bards bustling diffusing cult refuse

Bard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

Bard In Ravnica, bards are commonly found among the Azorius Senate, the Cult of Rakdos, and the Selesnya Conclave, serving in a variety of capacities as lore keepers and entertainers. Bard Subclass

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

advisor to Open Lord Laeral Silverhand. See appendix B for more information on these NPCs. Harpers prefer to conduct their business in bustling inns and taverns such as the Yawning Portal, or in quiet

Folk Horror Plots

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

villager who ran away to escape the local cult. 2 Hunt down the monster blamed for causing a blight: a unicorn meant to serve as a sacrifice. 3 Discover why anyone entering the city on

horseback is imprisoned and sentenced to death. 4 Help a cult summon a fiend to combat an impending greater evil. 5 Defeat a violent hag who’s protected by everyone in town and called

The Forgotten Realms

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

their gods, questing against the terrifying powers that threaten the land. Wizards plunder the ruins of the fallen Netherese empire, delving into secrets too dark for the light of day. Bards sing of

. Ships and roads lead southbound travelers to a number of bustling ports along the Sword Coast, including the following strongholds of civilization: Luskan, the City of Sails, is home to pirates as

Baldur's Gate

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

Baldur’s Gate Baldur’s Gate is a bustling center of trade, with goods coming from north and south by wagon along the Trade Way and by ship on the Sea of Swords, and from the east along the River

cult wagons when they arrive. Frume’s contact is a human trader named Ackyn Selebon. He operates an equipage business in the Outer City north of the city wall, in a district called Blackgate. There

Baldur's Gate

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

Baldur’s Gate Baldur’s Gate is a bustling center of trade, with goods coming from north and south by wagon along the Trade Way and by ship on the Sea of Swords, and from the east along the River

cult wagons when they arrive. Frume’s contact is a human trader named Ackyn Selebon. He operates an equipage business in the Outer City north of the city wall, in a district called Blackgate. There

Exiting Xonthal's Tower

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

sundial, from which they can exit the maze. The characters are not yet in the clear, though. However much Jorgen Pawl opposed Severin, he remained loyal to the Cult of the Dragon. As soon as he understood

maximum effect. If the characters refuse to face it, Lennithon is happy to wreck the village and murder innocents in an effort to bring the heroes into the open. When the characters face the dragon

Exiting Xonthal's Tower

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

, from which they can exit the maze. The characters are not yet in the clear, though. However much Jorgen Pawl opposed Severin, he remained loyal to the Cult of the Dragon. As soon as he understood that

. If the characters refuse to face it, Lennithon is happy to wreck the village and murder innocents in an effort to bring the heroes into the open. When the characters face the dragon, read or

T6: Occult Library

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

of Xia’s cult. Cultist Eleith Brittlebones has been duped into following the cult of Orcus. Xia convinced the dwarf that the world is nearing its end, the gods are dead, and the demonic forces of death

undead, for example—the dwarf surrenders. In this case, Eleith becomes willing to share information about the cult in exchange for information about living deities and the state of the cosmos. See “Xia’s

City of Guilds

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

City of Guilds In all their fantastic diversity, the cosmopolitan citizens of Ravnica go about their daily business in bustling markets and shadowy back alleys. Shambling pack animals (mammals

spirits often called the Ghost Council. Cult of Rakdos. The demonic Cult of Rakdos is the jester in Ravnica’s culture, using satire and performance to skewer the powerful and embolden the weak. But it is

The Harpers

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

unable to locate an elusive foe, or have been captured by the cult and need inside help to escape, a Harper can offer up a secure hideout, a whispered clue, or a smuggled knife. Bards, mages, and rogues

using knowledge to win the day over brute force. However, as the Cult of the Dragon grows more brazen and destructive, the Harpers are forced to act more openly in their opposition. If the characters

The Harpers

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

unable to locate an elusive foe, or have been captured by the cult and need inside help to escape, a Harper can offer up a secure hideout, a whispered clue, or a smuggled knife. Bards, mages, and rogues

using knowledge to win the day over brute force. However, as the Cult of the Dragon grows more brazen and destructive, the Harpers are forced to act more openly in their opposition. If the characters

Adventure in Red Larch

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

they work at night. The workers now refuse to stay in the quarry after dark. Workers at Waelvur’s Wagonworks (area 16) have been talking about suspicious activity around the workshop. They can be

is the secret guarded by the Believers, although it has also attracted the attention of the Cult of the Black Earth. The Sinkhole. If the adventurers find their way to the Tomb of Moving Stones on

The Harpers

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

unable to locate an elusive foe, or have been captured by the cult and need inside help to escape, a Harper can offer up a secure hideout, a whispered clue, or a smuggled knife. Bards, rogues, and wizards

using knowledge to win the day over brute force. However, as the Cult of the Dragon grows more brazen and destructive, the Harpers are forced to act more openly in their opposition. If the characters

The Old Dartwild Cabin

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

might hear you!” hisses another. Ebbin Fulchre and his three companions are unarmed commoners who refuse to enter the cabin, even on a dare. Morbid curiosity brought them here, but they’re nothing

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

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

Undercroft

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

cults have moved into the Sumber Hills: an air cult called the Cult of the Howling Hatred; an earth cult, the Cult of the Black Earth; a fire cult called the Cult of the Eternal Flame; and a water cult

, the Cult of the Crushing Wave. Nurvureem hasn’t seen elemental cultists in several tendays. She says, “I taught them in blood to leave this place alone.” Her recent visitors sought an alliance with

38. Ritual Chamber

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

38. Ritual Chamber The cult used to perform rituals in this sunken room. The chanting heard throughout the dungeon originates here, yet when the characters arrive, the dungeon falls silent as the

breach in the west wall leads to a dark cave heaped with refuse. Murky water covers most of the floor. Stairs lead up to dry stone ledges that hug the walls. In the middle of the room, more stairs rise

Exile

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

bustling cities full of Humanoid peoples where they might attract attention but not necessarily open hostility. Giants who live among smaller folk tend to gravitate to positions of importance. They

secret cult conducting sinister rites in a vast mansion where a giant lives in luxury. 3 A giant takes up residence in a city and demands a huge share of tax revenue in exchange for protecting the city

Investigating Rivergard

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

Investigating Rivergard Grimjaw and his gang work with smugglers to move stolen goods on the river. They stage attacks against river boats that refuse to pay protection money, and they actively

recruit thugs and monsters to join the Cult of the Crushing Wave. When the characters arrive at Rivergard, read the following text: A small castle overlooks the mighty Dessarin River, which is a good half

Shunned Cave Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

here, the owlbear loses interest and returns to its den. G4: Smelly Refuse This cave contains heaps of food scraps, rotting carcasses, and a scattering of halfling-size bird pellets composed of fur

characters beyond the ledge. G6: Cult Barrack These cult quarters contain beds, a table, and several chairs. Tapestries on the walls depict evil creatures and obscene rituals. Four humans in hooded red

Haayon the Punisher

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

Haayon the Punisher This encounter occurs only after the prophets of the Cult of the Howling Hatred and the Cult of the Crushing Wave have been defeated. Bands of raiders roaming the area, minor

defeated temples; one such leader is Haayon the Punisher. Haayon is a cloud giant who hopes to become the next leader of the air cult. Late to answer the call of Elemental Evil, he recently arrived in

Exploring Curst

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

successful DC 14 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check. CoupleOfKooks “We’re the refuse of the Outlands, the debris of shattered dreams, the waste of every failed vengeance. We’re the scum of the

by the dour adult copper dragon Tudhog the Junk Wyrm (see the “Curst” section of Sigil and the Outlands). 3 A hateful criminal (cult fanatic) jeers at the characters from a public pillory or hanging

The Day's Catch

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

, allowing his true believers of the Sea Mother to cut off the head of the cult. The archpriest promises that the characters will be “well rewarded” for their aid. If the characters refuse, Ploopploopeen

.” If the characters talk with Ploopploopeen, the archpriest explains his intentions as the kuo-toa escort the party to Sloobludop. If the characters refuse, the kuo-toa attempt to capture them, as

Hiring Out

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

. This is actually one of the reasons why Baldur’s Gate is such a bustling commercial hub: for goods to pass through the city from south to north, for example, they must be unloaded in the Outer City east

curtained palanquins for both comfort and privacy. Rezmir does the same. When characters spot familiar faces from the cult camp, the cultists are carrying or accompanying a palanquin where Rezmir rides. They

Hiring Out

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

. This is actually one of the reasons why Baldur’s Gate is such a bustling commercial hub: for goods to pass through the city from south to north, for example, they must be unloaded in the Outer City east

palanquins for both comfort and privacy. Rezmir does the same. When characters spot familiar faces from the cult camp, the cultists are carrying or accompanying a palanquin where Rezmir rides. They

Temple of Tharizdun

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

night, but were little more than a desperate mob whose tainted dreams brought them together. With the arrival of the aboleth Sgothgah in the Styes, the cult now has renewed vigor, and its members

in the middle of a dark ceremony to raise the risk and the stakes. None of the cult members are dangerous to a party of the characters’ level (see area T5 for statistics). But the presence of a

Theater: Autumn

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

backstage are locked. Characters who slip in through the back see actors and stagehands bustling about and the director arguing with the playwright while the stage manager looks on helplessly. On the stage

. Jarlaxle could speak to Fenerus himself, but he’s not sure if the courthouse is warded against magic. He can’t risk the exposure, so he sends the characters instead. If the characters refuse to work for

Investigating the Monastery

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

disturb our meditations,” and are attacked if they refuse to leave. If the characters ask about the Mirabar delegation, the monks at the door say, “They aren’t here,” and turn the party away. Suspicious

characters in if the characters claim that they are here to join up or are already working for the Black Earth cult. Asking for Hellenrae, Marlos Urnrayle, or Miraj Vizann by name suffices as proof, as

Areas of the Earth Temple

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

the strangers pause at the bridge to either give the hand sign of the cult (a triangle formed with thumbs and forefingers of both hands) or call out, “I serve the Black Earth!” In combat, the gargoyles

iron stove furnish the room. A pile of firewood nearby keeps the stove well stoked. This guardroom serves as the barracks and post of five duergar in the service of the Black Earth cult. The gray

Death House Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

crypts in areas D23a and D23b are empty, and the slabs for these crypts are unmarked. The remaining crypts (areas D23c–D23f) each contain an empty coffin on a stone bier. D24: Cult Initiates

ceiling with a trapdoor set into it. The trapdoor is bolted shut from this side and can be pushed open to reveal the den (area D3) above. D33: Cult Leaders’ Den A chandelier hangs above a table in the

Areas of the Air Temple

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

will before final initiation into the cult. If the characters attack, the priests order the commoners to fight to the death. A commoner can be frightened into surrendering with a successful DC 15

-Besil shops moved into the area as soon as a food source (the cult) arrived. Whenever the characters enter one of the shops, they have a twenty-five percent chance of encountering the cloaker. The

T13: Great Statue of Orcus

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

is stolen (see “Stolen Goods” below). Roleplaying Nezzarum. Nezzarum has been waiting here in the hope that adventurers would come and defeat Xia and her cult, knowing that he isn’t strong enough to

; if they refuse a command, he remains Indifferent toward them. Each time the characters leave the hall and return, Nezzarum issues a new command until he has issued three of them. He never repeats a

Green Dragon Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

and killing whatever they can—all to placate a green dragon living in their territory. 3 A cult is capturing travelers to feed a newly hatched pair of green dragons. 4 A convicted murderer

to destroy their trees if they refuse. 3 An infestation of twig blights has taken over the lair of a young green dragon, and the dragon will do anything to reclaim it. 4 Green hags compete

Barrow Mound

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

Barrow Mound Long ago, Uthgardt barbarians built the barrow mound to hold the body of a chieftain, now forgotten. When Wiggan Nettlebee joined the Cult of the Black Earth, he looted the barrow

chilly here. If they accompany the characters openly, Wiggan and Bertram cower at the edge of the hill. The halflings refuse to set foot upon the “cursed” ground. Map 6.6: The Barrow Mound Barrow

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