battle bards diffusing commands reason

Sammaster (Dracolich Form)

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

rule Faerûn. His Cult of the Dragon devotes itself to helping evil dragons become dracoliches to bring this evil new age to fruition. Sammaster was killed in battle, but had prepared contingencies

circle of the Cult of the Dragon, from whom he commands obedience. Sammaster rarely remains in one place for long, as he thinks no one can oversee the Cult of the Dragon activities across the Realms as

Sammaster (Lich Form)

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

. His Cult of the Dragon devotes itself to helping evil dragons become dracoliches to bring this evil new age to fruition. Sammaster was killed in battle, but had prepared contingencies for his demise

the Dragon, from whom he commands obedience. Sammaster rarely remains in one place for long, as he thinks no one can oversee the Cult of the Dragon activities across the Realms as efficiently as he

College of Whispers

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

against others through extortion and threats. Many other bards hate the College of Whispers, viewing it as a parasite that uses a bard’s reputation to acquire wealth and power. For this reason

Most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst. Bards of the College of Whispers use this to their advantage. They appear to be like other bards, sharing news, singing songs, and telling

Harmonium Captain

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

patrols throughout Sigil. They bolster their subordinates in battle and bring the authority of the Harmonium crashing down on suspects with their commands.

", "rollAction":"Dictate"}. The captain verbally commands up to three creatures it can see within 60 feet of itself. This magical command must be to undertake an action or to refrain from taking actions (for

Velomachus Lorehold

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

"} slashing damage. If the target is a Huge or smaller creature, it is knocked prone. Battle Tide Breath (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Battle Tide Breath

":"damage","rollAction":"Battle Tide Breath","rollDamageType":"force"} force damage and 45 (7d12);{"diceNotation":"7d12","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Battle Tide Breath","rollDamageType":"thunder

College of Whispers (XGtE)

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

against others through extortion and threats. Many other bards hate the College of Whispers, viewing it as a parasite that uses a bard’s reputation to acquire wealth and power. For this reason

Most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst. Bards of the College of Whispers use this to their advantage. They appear to be like other bards, sharing news, singing songs, and telling

Howler

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

around the battlefield in a search for safety. Fiends especially prize howlers for this reason, because for a few crucial moments in a battle, their howls can neutralize an enemy.Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Viari

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

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

Female Steeder

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

domesticate steeders, particularly duergar. Typically the females serve as steeds in battle, while the males are used as draft animals. Steeders attempt to tear apart perceived threats—and consider

intelligent enough to learn simple hand signals and vocal commands, but even a domesticated steeder might turn against its handler. Training a steeder requires a rider to bond with it, a process that

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

or value to anyone. The armor that Strahd wore into battle when he was alive lives on today as a headless, animated suit of plate armor. The armor is painted burgundy and adorned with golden angelic

Male Steeder

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

domesticate steeders, particularly duergar. Typically the females serve as steeds in battle, while the males are used as draft animals. Steeders attempt to tear apart perceived threats—and consider even

intelligent enough to learn simple hand signals and vocal commands, but even a domesticated steeder might turn against its handler. Training a steeder requires a rider to bond with it, a process that

Nupperibo

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

when a greater fiendish power commands it. Individually, nupperibos are weak, but they’re rarely alone and can be dangerous when gathered into packs. Clouds of stinging insects, stirge;stirges

battle, but their presence in a legion does nothing to elevate its general’s status.Fire, PoisonAcid, Cold

Wersten Kern

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

. In battle, she wields a wicked pike that flies Soth’s black rose standard, and her cries can stop mighty warriors’ hearts. Wersten staunchly follows Soth’s commands, and she will serve him until she faces a second doom.Poison

Ogre Chitterlord

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

rodent allies fail them, chitterlords can also turn the tide of any battle with their prodigious strength and druidic magic.Call Rats (1/Day). The ogre magically calls 1d4;{"diceNotation":"1d4

spoken commands, and take their turns immediately after the ogre’s turn on the same initiative count. The rats remain for 1 hour, until the ogre dies, or until the ogre dismisses them as a bonus action.

Mercenary Veteran

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

possibilities.) Now you’re looking for something else, perhaps greater reward for the risks you take, or the freedom to choose your own activities. For whatever reason, you’re leaving

behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way. MERCENARIES OF THE NORTH Countless mercenary companies

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Shiftless, Savage Layabouts When they’re not in battle, bugbears spend much of their time resting or dozing. They don’t engage in crafting or agriculture to any great extent, or

deities who are brothers, Hruggek and Grankhul. Hruggek is the fearsome elder sibling, possessed of legendary might and prowess in battle. Bugbears believe their strength and bravery come from him

Lord Soth

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

level) 1/day: banishment (cast at 6th level) Word of Death (1/Day). Soth points at a creature he can see within 60 feet of himself and magically commands it to die. The target must make a DC 19

his turn. Implacable Maneuver. Soth moves up to his speed or commands a mount he is riding to move up to its speed. The movement from this action doesn’t provoke opportunity attack;opportunity

Hutijin

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

. Across the Hells, Hutijin’s name fills lesser devils with fear and loathing, for this duke commands two companies of pit fiend;pit fiends (see the Monster Manual). With such soldiers under his

figure, known only to the most learned infernal scholars. He has no cults of his own, and his servants are few in number. The reason is simple: Hutijin hates mortals. When summoned from the Hells, he

Maschin-i-Bozorg

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

damage on a successful one.The kagu-svirfneblin’s most prized invention is the maschin-i-bozorg: a dome-shaped, steam-powered battle construct propelled by a multitude of wheels along its flat

underside. Maschin-i-bozorgs typically act as guardians and sentries, tirelessly patrolling the sites they’re assigned to protect. Each machine obeys the commands of its creator. A machin-i-bozorg

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

in the other humanoids and makes them less helpful in battle. Utility and Survival The lizardfolk mindset might seem unnecessarily cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The

quirk for a lizardfolk character or to inspire a unique mannerism. Lizardfolk Quirks d8 Quirk 1 You hate waste and see no reason not to scavenge fallen enemies. Fingers are tasty and

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

appear, and they obey his commands. They remain until they die or Geryon uses an action to dismiss any or all of them.Geryon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one

use this opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle

Giff Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

refuse to fight other giff, and will never agree to a contract unless it stipulates that they can sit out a battle rather than wage war against their kin. A giff prizes the reputation of its unit above its

brighter the flash, and the thicker the smoke it produces, the more giff love a weapon. Their skill with gunpowder is another reason for their popularity as mercenaries. Giff revel in the challenge of

Red Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

abishais when it comes to leadership ability and raw power. Red abishais lead other devils into battle or take charge of troublesome cults to ensure that they continue to carry out Tiamat’s commands

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle; he loves

. Sages who study the Nine Hells believe the battle for control of Stygia is a test staged by Asmodeus in hopes of purging the worst impulses from both Geryon and Levistus—or discovering a competent

Eye and Hand of Vecna Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

’s lieutenant Kas coveted the Spider Throne for himself, or that the sword his lord made for him seduced him into rebellion. Whatever the reason, Kas brought the Undying King’s rule to an

end in a terrible battle that left Vecna’s tower a heap of ash. Of Vecna, all that remained were one hand and one eye, grisly artifacts that still seek to work the Whispered One’s will in

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The kobolds prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger

Rak Tulkhesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

impulses that drives many mortals to battle. Fear, greed, hatred — these are seeds that the Rage of War sows in the hopes of producing a bloody harvest. Rak Tulkhesh typically takes the form of a vaguely

rakshasa Mordakhesh the Shadowsword — Rak Tulkhesh's exarch among the Lords of Dust, who commands a host of fiends exerting the overlord's will across Khorvaire.Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical AttacksCold, Fire, Lightning

Auril (Second Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

immediately after Auril in the initiative order and obeys her commands. Ice Stasis (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Ice Stasis"}. Auril magically creates a gem-sized

might prove helpful: So long as she has mortal worshipers, Auril can’t truly die (although the characters can rid the world of her for a time). Thus, she has no reason to capitulate to mortals

Bards

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

Bards Bards hold a special place of responsibility and respect in the Forgotten Realms. They are bearers of news, gossip, and messages in their travels from place to place, in addition to being

living storehouses of history and folklore. Bards know a great deal, and they tend to be willing to share what they know, or at least barter for it. The arrival of a renowned bard is a special occasion

Bards

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

Bards Bards hold a special place of responsibility and respect in the Forgotten Realms. They are bearers of news, gossip, and messages in their travels from place to place, in addition to being

living storehouses of history and folklore. Bards know a great deal, and they tend to be willing to share what they know, or at least barter for it. The arrival of a renowned bard is a special occasion

Bards

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

Bards Bards hold a special place of responsibility and respect in the Forgotten Realms. They are bearers of news, gossip, and messages in their travels from place to place, in addition to being

living storehouses of history and folklore. Bards know a great deal, and they tend to be willing to share what they know, or at least barter for it. The arrival of a renowned bard is a special occasion

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying

. Great Purpose Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an

Priest of Osybus (Ectoplasmic)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

raised alarms far and wide. In response, the Ulmist Inquisition and the then-mortal Count Strahd von Zarovich faced the lich in battle. Their bravery would have been for naught if Osybus’s

body, but it otherwise uses the stat block of a shadow. The shadow obeys the priest’s mental commands (no action required) and takes its turn immediately after the priest. If the creature is

Priest of Osybus (Spectral)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

wide. In response, the Ulmist Inquisition and the then-mortal Count Strahd von Zarovich faced the lich in battle. Their bravery would have been for naught if Osybus’s disciples hadn’t

silhouette of its original body, but it otherwise uses the stat block of a shadow. The shadow obeys the priest’s mental commands (no action required) and takes its turn immediately after the priest. If

Priest of Osybus (Vampiric)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Strahd von Zarovich faced the lich in battle. Their bravery would have been for naught if Osybus’s disciples hadn’t betrayed him. Fearing that their master would eventually consume their

’s mental commands (no action required) and takes its turn immediately after the priest. If the creature is within 5 feet of the priest, it can turn back into a tattoo as an action, reappearing on the priest’s flesh and regaining all its hit points.

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