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Returning 35 results for 'bards being death career rites'.
Classes
Player’s Handbook
Plumb the Depths of Magical Knowledge
Bards of the College of Lore collect spells and secrets from diverse sources, such as scholarly tomes, mystical rites, and peasant tales. The college’s
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
, foul rites that allow one to transform into a death knight or lich, or long-lost spells crafted by beings so evil their names ought never to be spoken aloud.
Vile Speech. While the book is on your
attuned to the book, you can cast the following spells (save DC 18) from it:
Animate Dead
Circle of Death
Dominate Monster
Finger of Death
Once you use the book to cast a spell, you can’t
Monsters
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
, with little grasp of metaphor or nuance.
The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon
Feed on Death. When a creature within 30 feet of the kraul drops to 0 hit points, the kraul or another creature of its choice within 30 feet of it gains 5 (1d10);{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
and earnest debate, he demonstrates an equal flair for planning and forethought, mad combat moves (involving leaping off high places whenever possible), and dark vengeance.
Viari's career as an
adventurer was nearly cut short during a battle of which the bards still sing. Unleashing a devastating attack with the aptly named Apocalypse Dagger, the rogue destroyed a giant single-handedly — and lost
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
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Orcus who plundered corpses from necropolises to create the first spawn of Kyuss. Even centuries after Kyuss’s death, his malign disciples continue performing the horrific rites he perfected
Bard
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
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
still resound throughout the cosmos. The music of bards is an attempt to snatch and harness those echoes, subtly woven into their spells and powers. The greatest strength of bards is their sheer
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Death isn’t always the end. The reborn exemplify this, being individuals who have died yet, somehow, still live. Some reborn exhibit the scars of fatal ends, their ashen flesh or bloodless
veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured
Monsters
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
island domain.
Long ago, it was revealed that the elven line of Vol — a house that practiced the art of necromancy and bore the Dragonmark of Death — was engaged in secret blood rites
, polymorph
5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, cone of cold, hold monster, scrying
6th level (2 slot): chain lightning, circle of death, create undead
7th level (2 slot): finger of death, forcecage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
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
hard study and some measure of natural talent that most troubadours and jongleurs lack. It can be hard to spot the difference between these performers and true bards, though. A bard’s life is spent
Urchin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
recuperate. You’ve survived despite all odds, and did so through cunning, strength, speed, or some combination of each.
You begin your adventuring career with enough money to live modestly but
. (Lawful)
3
Change. The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things. (Chaotic)
4
Retribution. The rich need to be shown what life and death
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
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
hard study and some measure of natural talent that most troubadours and jongleurs lack. It can be hard to spot the difference between these performers and true bards, though. A bard’s life is spent
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
.
You begin your adventuring career with enough money to live modestly but securely for at least ten days. How did you come by that money? What allowed you to break free of your desperate
)
3
Change. The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things. (Chaotic)
4
Retribution. The rich need to be shown what life and death are like in
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
organization, but who serve as its hands, head, and heart.
As a prelude to your adventuring career (and in preparation for it), you served as an agent of a particular faction in Faerûn. You might have
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
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
No career criminal in Baldur’s Gate operates without being aware of the Guild. Some studiously keep a low profile, carrying just the occasional smuggled load in with legitimate merchandise, or
realizing the connection. You got the Guild to back off demands for your death by offering to make amends by working for the criminals, but even so the kingpin still plots a personal revenge.
2
The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Journey into Death Those who are prepared for death, or who receive funeral rites, typically have or are given a coin (or similar token of value) interred with their corpse. When these individuals
given funeral rites have no means to pay Athreos’s toll and thus have no way of reaching their place of rest. These lost souls primarily collect along the Tartyx’s shores where they languish or beg
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
Mayastan Sadaar Word of Mayastan Sadaar’s death hits the scholars of Candlekeep hard. At your discretion, the characters can return the scholar’s body to Candlekeep so that she can be returned to
life (perhaps with the characters performing the rites). Alternatively, you might decide that the nature of Valin’s ritual prevents Mayastan from being restored to life even with a resurrection spell
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
Kelemvor The Lord of the Dead, the Judge of the Damned Kelemvor is seen as a just, fair, and comforting god of death. Death comes to all, and when it occurs Kelemvor is there to take each soul by
the hand and lead it to the proper afterlife. Kelemvor’s priests teach that those who revere the gods according to the rites of their religion have done their proper service and will be offered the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Bard Subclass 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
their traditions. This section presents the College of Lore subclass. College of Lore Plumb the Depths of Magical Knowledge Bards of the College of Lore collect spells and secrets from diverse sources
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
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
guild is all that really matters. (Any)
2
Hedonism. Death comes for everyone, so take as much pleasure as you can from every moment of life. (Neutral)
3
Creativity. I strive to
Orzhov oligarch has taken an interest in my career, like a patron of the arts.
8
Roll an additional Rakdos contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
9
A Selesnya healer
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Athreos when you honor him or the cycle of life and death through acts such as these: Providing coins and overseeing burial rites for those slain during a tragedy Ensuring that the deeds and
Athreos’s Champions Alignment: Usually lawful, often evil Suggested Classes: Cleric, monk, rogue, wizard Suggested Cleric Domains: Death, Grave (described in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) Suggested
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
Kraul Death Priest The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon crippling necromantic
magic, and the presence of death seems to fortify them. They draw power from the defeat of their enemies and channel it to their followers, ensuring the continuation of the cycle. The current leader
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
greater efficiency in the transition of the doomed into death, such as by impeding medical treatment or wrecking warships destined for hopeless wars. Athreos doesn’t approve of utter cruelty, but
.
4 A group of cult fanatics charges exorbitant prices for funeral rites, threatening to lead the dead astray unless they’re shown proper respect.
5 A priest of Athreos speaks out against healers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
Heralds of Dust Roles Eulogists, gravediggers, and morticians, the Heralds of Dust serve Sigil in all things related to death. The faction attracts the grief stricken, the undead, and those with a
departed and chronicle the dead’s deeds in obituaries. Necrologists also research burial rites appropriate to the deceased creature’s beliefs, religion, or cultural background. Recruiters. Recruiters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
against the south wall, on which several bodies lie wrapped in funeral shrouds.
The wooden platform is used as a dais for religious rites. The faithful are brought here after death, blessed, and then
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
, and its remains are strewn on the floor. The stench of death and decay grows stronger as the characters approach this room, and they can hear the hisses and snarls of the ghouls that lair here. The
the players as follows: This chamber was once a shrine, as evidenced by wall carvings that depict dwarves carrying censers and observing religious rites. However, the eastern section of the room has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Bigby Bigby (BIG-bee) is a former apprentice of Mordenkainen. Though he began his career determined to use magic to dominate and control others, Bigby eventually changed his ways and has worked hard
these spells, Bigby’s Hand is his undisputed magnum opus. A recent misadventure led to Bigby’s untimely demise. After he was crushed to death by a frost giant’s boulder, Bigby was the target of a
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->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->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
religious rites and festivals. Priests at such sites relate stories of the gods, teach the ethics of their patron deities, offer advice and blessings, perform religious rites, and provide training in
gods the locals revere. To quickly build a pantheon for your world, create a single god for each of the eight domains available to clerics: Death, Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Tempest, Trickery
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
an eye patch. It clutches a whip in one bony hand.
Along the east wall are three rusty gates with mold-covered cells beyond them.
Cultists used to perform ghastly rites here. Human prisoners were
confined to the cells (see below) until they were sacrificed. After death, they would be brought back to this room, where the high priest would animate them as zombies. Cells. All three cell doors
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->Player's Handbook (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 what
, Artemis is not an ideal adventurer. He began his career as a villain, and only cooperates with heroes when he must — and when it’s in his own best interests. In most games, evil adventurers cause
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
if their bodies were prepared with specific funerary rites and then entombed with their wealth, they could ascend to their chosen afterlife. Amun Sa, the last pharaoh of Bakar, took this tradition
Curse on the Pharaoh After his death, Amun Sa’s spirit began its journey to the afterlife, but he was stopped by a god of death. The disapproving god chastised the pharaoh’s spirit: “Your legacy was