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Returning 35 results for 'bards breaking down curse runes'.
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Magic Items
Storm King's Thunder
breaking at least five Ruling Scepters of Shanatar simultaneously on it. This fact has never been recorded or sung of among the dwarves or any bards or storytellers, and it can’t be discovered
the ground and is a massive thing made of polished obsidian with oversized feet — the impaled skulls of four ancient blue dragons. Runes glisten in the carved obsidian, winking to life with blue
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
spying on the temple for years, but he needs adventurers to help him survive its perils. He thinks that the secret to breaking Strahd's pact and freeing Barovia from its curse might be hidden there, but
Kenku
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
reputation that is not wholly unearned, but they can prove to be valuable allies.
An Ancient Curse
The kenku once served a mysterious, powerful entity on another plane of existence. Some believe they
. Others strike out on their own in search of the secrets of flight, to master magic, or to uncover the secret of their curse and find a method to break it.
Kenku adventurers, despite their relative
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
unleashed on any who plunder the dragon’s treasure. Such a curse typically affects not only those who steal from the hoard, but anyone else who comes into contact with the treasure. Moreover, breaking the
, gathering the entire hoard together and performing some specific rite can end the curse. Such a rite might involve any or all of the elements suggested on the Breaking a Hoard Curse table. Breaking
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
. Rumor claims the light of Daoud’s Wondrous Lanthorn (see appendix A) is the key to breaking the curse. A ruler who believes the lantern is in the Lost Caverns sends an agent to recruit the characters
Adventure Hooks If you’re not using Nafas as a group patron, consider the following ways to involve the characters in this adventure: Lost Light. A powerful curse plunges a nearby nation into strife
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
give them a broad range of knowledge to support their schemes. Bards, rogues, and wizards are often drawn to this role. Safecracker. The “breaking” part of “breaking and entering” is the Safecracker’s
characters in your party: Bruiser. Sometimes subtlety means breaking just one of a snitch’s kneecaps. The Bruiser uses force and the threat of force to make sure that the crime syndicate gets what it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
detailed in “Magic Items”. Narrative Curses A curse might manifest during an adventure when a creature’s violation of a taboo warrants supernatural punishment, such as breaking a vow, defiling a tomb, or
Curses Every curse has rules that govern it. A curse typically takes one of the forms detailed below. Bestow Curse The simplest curses are created by the Bestow Curse spell. The effects of such
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
supernatural punishment, such as breaking a vow, defiling a tomb, or murdering an innocent. Such a curse can have any effects you design, or it might be a customized version of another type of curse
Curses Alexandre Honoré The curse of demonic possession
has devastating effects Every curse has rules that govern it. A curse typically takes one of the forms detailed below. Bestow Curse The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
fireplace are inscribed with runes extolling the god Hiatea and invoking her blessing upon all who shelter here. Many dynasties of giants have claimed ownership of Hiatea’s Hearth since its founding, and each
one has known vast prosperity within its walls—followed by a spectacular fall. The magic of the hall invokes Hiatea’s aspect as a tender of the hearth, but it also carries a curse laid by her brother
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
19. Steering Tower Blagothkus has secured the door to this tower with an arcane lock. It can be opened normally by a giant or by a knock spell. For everyone else, breaking it down is largely
glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes. This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of Esclarotta
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
source of the River Athis. In Bakar’s heyday, cool water sprang from the fountain, teleported to it from magical silos within the pyramid. The Fountain of Athis dried up the night of Amun Sa’s death. Only by breaking the pharaoh’s curse can the basin resume its flow and the land thrive once more.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory
imposed on a creature who breaks a lesser contract can be removed by any magic that ends a curse; a wish spell is needed to remove the penalty for breaking a greater contract. The Breaking a Greater
Feywild explorer is that most fey contracts can be broken with a remove curse spell or similar magic. Only the most powerful fey contracts are hard to break—ones woven by ancient hags, the queens of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
19. Steering Tower Blagothkus has secured the door to this tower with an arcane lock. It can be opened normally by a giant or by a knock spell. For everyone else, breaking it down is largely
glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes.
This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
48. Shagambi’s Tomb Each character who teleports into this tomb from area 47C appears atop a randomly determined teleportation rune (see “Teleportation Runes” below). Characters can also enter the
this area: Nervous Unkh suggests that her host leave the tomb at once using one of the teleportation runes, though she can’t decide which rune is best. Impulsive Wongo thinks it’s a good idea to shatter
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Endless Rockslide Adventures Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Endless Rockslide or to give them missions to pursue there. Constructive Endeavors Runes harnessing the
the crafts to bring misfortune. The stone giants ask the characters to find the fomorian and end the curse before they’re overwhelmed with creatures drawn from the Fomorian Encounters and Giant Kin
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
mentor?
What do you use your talents, work, or travels to hide? Does insecurity or doubt drive you to excel? Did someone best you in your field of mastery? Does a vice, curse, or rumor color your
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
opponents but one have collapsed. Although there’s no way for the characters to know this yet, the collapsed opponents have been rendered unconscious by the curse from Murgaxor’s orb (detailed at the start
of the adventure). Dean Tullus spread the curse to several students during the recent reception, and Murgaxor is now testing his magic’s power. The one remaining opponent reacts as follows: “What… what
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
somehow using faerzress to spread chaos and madness, the demon worshipers have begun conducting rituals to infect Gracklstugh. Intent on weakening the city and breaking the power of King Horgar
Steelshadow V, the cultists plan to inflict a curse on the stone giants of Clan Cairngorm that causes them to grow second heads, driving them insane. WHORLSTONE TUNNELS: GENERAL FEATURES
The following
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
characters solve this problem by breaking the curse rather than killing the rivals, but either way, these foils no longer trouble the characters after they resolve this situation. (A rival group at these levels might consist of an Archmage, an Archpriest, a Spy Master, and a Warrior Commander.)
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
Waking Nightmares As the work of preparing Kollema Hall winds down, six students complain about headaches and go to the infirmary. All these students are feeling the effects of the curse caused by
students turn against. Characters on the hall’s first and second floors who succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check hear shouting and breaking glass on the third floor. Soon after, the panicking
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
“Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). A creature that passes through the gate appears in area 26d on level 1, in the closest
transmutation magic around the helm, which is cursed. Once the helm is donned, it can’t be removed until its wearer dies or until a remove curse spell or similar magic is cast on the helm. Any humanoid
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
22. Rooms of Magic Ezzat summons and speaks to planar beings in area 22a, and keeps his spellbook in area 22b. 22a. Magic Circle Circle. A circle of runes is inscribed on the floor.
Door Symbol
, flesh to stone, geas, hold person, ice storm, imprisonment, knock, levitate, magic mouth, maze, meteor swarm, mislead, plane shift, prismatic wall, remove curse, telekinesis, true polymorph, unseen servant, wall of force, and web.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
concocted this theory to dupe the characters into testing his latest escape plan. Characters who examine the standing stones and succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check discern that the arcane runes
from the standing stone.
Transmutation Your skin turns blue for the next 24 hours. A remove curse spell ends the effect on you.
Development Dropping its disguise, the barlgura demon implores
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
humanoid rather than reflecting the creature’s physical form. Sages postulate that the first perytons were humans transformed by a hideous curse or magical experiment, but bards tell a different tale
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
scolds those who display bad manners or foolish behavior. She can easily mimic the sound of breaking glass, which she likes to use to create a distraction. Personality Trait. “I can be trusted with a
Wereraven Mimicry d6 Sound and Source 1 Madrina mimics glass breaking and makes it sound like it’s coming from the servants’ attic (area C16). 2 Taspar mimics a snorting hog, which sounds like it’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
from the room becomes cursed for as long as they remain within the tower or until the curse is removed by a remove curse spell or similar magic. While cursed, the character has disadvantage on all
the platform stands a stone archway sculpted with sharp runes and the heads of five dragons. Within the arch swirls dense gray mist.
The darkness beyond this room’s broken walls is only an illusion
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
the temple for years, but he needs adventurers to help him survive its perils. He thinks that the secret to breaking Strahd’s pact and freeing Barovia from its curse might be hidden there, but more
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
otherwise avoid combat. Southeast Door This door has a stone wall behind it, inscribed upon which is an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). Determine the rune randomly by drawing a card from the Elder Rune Deck
butterfly swarm is an instrument of the bards (Anstruth harp). The yellow sapphires carried by the animal-headed guards fit into the pillars in area 8. Each gemstone is worth 1,000 gp.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
. Negotiation. An old curse binds Issem to the Doomvault and to the service of the Thayans, but he hates the Red Wizards, so he is willing to talk. He can offer two pieces of lore (see “Doomvault Lore
hall are scorched. Cracks in the panels reveal bare stone. Three mystic circles have been scribed in the floor, each edged with rough runes.
Locked Doors. These steel double doors are locked. Tarul
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
fuel her terrible transmutation rituals. Alussiarr has no beef with the adventurers and doesn’t want to distress them by revealing its true form. It does, however, ask them to set it free by breaking
14th level or higher to pass through this gate (see “Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). A creature that passes through the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
. Stone shelves bearing books and ornamental ceramic jars line the walls alongside dust-covered banners embroidered with Dwarven runes. In one corner stands an elegant mahogany desk, on top of which is a
elemental gem. Secret Door. Any character who examines the north wall and succeeds on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check notices a small section of wall engraved with four Dwarvish runes. The runes are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
whenever a non-drow passes by it. A drow glyph of warding has a spell save DC of 13 and an explosive runes effect (see the spell’s description in the Player’s Handbook). Intellect Devourers Mind flayers
targeted by divination spells or perceived through scrying sensors created by divination spells.
The Stone Curse. The “stone curse” is an ancient enchantment woven by the wizards of Sorcere to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
trap’s pressure plate in a dungeon is good. Avoiding an awkward social situation might be even more important. Explosive runes warding a treasure chest go off once, maybe no one spotted them, big
Rangers, whose cover is that they have nothing to do with rangers or the undead
6 The Loyalists, ironically known for breaking contracts at an alarming rate
7 The Robust Vultures, who
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
bears a curse. Characters and monsters are built to face each other without the help of magic items, which means that having a magic item makes a character more powerful or versatile than a generic
the Armaments tables for Barbarians, Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers. Use the Implements tables for Bards, Monks, and Rogues. Use the Relics tables for Clerics and Druids. Feel free to vary the tables