before becoming dread continue race

Thessalar

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

of life, resulting in such creatures as the thessalhydra and the owlbear. In recent years, he has also researched the prolonging of life—namely his own. Thessalar hopes that by becoming a lich

, his research and experiments can continue indefinitely. Over time, Thessalar has subjected himself to so many of his own experiments that his blood has taken on alchemical and magical properties. He regularly uses it as the basis for many of the reagents used throughout his labs.Acid, Poison

Lineages

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

overshadow their original race, if any, becoming their new race. A character might choose a lineage during character creation, their transformation having occurred before play begins. Or, events might

In the Land of the Mists, power and dread lie in the simple question “What happened to me?” The following lineages are races that characters might gain through remarkable events. These

Undercity Medusa

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by a greater restoration spell or similar magic.The

medusas of Ravnica, often called gorgons, are a monstrous race of creatures that appear superficially similar to human women. In place of hair, a gorgon has a writhing mass of black, serpentine

Hexblood

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

changed you and forced you from your home. 6 A slighted druid transformed you and bound you to live only so long as a sacred tree bears fruit. Hexbloods in the Domains of Dread When

creating a hexblood, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3): Hazlan. The bizarre magic of this crumbling

Tarul Var

Monsters Tales from the Yawning Portal

"} days, regaining all his hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery. Spellcasting. Var is a 12th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is

. Interlopers who discover his quarters are set upon by the lich and his dread warrior guards, but if Var is brought to the brink of death, he might bargain for a chance to escape the dungeon. Undead Nature. A

Leather Golem Armor

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

resistance to lightning damage. Whenever you take lightning damage, you gain 5 temporary hit points. Curse. This armor is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. Until

object, with preference for an object smaller than yourself. Once the armor causes you to go berserk, it cannot be removed. You continue to attack until you are incapacitated or until another creature is

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

souls of the insolent intruders to his tomb, magically transferring them to his phylactery. Liches who follow Acererak’s path believe that by becoming free of their bodies, they can continue

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Unspeakable Horror (Aberrant Armor)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into

, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty. Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities given form by the

Unspeakable Horror (Malleable Mass)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers. Customizing a Horror An unspeakable horror

Dread are far from safe—or empty. Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities given form by the fears of those they encounter. Mist horrors use the unspeakable horror stat block with the

Unspeakable Horror

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink

fog, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty. Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities given form by

Unspeakable Horror (Loathsome Limbs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

eddies in the Mists sometimes gather such evils, forcing them into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty

netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they might slink forth into other realms to slake unnameable hungers. Customizing a Horror An unspeakable horror has one of four body compositions

Unspeakable Horror (Oozing Organs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

, forcing them into unique, misshapen bodies untethered from the laws of reason or reality. Such unspeakable horrors might continue to haunt the misty netherworld between the Domains of Dread, or they

the endless fog, finding it preferable to horrors elsewhere. But the Mists drifting between the Domains of Dread are far from safe—or empty. Mist horrors are bodiless spirits of dread, entities

Shadar-kai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Shadar-kai are the elves of the Shadowfell, originally drawn to that dread realm by the Raven Queen. Over the centuries, some of them have continued to serve her, while others have ventured into the

, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical

Half-Elf Legacy

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

coloration and features lie somewhere between their human and elf parents, and thus show a variety even more pronounced than that found among either race. They tend to have the eyes of their elven

Hobgoblin

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Maglubiyet, who marshaled them as soldiers, but the fey realm left its mark; wherever they are in the multiverse, they continue to channel an aspect of the Feywild’s rule of reciprocity, which

, pointed ears and noses that turn bright red or blue during displays of emotion. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a

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

body, thought, and emotion. Freed from the limitations of their human bodies, the yuan-ti used their new abilities to conquer new lands and expand their borders. One Race, Many Forms The bodies of all

Lineages

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

overshadow their original race, if any, becoming their new race. A character might choose a lineage during character creation, their transformation having occurred before play begins. Or, events might

Lineages In the Land of the Mists, power and dread lie in the simple question “What happened to me?” The following lineages are races that characters might gain through remarkable events. These

Dread Warriors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

the fighting skill they possessed in life. No race is immune from being transformed into a dread warrior. Once set upon a task, these undead will do nothing—will not pause or turn aside—until they’ve fulfilled their orders.

Dread Warriors Created from the freshly dead bodies of skilled warriors, dread warriors are especially formidable zombie-like creatures, retaining some of their intelligence and much of

Monk Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

nearby towns or villages and exchanging their service for food and other goods. As versatile warriors, monks often end up protecting their neighbors from monsters or tyrants. For a monk, becoming an

important mission beyond the cloister? Perhaps you were cast out because of some violation of the community’s rules. Did you dread leaving, or were you happy to go? Is there something you hope to

Dread Warriors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

the fighting skill they possessed in life. No race is immune from being transformed into a dread warrior. Once set upon a task, these undead will do nothing—will not pause or turn aside—until they’ve fulfilled their orders.

Dread Warriors Created from the freshly dead bodies of skilled warriors, dread warriors are especially formidable zombie-like creatures, retaining some of their intelligence and much of

The Zhentarim

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

possessed in life. No race is immune from being transformed into a dread warrior. Once set upon a task, these undead will do nothing—will not pause or turn aside—until they’ve fulfilled their orders. Dread warriors make up the terrifying undead army of the Red Wizards. Dread Warrior

another. A winged snake is trained to serve a particular master. If its master dies, the snake has been known to remain nearby and starve to death. Zhentarim agent and winged snake Dread Warriors

Anthropologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

; Cultural Chameleon Before becoming an adventurer, you spent much of your adult life away from your homeland, living among people different from your kin. You came to understand these foreign cultures

and the ways of their people, who eventually treated you as one of their own. One culture had more of an influence on you than any other, shaping your beliefs and customs. Choose a race whose culture

Archaeologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

, and a pouch containing 25 gp Dust Digger Prior to becoming an adventurer, you spent most of your young life crawling around in the dust, pilfering relics of questionable value from crypts

original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; entire society forever stands prepared for war. Brutal Civility Hobgoblins hold themselves to high standards of military honor. The race has a long history of shared traditions, recorded and retold

gods unique to their race, the only survivors of a pantheon that was decimated by Maglubiyet so long ago that hobgoblins don’t remember the names of the fallen. Nomog-Geaya is the greater of the

Cultural Chameleon

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

Cultural Chameleon Before becoming an adventurer, you spent much of your adult life away from your homeland, living among people different from your kin. You came to understand these foreign cultures

and the ways of their people, who eventually treated you as one of their own. One culture had more of an influence on you than any other, shaping your beliefs and customs. Choose a race whose culture

Nagas

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

Nagas Nagas are intelligent serpents that inhabit the ruins of the past, amassing arcane treasures and knowledge. The first nagas were created as immortal guardians by a humanoid race long lost to

history. When this race died out, the nagas deemed themselves the rightful inheritors of their masters’ treasures and magical lore. Industrious and driven, nagas occasionally venture out from their

Character Creation

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

nightmares. This chapter explores how to create a character prepared to face the horrors of Ravenloft, while also forging ties to the haunted pedigrees and grim fates common to the Domains of Dread

adventures. Lineages. Consider an origin that ties you to a grim progenitor or inexplicable experience. Lineages can serve as your character’s race or overshadow your previous race. Dark Gifts. Determine

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Gang Mentality Since bugbears aren’t a particularly fecund race, their overall population is small and spread over a wide area. Bugbears live in family groups that operate much like gangs. The

remove opposition or exile weaker or unpopular members to keep the rest of the gang strong. Fortunately for the race as a whole, even young and elderly bugbears have the ability to survive alone in the

Other Groups

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

the Shadowlands (detailed in “Other Domains of Dread”) in search of evil to vanquish. Bold and proud, many members of the Circle inadvertently race toward dramatic tragedies. The more successful

promises of wealth and supernatural power. Long-serving members of the Kargatane earn transformation into dhampirs (see chapter 1), the first step toward becoming a member of the Kargat and attaining

Roleplaying a Yuan-ti

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

Personality Trait 1 I see omens in every event and action. The serpent gods continue to advise us. 2 I have very high standards for food, drink, and physical pleasures. 3 I prefer to be alone rather

1 Greed. I display my wealth as a sign of my power and prosperity. (Evil) 2 Aspiration. I strive to follow the path toward becoming an anathema. (Evil) 3 Unity. No leader shall put personal goals

Chapter 1: Character Creation

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

the following choices: Race. Choose one of the playable races detailed in this chapter, or pick a race from the Player’s Handbook and learn here how Eberron has affected that species’ development

serving a dragonmarked house. Artificer. You have the option of choosing the artificer as your character’s class, becoming an unmatched magical inventor. Group Patron. Working with the other players

Githzerai

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

Githzerai The githzerai were born as a race at the end of the gith’s bloody, genocidal uprising against the mind flayers. A gith named Zerthimon, who had gained a significant following during the

, relocated their civilization to the plane of Limbo. Today, under the leadership of the Great Githzerai, Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith, the githzerai continue to stand fast against the githyanki, as well as taking

Prepare to Be Scared

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

originate from. The DM can provide details from chapter 3 to help inform your decision. Although humans predominate many of the Domains of Dread, adventurers in Ravenloft can belong to any race in the

atmosphere of the adventure. Don’t consider fear a tactical disadvantage or something to be avoided. As part of playing a frightening game, you’re a participant in building and reinforcing a sense of dread

The Lords of Dust and the War

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

goes on to tempt a good-hearted priest into becoming corrupted.) In the years since the Thronehold Accords, the Lords of Dust continue on as they ever have, advancing one small step at a time.

Magic and Metaphysics

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

mansion) are subject to the same restrictions as magic cast within a domain. While in the Domains of Dread, characters who receive spells from deities or otherworldly patrons continue to do so. In

the voices of otherworldly ancients? Do the effects of drinking a potion of healing feel like grubs weaving wounds shut from within? Magic looks menacing in the Domains of Dread, but descriptive

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