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Returning 35 results for 'been before defeat consult rather'.
Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
bound to their fey lord and unable to bargain away their souls. So rather than claim them, Fierna warped and twisted them before returning them to the Feywild, content that the corruption of the satyrs
. Unfortunately, when it reaches that breaking point, its diabolical nature asserts itself, and it remains in this scheming, dominating mindset until its plans are foiled and it faces defeat. Then, overwhelmed
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you’re more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter.
Variant: Investigator
Rarer
Investigation rather than Athletics.
Suggested Characteristics
Use the tables for the soldier background below as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to
Soldier
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.
5
Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for.
6
I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves
mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret.
4
My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.
5
I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
6
I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.
Goliath
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back.
Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark
itchy straw stuffing inside you.
Reborn in the Domains of Dread
When creating a reborn, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains
Lizardfolk
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a fight and that can’t be dealt with in some other manner. They are aggressive toward prey they want to eat, creatures that want to harm them, and
pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.
Cold and Calculating
Most humanoids describe cold-blooded people as lacking in
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
never leave a friend behind.
3
My honor is my life.
4
I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.
5
Those who fight beside me are those
enemies is blind and unreasoning.
5
I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
6
I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind.
3
My honor is my life.
4
I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it
keep that mistake secret.
4
My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.
5
I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
6
I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
horde soon begins overwhelming defenses nearby. Once the characters defeat a few zombies, roll 1d6 and consult the Zombie Siege Encounters table. The event rolled unfolds within sight of one of the
During the Siege Run the siege as a series of encounters rather than one extended battle. As terrible events unfold around the characters, it’s up to them to determine who and how they’ll help. Begin
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Reaching the Tower Lolth’s forces surround the tower, but they are focused on the spyder-fiends below rather than on defense. Hundreds of driders, Humanoids, and demons surround the tower, but the
driders, 1d6 giant spiders, and 1d4 assassins. Characters who defeat the squad can try again to infiltrate the tower.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
Ravenloft without first increasing their power will likely die. You can award experience points for the defeat of foes, use milestone awards, or a mixture of both. Given the fact that much of the
adventure involves social interaction and exploration, rather than combat, your work will probably be easier if you use milestone awards. Appropriate milestone awards include the following: Finding
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
heads are trophies from the hobgoblins’ recent victory over an elf hunting party. Clever characters might try to reason with Targor by urging him to think of himself as Grol’s successor rather than
) check. Awarding Experience Points Divide 500 XP equally among the characters if they defeat the hobgoblin war band or come to terms with Targor.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Encounter with Iymrith This encounter takes place after the adventurers return to area 6 from area 11, having delivered one or more giant relics and chosen a giant lord to defeat. Iymrith appears as
they prepare to exit the temple for the last time. The blue dragon has come to the Eye of the All-Father to consult with the oracle and learn how far along the giant lords’ plots are. She arrives in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Khur Joins Early 349 AC The Green Dragon Army was dispatched to the steppes of Khur to subdue the tribes there. Rather than fight a protracted campaign, Ariakas allowed the cunning Khur leader Salah
-Khan to defeat the Green Dragon Army’s original highlord in battle, then offered to make Salah-Khan highlord in his place. In exchange for control over Khur and the surrounding lands, Salah-Khan
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Random Encounters As the characters travel toward Araumycos, use the Creature Encounters table in this section rather than the Creature Encounters table in chapter 2. Once the characters enter
feel as if they’re being watched even when they aren’t. While defending its cavernous lair, the tyrant avails itself of its lair actions. Treasure. If the characters defeat the death tyrant, they can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
+ 2d10; generate a separate DC for each one. Consult the Pit Fighting Results table to see how the character did. Pit Fighting Results Result Value 0 successes Lose your bouts, earning nothing. 1
An opponent swears to take revenge on you.* 2 A crime boss approaches you and offers to pay you to intentionally lose a few matches.* 3 You defeat a popular local champion, drawing the crowd’s ire. 4
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Secrets Most likely, your espionage work will eventually put you in possession of secrets others don’t want you to know. When the time comes, consult the Secrets table to determine what clandestine
them. 5 Deep Cover. You know the secret identity of a seemingly innocent but powerful person who would rather remain anonymous. 6 Empty Threats. Rumors say you collect damaging secrets on anyone, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
what needs to be done. Of course, some priests (as well as lay functionaries) are more interested in their own agendas than any supposed divine will. Consult the Order Contact table to determine your
as a ticket to advancement in the hierarchy 5 A retired adventurer who would rather do your work than direct you in it 6 A pious priest who sees the hands of the divine in every event, even the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
outnumbered. Rather than joining the Kalaman forces in their advance, the characters find themselves defending a retreat. The adventure unfolds in one of two ways: With Mass Combat. If you’re using
the Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn game with this adventure, consult the “Warriors of Krynn: Scenario 4” sidebar. Without Mass Combat. If you aren’t using the Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn game
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Facing Xanathar Roll percentile dice to determine the beholder’s location when the characters arrive, and consult the Xanathar’s Location table. Xanathar’s Location d100 Location 01–50 Xanathar is
demands that they accompany it to the Vault of Dragons and help it defeat the vault’s draconic guardian. Not fully trusting the characters to keep their part of the bargain, Xanathar brings along its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
road, headed toward Vogler. The adventure unfolds in one of two ways from here: With Mass Combat. If you are using the Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn game along with this adventure, consult the
, Darrett is reeling from Becklin’s defeat and returns with the characters to Vogler. You can run any encounters from the “Invasion of Vogler” section as the characters escape the village, or you can skip ahead to “The Final Boat” section.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
the house and its interests, while others might use your group to pursue a personal agenda. Consult the House Contacts table to determine what sort of arbiter oversees your party. House Contacts d8
The money-minded business manager of a guild within your patron house 6 A retired adventurer within the family who would rather join you on your adventures than assign them to you 7 The proud leader of a regional branch of the dragonmarked family 8 The patriarch or matriarch of the patron house
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Spirit Shield (2d6) 10th Consult the Spirits, Spirit Shield (3d6) 14th Vengeful Ancestors, Spirit Shield (4d6) Ancestral Protectors Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, spectral warriors
damage by more: by 3d6 at 10th level and by 4d6 at 14th level. Consult the Spirits At 10th level, you gain the ability to consult with your ancestral spirits. When you do so, you cast the augury or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly. Lizardfolk never become angry in the way others do, but they act with aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a
for lizardfolk. Pleasurable things should be preserved and protected, sometimes at the cost of the lizardfolk’s own safety. The most pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
them to defeat. Rather than presenting him as a foe to be challenged in combat, portray Soth as a terrifying example of the villains in the Dragon Queen’s service—a lurking threat to be avoided. By the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
High Deck The cards that compose the high deck aren’t considered to be one suit, although they are often denoted with a crown icon to mark their importance. Rather, each card is an important power in
or lurking just below the surface Broken One Defeat, failure, and despair; the loss of something or someone important, without which one feels incomplete Darklord A single, powerful individual of an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
lie outright, though I choose my words carefully. I will fight to the death rather than break my word or abandon a comrade. (Lawful)
4 Discipline. Disorganization breeds defeat. I demand self
strategy. A quick death in combat is its own kind of courtesy.
6 I trust my gut. I’d rather act on incomplete information than be hamstrung by indecision.
7 I’m fascinated by other species
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
gender. Titles such as “daimyo” are gender-neutral, as are most names. Clothing varies by class status rather than gender—instead, people express their gender through perfumes. Bright citrus scents
consult ancestral spirits before making life-changing decisions, but the perspectives of the dead can be just as flawed as those of the living. Disagreements in large family clans sometimes result in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
regardless of their approach. Bloodbath It’s possible to kill or defeat the Amberdune Pack without ever hearing their side of the story. With no one to stop them, characters in this situation can
Digressions and see the book safely back to Candlekeep, if they so desire. NIDALIA
The true leader of the Amberdune Pack, Nidalia is a lamia who delights in hoarding books rather than in corruption and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Nematode writhing 500 feet above the town like a malevolent cloud. The creature is far too large to defeat by conventional attacks or spells, so the characters must once again explore the Nematode from
rather than lightning). Beyond the membrane in the Nematode’s head is a massive, fluid-filled chamber that serves as the Nematode’s brain. The characters must damage each of the five electroreceptors in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
. Mordenheim attack the party or their allies (at the doctor’s command or otherwise). These foes are more powerful than the characters, who might defeat the majority of the attackers before being overwhelmed
. Worse Than Death? The characters are legitimately defeated during another adventure. Rather than the campaign ending, they awake in Dr. Mordenheim’s clutches, delivered there by the Mists.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
hungry beasts, greedy bandits, or vicious monsters. Check for encounters once during the day and once at night by rolling a d20. On a roll of 17–20, an encounter takes place. Roll a d12 and consult the
Wilderness Encounters table to determine what the party meets. When an encounter occurs, the adventurers gain XP if they defeat the monsters. Each creature’s stat block has the XP value for one
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
inspired and equipped two human heroes, Kynaios and Tiro, to overthrow the archon Agnomakhos. Divergent tales describe their history following the defeat of the tyrant. Some claim that they warred with each
Akros and Skophos were born from that bloodshed, inspired by the martial doctrines of Iroas and Mogis rather than the legal code of Ephara. Eventually the years of war settled into an uneasy peace with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
break cover to aid their allies against the demons. If they do, another demon sortie attacks them 1d4 rounds later. OPTION: PLAYING OUT THE BATTLE OPTION
Rather than focusing on the adventurers
battle between the demon lords shifts dangerously close to the characters. Roll a d6 and consult the Near Miss table to determine the result. d6 Event 1–2 Explosion. Each creature within 20 feet of a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Psychic Wind A psychic wind isn’t a physical wind like that found on the Material Plane, but a storm of thought that batters travelers’ minds rather than their bodies. A psychic wind is made up of
effect as well. Roll a d20 twice and consult the Psychic Wind Effects table to determine the location and mental effects. Psychic Wind Effects d20 Location Effect 1–8 Diverted; add 1d6 hours to






