before based defusing concerns races

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

. 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

-Elf Variants Some half-elves in Faerûn have a racial trait in place of the Skill Versatility trait. If your DM allows it, your half-elf character can forgo Skill Versatility and instead take the elf trait Keen Senses or a trait based on your elf parentage:

Vedalken

Species Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

with ideas than with people. They form close friendships based on mutual interests or compelling disagreements, and their interactions dwell on their thoughts about those issues rather than their

feelings about them. To members of other races, vedalken often seem cold, even emotionless. That assessment isn’t fair—they feel emotion every bit as intensely as other folk do, but they are

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

extended their stewardship over the sea floor from their initial settlements and built outposts to create trade with other races. Despite this expansion, few folk know of them. Their settlements are so

. The tritons’ limited view of the world leaves them ignorant of the kingdoms, wars, and other struggles of the surface world. Tritons readily see such concerns as minor events, a sideshow to

Chapter 1: Fantastical Races

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

of these races are based on creatures that appear in the Monster Manual or the bestiary of this book. Consult with your DM to see whether an option here is appropriate for your campaign. If you do use a race in this chapter, first read the “Creating Your Character” section below.

Chapter 1: Fantastical Races Gathering together fantastical races from throughout the D&D multiverse, this chapter offers the following races for player characters, supplementing the race options in

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

smooth-skins is far greater. Despite their alien outlook, some lizardfolk make an effort to understand and, in their own manner, befriend people of other races. Such lizardfolk make faithful and

rage against their enemies. They simply observe and react as a situation warrants. Lizardfolk lack meaningful emotional ties to the past. They assess situations based on their current and future

Menzoberranzan

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

Menzoberranzan Population: 20,000 drow plus thousands of slaves (of various races) Government: Matriarchal theocracy worshiping Lolth, the Demon Queen of Spiders Defense: Large standing army of

city), the Church of Lolth (based in Arach-Tinilith), Bregan D’aerthe (company of drow spies, mercenaries, and assassins) The City of Spiders is carved out of and built within a great cavern the

Conflict without End

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

Conflict without End Few others aside from the dwarves and the duergar understand or appreciate the true scope and intensity of the battles between these two races. Viewed on a grand scale, the

activity or to recover stolen treasures if they can do so without attracting too much attention. This eternal enmity between duergar and dwarves doesn’t consume either side; both have other concerns

Flavors of Fantasy

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

this baseline: a multitude of humanoid races coexist with humans in fantastic worlds. Adventurers bring magical powers to bear against the monstrous threats they face. These characters typically come

selfish reasons. Technology and society are based on medieval norms, though the culture isn’t necessarily European. Campaigns often revolve around delving into ancient dungeons in search of treasure or in

The Long View

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

lives. It’s a rare elf who forms strong relationships with people of other races, particularly those whose life spans are much shorter. Humans like to believe that elves don’t form close bonds with

and the concerns of others serves elves best. Even though they are stingy with their affection for others, most elves are excellent judges of character. Thus, they can form superficial associations

Campaign Theme

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

mortality, whether embodied in undead monsters or expressed through the death of loved ones. A campaign revolving around an insidious evil, whether dark gods, monstrous races such as the yuan-ti, or

creatures of unknown realms far removed from mortal concerns. As heroes confront this evil, they must face the selfish, cold tendencies of their own kind as well. A campaign featuring troubled heroes who

Elf Adventurers

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

crusaders or heroes for hire. This aspect of elven life isn’t as well known among other races as it might be, because elves spend much of their “adventuring” years in places far away from other

elves are born with or develop the qualities that mark them as potential adventurers, as other races define the term. Many traditional adventuring groups are happy to count an elf among their members, and

The Ordning

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

The Ordning Each of the main giant races — the cloud giant, fire giant, frost giant, hill giant, stone giant, and storm giants — are related by common elements of history, religion, and culture. They

view one another as kindred, keeping any inherent animosity over territory and ambition to a minimum. Giants belong to a caste structure called the ordning. Based on social class and highly organized

Eberron Sourcebooks

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

Masters with a richly detailed city for their Xen’drik based campaigns, this supplement presents information on the movers and shakers of Stormreach, ready-to-use adversaries, adventure hooks, and

important locations, events, organizations, races, and features of the Eberron campaign setting, this gives a sense of what a player character might know about the world, while providing additional character

Merfolk

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

their people are as varied in color, culture, and outlook as the human races of the surface. Land folk and merfolk rarely meet except by chance, though starry-eyed mariners tell tales of romance with

gleam and fade of sunlight through the water. In the reefs and trenches near their settlements, merfolk harvest coral and farm the seabed, shepherding schools of fish as land-based farmers tend sheep

Neighborhoods

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

to its river access. Sow’s Foot. Here, expatriates from dozens of far-flung nations mingle with races ranging from lizardfolk to svirfneblin among the scents of exotic food and the calls of strange

of shrines and places of worship, from tiny roadside altars and idols to home-based temples. While those in search of significant magic must still generally visit the larger temples in the city

Neighborhoods

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

to its river access. Sow’s Foot. Here, expatriates from dozens of far-flung nations mingle with races ranging from lizardfolk to svirfneblin among the scents of succulent cooked foods and the calls of

diversity of shrines and places of worship, from tiny roadside altars and idols to home-based temples. While those in search of significant magic must still generally visit the larger temples in the city

Elves of Aerenal

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

Court, and if so, what’s your relationship with them? Do you find dealing with the short-lived races to be a challenge, or are you patient with them? Elf Variants The Valenar and Aereni are

your DM allows it, your elf character can forgo Elf Weapon Training and instead take the elf trait based on their culture: An Aereni elf can choose one skill or tool proficiency. Your proficiency

Factions in Greyhawk

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

scattered throughout the lands under his or her dominion. Among their other concerns, the Druids of the Old Faith are staunch enemies of the followers of Elemental Evil and root out its worshipers

a good conversion for the Zhentarim. Based in the Free City of Greyhawk, the Thieves’ Guild seeks to control trade and influence events in many lands throughout the Flanaess. Like the Zhentarim, its

The Ordning

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

place within the larger framework of the ordning, and each kind of giant has a different way of assigning that place. Cloud giants rank themselves based on wealth, fire giants based on crafting skill

, frost giants based on physical strength, and stone giants based on a combination of artistry and rock throwing. Hill giants give their respect to larger and stronger giants without putting much thought

The Revered Queen

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

fit. The Astral Plane would be their home domain, because in that timeless realm they could ignore the need for food, water, and other mundane concerns that plague lesser races. Vlaakith also

other races are inferior and that only faith in the Revered Queen preserves your people from the traitorous githzerai and the brain-eating illithids. You undergo years of hard labor and study and

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

-tiered caste system made up of lashers, hunters, gatherers, and pariahs. The status of every family in the tribe is based on its importance to the tribe’s survival. Families that belong to the

patience needed to learn and practice wizardry, and they fare poorly even when given access to the necessary training and knowledge. Sorcerers are less prevalent among them than in many other races, and

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

hatred of the civilized races of the world and their need to satisfy the demands of their deities, the orcs know that if they fight well and bring glory to their tribe, Gruumsh will call them home to

or less intact, the orcs leave themselves the option of returning to raid the community over and over. When orcs fight elves, all of that changes. The enmity between the two races cuts to the core

Vedalken

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

tend to engage more with ideas than with people. They form close friendships based on mutual interests or compelling disagreements, and their interactions dwell on their thoughts about those issues

rather than their feelings about them. To members of other races, vedalken often seem cold, even emotionless. That assessment isn’t fair — they feel emotion every bit as intensely as other folk do, but

Dwarves of the Multiverse

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

vault. Hill dwarves are more perceptive and empathic than their kin. They rely on their intuition and insight to guide them in relationships with other races. To offset the disadvantage of not being

flaunting their fortune, dressing in bejeweled and glittering garments. Gold dwarves who interact with other races (including shield dwarves) tend to be suspicious, taciturn, and secretive, and especially

People of Setessa

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

gods have more important concerns than the day-to-day governance of a human polis. So a five-member council attends to the daily tasks of leadership on the deity’s behalf. The council is made up of

, and Kallias of Ophis Tower. The fifth member is Silverbrow, a centaur oracle who reads the Kelema Veil at the Nexuses of the Seasons and advises action based on her visions. Anthousa is the head of the

Modifying a Class

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

different races or cultures. The bardic colleges might be closed to everyone except elves, dragonborn might be the only creatures capable of becoming sorcerers, and all warlocks in your world might be human

associated with different races or cultures. You decide how flexible you want to be in allowing a player character to break these restrictions. Can a half-elf live among the elves and study their bardic

Into the Doomvault

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

scours Thay while the lich lord ignores all concerns other than his quest to become a god. If his mad plans are left to run their course, none will be left alive here to worship him. “This is a

fashioned the vast complex based on his research. The purpose of the dungeon was to lure explorers to their deaths and harvest their souls to fuel Gul’s phylactery. As Thay became more hostile to outsiders

Life in the Domains of Dread

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

races, such as Elvish or Dwarvish, remain the same in every domain. Those who wish to learn a domain’s language can do so using the training downtime activity (see the Player’s Handbook). Although it

Correspondence In some domains, the residents are aware that realms exist beyond the Mists, but most have little interest in lands beyond their own. The Darklords’ obsessions distract them from concerns

Fomorian

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

, however, for the fomorians brought their doom upon themselves with the evil that rules their hearts and minds. Fey Curse. The elves remember when the fomorians were among the most handsome of races

checks, saving throws, and attacks based on Strength or Dexterity. The transformed creature can repeat the saving throw whenever it finishes a long rest, ending the effect on a success.

Life as a Halfling

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

in a city or town dominated by another race. Everything Has a Story As do many other races, halflings enjoy accumulating personal possessions. But unlike with most other races, a halfling’s idea of

value has little if anything to do with monetary concerns. A typical halfling’s most prized possessions are those that have the most interesting stories attached to them. Indeed, entering an elderly

Monastic Orders

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

outside Luiren, where the teachings available only to halflings have been opened to students of other races who are willing to follow the path laid out by Yondalla. Hin Fist monks generally follow the

. These monks seek the secrets of life by studying death itself. It is the condition of being dead that concerns them most, and not what lies beyond; the afterlife holds little interest for them. Their

Crew Territories

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

Crew Territories The fact that city’s numerous crews can be based on both geographical and professional communities means that their territories often overlap or stretch beyond the borders of any

fear of rats races down the street and slams into the party, having witnessed a bunch of rats feeding on a corpse in an alley. 7 The druid Torimesh offers one party member a strange symbol

Githzerai

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

their psionically fortified walls, the githzerai embrace thought, learning, psionic power, order, and discipline above all other things. The social hierarchy of the githzerai is based on merit, and

Limbo, advanced monks of other races sometimes seek out a githzerai monastery and attempt to gain admittance as students. More rarely, a githzerai master establishes a hidden monastery on the Material

Forms of Worship

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

symbol, or some other personal keepsake. In addition, people regularly venerate gods based on their needs and circumstances: a farmer whose favored deity is Chauntea would pray to Amaunator for a few

withhold her wrath for the duration of a voyage. New and Foreign Gods The Faerûnian pantheon isn’t the only one known on Toril. Nonhuman races honor their own gods, for example, and people in faraway

Random Urban Encounters

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

Random Urban Encounters The Random Urban Encounters table is useful for city- and town-based adventures. Check for a random encounter at least once per day, and once at night if the characters are

handful of guards maintain order. Runaway Cart. A team of horses pulling a wagon races through the city streets. The adventurers must avoid the horses. If they stop the wagon, the owner (who is running

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