before blessings drive combat refuges

Sacred Statue

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

False Appearance. If the statue is motionless at the start of combat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature hasn’t observed the statue move or act, that creature must

soul; it then animates this effigy and uses the statue to drive out the intruders.Cold, Necrotic, PoisonAcid, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Stone Cursed

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Cunning Opportunist. The stone cursed has advantage on the attack rolls of opportunity attack;opportunity attacks. False Appearance. If the stone cursed is motionless at the start of combat, it has

, animating the statue and turning it into a useful guardian. Stone cursed possess a malevolent drive to slay the living, yet they are utterly loyal to whoever performed the ritual to animate them, and

Half-Orc Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Gruumsh—lord of war and fury—created the first orcs, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship carry his blessings of might and endurance. The same is true of half-orcs. Some half

-orcs hear the whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat — and either

Pink Candle Wax

Equipment

Combat Utility Whimsy 2 2 0 Wax tinted pink is part of the folk magic tradition associated most closely with the villages of the Gift of Shuritashi. According to such

traditions, minor prayers or blessings are inscribed in the wax. When a candle made from pink wax is lit, it is believed that the magic is released, increasing the likelihood that the prayer will be

Vinyl Record

Equipment

Combat Utility Whimsy 15 15 15 These black disks are covered in a continuous spiral that moves to the center of the disk—believed to be an ancient and lost way of

objects are found in caches where they are often stacked like plates in a restaurant. But discoveries are few and far between, and merchants are sure to drive a hard bargain.

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of his drow foe, then turns to drive his armored elbow into the gut of another. These barbarians, different as they might be, are defined by their rage: unbridled, unquenchable, and unthinking fury

by walls and crowds. They thrive in the wilds of their homelands: the tundra, jungle, or grasslands where their tribes live and hunt. Barbarians come alive in the chaos of combat. They can enter a

Marine

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

who rarely lose composure on the battlefield. Marines who leave the service tend to work as mercenaries, but their combat experience also makes them excellent adventurers. Though they are self-reliant

difficult and struggle to say the right thing in social situations. 3 My intensity can drive others away. 4 I hold grudges and have difficulty forgiving others. 5 I become irrational when

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

(such as the ability to see in darkness or to read any language) to access to powerful spells. Unlike bookish wizards, warlocks supplement their magic with some facility at hand-to-hand combat. They

gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their goals, which typically means some kind of adventuring. Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive

Monk Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. Whatever their discipline, monks are united in their ability to magically harness the energy that flows in their bodies. Whether channeled as a striking display of combat prowess or a subtler focus of

landscapes of the worlds of D&D, tiny refuges from the flow of ordinary life, where time seems to stand still. The monks who live there seek personal perfection through contemplation and rigorous

Cleric Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

her holy symbol as light pours from it to drive back the zombies crowding in on her companions. Clerics are intermediaries between the mortal world and the distant planes of the gods. As varied as the

their combat training to let them wade into melee with the power of the gods on their side. Divine Agents Not every acolyte or officiant at a temple or shrine is a cleric. Some priests are called to

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armor. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the sick and injured, to smite the wicked and the

while you were at prayer? Did another paladin sense the potential within you and decide to train you as a squire? Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to

Piety

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

your piety score. As you increase that score, you gain blessings from your god. Piety has nothing to do with faith or belief, except insofar as a person’s thoughts and ideals drive them to action in

Creating a Paladin

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

some terrible event — the destruction of your home, perhaps — drive you to your quests? Perhaps you stumbled into a sacred grove or a hidden elven enclave and found yourself called to protect all such

refuges of goodness and beauty. Or you might have known from your earliest memories that the paladin’s life was your calling, almost as if you had been sent into the world with that purpose stamped on

The Mark of Gruumsh

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

The Mark of Gruumsh The one-eyed god Gruumsh—lord of war and fury—created the first orcs, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship carry his blessings of might and endurance. The same is

combat — and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, half-orcs feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn

Divine Intervention

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

on mortal heroes to act like heroes. With those principles in mind, you might have gods intervene in dire situations in one of these ways: Blessings. A god might bestow a Blessing (see “Supernatural

Gifts” in this chapter) to help a character in need. Emissaries. A god might send a Celestial, a Fiend, or some other kind of emissary to aid a character with information, guidance, or combat

The Mark of Gruumsh

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

The Mark of Gruumsh The one-eyed god Gruumsh—lord of war and fury—created the first orcs, and even those orcs who turn away from his worship carry his blessings of might and endurance. The same is

combat — and either exult along with him or shiver with fear and loathing. Beyond the rage of Gruumsh, half-orcs feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn

Divine Ordeals

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

described in chapter 1. Will the character’s drive prove strong enough to overcome everything else? An ordeal is a single encounter, which might involve combat, interaction, a series of ability checks

dreamscape constructed by the god. Work to craft an ordeal that provides a significant challenge for the character to overcome. Fundamentally, an ordeal is a test of the character’s heroic drive, as

Creating a Paladin

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

some terrible event — the destruction of your home, perhaps — drive you to your quests? Perhaps you stumbled into a sacred grove or a hidden elven enclave and found yourself called to protect all such

refuges of goodness and beauty. Or you might have known from your earliest memories that the paladin’s life was your calling, almost as if you had been sent into the world with that purpose stamped on

Character Objectives

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

combat encounter, characters might have to fight their way through evil minions before attempting to disrupt the ritual’s magic. This could also drive an exploration encounter, where the challenge is

its own ends. An encounter aimed at making peace might involve only social interaction, perhaps with the threat of combat if negotiations go poorly. It could also begin as a combat encounter, with the

The Winged God

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

Warriors (Neutral) who demand that the merchant surrender his goods. In combat, the kobolds shout things like “For the Winged God!” and “Fight to reclaim our home!” If four of them fall in battle, the

if the adventurers drive off the dragon. Kobold Camp. If the adventurers follow fleeing kobolds, they can find the kobolds’ camp on a nearby outcropping. The kobolds there don’t fight, though, instead

Goristro Raid

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

“treasure” that the erinyes are after: a unicorn named Sterling in an iron cage. Nykaia explains that Kypris will drive the war machine close to the goristro. The three erinyes will then fly to the

the demons in the palanquin. True Treasure Revealed. Once combat finishes, the three erinyes carry down their claimed treasure: A large cage lands with a thud before the vehicle. Through the iron

Champions and Quests

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

, and blessings the god might bestow. Serving Two or More Masters Often, each of the characters in an adventuring party is the champion of a different god—or no god at all. What brings the characters

blessings, champions are expected to do the god’s bidding. The quests in each god’s section throughout this chapter provide examples of tasks the gods might assign to their champions. As long as at

Adult Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

beauty of the ocean. (Good) 6 Code of Combat. I despise most other dragons, but I meet them face to face without resorting to the base trickery I use on lesser creatures. (Lawful) Topaz

drive the giant away. 2 An adult topaz dragon and an adult bronze dragon are finding their centuries-old enmity turning into a more romantic passion. 3 A djinni hopes to convince a topaz

Flavors of Fantasy

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

to drive the action of a campaign: Evil Cult. Wicked cultists infiltrate a peaceful realm to free an ancient evil entity trapped in a dungeon. Releasing the entity would surely spell the realm’s doom

symbolize the decadence and corruption of civilization, and mages are the classic villains of these settings. Magic items are therefore rare and often dangerous. Consider conflicts like these to drive the

Stone Cursed

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

the burned feathers of a cockatrice, awakens a dim echo of the petrified victim’s spirit, animating the statue and turning it into a useful guardian. Stone cursed possess a malevolent drive to slay

the living, yet they are utterly loyal to whoever performed the ritual to animate them, and they obey that being’s orders to the best of their ability. In combat, stony claws that drip with thick, gray

Arena

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

, but more modest stadiums can be found throughout the land, serving as proving grounds for athletes and entertainment for the rich and poor. Foot and chariot races, hurling competitions, and combat

competitions stand here to receive medals, wreaths, rewards, the blessings of priests, and the praise of the crowd. Outside the arena and beneath the seats are open areas and alcoves where vendors

Sparkrender's Ritual

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

characters leave and take a long rest before confronting Sparkrender, or if they flee from combat with Sparkrender and return after they’ve rested. Another possibility is that the characters drive

dragon wyrmling), if they can free Aidron from his chains (see “Freeing Aidron” below). Any surviving kobolds and winged kobolds lurk here, but they stay out of combat if possible. See “Waking the

Unwelcome Party

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

was planning to take her boys to find safety. High Overseer Thavius Kreeg is the leader of the city, and Harkina hopes that he is working on a plan to rescue survivors and drive away the devils. If

those NPCs in combat. The easiest option is to have the NPCs stay back and out of the way, limiting their options to following the characters or hiding from enemies. During fights, you can effectively

Plot Points

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

you like, especially if you want the players to drive more of the story. Once every player at the table has spent a plot point, they each gain 1 plot point. Option 1: What a Twist! A player who spends a

can spend a plot point to become the DM. That player’s character becomes an NPC, and play continues. It’s probably not a good idea to swap roles in the middle of combat, but it can happen if your group

Lizardfolk

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

territorial, they use camouflaged scouts to guard the perimeter of their domain. When unwelcome visitors are detected, a tribe sends a hunting band to harass or drive the trespassers off, or tricks them into

taste for humanoid flesh. Prisoners are often taken back to their camps to become the centerpieces of great feasts and rites involving dancing, storytelling, and ritual combat. Victims are either

Styes Encounters

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

Styes Encounters The adventure presents only those encounters and events that drive the plot, but any character who spends time in the Styes is bound to have additional unpleasant interactions. As

attack, the militia retreat if any of them are killed or at the end of the second round of combat. If any militia members are killed, the characters are immediately attacked by any other militia

Stone Cursed

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

malevolent drive to slay the living, yet they are utterly loyal to whoever performed the ritual to animate them, and they obey that being’s orders to the best of their ability. In combat, stony claws

Dragon Encounters

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

encounter with a dragon needs to involve combat, let alone an all-out fight to the death. Maybe the characters are trying to help a kobold Keeper of Dragons retrieve a wyrmling kidnapped by a gang of

can divert the characters’ attention away from the dragon and make a combat encounter more interesting—as well as more dangerous. See “Followers” earlier in this chapter for ideas about how the

Battle Master

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

Battle Master Those who emulate the archetypal Battle Master employ martial techniques passed down through generations. To a Battle Master, combat is an academic field, sometimes including subjects

well-rounded fighters of great skill and knowledge. Combat Superiority When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you learn maneuvers that are fueled by special dice called superiority dice. Maneuvers

The Rank and File

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

The Rank and File While the Lords of the Nine set the overall direction of the Hells, it is the rank and file — uncounted numbers of lesser devils — that drive their schemes forward. Denizens of the

(rank 8), erinyes (rank 9), ice devils and narzugons (rank 10), and amnizus and pit fiends (rank 11). Lesser devils deal with these leaders on a daily basis. Ice devils are combat commanders

D&D Beyond

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