beneath before driven complete retain

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

absorbs over the course of its lifetime explodes outward when the darkling dies, incinerating the creature and much of its possessions. Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness

Deathlock Mastermind

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

door, dispel magic, fly, invisibilityThough deathlocks exist to serve their patrons, they retain some freedom when it comes to devising tactics and carrying out plans. Powerful deathlocks recruit

to live up to a bargain with an evil patron runs the risk of rising from the dead as a deathlock, a foul Undead driven to serve its otherworldly patron. An powerful necromancer might also discover

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

much of its possessions. Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness for the beauty of art. A darkling might risk taking a peek at a sunset or lighting a tiny candle to glimpse

Phantom Warrior

Monsters Curse of Strahd

soldier or knight who perished on the battlefield or died performing its sworn duty. It appears like a translucent version of its living self. Task Driven. Although one is often mistaken for a ghost, a

phantom warrior isn't bound by a yearning to complete some unresolved goal. It can choose to end its undead existence at any time. Its spirit lingers willingly, either out of loyalty to its former

Humanoid Mutate

Monsters Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

as smooth as a salamander’s. Some intelligent Humanoid mutates retain their personalities from before they were exposed to the Far Realm. Some, driven by the allure of otherworldly powers, seek

Gnome Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

. Gnomes average slightly over 3 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Their tan or brown faces are usually adorned with broad smiles (beneath their prodigious noses), and their bright eyes shine with

unlikely to find the burrows in the first place. Gnomes who settle in human lands are commonly gemcutters, engineers, sages, or tinkers. Some human families retain gnome tutors, ensuring that their pupils

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

Ah, the tritons. Imagine if the elves spent a few centuries far beneath the sea, where their arrogance and pretension could grow undisturbed. At least the tritons spent that time fighting sahuagin

the depths revealed that krakens, sahuagin, and far worse foes had fled the Plane of Water for the Material Plane. The tritons, driven by a sense of duty and responsibility, would not allow their foes

Zargon the Returner

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Hells in disgust, banishing the elder evil to the Material Plane. The horn was driven deep into the earth where it fell, entombing Zargon below. Eventually a civilization arose above Zargon’s

, sacrificing their own to appease their so-called god. Appeased by these living offerings, Zargon returned to the tunnels beneath Cynidicea, where its cult grew.Zargon’s Lair Zargon’s lair

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

the dwarf could see of the man’s face beneath a green hood was tan skin and a brownish-red beard. A longbow was slung over one shoulder and a sword hung at his left side. He was dressed in soft

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in

Monk Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

exhales and a blast of fire roars from his mouth, engulfing his foes. Moving with the silence of the night, a black-clad halfling steps into a shadow beneath an arch and emerges from another inky

seriously, approaching their adventures as personal tests of their physical and spiritual growth. As a rule, monks care little for material wealth and are driven by a desire to accomplish a greater

Young Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

temple beneath the waves. Unfortunately, that temple is now the lair of an especially tricky topaz dragon. 5 A topaz dragon is injured and stranded far from the sea, but the dragon is too proud

topaz dragon their monarch, despite the dragon’s complete lack of interest and growing annoyance toward them. Cold, Necrotic

Dwarf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

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

up the adventuring life might be motivated by a desire for treasure—for its own sake, for a specific purpose, or even out of an altruistic desire to help others. Other dwarves are driven by the

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

caste system based on how complete a person’s transformation was. The vast majority of yuan-ti fall into three categories — abominations, malisons, and purebloods — while the mutated

— yuan-ti make perfect courtiers. And, worse for the rest of us, rulers. — Elminster The physical and magical prowess of the yuan-ti empire allowed the former humans to retain their

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

, creating dangerous hybrids and a spreading corruption. Opposing the hags’ evil is a female unicorn named Banrion. After years of skirmishes, the hags have driven Banrion to an isolated pinnacle of

rock. This pinnacle stands among the ruins of an ancient city that once housed the Infernal Machine, until Baron Lum the Mad discovered and claimed it for himself. A fallen clock tower still holds some of the machine’s components, which retain enough power to manipulate time.

Conclusion

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge

a reward; the city must preserve all the wealth it can now that its prized smith is gone. The fate of Brimskarda has a ripple effect on the region. Should the fire giant survive and retain control of

the Star Forge, it’s only a matter of time before she either completes her runic colossus alone or kidnaps another capable smith to help her finish the job. Once her war machine is complete

Character Hooks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

provide the characters with a potion of longevity if they complete a mission for her. Bureaucratic Invitation. Secretary Wei invites the characters to Yongjing for a meeting about investigating the

ruins of the Old City beneath Yongjing. Political Pawns. An agent of the emperor or his family asks the characters to meet with Secretary Wei and aid her in any way they can—thereby drawing the characters into the city’s politics.

Humanoid Mutate

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

. Its skin becomes clammy and as smooth as a salamander’s. Some intelligent Humanoid mutates retain their personalities from before they were exposed to the Far Realm. Some, driven by the allure of

Kobold Legacy

Species 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

Centaur of Attention

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

Centaur of Attention After being driven from his home in Neverwinter Wood by marauding orcs, Xanth the centaur has taken refuge in the hills around the barrow. When he spots the characters, Xanth

Dragon Barrow and would like to see the evil half-orc spellcasters of Neverwinter Wood driven off or killed. He offers to guide characters to the Circle of Thunder if they wish to take on the half-orcs

Wight

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

them beyond death. Unlike mere zombies, they retain the memories and evil agendas they harbored in life. After dying and returning from the grave, a wight continues its villainous ways, but it is now

driven by a hunger for life. A wight drains living essence through its attacks. Humanoids slain by a wight’s life-sapping grip reanimate a day later and serve the wight as obedient zombies. Valera

Kas the Betrayer

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

made for him (the Sword of Kas, described in chapter 7) by his liege. But the evil sword convinced Kas to betray Vecna, and now Kas is driven primarily by his hatred for his former lord. Keraptis

populace became too extreme, a revolt drove him into hiding. He disappeared into the tunnels beneath White Plume Mountain (see “Greyhawk’s Premise” in chapter 5). It’s conceivable that he became a lich

Tieflings

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

tieflings are touched by the fiendish forces bound beneath the Wastes and are considered to be blessed by the tribes. If you’re playing such a tiefling, why have you left the Wastes? It could be that

character could be an envoy, an exile, or simply an adventurer driven by a desire to see what lies beyond your magical kingdom.

The Forge of Fury

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2

The Forge of Fury Two centuries ago, the great dwarf smith Durgeddin the Black and his clan were driven from their home by a horde of fierce orcs and trolls. They plundered the dwarves’ ancestral

beneath the Stone Tooth: a rugged, forested hill crowned by a bare rocky crag. There Durgeddin and his followers founded the stronghold of Khundrukar. About a century ago, a member of Durgeddin’s clan

Dwarves

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

dwarves must have come from the frozen plane of Risia. Wherever their roots, these migrant dwarves established a mighty nation beneath the surface of Khorvaire. Most dwarven legends, unconcerned with the

cherish the memory of this ancient nation, for all dwarves in Khorvaire are descended from exiles driven from the realm below — which was later destroyed by the daelkyr. Particularly in the Mror Holds

The Aurum

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

grand galas and salons. Beneath this gilded veneer, the members of the Aurum use their shared wealth and power to pursue their selfish goals, and a secret cabal at the heart of this fraternity dreams

by binding the current barons and monarchs to their will or by tearing down the current systems and creating something new. In stories driven by action, the Aurum can fund expeditions to exotic lands

The Phylactery Vault

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

. “Hello again,” she says. “I confess that I’m surprised at how well you have persevered. Your actions have significantly disrupted activity in the Doomvault. But the task is not yet complete

. “You have a chance to deal a heavy blow to Szass Tam and the liches of Thay. The black gates have been disrupted, allowing entry into a chamber deep beneath the Doomvault. Accessible only by magic, this

Running This Chapter

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

this adventure’s challenges, you could decide that the fanatics’ ritual is nearly complete, urging the characters to press ahead without resting and resupplying. If this adventure’s threats have

, the characters discover a passage beneath the town that leads into the Underdark and to Illithinoch. They set off through the Underdark to reach the deteriorating mind flayer stronghold of Illithinoch

Talking Snakes

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation Supplement

-ti that are devoted to Dendar the Night Serpent. If the characters complete the quest, Ssura and Y’zleth reveal the following information as their reward: A locked gate beneath the Peaks of Flame

complete a quest for them. Six months ago, a creature with a boulder-like shell (a geonid) entered the shrine and stole an icon of Merrshaulk. The icon is a serpent figurine carved from obsidian. Ssura and

Tieflings

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

at the fringes of civilization. Many tieflings are born to the Carrion Tribes, the barbarians who live in the Demon Wastes. Such tieflings are touched by the fiendish forces bound beneath the Wastes

Demesne has had no significant contact with the Five Nations and few know it exists. Your character could be an envoy or exile from it, or simply an adventurer driven by a desire to see what lies beyond your homeland.

Zargon the Returner

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

. Finally, Asmodeus cast Zargon’s horn from the Nine Hells in disgust, banishing the elder evil to the Material Plane. The horn was driven deep into the earth where it fell, entombing Zargon below

turned to it in worship, sacrificing their own to appease their so-called god. Appeased by these living offerings, Zargon returned to the tunnels beneath Cynidicea, where its cult grew.

12. Ice Trolls

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

crackling water, magically flowing even at subzero temperatures, course thickly through the hollows beneath wind-driven, icy snow. From the entrance, only swirling fog can be seen and only the wind can be

2. Northern Terraces

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

builders’ circle leader is a pioneering would-be architect and a supporter of Sovereign Phylo. Already driven mad by Zuggtmoy’s spores, Gasbide dreams of bizarre, elaborate structures no myconids

of the growers is on the top terrace, near the cavern wall. The growers are the colony’s farmers, ensuring the soil beneath the pools remains fertile and tending the fungi there. Hebopbe. The leader

12. Ice Trolls

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

crackling water, magically flowing even at subzero temperatures, course thickly through the hollows beneath wind-driven, icy snow. From the entrance, only swirling fog can be seen and only the wind can be

Notable Locations

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

in Sarlona known to Khorvairians are described below. The SHARN INQUISITIVE Beneath the Basalt Towers, Part 3 When I first spoke to the Morgrave board, I hid the details I share with you now. I

did this not from malice, nor even from fear that I would be ridiculed, but rather because I could not bear to revisit the horrors I had seen beneath the merciless Menechtarun sands. I force myself

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

Introduction The Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game is about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. It shares elements with childhood games of make-believe. Like those games, D&D is driven by

imagination. It’s about picturing the towering castle beneath the stormy night sky and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents. Dungeon Master (DM

D&D Beyond

Search Results