better before death compels runes

Wand of Orcus

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

some fell goal. The wand is topped with a skull that once belonged to a human hero slain by Orcus. The wand can magically change in size to better conform to the grip of its user. All Holy Water

from it (save DC 18). The table indicates how many charges you must expend to cast the spell. Spell Charge Cost Animate Dead 1 Blight 2 Circle of Death 3 Finger of

Rune Shaper

Feats Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

runes you know with another one from the Rune Spells table. Rune Spells Rune Spell Cloud Fog cloud Death Inflict wounds Dragon Chromatic orb Enemy Disguise self

You’ve studied the magic of Giant runes, granting you the following benefits: Comprehend Languages. You learn the comprehend languages spell. You can cast this spell without expending a spell

Glowrune Pigment

Magic Items Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

This set of 1d4 + 2 small paint pots contains pigments mixed from crushed luminescent gemstones. This magical paint bestows temporary magical gifts on creatures with runes drawn on their skin with

this paint. One paint pot contains enough pigment to paint one rune. A creature can spend 10 minutes to paint one of the following runes onto itself or another creature: Journey Rune. Difficult

Ygorl, Lord of Entropy

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

each: circle of death, enervation,* phantasmal killer,symbol;symbol (discord only)2/day each: finger of death, harm, mental prison,*power word pain*1/day each: power word kill, power word stun, symbol

;symbol (death only), weird* Spell from Xanathar’s Guide to EverythingMultiattack. Ygorl makes three attacks: two with its scythe, and one with its Entropic Touch. Scythe. Melee Weapon Attack: +14

Grim Champion of Pestilence

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Spellcasting.Aleron was once a tiefling adventurer, but unlike so many victims of the Deck of Many Things, he never drew the Skull card. Instead, when one of his allies drew the card and faced the avatar of death

, Aleron came to his ally’s aid. A second avatar of death appeared, and Aleron was slain; soon after, his Undead corpse crawled from Withered Vineyard, tainted with plague. Aleron resents his fellow

Category 1 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

(1d12);{"diceNotation":"1d12","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Acidic Skin","damageType":"acid"} acid damage (category 3). 2 Armored Hide. The krasis has better natural armor afforded by a shell or

thick scales, increasing its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving

Skabatha Nightshade

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Hourglass Coven. Better known as Granny Nightshade, she offers her assistance to those who are haunted by regret. Her deals often result in cruel twists; for example, a petitioner who asks to be reunited

. Personality Trait. “When dealing with outsiders, I present myself as a kindly old grandmother.” Ideal. “Children are better off working for me than picking up lots of bad habits

Category 2 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Acidic Skin","damageType":"acid"} acid damage (category 3). 2 Armored Hide. The krasis has better natural armor afforded by a shell or thick scales, increasing

its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving throws against spells and other

Category 3 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

(1d12);{"diceNotation":"1d12","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Acidic Skin","damageType":"acid"} acid damage (category 3). 2 Armored Hide. The krasis has better natural armor afforded by a shell

or thick scales, increasing its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving

Orcus Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

tampering with the dead in my search to better understand death.” 61–80 “I want to achieve the everlasting existence of undeath.” 81–00 “I am awash in

with dead. Alternatively, he can expend 1 or more of the wand’s charges to cast one of the following spells from it: circle of death (1 charge), finger of death (1 charge), or power word kill (2

Mark of Shadow Elf

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Thuranni, Regalport (Lhazaar Principalities) Elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of years. The mark’s bearers left Aerenal after the conflict that wiped out the Mark of Death

espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while Thuranni operates in the eastern lands. As a rule, Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents are superior assassins. Thuranni and Phiarlan

Leucrotta

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

cover up the stink of death. The first leucrottas came into being alongside some gnolls during the rampages of Yeenoghu on the Material Plane. While many of the hyenas that ate Yeenoghu’s

like doing their own killing, since leucrottas are meticulous in their cruelty and able to draw out kills for better and longer sport. And when there are no victims to be had, a leucrotta can mimic the

Wand of Orcus Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. Made from bones as hard as iron, the wand is topped with a magically enlarged skull that once belonged to a human hero slain by Orcus. The wand can magically change in size to better conform to the

or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells (save DC 18) from it: animate dead (1 charge), blight (2 charges), circle of death (3 charges), finger of death (3 charges), power word kill

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

You are a member of a teeming horde — one small part of a sprawling organism. Just as you are part of the swarm, the swarm is part of a larger ecosystem, a never-ending cycle of life, death

Golgari, no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit Languages

Urchin Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

securely for at least ten days. How did you come by that money? What allowed you to break free of your desperate circumstances and embark on a better life? Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of

shaped by lives of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better

Halaster Blackcloak

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

terrain, polymorph 5th level (3 slots): Bigby's hand, geas, wall of force 6th level (2 slots): chain lightning, globe of invulnerability, programmed illusion 7th level (2 slots): finger of death

casting elder runes on them. Halaster’s gates connect the different levels of Undermountain, thus enabling him to bring new monsters into the dungeon to replenish those that die or escape. Even as

Urchin - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

circumstances and embark on a better life? Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, StealthTool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, thieves’ toolsEquipment: A small knife, a map of the city you grew up

of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better life &mdash

Azorius Functionary

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

5th dominate person Your magic often takes the form of blue or golden runes floating and glowing in the air in circular patterns or of shimmering azure barriers of magical energy. If you

best at everything in my legal training, and now I work with the person who was always just a little bit better. 6 A good friend was promoted into work they can’t tell me about. 7 I

Keresta Delvingstone

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

4th level (3 slots): blight, death ward, divination 5th level (1 slot): antilife shell, destructive waveMultiattack. (Vampire Form Only). Keresta makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite

stranger to hardship. Hoping to make a better life for herself, she became an adventurer and sought fame and fortune in Undermountain. Keresta met her end in the lair of a vampire and became a vampire spawn

Auril (Second Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

her to explode and die. A mephit that dies in this way does not use its Death Burst. Instead, each creature within 10 feet of the exploding mephit must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking

that can harm her. Auril’s worshipers know better than to disturb her self-imposed isolation. Terrible blizzards have cut off Icewind Dale from the rest of the world, and a shroud of mist

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

law-abiding citizens of Ravnica. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait 1 I revel in mayhem, the more destructive the better. 2 When violence breaks out, I lose myself in

guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Hedonism. Death comes for everyone, so take as much pleasure as you can from every moment of life. (Neutral) 3 Creativity. I strive to

Rune Shaper

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

). Each time you gain a level, you can replace one of the runes you know with another one from the Rune Spells table. Rune Spells Rune Spell Cloud Fog cloud Death Inflict wounds Dragon Chromatic orb

Rune Shaper Prerequisite: Spellcasting Feature or Rune Carver Background You’ve studied the magic of Giant runes, granting you the following benefits: Comprehend Languages. You learn the comprehend

Olanthius Returns

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

Olanthius Returns If the characters desecrate any of the tombs or disturb the journals in area C7, Olanthius the death knight returns to the crypt on a chariot pulled by two gorgons. Olanthius is

outside. As Olanthius moves through the catacombs, he compels any ghosts he encounters to fight at his side. Any ghosts that the characters summoned from the urns in the funerary chambers (area C2

Games of Chance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

next game (assuming the participant wants to keep playing). Life and Death Life and death is a dice game played between the house (represented by a dealer) and a player. While up to five players can

life and death, they can opt to push their luck on their next bet. In this case, they bet everything they won on the last roll (their ante plus the winnings from the house). If they win, the house

Sinister Reflections

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example” into “I’m obsessed with a hero of my faith, and I must become exactly like them so I can take their place.” The more unreasonable, the better

. Opposite Reflections. For each favored personal characteristic, imagine and write down its opposite—specifically, a version that compels characters into conflict. For example, transform “I idolize a

Chimera

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

a great hoard. Its leonine nature compels it to hunt and kill powerful creatures that threaten its territory. Its goat head grants it a vicious, stubborn streak that compels it to fight to the death

27. Mark of Death

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

geas spell cast by Halaster compels Zorak to hunt down and destroy the creature bearing the death mark, singling out that target above all others. Zorak knows the exact location of the marked creature

27. Mark of Death Halaster captured a dwarf vampire named Zorak Lightdrinker and magically bound him here. Open Pit. A 20-foot-long, 40-foot-deep pit spans the width of the corridor. Blood stains the

19. Steering Tower

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

glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes. This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of Esclarotta

, who is bound to the fortress by powerful magic that cannot be dispelled. Touching one of the glowing runes issues a specific command to Esclarotta’s spirit. A character who understands Dwarvish or

19. Steering Tower

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

glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes. This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of

Esclarotta, who is bound to the fortress by powerful magic that cannot be dispelled. Touching one of the glowing runes issues a specific command to Esclarotta’s spirit. A character who understands Dwarvish or

Banshee

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

torment influences its behavior. Banshee Sorrows 1d6 Torment Compels the Banshee To... 1 Appear prior to a family member’s death. 2 Haunt the site where it was executed. 3 Lament

Banshee Wailing Harbinger of Death Habitat: Any; Treasure: Relics Heralds of doom and plagues on the living, banshees are spirits obsessed by unresolved bitterness or sorrow. These storied phantoms

Running This Chapter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Running This Chapter In this chapter, the characters explore the halls of Lavoglia, better known as the Palace of Heart’s Desire. Most likely, they’ve learned of Zybilna’s betrayal at the hands of

’ experience as entertaining as possible: Read the description of Iggwilv’s Cauldron in appendix A. Read this chapter in its entirety, and reacquaint yourself with the “Rules of Conduct” and “Death in

Creating a Bronze Dragon

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

this matter, simpler is better! -Fizban Use the Bronze Dragon Personality Traits and Bronze Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive bronze dragon characters, and use the Bronze

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

Ghoul

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

Ghoul Devourers of Flesh. Like maggots or carrion beetles, ghouls thrive in places rank with decay and death. A ghoul haunts a place where it can gorge on dead flesh and decomposing organs. When it

compels them to consume. A ghoul’s undead flesh never rots, and this monster can persist in a crypt or tomb for untold ages without feeding. Abyssal Origins. Ghouls trace their origins to the Abyss

3. Hungry Gnome

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

one of the corpses. (The gnome is really a troll named Xlorp, transformed by the runes in area 11b.) In its current form, the troll has the statistics of an unarmored (AC 12), chaotic evil deep gnome

character who examines the bodies and succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check reveals that four drow are covered in burn marks consistent with lightning strikes, three were torn to pieces by large claws, and one was crushed to death (a victim of the behir’s coils).

Death Giants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

and the Material Plane for souls that might please their divine queen. Most giants know better than to make regular use of the death rune. —Diancastra “Know better”? Perhaps, but there’s no

Death Giants Long ago, a large band of cloud giants traveled to the Shadowfell in search of a way to preserve their collapsing empire. Desperate to save themselves and their way of life, they

D&D Beyond

Search Results