before being dark continue retain

Giant Fire Beetle Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

creature that takes its name from a pair of glowing glands that give off light. Miners and adventurers prize these creatures, for a giant fire beetle's glands continue to shed light for 1d6;{"diceNotation

":"1d6","rollType":"roll"} days after the beetle dies. Giant fire beetles are most commonly found underground and in dark forests.

Darkling Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

speak of a seelie fey who betrayed the Summer Queen. His true name has been stricken from history, but the stories call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath

absorbs over the course of its lifetime explodes outward when the darkling dies, incinerating the creature and much of its possessions. Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness

Darkling Elder Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath that she cursed every member of his house. Other fey refer to the descendants of Dubh Catha's house as the dubh sith-or

much of its possessions. Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness for the beauty of art. A darkling might risk taking a peek at a sunset or lighting a tiny candle to glimpse

Mist Hulk

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

embody their ancestors’ mixed elemental nature of Air and Water. After countless ages of isolation—often on one of the Elemental Planes or some hidden demiplane—they retain the barest

hint of their ancestors’ physical form, and even less of the giants’ culture. A mist hulk resembles a bipedal figure made of dark rain clouds. Parts of its body seem more solid than others

Crown of Lies

Magic Items Vecna: Eve of Ruin

, the Dark Powers of the Domain of Dread lured Kas to a hidden forge, where he found the Crown of Lies. Once Kas vowed to deliver Vecna into the Dark Powers’ clutches and donned the crown, the

Dark Powers released Kas. From there, Kas set out to ruin his former master. Should Kas fail, the Dark Powers will reclaim him. The crown is made of burnished and entwined metal rods. To attune to it

Drowned Master

Monsters Ghosts of Saltmarsh

head retain their former shapes, but its legs have split into shadowy tentacles. The drowned master is tethered to a source of powerful magic that prevents it from traveling far. It commands other drowned ones, compelling them to serve as agents in its dark plots.Poison

Strahd Zombie

Monsters Curse of Strahd

"} slashing damage.Strahd zombies are undead that serve the vampire Strahd von Zarovich. Created from the long-dead guards of Castle Ravenloft, they were called into being through dark magic by Strahd

. Strahd zombies are suffused with horrible necromantic magic that allows their severed body parts to continue to attack. All parts of a Strahd zombie are considered one and the same creature, so damage to

Danse Macabre

Spells Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Threads of dark power leap from your fingers to pierce up to five Small or Medium corpses you can see within range. Each corpse immediately stands up and becomes undead. You decide whether it is a

commands, the creatures do nothing except defend themselves against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creatures continue to follow it until their task is complete. The creatures are under your

Memory Web

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

webs lie in ambush draped over plant life, wrapped around corpses, or stuck to ossuaries in dark catacombs. Memory webs feed on memories and require daily sustenance. When a memory web’s prey

can continue to feed on a corpse’s memories for days after its death. If a memory web is slain, any memories it consumed over the last day are discharged from its body in a telepathic deluge

Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists

humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version. Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

curse on a success.The transformation into a demilich isn’t a bitter end for all liches that experience it. Made as a conscious choice, the path of the demilich becomes the next step in a dark

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

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; Elminster The serpent creatures known as yuan-ti are all that remains of an ancient, decadent human empire. Ages ago their dark gods taught them profane, cannibalistic rituals to mix their flesh

primordial world heeded the prayers of these people and hissed dark demands into their ears. The people tainted their souls by performing human sacrifices in the name of the gods, debased their flesh by

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, rot, and rebirth. You have spent your life in the slow churn of that ecosystem, in the dark places of the city where the messy parts of existence are on display. There is little squeamishness among the

. Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Guild. My guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Stoicism. All of us are part of the cyclical march of nature, which will continue with

Unspeakable Horror (Malleable Mass)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

evils lurk amid the Mists, the yet-to-be-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants of ruined domains. While such nightmares typically manifest as nothing more than impressions, whispers, or

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

Unspeakable Horror

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

by 5 or more, the target is also blinded until the end of its next turn.Untold, half-formed evils lurk amid the Mists, the yet-to-be-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants of ruined

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

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

Maglubiyet, the greater god allows them to retain a measure of their influence over the hobgoblins because their philosophies are in line with his own. Hobgoblins don’t build temples to their gods, lest

pride. Such a feud can continue over generations in an ongoing cycle of retribution. Each legion has a list of grievances against any others it knows about, and any legions meeting for the first time view

Unspeakable Horror (Aberrant Armor)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

more, the target is also blinded until the end of its next turn.Untold, half-formed evils lurk amid the Mists, the yet-to-be-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants of ruined domains

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

Unspeakable Horror (Loathsome Limbs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants of ruined domains. While such nightmares typically manifest as nothing more than impressions, whispers, or vaporous visions amid the fog, mysterious

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

Unspeakable Horror (Oozing Organs)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

throw fails by 5 or more, the target is also blinded until the end of its next turn.Untold, half-formed evils lurk amid the Mists, the yet-to-be-realized imaginings of the Dark Powers and the remnants

, 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

Background

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

Background A large section of a fey-infused woodland has fallen under the control of a coven of green hags. Using dark gardening techniques, the hags have grafted myconids into the trees of the wood

rock. This pinnacle stands among the ruins of an ancient city that once housed the Infernal Machine, until Baron Lum the Mad discovered and claimed it for himself. A fallen clock tower still holds some of the machine’s components, which retain enough power to manipulate time.

Elf Names

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

elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of

name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version. Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn

Elf Names

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

elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of

name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version. Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn

The Returned

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

separated from their memories, which become wandering eidolons (see chapter 6). They retain their personalities and skills, but each Returned tends to be a very different being from who they once were

. Their second life is theirs to do with as they please, but it’s typically a confused, cursed life, plagued by frustration, bitterness, loneliness, and melancholy. Such leads many Returned along dark paths

Gothic Horror Villains

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

Gothic Horror Villains Villains in gothic horror tales are subtle or unassuming until they reveal their true nature. Any intriguing figure with a dark secret can serve as a gothic horror villain, and

isn’t a vampire, but uses his reputation as one to terrorize his vassals 2 An indulgent socialite who made a terrible bargain with a fell power to retain her youth 3 A scientist obsessed with

The Lords of Dust and the War

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

The Lords of Dust and the War The Lords of Dust took part in the events of the Last War whenever they saw opportunities to further their dark version of the Prophecy. It remains difficult to identify

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.

Giant Fire Beetle

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

beetle’s glands continue to shed light for 1d6 days after the beetle dies. Giant fire beetles are most commonly found underground and in dark forests. Giant Fire Beetle Small beast, unaligned Armor

Approaching the Vineyard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

through the woods, descending gradually until the trees part, revealing a mist-shrouded meadow. The trail splits. One branch heads west into the valley, and the other leads south into dark woods. A wooden

there, you see rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes. North of the trail is a large stand of trees. A man wearing a dark cloak and cowl stands at the edge of the trees, beckoning you. The

Wight

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

them beyond death. Unlike mere zombies, they retain the memories and evil agendas they harbored in life. After dying and returning from the grave, a wight continues its villainous ways, but it is now

Motives 1d8 The Wight Returned from the Dead To... 1 Challenge anyone who passes near its grave on a certain cursed night. 2 Conquer the land it believes it should rule. 3 Continue

Shadow Dragon Treasures

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

Shadow Dragon Treasures Shadow dragons retain the preferences of their original form when it comes to treasure. With each passing year, though, the more lustrous objects in their hoards begin to

. Ebony, onyx, and similar dark-hued valuables bring shadow dragons no particular joy, but they aren’t as inherently repellent as silver, platinum, and diamonds. Beauty fills shadow dragons with contempt

Domain of Dread Parolee

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

nearly destroying the lich Vecna, the warrior Kas found himself trapped in the Shadowfell, imprisoned in a Domain of Dread called Tovag. There, he languished as a vampire. In time, the Dark Powers of the

Shadowfell lured Kas to a hidden forge, where he found the Crown of Lies. Once Kas vowed to deliver Vecna into the Dark Powers’ clutches and donned the crown, the Dark Powers released Kas. From there

Beginning the Adventure

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

you’re ready to begin the adventure, replacing Great Reader A’lai Aivenmore with another scholar of the characters’ acquaintance if you so choose: A’lai Aivenmore’s mood is dark as they pace before you

translucent crystal. A’lai describes the book as a treatise on dark rituals and tells how it arrived at Candlekeep as a donation from a high priest of Savras. She talks of how Mayastan came to her, clearly

X32. Lower East Hall

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

choose whether it is banished or destroyed. A creature that touches the amber sarcophagus forms a telepathic link with the vestige inside. The vestige offers the creature a dark gift. The creature

must willingly accept the gift to gain its benefits. A dark gift is described to the creature in general terms; its precise game effect isn’t revealed until the creature accepts the gift. For example

Skeletal Alchemist

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

Skeletal Alchemist This undead retains enough of its former self to continue its alchemical work, often on behalf of necromancers or other sinister patrons. It toils in a dark laboratory (such as the

D6. Hall of Vows

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

hear hammering from upstairs. The carvings continue along the walls of the stairs as they rise toward the temple. Each flight of stairs ends at a wide brown curtain. Treasure Leaning against the corner

Dethek runes on it, reading, “A beacon in the dark depths.” The axe’s wielder always knows the way to the nearest passage leading from underground toward the surface, as well as the approximate depth the axe is underground.

Danse Macabre

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

Danse Macabre 5th-level necromancy Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet Components: V, S Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour Threads of dark power leap from your fingers to pierce up to five Small

creatures. Once given an order, the creatures continue to follow it until their task is complete. The creatures are under your control until the spell ends, after which they become inanimate once more. At

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