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Returning 35 results for 'before barely defusing castle rules'.
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Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
Queen, who rules from a castle called Dynnistan. It isn’t known whether these legends are based on any true experience or are simply the result of imagination trying to account for a terrifying and
Half-Elf
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Basic Rules (2014)
friends and loved ones age while time barely touches them. Others live with the elves, growing restless as they reach adulthood in the timeless elven realms, while their peers continue to live as
.
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
Folk Hero
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
’s castle and stole weapons to arm the people.
7
I trained the peasantry to use farm implements as weapons against a tyrant’s soldiers.
8
A lord rescinded an unpopular decree
.
d6
Flaw
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of
Orcus
Legacy
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Monsters
Out of the Abyss
chapter 7, "Treasure” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.Orcus’s Lair
Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules
. Surrounded by a moat fed by the River Styx, Naratyr is an eerily quiet and cold city, its streets often empty for hours at a time. The central castle of bone has interior walls of flesh and carpets made of
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Dungeon Master’s Guide.Orcus’s Lair
Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules. Surrounded by a moat fed by the
River Styx, Naratyr is an eerily quiet and cold city, its streets empty for hours at a time. The central castle of bone has interior walls of flesh and carpets made of woven hair. The city contains
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
. The middle-aged innkeeper, Cora Mulphoon (neutral good human commoner), treats her guests like royalty while trying to conceal the fact that she is barely making ends meet. Cora’s Loss. Cora is
one afternoon. The speaker was brought back safe and sound, but Huarwar got separated from the others and didn’t find his way home until the following morning. He had frostbite and could barely walk
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Stranger Things
Tristan’s castle. All his soldiers together could barely fight it off. After each attack, the thessalhydra disappears into the woods and leaves no trail. Tristan can’t send his guards after the monster
. They must protect the castle (and they know they’re not strong enough to beat the monster). He asks the characters to hunt down and kill the thessalhydra, then return with its heads. (Tristan wants
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
to a cloud giant’s castle might subject characters to the effects of high altitude. The following sections provide rules for handling these and other environmental effects.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Environmental Effects Characters crossing a frigid tundra might suffer the effects of extreme cold, while a visit to a cloud giant’s castle might subject characters to the effects of high altitude. The following sections provide rules for handling these and other environmental effects.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
typical D&D session, a DM makes numerous rules decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvious. Players also interpret the rules, and the whole group keeps the game running. There are times
The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
wind. Rules for extreme cold apply, however. What was once a truly impressive structure, six or more floors in height, is now frozen rubble. Only the first floor of the castle, part of the second
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
things they don’t. In a typical D&D session, a DM makes numerous rules decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvious. Players also interpret the rules, and the whole group keeps the game
The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
“Cover” in the Basic Rules). DISGUISED CHARACTERS
Rather than storm Cragmaw Castle with weapons in hand, clever characters might try to talk their way inside. For example, they might don the scarlet
General Features The centuries have not been kind to Cragmaw Castle. The goblins have shored up the weakest areas beneath its falling towers with crude timbers, but it’s only a matter of time before
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
, Castle Ravenloft towers before you. Crumbling towers of stone—perhaps abandoned guardhouses—loom over the approach. Beyond them, you see a gaping chasm disappearing into deep fog below. A lowered
drawbridge spans the chasm, its chains creaking in the wind. Stone gargoyles stare down at you from the high walls, and a pale light spills into the courtyard from the open castle doors beyond.
Phillip (as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
their late teens and live less than a century. Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium
HUMAN TRAITS
If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from chapter 6, your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace the human’s Ability Score Increase trait
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
into the gloom. Despite all attempts to demystify her, the Raven Queen has remained enigmatic and aloof. She rules from her Raven Throne within the Fortress of Memories, a mazelike castle deep within
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
action in the rules glossary.
Russell: “Yeah, whose seal is it?”
Jared: “The Devil Strahd.”
Amy: “Sounds like a pleasant fellow.”
Jared: “No! He is the vampire lord of Castle Ravenloft and a
grown shoddy with the passage of years. A blazing fire in the hearth barely gives any warmth to the room. You see a man behind the counter, methodically cleaning glasses. Three older women huddle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
in the Basic Rules). Droop knows the general layout of the Redbrand hideout, as well as the location of its secret doors and traps. He doesn’t think to offer up the information, but if prompted, he
ingratiate himself with the party. He doesn’t remember the route to Cragmaw Castle, but he knows it’s up north, in the forest. He also knows that Cragmaw goblins patrol around Phandalin, and he
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
and phase spiders in the keep, using the rules for encounter building in the Dungeon Master’s Guide to create an appropriate challenge. Weaker Construct. The stone golem in area 4 can be replaced with
know his plan and inform the characters of it. If the characters can’t free the spirits in 3 hours, the new ritual fails disastrously, causing the entire castle to collapse. More Behirs. The behir has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Breaking Objects Objects can be harmed by attacks and by some spells, using the rules below. If an object is exceedingly fragile, the DM may allow a creature to break it automatically with the Attack
, such as castle walls, often have extra resilience represented by a damage threshold. See also “Damage Threshold.” No Ability Scores. An object lacks ability scores unless a rule assigns scores to the object. Without ability scores, an object can’t make ability checks, and it fails all saving throws.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Approaching the Fortress To get to Xardorok’s fortress, the characters need to negotiate the Spine of the World. Use the rules in the “Mountain Travel” section to simulate the perils of getting
hewn from the rock leads up along one side of the wall.
The steps leading up to it are barely 5 feet wide and climb 150 feet to a frost-covered shelf that adjoins the main entrance (area X1). Difficult
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
seal off the castle. The gatehouse (area C6) holds the mechanisms that raise and lower the portcullises as well as open and close both sets of doors. Knock spells and similar magic can bypass these
castle over a month ago and now does menial chores for the cultists. Alassar knows the layout of the castle (levels 1 and 2), and he can be coerced or bribed into helping the characters. He can move about
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Breaking Objects Objects can be harmed by attacks and by some spells, using the rules below. If an object is exceedingly fragile, the DM may allow a creature to break it automatically with the Attack
, such as castle walls, often have extra resilience represented by a damage threshold. See also “Damage Threshold.” No Ability Scores. An object lacks ability scores unless a rule assigns scores to the object. Without ability scores, an object can’t make ability checks, and it fails all saving throws.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
questions. She rules from her Raven Throne within the Fortress of Memories, a mazelike castle deep within the bleakness of the Shadowfell. From there she sends out her ravens to find interesting souls she can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Knights of the Black Sword The Knights of the Black Sword are a secret society of cultists devoted to Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the confines of
outsiders and, posing as members of Speaker Crannoc’s staff, turn away all visitors to the castle. If the time is right, however, they welcome the characters with open arms. That time comes when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
; now roll damage,” “11 points,” and “OK, now we’re to Initiative count 13.” Instead, use the rules and your knowledge of the scene to help your narration. If 18 is barely a hit, but the 11 points of
Narration in Combat Although it’s important that the players understand what’s going on in terms of the rules, the game can get dull if everyone uses only “gamespeak”: “That’s an 18 to hit,” “You hit
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
Cragmaw Castle Areas 1. Castle Entrance The main gates between areas 1 and 2 are made of bronze-covered wood, but they are corroded and collapsed. The castle consists of seven crumbling towers of
behind the arrow slits. However, they can’t fire directly at enemies at or past the broken gate. The goblins also shout loudly enough to alert their comrades in areas 4 and area 6 that the castle is under
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Orcus’s Lair Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules. Surrounded by a moat fed by the River Styx, Naratyr is an eerily quiet
and cold city, its streets often empty for hours at a time. The central castle of bone has interior walls of flesh and carpets made of woven hair. The city contains wandering undead, many of which are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Orcus’s Lair Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules. Surrounded by a moat fed by the River Styx, Naratyr is an eerily quiet
and cold city, its streets often empty for hours at a time. The central castle of bone has interior walls of flesh and carpets made of woven hair. The city contains wandering undead, many of which are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
to a vast bog filled with eerie lights and sinister shapes twisting in the water. And moving to the Feywild from old ruins on the Material Plane might put a traveler at the door of an archfey’s castle
the animals that occupy his domain. Gloaming Court The Queen of Air and Darkness rules the Gloaming Court, a realm of twilight, fireflies, cobwebs, and autumn leaves accompanied by the music of hooting
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
-foot cube Gargantuan 20-foot cube A creature that needs to breathe will exhaust the air in its personal envelope in 1 minute. Since this is barely enough time to get anywhere, most creatures travel
121, and the foul air turns deadly 120 days later. Deadly air is unbreathable. Any creature that tries to breathe deadly air begins to suffocate (see the rules on suffocation in the Player’s Handbook
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Cragmaw Castle Locations The following locations are keyed to map 3.4. Mike Schley Map 3.4: Cragmaw Castle View Player Version C1: Castle Entrance The castle has seven crumbling towers of different
goblins also shout to alert their comrades in areas C4 and area C6 that the castle is under attack. C2: Trapped Hall Doors stand closed to the north and south, with a crumbling mound of rubble
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
, while elephantine demons on the other side trumpet at them through barbed trunks to break their concentration.
A boxy, winged modron in a padded helmet with a face cage hovers in front of your castle
is called Spireball. The modron happily explains the game’s rules, its stakes, and the two teams, all of which are detailed below. Good versus Evil Two teams—the Noxious Stampede and the Righteous
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
George, Amanda Hamon, Cassandra Khaw, Renee Knipe, Kira Magrann, Molly Ostertag, Ben Petrisor, Jessica Price, Taymoor Rehman, Jessica Ross, John Stavropoulos, Jabari Weathers, James Wyatt
Rules
Castle Ravenloft, Doctor Rudolph van Richten and Ez d’Avenir confront the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, in this painting by Anna Podedworna.
ON THE ALT-COVER
Monster hunter Ez d’Avenir stands
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monstrous Compendium Volume Four
deathless riders serve a warlock-queen, known simply as the Shadow Queen, who rules from a castle called Dynnistan. It isn’t known whether these legends are based on any true experience or are simply the






