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Returning 35 results for 'before barriers devising close retreats'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.A bronze scout seldom emerges from underground. Its telescoping eyestalks observe foes at close range while most of its segmented body remains buried
. If detected, it sends electrical shocks through the ground toward pursuers while it retreats.
Clockworks
Gnomes’ tinkering with magic and mechanical devices has produced many failed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
3-foot-square stone slab that requires a successful DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check to lift.
If the characters get close to this area without alerting the githyanki, they hear the two arguing in
Gith about which one of them deserves “Al’chaia’s magic books.” If attacked, Kr’rison and Vlaadric fight together until one falls. The other then retreats to area 27. Treasure Kr’rison’s plate armor is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Bronze Scout A bronze scout seldom emerges from below ground; thanks to its telescoping eyestalks, it can observe enemies at close range while most of its segmented, wormlike body remains buried. If
it is detected, the bronze scout deters pursuers by sending electrical shocks through the ground while it retreats to safety. Bronze Scout
Medium construct, unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
(a broken portal key, which the spell consumes) Duration: 24 hours You fortify the fabric of the planes in a 30-foot cube you can see within range. Within that area, portals close and can’t be opened
. On a failed check, you learn nothing and can’t study that portal again using this spell until you cast it again. The spell can penetrate most barriers but is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
they influence and are influenced by the Material Plane. The intensity of this influence waxes and wanes; scholars often depict the planes as orbiting Eberron — sometimes coming close, other times far
not a plane is remote or coterminous at a given time depends entirely on the needs of your story. Manifest Zones At certain places in the Material Plane, the barriers between worlds are thin, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
battle to the death, with the only restriction being that they can’t withdraw from the combat. Brief tactical retreats are permissible, but Vizeran’s ritual has filled the demon lords with the rage
battle between the demon lords shifts dangerously close to the characters. Roll a d6 and consult the Near Miss table to determine the result. d6 Event 1–2 Explosion. Each creature within 20 feet of a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
one of the following ways: The NPC uses the Help action to assist the character. If the character is dying, the NPC stabilizes them or carries them to a safer location. The NPC moves close enough to
, Vellynne can’t drop below 1 hit point. If she is reduced to 1 hit point, she either retreats to somewhere safe or uses her next action to cast vampiric touch, draining the life force of her nearest
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
. No door remains unopened in my presence.
5 I let people underestimate me, revealing my full competency only to those close to me.
6 I compulsively seek to collect trophies of my travels and
within me. I will fight against it and the world’s other evils for as long as I can.
9 I’m desperately seeking a cure to an affliction or a curse, either for someone close to me for myself
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
few scattered memories. A doppelganger impersonating a specific creature as part of a long-term plot might keep its double alive and close at hand for weeks, probing the victim’s mind daily to learn
within 60 feet of it. The effect can penetrate barriers, but 3 feet of wood or dirt, 2 feet of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. While the target is in range, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
lead them to where the barriers are weakest so they can then slip across planes to their destination. Once at their destination, the shadar-kai watch and wait, looking for the tragedies their queen
queen, the shadar-kai use their shadow magic. If a target is living, they magically infiltrate the person’s mind and excise the desired bits of emotion, or if the target is close to death, the shadar-kai
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
their lairs inside the hulls of wrecked or abandoned ships. Best of Both Worlds Many hags settle in places where the barriers between the mortal world and the Feywild are thin, making it easy for
occasional visitors, but not so close that a community would see the hag’s presence as a threat and try to defeat her or drive her off. Treasure, Treasure Everywhere A hag’s home is cluttered with mundane
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a3
. She retreats from close combat and conceals herself in the water. The nereid has a pet named Chac, a giant lightning eel (see appendix B). If she calls to Chac for aid, she does so on her turn when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
. See appendix D for these creatures’ statistics. The grungs on the roof unleash arrows to ward off intruders. If the intruders fight back, more green-skinned grungs close in from nearby buildings
to the shrine stand ajar. If the tide of battle turns against Chief Yorb, he retreats into the shrine with his elite guards and bars the doors. A character can force open the barred doors with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
. Mark one victory and advance to Event 2: “The Storm Breaks.” The party retreats. The undead spill into the town. Proceed to Event 5: “Streets of Rage.” Event 2. The Storm Breaks If the defenders hold
docks! The party holds the line. Mark one victory and advance to Event 6: “Rolling Thunder.” The party retreats. The cultists of Talos surge into the town. Go to Event 5: “Streets of Rage.” Event 4
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
eldritch machines or interaction with extraplanar entities. There are also manifest zones: places in the material plane where the barriers are thin and where some aspects of a plane can bleed through
what is possible. Some can look upon Xoriat and see it as a place of revelations; but most mortals who come to close to Xoriat fall prey to madness. Xoriat is the source of many aberrations, along with the terrifying daelkyr.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
. The fog swirls through this cavern, agitated by the dancing of eleven chanting minotaurs.
Offal Pile. Low stone barriers constrain a massive pile of rotting, dismembered body parts.
Altar. Behind
it. (If multiple targets are equally close, the target is determined randomly.) Greater restoration, remove curse, or similar magic ends the blood lust on a creature. A creature that succeeds on its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
have been shared between gnome communities over many generations. Bronze Scout A bronze scout seldom emerges from underground. Its telescoping eyestalks observe foes at close range while most of its
segmented body remains buried. If detected, it sends electrical shocks through the ground toward pursuers while it retreats. Clockwork Bronze Scout
Medium Construct, Unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
has no patience for performers who don’t give their all. His flaming scythe has brought more than one tepid show to a sudden and spectacular close. Jaded as he is, Rakdos attends his cult’s
performances only rarely. He often retreats into his lair below the cult’s guildhall for months or years at a time, but his followers know that he might emerge at any time to witness the latest spectacle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, Elemental Evil cults, and Iuz and his followers. You can replace one or more of these conflicts with ones of your devising or with ones from the “Flavors of Fantasy” section earlier in this chapter. If you
“Mysteries of Greyhawk” in this chapter) or from the depths of the Nyr Dyv.
Chris Rallis Tiamat herself brings a campaign to a dramatic close Elemental Evil “Elemental Evil” is the name given to a host
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
barriers, which otherwise require siege engines to force open. Gate Guards. Characters who stand outside the main gate and announce their arrival can speak to the guards in the gatehouse. Unless Levistus
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
, including Xardorok if he’s present, use Enlarge before joining the fight. If defeat seems likely, Xardorok retreats to area X22 and uses the elevator to make his way toward area X8, where he hopes
X28: three duergar hammerers (see appendix C). If defeat seems likely, Xardorok retreats and makes his final stand in Deep Duerra’s temple (area X29). X24. Forge. Any creature that touches the forge
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
, rising out of dust in close proximity to the canopic jar containing its heart. A mummy lord can be destroyed or prevented from re-forming by burning its heart to ashes. For this reason, a mummy lord
of the mummy lord, including ones behind barriers and around corners, can’t regain hit points until the end of the mummy lord’s next turn.
Whirlwind of Sand (Costs 2 Actions). The mummy lord
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Dhaerlost (NE male Illuskan human mage with a wand of fireballs), who believes that the frost giants are his best shot at obtaining the Ring of Winter. He tries to remain close to Storvald, but the
sound of someone climbing the stairs, he retreats to Storvald’s throne room (area 1G). Two closed doors stand between him and that room. Since he isn’t a giant, Nilraun must use an action to try to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
surface, looking like a frozen, desiccated corpse sitting in the snow. If the characters are close enough to touch the corpse, they’re already on the dragon’s back. If they attack or otherwise
beast retreats to a safe distance. If it’s cornered and doesn’t like its chances of survival, it bargains or pleads for its life. An awakened beast knows its territory well and can point characters to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
of Force. Transparent, soundproof walls of force separate areas 1, area 2, and area 3. Vocath can pass through these magical barriers, as can creatures that are tattooed with his personal sigil
clowns,* and one space guppy.* (Creatures marked with an asterisk are described in Boo’s Astral Menagerie.) Creatures released in this manner materialize in unoccupied spaces on the arena floor as close
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
of the stairs, close to another lit brazier, is an iron portcullis. Beyond the portcullis is a dark hallway that leads to area 23. Development Characters can move quietly onto or along the gantries
detected inside the forge, three ogres stand around the northernmost table, where two fire giants are locked in an arm-wrestling contest. The ogres are cheering on the giants and paying close attention
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
look for opportunities to push characters off the bridge. If two gargoyles are defeated, the third retreats, flying to area B2 to hide. Chasm Floor. Several skeletons lie broken or half-buried on the
dwarves don’t keep a close watch from the arrow slit to the north, since they know that the gargoyles in area B1 and Nartham’s guards in area B4 stand watch. If alerted by serious fighting or unusual
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. If it becomes obvious that the fight is going badly for the cultists, the efreeti retreats to his lair in the fire node (see chapter 5) via area E14. If the characters arrive with salamanders or azers
from area E11, those creatures take up arms on their respective sides. The salamanders and azers attack the efreeti until he retreats, then turn on each other. Survivors might be influenced to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
below. Three-foot-high barriers line the causeway’s edges, funneling travelers toward the gatehouse of Vrakir’s imposing fortress.
The bridge crosses the lava river at its narrowest point, spanning 300
characters into the hold’s interior. If reduced to 50 hit points or fewer, Kalimrax retreats to her lair in area B10. Cranes. Three large, wooden cranes extend over the harbor. They are used to lift cargo
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
to hurl enormous, 200-pound rocks to land as close as possible to a target on the ground. If the characters refuse to play, the galeb duhr are disappointed and return to their rest. Development. The
feet.
A Purple Worm has been drawn to Nakari’s lair by the dragon’s frequent excavation work. The worm bursts up through the floor of the cave when the characters arrive and attacks them. It retreats
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
they don’t recognize. Iron Portcullis. When the characters move close to the portcullis, they can see that embedded in the north wall next to it is a 1-foot-square chardalyn plaque with an oversized
alcove. These barriers fall and lock into place if the characters physically forced open the portcullis that seals the vault’s entrance. Placing the fingers and palm of Xardorok’s gauntlet in the hand
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
carved with eyes of all shapes and sizes. Many of the orbs have stone eyelids that open and close at irregular intervals. Characters who succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check notice a ghostly
, Ahmaergo retreats to area X22, heads downstairs to gather reinforcements from area X28, and leads a search party to capture the interlopers. If he sees only one intruder, he draws his axe and attacks
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
is frozen in a scream.
As soon as any creature disturbs or steps close to the corpses, a flaming skull erupts from each corpse head. The five flameskulls pursue foes who flee and fight until
characters are interested in helping Jomlus with his task, the spectator believes it is close to properly pronouncing an entire page. Jomlus needs active listeners to correct its speech. The words are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
know about the strange effect in the adjacent receiving room (area G12). Once one roper is defeated, the other one retreats just inside the doorway of the receiving room to gain the protection that
their way through the tower. They’ve made no progress, as any lapse in their work allows the tower to magically repair the damage. They don’t stop their work unless enemies get close. If the Tower Is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
demons emerge, whichever comes first. The portal can be closed early through any of the following means: Closing the Book. A character within 5 feet of the altar can close the book as an action with a
, attacking all who enter, but the dragon retreats if reduced to 50 hit points or fewer. Treasure. The treasure near the west wall is the dragon’s hoard. It includes 67 pp, 235 gp, 2,750 sp, assorted gems






