before beyond defusing compound ranking

Blackstaff

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

The Blackstaff is a sentient, rune-carved staff set with thin silver veins. It is the symbol of office for the Blackstaff, the highest-ranking wizard in Waterdeep. As the rightful owner of the

the staff’s wishes, the staff ceases to function until it finds a worthy inheritor — someone whose loyalty to Waterdeep is beyond reproach. Spirit Trap. When the Blackstaff dies, the

Goldenfields

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

(Athletics) check. The entrance to Goldenfields is a large stone gatehouse set into the middle of the south wall. Beyond its gates, dirt roads crisscross the interior of the compound, providing passage

the surrounding fields, and it’s enclosed on all sides by a wall of mortared stone. The outer wall is 60 feet high (20 feet high inside the compound) and 30 feet wide. The wall is built out at several

Part 1: Preflight Meal

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy

and to explore other worlds beyond. Few people know of the academy’s existence, and its leaders try to keep it that way. Mirt the Merciless—also known as “the Old Wolf”—is Spelljammer Academy’s

founder and chief financial officer. He manages the institution’s operations alongside a small group of powerful high-ranking officers, known collectively as “the Bridge.” While most of its candidates are

Part 1: Tyrant Trap!

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy

other worlds beyond. Few people know of the academy’s existence, and its leaders try to keep it that way. Mirt the Merciless—also known as “the Old Wolf”—is Spelljammer Academy’s founder and chief

financial officer. He manages the institution’s operations alongside a small group of powerful high-ranking officers, known collectively as “the Bridge.” While most of its candidates are from Toril, the

Keepers of the Feather

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

Keepers of the Feather When asked about the origins of their society, the members of the Keepers of the Feather speak of their traditions originating long ago and beyond the Mists. This is true, but

most who repeat that story are only trying to layer a mystical facade over their dilettante spiritualism. Only the group’s highest-ranking members know that the Keepers of the Feather began in Barovia

House of the All-Seeing Orb

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

Tashlutans claim to have some amount of skill with personal prognostication. One of the most notable sights in Tashluta, the House of the All-Seeing Orb is an immense compound dedicated to the study of

carrying tomes or mysterious-looking magic devices, bustle about the immense compound. The largest building is patterned with inscribed eyes. A larger, more detailed eye is carved above the building’s

8. Unkh's Shrine

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

8. Unkh’s Shrine Swirly carvings decorate two obelisks at the entrance to this compound. An overgrown courtyard lies under the shade of tall palms. Stone doors seal the entrance to a windowless

hanging from hooks on the wall. Some are bent and broken, while others are rusted beyond repair. The rest look serviceable. One of the keys unlocks the pedestal in area 8C. If the characters know which

Arrival at Korth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fated Flight of the Recluse

Arrival at Korth Leaving the Ashen Spires behind, the characters see the Nightwood sprawling into the distance, and their destination, the city of Korth, beyond it. The Recluse slows as it draws near

human’s dragonmark and garb suggests high ranking in House Cannith. If the check succeeds by 5 or more, the character recognizes the human as Zorlan d’Cannith, the Cannith baron that rules Cannith

Attack on Goldenfields

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

stand beyond the wall with open sacks, waiting to catch whatever food the goblins and bugbears toss over the wall. Meanwhile, the remaining six ogres and thirty goblins lurk in the darkness outside the

goblins that are still inside the compound, and they flee back toward the wall. During this time, inexplicably, Lob and Ogg decide to climb over the wall and enter the compound rather than flee, while the

Debriefing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy

Nimbral. Graduates from the academy join the Spelljammer Fleet, a magical navy sworn to protect Toril and explore worlds far beyond. The academy is carved into a two-thousand-foot-high column of rock

: both branches of a magical navy sworn to protect Toril and to explore other worlds beyond. Few people know of the academy’s existence, and its leaders try to keep it that way. Mirt the Merciless

City Inhabitants

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

barely aware of the kobolds’ existence. Red Wizards of Thay A group of Red Wizards entered the city a couple of days prior to the characters’ arrival. They camped in the ruined compound at area 2, but

and female human thugs of various ethnicities) escort the wizards. The highest ranking mage, Zagmira, appears just eighteen years old, yet one half of her face is wizened and old. This effect is a

4. Shagambi's Shrine

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

4. Shagambi’s Shrine A ruined shrine stands at the heart of this walled compound. Tall monoliths flank the entrance, decorated with images of a jaguar with six snakes sprouting from its shoulders. A

stone door is set into the shrine beyond. The shrine to the trickster god Shagambi (represented as a kamadan) contains one of nine puzzle cubes needed to enter the Tomb of the Nine Gods. Two mated

Devils

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

their contentment to be ruled. This singular ambition is strongest among the archdevils whom Asmodeus appoints to rule the nine layers of the Nine Hells. These high-ranking fiends are the only devils to

ever sample true power, which they crave like the sweetest ambrosia. Dark Dealers and Soul Mongers. Devils are confined to the Lower Planes, but they can travel beyond those planes by way of portals

Trek To H'Catha

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy

Toril and to explore other worlds beyond. Few people know of the academy’s existence, and its leaders try to keep it that way. Mirt the Merciless—also known as “the Old Wolf”—is Spelljammer Academy’s

founder and chief financial officer. He manages the institution’s operations alongside a small group of powerful high-ranking officers, known collectively as “the Bridge.” While most of its candidates

Nocturnal Raiders

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

ground for good reason — beyond the light lies unmapped enemy territory where everything they meet is likely to be hostile. In special circumstances, such as if one of the raiders’ captives is a

at the bottom of the dark elves’ social hierarchy, the lowest-ranking drow are considered little better than slaves themselves. A weak house that doesn’t ally itself with a protector will be preyed on

Escape from Vogler

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

against Vogler’s remaining defenders. This area and the village beyond the map are difficult terrain. A creature that enters the Fray for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must succeed

emerge. “Them next,” the ogre says, gesturing in your direction. The soldiers move forward obediently. Fewmaster Gholcag is a low-ranking commander in the Red Dragon Army and the leader of the raid

Blackstaff

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

for the Blackstaff, the highest-ranking wizard in Waterdeep. As the rightful owner of the Blackstaff, Vajra Safahr is the only one who can become attuned to it. The staff can, however, choose a new

no longer serves the staff’s wishes, the staff ceases to function until it finds a worthy inheritor — someone whose loyalty to Waterdeep is beyond reproach. Spirit Trap. When the Blackstaff dies, the

Rock Gnomes

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

, stone melting compound, stirge repellent, and glow-in-the-dark paint. Artificers Rock gnome artificers construct exquisitely tooled and enameled pieces of machinery, often weaving magical properties

creations of tinker gnomes range from the ridiculous to the dangerous. They love to push the art of invention beyond its limits, and to explore the instability of volatile materials. They cackle with glee

Other Nonplayer Characters

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

long distances. But that’s what fills Sechepol’s wagon. He will make his money on the road, selling his stock to his fellow travelers in the caravan. He is diplomatic and has a gift for defusing

Gate, and this is her first trip more than two miles away from home. She is smart, tough, and talented with both spear and bow, but she knows nothing of the world beyond her aunt’s farm or of people

Other Nonplayer Characters

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

distances. But that’s what fills Sechepol’s wagon. He will make his money on the road, selling his stock to his fellow travelers in the caravan. He is diplomatic and has a gift for defusing arguments

, and this is her first trip more than two miles away from home. She is smart, tough, and talented with both spear and bow, but she knows nothing of the world beyond her aunt’s farm or of people who

Battle Balloon

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

vicious dragon-slaying spear at the fore that has seen use more than once. The Hard Cloud is a veteran of numerous combat operations, and it has so far come out in one piece. Beyond the tales told of the

vessel’s exploits, rumors abound regarding the wondrous vehicle. Is it powered by a bound efreeti, as some have said? Does the hold contain clones of every high-ranking member of Acquisitions

Drow

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

parties to the surface to capture humanoids under cover of darkness, bringing them back to their cities to be tortured into submission. Beyond those occasional excursions, the drow are content to remain

short lived and fraught with peril. Drow society is divided into noble houses, each ruled by a matron who seeks to raise the prestige and power of her house above all others. Other high-ranking members

Lady's Ward

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

precious or dangerous—are showcased in an exhibition hall just inside the Armory. Doom Lords. Beyond the forge lie four heavily guarded chambers, each containing a portal to a fortress on the edge of one

of the Inner Planes. Within these citadels, the four doom lords—high-ranking faction lieutenants with powers of entropy and destruction—observe the multiverse and its beauteous decay. From these

Clerks' Ward

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

project, especially recent ones, fetch a high price with opposing factions. Unsurprisingly, the underground compound is heavily defended. Within the campus lies a thrumming portal to Ysgard, a plane where

and one or two other high-ranking members. However, speakers sometimes delegate their time behind the podium to an eloquent representative whom they trust to represent the faction’s interests. The

N2. Blue Water Inn

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

the wine. Map 5.2: Blue Water Inn (Area N2)View Player Version Keepers of the Feather Urwin Martikov (LG male human) is a wereraven (see appendix D) and a high-ranking member of the Keepers of the

characters are looking for guides or information about the land of Barovia, Szoldar and Yevgeni can be of service. They aren’t afraid to venture beyond Vallaki’s walls during the day, and they know the

Ascendant Factions

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

might be true deities that oversee everything, but such beings are beyond comprehension. They assert that worshipers of the gods draw their power from unknowable sources—false gods simply take the

destruction. Trees must be felled and stone cut to build a house, and the house must eventually burn, rot, or wither away. The highest-ranking Doomguard members aside from the factol are the doom lords, who

Stone Giants

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

, to serve as guards on the tribe’s most distant borders or as hunters that wander beyond those borders. As such, the stone giants that are first encountered by outsiders are almost always the least

giant’s waking hours are taken up with meeting its responsibilities, whether that is a low-ranking pursuit or an artistic one. A tribe’s chieftain or another leader such as a shaman determines when the

Baldur's Gate

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

. Even now, murderous echoes ripple through the city and beyond, and reports of unexplainable, gruesome killings flow out of Baldur’s Gate. Baldur’s Gate is ruled by the Council of Four, dukes who vote

easy to achieve, and adventurers with much experience swiftly advance in rank (and, consequently, political influence) once they become permanent members. Many ranking officers are former adventurers

Candlekeep

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

any person with the ability to discover and absorb it all powerful beyond compare. The problem with doing that, of course, is the same as with secrets in any other location: one must know that a

thick in the Hearth about what lies beyond the necessariums, it is almost all conjecture and hearsay, with a heavy dose of fable, you can wager safely. From the Court of Air, one can see that the

Luskan

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

. Beyond these universal tasks, each captain takes on other duties as desired in order of that Ship’s standing in the hierarchy, leaving less glamorous and less lucrative tasks to the captains and Ships of

to warehouses, caravan yards, and workspace. It includes the Mirabar Shield, the fortified compound that represents Mirabar’s trading interest in Luskan. Mirabar uses it as a base to trade with the

Cave of Echoes Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

take 13 (3d8) thunder damage and have the deafened condition for 1 minute. The echo then dissipates and doesn’t compound. Whispers of Fate. The magic of the Feywild whispers into the cavern, offering

quarry is just beyond the crystal cave (area C6). The cave’s oracular power is similar to a Divination spell. A creature that makes a selfish or destructive request causes thunderous reprimands to

Elturgard

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

sun is. This constant daylight lessens the farther one travels from Elturel, casting a sort of wan dawn light for fifty or so miles around the city. Beyond that, the orb is visible as a bright beacon in

-called “First Folk of Berdusk,” have made a great show of their piety since the founding of Elturgard, and a great many of the high-ranking priests hail from their families. Over the years a few bad

Expanded Ziggurat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

stringy slime. A chest rests at the foot of each bed. Low-ranking members of the Cult of Zargon sleep in these communal chambers. Cocoons. Four clammy cocoons, ready to burst, stick to the bottoms of

beyond memory, Zargon has discovered feigning godhood begets it a glut of sacrifices from those who crave its power. If confronted by characters of 10th level or lower, Zargon toys with the party. Mildly

Locations A - D

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

. They refuse to leave their woods, guarding relics and ruins of ages past, and they want nothing to do with the world beyond their borders. Arn Forest This stretch of pine trees and muskeg bogs lies on

yawning exit are two gigantic stone statues of crouching griffons, and beyond them lies one of the great wonders and mysteries of the North: Ascore. This ruined dwarven city once overlooked a sea. Now it

Bathhouse Locations

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

retaliation. Jabaz doesn’t know what lies beyond the secret door. D4. North Massage Room From midnight to dawn, a male human necromite of Myrkul guards this room unless he’s drawn to area D2 by sounds of

. The necromancer looming over the corpse is Flennis, a female human master of souls and the highest-ranking follower of Myrkul in the dungeon. Use the swarm of rats stat block in the Monster Manual to

D&D Beyond

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