being believe diffusing claim remains

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

The contents of this foul manuscript are the meat and drink of the wicked. It contains knowledge so horrid that to even glimpse the scrawled pages invites doom. Most believe the lich-god Vecna the

remains with you only as long as you strive to work evil in the world. If you fail to perform at least one evil act within the span of 10 days, or if you willingly perform a good act, the book

Vampire Infernalist

Monsters Astarion's Book of Hungers

often believe their immortality will exempt them from any infernal claim to their souls. The archdevil Mephistopheles happily exploits such hubris and proves that even undead aren’t immune to the

Isarr Kronenstrom

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

deserted him or been killed off, but the few that remain are fiercely loyal. They believe, incorrectly, that he's the Chosen of Malar. Although Isarr calls himself the Wolf King, few others in the

Wolf Tribe support him in that claim, but the other Wolf clan chieftains are too weak and disorganized to challenge him.

Norker

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

and his followers the initial, unwilling recruits into his crusade. Today, hobgoblins chafe at the suggestion that creatures as lazy and untamed as norkers could claim such an honor. For that reason

goblinoids, the norkers have developed a peculiar sect of Maglubiyet worshipper. They call him the Great Scourge and believe that mortal life is a cruel test. Those norkers whose skin can withstand

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

, accepting that it would molder and dissolve to dust while he traveled the planes as a disembodied consciousness. If the skull that was his last physical remains was ever disturbed, its gems would claim the

speed. Cloud of Dust. The demilich magically swirls its dusty remains. Each creature within 10 feet of the demilich, including around a corner, must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be

Naiad

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

personality. Aquatic Collectors. Curious by nature, naiads often seek out what the seas and rivers claim. As a result, they might be found among sunken ruins and shipwrecks, sifting through the remains

-crossed castaway has even been known to become part of such collections. Secret Routes of the Sea. Sailors across the world claim that naiads know all the secret aquatic routes of Theros. Using this

Needle Lord

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

by needle lords—hulking plant creatures that hail from fey domains wracked by wanton violence. When a needle lord enters a worldly forest, it spreads seed pods wherever it roams. A pod remains

fancies itself a conquering general, wandering in search of a forest to conquer and claim. When it sets its sights on a forest, it first focuses on spreading the seed pods that give rise to its needle

Norker War Leader

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

norkers could claim such an honor. For that reason alone, hobgoblin warlords are loath to use these creatures, preferring to keep them around as disposable labor in mines and quarries. Nasty, Brutish

defeat and terrible treatment at the hands of other goblinoids, the norkers have developed a peculiar sect of Maglubiyet worshipper. They call him the Great Scourge and believe that mortal life is a

Derro

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

themselves. Most dwarves don’t recognize derro as kin, but the legends that derro tell about their people and the story that duergar believe share a grain of truth. According to the histories of

varies, depending on whatever foe the savants want to lead their people against, yet the essence of the story remains the same: a lesson of survival at any price and an example of how deceitfulness and cruelty can be virtues.

Cairnwight

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

instead of the restrained condition.Stone giants believe the god Skoraeus Stonebones inspires artists to create their finest stone carvings. Sometimes a giant pursues this divine inspiration to the

while creating art might rise as a cairnwight and continue the work. Once the artwork is completed, the cairnwight remains as its undying guardian. A cairnwight looks much like an emaciated stone

Tarandus

races

For millennia, the tarandus have been known as a society of explorers devoted to charting and understanding the world. Their culture prizes discovery, and they believe that their lives are best spent

couriers, ensuring that their knowledge of routes and geography remains current. Tarandus herds are large and communal, sharing duties such as child-rearing and foraging. They maintain strong ties between

Moonblade Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. A moonblade passes down from parent to child. The sword chooses its bearer and remains bonded to that person for life. If the bearer dies, another heir can claim the blade. If no worthy heir exists

, the sword lies dormant. It functions like a normal longsword until a worthy soul finds it and lays claim to its power. A moonblade serves only one master at a time. The attunement process requires a

Derro Savant

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, even among themselves. Most dwarves don’t recognize derro as kin, but the legends that derro tell about their people and the story that duergar believe share a grain of truth. According to the

this legend varies, depending on whatever foe the savants want to lead their people against, yet the essence of the story remains the same: a lesson of survival at any price and an example of how deceitfulness and cruelty can be virtues.

Plasmid

monsters

elements needed to pursue a trade. While this allows the plasmid to “serve as a tool,” the plasmid remains a Large creature; it essentially becomes a workbench, with individual smaller tools

conscious, they have a limited sense of self and no desires beyond service. At least, that’s how they were designed and what the sahuagin believe. But it might be possible for a plasmid to

Axe of the Dwarvish Lords Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Seeing the peril his people faced, a young dwarf prince came to believe that his people needed something to unite them. Thus, he set out to forge a weapon that would be such a symbol. Venturing deep

attunement ends, the curse remains. With each passing day, the creature’s physical appearance and stature become more dwarflike. After seven days, the creature looks like a typical dwarf, but

Book of Vile Darkness Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every diseased idea, every unhinged thought, and every

must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s alignment changes to neutral evil. The Book of Vile Darkness remains with you only as long as you strive to work evil

Lady Illmarrow

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

court of vampires and ghosts in her palace of ice. Other tales claim that when anyone dies in Lhazaar, Illmarrow chooses whether to take their soul before it passes on to the Keeper and Dolurrh. But

attack on House Vol was nothing more than an excuse to eliminate a political rival. But others believe that what the Undying Court truly feared was a path shown in the Draconic Prophecy — that a

Moonstone Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, making the darkened path through the woods ideal for banditry. 5 A moonstone dragon hosts a storytelling competition in the Feywild, and the winner gets to claim any one item on display in the

volunteered to be a spy in a conflict between a group of pixie;pixies and a group of quickling;quicklings. Both sides believe the wyrmling is working exclusively for them.

Polukranos

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

remains. A new incarnation of the World Eater is a fearsome omen, as the monster only appears when the pillars of the world tremble and terrible things are afoot in the realm of the gods. Its rampages

territory to claim as their own. Often, they steal lairs from other monsters in prolonged, devastating battles. Vicious Growth. Soon after a hydra claims a territory, it typically buries itself, entering a

Cradle of the Fire Scion

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

plant life. Empowered Fire Giants. Fire giants within 1,000 feet of the scion gain a +8 bonus to attack and damage rolls. If the scion dies, existing ore remains, but new veins of ore stop forming. The

other effects end immediately. Scions of Giants’ Gods Giants are descended from the All-Father, Annam, and his children. But scions of giants’ gods boast a greater claim: they are

Shator Demodand

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

demodands. It remains for 1 minute, until it or the shator dies, or until the shator dismisses it as an action.Shators, known as shaggy demodands, dominate demodand society, ruthlessly commanding their

claim. On the rare occasions that shators find themselves on the Material Plane, they manipulate mortal leaders and philosophers, using them as mouthpieces to spread poisoned words and tempt souls toward

Aspect of Tiamat

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

;some say by choice. But others claim that she is imprisoned there to punish her for the evils she perpetrated when the gods sought to colonize the First World with their followers. Mortals who hunger

for power and wealth often swear fealty to Tiamat in pursuit of those goals. Many of her followers have attempted to break her out of Avernus—and failed—but even while she remains in the

Scion of Surtur

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

rolls. If the scion dies, existing ore remains, but new veins of ore stop forming. The other effects end immediately. Scions of Giants’ Gods Giants are descended from the All-Father, Annam

, and his children. But scions of giants’ gods boast a greater claim: they are Annam’s grandchildren, and they occupy a privileged place among giants. On some worlds, these scions ruled the

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

bound to their fey lord and unable to bargain away their souls. So rather than claim them, Fierna warped and twisted them before returning them to the Feywild, content that the corruption of the satyrs

. Unfortunately, when it reaches that breaking point, its diabolical nature asserts itself, and it remains in this scheming, dominating mindset until its plans are foiled and it faces defeat. Then, overwhelmed

Dullahan

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

"} necrotic damage.Dullahans are headless undead warriors—the remains of villains who let vengeance consume them. These decapitated hunters haunt the areas where they were slain, butchering innocents in

shards of its shattered skull. 2 A vain dullahan pursues it own relatives, seeking to claim a head with its family resemblance. 3 A greedy dullahan seeks to recover its bejeweled helmet

Mahadi the Rakshasa

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of him, acts as his ally, and can’t summon other devils. The erinyes remains for 10 minutes or until Mahadi dismisses it as an action. If the erinyes dies

, Mahadi loses this action option.Mahadi appears as a wealthy merchant lord. Though extremely powerful, Mahadi doesn’t believe in taking unnecessary risks, particularly in the Nine Hells where he

Kasimir Velikov

Monsters Curse of Strahd

guilt and regret have dispelled all evil thoughts from her mind and cleansed her tortured soul. But Kasimir remains unconvinced by her assertions, because he knows that Strahd has corrupted Patrina and

, to life—even at the cost of my own life.” Flaw. “I believe my sister can be redeemed.” Treasure. Kasimir wears a ring of warmth and has a leather-bound spellbook containing all the spells he has

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

deities who are brothers, Hruggek and Grankhul. Hruggek is the fearsome elder sibling, possessed of legendary might and prowess in battle. Bugbears believe their strength and bravery come from him

. Cunning Grankhul is the younger one, and in the stories bugbears tell, he gifted them with stealth but in return he sapped their vigor, so that bugbears sleep in his stead while he remains eternally alert

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

hook, sending you on quests to learn more about its history or true nature, or confronting you with foes who want to claim it for themselves or prevent you from learning what you seek. The DM also

city, especially hard drink. 5 Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land. 6 I have trouble trusting in my allies.

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

they don’t believe they have a reasonable chance of success. This reaction isn’t out of cowardice, but practicality—yuan-ti value their own lives much too highly to risk them when the

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

two and the more frequently honored. He is seen as a stoic, cold-blooded, and tyrannical leader, and hobgoblins believe he expects the same behavior from them. Bargrivyek is a god of duty, unity, and

careful to position themselves and their banners to claim the greatest victories in any conflict, and they portion out opportunities and responsibilities to other banners as politics dictate. Each

Genasi Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

, or a member of a desert tribe, is an auspicious event. Most Athasians believe a given genasi is destined for greatness—or infamy. Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder

favored element. When they emerge from their caves, they might roam the hills and mountains or lay claim to old ruins. Appropriate backgrounds for earth genasi include hermit, outlander, and soldier

Aurnozci

Monsters The Book of Many Things

leader, a masked archmage called the Eye of Aurnozci. Aurnozci’s followers believe the demon lord’s imprisonment is coming to an end, and soon the Caged Worm will shed its current form and

within 300 feet of itself. The sphere spreads around corners. The sphere remains for 10 minutes or until Aurnozci uses this lair action again. The sphere’s area is heavily obscured and is

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

wood survive until springtime. In a firbolg’s eyes, there is no greater fault than greed. The firbolgs believe that the world remains healthiest when each creature takes only what it needs

Book of Vile Darkness (Variant)

Magic Items Keys from the Golden Vault

even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every diseased idea, every unhinged thought, and every

must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s alignment changes to neutral evil. The Book of Vile Darkness remains with you only as long as you strive to work evil

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