before back detail concern related

Orcus Figurine

Magic Items Candlekeep Mysteries

Carved from an ogre’s petrified heart, the gray figurine depicts the Demon Prince of Undeath in ghastly detail, clutching his skull-topped wand in one hand and three severed heads by the hair

properties: Undead within 30 feet of the figurine can’t be turned. Dead creatures within 30 feet of the figurine can’t be brought back to life. A creature that holds the figurine while

Prisoner 13

Monsters Keys from the Golden Vault

tattoo across her back, filling a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on her. Each other creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 13 (3d8

steal away most of the clan’s gold, leaving only a pittance. Prisoner 13 is a cunning schemer, ruthless and patient. She listens and watches, absorbing every detail she can, and shares as

Werevulture

Monsters The Book of Many Things

related to vrock;vrocks, vulturelike demons known for their covetousness and their capricious violence. According to these scholars, a flock of vrocks descended on a Material Plane world through a

werevulture polymorphs into a vulture-humanoid hybrid, into a vulture, or back into its humanoid form. Its game statistics, other than its speed, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its humanoid form if it dies.

Dwarf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

“Yer late, elf!” came the rough edge of a familiar voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay on top of his elven

mountains they love, weathering the passage of centuries with stoic endurance and little change. They respect the traditions of their clans, tracing their ancestry back to the founding of their most

Cloistered Scholar

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

adventuring. Your ideal is no doubt related to how you view the quest for knowledge and truth—perhaps as a worthy goal in itself, or maybe as a means to a desirable end. Sage d8

work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore. 5 I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question. 6 I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do

Axe of the Dwarvish Lords Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

dwarf clans and brought peace. His axe ended grudges and answered slights. The clans became allies, and they threw back their enemies and enjoyed an era of prosperity. This young dwarf is remembered

to poison damage. The range of your darkvision increases by 60 feet. You gain proficiency with artisan’s tools related to blacksmithing, brewing, and stonemasonry. Conjure Earth Elemental

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Regis the halfling, the only one of his kind for hundreds of miles in any direction, locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket of the tree trunk. Regis was short

more like closely related families than true subraces. Choose one of these subraces or one from another source.

Sage Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

work to preserve a library, university, scriptorium, or monastery. 4 My life’s work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore. 5 I’ve been searching my whole

life for the answer to a certain question. 6 I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back. d6 Flaw 1 I am easily distracted by the promise of

Crystal Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

their bodies and the spines and horns that hover close to their heads and backs. These horns shift with the dragon’s mood: bristling with anger, lying back with fear or suspicion, and rippling

wyrmling has befriended a white dragon wyrmling. The wyrmlings’ parents, who are ancient rivals, regard the relationship with concern. 4 A crystal dragon wyrmling encourages nearby farmers to

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

raid just as another group returns, laden with severed heads, sacks of loot, and armfuls of food. Warriors also serve as scouts, bringing back detailed reports about the surrounding area so that the

haul as much food and booty as possible back to the tribe’s den, every tribe has a sturdy war wagon. Since orcs are poor crafters, most of their wagons are stolen from human or dwarven

Sage - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

tomes related to a specific field of lore. 5 I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question. 6 I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it

back. d6 Flaw 1 I am easily distracted by the promise of information. 2 Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on its anatomy. 3

Metallic Dragons

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

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Mighty Servant of Leuk-o

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

conjecture than fact, often referring to otherworldly beings, the mysterious Barrier Peaks in Oerth, and the supposedly related device known as the Machine of Lum the Mad. The best details on the device

at a time. If a third creature tries to attune to it, nothing happens. The servant’s controls are accessed by a hatch in its upper back, which is easily opened while there are no creatures

Dragonmarked House

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

related to one of the houses by blood, you act on behalf of a house to advance its interests. You might function openly as representatives of the house, wearing its badge and exerting its authority, or you

could be covert or unacknowledged agents. The thirteen dragonmarked houses are described in detail earlier in this chapter.

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

a bridge on a major trade road, terrifying travelers. 3 After an unwise attack from a whaling ship, a dragon turtle pursued the ship back to harbor and now attacks any ship that tries to leave

, including deep-sea trenches or underwater volcanoes. Dragon turtles are largely unconcerned with the design of their lairs and seldom work to improve them. A dragon turtle’s primary concern when

Metallic Dragons

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

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Metallic Dragons

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

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

use for healing magic, and a sorcerer can meet most of the tribe’s other magic-related needs. Kobold shamans are very rare; priests of Kurtulmak, when they reveal themselves, are easily recognized

considered an adult. Most succumb to violence, accidents, or disease by age 20, but a kobold can live for up to 120 years — a longevity they attribute to being distantly related to dragons. A female can

Travel

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

related to travel in an Eberron campaign and presents the Gold Dragon Inns, a chain of hotels that offer consistent accommodation for travelers anywhere in Khorvaire. As described in chapter 5 of the

Dungeon Master’s Guide, it’s up to you whether you gloss over travel in your campaign or narrate it in more detail. If the point is to get the characters to their destination so they can get the

The Dreaming Dark in the War

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

opportunity to call attention to a detail the characters overlooked. Clearly, this character’s subconscious registered the detail as important! Involve a current villain. This can help build the

dungeon with no armor or at school with no clothes. Narratively, these dreams can provide a moment of comic relief or heighten the players own concern about what’s happening in the game.

Artavazda's Last Mission

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

Artavazda’s Last Mission Upon learning that the Silent Roar is merely performing a banned play that evening, characters working with the Brightguard can report back to Artavazda at the Noble Jewel

. The pari rewards each character with a ruby worth 500 gp. If the characters don’t reveal the imminent attempt to free Afsoun, the insightful Artavazda shares a concern about the likelihood of such a

Creating a Campaign

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

a daunting task, but you don’t have to plot out every detail right from the start. You can start with the basics, running a few adventures, and think about larger plotlines you want to explore as the

campaign progresses. You’re free to add as much or as little detail as you wish. The start of a campaign resembles the start of an adventure. You want to jump quickly into the action, show the players

An Unexpected Message

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

your help. Rescue me from the cult’s clutches, and I will deliver to you the prize of prizes: the Blue Dragon Mask. Without it, Severin faces an insurmountable setback in his effort to call Tiamat back

motivated by concern for his own survival than by concern for the world. If divination spells are used to assess the situation, give the characters a strong sense that Iskander is on the level, and that

Running This Chapter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

chapter describes the fortress of Sunblight in detail, in the event the adventurers decide to attack it. But the characters are in for a surprise: by the time they arrive, Xardorok has already finished his

succeed if they take frequent rests or have an edge, such as plenty of healing magic or allies to back them up.

Achieving Victory

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

Achieving Victory If the adventurers succeed, they achieve a great victory with two demon lords banished back to the Abyss. The creatures under the demon lords’ influence eventually return to normal

afflicted by demonic corruption. The myconids also declare their intention to cleanse their home of Zuggtmoy’s lingering influence. The removal of Juiblex from the Underdark causes most oozes and related

Tattoos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

a feeling or an attitude. As with personal totems, a barbarian’s tattoos might or might not be related to an animal spirit. Each tattoo a barbarian displays contributes to that individual’s identity

. If your character wears tattoos, what do they look like, and what do they represent? Tattoos d6 Tattoo 1 The wings of an eagle are spread wide across your upper back. 2 Etched on the backs of your

Background

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

(money, ale, or both), confesses to having wandered in the back door of the house a couple of years before, hoping to acquire some food. Encouraged by the prospect of free wine in the cellar, he

started to descend the stairs, heard ghastly shrieks and piercing wails, and ran, frightened out of his wits. He knows where the back door is and also noticed a nearby well. He can vaguely describe the

Monks

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

wrist stopped him dead in his tracks, and before he even realized what was happening, Danica kicked the back of both his knees, dropping him to a kneel. — R.A. Salvatore, Canticle Some of the

wilderness. Some monastic communities have members numbering in the hundreds, with a presence closer to civilization, and often with correspondingly greater influence, for those orders concern

Starting the Adventure

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

adventure to further detail the city. Read or paraphrase the following when you’re ready to begin: The city of Sagorpur is teeming with onlookers enjoying the Shankha Trials. The final event of this great

the surrounding streets and line the river. If the characters don’t already know the information in “The Shankha Trials” section, now’s a perfect time for them to learn it. This might be related by

Appendix 3. Dungeon Master Tips

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rrakkma

detail regarding potentially hostile creatures. You can always go back after the fight is over, or after it has been established that a fight won’t be happening and elaborate on your description of the

adventurers are likely to see them initially. If creatures are clearly visible, consider providing a minimum of detail (size, shape, and lighting only) for the area description, in favor of providing greater

Battle at Steel Springs

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

Battle at Steel Springs The trip from Wheelwatch back to Kalaman is uneventful. On their return to Castle Kalaman, the character with the highest passive Wisdom (Perception) score notices the castle

characters find him, he isn’t a military leader, doesn’t understand the characters’ concern, and can do little now the troops have been sent.

17. Vertrand's Room

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

17. Vertrand’s Room Vertrand. A bald, elderly man (Vertrand Shadowdusk) sits at a writing desk to the north, his back to the doorway. Bed. A simple bed stands against the south wall. Tapestry. A

Intelligence (Investigation) check to decipher. The notes detail Vertrand’s research into magical vortices, and how to widen and destabilize planar portals. Treasure. Vertrand’s spellbook is in the

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

Godefroy's Torment

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

escaping his undead existence. However, he can’t grasp even its basic workings and is frustrated by every delay and malfunction related to the device. FOUNDATIONS OF HORROR Three years after the 1983

release of the adventure Ravenloft, the sequel adventure, Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill, debuted. The adventure pulled back the Mists on the domain of Mordent, a realm of terrors beyond Barovia

Quest Goals

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

at the Wayside Inn previously, the ritual being performed by the cultists could incorporate movement that harkens back to that dance. Although it’s a small detail that a typical player might overlook, if even just one of your players gets chills or a laugh because of the echo, it’s worth the effort.

D&D Beyond

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