beast both detail continues reflect

Ironscale Hydra

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

hibernation during which it continues to grow. When it awakens, it goes on a feeding rampage, so beginning the cycle once again. These rhythms of destruction sometimes become so ingrained in the minds and

lore of a people that, even after a hydra’s defeat, the beast might reappear as a Nyxborn being and begin its legend anew.Acid

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

might present itself as a friendly, agreeable guide that helps travelers survive the Nine Hells. Another is a howling beast that attempts to destroy all in its path. One will show mercy and empathy

, set itself up as a petty lord, and rule over all those who fall into its grasp. A Sinister Cycle. A forlarren in its fey aspect demonstrates self-destructive urges that reflect the inherent tension in

Mark of Shadow Elf

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

major families of the house. Known as the Shadow Schism, it resulted in a split withinin Phiarlan—and the foundation of House Thuranni. House Phiarlan continues to offer entertainment and

accompanied by a shadowy pair, rumored to be embodiments of shadow itself. The displacer beast serves as the young house’s emblem. The lands of House Phiarlan, known as the Demesnes, are the

Polukranos

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

period of hibernation during which it continues to grow. When it awakens, it goes on a feeding rampage, so beginning the cycle once again. These rhythms of destruction sometimes become so ingrained in

the minds and lore of a people that, even after a hydra’s defeat, the beast might reappear as a Nyxborn being and begin its legend anew.Acid

Rak Tulkhesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Tulkhesh magically polymorphs into a humanoid, beast, or giant that has a challenge rating no higher than his own, or back into his true form. He reverts to his true form if he dies. Any equipment he

form. The stat blocks provided here reflect the powers they would wield if they were ever unleashed upon the world. Immortal Nature. An overlord doesn't require air, food, drink or sleep. It also

Sul Khatesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

polymorphs into a humanoid, beast, or giant that has a challenge rating no higher than her own, or back into her true form. She reverts to her true form if she dies. Any equipment she is wearing or

. Some thirty overlords are bound in Khyber. Two are described here: Rak Tulkhesh and Sul Khatesh, both of whom remain imprisoned and can't take physical form. The stat blocks provided here reflect the

Changeling

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, their features almost devoid of detail. It is rare to see a changeling in that form, for a typical changeling changes their shape the way others might change clothes. A casual shape—one created

character’s creature type is. Here’s a list of the game’s creature types in alphabetical order: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

knowledge of anatomy to use by narrating the injuries my enemies suffer in grisly detail. 8 Like a wild animal, I lash out viciously when I’m provoked — and I’m easily provoked

stole something valuable. 8 I found a baby beast and sold it to a Rakdos wrangler who remains grateful to me. 9 A Selesnya druid and I share an interest in the same garden, and we have

The Dreaming Dark in the War

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

opportunity to call attention to a detail the characters overlooked. Clearly, this character’s subconscious registered the detail as important! Involve a current villain. This can help build the

players’ hatred for an elusive recurring villain! Foreshadow the future. This could simply reflect a character’s fears, but it might also convey a warning from a celestial or other supernatural

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

spellcasting, forming spirals that reflect the mathematical perfection of nature. Suggested Characteristics The bizarre science of the Simic Combine attracts a certain type of personality and encompasses

. 3 I’m eager to explain every detail of my most intricate experiments and theories to anyone who shows the least bit of interest. 4 I assume that everyone needs even the most basic

Recurring NPCs

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

villains, they can deepen players’ investment in the world. You can use different stat blocks in the Monster Manual, perhaps with some tweaks, to reflect the same NPC at different times as they grow over

advice in this section is meant to help you create an interesting character quickly while providing just enough detail.

Mournland Villains

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

Blades (described in more detail earlier in this chapter and in chapter 6) is a major force in the Mournland. The Mournland Villains table suggests other possible evil schemes and influences that might

undead army from the corpses in the Mournland. 5 A rakshasa works to free a fiendish overlord trapped in a whirlwind of stone and sand somewhere in the Mournland. 6 A servant of the Lords of Dust maintains an extensive collection of severed heads and continues to draw on the knowledge in their brains.

Death in the Mines

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

story: Awa and the rest of his crew—including his mother—were working a new excavation when it collapsed. Awa and the others were trying to escape when a snarling, eight-legged beast appeared. The beast

was the last miner out before the entrance collapsed. No one else from his crew escaped. If pressed, Awa can detail the creature that attacked him further (see the “Aurumvoraxes” section at the end of

Choosing a Guild

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

Choosing a Guild Chapter 2 describes the ten guilds of Ravnica in detail. How do you decide what guild you want your character to belong to? You can choose one of these approaches: Look at the

favorite guild, create a character from that guild. To reflect your character’s membership in a guild, you can choose the background included in the guild’s description instead of a background from the

Passages

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

, but the width of the passage must be at least 5 feet smaller than the longest dimension of the chamber. Passage d20 Detail 1–2 Continue straight 30 ft., no doors or side passages 3 Continue

., comes to a dead end; 10 percent chance of a secret door 11–12 Continue straight 20 ft., then the passage turns left and continues 10 ft. 13–14 Continue straight 20 ft., then the passage turns right and

33. Illusion Classroom

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

Figment and fails is targeted by a phantasmal killer spell (save DC 22) as the tiefling instructor briefly and vividly transforms into the target’s worst nightmare; then it calmly continues with “Now

19). The first time an attempt to dispel the illusion fails, all creatures in the room are targeted by a weird spell (save DC 22) as the surroundings transform to reflect each target’s worst nightmares.

Introduction

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

critters such as the beholder and the displacer beast next to more recent creations such as the chuul and the twig blight. Common beasts mingle with the weird, the terrifying, and the ridiculous. In

collecting monsters from the past, we’ve endeavored to reflect the multifaceted nature of the game, warts and all. D&D monsters come in all shapes and sizes, with stories that not only thrill us but

Getting Players Invested

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

redeeming quality the characters can appreciate—ideally a villain who isn’t preoccupied with killing or harming the characters. As your campaign continues, introduce new people and locations, and bring

back favorites from earlier in the campaign for the occasional cameo. Player Favorites It’s often easier to describe people and places that are hostile or frightening than it is to detail a feature

Talentan Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

the form of dinosaurs. However, you could reflect a strong bond to spirits by playing an Archfey warlock, Nature cleric, Oath of the Ancients paladin, or a Beast Totem or Ancestral Guardian barbarian

The Houses of Shadow

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

Schism, it resulted in a split withinin Phiarlan—and the foundation of House Thuranni. House Phiarlan continues to offer entertainment and espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while Thuranni

itself. The displacer beast serves as the young house’s emblem. The lands of House Phiarlan, known as the Demesnes, are the foremost centers of the arts in the Five Nations, each focusing on a specific

Golems

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

the Dungeon Master’s Guide). The comprehensive illustrations and instructions in a manual detail the process for creating a golem of a particular type. “Beyond the unopenable doors lay a grand hall

incapacitated, it continues to follow its last orders to the best of its ability. When it can’t fulfill its orders, a golem might react violently — or stand and do nothing. A golem that has been

Setup

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

the axe lies, was hidden even from his own people, but I believe we can find it together!” Gargosh continues in detail, giving the adventurers a crash course on Besilmer history (see the “Ancient

than I could overcome with my wits and talents. There, I said it. I’m just not good enough to try it by myself. “Everyone else thinks this is a fool’s errand,” he continues. “The king’s tomb, where

Xanthoria's Defeat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

Xanthoria’s Defeat Once Xanthoria is defeated, the characters find the last few pages of her notes among her possessions. They detail her growing obsession with undead and her success at turning

-forms 1d10 days later, appearing next to Thunderwing. The rejuvenated lichen lich then relocates to another lair to resume her research as the plague continues to ravage Faerûn. If the characters

Adventures in Borca

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

obsessions—but could also learn that the best way to undermine these villains is to play them against one another. The following sections detail the schemes of the domain’s nobles and Darklords, while

power of their shadow. 7 The Ocrotire family offers a sizable bounty for anyone who can capture the Lake Balaur Beast, which has escaped from the estate’s oceanarium. 8 Members of the

Talenta Halflings

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

? The Talentan Halfling Quirks table provides ways to reflect your outsider perspective. Talenta Halfling Quirks 1d10 Quirk 1 You are constantly amazed by things the people of the Five Nations

fighting styles based on different dinosaurs. Likewise, in playing a Beast Totem barbarian or Circle of the Shepherd druid, consider replacing the traditional totems with the following. Bear: Hammertail

Modifying a Class

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

your world might worship a patron deity, performing secret missions in that deity’s name. To reflect this cultural detail, you could add Religion to the list of skills that a rogue character can choose

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

Kinds of Treasure

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

Kinds of Treasure Use these guidelines in conjunction with the information in the Dungeon Master's Guide to detail treasures adventurers might find in ancient ruins built by giants. Coins Giants

Master's Guide) is worth 1,000 gp. Art Objects The art objects found in ancient giants' ruins reflect the societies and types of giants that once inhabited them. For example, ancient stone giant art is

All for One: The Clan

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

work and leaving behind a fitting legacy that continues to bolster the clan even after its creator has passed on — a legacy counted not only in objects, but also in dwarven souls. Dwarves who become

parents rightfully think of their children as the greatest legacy they can leave the clan, and they raise them with the same care and attention to detail that they give to the items they create. A

Fomorian

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

Fomorian The most hideous and wicked of all giantkind are the godless fomorians, whose deformed bodies reflect their vile demeanors. Some have facial features randomly distributed around their

. One by one, the giants fell as their bodies were warped to reflect the evil in their hearts. Stripped of their grace and magical power, the wretched horrors fled from the light, delving deep

The Quest Board

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

section of this adventure that describes that location in detail. For instance, if the players choose to undertake the Dumathoin’s Gulch Quest, go to the “Dumathoin’s Gulch” section. Each location

cults, one of which has an ancient dragon in its employ. The gnomes of Gnomengarde have offered to supply a magical weapon to drive off this beast should it trouble the town. Meet the gnomes at

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

crawl to make progress. In places where a tunnel opens into a chasm and continues on the other side, the kobolds might connect the two passages with a rope bridge or some other rickety structure

roles that protect and sustain the tribe. The strongest kobolds are trained to be hunters and warriors, the most clever are crafters and strategists, the toughest are miners and beast-wranglers, and so

Green Dragon Lairs

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

which the banyan tree grew is now dead and has rotted away, leaving a large columnar shaft within the trunk of the banyan that the dragon has expanded into a subterranean lair. The banyan continues to

, but a creature with an Intelligence score of 5 or higher interprets them as an invitation to move deeper into the greenery. Twisted Messengers. The dragon can cause any Tiny Beast within 1 mile of its

Plot Points

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

has found a secret door, an NPC appears, or a monster turns out to be a long-lost ally polymorphed into a horrid beast. A player who wants to spend a plot point in this way should take a minute to

can spend a plot point to become the DM. That player’s character becomes an NPC, and play continues. It’s probably not a good idea to swap roles in the middle of combat, but it can happen if your group

Dewlight

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

through the forest of late, and Wheeldoli fears they are disciples of Malar the Beast Lord (see the “Cult of Malar” section later in the adventure). The disturbances to the north, he says, seem to be

most a day or two from now.” When the characters have learned all they can from Wheeldoli, the sprite directs them to a narrow gravel path that skirts the community and then continues northward

Campaign Characters

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

emerge during play, such as a character’s tendency to one-up a rude innkeeper or their oft-expressed fondness for displacer beast fur. Players often reveal their characters’ motivations through play. If

might appear in the campaign. Should these background characters become important to the campaign, work with the player to develop them in detail. Revealing a character’s lost sibling or childhood

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