been borders diffusing combatants run

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, designed to collapse under the weight of any creature heavier than a kobold. On occasion, the route through a kobold lair runs along a ledge that borders a cavern or a crevasse, and the kobolds might

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

intelligently and do everything you can to make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters. When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind: Strahd

the reach of melee combatants and spellcasters, or he flies away (using summoned wolf;wolves or swarm of bats;swarms of bats or swarm of rats;rats to guard his retreat). Strahd observes the characters

Morale

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

Morale Some combatants might run away when a fight turns against them. You can use this optional rule to help determine when monsters and NPCs flee. A creature might flee under any of the following

further attempts to flee or surrender will be made. A failed saving throw isn’t always to the adventurers’ benefit. For example, an ogre that flees from combat might put the rest of the dungeon on alert or run off with treasure that the characters had hoped to plunder.

Second Séance

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

séances or are taking their time exploring, feel free to run this encounter multiple times, allowing the characters to ask more questions. If the borders to the domain are not yet closed, a storm begins brewing at this point.

Keeping Combat Moving

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

characters negotiate an end to their hostilities. A nonsapient monster might play dead to try to get the characters to stop attacking it, only to get up and run away as soon as it has the opportunity

their foes, or it might join one side or the other. Each time one or more new combatants join the encounter, roll Initiative for them and weave them into the Initiative order. Change the Terrain Consider

Nyx

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

as throngs of legendary combatants. In the midst of this riot rise the palatial war-tents of Mogis and Iroas, who lead the endless battle. Kruphix claims the borders of the Tovian Fields as his

Domains

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

haze. Domains share neither borders nor common geography, and you can’t peer from one domain into another. The environments, cultures, and residents of one domain don’t influence those of other domains

. Domains Are Cages. Those who run afoul of a Darklord might find that the Mists prevent them from leaving the villain’s domain. Like a haunted house that conveniently seals its doors or summons a deadly

Life in the Big City

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

tremendous scope of its sprawl, and its borders (if it has any) are unknown, except possibly to those who live near the edges. The story of Ravnica focuses on its core. Sometimes called the city proper

when guild conflicts run hot, Ravnicans respect the sanctity of the Promenade as neutral ground. Beyond the core are an uncounted number of other districts, which originated as outlying cities that

The Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

run this encounter. As the characters load the wagons, storm clouds descend and block the sun. Argus Skeel (male vampire spawn) and two ghouls, plus one ghoul per character, including sidekicks

. Three-sided battles can sometimes take longer because of the number of combatants participating. Use your discretion as the DM to have the excitement of the battle build up rather than fizzle out

Living Descent

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

to the Underworld’s borders. Though Athreos ferries the dead across the Tartyx, he’s not above accepting a one-way fare from those who still breathe. Even the other fearsome Underworld guardians that

through usual magical means. In such a case, consider allowing the player to run a temporary character who assists the party in the rescue or to play their own character as a soul and let them rejoin

Klothys's Influence

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

insurmountable odds, and Karametra’s taming of nature all run the risk of inspiring ambitious mortals who lust for ever more power and strain to break away from their proper place in the cosmos. Klothys

borders between the realms, as she draws horrors into the mortal realm with her and thereby raises Athreos’s ire. Of course, Klothys trusts no other god as much as she does Kruphix, who also recalls Theros’s earliest hours. The two have a deep respect for one another.

Bitter Grievances

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

their former enemies. But many of those people believe that Cyre deserves no mercy, and that the refugees should be treated as enemy combatants rather than offered charity and compassion. Karrnath and

bands; some independent war bands have even crossed the Talenta Plains to raid across the borders of Karrnath and Q’barra. High King Vadallia insists that these are the actions of individual soldiers

High Forest

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

tribes of wood elves — and a few moon elf tribes — still roam the wood protecting these ruins, the monuments to their golden age. Few beyond the borders of the High Forest know much about these elves, who

the centaurs who make the High Forest their home, claiming the plateaus near the head of the Unicorn Run. For decades, the centaurs have been growing in number, enough so that they may soon divide

Smuggler

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

cart filled with stolen art through the middle of a battlefield while singing sea shanties to confuse the combatants. 3 The Recruit. You enlisted in another nation’s navy for the purpose of smuggling

. Suggested Characteristics In general, smugglers value survival, and then profit, above other things. One could be a part of a larger organization, or might run a small smuggling vessel of their own

People of Akros

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

are divided into three types of duty and armed appropriately for the task before them: Alamon. Rugged forces of wanderers patrol Akros’s borders, defending against invasion or attack by monsters that

or their family estates and go about the leisured life of aristocrats. Their households are run by a class of servants made up of lektoi who were unable or unwilling to undertake a military career

Military Force

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

both power and subtlety. Your missions could run the risk of shattering a fragile peace recently established with a rival nation and plunging multiple nations back into war. Or perhaps your group’s

missions pit you against rival combatants during an active engagement, as you influence the war effort. Rival mercenary companies, armed resistance fighters, and monsters drawn to the presence of

Using Miniatures

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

easier to run with visual aids, the most common of which are miniatures and a grid. If you like to construct model terrain, build three-dimensional dungeons, or draw maps on large vinyl mats, you

you regularly use miniatures, flanking gives combatants a simple way to gain advantage on attack rolls against a common enemy. A creature can’t flank an enemy that it can’t see. A creature also can’t

Feywild Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory

firelit parties) Shuns the constraints of civilization (instead wearing only unfinished natural materials and sleeping under the stars) Dabbles in mysterious magic and rituals (adventurers can run afoul of

weather spirits. Domain Borders As an archfey’s power waxes or wanes, their Domain of Delight can grow or shrink. If their domain grows big enough to abut or overlap another archfey’s domain, a

Daggerford

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

believe themselves more powerful and influential than they truly are, imitating the Lords of Waterdeep by going robed and masked to council meetings. This charade, in the eyes of most, borders on farce, as

run the Happy Cow tavern. The Alliance officially has no preference, but I find Lady Anteos trustworthy enough to be an alternative to carrying large sums on the road. It’s easier to part with a small

Ooze Grottos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

longer immune to being charmed. Augmentation Chambers The magic of these chambers allows Thayans to bestow glimmers of intelligence into living oozes, making them obedient and more capable combatants

gray stone is filled with square vats made of the same material. At the center of the chamber, a great fountain spews black liquid that lands in a wide stone pool. Trenches cut into the floor run from

Strahd von Zarovich

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters. When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind: Strahd attacks at the most advantageous moment and from

the most advantageous position. Strahd knows when he’s in over his head. If he begins taking more damage than he can regenerate, he moves beyond the reach of melee combatants and spellcasters, or he

Locations in Bryn Shander

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

hours without tiring. Others might bristle at her temerity, but she usually gets what she wants. B6. Town Hall Bryn Shander’s town hall is the largest building that borders the central square. It is

“no money” for an answer, and he still remembers how to handle a blade. B14. Geldenstag’s Rest One of the oldest inns in town, Geldenstag’s Rest is run by Myrtle (LN female Illuskan human noncombatant

Hive Ward

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

bloodstained amphitheater where spectators place bets and combatants test their mettle. The current heavyweight champion is a bloodthirsty cyclops named Akra. In addition to the typical variety of cheap

fortress of rehabilitation and renewal. The tiered, ivory sanctuary rests on a hill at the end of Bedlam Run, a curved road that rises to meet the headquarters above the Hive. Calming fountains cascade

Fortress Level 3

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

buckles (1 gp each), and an anemone stuck in a glass bottle. 49. Champions’ Armory Two stone racks run the length of this room, forming aisles. The racks hold spears, tridents, and warhammers. This

urging the combatants as they fight. From the north they hear an occasional scream from the locathah undergoing torture and the raucous noise of the torturers enjoying their pastime. This long room has

Locations A - D

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

to the high, tilted saddle, waving their arms and commanding imaginary armies into battle. Within spitting distance of the statue is the Stag-Horned Flagon, a cozy tavern run by an gray-haired, middle

. They refuse to leave their woods, guarding relics and ruins of ages past, and they want nothing to do with the world beyond their borders. Arn Forest This stretch of pine trees and muskeg bogs lies on

Landro Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

already in a fight with Glaive’s squad. The soldiers know nothing of Landro other than to avoid drinking the graymatter fluid. L4: Bottleneck If the characters haven’t run into significant challenges

yet, Glaive and one of her blade scout companions attack the characters from both ends of this narrow tunnel. After all combatants have taken a turn, the attackers flee into Landro and hide for another

Chromatic Dragons

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

territory. Evil lizardfolk venerate and serve black dragons, raiding humanoid settlements for treasure and food to give as tribute and building crude draconic effigies along the borders of their

spine, reaching full height just behind the skull. A green dragon has no external ears, but bears leathery spiked plates that run down the sides of its neck. A wyrmling green dragon’s thin scales are a

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