a dead one, and putting a prisoner to work is easier than laboring oneself. It’s not

Yakfolk Priest

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

, and the yakfolk foster that image until the strangers can be disarmed and taken prisoner. In their seemingly idyllic hideaways, the yakfolk rule with iron fists, and for all their learning and

culture, they are enormously evil overlords. Yakfolk care for their hapless prisoners only to the extent that a live one is more useful than a dead one, and putting a prisoner to work is easier than

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

bugbears recognize two other gods, both of which they disdain and fear: Maglubiyet and Skiggaret. Maglubiyet, the leader of the goblinoid pantheon, forced both brothers to submit to his rule, but

. If the brother gods are angry with them, they let the bugbears know with bolts of lightning (Hruggek) or by striking them blind or dead (Grankhul). Bugbears worship their gods simply by preying on

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people

masses. 4 I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions. 5 I don’t like to get my hands dirty, and I won’t be caught dead in unsuitable accommodations

Marine

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

;You enabled the escape of your fellow soldiers, but at great cost to yourself. Some of your past comrades may think you’re dead. 4 Juggernaut. No reasonable explanation can explain

Might. The strong train so that they might rule those who are weak. (Evil) 5 Bravery. To act when others quake in fear — this is the essence of the warrior. (Any) 6

Sage - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to

library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

opportunity to supervise and dominate such creatures, which have no status at all. WHO'S THE BOSS? Goblins pattern the rule of their tribes after the whip-cracking rule of their god, Khurgorbaeyag

new leader can act as the real boss. If the creature brushes aside such manipulation, the tribe falls into line behind the new tyrant—better to abide the new rule than conspire against it and be

Mortuary Encounters

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

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

the glory and security of their people, and for the lords who rule over them. However, Alliance operatives are often glory hounds, looking to gain a leg up on their counterparts from other Alliance

Denizens of the Underworld

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

Denizens of the Underworld When a spirit reaches the Underworld, they find that they’re far from alone. The nature of the Underworld under Erebos’s rule takes its toll on even the heartiest souls. As

time wears on, most of the dead feel the weight of ages and misery. Souls suffer injury and pain just as living creatures do, and even the dead can perish over time or after enduring multiple deaths

College of Whispers

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

College of Whispers Most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst. Bards of the College of Whispers use this to their advantage. They appear to be like other bards, sharing news, singing

songs, and telling tales to the audiences they gather. In truth, the College of Whispers teaches its students that they are wolves among sheep. These bards use their knowledge and magic to uncover

Gods of Har'Akir

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

, replacing them with parodies that make him and his followers central to the land’s faith. Over generations, these deities have become the gods of Har’Akir: Anu, who judges the fate of the dead Ese, who

presides over life and the living Neb, who guards the path of the dead Oru, who orders the heavens and all beneath Ousa, who controls death and the dead Sek, who heals the sick and cultivates life Sute

Languages in Eberron

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

closely tied to the distant land of Xen’drik. The following optional rules are a way to explore this aspect of the setting. Optional Rule: Common Languages Common is the language of the Five Nations

dominated the continent before humanity arrived. Orcish is a dead language; it may be encountered in ancient inscriptions, but modern orcs speak Goblin. Infernal is spoken by spirits that embody evil

Guilds and Groups

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

circle. Bards are expected to set aside personal rivalries while in a circle outpost, and any kind of combat or violence is prohibited. Violating this rule results in immediate expulsion from the

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

Yongjing Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

scholars, bureaucrats, artisans, and performers. But Yongjing was not always so vibrant. Beneath the fine floor tiles and immaculate garden paths lie the remains of prior dynasties and their long-dead

citizens—concealing a turbulent past marked by war, subjugation, and famine. The rule of the Xing dynasty has brought wealth, stability, and peace to Great Xing. But now the imperial secret of longevity

Bard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

spell learned through your Magical Secrets feature counts as a bard spell for you, so it can be replaced upon gaining a bard level later. But it must be replaced by a bard spell, according to the rule

in the Spellcasting feature. Which spell scrolls can bards understand—spells from the bard list only, or spells from the bard list plus spells from Magical Secrets? A bard can use any spell scroll

Ankhtepot

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

together the dead conquered the souls of Har’Akir. The ages have marched ever on. Ankhtepot has known treachery and conquest. He has known divinity and rule. But now he knows only boredom and despair

place, one with knowledge of rule and the deities’ blessing. On the day of the ritual that would consecrate the pharaoh’s connection with the gods, Ankhtepot rallied his loyal priests and murdered their

Harpers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Harpers Any smart, non-evil character can join the Harpers of Waterdeep. Bards and wizards are especially welcome. Harpers are altruists who work behind the scenes to keep power out of the hands of

locations such as the City of the Dead. Harper support comes in these ways: The Harpers make common and uncommon potions and scrolls available to the adventurers at a reduced or deferred cost

Kartakass

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

a way of life in this forested domain, with everyone from the bards of Skald to the actors of Emherst pursuing dazzling dreams. Here, the people live by a simple rule: never let an audience grow bored

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

Luthic. He predicts that the war will end with Luthic the only deity standing, as the cave mother ascends to rule her warrior children. Life in the Tribe Orcs survive through savagery and force of

more than a few hundred members, because a larger group would need a prohibitive amount of resources to remain strong. As a rule, a tribe is violently hostile toward any other tribe it meets, seeing the

Jergal

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

— l promise to serve and guide you as your seneschal until you grow comfortable with the position.” Then, before the stunned trio could react, the Lord of the Dead asked, “Who among you shall rule

, and strife. Yet with the passing of time, he became bored with his position. Then one day three mortals, each a powerful adventurer, met Jergal in the lands of the dead, determined to destroy him

San Citlán Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

San Citlán Gazetteer The stone-and-iron city of San Citlán stands at a confluence of ley lines, where the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thin. It’s a place suffused with magic

, where citizens commune with the dead in joyful festivals, and industrious minds create wonders of magic and technology. Despite San Citlán’s rich culture and magical marvels, economic inequality is

4. Altar of the Deep Father

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

in the shape of a manta ray and stretched out on cords between two support poles. A dead, splayed-out manta ray is pinned to the center of the hide. Two dead octopuses are draped across the top, their

. She is a bloodthirsty sadist absolutely assured that her divine vision will raise her in glory to rule her people. Bound and gagged against the far wall is a duergar prisoner (see “The Offering

The Old Dartwild Cabin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

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

Lost Treasures

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

Lost Treasures As they explore the tomb, characters are likely to find one or more fabled treasures as well as magic items inhabited by the spirits of Omu’s dead trickster gods. What happens to these

Company of the Yellow Banner was vanquished trying to obtain this lost jewel, which is rumored to have the power to resurrect the ancient dead. If the Eye of Zaltec indeed has such power, it requires

Duergar Despot

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

gathering on the fringes of Icewind Dale. Adventurers are much better equipped to deal with such threats, particularly in the dead of winter. One recent arrival in the area is Xardorok Sunblight, a

duergar warlock formerly of the Underdark. His patron, Deep Duerra, has urged Xardorok to fulfill his destiny and become the first duergar to rule a kingdom on the surface. Icewind Dale is cold, dark

Mielikki

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

attract. She is the patron of rangers in the same way that Milil is the patron of bards, but even rangers rarely pray to her directly. They instead pray to Gwaeron Windstrom, who they believe will

wilds. She has many shrines, particularly in the Savage Frontier. Most consist of a dead tree trunk into which has been carved a likeness of her holy symbol, a unicorn’s head. Alternatively, the likeness

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