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Returning 33 results for 'being before decay contests rather'.
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Goliath
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
away in the night to seek the cold will of fate.
In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in
battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk have ever meet an elderly goliath, and even those goliaths who have left their people grapple with the urge to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
philosophy of Witherbloom. The decay philosophy sees life energy as a resource to be consumed, rather than a good to be nourished for its own sake. Mages who adopt this view wield negative energy and
of the mathematical patterns in nature. Growth and Decay The two deans of Witherbloom are traditionally called the Dean of the Root and the Dean of the Vein. These titles are a somewhat abstract way
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk
have ever meet an elderly goliath, and even those goliaths who have left their people grapple with the urge to give up their lives as their physical skills decay. Because of their risk-taking, goliath
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
a special mummy lord whose magic pervades his tomb. Since Diderius is neutral rather than evil, the area lacks the evil magic common to other mummy-lord tombs. A few chambers of the tomb have the
appearance of opulent and well-kept rooms suitable for a noble archmage. This effect is an illusion, however, failing to cover the rank scent of dust and decay. Diderius’s magic also guides those who show proper respect.
Map 11.1: Tomb of Diderius
View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
, those who honored him in life transformed him into a special mummy lord whose magic pervades his tomb. Since Diderius is neutral rather than evil, the area lacks the evil magic common to other mummy
lord tombs. A few chambers of the tomb have the appearance of opulent and well-kept rooms suitable for a noble archmage. This effect is an illusion, however, failing to cover the rank scent of dust and decay.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
, reanimated corpses, often gruesomely marred by decay and lethal traumas. They serve whatever supernatural force animates them—typically evil necromancers or fiendish spirits. Zombies are relentless
, merciless, and resilient, and their dead flesh can carry on even after suffering grievous wounds. While they can follow simple orders, they rely on primal drives rather than thought. They fulfill
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
petty contests, victories, and embarrassments, he grew increasingly arrogant, orchestrating events that left his rivals scarred by his spells or their own backfiring magic. During these feuds, there was
impress his people’s rulers and gain their patronage. Instead, the zulkirs revealed that Indreficus had not betrayed him. Rather, the zulkirs had watched the pair’s ascent and, wary of their potential
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
their lairs, masking decay with illusion. A lair’s breathtaking gardens, finely decorated apartments, and numerous thralls seem at odds with its remoteness and state of ruin.
Using its intoxicating
other in elaborate contests for the lamia’s amusement.
Vain Predators. Always anxious to gain more wealth and thralls, a lamia uses a pool of water or a mirror in conjunction with a scrying spell to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
weather, both natural and supernatural in origin. Nylea is the best archer in the world, and contests of archery are often held in her name. Those who hunt their own food pray to Nylea for success, and
, blaming her fellow gods for the spread of civilization rather than the mortals themselves. Divine Relationships Nylea seldom comes into open conflict with the other gods, and she would say that all her
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
. Contests A contest is a kind of ability check that matches two creatures against each other. Use a contest if a character attempts something that either directly foils or is directly opposed by another
creature’s efforts. In a contest, the ability checks are compared to each other, rather than to a target number. When you call for a contest, you pick the ability that each side must use, deciding
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
advantage on this check if they brought their own fishing gear to the contest rather than borrowing gear. If a character fails this check by 10 or more, they are pulled into the water and are out of the
Contests. Characters can participate in the fish catch as many times as they like. On future rounds, the best villager catches fish totaling 1d4 + 3 feet. Mayor Raven doesn’t participate again. Bad
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
regional, and usually involved bragging rights or hunting territory. Differences were settled by individual contests of might, wits, or skill. That situation persisted for generations, until the red
northern sea might pay homage to Thrym rather than to Stronmaus. Giants that have given up hope of rising in the ordning sometimes worship Vaprak the Destroyer, who is recognized by giants as the father
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
mouth. It can use this orifice to actually speak, rather than depending on rapport spores. It no longer attends melds with the other leaders, instead sending its representative. Garden of Horror As
… she’s here … the Lady of Decay … Zuggtmoy …”
The drow is Xinaya, a young acolyte of Lolth. She was leading a routine scouting patrol out of Velkynvelve before Ilvara contacted her with a sending
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
touching my stuff, though.
Tasha
Druids of the Circle of Spores find beauty in decay. They see within mold and other fungi the ability to transform lifeless material into abundant, albeit somewhat
those spores, rather than transforming into a beast form, and you gain 4 temporary hit points for each level you have in this class. While this feature is active, you gain the following benefits
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
(see “Pterafolk Nest” below), and then to become her meals for several months. She’s not likely to attack them openly. She’d rather get them off their guard and pick them off one by one, as she did with
, drink, sleep, or breathe. The character’s hit point maximum is reduced by 1d4 at dawn each day, representing the physical decay of the body. No spell or effect can halt or counteract this decay. If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
“civilized” folk for a short time — but occasionally, a strong hand or a skilled warrior can be culled from the bunch. While this event is going on, Yartar is overrun with visitors it would rather not welcome
Fortuitous Happenstance. The Shieldmeet festival features a number of games of chance, skill, and bravery, from dice and darts, to drunken running, to wrestling and other physical contests
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
blends in well amid the floating meat and has advantage on its Dexterity (Stealth) checks. If Ozk notices any non-Aberration, it stops meditating on its own decay and attacks, shouting in Deep Speech that
of the Drought Elder’s alien consciousness. It uses the demilich stat block but is an Aberration rather than Undead. It ignores the characters unless they try to harm it or try to enter area D5—either
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Bridge and Lake A wooden bridge crosses the marshy lake, which reeks with decay. The bridge ends at the camp’s gate.
When the Wash is low, the lake surrounding the camp becomes a marsh filled with
adventurers are beneath her, so rather than pursuing them, she uses her Acid Breath once, then calls for any Dragon Army troops remaining in the camp to pursue the characters. Akhviri doesn’t follow the characters beyond the camp.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
her father of her clever deeds rather than her feats of strength: she solved a sphinx’s riddles, plumbed the secrets of the ocean, and stole a string of pearls from a god of the kuo-toa. Through these
cleverer of the two, often outwitting his brother in contests where Thrym’s greater strength might otherwise let him prevail. Their history of competition ranges from striving to outdo each other in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
rest of the village. Headstones sit at odd angles, some toppled completely. Small cairns, rather than inscribed headstones, mark the graves toward the back.
Characters who take time to read the
(Survival) or Intelligence (Investigation) check reveals the following information: DC 15 Wisdom (Survival): The growth around the wheels and the decay of the horse’s carcass suggests that the cart has lain
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
gather in the Shattered Temple, a place once dedicated to Aoskar, a now-dead god of portals. Rather than serve in Sigil’s government, the Athar’s self-appointed spy network closely surveils the city’s
Celebrate Destruction and Decay Factol: Pentar Headquarters: Armory Aligned Plane: Elemental Chaos Members: Entropists, soldiers, weaponsmiths Epithet: Sinkers The Doomguard understands the purpose of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Military Force The whole machine of war is barbaric. In a sane world, conflicts would be resolved by contests of apocalyptic magics or by continent-reshaping brawls between titanic, soul-fueled
force. 2 Mercenary Company. Hard-bitten veterans of numerous conflicts, mercenaries serve an employer for coin rather than out of loyalty. 3 Expeditionary Force. This military force is far from home
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
their emotions and instincts rather than out of reason and logic. Only certain charismatic orcs, those who have been directly touched by the will and might of Gruumsh, have the capacity to control the
their superior strength and endurance through cruel contests against their tribe mates, acts of unprovoked belligerence, and great success in battle. It is through these tests of strength that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
. Many festhalls sponsor Founders’ Day costume contests, with prizes going to those who wear the best recreations of the garb of historical personages. Once banned as frivolous and distracting, the
martial skill, and stage mock battles. Those desiring to join their ranks are given a chance to demonstrate their prowess, usually with wooden practice weapons in contests against veteran soldiers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
nature work to tear down anything built within the zone. Weather, vegetation, and a rapid rate of decay combine to quickly destroy structures built in the region and overgrow the ruins. 3 The zone is
decay. Mabar Manifest Zone Features d4 Feature 1 Undead animated here have 2 extra hit points per Hit Die and make saving throws against being turned or frightened with advantage. 2 Vegetation here
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
their roofs appear progressively more inhabitable as they rise up into the polluted sky. The overall effect is that of a canyon, with walls made from the cross-section of a decaying shantytown rather
carcass, which hangs from the rafters on frayed, mildewed ropes. Humanoid heads in various states of decay have been crudely lashed to the shark’s flanks.
The stairs descend 20 feet into a completely
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
, Captain Sartell sarcastically apologizes for interrupting their “pleasure cruise” and wonders aloud whether they’d rather stay back and swab the decks while she does all the hard work. If the
, the corpses show no evidence of having been struck by them. The bodies are in varying states of decay. With a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check, a character can determine that the neogi died
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
the mist becomes immune to its effects for 4 hours. Chosen of Yurtrus. The Chosen of Yurtrus is a neutral evil male orc named Bandagh. Yurtrus is the orc deity of disease, decay, rot, and death. Orcs
side surfaces and contests for control. She argues out loud with herself, and half the time she acts evilly and without concern for her saviors. While talking to herself, she reveals what happened to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
terms of “left” or “right” rather than cardinal directions. The contents of the areas between the mists are detailed below. P14a. A leather sack containing 102 gp lies against one wall of this
. The bottom two chests each contain 250 gp. P14h. This area reeks of dead flesh. Bodies in various states of decay lie strewn about the floor. In the center lies the corpse of a human. A shimmering
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
of the Inner Planes. Within these citadels, the four doom lords—high-ranking faction lieutenants with powers of entropy and destruction—observe the multiverse and its beauteous decay. From these
above the surrounding houses of worship, floating above a seemingly bottomless pit. Tarnished blades jut from the Infinite Well like metal branches on a blackened tree. Rather than the blue-green
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
drinking a potion of greater healing (see “Treasure”). Reinforcements. These hobgoblins are often loud, engaging in training or contests. The forces in area E6, E7, and E8 might investigate a
persuasion to convince the hobgoblins that intruders have a legitimate reason to be here. These guards would much rather pass the buck to cult leaders. South Tunnel. This tunnel connects to area A7 in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
minister’s favorites: The Politics of Power by Lucia Domici (5 gp), another rather obscure work dealing with the shiftier side of politics. The Triumph of Diplomacy by Tyrons Scroot (5 gp), a history
lair, this area is not illuminated. If the characters use a light source or have some other way of seeing in the dark, read: The room smells of decay. Scattered on the floor are broken and rusted weapons
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
. Opening the crypt releases a horrid stench of decay and reveals a corpse lying on the marble slab within. The corpse looks like the character named on the door. Touching the corpse causes it to melt
, the spell fails. If a creature uses the sword to wish for Strahd’s destruction, the wish doesn’t destroy Strahd but rather teleports him to within 5 feet of the sword. Crypt 30 Prefect Ciril Romulich






