before building detail common reason

Darkling Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

speak of a seelie fey who betrayed the Summer Queen. His true name has been stricken from history, but the stories call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath

that she cursed every member of his house. Other fey refer to the descendants of Dubh Catha's house as the dubh sith-or, in Common, "darklings." Darklings most often settle in secluded caverns and

Darkling Elder Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

call him Dubh Catha ("Dark Crow" in Common). So great was the Summer Queen's wrath that she cursed every member of his house. Other fey refer to the descendants of Dubh Catha's house as the dubh sith-or

, in Common, "darklings." Darklings most often settle in secluded caverns and chambers beneath the towns of other species. From such enclaves, they quietly ply their trade as thieves and assassins

Barovian Witch

Monsters Curse of Strahd

attack. Brothers and Sisters of Strahd. Barovian witches have no scruples. They will deal with anyone in return for power. They will also betray anyone for the same reason. The only thing they fear is

spell component, a ritual object, or a potion ingredient. Barovian witches use the find familiar spell to call forth familiars. They are particularly fond of cats, though snakes and toads are also common. These animals lurk amid the clutter of the witches' lairs, seldom wandering far from their vile masters.

Ulder Ravengard

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

struggled in performing his duties, finding his hands tied at every turn by both overt and invisible bureaucracy. Despite this, he's been a voice of reason and common sense on the Council of Four — if

Hermit Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5 gp Life of Seclusion What was the reason for your isolation, and what

changed to allow you to end your solitude? You can work with your DM to determine the exact nature of your seclusion, or you can choose or roll on the table below to determine the reason behind your

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

watch a frog croaking on a lily pad, or to stand in a crowded human marketplace. Tortles like to learn new skills. They craft their own tools and weapons, and they are good at building structures and

put to use when building forts to contain their offspring. Although they spend a considerable portion of their lives in isolation, tortles are social creatures that like to form meaningful

Giff Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

brighter the flash, and the thicker the smoke it produces, the more giff love a weapon. Their skill with gunpowder is another reason for their popularity as mercenaries. Giff revel in the challenge of

building a bomb big enough to level a fortification. They gladly accept payment in kegs of gunpowder in preference to gold, gems, or other currency. No Honor in Magic. Some giff become wizards

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

: Choose one of Elvish, Giant, or Kraul Equipment: A Golgari insignia, a poisoner’s kit, a pet beetle or spider, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp worth of mixed

knowledge of anatomy to use by narrating the injuries my enemies suffer in grisly detail. 8 Like a wild animal, I lash out viciously when I’m provoked — and I’m easily provoked

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

, you promise to deliver. Common sense should steer people away from things that sound too good to be true, but common sense seems to be in short supply when you’re around. The bottle of pink

a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. 5 I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. 6 Sarcasm and insults are my

Acolyte Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being, and work with your DM to detail the nature of your religious service. The Gods of the Multiverse section contains a sample pantheon

incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp FEATURE: SHELTER OF THE FAITHFUL As an acolyte, you command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Almost all of the common people and other folk that one might encounter along the Sword Coast or in the North have one thing in common: they live out their lives without ever traveling more than a

few miles from where they were born. You aren’t one of those folk. You are from a distant place, one so remote that few of the common folk in the North realize that it exists, and chances are

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

;Disguise kit Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A Dimir insignia, three small knives, a set of dark-colored common clothes, and the starting equipment of the background described in this

guildless masses of the city. Consider why you’re embedded in the secondary guild. Create a story with your DM, inspired by rolling on the following table or choosing a reason that suits you

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

at the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within

. The kenku lack the talent to improvise or alter a plan, but a wise Master sets multiple plans in motion at once, confident that underlings can follow orders to the letter. For this reason, many

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

heart of the world and monuments to the durability of life. In their role as caretakers, firbolgs live off the land while striving to remain in balance with nature. Their methods reflect common

Reason for Adventuring 1 Outcast for murder 2 Outcast for severely damaging home territory 3 Clan slain by invading humanoids 4 Clan slain by a dragon or demon 5

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

clade — a diverse group of individuals combining disparate talents in pursuit of a common goal — or a researcher on a specialized, short-term project focused on addressing an immediate

. 3 I’m eager to explain every detail of my most intricate experiments and theories to anyone who shows the least bit of interest. 4 I assume that everyone needs even the most basic

Acolyte - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

;performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being, and work with your DM to detail the nature of your

to you when you entered the priesthood), a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp FEATURE: SHELTER OF THE FAITHFUL As

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

and worse, so you know you can count on them in a fight. — Brego Stoneheart, sea captain Tritons guard the ocean depths, building small settlements beside deep trenches, portals to the

readily sacrifice themselves for the common good. They will fight and die for humans, merfolk, and other creatures without question. Their self-absorbed nature makes them overlook the history of other

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people

wonderful and important person in the world. 2 The common folk love me for my kindness and generosity. 3 No one could doubt by looking at my regal bearing that I am a cut above the unwashed

Changeling

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, their features almost devoid of detail. It is rare to see a changeling in that form, for a typical changeling changes their shape the way others might change clothes. A casual shape—one created

can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20. Languages Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Common sense should steer people away from things that

sound too good to be true, but common sense seems to be in short supply when you’re around. The bottle of pink-colored liquid will surely cure that unseemly rash, this ointment — nothing

Noble - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

bestowed? How much influence do they wield, and over what area? What kind of reputation does your family have among the other aristocrats of the region? How do the common people regard them? What&rsquo

visit prosperous Bloomridge to try a fashionable restaurant or boutique, or watch a spectacle at the Oasis Theater, the patriars have little reason to venture into the dirtier, more dangerous parts of the

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The kobolds prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger

Common Deck

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

Common Deck The four suits and their respective cards are described in more detail below.

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

have more in common with iguanas or dragons than they do with humans, dwarves, or elves. Lizardfolk possess an alien and inscrutable mindset, their desires and thoughts driven by a different set of

quirk for a lizardfolk character or to inspire a unique mannerism. Lizardfolk Quirks d8 Quirk 1 You hate waste and see no reason not to scavenge fallen enemies. Fingers are tasty and

Starting Location

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

Free City of Greyhawk, described later in this chapter, is an ideal starting location and illustrates the kinds of things to consider as you detail a starting location. If you’re building your own

Starting Location Begin your campaign in a location you can detail, such as a village, a neighborhood in a larger city, an outpost, or a roadside tavern. Be prepared to give players enough

Personality

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

. He is lonely and dreams of building a community of spellcasters who support each other. Unfortunately, his ego makes that dream all but impossible. Although Mordenkainen can be brash and off-putting

, he eschews cruelty and sees no reason to cause pointless suffering. The wizard doesn’t like to admit it, but he would put his own safety at risk to quell the pain of innocents.

Setting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

outside Yeonido. If you wish to further detail the city and its surroundings, use the “Yeonido Gazetteer” section at the end of this adventure. Dragonlance. Either the island of Enstar or the New

Coast region could host Yeonido. The distant relationship between the people of Krynn and their gods could be another reason why some of the city’s dead have difficulty finding peace. Forgotten Realms

1. Create a Home Base

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

1. Create a Home Base See the “Settlements” section earlier in this chapter for guidance on building this settlement. A small town or village at the edge of the wilderness serves as a fine home base

makes a good first adventure for most campaigns. See chapter 3, “Creating Adventures” for guidance. A home base provides a common starting location for the characters. This starting point might be

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Languages: One of your choice Equipment: A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit, and 5 gp Hermit Origins Any

past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society. Work with your DM to

Magic Items

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

rarity of each one. The table also indicates whether an item requires attunement. All the items use the magic items rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Magic Items Rarity Item Attunement Common

Illuminator’s Tattoo Yes Common Masquerade Tattoo Yes Common Prosthetic Limb No Common+ Spellwrought Tattoo No Uncommon+ All-Purpose Tool Yes Uncommon+ Amulet of the Devout Yes Uncommon+ Arcane

Approaching the Lodge

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

and width of any building found in Ten-Towns. The lodge has three tall openings on the east side. On the southern side of the building is a tunnel left behind by a remorhaz that raided the lodge’s

reason why the wolves won’t enter the lodge? No ability check can answer this question; the characters must find out for themselves! In truth, the winter wolves expect Norsu to slaughter the

Ramshackle

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

Ramshackle Closed inn This aptly named building—which used to be the only inn in town—closed after its last owner, a retired sawyer named DeGrootz, hanged himself in the common room two years ago

. Some locals believe that DeGrootz’s hanging was staged to conceal his murder at the hands of some old “friends” of his. Townsfolk are currently using the vacant building for lumber storage, but anyone

Random Buildings

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

, roll on the Building Type table. Then roll on the table corresponding to that building to add further detail. If a roll makes no sense considering where the characters are (such as a lavish mansion

Random Buildings Pulse-pounding chases and harrowing escapes within the confines of a town or city can sometimes force characters to dash into buildings. When you need to flesh out a building quickly

Mournland Villains

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

Mournland Villains Few people have reason to spend time anywhere near the Mournland. Among the exceptions are those who seek to plunder the riches of lost Cyre, such as Ikar’s Salvage (described

Blades (described in more detail earlier in this chapter and in chapter 6) is a major force in the Mournland. The Mournland Villains table suggests other possible evil schemes and influences that might

Halls of the Hunting Axe

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

with gardens and joined by walls into one vast and sprawling building. It was surrounded by a moat fed by underground springs; splendid stone statues of heroic dwarves stood on high pedestals wherever

one turned. All trace of the gigantic building is gone now except the foundations of its thickest, highest walls, which jut like lines of stone teeth from thickets of trees and creeping vines. For

D&D Beyond

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