bards being death chief rule

Eye and Hand of Vecna

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

Vecna the Archlich;Vecna was a mighty wizard who, through magic and conquest, forged a terrible empire. For all his power, however, Vecna feared death and took steps to prevent his demise by becoming

a lich. A treacherous lieutenant named Kas the Betrayer;Kas brought Vecna’s rule to an end in a terrible battle. Of Vecna, all that remained were one hand and one eye, grisly Artifacts that

Fighter

Classes Player’s Handbook

Armor, Scimitar, Shortsword, Longbow, 20 Arrows, Quiver, Dungeoneer's Pack, and 11 GP; or (C) 155 GP Fighters rule many battlefields. Questing knights, royal champions, elite soldiers, and hardened

mercenaries—as Fighters, they all share an unparalleled prowess with weapons and armor. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and defying it. Fighters master various

Durnn

Monsters Tales from the Yawning Portal

chief of the Durbuluk tribe of goblins. Durnn can't surrender for fear of losing face. He won't give up if the opposition includes kobolds. Otherwise, he might call for parley if doing so allows him to

avoid death. But he must still look strong while negotiating, so he's unwilling to capitulate in an arrangement that makes him look weak.

Syndra Silvane

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

spells on herself before combat. Death Curse. Syndra’s hit point maximum has been reduced to 79 by the Soulmonger’s death curse, and it decreases by 1 every midnight. If her hit point

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

Death Kiss

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

. Lacking the egotism of their stronger kin, a death kiss usually submits to the rule of its creator or any other beholder it encounters, but it tries to escape as soon as the beholder is preoccupied. A

Lightning Blood. A creature within 5 feet of the death kiss takes 5 (1d10);{"diceNotation":"1d10", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Lightning Blood", "rollDamageType":"lightning"} lightning damage

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

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

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

You are a member of a teeming horde — one small part of a sprawling organism. Just as you are part of the swarm, the swarm is part of a larger ecosystem, a never-ending cycle of life, death

Golgari, no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit Languages

Eye and Hand of Vecna Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

power, Vecna couldn’t escape his own mortality. He began to fear death and take steps to prevent his end from ever coming about. Orcus, the demon prince of undeath, taught Vecna a ritual that

would allow him to live on as a lich. Beyond death, he became the greatest of all liches. Even though his body gradually withered and decayed, Vecna continued to expand his evil dominion. So formidable

Gruul Anarch

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

siblings or ancestors.] Flaws d6 Flaw 1 If you question my courage, I will never back down. 2 HrrrGGGAAAARRuuuh! [My anger in battle led to the death of a loved one

Contacts table. Gruul Contacts d8 Contact 1 One of my parents is a renowned warrior in my clan. 2 My sibling has the ear of the clan chief. 3 I have cousins in a

Sword of Kas Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

power grew, so did his hubris. His sword urged him to supplant Vecna, so that they could rule the lich’s empire in Vecna’s stead. Legend says Vecna’s destruction came at Kas’s

) from it: call lightning, divine word, or finger of death. Once you use the sword to cast a spell, you can’t cast that spell again from it until the next dawn. Sentience. The Sword of Kas is a

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

gather and celebrate, dwell the followers of Yurtrus, the god of disease and death, and Shargaas, the god of darkness and the unknown. Orcs too weak for battle (because of bodily weakness, malformation

, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death. Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who

Sul Khatesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

children of Khyber rose from the darkness to reign over Eberron. The greatest among them were the overlords, who held dominion over a world of fear, war, and death until the children of Eberron and Siberys

powers they would wield if they were ever unleashed upon the world. Immortal Nature. An overlord doesn't require air, food, drink or sleep. It also can't die permanently. Upon its death, it reforms

Yakfolk Warrior

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

face is worn smooth into a featureless mask. The deity is appeased by sacrifice, which its followers carry out by capturing Humanoids and putting them to death by fire (immolation), earth (live burial

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

Yakfolk Priest

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

a male Yikaria, but its face is worn smooth into a featureless mask. The deity is appeased by sacrifice, which its followers carry out by capturing Humanoids and putting them to death by fire

, 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

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

, set itself up as a petty lord, and rule over all those who fall into its grasp. A Sinister Cycle. A forlarren in its fey aspect demonstrates self-destructive urges that reflect the inherent tension in

its nature. That aspect might drive it to drink itself nearly to death, or to throw itself into caring for others with such relentless energy that it eventually collapses from exhaustion

Mark of Shadow Elf

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Thuranni, Regalport (Lhazaar Principalities) Elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of years. The mark’s bearers left Aerenal after the conflict that wiped out the Mark of Death

espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while Thuranni operates in the eastern lands. As a rule, Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents are superior assassins. Thuranni and Phiarlan

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

away in the night to seek the cold will of fate. In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in

assigned by the tribal chief, and a family or clan name. A birth name is up to three syllables long. Clan names are five syllables or more and end in a vowel. Birth names are rarely linked to gender

Shadar-kai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Material Plane to forge their own destinies. Once shadar-kai were Fey like the rest of their elven kin; now they exist in a state between life and death, thanks to being transformed by the Shadowfell

by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your

Marine

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

injured marine for miles to avoid capture and death. Suggested Characteristics Marines are looked up to by other soldiers and respected by their superiors. They are veteran warriors

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

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

who study this entity claim that it is clearly evil and destructive. Others call it simply a necessary part of the cycle of death and rebirth. In the end, though, That-Which-Endures shows precious

little interest in what people say about it. Ongoing Mutations Because the verdan have not dwelled long in the world, they are still discovering new things about themselves. Chief among these

Orogs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

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

, such as after the death of the chief, orogs move in to oversee the selection of a new leader and keep the tribe from splintering due to infighting. Orogs strive not to lead their tribe, but to keep

Legends of Dayawlongon

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

Adventure Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

forcing the tribe’s survivors to flee into the foothills and forests. Enraged by the death of their war chief, the orcs have called upon ancient allies — evil, shapechanging, half-orc spellcasters who

dragon’s domain grows as it ranges farther across the land, preying on anything it can catch with its claws or freeze to death with its icy breath. Sightings of the dragon are becoming more common

Secret of Chief Yarb-Gnock

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

became the new chief after the previous one choked to death on a mountain goat tongue. By then, Yarb-Gnock had already drawn up plans to build a fortress in the mountains. Karkolohk, the Gnomish word

Secret of Chief Yarb-Gnock Ruling a goblin horde is a thankless job. That’s a hard lesson for a rock gnome sorcerer to learn. Five years ago, before Icewind Dale became the perpetually frozen

Mortuary Encounters

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

Look Out Above

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Look Out Above Chief among the creatures drawn to the scent of death on the island is a monstrous peryton (see appendix C) known as Rasp. This creature has long hunted across the region, searching

is smart enough to not fight to the death, though, and it leaves the island to return to one of its mainland lairs if reduced to half its hit points or fewer. If Rasp reduces a character to 0 hit

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

Eldeen Characters

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

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

4. Giant Doors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

is Wormblod, a bloodthirsty berserker (CE male Uthgardt human with 90 hit points) who is also the Great Chief of the Great Worm tribe. He keeps an enslaved white dragon wyrmling for a pet and a female

berserkers have been unable to get through these doors. The Uthgardt and their leader are hostile toward anyone who isn’t a member of their tribe, and they fight to the death. This is true even if the

Against the Giants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

Against the Giants Giants have been raiding settled lands in bands, with giants of different sorts in these marauding groups. Death and destruction have been laid heavily upon every place these

Giant Chief. From there, if they succeed, the adventurers can advance to test their mettle against the even more formidable giants of frost and fire, but that is of no concern right now—the steading awaits, and its perils are plentiful.

The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl Dozens of leagues to the north and west of the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, amid the tallest mountain peaks, is the stronghold of Grugnur, Lord of Frost

Giants. As frost giants have been among those who have been in the reaving bands, the party is to deal with them as they did the hill giants: death and destruction are to be meted out to the frost

Karkolohk Overview

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

cages until they freeze to death, whereupon the goblins cook and eat them. Deep tracks left by goblin wagons lead to and from Karkolohk, making it easy to find despite the heavy snowfall. Once the

construction and repairs. Goblin Mindset Chief Yarb-Gnock has taught the goblins to seize their destiny and stop at nothing to get what they want. Opportunistic creatures that they are, they take any sign of

Tayyib Empire

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

. The war began in response to the death of Emperor Tasneem, whose older heirs turned to sinister magic in their attempts to rule. These heirs burned the former capital and unleashed legions of

Yongjing Gazetteer

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

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

has been exhausted, which means the White Jade Emperor’s long reign will end soon. The Grand Secretary who governs Great Xing according to the emperor’s command knows that it’s only a matter of time before word of the emperor’s impending death gets out and the stability of the empire is put to the test.

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