before before drives contested rather

Isolde

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

archfey named Zybilna, who had forged secret pacts with some of the fiends Isolde and her companions had slain. Rather than be angry at Isolde, Zybilna was impressed by her. She enlisted a powerful fiend

endlessly overburdens herself, struggling to protect those around her as her hate for the Caller drives her forward at any cost. Personality Trait. “We all contribute so that we all benefit. Those who

Rogue Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

would rather make one precise strike, placing it exactly where the attack will hurt the target most, than wear an opponent down with a barrage of attacks. Rogues have an almost supernatural knack for

an angry thieves’ guild master? Or did you leave your guild in search of bigger risks and bigger rewards? Is it greed that drives you in your adventures, or some other desire or ideal? What

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators, the achievers, and the pioneers of the worlds. A Broad Spectrum With their penchant for migration

, humans champion causes rather than territories or groups. Human Names and Ethnicities Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as a whole have no typical names. Some human parents

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

shapes their lives. This thirst drives warlocks into their pacts and shapes their later careers as well. Stories of warlocks binding themselves to fiends are widely known. But many warlocks serve patrons

gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their goals, which typically means some kind of adventuring. Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

of the world beyond their home. Barterers of Lore Tabaxi treasure knowledge rather than material things. A chest filled with gold coins might be useful to buy food or a coil of rope, but it’s

its secrets and nature have been laid bare. Tinkers and Minstrels Curiosity drives most of the tabaxi found outside their homeland, but not all of them become adventurers. Tabaxi who seek a safer

Action Options

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

get into position and onto the larger creature, the smaller creature uses its action to make a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check contested by the target’s Dexterity (Acrobatics

wall, or grabbing and throwing it—by making a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the smaller creature’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. The smaller creature chooses which

Zombies

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

, merciless, and resilient, and their dead flesh can carry on even after suffering grievous wounds. While they can follow simple orders, they rely on primal drives rather than thought. They fulfill

Delvers into Secrets

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

Delvers into Secrets Warlocks are driven by an insatiable need for knowledge and power, which compels them into their pacts and shapes their lives. This thirst drives warlocks into their pacts and

mere study and research. No one makes a pact with such a mighty patron if he or she doesn’t intend to use the power thus gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit

Delvers into Secrets

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

Delvers into Secrets Warlocks are driven by an insatiable need for knowledge and power, which compels them into their pacts and shapes their lives. This thirst drives warlocks into their pacts and

and research. No one makes a pact with such a mighty patron if he or she doesn’t intend to use the power thus gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their

Creating a Bronze Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

strategy. A quick death in combat is its own kind of courtesy. 6 I trust my gut. I’d rather act on incomplete information than be hamstrung by indecision. 7 I’m fascinated by other species

’ military technology, especially magic armaments and siege engines—the bigger, the better! 8 Conflict drives evolution. By sparking wars between nations, I contribute to the advancement of their

Wicked Personality

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

often a negative emotion or destructive behavior—such as fear, hatred, insecurity, jealousy, mayhem, obsession, selfishness, shame—that drives an irrational habit causing the Darklord or others harm

them. 2 Others’ concerns bore me, and I would rather have my lessers handle everything possible. 3 I am always right, and anyone who doesn’t agree with me is cut out of my life. 4

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

divination (to find raw materials and foresee threats to the tribe). The main reason why kobolds depend on arcane magic rather than divine is Kurtulmak’s imprisonment, which makes it difficult for

General Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

“Cover” in the Basic Rules). DISGUISED CHARACTERS Rather than storm Cragmaw Castle with weapons in hand, clever characters might try to talk their way inside. For example, they might don the scarlet

) check contested by the monsters’ Wisdom (Insight) checks, and give the characters advantage on their checks if the deception is particularly well planned or roleplayed. If at least one character wins

Mastermind

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

within 30 feet of you, rather than within 5 feet of you, if the target can see or hear you. Insightful Manipulator Starting at 9th level, if you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with

level, your thoughts can’t be read by telepathy or other means, unless you allow it. You can present false thoughts by succeeding on a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the mind reader’s Wisdom

Mastermind

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

bonus action. Additionally, when you use the Help action to aid an ally in attacking a creature, the target of that attack can be within 30 feet of you, rather than 5 feet of you, if the target can see

. You can present false thoughts by making a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the mind reader’s Wisdom (Insight) check. Additionally, no matter what you say, magic that would determine if you

Hazlik's Powers and Dominion

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

items rather than his own spells. Glory Taker. At any given time, Hazlik permits dozens of apprentices to study at his feet. His lessons are infrequent, demanding, and filled with mocking examples

. Those who don’t impress him don’t survive long. He encourages rivalries among his students and drives them to push the boundaries of magical possibilities. His goading results in magical wonders, failed

4. The Alchemist

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

. For now, it has adopted the guise of a scatterbrained, shabbily dressed young man who has, for reasons he would rather not divulge, set up an alchemist’s lab in this cave. The slaad refers to itself

pilfer one with a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by the slaad’s Wisdom (Perception) check. Potion of Comprehension. When you drink this potion, you gain the effect of a

Random Encounters

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

, honor, hard work, and seeing all non-duergar as lesser creatures. Duergar are ruthless but not unnecessarily cruel, and pragmatism drives their every decision. Though they treat the adventurers with

contempt, their first thought is to enslave them or use them rather than kill them. The duergar of Gracklstugh are beginning to suffer the effects of the arrival of the demon lords — and specifically

Chaos Incarnate

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

no such principles exist, how that power might be seized. Most mortals would rather be annihilated than have their souls travel to the Abyss, but some see its chaos as something that can be harnessed

determined at any given time is which lord holds sway over which parts of the Abyss, and which areas are being contested by two or more lords. And as soon as such a fact becomes known, it might already

Shambling Mound

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

, and other natural swamp and forest compost, shamblers can blend into their environs. Because they move slowly, they rarely attempt to pursue and catch creatures. Rather, they remain in place

shambling mound to seek out new sources of food. The Weed that Walks. The instinct that drives a shambling mound is its central root-stem, buried somewhere inside its ponderous form. The rest of a

Alignment

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

plane of lawful evil. A devil does not choose to be lawful evil or tend toward lawful evil, but rather it is lawful evil in its essence. If it somehow ceases to be lawful evil, it changes into something

Describe one ideal that drives your character. Your ideals are the things that you believe in most strongly, the fundamental moral and ethical principles that compel you to act as you do. Ideals

Satyr

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

much time worrying over why satyrs behave as they do. But satyrs themselves simply are as they are, feeling no need to understand what drives them, much less explain it to others. The Satyr

+ 8 inches + your size modifier in inches Weight in pounds = 100 + (2d4 × your size modifier) Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet. Fey. Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid. Ram. You

Demons

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

promotions never stem from a demon’s deeds or accomplishments. Rather, a demon lord might warp a manes into a quasit when it needs an invisible spy, or turn an army of dretches into hezrous when

employs stealth to hide a successful possession. Other times, it unleashes the full brunt of its fiendish drives through its new form. As long as the demon remains in possession of its host, the soul of

Alley: Autumn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

is why he would rather send a small group of adventurers than call upon a Bregan D’aerthe attack force.) Characters who are suspicious of Laeral’s intentions can ascertain that she’s hiding something

with a successful Wisdom (Insight) check contested by Jarlaxle’s Charisma (Deception) check. If the characters somehow penetrate Jarlaxle’s disguise, he smiles and offers them 10,000 gp if they

Gods of the Orcs

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

their emotions and instincts rather than out of reason and logic. Only certain charismatic orcs, those who have been directly touched by the will and might of Gruumsh, have the capacity to control the

epitomizes the physical might and ruthlessness that orcs use to overwhelm their foes. He is the one who drives every thrust of an orc’s weapon, so that it does as much harm as possible. Fearless and

Thundertree Areas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

Points Divide 2,000 XP equally among the characters if the party drives away Venomfang. Given their level, the characters aren’t likely to slay the dragon, but it is worth 3,900 XP. 8. Old Smithy This

) check contested by the blights’ Dexterity (Stealth) check to avoid being surprised by them. Developments Any loud noises here alert the cultists in area 13, who quietly and cautiously investigate

Areas of the Fire Temple

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

shimmers, smoke, and steam rise toward the domed ceiling, escaping through vents. Staircases rise at opposite ends of the room, and a smaller passage exits to the east. An efreeti drives azers and

fighting taking place outside the immediate vicinity. An efreeti aided by one razerblast and two Eternal Flame guardians (see chapter 7 for both) drives a salamander and three azers, forcing them to work

Locations in Triboar

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

(Deception) check contested by Urlam’s Wisdom (Insight) check. T10. Northshield House Northshield House is a fine local inn — stately, clean, and quiet. The proprietor, Urgala Meltimer (see appendix D

as Gwaeron Windstrom. The oni cleans up after itself, leaving little evidence of its victims behind. This “tidiness” has led others to believe that sometimes Gwaeron, rather than sending prophetic

Maelstrom Level 2

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

realizes that her faith in the small folk has been misplaced. In effect, the killing Mirran or Nym gives Iymrith a major victory, so far as the act drives a wedge between giants and the small folk. To win

important information about her father!” or “Princess Serissa told you that we were coming, or have you forgotten?” Have the liar make a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the giants’ Wisdom (Insight

Wedding Itinerary

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

, several NPCs have secrets triggered by events rather than a specific time. For example, you would provide Tannus’s player with the groom’s secret if at any time Tannus is about to swing a weapon to

(Sleight of Hand) check contested by Gorat’s Wisdom (Perception) check. Gorat has disadvantage on the check from the distraction of the festivities — or, if controlled by a character, he could decide to

Locations I - L

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

to be the easternmost extent of the Spine of the World, rather than being mountain ranges in their own right. The difference is academic, since all three areas have soaring peaks, permanent snowpack

of gnawing on old kills, and is often seen with a mangled corpse hanging from her mouth. Other dragons rarely remain in Kryptgarden Forest for long, because Claugiyliamatar drives them out. Suggested

Locations E - H

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

with other Uthgardt over contested territory. Fireshear Long ago, a meteor strike blasted a crater in the frozen tundra near the coast of the Trackless Sea, shearing away tons of rock and exposing rich

the town. Townsfolk who fled into the tundra rather than hide in the mines return 2d6 hours later to find their homes reduced to rubble and their supplies gone. The giants pay no mind to Dasharra’s

Metallic Dragons

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

treasure as do their evil chromatic kin, but they aren’t driven as much by greed in their pursuit of wealth. Rather, metallic dragons are driven to investigate and collect, taking unclaimed relics and

dragon has imagined into being. To escape, the creature must use its action to make a Charisma check contested by the dragon’s. If the creature wins, it escapes the dream plane. Otherwise, the effect

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