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Eye of Fear and Flame

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

remains unknown. Cruel Puppet Masters. An eye of fear and flame often chooses to appear during times of uncertainty, such as after a group's devastating defeat or when an individual contemplates some

flame than the instigation of the evil act—and the general spread of chaos and misery that comes with it. Mystic Gemstones. An eye of fear and flame casts its magic powers through its gemstone eyes. In

Deck of Several Things

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you have advantage on ability checks made using one skill of your choice for the duration of the adventure. Otherwise, this card has no

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

Yakfolk Warrior

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh: the dao were forced to

that yakfolk are lazy—quite the contrary. They simply consider most menial tasks beneath them. Yakfolk have a drive for learning, particularly when it comes to the secrets of elemental magic

Yakfolk Priest

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

enslave dao for a time. It is said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh

laboring oneself. It’s not that yakfolk are lazy—quite the contrary. They simply consider most menial tasks beneath them. Yakfolk have a drive for learning, particularly when it comes to the

Bavlorna Blightstraw

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

these visitors enter into an agreement with Bavlorna, she’ll use her powers to resolve their pressing problem in exchange for something of use to her. Alignment. Neutral evil. Personality

against Bavlorna, and Skabatha and Bavlorna bedevil Endelyn. Nothing much ever comes of these petty plots and squabbles, however. SHARED SPELLS OF THE HOURGLASS COVEN On the rare occasions when all

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

sufficient to defeat whatever threats arise. A Life of Danger A barbarian plays an important role as a protector of their people and a leader in times of war. Life in the wild places of the world is

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

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

aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a fight and that can’t be dealt with in some other manner. They are aggressive toward prey they want to eat, creatures that want to harm them, and

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

-handedly defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you gain experience points enough to gain one level. Otherwise, this card has no effect. Donjon. You disappear and become

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

Putting Events in Motion

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

reflects the structure of dramatic stories. At the beginning of a story, something happens to shake the protagonists’ world and spur them into action. The characters take action to resolve their

adventure hooks and affect the characters’ lives directly. In the middle, they make great turning points as the characters’ fortunes reverse — rising after a defeat or falling after a victory. Near the end

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

cruel in victory, goblins are fawning and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids

, or secret backstabbing and outright fights over the title. Most often, the victor in such a struggle comes from another family of the lasher caste, and any allies of the previous boss count themselves

Skabatha's Clockwork Key

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Skabatha’s Clockwork Key The clockwork key embedded in Skabatha’s back rotates quickly when she’s in a good mood and slows down as her mood sours. When she is furious, the key comes to a dead stop

. When the key stops turning, Skabatha attacks objects or creatures indiscriminately until something lifts her spirits and quells her rage, such as the defeat of an enemy or some other triumph, whereupon

Drowned Sailors

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

damage can help finish off a zombie. Runara’s Aid. In the unlikely event that the zombies defeat the adventurers, Runara comes to their rescue. The characters wake up in the temple (area A5 in Dragon’s

’ initiative count, they move toward the characters. If they get close enough, they make melee attacks. The zombies’ stat block contains the information you need to resolve these attacks. If all the

Drowned Sailors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle

count, they move toward the characters. If they get close enough, they make melee attacks. The zombies’ stat block contains the information you need to resolve these attacks. On each character’s

. Those who succeed might recall that a particularly powerful blow (a critical hit) or radiant damage can help finish off a zombie. Runara’s Aid. In the unlikely event that the zombies defeat the

Encounters

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

the DM, you decide how much to tell the players and when. All the information the players need to make choices comes from you. Within the rules of the game and the limits of the characters’ knowledge

situation, ask the players what their characters want to do. Note what the players say, and identify how to resolve their actions. Ask them for more information if you need it. Sometimes the players

Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

information the players need to make choices comes from you. Within the rules of the game and the limits of the characters’ knowledge and senses, tell players everything they need to know. Published adventures

Once you’re done describing the situation, ask the players what their characters want to do. Note what the players say, and identify how to resolve their actions. Ask them for more information if you

The Horror of Defeat

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

The Horror of Defeat A victory for the Cult of the Dragon is a real possibility in this adventure, and would be catastrophic for Faerûn. With Tiamat ascendant, the age of mortals comes to an end and

Concluding the Campaign

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

squatters, or razing the forts once and for all. No power in the valley has the soldiers to accomplish the task, so nothing comes of it unless the characters take action. Remaining cultists slink away and

disperse within a tenday of the cults’ defeat. Bereft of leadership and reeling from the events, the cultists decide the Dessarin Valley isn’t the place for them. Some go to nearby cities, especially

Alien Minds

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

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 other humanoids

understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly. Lizardfolk never become angry in the way others do, but they act with aggression toward creatures that they could defeat in a

The Horror of Defeat

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

The Horror of Defeat A victory for the Cult of the Dragon is a real possibility in this adventure, and would be catastrophic for Faerûn. With Tiamat ascendant, the age of mortals comes to an end and

2. Vast Cavern

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

, and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t made of adamantine. Destroying the arch all but dooms the project, since Zox lacks the resolve to start

overlooking the trench. The hobgoblins aim to draw out Zox Clammersham, defeat him, seize the ring he uses to control the scaladar, and return the ring to Doomcrown, the hobgoblin warlord on level 14

Raggadragga Attacks!

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

Raggadragga Attacks! As the characters reach a half-mile or so away from Fort Knucklebone, trouble comes looking for them in the form of an enemy warlord: A plume of red dust billows in the distance

and defeat the creatures inside. If they do so, they can claim the Demon Grinder for themselves. The Demon Grinder is driven by the warlord Raggadragga, a wereboar with 120 hit points. He leads the

High Deck

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

its own right. If one of these cards comes out in a casting and seems to contradict the prediction of an earlier card, the Vistani always assume that this card takes precedence. High Deck Name

or lurking just below the surface Broken One Defeat, failure, and despair; the loss of something or someone important, without which one feels incomplete Darklord A single, powerful individual of an

Adventure Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge

territorial dragon distracted. Work on the runic colossus is almost complete. Unless capable heroes arrive to rescue Theldin or defeat Brimskarda, it’s only a matter of time until the region is turned

adventure. The basic adventure seed—“a fire giant captures a renowned Humanoid smith”—comes from the Fire Giant Skill table (chapter 2), with additional inspiration from the “Magnum Opus” adventure idea

Druim Calad

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lorwyn: First Light

Shadowmoor is available in the Red Shallows for a price, though rumors suggest the name comes from the blood that spills into the water from deals gone wrong. When it’s in Lorwyn, Druim Calad is called

a patron to part with a specific item. Water Runs Red. A deal the adventurers are making or that they find themselves in the middle of goes wrong, and the adventurers are the targets of Finblade cutthroats. They must resolve the situation and make amends to Myyn before something terrible happens.

Attack of the Nematode

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

traipsed about inside it and comes looking for revenge. Able to fly as easily as it drifts through the Endless Void, the Nematode slips through the planes until it soars above Phandalin. The Nematode

Nematode writhing 500 feet above the town like a malevolent cloud. The creature is far too large to defeat by conventional attacks or spells, so the characters must once again explore the Nematode from

Heliod's Champions

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

who has fled from a polis into the wilderness. 5 Triumph in a contest of strength or charisma to prove Heliod’s superiority over the other gods. 6 Defeat a champion of another god (most

disobedient or comes to see them as a threat, he might turn against them. At that point, characters might either try to regain his favor or seek protection with another god.

Rival Explorers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

rivalry comes to a head through an unfortunate event. The adversaries acquire a cursed item that possesses or otherwise corrupts them, turning the other group into outright antagonists. Ideally, the

characters solve this problem by breaking the curse rather than killing the rivals, but either way, these foils no longer trouble the characters after they resolve this situation. (A rival group at these levels might consist of an Archmage, an Archpriest, a Spy Master, and a Warrior Commander.)

Vladeska's Powers and Dominion

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

Vladeska’s Powers and Dominion Vladeska Drakov is an experienced military commander with statistics similar to those of a knight. While her martial skill is considerable, her true might comes in the

, though, they’re fighting a losing battle against foes whose numbers only grow. And every time a Talon falls, Lekar’s final defeat grows closer. Talon soldiers use the guard stat block, while commanders

Re-created by the Doctor

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

terrifying new forms. Such a plot comes with both opportunities and pitfalls. On the one hand, waking up in Mordenheim’s laboratory, either recently changed into reborn (see chapter 1) or about to

. Mordenheim attack the party or their allies (at the doctor’s command or otherwise). These foes are more powerful than the characters, who might defeat the majority of the attackers before being overwhelmed

Individual Quests

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

the character to continue on their path: “If your destiny is not clear to you yet, I’m confident it soon will be.” The Paladin Disillusioned with the corruption of Neverwinter, the paladin comes to

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

Simple Traps

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

. Traps are most effective when their presence comes as a surprise, not when they appear so often that the characters spend all their effort watching out for the next one. Running a Simple Trap To prepare

for you to describe what happens next, the players should be specific about how they want to defeat the trap. Simply stating the desire to make a check isn’t helpful for you. Ask the players where their characters are positioned and what they intend to do to defeat the trap.

Goblin Ambush

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

determine who acts first, second, third, and so on. Keep track of everyone’s initiative count on a piece of paper. When the time comes for the goblins to act, two of them rush forward and make melee

attacks while two goblins stand 30 feet away from the party and make ranged attacks. The goblins’ stat block contains the information you need to resolve these attacks. For more information on what the

When Clans Collapse

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

proves more difficult to defeat. Every clan is aware that there are plenty of unprincipled creatures in the world that would love to steal its cherished works or even obliterate the dwarves and take

individuals in a clan to fall prey to occasional bickering and infighting. Abbathor’s influence affects some dwarves more than others, and even those with the strongest resolve can be tempted to

Deck of Several Things

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

neutral or unaligned, this card has no effect on you. Comet. If you single-handedly defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you have advantage on ability checks made using

items, are lost to you. This wealth can be recovered either in the treasury of the Monastery of the Distressed Body (area M10) or Kwalish’s lab in Daoine Gloine (area O7), whichever comes later in the

Purple Worm Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

Purple Worm Attack As the altercation between the Ashen Heirs and the Brightguard comes to a head, read or paraphrase the following: Stone cracks and people scream as a massive, spiked worm erupts

purple worm is still alive, Artavazda rapidly moves to slay it. If the characters defeat the purple worm before this, Artavazda arrives just as they do so.

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