been both dead cunning rites

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

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

, foul rites that allow one to transform into a death knight or lich, or long-lost spells crafted by beings so evil their names ought never to be spoken aloud. Vile Speech. While the book is on your

Cultist of Bhaal

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

financial recompense. These cunning serial killers and mass murderers remain a step ahead of investigators, at least until the cultists’ zealous bloodlust overwhelms their senses. Cultists The

adventurers Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul seized divinity but were slain for their hubris. All three have been reborn and are now known as the Dead Three. Each of the Dead Three has inspired wicked cults that

Elister Noggins

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

increases by 1d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Divine Eminence"} for each level above 1st. Gnome Cunning. He has advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving

the leaders of religious sects hidden in the shadows of good society, overseeing depraved rites. A priest typically has one or more acolytes to help with religious ceremonies and other sacred duties.

Kraul Death Priest

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

: animate dead, blight, vampiric touch Pack Tactics. The kraul has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the kraul's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally

, with little grasp of metaphor or nuance. The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon

Oblex Spawn

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, the oblex—a slime capable of assaulting the minds of other creatures. These pools of jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The sharper the mind, the better the meal, so

plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused—or dead. When oblexes feed on thoughts, they can form weird copies of their prey to use as lures, which helps them harvest even more victims for their mind flayer masters.

Underworld Cerberus

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

deep in the Underworld. Terrifying and cunning, they guard portals between the wards of the Underworld, Erebos’s greatest treasures, and noteworthy souls who might attempt to escape the realm of

the dead. Three-headed cerberi commonly serve demons, but if left to their own devices, they often herd wily souls into labyrinthine Underworld wildernesses, then hunt them for sport. Feared by the

Jiangshi

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

jiangshi’s choice). It reverts to its true form if it dies.When a soul becomes trapped within its corpse, its bitterness can reanimate its body, creating a jiangshi. These vengeful dead stalk

their descendants and the communities they knew in life, sowing terror and taking retribution for the slights or neglected burial rites that led to their cursed resurrections. Rigor mortis notoriously

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Cunning Grankhul is the younger one, and in the stories bugbears tell, he gifted them with stealth but in return he sapped their vigor, so that bugbears sleep in his stead while he remains eternally alert

. If the brother gods are angry with them, they let the bugbears know with bolts of lightning (Hruggek) or by striking them blind or dead (Grankhul). Bugbears worship their gods simply by preying on

Lich Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

, detect thoughts, invisibility, mirror image 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, dispel magic, fireball 4th level (3 slots): blight, dimension door 5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, scrying

. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses

Stone Cursed

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Cunning Opportunist. The stone cursed has advantage on the attack rolls of opportunity attack;opportunity attacks. False Appearance. If the stone cursed is motionless at the start of combat, it has

would be lost. Cryptic Whispers Even though a creature transformed into a stone cursed is long dead, a vague whisper of their memories lives on in the obsidian skull embedded within the stone cursed

Breath Drinker

Monsters The Book of Many Things

reduces the target’s Charisma to 0, the target dies. Until the breath drinker dies, the dead target can’t be returned to life by any means short of divine intervention. On a successful save

causing the creatures to devour themselves. Cunning stalkers, breath drinkers are usually solitary. Occasionally they serve powerful Far Realm entities or Elder Evils, consuming life and souls for their

Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

their race, allowing them to shed their frail humanity like dead skin. Those that did not transform eventually became slaves or food for the blessed of the serpent gods. The yuan-ti empires withered

are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they

Lady Illmarrow

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

missile, shield, sleep 2nd level (3 slots): blur, detect thoughts, mirror image 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, fireball, fly, lightning bolt 4th level (3 slots): blight, confusion

Emerald Claw, but her motives for founding the order are buried in her past. Lady Illmarrow has no interest in ruling the living. Rather, she seeks to become Queen of the Dead. The Mark of Death

Valindra Shadowmantle Legacy

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, dispel magic, fireball 4th level (3 slots): blight, dimension door 5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, scrying 6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe

reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses, emerging to destroy those who dare to disturb

Adult Oblex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

flayers created a special breed of Ooze, the oblex—a slime capable of assaulting the minds of other creatures. These pools of jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The

engulf its victim. As it withdraws, it plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused—or dead. When oblexes feed on thoughts, they can form weird copies of their

Elder Oblex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The sharper the mind, the better the meal, so oblexes hunt targets more likely to be intelligent, such as wizards and other spellcasters. When

suitable fare comes within reach, an oblex draws its body up to engulf its victim. As it withdraws, it plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused—or dead. When

Star Spawn Seer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

’s goal is to tap into vast energy sources and perform the dire rites that will extend a bridge between the Material Plane and the squirming chaos of an Elder Evil’s realm. An entity that

who serve that cult, including star spawn. The following powers are unique to specific cults; typically a creature has only one. Cult of Atropus, the World Born Dead Gaze of Corruption (Recharge

Fraz-Urb'luu

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

trick, every ounce of demonic cunning, to manipulate his enemies—mortal and Fiend alike—to do his will. Fraz-Urb’luu can create dreamlands and mind-bending fantasies able to deceive the

see hallucinations of long-dead friends and comrades that vanish after only a brief glimpse. Twisted Paths. Roads and paths within 6 miles of the lair twist and turn back on themselves, making

Fraz-Urb'luu Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

Deception and Demon Lord of Illusions. He uses every trick, every ounce of demonic cunning, to manipulate his enemies—mortal and fiend alike—to do his will. Fraz-Urb’luu can create

creatures within 1 mile of the lair frequently see hallucinations of long-dead friends and comrades that vanish after only a brief glimpse. Roads and paths within 6 miles of the lair twist and turn back on

Strahd, Master of Death House

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

. Spellcasting. Strahd casts one of the following spells, using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18): At will: Detect Thoughts, Fog Cloud, Mage Hand 2/day each: Animate Dead (as an

legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Strahd regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn. Cunning Escape. Strahd moves up to

City of the Dead

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

City of the Dead The necropolis in the cliffs north of Sharn, called the City of the Dead, feels peaceful because most of its residents are dead. But some of the dead are restless, and some of the

living have an unholy fascination with the dead. Grave robbing is an issue here but rarely amounts to more than adolescent pranks done on a dare. More serious issues arise when necromancers create

Ashen Grotto

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

their dead to be interred within this nexus of giants’ magic. Many giants hold strong beliefs and taboos about the grotto. Some might put aside a deadly enmity with their rivals to defend it against

intruders. Others might refuse to enter for any reason other than during funerary rites to inter a family member’s remains. Remains laid to rest within the grotto remain peaceful, and the power of the cave is anathema to Undead.

Mortuary Basement

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

, wheeling corpses to embalming chambers or to the crematorium. The Heralds of Dust treat the dead with reverence and dignity, granting them last rites in accordance with the beliefs of the deceased

Mortuary Basement The basement of the Mortuary is a collection of musty chambers where the Heralds of Dust, also known as the Dusters, process Sigil’s dead. Cheerless faction agents prowl its halls

Kelemvor

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

Kelemvor The Lord of the Dead, the Judge of the Damned Kelemvor is seen as a just, fair, and comforting god of death. Death comes to all, and when it occurs Kelemvor is there to take each soul by

the hand and lead it to the proper afterlife. Kelemvor’s priests teach that those who revere the gods according to the rites of their religion have done their proper service and will be offered the

Athreos's Villains

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

. 4 A group of cult fanatics charges exorbitant prices for funeral rites, threatening to lead the dead astray unless they’re shown proper respect. 5 A priest of Athreos speaks out against healers

Athreos’s Villains Athreos’s champions readily forsake their connections to other mortals. Working among endless throngs of the dead and grieving can sap one’s empathy and harden any soul. As a

Heralds of Dust Roles

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary

Ward. Exorcists. When evil spirits and other wicked apparitions rear their ugly heads, the Heralds of Dust deploys exorcists to expel those spirits so the dead may rest in peace. See this supplement’s

deceased archmages, dignitaries, and other important figures who die in Sigil and the planes beyond. Morticians. The bulk of Dusters fall into this role. Morticians prepare the way for the dead. They bury

Athreos's Champions

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

stands for. (Any) 2 Tradition. Honor the dead through rites of respect and by continuing their ways. (Lawful) 3 Dread. Mortals put their fear out of mind, but through me, they will remember the

, or disrespect the dead through acts such as these: Denying a dying person their final rites Removing wealth from a corpse or defiling a tomb Aiding those who seek to escape from the Underworld, or who

Vampires

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

the youngest vampires might be little more than bloodthirsty servants of their creators, the eldest possess incredible cunning and control over supernatural forces of the night. Undead vampires lie

. Vampire Resting Places 1d6 The Vampire’s Resting Place Is... 1 Among the roots of a dead tree. 2 At the bottom of a stagnant pool. 3 A coffin filled with grave dirt. 4

Location Overview

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

the coastline halfway between the Mere of Dead Men and the city of Neverwinter. The caves at the base of the Thunder Cliffs were once a haven for pirates, smugglers, and legitimate seafaring vessels

the twisted rites that honor their violent god, or to feed the monsters that share the caves with them.

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

appreciation for the finer things! — Volo Goblins occupy an uneasy place in a dangerous world, and they react by lashing out at any creatures they believe they can bully. Cunning in battle and

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

Minotaurs of Phoberos

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

rites among the Felhide minotaurs involve devouring those who fell in battle, to remove their shame from memory and fuel the survivors’ revenge. Should another scavenger reach a fallen Felhide before the

rest of the band can eat the dead minotaur’s remains, the minotaurs mobilize to track down as much of their dead comrade’s body as possible. Ragegore Minotaurs Ragegore minotaurs are the most

Centaur of Attention

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

approaches peacefully and shares the following warnings: “Strange witchlights hover over Dragon Barrow at night. The hill is haunted by the restless spirits of the dead.” “Neverwinter Wood has become

overrun with orcs in league with half-orc spellcasters. Deep in the forest, atop a cave-riddled hill, is a circle of standing stones where the evil half-orcs perform their dark rites.” Xanth avoids

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

created the orcs and continues to direct their destiny. He is aided and abetted by the other warrior deities, Bahgtru and Ilneval, who bring strength and cunning to the battlefield. The followers of all

until my enemies are dead, no matter the cost. 4 I understand the value of civilization and the order that society brings. 5 I don’t trust anyone. 6 I believe in living to

T11. Ritual Chamber

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

an eye patch. It clutches a whip in one bony hand. Along the east wall are three rusty gates with mold-covered cells beyond them. Cultists used to perform ghastly rites here. Human prisoners were

skeleton draped over the northern slab is that of the high priest’s torturer (see “Treasure” below and “Temple Features” for details). Treasure. The dead torturer clutches a +1 Whip. Behind the loose stone in cell B lies a Wand of Secrets.

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

, sleep 2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, gust of wind, mirror image 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, fireball, nondetection 4th level (3 slots): blight, greater invisibility, polymorph 5th level

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

D&D Beyond

Search Results