been before decay compare rather

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Goliaths love to win, but they see defeat as a prod to improve their

away in the night to seek the cold will of fate. In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in

Studies and Philosophy

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

philosophy of Witherbloom. The decay philosophy sees life energy as a resource to be consumed, rather than a good to be nourished for its own sake. Mages who adopt this view wield negative energy and

of the mathematical patterns in nature. Growth and Decay The two deans of Witherbloom are traditionally called the Dean of the Root and the Dean of the Vein. These titles are a somewhat abstract way

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

protocols will lead us toward progress more surely than any belief system. (Lawful) 5 Fun. I love my job! Despite the dangerous working conditions, there’s nothing I’d rather do

same laboratory ran off to join the Selesnya, and we get into a big argument every time we run into each other. 10 I compare notes and techniques with a Simic scientist over lunch sometimes.

Earthquake!

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

Earthquake! Rather than halt or slow Stonky’s progress, the theft of Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion has inspired the gnome to accelerate his plan to launch the Barn Door into space. Soon after the book

witnesses and compare their own recollections of the quake can try to ascertain its nature. With a successful DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana or Nature) check, a character is confident that the earthquake wasn’t magically created. As such, it must have been caused by a natural phenomenon.

Survival of the Fittest

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk

have ever meet an elderly goliath, and even those goliaths who have left their people grapple with the urge to give up their lives as their physical skills decay. Because of their risk-taking, goliath

General Features

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

a special mummy lord whose magic pervades his tomb. Since Diderius is neutral rather than evil, the area lacks the evil magic common to other mummy-lord tombs. A few chambers of the tomb have the

appearance of opulent and well-kept rooms suitable for a noble archmage. This effect is an illusion, however, failing to cover the rank scent of dust and decay. Diderius’s magic also guides those who show proper respect. Map 11.1: Tomb of Diderius View Player Version

Zombies

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

, reanimated corpses, often gruesomely marred by decay and lethal traumas. They serve whatever supernatural force animates them—typically evil necromancers or fiendish spirits. Zombies are relentless

, merciless, and resilient, and their dead flesh can carry on even after suffering grievous wounds. While they can follow simple orders, they rely on primal drives rather than thought. They fulfill

General Features

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

, those who honored him in life transformed him into a special mummy lord whose magic pervades his tomb. Since Diderius is neutral rather than evil, the area lacks the evil magic common to other mummy

lord tombs. A few chambers of the tomb have the appearance of opulent and well-kept rooms suitable for a noble archmage. This effect is an illusion, however, failing to cover the rank scent of dust and decay.

Wreck of the Narwhal

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

covertly, out of curiosity rather than bloodlust. He’d like to meet them and find out what they’re after. He’ll even bring them back to the ship and trade gems for wine, if they have any. Unless the

-beautiful garden palace said to contain treasure beyond compare. (Bwayes can lead the characters to Nangalore but won’t explore it out of respect.) Treasure The weretiger’s cabin contains enough scavenged

Creating a Race or Subrace

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

signature traits? In the case of a new subrace, what sets it apart from the other subraces of the parent race? Compare the race you have in mind with the other race options available to players, to

increasing the diversity of options for a particular race, rather than replacing some options with other ones. The following example walks through the creation of an elf subrace: the eladrin. This

Reaching the Bottom

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

your clothes. But none among us can compare To one wily, swift, and stand-up hare— Scarf that’s glorious, thief notorious, His deeds are truly meritorious! With a wink and a grin, he’ll show

(Intimidation) group check. If the group check succeeds, the brigands are cowed by the characters’ resolve and retreat into the swamp rather than risk getting whomped by the party. On a failed check, the

Traps in Play

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

actively looking for a trap can attempt a Wisdom (Perception) check against the trap's DC. You can also compare the DC to detect the trap with each character's passive Wisdom (Perception) score to

sides, a mechanism inside fires a hail of poison needles toward anyone in front of it. After inspecting the chest and making a few checks, the characters are still unsure if it's trapped. Rather than

Traps in Play

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

actively looking for a trap can attempt a Wisdom (Perception) check against the trap’s DC. You can also compare the DC to detect the trap with each character’s passive Wisdom (Perception) score to

sides, a mechanism inside fires a hail of poison needles toward anyone in front of it. After inspecting the chest and making a few checks, the characters are still unsure if it’s trapped. Rather than

Mbala

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

(see “Pterafolk Nest” below), and then to become her meals for several months. She’s not likely to attack them openly. She’d rather get them off their guard and pick them off one by one, as she did with

, drink, sleep, or breathe. The character’s hit point maximum is reduced by 1d4 at dawn each day, representing the physical decay of the body. No spell or effect can halt or counteract this decay. If the

5. Garden of Welcome

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

mouth. It can use this orifice to actually speak, rather than depending on rapport spores. It no longer attends melds with the other leaders, instead sending its representative. Garden of Horror As

… she’s here … the Lady of Decay … Zuggtmoy …” The drow is Xinaya, a young acolyte of Lolth. She was leading a routine scouting patrol out of Velkynvelve before Ilvara contacted her with a sending

Circle of Spores

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

touching my stuff, though. Tasha Druids of the Circle of Spores find beauty in decay. They see within mold and other fungi the ability to transform lifeless material into abundant, albeit somewhat

those spores, rather than transforming into a beast form, and you gain 4 temporary hit points for each level you have in this class. While this feature is active, you gain the following benefits

Tips for New Dungeon Masters

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

until circumstances warrant otherwise, as discussed below. Armor Class. When characters make attacks against a creature, you compare those attacks to the creature’s Armor Class to determine whether the

to use one of this adventure’s random encounters, you can have a player roll to determine what the characters encounter, rather than making the roll yourself. Story Information Important information

I: Camp Carrionclay

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Bridge and Lake A wooden bridge crosses the marshy lake, which reeks with decay. The bridge ends at the camp’s gate. When the Wash is low, the lake surrounding the camp becomes a marsh filled with

adventurers are beneath her, so rather than pursuing them, she uses her Acid Breath once, then calls for any Dragon Army troops remaining in the camp to pursue the characters. Akhviri doesn’t follow the characters beyond the camp.

Places of Interest

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

rest of the village. Headstones sit at odd angles, some toppled completely. Small cairns, rather than inscribed headstones, mark the graves toward the back. Characters who take time to read the

(Survival) or Intelligence (Investigation) check reveals the following information: DC 15 Wisdom (Survival): The growth around the wheels and the decay of the horse’s carcass suggests that the cart has lain

Specific Spells

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

various game features distinguish between the armor you don and a Shield you wield. Take a look at the Monk’s Unarmored Defense feature and compare it to the Barbarian’s version. In the Monk’s version

or class feature explains what it does. Can an object created with Minor Illusion move? For example, a wall sliding down a corridor? An illusory object created by Minor Illusion doesn’t move. Compare

Navigating the Drought Elder

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

blends in well amid the floating meat and has advantage on its Dexterity (Stealth) checks. If Ozk notices any non-Aberration, it stops meditating on its own decay and attacks, shouting in Deep Speech that

of the Drought Elder’s alien consciousness. It uses the demilich stat block but is an Aberration rather than Undead. It ignores the characters unless they try to harm it or try to enter area D5—either

Ascendant Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

gather in the Shattered Temple, a place once dedicated to Aoskar, a now-dead god of portals. Rather than serve in Sigil’s government, the Athar’s self-appointed spy network closely surveils the city’s

Celebrate Destruction and Decay Factol: Pentar Headquarters: Armory Aligned Plane: Elemental Chaos Members: Entropists, soldiers, weaponsmiths Epithet: Sinkers The Doomguard understands the purpose of

Modifying a Class

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

opportunity to develop the character’s story and that of your world, rather than shutting down possibilities. Substituting Class Features If one or more features of a given class don’t exactly fit the theme

an existing feature that can be used as a model? How does the new class feature compare to other features of the same level? Variant: Spell Points One way to modify how a class feels is to change how

Uthgardt Lands

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

call themselves “children of Uthgar.” Though the Uthgardt each belong to a given tribe, these are markers of identity, rather than coherent populations. In my experience, it is rare outside of

size that near the ancient ancestral mound of the Red Tiger tribe. The settlement was founded some time ago by members of the Black Lion tribe, who put down roots here rather than continuing to live

Candlekeep

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

any person with the ability to discover and absorb it all powerful beyond compare. The problem with doing that, of course, is the same as with secrets in any other location: one must know that a

effects that might do likewise, such as mold, wet, and decay. Many of the monks wield various kinds of magic items to aid in these endeavors, and Candlekeep’s facilities include more than a few

Barn Door Locations

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

titles that tickled the gnome’s fancy. The books are arranged by color rather than some more useful system, but characters who make a quick survey of the shelves discover three tomes that warrant further

contraptions. Characters who compare those drawings with Stonky’s skitterwidgets can tell where the gnome got the inspiration for his mechanical creations. Navigation Notes. A slip of paper tucked into

Specific Spells

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

compare it to the barbarian’s version. In the monk’s version, you must both forgo wearing armor and forgo wielding a shield if you want to benefit from the feature, whereas a barbarian must only forgo

. Compare to spells like major image and mislead, which talk about moving. Could minor illusion create a fog cloud? If so, would shooting an arrow through it cancel the illusion? An illusory object made by

Tour of the Planes

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

nature work to tear down anything built within the zone. Weather, vegetation, and a rapid rate of decay combine to quickly destroy structures built in the region and overgrow the ruins. 3 The zone is

decay. Mabar Manifest Zone Features d4 Feature 1 Undead animated here have 2 extra hit points per Hit Die and make saving throws against being turned or frightened with advantage. 2 Vegetation here

Temple of Tharizdun

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

their roofs appear progressively more inhabitable as they rise up into the polluted sky. The overall effect is that of a canyon, with walls made from the cross-section of a decaying shantytown rather

carcass, which hangs from the rafters on frayed, mildewed ropes. Humanoid heads in various states of decay have been crudely lashed to the shark’s flanks. The stairs descend 20 feet into a completely

The Lucent Edict

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

, Captain Sartell sarcastically apologizes for interrupting their “pleasure cruise” and wonders aloud whether they’d rather stay back and swab the decks while she does all the hard work. If the

, the corpses show no evidence of having been struck by them. The bodies are in varying states of decay. With a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check, a character can determine that the neogi died

Outer City Gazetteer

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

and compare the sizes of an unusually small donkey and an exceptionally large peacock. They ask for a passing party member’s opinion. Table H: Outer City Denizens d10 Interaction 1

visitors might bring with them. Few seek the church’s services on their own. Rather, most who come to dwell at the church either have a room rented for them by concerned family or receive a somewhat

Outer City Gazetteer

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

family of refugees he’s helping. 12 A merchant and gate guard argue over how to accurately measure and compare the sizes of an unusually small donkey and an exceptionally large peacock. They ask for a

extol the virtues of meditation and whatever calm faiths visitors might bring with them. Few seek the church’s services on their own. Rather, most who come to dwell at the church either have a room

Cragmaw Castle Areas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

room. It quietly observes intruders that enter the area before dropping down to strike. Compare the grick’s Dexterity (Stealth) check to the characters’ Wisdom (Perception) checks (or their passive

concealed canvas door. If cornered, the doppelganger fights to the death rather than allow itself to be captured. If Gundren is revived, he thanks the party for coming to his rescue but won’t leave Cragmaw

Maze of Mists

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

terms of “left” or “right” rather than cardinal directions. The contents of the areas between the mists are detailed below. P14a. A leather sack containing 102 gp lies against one wall of this

. The bottom two chests each contain 250 gp. P14h. This area reeks of dead flesh. Bodies in various states of decay lie strewn about the floor. In the center lies the corpse of a human. A shimmering

Lady's Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

of the Inner Planes. Within these citadels, the four doom lords—high-ranking faction lieutenants with powers of entropy and destruction—observe the multiverse and its beauteous decay. From these

above the surrounding houses of worship, floating above a seemingly bottomless pit. Tarnished blades jut from the Infinite Well like metal branches on a blackened tree. Rather than the blue-green

D&D Beyond

Search Results