before burden dark close run

Deep Crow

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

, echoing from the darkness like a death knell. For by the time those glowing red eyes fix on you, it's far too late to run … Some adventurers and sages whisper that deep crows were first spawned as

resembles a massive version of its namesake bird, this creature is a unique form of avian insect. Seen up close, it can easily be discerned from any other giant bird by its insectoid maw, its four-clawed

Haunted One

Backgrounds Curse of Strahd: Character Options

with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its

You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can’t be slain

Living Demiplane

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

, an unfurnished stone chamber 30 feet in every dimension. A creature too big to fit in this space succeeds on the saving throw automatically. Creatures in the chamber never run out of breathable air

extradimensional chamber are expelled, appearing as close to the living spell's previous location as possible. Each expelled creature appears in a randomly determined unoccupied space, along with whatever it is

Geonid

Monsters The Tortle Package

legs come out of a small opening in the bottom of its shell. A geonid can draw its limbs into its shell and close the opening. When it does so, the creature looks like a small boulder. In this state, the

geonid can’t see and relies on its tremorsense to detect other creatures nearby. Dark Lairs. Geonids live in natural tunnels and caves. They feed primarily on lizards, rats, slugs, and other

Young Kruthik

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

packs and nest in sprawling subterranean warrens. They are attracted to sources of heat, such as dwarven forges and pools of molten lava, and carve out lairs as close to such locations as possible

the dark and can detect vibrations in the earth around them. They take the scent of their own dead as a warning and avoid areas where many other kruthiks have died. Slaying a sufficient number of

Iggwilv the Witch Queen

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

start of her turn. Witchcraft. Iggwilv uses Spellcasting or Fey Step. Dark Speech (Costs 2 Actions). Iggwilv utters a phrase in a forbidden language and targets one or two creatures she can see within

60 feet of her. Each target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or take 11 (2d10);{"diceNotation":"2d10","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Dark Speech","rollDamageType":"psychic"} psychic

Encephalon Cluster

Monsters Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

the attacker, it then makes one Slam attack against that attacker.An encephalon cluster pays no heed to an elder brain or its mind flayer progenitors. This grotesque creature shambles through dark

become a gorging menace that can overrun an entire mind flayer colony. Encephalons When an illithid colony lays its eggs dangerously close to a Far Realm rift, an egg sac has a chance to mutate into

Specter of Night

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

, calling to those close to death. Each non-Undead creature within 120 feet of the specter must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature hears the wail and is marked for death

exhaustion.Like dark mirrors of Eldraine’s archons (see “Archon of Boundaries”), specters appear as shrouded figures mounted on horrific flying beasts. It is easy to look at a

Mister Witch

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

company of their eldest son, Urmius Umbrage—a brooding shadar-kai ne’er do-well with a cruel sense of humor. Naeryx and Urmius were close in age and got along well in all respects. Years later

, without informing the rest of his family, Urmius bought a run-down carnival and persuaded Naeryx to help him operate it. Naeryx and Urmius—now calling themselves Mister Witch and Mister Light

Yeth Hound

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

run and torment them before closing in for the kill. Those that fight back discover that mundane weapons partially pass through yeth hounds as if they were made of fog, but magic weapons and silvered

weapons can strike true. Yeth hounds can’t stand sunlight. A pack hunts at night and seeks to return to its dark den before dawn. If a yeth hound is exposed to natural sunlight, it fades away

Memory Web

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

webs lie in ambush draped over plant life, wrapped around corpses, or stuck to ossuaries in dark catacombs. Memory webs feed on memories and require daily sustenance. When a memory web’s prey

draws close, the web springs at the creature and wraps it in sticky, cord-like fibers. The web then drains its victim’s memories, sapping the creature’s life force in the process. A memory web

Kruthik Hive Lord

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

forges and pools of molten lava, and carve out lairs as close to such locations as possible. As they burrow through the earth, they leave behind tunnels—evidence that is often the first clue to

floor with their sharp legs. In addition to having an acute sense of smell, kruthiks can see in the dark and can detect vibrations in the earth around them. They take the scent of their own dead as a

Adult Kruthik

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

lairs as close to such locations as possible. As they burrow through the earth, they leave behind tunnels—evidence that is often the first clue to the nearby presence of a kruthik hive

having an acute sense of smell, kruthiks can see in the dark and can detect vibrations in the earth around them. They take the scent of their own dead as a warning and avoid areas where many other

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Just as readily as they mix with each other, humans mingle with members of other races. They get along with almost everyone, though they might not be close to many. Humans serve as ambassadors, diplomats

the Inner Sea, the Mulan are generally tall, slim, and amber-skinned, with eyes of hazel or brown. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands where the Mulan are most prominent, nobles

Feral Tiefling

Species Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his

. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red

Tiefling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his

. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red

Centaur Legacy

Species Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

freedom to travel. As much as they can, centaurs run — in wide plazas, spacious parks, and expanses of rubble and ruin. They race the wind, hooves thundering and tails streaming behind them

the Gruul and the Selesnya they are voices of memory and history, preserving old ways and keeping alive the legends of ancestral heroes. They feel a close kinship with wild animals, perhaps because of

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

;s activities. 3 I’ve been assigned to get close to an individual in this guild and learn their secrets. 4 I’ve been assigned to recruit a new Dimir spy from the ranks of this

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

type of gaming set, thieves’ tools Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp Criminal Origins Criminals are pervasive in Baldur

Guild. If either of them ever finds out, your life as you know it will be over. 6 A close friend or relative joined the Guild and vanished mysteriously. You’ve worked your way into the lower

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch

. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

(Costs 2 Actions). Strahd makes one bite attack.With his mind sharp and his heart dark, Strahd von Zarovich is a formidable foe. Courage and lives beyond measure have been lost to him. Reread chapter 1

intelligently and do everything you can to make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters. When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind: Strahd

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back. Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark

? 4 A memory brings with it the voice of someone once close to you. How do they advise you? 5 You recall enjoying something that you can’t stand doing now. What is it? Why don’t

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

of Rakdos together. We’re very close. 3 A childhood friend of mine is an attendant in Rix Maadi, the Rakdos guildhall. 4 My parents brought me into the guild and taught me my trade

very amusing dark side. 2 A Boros captain really wants to “redeem” me. 3 I think a member of my troupe is a Dimir agent. 4 I once convinced a Golgari medusa to participate

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, rot, and rebirth. You have spent your life in the slow churn of that ecosystem, in the dark places of the city where the messy parts of existence are on display. There is little squeamishness among the

, you are connected to every other member in some way or another. Convinced that the rest of the world is out to get you, you find it easy to form close bonds with your guild mates, and harder to make

Haunted One

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

with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its

Haunted One You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can’t be slain

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

out of sight on a high tree branch in the form of a leopard, a human peers out of the jungle at the strange construction of a temple of Evil Elemental Air, keeping a close eye on the cultists&rsquo

, druids take on a more active role in combating the threat, as adventurers. Creating a Druid When making a druid, consider why your character has such a close bond with nature. Perhaps your

Haunted One

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

with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its

Haunted One You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can’t be slain

Ancient Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

top of the map) provides the main access to the lair by way of two sections of relatively thin crystal walls. The dragon can use a lair action to open or close passages through these walls throughout

the lair. Cobweb-Choked Tunnels. Adventurers who manage to access the other side of the cave’s crystal walls discover a network of dark, cobweb-choked tunnels extending deep into the earth, set

Claugiyliamatar (possessed)

Monsters Divine Contention

exhales dark energy in a 90--foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 77 (22d6);{"diceNotation":"22d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Necrotic

trees grow close together except where winding pathways trace their way like a maze into the heart of the forest. The light that reaches the forest floor carries an emerald green cast, and every

Creating Encounters

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

Creating Encounters Encounters are the individual scenes in the larger story of your adventure. First and foremost, an encounter should be fun for the players. Second, it shouldn’t be burden for you

to run. Beyond that, a well-crafted encounter usually has a straightforward objective as well as some connection to the overarching story of your campaign, building on the encounters that precede it

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; Elminster The serpent creatures known as yuan-ti are all that remains of an ancient, decadent human empire. Ages ago their dark gods taught them profane, cannibalistic rituals to mix their flesh

primordial world heeded the prayers of these people and hissed dark demands into their ears. The people tainted their souls by performing human sacrifices in the name of the gods, debased their flesh by

Missing Players

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

should strive to keep the character alive and use resources wisely. Run the character yourself. It’s an extra burden for you, but it can work. Decide the character isn’t there. Invent a good reason for

Missing Players How should you deal with the characters of missing players? Consider these options: Have another player run the missing player’s character. The player running the extra character

Suggested Characteristics

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

d8 Personality Trait 1 I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. 2 I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness. 3 I spend money freely and live

life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. 4 I live for the thrill of the hunt. 5 I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. 6 I expect

Components of a Curse

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

Components of a Curse Most curses have three distinct components: pronouncement, burden, and resolution. Whatever form these take, at least one of them, especially the burden or resolution, should

a powerful villain or a wrongly slain innocent Swearing a vow to refrain from or undertake some action on pain of great suffering Burden A curse’s burden is the effect that causes hardship and

Approaching the City

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

noisy or repugnant for more genteel citizens. Here travelers must leave any sizable mounts or beasts of burden at one of countless stables and caravanserais before paying the fees to pass through the

gates into the city proper. Travelers from the south are twice blessed in this regard, paying once for the bridge at Wyrm’s Crossing and again once they’ve run the gauntlet of Outer City neighborhoods

D&D Beyond

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