been before dead common realized

Spirit Board

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

This ornate wooden board has the letters of the Common alphabet printed on one side, alongside the words “Yes” and “No” and symbols representing “Weal” and &ldquo

cast the spell. As you cast the spell, you call on the spirits of the dead to help guide the planchette across the board’s surface, answering your questions by pointing to the letters or words on the board. Spell Charge Cost Augury 1 Commune 3

Hallow

Spells Player’s Handbook

. Magical Darkness created by spells of a level lower than this spell can’t extinguish the light. Peaceful Rest. Dead bodies interred in the area can’t be turned into Undead. Extradimensional

reach into it. Tongues. Creatures of any types you choose can communicate with any other creature in the area even if they don’t share a common language. Vulnerability. Creatures of any types you choose have Vulnerability to one damage type of your choice while in the area.

Wand of Orcus

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

from it (save DC 18). The table indicates how many charges you must expend to cast the spell. Spell Charge Cost Animate Dead 1 Blight 2 Circle of Death 3 Finger of

Death 3 Power Word Kill 4 Speak with Dead 1 While attuned to the wand, Orcus or a follower blessed by him can cast each of the wand’s spells using 2 fewer charges (minimum of 0

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

divined. Nature can’t abide the book’s presence. Ordinary plants wither in its presence, common animals are unwilling to approach it, and the book gradually destroys whatever it touches. Even

attuned to the book, you can cast the following spells (save DC 18) from it: Animate Dead Circle of Death Dominate Monster Finger of Death Once you use the book to cast a spell, you can’t

Scion of the Three

Classes Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

power manifests as various occult gifts, as well as an uncanny talent for striking and terrifying foes. Scions of the Three are most common in Baldur’s Gate, where the Dead Three lived as

Become a Gruesome Agent of Malice A Scion of the Three draws power from a group of malevolent gods known in Baldur’s Gate as the Dead Three: Bane, a god of tyranny; Bhaal, a god of violence

Crown of Horns

Magic Items Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

Common. Personality. The crown contains the essence of Myrkul and exists to spread that god’s will, which is to slay the living, raise the dead, and sow fear across the Material Plane. The crown

The Crown of Horns contains the essence and intelligence of Myrkul, one of the Dead Three. This ghastly crown is a pale silver circlet with four curved bones set around its rim. On the crown's brow

Valindra Shadowmantle

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

, Prestidigitation 2/Day Each: Animate Dead, Plane Shift 1/Day Each: Cone of Cold (level 8 version), Finger of Death, Power Word Kill, ScryingProtective Magic. Valindra casts Counterspell or Shield in response

pallor common to liches, she prefers to maintain a magical disguise that allows her to appear as the high elf she was in life. Ever the schemer, Valindra doesn’t use this disguise out of nostalgia

Professor Skant

Magic Items Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

The professor orb owned by Vellynne Harpell and stolen by Nass Lantomir calls itself Professor Skant. It is lawful good, and it has a Wisdom of 11 and a Charisma of 9. It speaks and reads Common

, Draconic, Elvish, and Loross (the dead language of the Empire of Netheril). Professor Skant is a chatterbox and assumes all humanoids are dunderheads. When elaborating on its areas of expertise, it

Spirit Statue Mascot

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

call upon the spirits of dead creatures. Mages seeking longer-term assistance from ancient spirits have learned to house these spirits in statues, giving them a more permanent residence from which to

tacticians. Regardless, their appearance is so common around the Lorehold campus that they have become the college’s mascots.

Blood-Toll Harpy

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

"} slashing damage.Murderous gangs of harpies collect in grim places across Theros, preying on any who pass by. Many merchants face regular losses at the harpies' claws, common casualties often referred

to as a “blood toll.” Cruel, corpse-eating creatures, harpies endlessly seek their next meal, careless of whether it comes from the living or the dead. With equal zeal, these vicious scavengers set

The Abbot

Monsters Curse of Strahd

spells, requiring only verbal components: At will: detect evil and good 1/day each: commune, raise dead Magic Resistance. The Abbot has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical

insane. Only then did von Holtz reveal himself to be Strahd von Zarovich. Somehow the deva realized that any attempt to slay Strahd would be futile—that the ancient curse upon the land meant that the

Barovian Witch

Monsters Curse of Strahd

obsessive collectors, each believing that almost anything found—a piece of broken bone, a dead rodent, a handful of dust, or some other worthless item or substance—could be valuable or useful as a

spell component, a ritual object, or a potion ingredient. Barovian witches use the find familiar spell to call forth familiars. They are particularly fond of cats, though snakes and toads are also common. These animals lurk amid the clutter of the witches' lairs, seldom wandering far from their vile masters.

Hallow Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

. Affected creatures in the area have vulnerability to one damage type of your choice, except for bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing. Everlasting Rest. Dead bodies interred in the area can't be turned

the area. Silence. No sound can emanate from within the area, and no sound can reach into it. Tongues. Affected creatures can communicate with any other creature in the area, even if they don't share a common language.

Wand of Orcus Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells (save DC 18) from it: animate dead (1 charge), blight (2 charges), circle of death (3 charges), finger of death (3 charges), power word kill

(4 charges), or speak with dead (1 charge). The wand regains 1d4 + 3 expended charges daily at dawn. While attuned to the wand, Orcus or a follower blessed by him can cast each of the wand’s

Astral Elf Star Priest

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

priests draw their strength from the pantheon of elven gods and oversee religious practices in astral elf society. It’s common for them to serve aboard spelljamming ships, not only as emissaries

dead gods found adrift in the Silver Void, transforming them into floating cities and citadels. Although the Silver Void is their home, astral elves often venture into Wildspace systems and place

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Golgari, no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit Languages

: Choose one of Elvish, Giant, or Kraul Equipment: A Golgari insignia, a poisoner’s kit, a pet beetle or spider, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp worth of mixed

Plaintiff

Backgrounds Acquisitions Incorporated

sometimes one casualty is left a little less than dead, just waiting to discover what a lucky break that accident actually was. You were a victim of a legal incident that was ostensibly the fault of

’re talking about. With common folks who don’t know any better, you might be able to intimidate or deceive to get favors or special treatment.

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

have more in common with iguanas or dragons than they do with humans, dwarves, or elves. Lizardfolk possess an alien and inscrutable mindset, their desires and thoughts driven by a different set of

utility and importance. Nowhere does this come through as strongly as when lizardfolk deal with the dead. To a lizardfolk, a comrade who dies becomes a potential source of food. That companion might have

Dwarf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

“Yer late, elf!” came the rough edge of a familiar voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay on top of his elven

picks and hammers in deep mines and blazing forges, a commitment to clan and tradition, and a burning hatred of goblins and orcs—these common threads unite all dwarves. Short and Stout Bold

Sage Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

master in your fields of study. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead

colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specialty To determine the nature of your scholarly training, roll a d8 or

Halaster Blackcloak

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

effect is triggered, as though Halaster had cast minor illusion in an area. Common illusions include the echo of rattling chains, the distant sound of explosive spells being cast, a dusty cloak or a rusty

helm floating as though worn by an invisible figure, and illusory footprints appearing on a dusty floor. Silent apparitions of dead adventurers drift through halls and rooms as though they are lost

Sage - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to

answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specialty To determine the nature of your scholarly training, roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below. d8

Haunted One

Backgrounds Curse of Strahd: Character Options

, common;set of common clothes, and 1 sp. Harrowing Event Prior to becoming an adventurer, your path in life was defined by one dark moment, one fateful decision, or one tragedy. Now you feel a darkness

. Sometimes it beckons you in the dead of night. 3 An apparition that has haunted your family for generations now haunts you. You don’t know what it wants, and it won’t leave you alone

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5 gp Hermit Origins Any

a frivolous lark. You’ve maintained a solitary vigil outside the cavern entrance ever since. 2 You crossed the Guild in a bad way. Fortunately, its members think you’re dead. Less

Archaeologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

no qualms about stealing from the dead. 5 I’m happier in a dusty old tomb than I am in the centers of civilization. 6 Traps don’t make me nervous. Idiots who trigger traps make

exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death. (Chaotic) 4 Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful) 5 Immortality. All my

Planar Philosopher

Backgrounds Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

(such as a bag of golden tea leaves or the tooth of a planar beast), a manifesto of your guiding philosophy, a set of common clothes in your faction’s style, and a pouch containing 10 gp worth of

only when everything is acting in harmony, whether it wants to or not. Heralds of Dust. Everyone is already dead; the entirety of the multiverse is an afterlife. Undeath holds the key to the next

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

wonderful and important person in the world. 2 The common folk love me for my kindness and generosity. 3 No one could doubt by looking at my regal bearing that I am a cut above the unwashed

masses. 4 I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions. 5 I don’t like to get my hands dirty, and I won’t be caught dead in unsuitable accommodations

What Next?

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

of strange noises coming from the tower, but nothing to warrant great concern. Speaking with the Dead Characters who can cast the speak with dead spell or similar magic might be able to question

Buron’s corpse. If asked the right questions, the dead dwarf can furnish the following information: Buron, a custodial engineer, was a member of a secret Candlekeep cult called the Livestock. In the cult

Monks

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

wrist stopped him dead in his tracks, and before he even realized what was happening, Danica kicked the back of both his knees, dropping him to a kneel. — R.A. Salvatore, Canticle Some of the

Dusthawk Hill

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

the last known refuges of the Chionthar dusthawk (use the hawk statistics), a once-common raptor whose numbers precipitously declined over the last century as regional turmoil and the ever-spreading

hawks. When the dukes of Baldur’s Gate realized that the dusthawk was on the verge of extinction, they declared the hill, which included both the hawks’ cliffside nests and their hunting grounds, to

Dusthawk Hill

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

the last known refuges of the Chionthar dusthawk (use the hawk statistics), a once-common raptor whose numbers precipitously declined over the last century as regional turmoil and the ever-spreading

hawks. When the dukes of Baldur’s Gate realized that the dusthawk was on the verge of extinction, they declared the hill, which included both the hawks’ cliffside nests and their hunting grounds, to

Anthropologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

desensitized to violence. 5 I would risk life and limb to discover a new culture or unravel the secrets of a dead one. 6 When I arrive at a new settlement for the first time, I must learn all its

culture—even one in need of aid. (Lawful) 3 Knowledge. By understanding other races and cultures, we learn to understand ourselves. (Any) 4 Power. Common people crave strong

Psychological Horror

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

between what characters think and how they behave. When creating adventures rooted in psychological horror, consider common fears and anxieties. These readily become metaphors for villains and monsters

a deadly encounter only to wake up at the end, not having previously realized they were asleep. Before undermining characters’ senses, though, make sure you know what’s driving these skewed

Worshiping Athreos

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

Worshiping Athreos Most funeral traditions include small offerings and words of reverence to Athreos. Predominant among these traditions is burying or burning the dead with a clay funerary mask, to

“frame” the identity of the dead for Athreos, and with at least one coin, so a soul might pay Athreos to ferry them to the Underworld. Some people are laid to rest with large amounts of grave goods

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

made from dead darkmantles 20 Cloaks made of scraps from an elven tapestry Booyahgs Spellcasters of any sort among the goblins are rare. Goblins typically lack the intelligence and

Adventurer’s Guide.) Use one of the warlock stat blocks in appendix B to represent this goblin, adding darkvision and the Nimble Escape traits common to all goblins. Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg. This

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