being before defense clear rather

Water Weird Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

location, such as a pool or fountain. Invisible while immersed in water, its serpentine shape becomes clear only when it emerges to attack, using its coils to crush any creature other than its summoner and

interlopers rather than kill them, while a neutral evil water weird kills its victims for pleasure and might turn against its summoner. A water weird loses its evil alignment if its waters are cleansed

Dabus

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

Physical Restraint. The dabus doesn’t make melee attacks or opportunity attack;opportunity attacks, even in self-defense. Symbol Speech. A dabus communicates by creating illusory symbols and

cobblestone hands. When dabus communicate, rather than speaking or signing words, they create esoteric illusory images and symbols in front of themselves. Scholars have yet to determine the origin of

Leonin Iconoclast

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

, requiring no material components: 1/day each: banishment, detect evil and good Unarmored Defense. While the leonin is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom

warrior;tribal warriors, but those who hunt the servants of the gods rather than game are known as leonin iconoclasts.

Githzerai Uniter

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

Psychic Defense. While the githzerai is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom modifier.Multiattack. The githzerai makes three Unarmed Strike or Psychic Bolt attacks. It

), telekinesisGithzerai uniters espouse wisdom and unity rather than violence. Many uniters are members of the Sha’sal Khou, a group of githyanki and githzerai who band together to reunify the gith

Vladimir Horngaard

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Strahd's armies time and again as they swept across the land. When it became clear that Strahd couldn't be stopped, the knights of the order led hundreds of refugees to Argynvost's valley, but Strahd

witnessing Strahd himself slay Vladimir's beloved, his fellow knight Sir Godfrey Gwilym. With the battle won, Strahd surrounded Argynvostholt. Rather than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and

City Watch / Investigator

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your

easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you’re more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter. Variant: Investigator Rarer

Spectral Cloud

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

’s appearance becomes clear: a skeletal cloud giant corpse. Tales suggest cloud giants sometimes seek this fate rather than accept the end of their naturally long lives. In such stories, a

War Magic

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

A variety of arcane colleges specialize in training wizards for war. The tradition of War Magic blends principles of evocation and abjuration, rather than specializing in either of those schools. It

often works with evokers, abjurers, and other types of wizards. Evokers, in particular, sometimes tease war mages for splitting their attention between offense and defense. A war mage’s typical

War Magic (XGtE)

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

A variety of arcane colleges specialize in training wizards for war. The tradition of War Magic blends principles of evocation and abjuration, rather than specializing in either of those schools. It

often works with evokers, abjurers, and other types of wizards. Evokers, in particular, sometimes tease war mages for splitting their attention between offense and defense. A war mage’s typical

Soldier Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

solution is the best path to success. d6 Ideal 1 Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) 2 Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just

mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. 4 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured

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

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

1 I never raise my voice or lose my temper. 2 I feel the pains and joys of everyone around me, friend or foe. 3 I would rather make a friend than thwart an enemy. 4 I’m

finally know peace. (Any) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I would give my life in the defense of the small enclave where I first encountered Mat’Selesnya. 2 I love beasts and

Mercenary Veteran

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

defense of others. (Good) 2 Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) 3 Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic

enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) 2 Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) 3 Independence. When people follow orders

keep that mistake secret. 4 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what they mean. Be clear

Reaching the Tower

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

Reaching the Tower Lolth’s forces surround the tower, but they are focused on the spyder-fiends below rather than on defense. Hundreds of driders, Humanoids, and demons surround the tower, but the

Through the Tunnels

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Through the Tunnels As the characters travel between Illithinoch and Phandalin, they can clear out any dangerous areas they missed in the “Journey through the Deep” section in chapter 7. Continue to

roll on the Tunnel Encounters table in that chapter, as the route is never truly safe. However, since the characters have already faced several threats, roll every 2 hours of travel rather than every hour.

Questioning Corlie

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

Questioning Corlie While she escorts the characters to their selected defense zone, Corlie answers questions they have, which might include the following: What’s in This Horde? “Our scouts haven’t

—that’s not clear. I’ve had conflicting reports about the horde’s leader, but it’s some kind of ghost or creature made of dark mist.” Who’s Defending the Other Wall Sections? “We have a few soldiers

Important Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

years. If characters ask who’s in charge, they are directed to Nighthill. He is pacing atop the parapet of the keep when the sky is clear, or inside the keep if the dragon is attacking. If the characters

defense and is the best source of information on the tunnel and the sally port (see “The Old Tunnel” and “The Sally Port” below). He carries an enormous ring of iron and brass keys to the many locks in the keep.

Important Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

human male of sixty years. If characters ask who’s in charge, they are directed to Nighthill. He is pacing atop the parapet of the keep when the sky is clear, or inside the keep if the dragon is

, Escobert is in charge of its defense and is the best source of information on the tunnel and the sally port (see “The Old Tunnel” and “The Sally Port” below). He carries an enormous ring of iron and brass keys to the many locks in the keep.

First Wave

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

First Wave Once the players have reviewed the relevant map of their defense zone from appendix B and positioned their characters, read or paraphrase the following: Scouts shout from within the walls

clear. Undead lurch from the mist toward the fortress. Eight Skeletons and two Ogre Zombies emerge from the dark fog. Each zombie has a 20-foot-tall metal ladder affixed to its back with hooks sunk

Githzerai Uniter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Morte’s Planar Parade

Githzerai Uniter Githzerai uniters espouse wisdom and unity rather than violence. Many uniters are members of the Sha’sal Khou, a group of githyanki and githzerai who band together to reunify the

Defense) Hit Points 123 (19d8 + 38) Speed 40 ft. STR 13 (+1) DEX 17 (+3) CON 15 (+2) INT 15 (+2) WIS 17 (+3) CHA 16 (+3) Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +6, Int +5, Wis +6

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

. Rather than abandon the fortress, the five cities supporting the reconstruction efforts committed to defending Ironspine Keep against Szass Tam’s horde. When the characters arrive for what they expect to

be a routine guard posting, they learn about the approaching horde and must align themselves with one of the five cities. Defense of Ironspine Keep depends upon them.

Leonin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

, but those who hunt the servants of the gods rather than game are known as leonin iconoclasts. Leonin Iconoclast While leonin don’t deny the existence of the gods, most denounce them, believing the

impede on Oreskos and the safety of the leonin prides. Leonin Iconoclast Medium humanoid (leonin), any alignment Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense) Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27) Speed 40 ft. STR

Kenku Adventurers

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

you’re playing a kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what

they mean. Be clear about your character’s intentions unless you’re deliberately aiming for inscrutable or mysterious. You might say, “Snapper makes the noise of a hammer slowly and rhythmically

Sigil at a Glance

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

behind observers, as if they stood in a bowl or valley, stretching upward and disappearing into an industrial haze. On a clear day, a creature that looks upward sees the other side of the city

edge are ever heard from again. Those who pass over the edge don’t end up in the Outlands; rather, they are flung to random corners of the planes.

Creating a Bronze Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

respect all beings who risk their lives in defense of something greater than themselves. 2 My payment is a matter of principle. Requiring even a small fee for my service allows those I help to

strategy. A quick death in combat is its own kind of courtesy. 6 I trust my gut. I’d rather act on incomplete information than be hamstrung by indecision. 7 I’m fascinated by other species

4. Flumph Cloister

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

4. Flumph Cloister Flumphs. Stalactites cling to the roof of this 20-foot-high cavern. Lurking among them are nine flumphs. The flumphs are passive creatures that fight only in self-defense. Secret

rely on the illithid colony for sustenance. The flumphs would rather feed on the psionic energy of the mind flayers, who couldn’t care less, than the energy of the githyanki, who abhor the flumphs and attack them on sight.

Province Scale

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

travel in any direction from the center of the map, assuming clear terrain. As such, province scale is a useful scale for mapping a campaign’s starting area (see “Creating a Campaign,” later in this

chapter) or any location where you expect to track the adventurers’ movement in hours rather than days. The ground cover of an area this size will include broad stretches of one predominant terrain type

Conflict without End

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

in a vicious assault that leaves few survivors. If robbery rather than murder is the goal, a duergar war party might surreptitiously dig for weeks to penetrate a dwarf treasure vault, hoping to seize

a clan’s riches from beneath its noses. For their part, the dwarves keep safety and defense uppermost in their priorities, realizing that there is little to be gained from trying to mount a large

The Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

recover and regroup. Encourage tactical thinking. If one of the sides of the battle consists of savage monsters or mindless undead, give clues that they attack the nearest enemy rather than thinking

. Three-sided battles can sometimes take longer because of the number of combatants participating. Use your discretion as the DM to have the excitement of the battle build up rather than fizzle out

Gnomish Deities

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

the gnomes’ war god, who espouses vigilance and defense. Nature Gods Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnomish god of forests and woodlands, accompanied by his companion Chiktikka Fastpaws, a great raccoon

said to be the wiser of the two. Segojan Earthcaller is god of the wilds beneath the earth, rather than upon it, as well as god of burrows and the plants and animals found therein. Shadow and Stone

Preparing to Use the Deck

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things

, shifting the campaign’s focus to its defense and maintenance; a character could become separated from the rest of the party, trapped in an undetectable and unreachable prison; or characters could instantly

your group. Meanwhile, “The Deck as Narrative” discusses having cards foreshadow future events, rather than triggering instantaneous effects, so you can incorporate the effects into your campaign when

Dragons

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

avoid contact with those they see as lesser creatures. They are obsessed with the Draconic Prophecy, which is a map of possible futures rather than a clear-cut prediction. Its paths are revealed in

Darklake District

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

with drow, svirfneblin, orcs, and others — pay little attention to the characters unless they are looking to do business. Guards posted at the gates make it clear to the characters that non-duergar are

restricted to the Darklake District, and the characters have better luck asking other outsiders for directions rather than trying to engage the duergar locals. They are directed to the Blade Bazaar if

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