behalf bards diffusing change relies

College of Spirits

Classes Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions— and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards conjure

spiritual embodiments of powerful forces to change the world once more. Such spirits are capricious, though, and what a bard summons isn’t always entirely under their control.

Mirror Image Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

one of your duplicates. If you have three duplicates, you must roll a 6 or higher to change the attack's target to a duplicate. With two duplicates, you must roll an 8 or higher. With one duplicate

hits it. It ignores all other damage and effects. The spell ends when all three duplicates are destroyed. A creature is unaffected by this spell if it can't see, if it relies on senses other than sight, such as blindsight, or if it can perceive illusions as false, as with truesight.

College of Spirits (VRGtR)

Classes Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions— and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards conjure

spiritual embodiments of powerful forces to change the world once more. Such spirits are capricious, though, and what a bard summons isn’t always entirely under their control.

Faction Agent

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and

with interests and concerns that transcend local politics and geography, the Alliance has its own cadre of individuals who work on behalf of the organizations, wider agenda. Alliance agents are required

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

elements that can tip the balance one way or the other. Goliaths happily rely on such benefits, but they are careful to remember that such an advantage can always be lost. A goliath who relies too

the one tasked with doing it. A goliath’s nickname is a description that can change on the whim of a chieftain or tribal elder. It refers to a notable deed, either a success or failure

Young Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Prismatic shards rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible. 3 A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers

winter wolf;winter wolves loyal to a frost giant, intent on convincing the wolves to change their evil ways. 4 A lonely werebear enjoys long conversations with a young crystal dragon but doesn

Bard

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

? Ah, then what manner of music they would bring to this world! — Fletcher Danairia, master bard Bards bring levity during grave times; they impart wisdom to offset ignorance; and they make the

ridiculous seem sublime. Bards are preservers of ancient history, their songs and tales perpetuating the memory of great events down through time — knowledge so important that it is memorized and passed

Administration

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Administration The day-to-day functioning of Strixhaven relies on hundreds of laborers, clerks, coaches, administrators, and others. These personnel include folk like Mavinda Sharpbeak, the kindly

. When the argumentative deans fail to chart a coherent course for Strixhaven, the Founder Dragons are occasionally forced to intervene. They don’t step in directly, but a director known as the Voice of the Founders—currently an imposing man named Taiva—speaks on the dragons’ behalf.

Court of Whispers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel

Court of Whispers The denizens of the Court of Whispers barter for current knowledge. Heralds, criers, bards, and griots buy and sell information from the fifteen founding civilizations active in the

. Powerful organizations and individuals from across the planes send agents to the Court of Whispers to collect information and do business on their behalf. Noteworthy examples include the Harpers of

Build Your Group

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

presence. Plenty of Bruisers have a criminal past, but former soldiers are often recruited into this role as well. Fighters and rogues make natural Bruisers. Burglar. Agile and nimble, the Burglar relies

give them a broad range of knowledge to support their schemes. Bards, rogues, and wizards are often drawn to this role. Safecracker. The “breaking” part of “breaking and entering” is the Safecracker’s

Court of Whispers

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

Court of Whispers The denizens of the Court of Whispers barter for current knowledge. Heralds, criers, bards, and griots buy and sell information from the fifteen founding civilizations active in the

. Powerful organizations and individuals from across the planes send agents to the Court of Whispers to collect information and do business on their behalf. Noteworthy examples include the Harpers of

College of Glamour

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

College of Glamour The College of Glamour is the home of bards who mastered their craft in the vibrant realm of the Feywild or under the tutelage of someone who dwelled there. Tutored by satyrs

, eladrin, and other fey, these bards learn to use their magic to delight and captivate others. The bards of this college are regarded with a mixture of awe and fear. Their performances are the stuff of

Mirror Image

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

with an attack during the spell’s duration, roll a d20 to determine whether the attack instead targets one of your duplicates. If you have three duplicates, you must roll a 6 or higher to change the

destroyed. A creature is unaffected by this spell if it can’t see, if it relies on senses other than sight, such as blindsight, or if it can perceive illusions as false, as with truesight.

Mirror Image

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

with an attack during the spell’s duration, roll a d20 to determine whether the attack instead targets one of your duplicates. If you have three duplicates, you must roll a 6 or higher to change the

destroyed. A creature is unaffected by this spell if it can’t see, if it relies on senses other than sight, such as blindsight, or if it can perceive illusions as false, as with truesight.

Build Your Group

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

all of these roles: Prince Oargev ir’Wynarn Civil Servant. The vast majority of work performed on behalf of a head of state has very little to do with deadly adventure: it’s about prosecuting and

Charisma to work in the service of the state. These characters often come from a noble background and bring proficiency in skills such as Intimidation and Persuasion to their work. Bards are natural fits in

The D20

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

avoid the main blast of a fireball, or does he or she take full damage from the blaze? In cases where the outcome of an action is uncertain, the Dungeons & Dragons game relies on rolls of a 20-sided

them, are the basis for almost every d20 roll that a player makes on a character’s or monster’s behalf. Ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws are the three main kinds of d20 rolls, forming

Modifying a Class

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

out one skill or tool proficiency for another doesn’t make a character any stronger or weaker, but doing so can change the flavor of a class in subtle ways. For example, a prominent guild of rogues in

as a proficiency. You could even mandate that skill as one of the choices for rogues who belong to this guild. You can also change armor and weapon proficiencies to reflect certain aspects of your

Lay Out the Premise

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

destination or outcome, no matter how hard they try to change it. You might find it helpful to think about an adventure not as a narrative that arcs from beginning to end with little chance for

as you’re planning adventures. If your adventure relies on certain events, plan for multiple ways they might come about, or be prepared for clever players to prevent those events from happening as

Factions of the Sword Coast

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and innkeepers, rangers, and the clergy of gods that are

individuals who work on behalf of the organizations, wider agenda. Alliance agents are required to be knowledgeable in History, and can always rely on the aid of the governments that are part of the

Chapter 3: Bestiary

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

and change their lore to suit your game. Nothing we say here is meant to curtail your creativity. The creatures in this bestiary are organized alphabetically. A few are grouped under a banner heading

chapter, the lore and maps in chapter 1 might inspire you. Similarly, the racial traits in chapter 2 can be applied to the stat blocks in appendix B to create such memorable NPCs as goliath champions, kenku master thieves, and tabaxi bards.

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Realms

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

others. News and gossip are carried between population centers by caravans and ships that bring in supplies for trade and by traveling bards and minstrels who recount (or invent) stories to inform and

believe that any stalwarts willing to risk their lives on behalf of complete strangers should be lauded and rewarded. But such adventurers, if they become successful, amass wealth and personal status

Build Your Group

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

patron’s behalf. Consider some or all of these roles for the characters in your party: Chameleon. A master of disguise, sleight of hand, and deception, the Chameleon can perform the work of the

cloak or disguise one’s appearance), and proficiency with skills such as Deception, Performance, and Sleight of Hand all greatly benefit the Chameleon. Bards and rogues, as well as characters with

Mortuary Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary

never received one in life. Merle lies in the casket but occasionally sits up to hear his own eulogies. The Dusters ask the characters if they’d like to say anything on behalf of the deceased. 6 A lost

to expel a dybbuk† from a corpse. The exorcist asks the characters to help in dispatch the Fiend. 9 Two bards† in the Heralds of Dust approach the characters and sing a ballad honoring the dead. If the

Redcloak Battalion

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

Battalion. This elite unit fought at the forefront of the Last War, and Brelish bards still sing of the exploits of Khandan the Hammer and Meira the Huntress. At the end of the war, the battalion was split

and again, he has proven himself willing to exercise his power on behalf of a loyal Redcloak. Other Redcloaks. The first place any Redcloak turns for help is another Redcloak. No one else is as

Bard: College of Spirits

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

Bard: College of Spirits Bards of the College of Spirits seek tales with inherent power—be they legends, histories, or fictions—and bring their subjects to life. Using occult trappings, these bards

conjure spiritual embodiments of powerful forces to change the world once more. Such spirits are capricious, though, and what a bard summons isn’t always entirely under their control. Guiding Whispers

Knights of the Black Sword

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

an ice prison from which he cannot escape. Most of the cultists are Icewind Dale natives who would have perished in the wilderness had Levistus not intervened on their behalf. The cultists’ stories

the destruction of Ten-Towns. He believes the duergar are acting on behalf of Asmodeus, the Lord of the Hells and his infernal jailer, but has not shared this information with the cult. The cult’s

11. Drow Outpost

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

nonthreatening manner, the guards are cautious but willing to summon their leaders to speak on their behalf. If greeted with hostility, the drow elite warrior sounds the alarm with a single whistle, bringing

are, she relies on her sister, T’rissa Auvryndar (see level 3), for soldiers, and T’rissa does not support such a strategy. So, armed with only a small force, Melith has been forced to watch and wait

Build Your Group

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

this kind of work. Characters with the criminal background excel at putting their skills and contacts to use on the church’s behalf. Prophet. The Prophet is a visionary with a more-or-less direct

Persuasion (or sometimes Intimidation) and Religion can be useful for this character. Many clerics fill this role, but devout bards can also be effective Teachers. Some Teachers bring skills from the

Ribcage

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

Avernus, the war-torn first layer of the Nine Hells. Clever Fiends and mages can change the gate’s destination, warping the pillar into an icy mirror that leads to the glacial layer of Cania or a noxious

citadel’s courtyard, holding aloft a pair of burning scales. Behind it lies the Court of Cinders, an ornate house of law where devil magistrates administer justice on behalf of the diabolical courts

Creating Magic Items

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

Religion, while a druid or ranger relies on Nature. You must have a minimum skill bonus—your proficiency bonus plus your ability score bonus—in order to develop a schema. You must maintain the minimum

component. 4 The shifting balance of the planes interferes with your work; you must wait for the current planar alignment to change. 5 Your efforts draw the attention of one of the conspiracies

World-Shaking Events

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

defined by the prominent leaders, innovators, and tyrants of the day. These people change the world and etch their signatures indelibly on the pages of history. When they rise to power, they shape the

thing that has been consistently true about the world, which is now no longer true due to this leader’s rise or influence. This is the biggest change that occurs when the new leader takes power and

Meeting with Vizeran

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

at all times. Kleve can change its form to appear as any Small or Medium humanoid, sometimes taking on the appearance of a deep gnome servant or a drow assistant to Vizeran if it wants to blend in. It

can also cast invisibility to observe silently from hiding, and relies on its true form when it wants to intimidate other creatures. Although cruel by nature, Kleve takes no action to harm anyone

Xaos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

. Regardless of its form, the gate isn’t hard to identify; chaos swells around the portal—the eye of a maelstrom of change. CoupleOfKooks “Chaos, much like order, begins in the mind. Refuse its entry into

damage type for another. Roll a d4 for the new damage type, if any: (1) acid, (2) cold, (3) fire, or (4) lightning. This effect can change only one damage type per casting of a spell. Spontaneous

Religious Order

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

appeal to the priests of your faith for magical aid. An NPC cleric or druid of your faith who is of sufficiently high level casts any spell of up to 5th level on your group’s behalf, without charge. The

order vary widely. Your patron relies on your group due to your particular skills or, perhaps, because it’s divine whim. The Religious Order Member Roles table suggests positions you might fill in an

Pursuit Level

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

went. If you choose to skip over a few days of travel (as described under “Summarizing Travel” later in this chapter), the pursuit level doesn’t change during that time. Catching Up When the pursuit

drow pick up the trail once more. NARROW ESCAPES If an encounter with the drow is going badly and you don’t want the characters recaptured, you can always have fate intercede on their behalf with

D&D Beyond

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