before birth dwelling certain relate

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

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

Yondalla relate to tortles most of all. Tortles believe that night and day watch over them and other creatures. The moon is the eye of night that watches over them in darkness, and the sun is the

Amethyst Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

an end to the restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before

hope to ascend to godhood, perhaps recreating or replacing Sardior. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time 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

Adult Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

negotiate an end to the restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks

. They all hope to ascend to godhood, perhaps recreating or replacing Sardior. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time

Young Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5 A cult devoted to a Great Old One of the Far Realm

. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time and rarely cultivating connections with other creatures. When they do connect

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

Hag Names

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

chooses her own name, which might or might not relate to her birth name. Some hags use different names in different guises, but still prefer their original name as their favorite. The Hag Names table

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5

godhood, perhaps recreating or replacing Sardior. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time and rarely cultivating

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

alterations in yourself or others, the result often displays the characteristics of fish, amphibians, or other water-dwelling creatures. Blue-green eddies of magical energy sometimes accompany your

spellcasting, forming spirals that reflect the mathematical perfection of nature. Suggested Characteristics The bizarre science of the Simic Combine attracts a certain type of personality and encompasses

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

hidden that the surface-dwelling citizens in the area often don’t know what lies beneath them. Because the kobolds make sure they stay out of the way of anyone more dangerous than themselves, grow

room to dig, and ready sources of food. Although lairing in these locations puts kobolds in competition with surface-dwelling humanoids, their ability to avoid detection often means their warrens go

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

Chapter 2: Dungeon Master's Tools

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

. The chapter opens with optional rules meant to help you run certain parts of the game more smoothly. The chapter then goes into greater depth on several topics — encounter building, random encounters

, traps, magic items, and downtime — which largely relate to how you create and stage your adventures. The material in this chapter is meant to make your life easier. Ignore anything you find here that

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

Type

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

fixed shape. They are mostly subterranean, dwelling in caves and dungeons. Plants. Plant creatures, as opposed to ordinary plants, have some degree of sentience and mobility. Undead. Once-living

. For example, an orc has the humanoid (orc) type. These parenthetical tags provide an additional layer of categorization for certain monsters, but they have no bearing on how a monster is used in combat.

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.

Born to Serve

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

implacable master. And they call that liberation? — Adaka Fell Hand, githzerai monk From birth, githyanki are conditioned to fight and die for their queen. Children endure a brutal upbringing that

githyanki raise their young in hidden crèches that they construct in far-flung places on the Material Plane. Such measures are necessary because birth and growth are impossible on the Astral Plane

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

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

Gorgons

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

a swamp-dwelling bovine monster and an ominous note: “Do better.” —Lum the Maestro, A Mind of Metal Gorgon Command Keys 1d6 Gorgon Won’t Attack Those That... 1 Cast a particular spell in the

gorgon’s presence. 2 Keep their back to the gorgon or otherwise act like they don’t see the monster. 3 Offer it a drink of blood, water, or wine. 4 Recite a specific rhyme or sing a certain song. 5

Tracking Time

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

god of agriculture is honored in the harvest season) or significant events in the history of the deity’s worship, such as the birth or death of a holy person, the date of a god’s manifestation, the

accession of the current high priest, and so on. Certain holy days are civic events, observed by every citizen of a town where a god’s temple can be found. Harvest festivals are often celebrations on a

Amethyst Dragon Adventures

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

restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5 A

godhood, perhaps recreating or replacing Sardior. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time and rarely cultivating connections

The Forgotten Realms

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

worshiped locally, by individual tribes, small cults, or certain sects of larger religious temples. Deities of the Forgotten Realms Deity Alignment Suggested Domains Symbol Auril, goddess

endurance LG Life Hands bound at the wrist with red cord Kelemvor, god of the dead LN Death Upright skeletal arm holding balanced scales Lathander, god of birth and renewal NG Life, Light Road

The Abbot

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

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

Nyxborn

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

the stuff Nyx is made of, and a Nyxborn is shaped from that raw material. You might have been specifically crafted by one of the gods to serve a certain purpose. Or your existence could be an accident

supernatural creature. 2 I was formed from Nyx by one of the gods to serve as a divine emissary. 3 I’m a side effect of some other divine action. 4 A god witnessed my birth, making me what

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

The Ordning

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

automatically revere their kind’s primary deity, however. Many good cloud giants refuse to worship the deceitful Memnor, and a storm giant dwelling in the icy mountains of the north might pay more homage

impetuous and arrogant trickster. Some giants abandon their own gods and fall prey to demon cults, paying homage to Baphomet or Kostchtchie. To worship them or any other non-giant deity is a great sin against the ordning, and almost certain to make a giant an outcast.

Type

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

Type A monster's type speaks to its fundamental nature. Certain spells, magic items, class features, and other effects in the game interact in special ways with creatures of a particular type. For

. They are mostly subterranean, dwelling in caves and dungeons and feeding on refuse, carrion, or creatures unlucky enough to get in their way. Black puddings and gelatinous cubes are among the most

Type

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

Type A monster’s type speaks to its fundamental nature. Certain spells, magic items, class features, and other effects in the game interact in special ways with creatures of a particular type. For

creatures that rarely have a fixed shape. They are mostly subterranean, dwelling in caves and dungeons and feeding on refuse, carrion, or creatures unlucky enough to get in their way. Black puddings and

Master Manipulators

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

trust a hag. Hags are curious about other creatures of power. They enjoy receiving news and gossip about other hags and influential creatures such as dragons, demons, genies, and certain mortals

deliver a mysterious letter at a crossroads at noon on a certain day could be the key to ruining the mortal’s life. The hag’s reasons might not become apparent for years or even decades, or won’t be

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