before barely defusing cunning role

Drow Favored Consort

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

. Combining the roles of advisor, protector, and beloved, some favored consorts are content with a supporting role, while more ambitious consorts aspire to be the power behind the throne—or even to

claim the throne themselves. Those favored consorts who prove their cunning gain the ear, and perhaps even the heart, of their priestess and are relied on to provide useful advice. No position of

Half-Elf Legacy

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

Prisoner 13

Monsters Keys from the Golden Vault

her role as an agent, so she devised a plan to take power for herself. Over five years she took careful stock of Clan Axebreaker’s wealth and, in one fell swoop, used her network of lieutenants to

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

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

shoulders. He can assume other forms, however, from the hideous to the beautiful. Often the demon lord becomes so immersed in playing a role that he loses himself in it for a time. Many of the cultists

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. Whether calling on the elemental forces of nature or emulating the creatures of the animal world, druids are an embodiment of nature’s resilience, cunning, and fury. They claim no mastery over

, druids take on a more active role in combating the threat, as adventurers. Creating a Druid When making a druid, consider why your character has such a close bond with nature. Perhaps your

Phenax

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

cloak of Athreos, the River Guide, who ushers the dead to their final rest. Hidden by illusion as he was, neither Athreos nor Erebos could find Phenax and bring him back. Able to play whatever role

the situation calls for, Phenax is a consummate actor. His incisive wit and cunning enable him to read the desires of his marks, adjusting his approach to suit the moment. In his rare moments of candor

Roleplaying Strahd

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

, with barely a hint of emotion left. He is above the concerns of the living. The only event that occasionally haunts him is the death of Tatyana, but his view of the past is bereft of romance or regret

, especially if a person is clever or attractive. Men and women of beauty and cunning amuse Strahd for a time—playthings to possess or discard as he desires. If he senses a lack of cohesion in a party of

The Vanthampur Family

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

The Vanthampur Family Thalamra Vanthampur is a cunning, devil-worshiping beast of a woman in her late sixties who can stare down a hell hound without flinching. She is barrel-bodied, with strong

. Thurstwell’s real problem is that his mother doesn’t see him as her successor, and is grooming Amrik to fill that role. Despite his jealousy, Thurstwell would never visit harm upon Amrik for fear of incurring

Fraz-Urb'luu

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

Fraz-Urb’luu All demons are liars, but Fraz-Urb’luu is the Prince of Deception and Demon Lord of Illusions. He uses every trick, every ounce of demonic cunning, to manipulate his enemies — mortal and

bat-like wings are furled against his powerful shoulders. He can assume other forms, however, from the hideous to the beautiful. Often the demon lord becomes so immersed in playing a role that he loses

Fraz-Urb'luu

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Fraz-Urb’luu All demons are liars, but Fraz-Urb’luu is the Prince of Deception and Demon Lord of Illusions. He uses every trick, every ounce of demonic cunning, to manipulate his enemies — mortal and

bat-like wings are furled against his powerful shoulders. He can assume other forms, however, from the hideous to the beautiful. Often the demon lord becomes so immersed in playing a role that he loses

Sora Kell, the Queen of the Night

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

knowledge by force and cunning. A mighty wizard with magic worthy of epic tales, she is a monster whose adamantine claws can flense whole armies before any soldier can land a blow on her plated hide

have allies, except for a handful of other legends like the following groups: Daughters of Sora Kell. Sora Kell’s three daughters—the gifted oracle Sora Teraza, the cunning trickster Sora Katra, and the

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

; and the word is part of the name they give to any of its practitioners. A goblin with access to booyahg becomes a member of the lashers and can often rise to the role of boss. “Booyahg&rdquo

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

interest of maintaining the strength of their personal bloodline. The yuan-ti have abandoned their humanity and consider non-serpentine humanoids to be lesser creatures, barely more civilized than

common apes. Although some purebloods are able to reproduce with humans, most are disgusted by the idea and would do so only if seduction is necessary for a pureblood to preserve a role as a confidant or

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

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

D&D. The direction we chose for the current edition was to lay a foundation of rules that a DM could build on, and we embraced the DM’s role as the bridge between the things the rules address and the

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

orcs can be dominated by evil creatures of immense power, and they accept this subservient role either because they are forced to or because it offers them a measure of security while they engage in

Draegloth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

the draegloth in a significant role, because its abilities can turn the tide in a battle against a house that doesn’t have a draegloth of its own. Subservient Enforcers. Although it plays an important

the role set for it and not challenging authority. Draegloths instinctively resist this sort of treatment, but most of them take out their frustration on their house’s enemies. A draegloth that can’t

Copper Dragon Lairs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

walls in the lair can conceal cunning hidden passages or might be stone or clay thin enough for the dragon to burst through them. The narrowest tunnels in a copper dragon’s lair are just barely wide

Humans Transformed

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

interest of maintaining the strength of their personal bloodline. The yuan-ti have abandoned their humanity and consider non-serpentine humanoids to be lesser creatures, barely more civilized than

common apes. Although some purebloods are able to reproduce with humans, most are disgusted by the idea and would do so only if seduction is necessary for a pureblood to preserve a role as a confidant or

Order in a Sea of Chaos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

tremendous feats of magic and psionics but barely able to move a finger or lift his own eyelids. A host of servants constantly attend to Menyar-Ag and see to his every need. Although Menyar-Ag is no

. They believe that Zerthimon, in his new godly form, will return someday and usher them into new age of freedom. Until that happens, the githzerai known as zerths fill the symbolic role of Zerthimon in

Worshiping Klothys

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

need worship to sustain or empower her, and she doesn’t seek out reverence or demand it. By and large, mortals are irrelevant to her, except insofar as they have played a role in tangling the strands

of destiny by defying nature’s order. (MAGALI VILLENEUVE) MYTHS OF KLOTHYS Klothys is barely remembered in the mortal world, having sequestered herself in the Underworld while human civilization

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

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

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

Drow Favored Consort

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

drow favored consort can hold their own in both conversation and combat. Combining the roles of advisor, protector, and beloved, some favored consorts are content with a supporting role, while more

ambitious consorts aspire to be the power behind the throne—or even to claim the throne themselves. Those favored consorts who prove their cunning gain the ear, and perhaps even the heart, of their

Ascendant Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

all divine power. Faction Attire. Defiers wear geometric, starry fabrics that hint at their astral ties. They adorn their outfits with silver chains and broken holy symbols. Role in Sigil. The Athar

. Bleakers dress in gloomy, drab color schemes. Frayed clothing and weather-beaten gear are common. Role in Sigil. The Bleak Cabal’s headquarters is the Gatehouse, a fortress of healing and respite in

Sovereign

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

, sultans, and rajahs are ready choices for powerful individuals who patronize a party of adventurers. Those on track to become such individuals—such as cunning senators, royal heirs, or influential

celebrities—also fill a sovereign’s role. When choosing or creating a sovereign to serve, consider whether that leader commands a government organization or another faction. While this section assumes your

Decisionist

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

. You might primarily attempt to convince others through charismatic arguments, or through force of will or intellectual cunning. You might lead by example, or by extolling the examples of other people

, or boost the morale of franchise hirelings. KELSHI ANNAB Human Decisionist (Ranger) There are decisionists of all stripes. Domineering narcissists gravitate toward the role, to be sure, and

Other Nonplayer Characters

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

long distances. But that’s what fills Sechepol’s wagon. He will make his money on the road, selling his stock to his fellow travelers in the caravan. He is diplomatic and has a gift for defusing

silent as the grave, staring sullenly at the road ahead, barely moving on the seat of his wagon, seeming hardly to breathe. No one knows what he transports in his wagon, but it is guarded by a brooding

Planar Observatory

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

eventual destruction of a humanoid city. A disguised silver dragon, cunning and subtle, works to destabilize the city and bring about its ruin. 3 A local librarian is a disguised gold dragon in the service

direction vital to the Prophecy but disastrous to the region. 6 A disguised dragon is convinced that an adventurer has a critical role to play in the Prophecy, but an agent of the Lords of Dust is determined to drive them down a different path.

Baldur's Gate Today

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

, Umberlee, any other law-abiding faith, cults of the Dead Three The Baldur’s Gate coat of arms represents the city’s role as a hub for river and ocean trade as well as nodding toward its namesake

desire to remain a peaceful power and the clear skies symbolize a prosperous future. But those who know the city’s history see the cunning and violence underpinning the emblem. For many, the contradictory interpretations make the city’s coat of arms all the more fitting. Mike Schley Map: Sword Coast

Other Nonplayer Characters

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

distances. But that’s what fills Sechepol’s wagon. He will make his money on the road, selling his stock to his fellow travelers in the caravan. He is diplomatic and has a gift for defusing arguments

as the grave, staring sullenly at the road ahead, barely moving on the seat of his wagon, seeming hardly to breathe. No one knows what he transports in his wagon, but it is guarded by a brooding

Baldur's Gate Today

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

other law-abiding faith, cults of the Dead Three The Baldur’s Gate coat of arms represents the city’s role as a hub for river and ocean trade as well as nodding toward its namesake, the explorer

peaceful power and the clear skies symbolize a prosperous future. But those who know the city’s history see the cunning and violence underpinning the emblem. For many, the contradictory interpretations make the city’s coat of arms all the more fitting. Map: Sword Coast

Daask Campaign Themes

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

Daask Campaign Themes On the surface, Daask appear to be nothing more complicated than a gang of violent monsters wreaking havoc in the worst parts of the city. If you want, this can be the only role

acts as though Daask is a problem only for Malleon’s Gate, and not a threat to law-abiding citizens, there is clear cunning in the criminal cabal’s actions. Their recent attacks have targeted

Inspiration

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

role in their campaigns. Inspiration normally requires a DM’s judgment to award, which might run against your style if you like a campaign where you let dice determine most outcomes. If that’s your

inspiration if the characters manage to defeat a powerful foe, execute a cunning plan to achieve a goal, or otherwise overcome a daunting obstacle in the campaign. Genre Emulation. Inspiration is a handy tool

Social Interaction Example

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

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

’ voices, like an actor taking on a role. The players might even echo their characters’ body language. They still need to describe things that can’t reasonably be acted out. Descriptive Roleplaying

City Inhabitants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

three tabaxi hunters. Each of these groups can play as much of a role in the story as you desire. They could serve as enemies or as allies brought together by mutual interests. Yuan-ti Yuan-ti offer

barely aware of the kobolds’ existence. Red Wizards of Thay A group of Red Wizards entered the city a couple of days prior to the characters’ arrival. They camped in the ruined compound at area 2, but

Enemies All Around

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

moves in to finish the job. DWARVES AND ALE Dwarves have a reputation for being able to consume great quantities of ale. Although drinking plays a significant role in their culture, it is a mistake

war wagon laden with gold, gems, stout armor, and sharp weapons. Given the orcs’ propensity to rely on brute force rather than cunning, they can overcome only severely weakened dwarven strongholds

D&D Beyond

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