before bad dread certain retain

Sailor Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route that will meet your every need. Your Dungeon

You spent your youth under the sway of a dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and savages. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent

Crown of Lies

Magic Items Vecna: Eve of Ruin

After betraying and nearly destroying the lich Vecna, the warrior Kas found himself trapped in the Shadowfell, imprisoned in a Domain of Dread called Tovag. There, he languished as a vampire. In time

, the Dark Powers of the Domain of Dread lured Kas to a hidden forge, where he found the Crown of Lies. Once Kas vowed to deliver Vecna into the Dark Powers’ clutches and donned the crown, the

Failed Merchant

Backgrounds Acquisitions Incorporated

Maybe you come from a long line of merchants. Perhaps you were an entrepreneur. Regardless, your ventures ended poorly. Whether it was because of outside influences, bad luck, or simply because your

clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Supply Chain From your time as a merchant, you retain connections with wholesalers, suppliers, and other merchants and entrepreneurs. You can call upon these connections when looking for items or information.

Sailor - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

you served on, or another ship you have good relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route

dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and savages. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent more than one deserving soul to a briny grave

Priest of Osybus (Blazing)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly power. Acknowledging the role that his disciples played in his ascension

that curse, a priest of Osybus can’t be certain that they will be reborn when they perish. In an effort to rid themselves of this curse, they devoted themselves to the same Dark Powers with whom

Priest of Osybus (Deathly)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly power. Acknowledging the

become one of the Dark Powers. As a result of that curse, a priest of Osybus can’t be certain that they will be reborn when they perish. In an effort to rid themselves of this curse, they

Priest of Osybus (Dread)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Boon of Dread. Eerie whispers can now be heard around the priest. Any non-Undead creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of the priest must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be

their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis. As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time

Pirate Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

under the sway of a dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and lawlessness. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent more than one

you may roll for a random trinket on the Trinkets table in chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook), a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Bad Reputation No matter where

Dhampir

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Poised between the worlds of the living and the dead, dhampirs retain their grip on life yet are endlessly tested by vicious hungers. Their ties to the undead grant dhampirs a taste of a vampire

changed your body, making you reliant on others for vital fluids. Dhampirs in the Domains of Dread When creating a dhampir, ask your DM if it makes sense for your character to have ties to

Unspeakable Horror (Loathsome Limbs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Formed by the Mists. When created, the horror’s body composition takes one of four forms: Aberrant Armor, Loathsome Limbs, Malleable Mass, or Oozing Organs. This form determines certain traits

netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers. Customizing a Horror An unspeakable horror has one of four body compositions

Unspeakable Horror (Oozing Organs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Formed by the Mists. When created, the horror’s body composition takes one of four forms: Aberrant Armor, Loathsome Limbs, Malleable Mass, or Oozing Organs. This form determines certain traits

, forcing them into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they

Priest of Osybus

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly power

himself would become one of the Dark Powers. As a result of that curse, a priest of Osybus can’t be certain that they will be reborn when they perish. In an effort to rid themselves of this

Unspeakable Horror (Aberrant Armor)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Formed by the Mists. When created, the horror’s body composition takes one of four forms: Aberrant Armor, Loathsome Limbs, Malleable Mass, or Oozing Organs. This form determines certain traits

unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into

Priest of Osybus (Ectoplasmic)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Dark Powers and tapped into their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis. As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and

be certain that they will be reborn when they perish. In an effort to rid themselves of this curse, they devoted themselves to the same Dark Powers with whom their master had communed. They were

Priest of Osybus (Spectral)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

into their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis. As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship

;that their immortality would fail them when they least expected it and that he himself would become one of the Dark Powers. As a result of that curse, a priest of Osybus can’t be certain that they

Priest of Osybus (Vampiric)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly

and that he himself would become one of the Dark Powers. As a result of that curse, a priest of Osybus can’t be certain that they will be reborn when they perish. In an effort to rid themselves

Unspeakable Horror (Malleable Mass)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Formed by the Mists. When created, the horror’s body composition takes one of four forms: Aberrant Armor, Loathsome Limbs, Malleable Mass, or Oozing Organs. This form determines certain traits

horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers. Customizing a Horror An unspeakable horror

Unspeakable Horror

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Formed by the Mists. When created, the horror’s body composition takes one of four forms: Aberrant Armor, Loathsome Limbs, Malleable Mass, or Oozing Organs. This form determines certain traits

into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink

Bael

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Dread. Any creature, other than a devil, that starts its turn within 10 feet of Bael must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of him until the start of its next turn. A creature

following of cultists. Those who worship at his altar call him the King of Hell, and the most deluded believe that he is the lord of all devils. In arcane circles, certain writings, such as the dreaded Book

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below

. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Leonin

Species Mythic Odysseys of Theros

adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games. 4 I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the

Shadar-kai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Shadar-kai are the elves of the Shadowfell, originally drawn to that dread realm by the Raven Queen. Over the centuries, some of them have continued to serve her, while others have ventured into the

of certain types in different ways. For example, the cure wounds spell doesn’t work on a Construct or an Undead. Life Span The typical life span of a player character in the D&D

The Land of the Mists

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

The Land of the Mists Although the Domains of Dread are dramatically different, certain realities underpin their terrors. The nature of domains, the influence of Darklords, the mysteries of the Mists

of the Mists with shared knowledge, by all means do so. Alternatively, you can cultivate dread by leaving the fundamental truths of the world vague or defined by your group’s theories. Deep shadows

Mount Makab

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

remain largely mysterious to outsiders, but one thing is certain: it amplifies psionic energy, allowing Bluetspur’s mind flayers to project their thoughts into other Domains of Dread.

Glitch Characters

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

character wishes they could change about themselves? How would the best version of themselves be different? What is your character’s signature possession or physical trait? What makes you certain that

your character would retain this no matter what could have happened in their life? Riccardo Moscatello Wizard, paladin, and druid incarnations of the same glitch character share a distinctive sunburst nexus feature

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

everywhere in the world around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should

the gods has no clear explanation, the priests might have to meditate for hours or days to get a vision of its meaning. Every group of orcs has particular superstitions and recognizes certain omens

The Mists

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

within their territories. The Mists slip through the Domains of Dread, rising to claim unwitting travelers or releasing terrors upon unsuspecting villagers. Most infamously, the Mists slither into other

worlds to claim innocents, villains, or whole lands, dragging them back to become the newest prisoners of Ravenloft. Inhabitants of the Domains of Dread know of the Mists and ascribe sinister stories

Seven Secrets of Ravenloft

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

Certain. The Domains of Dread provide malleable settings for any kind of horror adventure. As domains are unmoored from conventional reality, anything can happen within their borders. Normal people

Seven Secrets of Ravenloft Countless mysteries pervade the Domains of Dread, but these strange truths underpin the setting: Ez d’Avenir braves the Mists, her path haunted by past and future terrors

Vistani Lore

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

Domains of Dread, where creatures born in darkness dwell. This “gift” was thrust upon them by mysterious entities called the Dark Powers, as a boon for their kindness toward strangers. The Vistani

believe that ravens carry lost souls within them. Hence, killing a raven is considered bad luck in Vistani culture.

Genres of Horror

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

Genres of Horror This section describes several horror subgenres, elements common to certain types of horror stories you can use to inspire your own Darklords and Domains of Dread. These sections

Dragonmarked Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

. Rogue Folk Hero. You’re an inquisitive trained by your house. You grew up in a bad neighborhood, and while you could make more gold solving the problems of nobles, you’re more interested in helping

dragons — or both. You don’t know how deep it goes, but you’re certain that other dragonmarked houses and noble families have been infiltrated.

Clientele

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

Clientele Inquisitives tend to acquire a reputation for working with a certain type of person. Some are known for discretion, attracting wealthy clients who trust them to keep a secret. Others are

justice. 3 Magnet for Trouble. Maybe you trust people too easily or it’s just bad luck, but every client who walks into your office has some double deal, hidden agenda, or scam they’re running. 4

Nightmare Logic

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

Nightmare Logic By the standards of what other worlds’ inhabitants consider true and sane, the Domains of Dread don’t make sense. The setting’s domains don’t neatly flow into one another, histories

uncertainty, mystery, paranoia, and dread in defiance of logic or common sense. In Ravenloft, tales like the treasure-haunting Bagman come to terrifying life The characters in your Ravenloft adventures

Saving Throws

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

Saving Throws A saving throw is an instant response to a harmful effect and is almost never done by choice. A save makes the most sense when something bad happens to a character and the character has

Dodging out of harm’s way Constitution Enduring a disease, poison, or other hazard that saps vitality Intelligence Disbelieving certain illusions and resisting mental assaults that can be refuted with

Domain of Dread Parolee

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

Domain of Dread Parolee Kas uses an artifact called the Crown of Lies to impersonate a powerful wizard and manipulate others into retrieving an item that will allow him to free a demon lord ally

nearly destroying the lich Vecna, the warrior Kas found himself trapped in the Shadowfell, imprisoned in a Domain of Dread called Tovag. There, he languished as a vampire. In time, the Dark Powers of the

D&D Beyond

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