before back defusing confident retreat

Merregon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

backbone of many devils’ protective retinues. They shrink from no task, no matter how dangerous. Unless ordered to fall back, they never retreat from a fight.Fire, PoisonCold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered

Ras Nsi

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

can use his action to polymorph into a Medium snake or back into his yuan-ti form. His statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. He doesn't change

level (4 slots): expeditious retreat, false life, magic missile, shield 2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, hold person, misty step 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, fireball 4th

Yuan-ti Mind Whisperer Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

Shapechanger. The yuan-ti can use its action to polymorph into a Medium snake or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't

, crown of madness, detect thoughts, expeditious retreat, fly, hypnotic pattern, illusory script Sseth's Blessing. When the yuan-ti reduces an enemy to 0 hit points, the yuan-ti gains 9 temporary hit

Fathomer

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

Shapechanger (2/Day). The fathomer can use its action to polymorph into a Medium serpent composed of water, or back into its true form. Anything the fathomer is wearing or carrying is subsumed into

regains after finishing a short or long rest, and knows the following warlock spells: Cantrips (at will): chill touch, eldritch blast, mage hand 1st level: armor of Agathys, expeditious retreat, hex 2nd

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Flint squinted into the setting sun. He thought he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing, Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better. The man’s walk was

. EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS Many half-elves learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and

Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

have been known to retreat from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

assume a wraithlike form. The skull then emits a terrifying howl that can slay the weak-hearted and leave others trembling with fear. Left alone, it sinks back down and returns to the empty peace of

it to retreat into its ancient tomb and forget to feed on souls. The spells it once knew fade from its mind, and it no longer channels the arcane energy it wielded as a lich. However, even as a mere

Pidlwick II

Monsters Curse of Strahd

sneak out of the closet in the middle of the night, smother the guest with a pillow, and then retreat back to the closet. The castle staff never considered that the effigy might be responsible

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

at the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within

. The kenku lack the talent to improvise or alter a plan, but a wise Master sets multiple plans in motion at once, confident that underlings can follow orders to the letter. For this reason, many

Folk Hero - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

dozen adopted grandparents inviting you in for a meal. 3 Seeing a lost patriar after dark in the Outer City, you guided the wayward noble through back streets to safety. The patriar repaid your

for one last chance to win back the goodwill you’ve drunk away. 5 You once defeated a raging bugbear with a hand mirror, a mounted deer’s head, and two kicks to the groin. Later, you

The Archmages' Desperation

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

archmages Mordenkainen and a version of Tasha from Oerth, though Alustriel and Tasha don’t yet know that Mordenkainen is Kas the Destroyer in disguise. These Wizards Three retreat to a sanctum Alustriel

keeps in Sigil. Using their combined magic, the archmages weave a Wish spell in hopes of sabotaging Vecna’s accumulated power and defusing his ritual. Instead of any expected effect, the Wish spell shunts

Lhammaruntosz

Monsters Sleeping Dragon’s Wake

, mending 1st level (4 slots): charm person, detect magic, expeditious retreat, sleep 2nd level (3 slots): darkness, invisibility,suggestion 3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, protection from energy

rating no higher than her own, or back into her true form. She reverts to her true form if she dies. Any equipment she is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Lhammaruntosz's choice

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

.) Simic Guild Spells Spell Level Spells Cantrip acid splash, druidcraft 1st detect poison and disease, expeditious retreat, jump 2nd alter self, enhance

confident in my ability to adapt to any situation and handle any danger. 5 I’ll take any risk to earn recognition for my scientific brilliance. 6 I have a tendency to take shortcuts in

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

’ serpent gods into their religions. These victories sent a constant influx of food, ore, and slaves back to the home cities. The wealth of the empire allowed the ruling elite plenty of time to

of purebloods and slaves are thrown at opposing forces in the hope of allowing the malisons and abominations time to escape. Survival First Yuan-ti are likely to retreat or flee from conflict if

Shadow of Soth

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

. It pauses before the figure, who climbs onto the undead terror’s back. Together, they rise into the air and circle the city before flying south and out of sight. The character with the highest

get at whoever’s in charge in there!” Rookledust encourages the characters to find the Dragon Army’s leaders within the city rather than pursing Soth. The gnome is confident that Kalaman’s forces

A Timeless Perspective

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat

from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.

A Timeless Perspective

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

branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat

from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.

Troll Pursuit

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

Troll Pursuit If the party is forced to retreat from the lodge, the four-armed troll Trepsin (see area 2 and the “Four-Armed Troll” sidebar) pursues them and tries to bring at least one of them back to the lodge for questioning.

Swift Retreat

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

Swift Retreat When the characters reunite with Kalaman’s soldiers, Darrett welcomes them back, but he keeps the conversation short. The Dragon Army is mustering and soon will strike at Kalaman’s

Starting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

discuss an “advantageous opportunity” with someone named Verity Kye, who waits for them in the Brine Widow’s back room. ROLEPLAYING VERITY KYE Verity Kye is bold, confident, and genuinely kind—though

Troll Pursuit

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Troll Pursuit If the party is forced to retreat from the lodge, the four-armed troll Trepsin (see area 2 and the "Four-Armed Troll" Sidebar) pursues them and tries to bring at least one of them back to the lodge for questioning.

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Shapechanger. If Strahd isn’t in running water or sunlight, he can use his action to polymorph into a Tiny bat, a Medium wolf, or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into his true form. While in

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

Dealing with the Soldiers

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

Dealing with the Soldiers If the characters confront the Dragon Army soldiers on the cliffs, the messenger attempts to retreat to the Dragon Army camp on her warhorse rather than aiding her allies

. With the Dragon Army soldiers gone, Cudgel is eager to ride out to meet her mercenaries. She plans to bring them back to a defensible position just north of the village. If the characters don’t attack the Dragon Army soldiers on the cliffs, skip to the “Preparing for the Worst” section.

Plan of Attack

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

Plan of Attack Dragon Cultist This encounter should challenge the adventurers in every way. The characters should be no easy match for the attacking force, such that retreat and escape might be

their best option if they hope to survive. However, if the characters haven’t made escape plans ahead of time, the attackers will have taken steps to make retreat impossible. The specifics are up to

Plan of Attack

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

Plan of Attack This encounter should challenge the adventurers in every way. The characters should be no easy match for the attacking force, such that retreat and escape might be their best option if

they hope to survive. However, if the characters haven’t made escape plans ahead of time, the attackers will have taken steps to make retreat impossible. The specifics are up to you, but should be

Order of Events

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

back to its hiding place in the mere. Ularan Mortus withdraws in victory to his headquarters. Stormsworn’s troops intercept his entourage outside town, but her reduced forces are beaten back. The remaining members of both sides retreat to their respective headquarters.

forced to fall back and regroup. As Ularan Mortus’s army forces its way into Leilon, Ebondeath reaches the House of Thalivar and searches for the ruinstone. Unless stopped, it claims the stone and flies

When Elves Attack

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

it looks like the characters are about to lose. The astral elves are confident they can conquer the Moondancer, but if two of the warriors fall, the third tries to retreat to the Dark Star. After

that attempt succeeds or fails, the star moth beats a hasty retreat. The star priest, Altura, remains aboard the Dark Star and uses a sending spell to relay what has happened to Helix, an astral elf on

Adventure Background

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

destroy evil in the multiverse, rather than stand back and watch demons and devils annihilate one another, destroying vast swaths of the multiverse in the process. In defiance of her superiors, Zariel

to the archdevil Bel and his infernal legions. Many of Zariel’s warriors fought bravely, but for others, the horrors of the Nine Hells proved too great. They fled back through the portal, sealing it

24. Collapsed Areas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

sixteen troglodytes in varying stages of decay. Feasting on the remains are seven drow ghouls that were created by Vlonwelv to devour the dead. The ghouls retreat into the back tunnels when one or more drow enter the room. If a drow is not among those who enter, the ghouls attack.

throughout is silty and wet. 24c. Morgue A foul stench wafts through the double door, which stands ajar. Piled near the tunnels at the back of the room are the stripped corpses of eight drow and

Odunos

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

. Those who would strike back against Odunos’s raiders must venture through mires corrupted by sucking bogs and necromatic horrors. Those who survive to reach the city find it heavily guarded, its

others say that Phenax first emerged from the Underworld here, and his path could be retraced back into Erebos’s domain. Myth of Tymaret the Murder King When Phenax made his escape from the Underworld

Bandit Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

one wagon. The wagon starts to burn, and the attackers flee back toward their camp. Anyone pursuing them is led up over a ridge, straight into an ambush of the massed bandits waiting below the crest

. They use the light of the burning wagon to target individuals. The bandits prefer to harry the caravan from cover and mount an attack once the defenders are weakened. None of the bandits is willing to die. They retreat so they can attack the caravan again later.

5. Trolling the Troglodytes

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

door, and retreat to area 7a, leaving the characters to deal with the troll on their own. The mutated troll has an extra pair of arms sprouting from its chest and a fifth arm growing out of its back. The

Neverlight Grove

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

quaggoth spore servants, and four awakened zurkhwoods (see appendix C) loyal to Sovereign Phylo cut off their retreat. They surround the characters and their followers, offering to escort them to Phylo

afflicted by Zuggtmoy’s spores, as described in chapter 5. If the characters take Basidia’s advice and turn back, the myconid sovereign promises to contact them again when “the time is right to oppose Zuggtmoy” (as described in chapter 16, “The Fetid Wedding”).

Jander Sunstar

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

soul by swearing to hunt down his own kind. Later, he volunteered to join Zariel on her crusade into the Nine Hells. Stirges now swarm back and forth from Jander’s body, preserving his existence by

: Jander and Haruman were both part of a host of warriors who joined the angel Zariel in her assault on the Nine Hells. After charging through the portal into Avernus, Jander panicked and fled back to

Skyriders

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

, winged shapes gliding toward you — giant vultures! Each bird carries on its back a warrior in dull blue armor with a dirty white cloak. The attackers include one Feathergale knight and two Howling

reduced to half its hit points or less, its rider disengages and retreats. If any two riders are killed or retreat, the third flees. Treasure None of the riders carry treasure, but one of them has a

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