behind before directly creating rival

Creating a Rival

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

Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of

characters stand in the way, and how the conflict could be resolved. Ideally, a rival’s goal directly involves the characters or something they care about. Assets. Think about the resources the rival can

Zlan

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

liches, creating an amalgamated form. Zlan is the foremost mind among the liches and controls the body, The other liches rage and scheme about being subsidiary to someone they once considered both a

rival and an equal. The Zlan Liches table gives a brief description of each component. Zlan Liches Name History Argent Black Emerged from the Negative Plane, fed on hate and

Septon Modron

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

the septon dies, its body disintegrates into dust, leaving behind anything it was carrying.Multiattack. The septon makes four Tentacle attacks and uses Lightning Network or Spellcasting. Tentacle

from the rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone. While most modrons are the lower

Nonaton Modron

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

the nonaton dies, its body disintegrates into dust, leaving behind anything it was carrying.Multiattack. The nonaton makes three Arm attacks and uses Pillar of Truth or Spellcasting. Arm. Melee Weapon

dutifully obeys commands from the rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone. While most

Octon Modron

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

octon dies, its body disintegrates into dust, leaving behind anything it was carrying.Multiattack. The octon makes three Tentacle attacks. Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8;{"diceNotation":"1d20+8

obeys commands from the rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone. While most modrons

Decaton Modron

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

the decaton dies, its body disintegrates into dust, leaving behind anything it was carrying.Multiattack. The decaton makes three Tentacle attacks. Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +7;{"diceNotation

. Each modron dutifully obeys commands from the rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone

Valenar High Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

into the eyes of the stunned onlookers. She smiled behind her spirit veil, counting the blades arrayed against her. “But forty will.” Elven culture began on the distant continent of Xen

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

Amrik Vanthampur

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

","rollAction":"Dagger","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage. Smoke Bomb (1/Day). Amrik hurls a smoke bomb up to 20 feet away. The bomb explodes on impact, creating a cloud of black smoke that fills a 10

signal them to deliver drinks to the table. If he wants poison added to his clients’ drinks, he has a secret sign for that. Hidden behind the bar is a small bottle containing four doses of

Portentia Dran

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

actions, and lair actions) that the new form has but that she lacks.Now the owner and driving force behind Dran Enterprises — perhaps Acquisitions Incorporated's most notable rival in the adventuring-for

Call Lightning Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see within range directly above you. The spell fails if you can’t see a

you are outdoors in stormy conditions when you cast this spell, the spell gives you control over the existing storm instead of creating a new one. Under such conditions, the spell’s damage

Mud Hulk

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

creatures of living mud. A mud hulk vaguely resembles its ancestors, but its body consists of wet mud that constantly sloughs off around it, creating thick pools of the stuff everywhere the creature

goes. It retains the hunger of a hill giant, enveloping anything even vaguely edible and directly absorbing it into its body. When threatened, it hurls masses of mud at its enemies to make sure they stay in place long enough for the mud hulk to consume them.Acid

Hexton Modron

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

hexton dies, its body disintegrates into dust, leaving behind anything it was carrying. Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If the hexton fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.Multiattack

rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone. While most modrons are the lower-ranked

Valenar Wood Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

into the eyes of the stunned onlookers. She smiled behind her spirit veil, counting the blades arrayed against her. “But forty will.” Elven culture began on the distant continent of Xen

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

Lorehold Professor of Order

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet directly away from the professor and become restrained until the start of professor’s next turn. Force Barrier

structures and find the safest paths as they search. When confronted, they confound their foes by channeling the stasis of perfect order, creating resilient barriers of force and quashing hostile

Find Steed Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed, creating a long-lasting bond with it. Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the steed takes on

on your steed, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target your steed. When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also

Sapphire Sentinel

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

, impressive statues. Like other golems, they are nearly impervious to spells and ordinary weapons. The golem remains a noncombatant unless it is directly attacked. The Sapphire The sapphire is inside the

golem’s chest, hidden behind an 9-inch-diameter stone disk. The outer surface of the disk is inscribed with a blue circle that has eight golden beams radiating from it like the rays of the sun

Bodak

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

lord’s symbol on their chest over the heart. Orcus’s power flays body, mind, and soul, leaving behind a sentient husk that consumes life energy near it. Most bodaks come into being in

recall anything a bodak sees or hears. If he so chooses, he can speak through a bodak to address his enemies and followers directly. A bodak retains vague impressions of its past life. It seeks out its

Deathlock Mastermind

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

lesser creatures to help them carry out their missions, becoming the masterminds behind vast conspiracies and intrigues that culminate in the accomplishment of great acts of evil. Deathlocks The

the wicked methods of creating a deathlock and then subjugate it, acting as the deathlock’s patron.PoisonNecrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered

Mark of Hospitality Halfling

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

(Talenta Plains) The majority of inns, taverns, and restaurants in the Five Nations are either directly owned by House Ghallanda or licensed by its Hosteler’s Guild. Most people give little

a number of “bound businesses”—franchises run directly by the house. The Gold Dragon Inn is such a business, with Gold Dragon Inns being found in every major city, each serving a

Adult Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

an ancient dragon resemble glowing white or pale lavender orbs. Crystalline horns reminiscent of amethyst chunks hover behind their heads, held there by telekinetic force and shifting with their moods

examining the nature of the multiverse form the centerpiece of an amethyst dragon’s hoard. Creating an Amethyst Dragon Use the Amethyst Dragon Personality Traits and Amethyst Dragon Ideals

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

glowing white or pale lavender orbs. Crystalline horns reminiscent of amethyst chunks hover behind their heads, held there by telekinetic force and shifting with their moods. Cosmological Study Many

multiverse form the centerpiece of an amethyst dragon’s hoard. Creating an Amethyst Dragon Use the Amethyst Dragon Personality Traits and Amethyst Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of

Fighter Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

left behind. There are greater risks, perhaps, but also much greater rewards—few fighters in the city watch have the opportunity to discover a magic flame tongue sword, for example. Creating a

A human in clanging plate armor holds her shield before her as she runs toward the massed goblins. An elf behind her, clad in studded leather armor, peppers the goblins with arrows loosed from his

Banderhobb

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

shape resembling a bipedal toad. In this form, a banderhobb temporarily serves its creator as a thug, a thief, and a kidnapper that swallows the unwary. Hags have devised a ritual for creating

, it leaves behind only tarry goo and wisps of shadow. Legends tell of an ominous tower in the Shadowfell where the shadows sometimes reform and banderhobbs roam.Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the banderhobb takes the Hide action.

Titivilus

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Teleport. Assault (Costs 2 Actions). Titivilus makes one Silver Sword attack, or he uses Frightful Word.Dispater, the gloomy Lord of Dis, rules from his iron palace, seeming to hide behind its

to the tasks he needs performed and recruits them directly or through intermediaries, expending them later as his plans require.Fire, PoisonCold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered

Soldier Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

combined with the rigid discipline of military service leave their mark on all soldiers, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and

lay down my life for the people I served with. 2 Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. 3 My honor is my life. 4 I’ll never

Lady Illmarrow

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

effects. Rejuvenation. Illmarrow’s body turns to dust when she drops to 0 hit points, and her equipment is left behind. She gains a new body after 1d10;{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType":"roll

Lady Illmarrow is no folk tale. She is the greatest necromancer in Eberron, and after centuries of silence, she is setting ancient plots into motion at last. She is the power behind the Order of the

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to. Their courage in the face of danger makes

the closeknit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties. Creating a Barbarian When creating a barbarian

Sorcerer Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

from him in a mighty blast of lightning. Crouching behind a stalagmite, a halfling points a finger at a charging troglodyte. A blast of fire springs from her finger to strike the creature. She ducks

back behind the rock formation with a grin, unaware that her wild magic has turned her skin bright blue. Sorcerers carry a magical birthright conferred upon them by an exotic bloodline, some

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

use this opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle

Effects The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of

Orzhov Representative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

draw the blood of your enemies, or even directly touch their souls. Suggested Characteristics Members of the Orzhov Syndicate range from the decadent nobility at the top of the oligarchy to the debt

activities in crime, banking, or debt collection could tie you to members of other guilds. Roll twice on the Orzhov Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Orzhov Contacts table

Hexblood

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

unusual crown, often called an eldercross or a witch’s turn. This living, garland-like part of a hexblood’s body extends from their temples and wraps behind the head, serving as a visible

creating a hexblood, consult with your DM to see if it’s appropriate to tie your origins to one of the following Domains of Dread (detailed in chapter 3): Hazlan. The bizarre magic of this crumbling

Klauth

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

might rival him in power, in a fighting style marked by sudden attacks and just as sudden disappearances. Klauth spends many waking hours scrying Faerûn with his spells, and he probably knows more

of abandoned mines and dwarven strongholds. Caves with volcanic or geothermal activity are the most highly prized red dragon lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

create illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals

must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle; he loves

The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of the lair

Scion of Stronmaus

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

of Stronmaus is altered by the giant’s magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Elemental Portals. Two-way portals to the Elemental Plane of Air (if the scion is in the sky) or the

cloud up to 30 feet and cause one of the following effects in a 30-foot-radius, 120-foot-high cylinder directly below it; the scion can’t choose the same effect two rounds in a row: Acid Rain

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