before black down cunning rule

Fist of Bane

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and shower the strong with

gifts and promises of power to turn them into loyal vassals. Cruel Tyrants. Whenever Bane’s followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They

Iron Consul

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consul;iron consuls, cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat. The black gauntlet of bane;black gauntlets are the priests who command the consuls.

immediately use its reaction to make one melee attack.Bane’s devoted followers are warriors who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as

Skeemo Weirdbottle

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Gnome Cunning. Skeemo has advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic. Spellcasting. Skeemo is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell

for the Black Network in Waterdeep, setting up a cover in the Trades Ward in the form of a cramped little shop called Weirdbottle's Concoctions. Most of his potions and elixirs are nonmagical, but he

Black Viper

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Cunning Action. On each of her turns, the Black Viper can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Evasion. If the Black Viper is subjected to an effect that allows her to make

. Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The Black Viper deals an extra 14 (4d6);{"diceNotation":"4d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Sneak Attack"} damage when she hits a target with a weapon attack and has

Raezil

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Cunning Action. On each of her turns, Raezil can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Fey Ancestry. Raezil has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic

on the politics of Prismeer. Once she is no longer petrified, Raezil is bound by the rule of reciprocity (see “Rules of Conduct” in chapter 2) to help the characters complete any

Xvart

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Black Sewers, a realm within Pandemonium that he filled with his beloved creatures, rat;rats and bat;bats, which xvarts befriend to this day. He enjoyed his reign only briefly before Graz’zt

unleashed his vengeance. The demon prince urged villains far and wide to pursue the Infinity Spindle for themselves and destroy Raxivort.Low Cunning. The xvart takes the Disengage action.

Blue Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, wall of forceSeekers of forgotten lore and lost relics, blue abishais are the most cunning and learned of their kind. Their research into occult subjects gleaned from tomes plundered from across the

heads: black, blue, green, red, and white. Tiamat deploys abishais as her agents, sending them forth to represent her interests in the Hells and across the multiverse. Some have simple tasks, such as

Xvart Warlock of Raxivort

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

transform even a creature as lowly as Raxivort into a demigod. After his apotheosis, Raxivort forged the Black Sewers, a realm within Pandemonium that he filled with his beloved creatures, rat;rats and bat

;bats, which xvarts befriend to this day. He enjoyed his reign only briefly before Graz’zt unleashed his vengeance. The demon prince urged villains far and wide to pursue the Infinity Spindle for themselves and destroy Raxivort.Low Cunning. The xvart takes the Disengage action.

Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

impossible to manipulate, influence, or control by nonmagical means, even as it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe. Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can

are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they

Lich Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

haunts the abode it favored in life, such as a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps

. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses

Sage Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

master in your fields of study. Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead

can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

, chaotic, and temperamental nature they all share. When its diabolical aspect shines through, a forlarren is a cunning, calculating, and brutal enemy. It might use its natural charm to worm its way

, set itself up as a petty lord, and rule over all those who fall into its grasp. A Sinister Cycle. A forlarren in its fey aspect demonstrates self-destructive urges that reflect the inherent tension in

Adult Green Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Wing Attack","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.The most cunning and

its spine, reaching full height just behind the skull.The forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic taiga

Ancient Green Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

":"2d6+8","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Wing Attack","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.The most cunning

continues down its spine, reaching full height just behind the skull.The forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic

Exethanter

Monsters Curse of Strahd

academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including

Monk Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

exhales and a blast of fire roars from his mouth, engulfing his foes. Moving with the silence of the night, a black-clad halfling steps into a shadow beneath an arch and emerges from another inky

seriously, approaching their adventures as personal tests of their physical and spiritual growth. As a rule, monks care little for material wealth and are driven by a desire to accomplish a greater

Valindra Shadowmantle Legacy

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair

reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses, emerging to destroy those who dare to disturb

Prisoner 13

Monsters Keys from the Golden Vault

steal away most of the clan’s gold, leaving only a pittance. Prisoner 13 is a cunning schemer, ruthless and patient. She listens and watches, absorbing every detail she can, and shares as

. Black and gray smoke and shadows coil down her left arm, ending in runes on the fingers of her left hand. Knotwork. Purple and blue knotwork and runes run down her right arm, across the back of her right

Arcturia

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

lich often haunts the abode it favored in life, such as a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians

and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy

Chromatic Dragonborn

Species Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Dragonborn with chromatic ancestry claim the raw elemental power of chromatic dragons. The vibrant colors of black, blue, green, red, and white dragons gleam in those dragonborn’s scaled skin

, increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as

Baphomet Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

minotaur—considered the greatest gift of the Prince of Beasts. Baphomet himself appears as a great, black-furred minotaur, 20 feet tall with six iron horns. An infernal light burns in his red eyes

. Although filled with bestial bloodlust, there lies within a cruel and cunning intellect devoted to subverting all of civilization. Baphomet wields a great glaive called Heartcleaver. He sometimes

Sage - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Proficiencies: Arcana, History Languages: Two of your choice Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to

library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot

Black Dragons

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

Black Dragons Black Dragons at various ages Black dragons are evil-tempered, cunning, and, malevolent. Their crafty, sinister faces reflect this. They are sometimes known as “skull dragons” for

their deeply socketed eyes and distinctinve nasal opening. Adding to this impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the horn base/cheekbone. This does no harm to the dragon but increases with age. Black Dragon Identifiers

The Dragon Armies

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

the region’s nomads under Dragon Army rule. The half-ogre Lucien of Takar commands the Black Dragon Army, whose focused force supports the other armies and occupies the lands they conquer, including

staggering advantage not seen on battlefields for over a thousand years. The Dragon Queen has elevated her five most cunning and devout followers to the rank of dragon highlord, each commanding one of

Black Dragons

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

Black Dragons Black Dragons at various ages Black dragons are evil-tempered, cunning, and, malevolent. Their crafty, sinister faces reflect this. They are sometimes known as “skull dragons” for

their deeply socketed eyes and distinctinve nasal opening. Adding to this impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the horn base/cheekbone. This does no harm to the dragon but increases with age. Black Dragon Identifiers

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Cunning Grankhul is the younger one, and in the stories bugbears tell, he gifted them with stealth but in return he sapped their vigor, so that bugbears sleep in his stead while he remains eternally alert

bugbears recognize two other gods, both of which they disdain and fear: Maglubiyet and Skiggaret. Maglubiyet, the leader of the goblinoid pantheon, forced both brothers to submit to his rule, but

Black Dragon Adventures

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

Connected Creatures 1 After breaking free from captivity at the hands of a cocky mage, a cunning black dragon wyrmling claimed the mage’s amulet—and the suits of animated armor the amulet controls

types of blights to spread prodigiously and upset nature’s balance. 4 A black dragon wyrmling is setting cunning traps along local roadways, hoping to injure horses and draft animals for easy

Claugiyliamatar (possessed)

Monsters Divine Contention

up to half its flying speed.The most cunning and treacherous of true dragons, green dragons use misdirection and trickery to get the upper hand against their enemies. A green dragon is recognized by

is possessing the body of ClaugiyliamatarThe forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic taiga. However, a forest

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

here as part of some such delegation, then decided to stay when the mission was over. Mulhorand. From the terrain to the architecture to the god-kings who rule over these lands, nearly everything

and wonderful! (Chaotic) 4 Cunning. Though I may not know their ways, neither do they know mine, which can be to my advantage. (Evil) 5 Inquisitive. Everything is new, but I have a thirst

Those Who Rule

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

Those Who Rule The following sahuagin rule the fortress, oversee its armed forces, and direct its worship of Sekolah. Baroness Seklaz The initial attack against the lizardfolk and the subsequent

occupation of the fortress were the baroness’s doing. She is a cunning war strategist and has a measure of patience that serves her well. She has an excellent relationship with the high priestess, with

Black Dragons

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

to tear down all they see and rule over what remains. Black dragons are terrifying creatures with curved horns and withered visages suggestive of fiendish skulls. They typically inhabit stagnant

Black Dragons Dragons of Decay and Despair Habitat: Swamp; Treasure: Relics Black dragons delight in suffering and ruin. While other chromatic dragons scheme for power and wealth, these dragons seek

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule, moonstone dragons are

look to other maps in this chapter as inspiration for the scattered parts of a moonstone dragon’s lair. For example, a well maintained and above-water version of the black dragon lair’s

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

appreciation for the finer things! — Volo Goblins occupy an uneasy place in a dangerous world, and they react by lashing out at any creatures they believe they can bully. Cunning in battle and

opportunity to supervise and dominate such creatures, which have no status at all. WHO'S THE BOSS? Goblins pattern the rule of their tribes after the whip-cracking rule of their god, Khurgorbaeyag

Ancient Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

artists and poets, encourage great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule

, a well maintained and above-water version of the black dragon lair’s tower (map 5.2) makes a great Feywild audience chamber, while a vibrant, living version of the green dragon lair’s

Creating a Black Dragon

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

Creating a Black Dragon Use the Black Dragon Personality Traits and Black Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive black dragon characters, and use the Black Dragon Spellcasting

table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. Black Dragon Personality Traits d8 Trait 1 I demonstrate my brilliance through the cruel subtlety of my actions. 2 Watching the

D&D Beyond

Search Results