bards better diffusing cults received

Strahd's Animated Armor

Monsters Curse of Strahd

damage.Animated objects are crafted with potent magic to follow the commands of their creators. When not commanded, they follow the last order they received to the best of their ability, and can act independently

number of permanent spell effects on it to make the armor a better castle defender. The armor understands Common but obeys only the commands of its master. Lightning, PoisonCold, Fire

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, ensuring that her companions’ words will be well received. Whether scholar, skald, or scoundrel, a bard weaves magic through words and music to inspire allies, demoralize foes, manipulate minds

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

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

inheritor. Your bond might be directly related to your inheritance, or to the person from whom you received it. Your ideal might be influenced by what you know about your inheritance, or by what you

city, especially hard drink. 5 Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land. 6 I have trouble trusting in my allies.

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Characteristics Members of demonic cults aren’t generally known as the kindest or most mentally stable individuals, so you’re likely to have something in your nature that distinguishes you from the

law-abiding citizens of Ravnica. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait 1 I revel in mayhem, the more destructive the better. 2 When violence breaks out, I lose myself in

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

Background The Dark Lady — a nickname for Nurvureem often whispered in shuddering fear — received a delegation of elemental cultists months ago. They came seeking the Dark Lady’s aid. Nurvureem not

didn’t go unnoticed. A spy from the Harpers, the Zhentarim, or the Lords’ Alliance (your choice) saw them leave and jumped to the wrong conclusion by assuming the elemental cults were in league with the

Interloper Gods

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

Demogorgon in chapter 6 is an ettin cultist who has received Demogorgon’s hideous gifts. Kostchtchie. Though he is not terribly important in the Abyss, the demon lord Kostchtchie is revered by many giants

. More than most members of individual Elemental Evil cults, giants see the big picture of the four cults working toward the common goal of elemental cataclysm. Some giants even worship the Elder

The Athasian Cult

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

The Athasian Cult Elemental cults are widespread in Athas. In a world without gods, people instead worship the powers they see in the world around them: air, earth, fire, and water. Elemental priests

dedication to evil. An elemental priest protects and guides the common people, using elemental magic to better their lives. An elemental cultist demands abasement, sacrifice, and obedience. The element

Using the Treks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

treks themselves. Some are directly related to the elemental cults, and others are situations unconnected to the cults that demand immediate attention. These short adventures can provide a good change of

disasters caused by the elemental cults launches a series of raids against homesteaders in the eastern part of the valley. This adventure is designed for 4th-level characters. The Long Road. Trade in the

Recovering from Defeat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

, reorganizing its cult and bringing the scattered remnants of the other cults to heel. This time allows the characters to plan a second assault. The factions the characters are affiliated with take a more

time and saw how the battle unfolded. If the characters need better gear or spells cast on their behalf, the factions get to work. No one wants a second assault to fail for lack of potions of fire

Fiery Fangs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

Fiery Fangs The fire cult is less concerned with maintaining appearances than the other elemental cults. When Vanifer or her lieutenants receive word that a band of adventurers is trying to ferret

pack breaks through windows and terrifies the staff. (It’s all the better if the characters are eating a meal there themselves). The monsters single-mindedly pursue the characters and fight until one is

Sun Elves

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

with other art forms, which produces the complex dance of the bladesingers as well as the enchanting music of their bards and the meticulous craftwork of their artisans. Sun elf adventurers often bring

a feeling of noblesse oblige to their profession: they venture out into the world to challenge its dangers because someone must, and who could be better suited?

Setup

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

Setup This adventure is best used late in the campaign for two reasons. First, the characters know more about the elemental cults and have a better perspective to understand the Dark Lady’s

Modifying a Class

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

modify existing classes to better serve your game’s needs. Changing Proficiencies Changing a class’s proficiencies is a safe and simple way to modify a class to better reflect your world. Swapping

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

Orcs of the Shadow Marches

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

aberrations spawned by the daelkyr’s corruption. However, many orcs succumbed to that same corruption and embraced the madness of the cults of the Dragon Below. Orcs who follow both of these paths

. 7 The leader of your clan committed a great wrong against another clan, which has now sworn to exterminate every last member of your clan. What better time to see the world? 8 Your work as an investigator has set you upon a trail of mysteries that leads far beyond the Marches.

Remarkable Heroes

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

Remarkable Heroes Eberron is a world in need of heroes. Lingering tensions of war remain. From the fanatics of the Emerald Claw and the mad cults of the Dragon Below to the flesh-warping daelkyr and

remarkable in Eberron. DM TIP: HIGH STAKES What’s better than a battle on the deck of an airship? A battle on the deck of an airship that’s about to crash! A DM should look for ways to raise the

Factions in Athas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

allegiance to the Veiled Alliance would primarily be interested in stopping the defilers who serve the elemental cults and making sure the sorcerer-kings do not get their hands on the secrets of elemental

fighting threats such as Elemental Evil, but they hate slaveholders and do everything they can to punish those who enslave others. The elemental cults take captives and force them to work on their mad

Chapter 2: Raiders' Camp

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

heavily on his bandaged left leg. “I hear that you intend to follow the raiders and see where they’ve gone. I’d like nothing better than to come with you, but in this condition, I’d slow you down. In the

. I fear that he might have tried to infiltrate their group when they retreated, or worse, was captured and carried away as a prisoner. No one understands these bandits better than he does, and his

Chapter 2: Raiders' Camp

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

heavily on his bandaged left leg. “I hear that you intend to follow the raiders and see where they’ve gone. I’d like nothing better than to come with you, but in this condition, I’d slow you down. In the

fear that he might have tried to infiltrate their group when they retreated, or worse, was captured and carried away as a prisoner. No one understands these bandits better than he does, and his

Mortuary Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary

never received one in life. Merle lies in the casket but occasionally sits up to hear his own eulogies. The Dusters ask the characters if they’d like to say anything on behalf of the deceased. 6 A lost

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

Bard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

completely reasonable and plausible explanation. Singing songs and strumming lutes might be fine for most bards. Who doesn’t like a rousing shanty now and then? But standing in a crowded tavern playing for

copper pieces tossed by commoners isn’t for everyone — and it certainly isn’t for bards in the Acq Inc world. The power and magic tied up in the voice of a franchise bard is meant for greater things

Princes of the Apocalypse

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

, isolated homesteads, and wilderness. Four evil elemental cults have taken refuge there and are building secret temples in the ruins of a dungeon complex beneath the hills. By the time the characters reach

pull himself together and fulfill his obligations. Homesteads in Peril Herivin Dardragon, the halfling proprietor of the Harvest Inn in the town of Westbridge, has received reports that ogres and hill

Prismari Faculty

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

insightful feedback, which she tailors to each individual. After a review, she often offers a small piece of advice that alters the student’s point of view and work forever—for the better. Uvilda

-student, Nassari famously “turned in” an earthquake, which almost destroyed three campus buildings. The piece received a standing ovation from the mage-student body—and a grumpy thumbs down from the campus

Lorehold Student

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Lorehold. Bards thrive in Lorehold, and wizards (particularly those of the School of Divination) are numerous among its students. Clerics (often with the Knowledge or Light domains) are also quite common

. The more obscure the historical references I can include in everyday conversation, the better. 2 By searching for these lost artifacts, I hope to find who I really am along the way. 3 I can barely go

D16. Bullywug Hut

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

(first in Bullywug and then in Common), “Push the note under the door.” The bullywug is referring to the secret message the characters received in area D6. If the characters comply, the bullywug lifts the

the dagger. If Illig views the characters as coconspirators, he’s eager to hear what they think of his cunning plan. If they have a better one, he wants to hear it. If the characters try to leave

The Watch Arrives

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

The Watch Arrives Shortly after the characters find Renaer, a captain of the City Watch named Hyustus Staget (LG male Illuskan human veteran) leads a dozen veterans to the warehouse. Having received

knows him, and most respect him regardless of their opinions of the City Watch in general. Staget doesn’t believe in rumors or gossip, he doesn’t drink, and he doesn’t let anger get the better of him

Other Villains

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

, he was owed better than he received. When he didn’t receive the accolades, he began to see everyone in his way as the problem, trying to keep him down, and he vowed to do whatever it took to turn the

Other Villains Not every troublemaker in the Dessarin Valley is a cultist. Some prefer to keep their affiliation with the elemental cults secret, while many more have nothing to do the cults. This

Daelkyr

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

waiting. THE SIX DAELKYR Six daelkyr are known on Eberron through their cults and legends: Belashyrra and Dyrrn, who are detailed in this chapter, and the four described below. Other daelkyr surely

vegetation might be its work. Kyrzin. The cults of the Prince of Slime are based in the Shadow Marches and are infamous for cultivating gibbering beasts. Kyrzin creates sentient slimes that can enter

Third Session

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

: Neronvain News that the dragon attacks in the elven forest have ended is gratefully received by all on the council. However, King Melandrach responds with cold fury to news of his son Neronvain’s betrayal

worth it. The defector is holed up in a fortress known as Xonthal’s Tower, recently taken over by the cult. Because a small team has a better chance to successfully infiltrate the tower than a larger

First Session

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

First Session Having accepted the invitation to the council meeting, the adventurers are received at the Lords’ Palace. Make the introduction to the City of Splendors and the Lords’ Palace as

otherwise. These dissidents believe it would have been better for the characters to have waited for reinforcements, then attacked to secure the castle (regardless of how unrealistic that plan might have

Third Session

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

: Neronvain News that the dragon attacks in the elven forest have ended is gratefully received by all on the council. However, King Melandrach responds with cold fury to news of his son Neronvain’s

risk is worth it. The defector is holed up in a fortress known as Xonthal’s Tower, recently taken over by the cult. Because a small team has a better chance to successfully infiltrate the tower than a

Ship of the Dead

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

character who can tolerate undead allies better than he can. When the two parties come to an agreement, Gargenhale bows deeply and invites the characters aboard his ship to celebrate their alliance with a

sensitive to holy praise. While aboard the ship, bards and other musicians are allowed to play only secular tunes. Article 3: Coward’s Consequence. Those who abandon their post or shirk their duty

Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

as they start to recognize the cults are a dangerous, destructive force. Left to Right: Harpers, Lords’ Alliance, Order of the Gauntlet, Zhentarim, and Emerald Enclave The Harpers A scattered

least discretion. Bards and wizards are their most prominent members. Harpers operate in small cells throughout the North. One is based in Triboar: Darathra Shendrel, the Lord Protector, belongs to the

Leonin of Oreskos

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

the grasslands for countless generations. They know the way of Oreskos’s beasts and seasons better than any. Both mystical and knowledgeable, the Sun Guides read the messages in plant growth and

Swiftclaws, and many bards and wizards come from these prides as well. Speaker Brimaz looks beyond Oreskos and wonders if there is a future for his people in the outside world (PETER MOHRBACHER)

D&D Beyond

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