battle bards diffusing conduct reality

Quandrix Professor of Theory

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

minds, probability, and the fabric of magic itself. Their equations shift perceptions in profound ways, alter probability, and interfere with the formation of other magic. In battle, the professors tweak

interacts with the world can change the world. They impress upon their students to use magic as a tool to shape the overall experience of reality, and in turn make the world a better place. Quandrix

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

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

;re always welcome at the Three Old Kegs, where the Three Old Toads are glad to greet you with a smile and a mug of ale. The Watch. If you serve in the Watch, you’re required to conduct a

. 5 Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. 6 I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. d6 Flaw 1 The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

property vanishes. Businesses, buildings, and land you own are lost in a way that alters reality the least. Any documentation that proves you should own something lost to this card also disappears

you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it drops to 0 hit points, whereupon it disappears. If anyone tries to help you, the helper summons its

Knight of the Order

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

important than the gear and fighting style of its members, and so most of these orders aren’t limited to fighting types, but are open to all sorts of folk who are willing to battle and die for the

. The reality of the dangers they faced eventually sank in, as did Lurue’s tenets. Over time the small group grew and spread, gaining a following in places as far as Cormyr. The Knights of the

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

Deck of Several Things

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

adventure. The Fates. Reality’s fabric unravels and spins anew, allowing you to avoid or erase one event as if it never happened. You can use the card’s magic as soon as you draw the card

tattered black robe. It appears in a space of the DM’s choice within 10 feet of you and attacks you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it

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

Mina Lee

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

reality. Her fascination with language extends to spells and verbal components. After graduation, she plans to conduct research on the variance of language in spells and how one might tweak verbal

Star Spawn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

cultists hasten to gather together, read aloud their blasphemous texts, and conduct the mind-searing rituals that guide the blazing star spawn into the world. The cultists who blaspheme reality by

Tempus

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

Tempus The Foehammer, the Lord of Battles Tempus is a war god concerned with brave conduct during war, using force of arms over talk for settling disputes, and encouraging bloodshed. The god of war

is random in his favors, meaning that his chaotic nature favors all sides equally. Lord Tempus might be an army’s ally one day, and its enemy the next. He might seem to manifest before a battle

The Heirs of Dhakaan

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

commanders, typically having the skills of fighters, bards, or rangers. Bugbears cultivate a focused battle rage and are typically barbarians. Goblins are largely artisans and laborers, but

, or druids. Their focus is on martial excellence, and their spiritual leaders are bards, who tell tales of past glory. Among the Dhakaan, goblinoids work together. Hobgoblins are the strategists and

Personal Goal

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

sworn to do, or die trying. 4 Leadership. You will win a great battle that bards will sing about, and in so doing, you will become an example to inspire others. 5 Faith. You know your path is righteous

Bard: College of Spirits

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

Bard: College of Spirits Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions—and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards

next turn. Spirit Session 6th-level College of Spirits feature Spirits provide you with supernatural insights. You can conduct an hour-long ritual channeling spirits (which can be done during a

Bard Subclasses

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

Bard Subclasses A Bard subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Bard levels, as specified in the subclass. Bards form loose associations, which they call colleges, to preserve

Harmony with the Cosmos Bards of the College of Dance know that the Words of Creation can’t be contained within speech or song; the words are uttered by the movements of celestial bodies and flow

Cults of the Dragon Below

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

, and you will see reality through new eyes. The Korranberg Chronicle Raid Reveals Cult Chaos The people of Fairhaven were shocked by the revelation of bizarre cult activity in the center of one of

for all of us. I assure you that House Vadalis will conduct a full investigation of this incident and work to regain the trust of the good people of Fairhaven.” The Cults of the Dragon Below are

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

cold and rain, waiting for battle while hunger gnaws at their bellies? Many wish to reap the rewards of a good harvest, but few care to remove the stones and till the fields for planting. “The Lords

Walkways

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

and space, altering the perceptions and reality of all beings within its walls. Bigger on the Inside. The notion of space works strangely in Gravenhollow. The interior of the library continually

location within it. A Place of Peace. Visitors to the library of Gravenhollow are expected to conduct themselves with decorum, and to refrain from arguments and violence. Creatures that incite conflict

Redcloak Battalion

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

Battalion. This elite unit fought at the forefront of the Last War, and Brelish bards still sing of the exploits of Khandan the Hammer and Meira the Huntress. At the end of the war, the battalion was split

snarling displacer beast surrounded by the words, “First in battle, last to fall”—the Redcloak insignia and motto—on the right. Allies. As part of Breland’s military forces, the Redcloaks can count on

Training Area

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

can replace that trainer with another one from the table. Expert Trainers Trainer Type Empower Effect Battle Expert When you take damage from an attack made with an Unarmed Strike or a weapon, you

use its mastery property. Empower: Training. When you issue the Empower order to this facility, the facility’s hirelings conduct training exercises for the next 7 days. Any character who trains here

Hobgoblin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

warlord is a ruthless tyrant more interested in strategy, victory, glory, reputation, and dominion than leading troops into battle. As loyal and disciplined as hobgoblins are in their own legion

cooperate on the battlefield. Strategic Thinkers. Hobgoblins have a strong grasp of tactics and discipline, and can carry out sophisticated battle plans under the direction of a strategically minded leader

A Bard's Muse

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

A Bard’s Muse Naturally, every bard has a repertoire of songs and stories. Some bards are generalists who can draw from a wide range of topics for each performance, and who take pride in their

versatility. Others adopt a more personal approach to their art, driven by their attachment to a muse — a particular concept that inspires much of what those bards do in front of an audience. A bard who

Iroas's Influence

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

Iroas’s Influence Iroas personifies the glory of victory, honorable combat, and physical competition. He is the unspoken bond between soldiers on the eve of battle, the courage of the standard

bearer holding colors aloft in the midst of battle, and the exultation that comes after a hard-won victory. Iroas pushes his followers to excel in their chosen fields, particularly war and athletics, and

D3. Stepstone Crossing

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

attack any non-bullywugs that enter the water. If the characters find themselves in battle with the merrow, 1d4 + 1 bullywugs (neutral) arrive immediately after each merrow has taken two turns. The

). If the characters offer the bullywugs nothing in return for their help, the bullywugs take no offense. They don’t expect foreigners to honor the rule of reciprocity (see “Rules of Conduct” earlier in the chapter).

Playing During the Last War

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

political intrigue, tenuous alliances, and brutal conflicts. Consider these ways to make the Last War a present reality in your campaign: The players create new characters who live during a specific phase of

in a memorable battle? Do they take actions they’ll later regret? Do they make a bitter enemy who comes back to haunt them years later, when the campaign continues in the present day? A magical

Gods of Theros

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

as she watched their battle unfold. —Jenna Helland, Godsend Responding to a single sailor’s slight, vengeful Keranos, god of storms, sends lightning to strike a Meletian galley on the Siren Sea

higher reality, perhaps Nyx itself. And other people, particularly leonin, believe that the gods are undeserving of mortal reverence.

Mortuary Encounters

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

trots up to the characters and drops a bony hand at their feet. The dog wants to play fetch. 5 Ten melancholy Dusters (commoners) conduct an open-casket funeral for a cheery skeleton named Merle, who

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

Research

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

. Typically, a character needs access to a library or a sage to conduct research. Assuming such access is available, conducting research requires one workweek of effort and at least 50 gp spent on materials

would have opened it. 4 A sage becomes obsessed with convincing you of a number of strange theories about reality.* 5 Your actions cause you to be banned from a library until you make reparations.* 6 You uncovered useful lore, but only by promising to complete a dangerous task in return. *Might involve a rival

Classes Summary

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

who can enter a battle rage d12 Strength Strength & Constitution Light and medium armor, shields, simple and martial weapons Bard An inspiring magician whose power echoes the music of

derived from a bargain with an extraplanar entity d8 Charisma Wisdom & Charisma Light armor, simple weapons Wizard A scholarly magic-user capable of manipulating the structures of reality d6 Intelligence Intelligence & Wisdom Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows

Keranos's Champions

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

Find a long-lost artifact that bestows oracular visions upon the user. 5 Defeat the champion of another god in a battle of wits (perhaps Phenax, Mogis, or Klothys). 6 Find and restore a

prophecies, potentially drawing in secrets of the other gods or of reality itself. It is relatively easy for a mortal to lose Keranos’s favor because the god is quick to anger and doesn’t suffer failure

15. The Great Hall

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a3

15. The Great Hall This hallway is twenty feet wide and has piles of rubble and debris scattered along its length. The walls are covered with frescoes. The south wall displays scenes of a battle

. The hallway extends only 5 feet beyond the arch. The western wall is a cleverly painted mural designed to give the illusion of depth and reality, and the obscuring effect of the poison gas contributes

The Assault

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

The Assault Because of the characters’ familiarity with the sahuagin fortress and their obvious skill at staying alive, the Saltmarsh council involves them in the their battle plans. The Plan The

. The Attack The allied forces are destined for victory, but their degree of success is yet to be determined. Success in the battle is determined by how many victory points the characters accrue

Keeping Combat Moving

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

. See “Fight or Flight” later in this chapter for more suggestions. Add a Combatant To add excitement to a battle, consider adding a combatant. Maybe a monstrous predator wanders onto the scene where the

characters are locked in battle with another foe. Or maybe the noise of the ongoing combat attracts the attention of nearby dungeon denizens. The new combatant might attack both the characters and

Princes and Scorpions

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

battle, both princes thank the characters for their assistance. Kirina, Prince of Niba As the eldest son of the king of Niba, Kirina (chaotic evil, human veteran) was raised knowing he might be named

empire, it would be a point of pride for the whole land—so Simbon feels obligated to act as though he wants to be Empress Inaya’s heir. In reality, Simbon believes his poor tactical mind and hedonistic

Boros Angels

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

evil and oppression. They are commanders, advisors, strategists, and soldiers. Their presence in battle inspires the mortal soldiers of the legion with righteous zeal. Most Boros soldiers assume that

angels are paragons of goodness, wisdom, and mercy. The reality is that angels aren’t immune to the temptations of corruption, and the necessities of political machination can compromise the best of them

D&D Beyond

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