before birth defending certain reading

Android

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Specialization"}): 1, aerialist; 2, diplomat; 3, diver; 4, duelist; 5, medic; 6, sentry. This design determines certain traits in this stat block. Lightning Overload. When the android takes lightning

android has one or more upgrades to help it excel at its intended functions, but all androids are capable of defending themselves with concentrated bolts of force up close or from a distance. Despite

Red Slaad (control gem variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

point. Control Gem. Implanted in the slaad's brain is a magic control gem. The slaad must obey whoever possesses the gem and is immune to being charmed while so controlled. Certain spells can be used to

egg. A humanoid host can carry only one slaad egg to term at a time. Over three months, the egg moves to the chest cavity, gestates, and forms a slaad tadpole. In the 24-hour period before giving birth

Oracle

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

—mortals communicate with a single god, interpreting their intentions for the wider world. Others aren’t aligned with a god and observe the night sky, reading Nyx like a vast, cryptic scroll

divine omens (such as those presented in chapter 4) might seek out an oracle to gain a clearer vision of the god’s intentions. Finding an oracle, though, or one experienced in interpreting certain types of visions, might prove to be an adventure in its own right.

Glyph of Warding Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

triggers include opening that object, approaching within a certain distance of the object, or seeing or reading the glyph. Once a glyph is triggered, this spell ends. You can further refine the

another object covering the glyph, approaching within a certain distance of the glyph, or manipulating the object on which the glyph is inscribed. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the most common

Symbol Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

common triggers are opening the object, approaching within a certain distance of it, or seeing or reading the glyph. You can further refine the trigger so the spell is activated only under certain

stepping on the glyph, removing another object covering it, approaching within a certain distance of it, or manipulating the object that holds it. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the most

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

known that reading her father’s face was a skill she’d been fortunate to learn. A human who couldn’t spot the shift of her eyes or Havilar’s would certainly see only the

to another dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races—or even from the gods. Dragonborn Names Dragonborn have personal names given at birth, but they put their clan names first as a

Relentless Juggernaut

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

a certain area its territory and visits destruction upon all trespassers. Relentless killers are hateful, revenge-obsessed creatures that enter into pacts with fiends or other nefarious entities

its birth, and its wicked nature emerged over time. 4 A wicked place or magic relic seeped into its being, turning it into a monster. 5 The killer used its body to contain an evil entity

The Abbot

Monsters Curse of Strahd

, inbred lepers—came to the abbey seeking salvation. The deva rid them of their diseases, an act for which they were eternally grateful, but could not cure them of certain human defects that had been

present since birth. The Abbot became consumed with a prideful, obsessive desire to rid the poor Belviews of their lingering imperfections. The Belview family, however, had strange ideas of what it

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

and its siblings inherit whatever tools, weapons, and gifts their parents left behind. Each young tortle is expected to fend for itself. It leaves the place of its birth and finds its own corner of the

, defending their offspring, and sharing a lifetime of knowledge before they die. When the children are old enough to leave the compound, they pick up whatever weapons and tools their parents left behind and

Ki-rin

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

good fortune. They consider seeing a ki-rin fly overhead a blessing and events that happen on such a day especially auspicious. If a ki-rin alights during a ceremony such as a birth announcement or a

to inspire and strengthen the side of good or to rescue heroes from certain death. Ki-rins are attracted to the worship of deities of courage, loyalty, selflessness, and truth, as well as to the

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

circumstances of your birth, could have secured you this position. You might have been one of the many functionaries, attendants, and other hangers-on in the Court of Silverymoon, or perhaps you

(which could pertain to certain individuals in the group, such as your sponsor or mentor). Your ideal might be concerned with the prevailing philosophy of your court or organization. Guild

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

member of your family, by right of birth, or it could have been left to you by a friend, a mentor, a teacher, or someone else important in your life. The revelation of your inheritance changed your life

ability and increases in potency with the passage of time. Or, the true nature of your inheritance might not be apparent at first and is revealed only when certain conditions are met. When you begin

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

advisor in human society. The very rare offspring of such a union are always purebloods, although they may appear fully human at birth and for several years afterward. The yuan-ti know rituals that

royal family could poison a meal and declare it “safe” after taking a bite. There are legends of certain yuan-ti infiltrating human cities and forming deadly covert societies that sell

Character Creation

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

hero’s life from miraculous birth to glorious end? If you’re reading this, the answer is that you make a hero, of course. In Theros, player characters and heroes are synonymous, being rare

makes a hero? Is it a quality of birth that sets some mortals above others? Is it a blessing from the gods? Is it a matter of fate, spun out in the strands of a divine tapestry, charting the course of a

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

diplomacy. They care only for satisfying their insatiable desire for battle, to smash their foes and appease their gods. Booming Birth Rate In order to replenish the casualties of their endless warring

, orcs breed prodigiously (and they aren’t choosy about what they breed with, which is why such creatures as half-orcs and ogrillons are found in the world). Females that are about to give birth are

Hippogriff

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

animals. Reclusive and omnivorous, hippogriffs mate for life and seldom venture more than a few miles from their nest. When defending its mate or its young, a hippogriff fights to the death. Hippogriffs

don’t lay eggs but give birth to live young. Dragons, griffons, and wyverns have a taste for hippogriff meat and frequently prey on these creatures. Flying Mounts. A hippogriff raised in captivity

Life of a Tortle

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

tools, weapons, and gifts their parents left behind. Each young tortle is expected to fend for itself. It leaves the place of its birth and finds its own corner of the wilderness in which to hunt, catch

by stone walls that are easily defensible. If no such compound exists, they build one. The parents spend the remainder of their lives guarding the compound, defending their offspring, and sharing a

Education and Research

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

Education and Research Morgrave University, though not the most respectable institution of higher learning in Khorvaire, has an extensive library that boasts definitive collections of lore in certain

around Morgrave, with their homes and businesses almost all located in the University, Den’iyas, and Ivy Towers districts of Upper Menthis. Another important site for certain kinds of research is the

Childhood

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

to usher a child into the world. They cannot understand how a birth is both a joy and a sorrow, a reunion and a parting. Each birth represents an elf soul that has been to Arvandor and returned

. Mortal elves cannot know if it is the soul of someone recently dead or someone who died millennia ago. They cannot even be certain it is an elf of the same world. The only assurance they have is that it

Tragic Flaws

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

don’t want a god to learn or certain to provoke a god’s anger. For example, some of the flaws listed for the outlander background in the Player’s Handbook could put a character into conflict with a god

. NATAL OMENS The birth of a hero is often accompanied by signs in Nyx and Theros alike. You can use the Omens table in chapter 4 to randomly determine an omen that appeared when you were born. It’s up to you and your DM to determine the omen’s meaning.

The Draconic Prophecy

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

at each individual fragment of the Prophecy as a self-contained challenge, and they explore how a certain series of actions might fulfill the Prophecy. The immortal beings who are truly invested in

forge, especially when connected to House Cannith as the gorgon in the previous line. Or they could refer to the birth of a new thing from the ashes of the old, or to mortal passions (the fires of the

What Sarah Knows

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

occluded her memories of the details of the ritual and of her own death.) The book that Sarah observed Viallis reading was the source of the ritual, and a work of evil. The souls of Lady Maria, Malik

. Sarah doesn’t know what happened to them, but she is certain that Lord Viallis has something to do with it. Sarah’s anguished state of mind means that she can share no information other than what is

Languages and Dialects

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

languages can add an element of mystery to inscriptions and tomes that characters encounter. You might invent additional secret languages, besides Druidic and thieves’ cant, that allow members of certain

. In a region where one race has subjugated another, the language of the conquerors can become a mark of social status. Similarly, reading and writing might be restricted by law to the upper classes of a society.

10. Ritual Chamber

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

. Darkness swallow the moon. Darkness claim this dungeon and all that dwell within.” If attacked, they continue to chant while also defending themselves. Killing a cult fanatic deactivates one of the pillars

a faint image in the cloud of an adult bronze dragon surrounded by figures in black robes wearing the holy symbol of Shar and reading from scrolls. As the great creature writhes in pain, its bronze

Lost Spire Locations (P1-P8)

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

group of adventurers Dzaan hired to help him search the spire removed all the books they considered valuable, including spellbooks. They left behind a few that might interest certain characters: Magical

disturbing sketches of them. Wizards in the Hollow. The birth of the Netherese empire is chronicled in this otherwise dull, plodding story about the lives of three Netherese wizards. Tunnel Down. A rough

Glyph of Warding

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

most common triggers include opening that object, approaching within a certain distance of the object, or seeing or reading the glyph. Once a glyph is triggered, this spell ends. You can further refine

, removing another object covering the glyph, approaching within a certain distance of the glyph, or manipulating the object on which the glyph is inscribed. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the

Symbol

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

inscribed within an object, the most common triggers are opening the object, approaching within a certain distance of it, or seeing or reading the glyph. You can further refine the trigger so the spell

most typical triggers include touching or stepping on the glyph, removing another object covering it, approaching within a certain distance of it, or manipulating the object that holds it. For glyphs

Glyph of Warding

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

most common triggers include opening that object, approaching within a certain distance of the object, or seeing or reading the glyph. Once a glyph is triggered, this spell ends. You can further refine

, removing another object covering the glyph, approaching within a certain distance of the glyph, or manipulating the object on which the glyph is inscribed. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the

Android

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

or more upgrades to help it excel at its intended functions, but all androids are capable of defending themselves with concentrated bolts of force up close or from a distance. Despite an android’s

designs suited for its role (choose or roll a d6): 1, aerialist; 2, diplomat; 3, diver; 4, duelist; 5, medic; 6, sentry. This design determines certain traits in this stat block. Lightning Overload. When

Souls and Shells

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

, soulless or not, can give birth. A child born in Barovia might have a soul even if one or both parents do not. Conversely, the child of two parents with souls isn’t certain to have a soul of its own

Vladeska Drakov

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

Vladeska Drakov In the world of her birth, Vladeska Drakov was known as the Crimson Falcon, leader of a peerless mercenary army called the Falcon’s Talons. She and her troops executed a thousand

veteran troops. Since then, Drakov has lost nearly her entire nation. Every month a new desperate battle unfolds. She prepares ceaselessly for each, certain of her plans and ultimate victory, but

Activating an Item

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

Activating an Item Activating some magic items requires a user to do something in particular, such as holding the item and uttering a command word, reading the item if it is a scroll, or drinking it

if it is a potion. The description of each item category or individual item details how an item is activated. Certain items use one or more of the following rules related to their activation. If an

People of Akros

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

People of Akros For most of Akros’s neighbors, the term “Akroan” evokes legendary warriors, trained from birth in every martial discipline known to humankind. It brings to mind songs of tight-knit

to have transformed into a pillar of fire and vanished into the wind, but until her death is certain, the lektoi are reluctant to name a new monarch. Anax and Cymede have no children, so the king’s

Factional Assets

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

cousins. However, they cooperate with allies better than the evil dragons do, giving them a greater impact on the battlefield. Devils. Certain powerful devils don’t want to see Tiamat unleashed on Faerûn

battle. Skyreach will be assaulted by chromatic dragons the moment it appears above the Well of Dragons, drawing those powerful combatants away from defending the caldera. Arcane Brotherhood. Members

Drow House Captain

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

Drow House Captain A drow house captain leads the troops of an Underdark faction, whether defending a stronghold or leading forces against enemies. These officers make extensive study of strategy and

weapon. House captains will do anything to protect their family—whether that’s their birth house or their platoon of scrappy rebels. I’d do anything for my (sometimes infuriating) mother and for my chosen family, so I admire their dedication. TASHA

D&D Beyond

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