before becoming direct contract resolve

Faceless

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

chosen. Even so, that doesn’t stop you. You’ve left your old face behind, taking on a new persona, becoming something more. Characters with the faceless background don a disguise &mdash

their faceless selves. d8 Personality Trait 1 I’m earnest and uncommonly direct. 2 I strive to have no personality — it’s easier to forget what’s hardly

Ruinblade

Magic Items Infernal Machine Rebuild

property of the weapon can’t be used until dawn seven days later. Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken with a remove curse

spell or similar magic, you are unwilling to part with the weapon. The weapon must take direct part in the destruction of 1,000 gp worth of materials and objects every seven days, or a conflict

Stage Two: Outbreak

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

DC listed in the table entry for that encounter. Stage Two Encounters d6 Encounter 1 The character avoids direct contact with anyone who might be infected. 2 How many people brush up

against the character as they push through the crowds? The character must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or contract the Gnawing Plague. 3 A nearby person turns and coughs directly

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

cannibalizing their victims, and then performed a sorcerous ritual while writhing in pools filled with living snakes that enabled them to mix their flesh with that of serpents, becoming like the gods in

yuan-ti know they can’t resort to direct attacks in order to reclaim their rightful place in the world. Operating out of the subterranean ruins of their buildings in foreign lands, yuan-ti

Social Contract

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

contract takes shape organically, but it’s good practice to have a direct conversation during session zero to establish boundaries and expectations. A typical social contract in a D&D group includes

Social Contract D&D is first and foremost meant to be a fun-for-all experience. If one or more participants aren’t having fun, the game won’t last long. Session zero is the perfect time for you and

Mahadi, Emporium Master

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

rendered, guests need not fear being trapped within, since Mahadi is very serious about maintaining the contract between host and guest. Each guest must agree to this formal arrangement prior to

establishment fall under a special contract and therefore rank most highly in his esteem. Of course, guests leaving Infernal Rapture are expected to pay their bills in full prior to departure. If a guest

Lich Spirit Jars

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Lich Spirit Jars The process of becoming a lich is involved, dangerous, and unique to each would-be lich. If the rite succeeds, the lich’s soul is bound to a spirit jar, a specially prepared magical

inspire where a lich hides its soul. Lich Spirit Jars 1d8 The Lich’s Spirit Jar Is... 1 A bottle or puzzle box inscribed with sigils. 2 A contract folded into a paper figure. 3 The first magic item

Valin's Vengeance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

sarcophagus to the characters’ location provided they’re still in the tomb. If the characters leave the tomb before Valin re-forms, the mummy lord oracle might hunt them down, becoming a recurring villain

. If the characters bring Alessia with them but don’t remove Valin’s heart from her, the vengeful mummy lord tries to recover her heart by the most direct means.

Other Inquisitive Agencies

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

inquisitives devoted to solving crimes and tracking down the perpetrators. Warning Guild. Affiliated with but largely independent from House Medani, the Warning Guild provides certification and contract

your own office. You can collect the same fees as if you worked for another agency, and you have access to the same range of contacts. You can also use the Running a Business downtime activity to direct the activities of your agency, as described at the start of this section.

Travel Pace

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

Underdark are rarely direct, and the characters must follow available passages and their various twists and turns, climbs and descents. Creatures that can burrow through solid rock (such as purple worms

becoming lost). For a fast pace, reduce the travel times by one third; for a slow pace, increase them by one third. Underdark Travel Times Location Velkynvelve Sloobludop Gracklstugh Neverlight Grove

22. Frictionless Trap

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a4

(1d12) damage and must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or contract a disease called super-tetanus (see below). The walls, ceiling, and floor of the area between the pits are covered with a

. The creature takes 11 (2d10) damage at the start of each of its turns. If a victim is not cured by other means, it can repeat the saving throw at the end of every minute after becoming exposed, ending the effect on itself with a successful save.

Large Groups

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

Large Groups The biggest considerations with large groups are maintaining order at the table and keeping combat from becoming too slow. Structured Turns If you find yourself in a situation where

Information. If you tell the players what the Armor Class of their opponents is, you reduce the steps of interaction needed to resolve an attack. Instead of telling you a number and asking if it hits

Individual Quests

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Dragon’s Rest seeking rest and new resolve. Runara welcomes the character and encourages them to talk to Tarak and Varnoth, who both know about escaping lives of corruption and violence. She also

knowledge contained in that place. I can direct you there, but first you need to show me you are worthy.” She promises to direct the wizard to the observatory after the characters help deal with the other problems on the island.

Magical Storms

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

danger. During the storm, any checks made to resolve hazards or manage the ship are made with disadvantage. Evocation These ferocious storms are wracked with thunderbolts, driving sheets of acid rain

quality. On a 10 or less, the crew’s quality decreases by 1, and 1d6 members of the crew are killed. Illusion A storm brimming with illusions poses little direct harm to a ship, but experienced

The Ultimate Sacrifice

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

advantage of this moment of uncertainty, making a Charisma (Persuasion) check with advantage to sway Zariel from the path of evil. Resolve a successful check as noted in “Redeeming Zariel” earlier in

their offer and produces a contract stating that she will release the city in exchange for the sword, delivered without any complications or deceit. Lulu rankles at the idea of the characters forging any

Build Your Group

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

characters in your group might have different relationships with your patron, though; consider some or all of these roles for your characters: Agent. The Agent doesn’t receive direct communications

intention of becoming adventurers and desire no connection to the machinations of the immortals, but they get caught up in schemes and prophecies anyway. The Innocent might have been identified as a

The Three Packs

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

can direct the characters to the nearby wildernesses where these groups dwell. Heart Delta Heart Delta lies a few miles away from Camp Greenbriar. When the characters visit there, read or paraphrase

cunning, but he is nursing his wounded pride after a clash with Ophelia. He seeks to create a Faunel where the residents embrace their skills, becoming proud and powerful. Ebonclaw is suspicious of

Cult of the Black Earth

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

, and unyielding resolve. They are deliberate and slow to act, careful to consider their plans and gather their strength before beginning any new enterprise. Once earth cultists resolve to act, they

overpower foes with direct assaults, although if they have the opportunity to undermine defenses or attack from below, they unhesitatingly put their skill at tunneling and mastery of burrowing

Creating a Rival

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

the others might be neutral or good; conflicts with those rivals might be social or political, rather than manifesting as direct attacks. The best rivals have a connection with their adversaries on a

you resolve one or more workweeks of downtime, pick one of the ways a rival’s plans might be advanced and introduce it into play. Think about how a rival might operate in order to bring specific

Resolving Interactions

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

condescending noble might wish to see a group of upstart adventurers fail so as to keep them from becoming rivals for the king’s attention, thwarting them with slander and scheming rather than direct threats

material by providing a structured way to resolve a social interaction. Much of this structure will be invisible to your players in play and isn’t meant to be a substitute for roleplaying. 1. Starting

Ruinblade

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

a creation of magical force. Once used, this property of the weapon can’t be used until dawn seven days later. Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you

. Until the curse is broken with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are unwilling to part with the weapon. The weapon must take direct part in the destruction of 1,000 gp worth of materials and

Ribcage

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

decadence until their infernal pacts come due. To prevent the gate-town from becoming so evil that it experiences a cosmic realignment, Duchess Zelza Zurkbane (lawful evil succubus) and her senators have

dominance are never quenched in the desiccated valley, where each victory feels hollower than the last. CoupleOfKooks “Who needs an iron fist when you have a contract?” –Duchess Zelza Zurkbane

Redcap

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

. From the moment it awakens, a redcap desires only murder and carnage, and it sets out to satisfy these cravings. Redcaps lack subtlety. They live for direct confrontation and the mayhem of mortal

redcap demands to be paid in victims. A patron who tries to stifle a redcap’s natural and necessary urge for blood risks becoming the redcap’s next target. Redcap Small Fey, Chaotic Evil Armor Class

Decisionist

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

franchise party. Noteworthy Decisionists: Donaar Blit’zen (“C” Team), Kelshi Annab Essential Functions: Receive one extra vote on franchise matters; resolve interparty conflicts Position Proficiencies: In

in this capacity for years. When she leverages her coin of decisionry, glinting with its final, unswerving resolve, it is because she has heard all. The Decisonist Franchise Rank Features

Redcap

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

moment redcaps awaken, they desire only murder and carnage, and they constantly seek to satisfy these cravings. Redcaps lack subtlety. They live for direct confrontation and the mayhem of mortal combat

necessary urge for blood risks becoming the redcap’s next target. Redcap Small Fey, Typically Chaotic Evil Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Hit Points 45 (6d6 + 24) Speed 25 ft. STR 18

Campaign Characters

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

directly sharing what they want to see in a campaign. You can learn about your players’ preferences in two ways: Direct Input. Ask your players what they want to do in a campaign. Regularly inquire about how

villain. Ambition. A character’s ambition is a broad, personal aspiration the character hopes to achieve through a lifetime of adventuring. A character might dream of becoming a legendary knight or

Zariel

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

a defeat that leads to her removal. For now, though, the devils are fighting with a berserker fury under her charge. Zariel leads their offensives herself, and her unyielding resolve coupled with the

and her court prefer to be left alone. She appears disinterested in becoming involved in the Blood War. Tiamat’s presence in Avernus has confounded sages for years. As with devils, she is unable to

Acererak

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

powerful adventurers. Their deaths and souls are my nourishment.” Flaw. “I underestimate the resolve of my enemies.” Acererak Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 21 (natural armor) Hit Points

body turns to dust when he drops to 0 hit points, and his equipment is left behind. Acererak gains a new body after 1d10 days, regaining all his hit points and becoming active again. The new body

Mephistopheles

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

is apparent only after a new contract is signed. He can be charming when he recruits a soul directly, and his agents are careful to avoid making any promises about his actions or attitudes. But once

the Nine Hells forces him to relinquish direct oversight of a project. When he returns to his research, a new mystery might capture his fancy, while the older project continues to move forward

Class Training

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

me push beyond my limitations. 6 My anger needed to be channeled into battle, or I risked becoming an indiscriminate killer. Bard d6 I became a bard because … 1 I awakened my latent bardic

, learning all I needed to swear my own sacred oath. 5 Evil must be opposed on all fronts. I feel compelled to seek out wickedness and purge it from the world. 6 Becoming a paladin was a natural

The Infernal Machine of Lum the Mad

Magic Items Infernal Machine Rebuild

bones. You have vulnerability to radiant damage, and you have disadvantage on attack rolls while in direct sunlight. 09 You summon a unicorn that obeys your commands. If you give a command that

(your choice). The cure wounds spell restores no hit points for you. 13 You have an innate sense of direction. You automatically succeed on ability checks made to avoid becoming lost. Whenever

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