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Returning 35 results for 'before barely defusing cunning rule'.
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Monsters
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and shower the strong with
gifts and promises of power to turn them into loyal vassals.
Cruel Tyrants. Whenever Bane’s followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They
Monsters
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
immediately use its reaction to make one melee attack.Bane’s devoted followers are warriors who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as
followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They stamp out all opposition while richly rewarding those who swear fealty.
Warrior Cult. Cultists of
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Cunning Action. On each of her turns, Raezil can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Fey Ancestry. Raezil has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic
on the politics of Prismeer.
Once she is no longer petrified, Raezil is bound by the rule of reciprocity (see “Rules of Conduct” in chapter 2) to help the characters complete any
Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3)
Legacy
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Monsters
Monster Manual (2014)
impossible to manipulate, influence, or control by nonmagical means, even as it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe.
Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can
are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they
Half-Elf
Legacy
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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
Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
, chaotic, and temperamental nature they all share. When its diabolical aspect shines through, a forlarren is a cunning, calculating, and brutal enemy. It might use its natural charm to worm its way
, set itself up as a petty lord, and rule over all those who fall into its grasp.
A Sinister Cycle. A forlarren in its fey aspect demonstrates self-destructive urges that reflect the inherent tension in
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
. Tales of Sora Kell claim she is the first night hag, born from Khyber in the first age of the world alongside the ancient rakshasas. Some even claim that her daughters—the hags who rule Droaam—are
Bugbear
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
. Cunning Grankhul is the younger one, and in the stories bugbears tell, he gifted them with stealth but in return he sapped their vigor, so that bugbears sleep in his stead while he remains eternally alert
bugbears recognize two other gods, both of which they disdain and fear: Maglubiyet and Skiggaret.
Maglubiyet, the leader of the goblinoid pantheon, forced both brothers to submit to his rule, but
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
here as part of some such delegation, then decided to stay when the mission was over.
Mulhorand. From the terrain to the architecture to the god-kings who rule over these lands, nearly everything
and wonderful! (Chaotic)
4
Cunning. Though I may not know their ways, neither do they know mine, which can be to my advantage. (Evil)
5
Inquisitive. Everything is new, but I have a thirst
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Those Who Rule The following sahuagin rule the fortress, oversee its armed forces, and direct its worship of Sekolah. Baroness Seklaz The initial attack against the lizardfolk and the subsequent
occupation of the fortress were the baroness’s doing. She is a cunning war strategist and has a measure of patience that serves her well. She has an excellent relationship with the high priestess, with
Goblin
Legacy
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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
opportunity to supervise and dominate such creatures, which have no status at all.
WHO'S THE BOSS?
Goblins pattern the rule of their tribes after the whip-cracking rule of their god, Khurgorbaeyag
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
, though, when the design intent of a rule isn’t clear or when one rule seems to contradict another. Dealing with those situations is where Sage Advice comes in. It doesn’t replace a DM’s adjudication
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
running. There are times, though, when the design intent of a rule isn’t clear or when one rule seems to contradict another. Dealing with those situations is where Sage Advice comes in. This column
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
Mimic Mimics are shapeshifting predators able to take on the form of inanimate objects to lure creatures to their doom. In dungeons, these cunning creatures most often take the form of doors and
assumes its amorphous form and on parts the mimic uses to move itself. Cunning Hunters. Mimics live and hunt alone, though they occasionally share their feeding grounds with other creatures. Although most
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Mount Celestia The single sacred mountain of Mount Celestia rises from a shining Silver Sea to heights barely visible and utterly incomprehensible, with seven plateaus marking its seven heavenly
the purest souls can. Gazing toward that peak fills even the most jaded of travelers with awe. Optional Rule: Blessed Beneficence In contrast to the dissonance experienced by evil creatures here, good
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
interests in intrigue and magic intensified when she discovered a hidden library beneath the Cerulean Citadel—a repository of insidious magic hearkening back to the rule of certain tyrannical Vasavadan
destruction. Reeva is a cunning plotter, strategist, and manipulator. She applies these talents to her magic, entreating fiends for aid and using them to hasten the day when no one will underestimate her
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
vineyards of Bluevine, Aundairians value wit and wisdom. Aundairians prefer finesse to brute force and appreciate cunning wordplay and fine fashions. The Sovereign Host is the dominant faith of Aundair, with
, but she has never abandoned the dream of a Galifar reunited under her rule. While Aundair is a small nation, its arcane superiority allowed it to hold its own during the Last War. Many believe
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
the lycanthropes to turn on him. The would-be leader murdered dozens but barely escaped alive, fleeing into a nation of humans. In the years that followed, Harkon learned how to blend in with other
peoples, how to manipulate those he considered his inferiors, and how to turn adoration into a weapon. He decided that if rule over a nation of hunters wasn’t possible, he would force an empire of sheep
Orc
Legacy
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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
Luthic. He predicts that the war will end with Luthic the only deity standing, as the cave mother ascends to rule her warrior children.
Life in the Tribe
Orcs survive through savagery and force of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
staggering advantage not seen on battlefields for over a thousand years. The Dragon Queen has elevated her five most cunning and devout followers to the rank of dragon highlord, each commanding one of
the region’s nomads under Dragon Army rule. The half-ogre Lucien of Takar commands the Black Dragon Army, whose focused force supports the other armies and occupies the lands they conquer, including
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
, driven to rule over all. A dracolich is a fiendishly intelligent tyrant that crafts complex webs of foul schemes, attracting servants motivated by greed and a lust for power. Acting from the shadows
and actively plotting to keep its existence a secret, a dracolich is a cunning and challenging foe. Dracolich Phylacteries. Creating a dracolich requires the cooperation of the dragon and a group of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
combat, carving out vicious fiefdoms for themselves. Mad Maggie is one such warlord. Mad Maggie is a night hag with the demeanor of a kindly grandmother, but her warm smile masks a cruel cunning. In
to Asmodeus, which led to her becoming an archdevil worthy to rule Avernus. Mad Maggie is obsessed with Zariel’s cataclysmic saga and scours the wastelands of Avernus for more such relics. In the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
smart as me, and I need to prove that all the time. 3 There’s a rule for everything. 4 If I can’t seize control, I’ll serve in the meantime. 5 I’m a bully who backs down when faced with any sort of
, but I obey them. 3 Ambition. The need to improve my station drives my every action. 4 Conquest. I am equal to the sum of the foes I have defeated in combat. 5 Cunning. Those who can see an advantage
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
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
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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
the blood, as it once did.
Because their population is so small, the yuan-ti are aware they are vulnerable in open warfare. Instead, their current plans assume they will never rule outwardly in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Connected Creatures
1 After breaking free from captivity at the hands of a cocky mage, a cunning black dragon wyrmling claimed the mage’s amulet—and the suits of animated armor the amulet controls
types of blights to spread prodigiously and upset nature’s balance.
4 A black dragon wyrmling is setting cunning traps along local roadways, hoping to injure horses and draft animals for easy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
sides. What happens with surprise when a third group of combatants sneaks up, hidden from the melee, and ambushes? The surprise rule is relevant only when a combat is starting. Any ambushes during the
. Can you move through the space of a prone enemy? The prone condition doesn’t override the rule that prevents you from moving through an enemy’s space, unless that enemy is at least two sizes larger or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
of the Nine Hells, and many rule Lower Planar fiefdoms, doomed mortal worlds, and other infernal redoubts. Most serve archdevils of the Nine Hells as they pursue their own ambitions. Ranks of lesser
devils obey pit fiends, but these cunning tyrants remain on guard against betrayal from their servants. Smoldering with the evil of the Nine Hells, pit fiends strike fear in creatures with their mere
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
Ultroloth Yugoloth of Conspiracy and Control Habitat: Planar (Lower Planes); Treasure: Armaments With uncanny patience and fiendish cunning, ultroloths manipulate mortals and their fellow yugoloths
inspire such villainy. Lars Grant-West Ultroloth Conspiracies 1d6 The Ultroloth Schemes To... 1 Convince cultists their god has forsaken them. 2 Destabilize a nation and rule the chaos. 3 Incite
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
spice that you can use to enhance your campaign. Some DMs forgo using inspiration, while others embrace it as a key part of the game. If you take away anything from this section, remember this golden rule
: inspiration should make the game more enjoyable for everyone. Award inspiration when players take actions that make the game more exciting, amusing, or memorable. As a rule of thumb, aim to award
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Might. The world is divided into the strong who rule and the weak who obey or die. 3 Cunning. Always have a backup plan ready, especially if it involves betraying someone. 4 Strength. Strength is the
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe. Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can’t be bound for long by brute force, and that many creatures will refuse to serve
-ti that acts honorably or lends aid in a time of trouble does so only as part of a grander design. Yuan-ti leaders are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential