beneath battle diffusing cunning reason

Biha Babir

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

a cunning mind. Biha Babir is politically savvy and prefers to outsmart her opponents rather than battle them, though she doesn’t shy from combat if necessary. Biha Babir covets opulence, but

Saint Markovia's Thighbone

Magic Items Curse of Strahd

Saint Markovia’s thighbone has the properties of a mace of disruption. If it scores one or more hits against a vampire or a vampire spawn in the course of a single battle, the thighbone

crumbles into dust once the battle concludes. As a youth, Markovia followed her heart and became a priest of the Morninglord soon after her eighteenth birthday. She proved to be a charismatic proselytizer

Hobgoblin Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

are large goblinoids with dark orange or red-orange skin. A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess, caring about nothing except skill and cunning in battle.

Darkling Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

chambers beneath the towns of other species. From such enclaves, they quietly ply their trade as thieves and assassins. The Killing Light. The Summer Queen's curse causes a darkling's body to absorb light

, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every part of their body with clothing when exposure to light is a risk. The light a darkling

Darkling Elder Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

, in Common, "darklings." Darklings most often settle in secluded caverns and chambers beneath the towns of other species. From such enclaves, they quietly ply their trade as thieves and assassins

. The Killing Light. The Summer Queen's curse causes a darkling's body to absorb light, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every

Duke Zalto

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

battle, while the rest was dismantled at the end of the ancient war between giants and dragonkind. Once all the pieces are found, Zalto plans to reforge the Vonindod and unleash it on the world

. Beneath the Ice Spires lies an ancient fire giant forge called Ironslag. Unfortunately for Zalto, Ironslag's forges aren't hot enough to repair the colossus. The duke, undaunted, plans to steal Maegera, the

Targor Bloodsword Legacy

Monsters Lost Mine of Phandelver

large goblinoids with dark orange or red-orange skin. A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess, caring about nothing except skill and cunning in battle.

Howler

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

around the battlefield in a search for safety. Fiends especially prize howlers for this reason, because for a few crucial moments in a battle, their howls can neutralize an enemy.Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Sewer King

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

their enormous size, supernatural strength, wicked cunning, and ability to speak. Deep in the bowels of towns and cities, sewer kings reign over underground vermin, dreaming of the day when rats will

lives deep in the ancient dwarven ruins beneath the town of Edgewall, situated in the lands between the realm and the wilds of Eldraine. Deep within these ruins, a human minstrel named Totentanz

Grunka

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

water, allowing it to be used five times.Hobgoblins are large goblinoids with dark orange or red-orange skin. A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess, caring about nothing except skill and cunning in battle.

Zhentarim Mercenary

backgrounds Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

you’re just good at getting the job done by any means necessary. Whatever your reason, you enlisted with the Zhentarim, the most notorious mercenary guild in the Realms. Though the Zhentarim&rsquo

;s leaders insist the organization is more like a family than a shadowy syndicate, few families exhibit as much dishonesty, nepotism, and corruption as this one. You’ve honed your cunning, reflexes, and blade to climb the guild’s ranks.

Mercenary Veteran

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

possibilities.) Now you’re looking for something else, perhaps greater reward for the risks you take, or the freedom to choose your own activities. For whatever reason, you’re leaving

behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way. MERCENARIES OF THE NORTH Countless mercenary companies

Phisarazu Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

sprouting beneath their wolf heads. They are resentful and suspicious of all other creatures, which makes them useful for corralling kakkuu spyder-fiend;kakkuus or standing guard. Phisarazus can

into a hierarchy based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends dominating lower ranks. Spyder-fiends of equivalent rank scheme against each other for advancement and eagerly turn against

Du'ulora Quori

monsters

anger and hatred, du’ulora rarely act rashly. They are cunning and calculating strategists who excel at inspiring fury in others and turning it against them. In battle this can cause their victims

this dark mass. A du’ulora can turn a victim’s anger into manifested heat; in battle, it grapples its victims and burns them with their own fury. Manipulating Fury. While they feed on

Bugbear Legacy

races Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Shiftless, Savage Layabouts When they’re not in battle, bugbears spend much of their time resting or dozing. They don’t engage in crafting or agriculture to any great extent, or

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

Half-Orc Legacy

races Basic Rules (2014)

orc comrades didn’t last long among the Bloody Skulls or any other orc tribe for that matter. But it was often true that a bit of human blood gave a warrior just the right mix of cunning

shared elements among these folk. Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Other scars, though, mark an orc or half-orc as a former prisoner or a disgraced

Warforged Colossus

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

decisively, the colossi pulverized hundreds of soldiers beneath their feet and incinerated whole legions with beams of fiery light that shot from their mouths. This rampage was cut short on the Day of

is built to carry wizards, artificers, magewrights, and elite troops. For this reason, these constructs are largely hollow on the inside, with tunnels, ladders, storage areas, and observation decks

Kobold Legacy

races Volo's Guide to Monsters

network of passages beneath the streets, connecting them to a nearby waterway and greatly improving the town’s sanitation. If the kobolds like the area and aren’t mistreated by the humans

hidden that the surface-dwelling citizens in the area often don’t know what lies beneath them. Because the kobolds make sure they stay out of the way of anyone more dangerous than themselves, grow

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people

. It is my duty to protect and care for the people beneath me. (Good) d6 Bond 1 I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family. 2 My house’s alliance

Duergar Warlord

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

can add the number rolled to the d20 by taking 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Scouring Instruction", "rollDamageType":"psychic"} psychic damage.A warlord is cunning

, inspiring, and merciless in equal parts. A skilled leader in battle, the warlord can use spikes of psionic energy to compel the warriors they command to fight harder. Duergar Duergar are dwarves of

Gray Render

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

protect that creature. Great strength and a ferocious nature make gray renders fierce guardians, but they lack a shred of cunning. Gray renders reproduce by forming nodules on their bodies that, on

willingly harms its master, but outside battle, it might cause considerable difficulties. It might follow its master despite being told to stay put, destroy its master’s house, burrow holes through a

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the sergeant of that Boros squad would love to prove that it was me. 3 I had a romance with a Dimir agent whom I still feed secrets to

. 4 Roll an additional Golgari contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 5 I joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the chief of that small clan thanks

Oath of the Watchers

classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

battle. TENETS OF THE WATCHERS A paladin who assumes the Oath of the Watchers swears to safeguard mortal realms from otherworldly threats. Vigilance. The threats you face are cunning, powerful, and

Lizardfolk Legacy

races Volo's Guide to Monsters

in the other humanoids and makes them less helpful in battle. Utility and Survival The lizardfolk mindset might seem unnecessarily cruel, but it helps them survive in a hostile environment. The

quirk for a lizardfolk character or to inspire a unique mannerism. Lizardfolk Quirks d8 Quirk 1 You hate waste and see no reason not to scavenge fallen enemies. Fingers are tasty and

Oath of the Watchers (TCoE)

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

battle. TENETS OF THE WATCHERS A paladin who assumes the Oath of the Watchers swears to safeguard mortal realms from otherworldly threats. Vigilance. The threats you face are cunning, powerful, and

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

; he loves to feel flesh and steel sundered beneath his claws and to taste his foes’ blood. Yet Geryon’s ferocity has also limited his ability to collect souls and forge an effective

Giff Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

refuse to fight other giff, and will never agree to a contract unless it stipulates that they can sit out a battle rather than wage war against their kin. A giff prizes the reputation of its unit above its

brighter the flash, and the thicker the smoke it produces, the more giff love a weapon. Their skill with gunpowder is another reason for their popularity as mercenaries. Giff revel in the challenge of

Goblin Legacy

races Volo's Guide to Monsters

appreciation for the finer things! — Volo Goblins occupy an uneasy place in a dangerous world, and they react by lashing out at any creatures they believe they can bully. Cunning in battle and

. Gatherers, and the pariahs beneath them, greatly fear for their lives in battle, believing that the lashers and the hunters have special knowledge of how to survive. It is the members of the lower

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

to feel flesh and steel sundered beneath his claws and to taste his foes’ blood. Yet Geryon’s ferocity has also limited his ability to collect souls and forge an effective hierarchy

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

provided. The following section, discussing possible homelands, includes some suggested reasons that are appropriate for each location. d6 Reason d6 Reason 1 Emissary 4 Pilgrim

hundreds of miles of the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea. No one from your nation makes the effort to cross such colossal barriers without a convincing reason. You must fear something truly

Orc Legacy

races Volo's Guide to Monsters

the plane of Acheron. It is there in the afterlife where the chosen ones will join Gruumsh and his armies in their endless extraplanar battle for supremacy. Gods of the Orcs Orcs believe their gods

created the orcs and continues to direct their destiny. He is aided and abetted by the other warrior deities, Bahgtru and Ilneval, who bring strength and cunning to the battlefield. The followers of all

Eye and Hand of Vecna Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

’s lieutenant Kas coveted the Spider Throne for himself, or that the sword his lord made for him seduced him into rebellion. Whatever the reason, Kas brought the Undying King’s rule to an

end in a terrible battle that left Vecna’s tower a heap of ash. Of Vecna, all that remained were one hand and one eye, grisly artifacts that still seek to work the Whispered One’s will in

Sapphire Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

alien influence before it spreads. People who dwell or delve deep beneath the earth can easily find themselves at odds with a sapphire dragon if they cross into the dragon’s territory. But

defense—until someone bests the dragon’s security measures. 3 A sapphire dragon seeks adventurers to lead into battle against the mind flayer;mind flayers that usurped the dragon

Adult Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

":"damage", "rollAction":"Emerald Embers", "rollDamageType":"fire"} fire damage.Emerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding psionic power to weave illusions to

a murder but doesn’t want to be found or identified. 2 An emerald dragon seeks heroes to participate in a dramatic reenactment of a legendary battle involving dragon riders. 3 An

Dwarf Legacy

races Basic Rules (2014)

industrious labor, skill in battle, and devotion to the forge. Individual dwarves are determined and loyal, true to their word and decisive in action, sometimes to the point of stubbornness. Many dwarves

hunt for vengeance can become a full-blown clan feud. Clans and Kingdoms Dwarven kingdoms stretch deep beneath the mountains where the dwarves mine gems and precious metals and forge items of wonder

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