before battle diffusing comes realize

Cadaver Collector

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of a conquering army on the Material Plane. These fearsome Constructs obey their summoners until they are dismissed back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might

great battle—either where one is in progress, where one is imminent, or where one once took place. They encase themselves in the armor and weapons of fallen warriors and impale the corpses of those

Cadaver Collector Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might wander the Material Plane for centuries, collecting corpses while searching for a way to return home. Sweeping the Dead

. Cadaver collectors respond to a summons from a mortal only when they are called to the scene of a great battle — either where one is in progress, where one is imminent, or where one once took place

Donaar Blit'zen

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

skill in battle, and for his propensity to fall asleep as soon as a fight is done (as well as countless other inopportune times). More immediately notable is the unique physical trait that all members

come to realize that reinforcing Donaar's self-congratulating sense of draconic entitlement makes it remarkably easy to win his favor. Despite his easily massaged vanity, the dragonborn sometimes shows

Harshnag the Grim

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

talking. When he does speak outside of combat, he comes across as surprisingly calm and soft-spoken. While swinging his axe in battle, however, he bellows and laughs like a berserker. Harshnag knows the

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

skilled allies. Alien Minds The lizardfolk’s reptilian nature comes through not only in their appearance, but also in how they think and act. Lizardfolk experience a more limited emotional life than

in the other humanoids and makes them less helpful in battle. Utility and Survival The lizardfolk mindset might seem unnecessarily cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The

Jermlaine

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

overwhelming waves. In the heat of battle, individual jermlaine gladly throw themselves on their enemies' weapons to clear the way for their allies' attacks. Hidden Threat. The jermlaine's skin is rough

, leathery, and textured like stone. Whether by the design of some sympathetic god or through sheer luck, their hide makes them appear invisible to darkvision. Part of the jermlaine's anger comes from

Grung Elite Warrior

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Amphibious. The grung can breathe air and water. Poisonous Skin. Any creature that grapples the grung or otherwise comes into direct contact with the grung’s skin must succeed on a DC 12

warrior typically leads a group of grung and other warriors into battle and is often accompanied by a grung wildling. Grungs Grungs are frog-like folk found in rain forests and tropical jungles

Faceless

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

often as you wish, using one to hide the other or serve as convenient camouflage. However, should someone realize the connection between your persona and your true self, your deception might lose its

people don’t realize how much they need me. 3 I’ve seen too many in need. I must not fail them as everyone else has. 4 I stand in opposition, less the wicked go unopposed. 5

Pidlwick II

Monsters Curse of Strahd

":"Dart","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.After her husband died in battle, Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya set her sights on becoming Count Strahd von Zarovich's bride, but she failed to win his

, instead assuming that the guests had died in their sleep. But Strahd was not fooled. He came to realize fairly quickly that the clockwork effigy had begun to display a murderous nature. Rather than have

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Shiftless, Savage Layabouts When they’re not in battle, bugbears spend much of their time resting or dozing. They don’t engage in crafting or agriculture to any great extent, or

deities who are brothers, Hruggek and Grankhul. Hruggek is the fearsome elder sibling, possessed of legendary might and prowess in battle. Bugbears believe their strength and bravery come from him

Deck of Several Things

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

Kwalish’s lab in Daoine Gloine (area O7), whichever comes later in the adventure. Skull. You summon an avatar of death — a mechanical skeleton (use bone naga statistics) clad in a

tattered black robe. It appears in a space of the DM’s choice within 10 feet of you and attacks you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

’t serve a purpose in the legion, the warlord eliminates it from the hierarchy to maximize efficiency. Honor Bound, By Glory Crowned Advancement in rank comes as a result of attaining glory, but

greatest respect is reserved for those who earn their glory in battle. In theory, the fortunes of war can elevate the lowest-ranking banner in a legion to the highest status. In practice, warlords are

Red Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

abishais when it comes to leadership ability and raw power. Red abishais lead other devils into battle or take charge of troublesome cults to ensure that they continue to carry out Tiamat’s commands

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

found me floating facedown in the sewer, moments from death. Flaws d6 Flaw 1 Death comes for us all, so you can’t expect me to take care of someone who can’t

joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the sergeant of that Boros squad would love to prove that it was me. 3 I had a romance with a Dimir agent whom I still feed secrets to

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

divine beings who created giff have likewise been forgotten. Their titanic petrified bodies drift on the Astral Sea, isolated and unrecognizable in their current forms. Although they don’t realize

own, which giff have learned to channel through their weapons. Most giff have no idea where this so-called astral spark comes from, but they feel its presence most strongly when they are in Wildspace

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

the plane of Acheron. It is there in the afterlife where the chosen ones will join Gruumsh and his armies in their endless extraplanar battle for supremacy. Gods of the Orcs Orcs believe their gods

infirm. Orcs don’t revere their gods as much as they fear them; every tribe has superstitions about how to avert their wrath or bring their favor. This deep-seated uncertainty and fear comes forth

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it drops to 0 hit points, whereupon it disappears. If anyone tries to help you, the helper summons its

mentally receive a truthful answer to that question. Besides information, the answer helps you solve a puzzling problem or other dilemma. In other words, the knowledge comes with wisdom on how to

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

goblin tribe has to nobility is the caste of lashers — families of goblins trained in the ways of battle, and also possessed of key skills such as strategy, trap-building, beast taming, mining

Crook of Rao

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

wizard Tasha). Although she was defeated, Iggwilv managed to damage the crook during the battle, infecting it with an insidious curse—and the potential for future victory. In the aftermath, the

crook was again lost. Occasionally it reappears, but the famed artifact is not what it was. Whether or not the artifact’s bearers realize its full threat, few risk using the Crook of Rao&mdash

Removing the Rod

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

area Y7), if she’s still alive. Within a few minutes, the spyder-fiends in Pandesmos instinctively realize their general has been sealed away again. They desert their posts to engage in vicious

infighting to determine who among them will lead. The spyder-fiend battle lines falter. The characters don’t encounter any more raklupises in Pandesmos—the raklupises are too busy jockeying for power to risk

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

fierce animal spirits. Others draw from a roiling reservoir of anger at a world full of pain. For every barbarian, rage is a power that fuels not just a battle frenzy but also uncanny reflexes

character, think about where your character comes from and his or her place in the world. Talk with your DM about an appropriate origin for your barbarian. Did you come from a distant land, making you a

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

an orc war band celebrating its recent victory. Silently, he stalks into their midst and whispers an oath, and two orcs are dead before they even realize he is there. Silver hair shining in a shaft

sacred work. Although many paladins are devoted to gods of good, a paladin’s power comes as much from a commitment to justice itself as it does from a god. Paladins train for years to learn the

Ravenous

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

local herbivores. If Razak wasn’t with the characters, he comes across the scene as the battle ends and shares the same information. The ibex’s body bears a distinguishing accessory: a beaded necklace

Ravenous While the characters are exploring the area around Faunel or headed back from the portal to the Beastlands, they happen on the following scene: From ahead comes the sounds of voracious

Chapter 9: The Betrayer Revealed

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Chapter 9: The Betrayer Revealed Cynthia Sheppard Once Alustriel and Tasha realize Mordenkainen is a fraud, an epic battle ensues in Sigil Once the characters have all of the Rod of Seven Parts

Running This Chapter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

on the Isle of Serpents on Oerth, a world known for its legendary dungeons and magical treasures. The characters arrive on the island in time to witness a battle between a kraken and a crew of

archaeologists. The archaeologists are in dire straits, and it’s up to the characters to decide whether to help. Eventually, the characters realize that the sixth piece of the Rod of Seven Parts is located

Key Plot Points

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

dragon slay the cult’s leader. Meeting the Dragon. If the characters don’t prove themselves in battle against the cult, the silver dragon tests them with commands. The characters must either fulfill three commands or realize the dragon’s deception. The dragon tells his story if the characters win his trust.

Encounters in the Mere

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

these expeditions. The party comes upon him as he devours a large elk. The abomination does not wish anyone to know of the yuan-ti’s plans in this area, so he attempts to kill anyone who sees him. If

the Mere. Characters who succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Nature) check realize the gas is present and understand its danger. A pit of snakes opens to the right of the characters as they pass, and

Fight or Flight

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

behalf of the group. When creatures that are already engaged in battle realize they’re likely to lose, they usually try to exit that battle. A monster is likely to flee if either of the following is true

confronted by obviously more numerous or powerful opponents usually try to avoid battle. But brave, desperate, or devoted creatures might never retreat from a battle. If you can’t decide whether a

Dealing with the Arcane Brotherhood

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Dealing with the Arcane Brotherhood In this chapter, two wizards of the Arcane Brotherhood attempt to realize their grand ambitions: Vellynne Harpell and Avarice. Both are described in appendix C. If

obtain Iriolarthas’s spellbook, and they are only slightly less determined when it comes time to choose who gets Iriolarthas’s staff of power, the scroll of the comet, and the scroll of tarrasque

Portents of War

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Portents of War Sanbalet and his smugglers have little interest in the larger goings-on of the region. They most highly value gold, drink, and the freedom that comes with pursuing a life of crime

, is preparing her clan for battle against a terrible enemy: the sahuagin. The peaceful town of Saltmarsh knows nothing of the coming war, or the fact that a sahuagin invasion threatens them as much as the lizardfolk do.

Against Demogorgon

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

Against Demogorgon After running any events you wish from “The Battle,” the struggle between the demon lords comes to an end as Demogorgon proves why he is known as the Prince of Demons. The sounds

of battle finally die away, the ground before you stained black and red with demonic blood and ichor. In the terrible grip of Demogorgon, even the mighty Orcus looks almost small. Tentacles hold the

Darklords

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

Darklords are deadly or possess foul gifts from the Dark Powers, many pose little threat in battle. Their menace is the result of capabilities beyond physical prowess. Darklords Are Active. Darklords might

adventures rather than saving them for distant climactic plots. Darklords Don’t Realize They’re Darklords. With a few exceptions, Darklords don’t realize they occupy a special place in the world. Their

Beast of Grakenok

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

Beast of Grakenok When Grakenok comes into sight, read or paraphrase the description below. If Sytri or Tol reached Grakenok before the characters, they are already engaged in battle. With its

Schley Map 9.1: Courier Four-Way Battle The characters, Sytri, and Tol all seek the glory of defeating the elder whirlwyrm. Track how much damage each character and the rival heroes deal to the monster

Acheron Attacks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

Acheron Attacks When the attack from Acheron comes, read or paraphrase the following description: The gate to Acheron flares to life, the portal resembling a great, burning feline eye. Gigantic

berserk invaders charges through the gate. In moments, dozens of Rigus guards and berserkers from Acheron clash in battle. Three massive projectiles—slivers of the great iron cubes that make up the

Adult Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

that comes into my territory has forfeited its right to be upset by anything I do to it. (Evil) 5 Wonder. Though I don’t wish to spend time in it, my soul sings at the sight of the vast

realize they enjoy hunting together. 5 A tempestuous marid continually floods the carefully dried-out lair of a topaz dragon. 6 A sahuagin baron attempts to gain the support of other sahuagin

D&D Beyond

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