bitter before deeds construct reason

Snow Sphinx

monsters

whips around a feline face, revealing piercing blue eyes that can freeze foes with a single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or

spotted markings as its fur; they are strong enough to withstand the bitter winds that whistle across the tundra.Cold, Necrotic, RadiantFreezing Glare (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType

Blight Ichor

Equipment

This bitter chartreuse concoction is distilled from a fungus native to the Blightshore badlands. The sickly green liqueur harbors potent psychedelic properties. Provided it is neither a construct nor

Vladimir Horngaard

Monsters Curse of Strahd

battled Strahd's armies to the bitter end. Deadly Vengeance. Unwilling to accept his failure, Vladimir returned as a revenant. So great was his hatred of Strahd and his thirst for vengeance that those

. When Strahd became a vampire, Vladimir and his revenants should have gone to their eternal rest. But Strahd's deeds were so heinous that Barovia and the knight's spirits became trapped behind

Gladiator Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

defuse any amount of tension. 5 I love a good insult, even one directed at me. 6 I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention. 7 I’ll settle for nothing less than

I love. 2 Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back. 3 I want to be famous, whatever it takes. 4 I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds

Entertainer Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention. 7 I’ll settle for nothing less than perfection. 8 I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song

. 3 I want to be famous, whatever it takes. 4 I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person’s. 5 I will do anything to prove myself superior to my

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

curse on a success.The transformation into a demilich isn’t a bitter end for all liches that experience it. Made as a conscious choice, the path of the demilich becomes the next step in a dark

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

Characteristics Charlatans are colorful characters who conceal their true selves behind the masks they construct. They reflect what people want to see, what they want to believe, and how they see the

a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. 5 I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. 6 Sarcasm and insults are my

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

Reason for Adventuring 1 Outcast for murder 2 Outcast for severely damaging home territory 3 Clan slain by invading humanoids 4 Clan slain by a dragon or demon 5

forest’s children by their deeds, habits, and other actions. By the same token, their tribe names merely refer to their homes. When dealing with other races, firbolgs refer to their lands by

Entertainer - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

, since I can defuse any amount of tension. 5 I love a good insult, even one directed at me. 6 I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention. 7 I’ll settle for nothing

measure my deeds against that person’s. 5 I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival. 6 I would do anything for the other members of my old troupe. d6

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

. Suggested Characteristics Charlatans are colorful characters who conceal their true selves behind the masks they construct. They reflect what people want to see, what they want to believe

want. 4 I’m a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. 5 I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. 6 Sarcasm and

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

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

notable deeds or actions. For example, Garurt translates as “axe,” a name given to a lizardfolk warrior who defeated an orc and claimed his foe’s weapon. A lizardfolk who likes to

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The kobolds prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger

Quaggoths

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

can survive on bitter lichens and toxic fungi, they viciously attack anything they can make a meal of, from giant spiders to explorers. Quaggoths sometimes serve as muscle for Underdark-dwelling

—earns the enmity of that quaggoth’s band regardless of reason or fault. These grudges sometimes extend to whole communities rather than individuals. Generations of quaggoths might seek revenge against a

Hierarchy

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

, some members are highly respected while others are seen as dangerous for one reason or another. What is your relationship to the hierarchy you’re a part of? Is your entire order held in particularly

high or low esteem? Or does your adventuring party stand out from the larger order for some reason? Is your behavior in line with the expectations of your religion, or is it unorthodox in some way

Never Alone

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

opposite to the thessalhydra’s zone, and for good reason. The human heart that sits within the construct is magically connected to the thessalhydra, tapping into the power of the Infernal Machine components

thessalhydra and another creation of Moghadam’s known as the thessalheart construct. Thessalhydra When the characters first enter the temple, roll a d4. On a 1–2, the temple’s guardian thessalhydra is

Lonelywood

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

knucklehead trout, while most of the others spend their days in the forest felling and hewing the trees that are used to construct boats and buildings. Lonelywood’s timber is taken by cart to be sold in other

other in the streets. The realities of survival demand that the residents live and work together, and not dwell on history. A visitor can make many friends here but would be wise not to drudge up the dark deeds of anyone’s past in this small town.

Playing During the Last War

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

the war. These characters could be figures of legend whose great deeds are known to the present-day characters, or they could be unknowns caught up in events much larger than themselves. In either

in a memorable battle? Do they take actions they’ll later regret? Do they make a bitter enemy who comes back to haunt them years later, when the campaign continues in the present day? A magical

New Characters

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

, the characters need a reason for Lord Neverember to request their help in chapter 1, even if it’s simply because their heroics are widely known. Regardless, 10th-level characters have already had long

careers and earned their abilities through experience. These characters have likely accomplished impressive deeds, so encourage your players to describe how the characters reached 10th level. The 10th

Order of the Gauntlet

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

sentient beings must come to the light of reason and goodness of their own volition. That is why it is not interested in controlling minds: it focuses only on deeds, setting an example to the world in hopes

to strike only when evil deeds are being committed. Thus, the Order of the Gauntlet is hypervigilant, using every resource at their disposal—both divine and mundane—to know where and when dark deeds

Helmed Horror

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

Helmed Horror This construct possesses intelligence, the ability to reason and adjust its tactics, and an unswerving devotion to its maker that persists even after its maker’s demise. Resembling an

, or otherwise take active measures to improve its defensive position. Constructed Nature. A helmed horror doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep. Helmed Horror Medium construct, neutral Armor

Welcome to Eberron

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

Eberron has a rich history built on heroic deeds, evolving magic, and the wounds of a long, devastating war. Action, adventure, good, evil, and a thousand shades of gray paint the landscape in broad

and pulp adventure while adding a layer of noir intrigue. Stories don’t always end well, and there isn’t a perfect answer to every problem. The Last War turned old allies into bitter enemies and

Occult Detective Stories

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

? What crime is it committing, or how is it a problem? Who wants the villain stopped? Do they have a personal reason for this? What evidence has the villain left behind? How is the evidence initially

misleading? What clarifying evidence will the characters discover in the course of their investigation? How are the villain’s deeds terrifying or suggestive of a larger plot? Are the characters threatened? How might the characters trap the villain, draw them out, or predict their next move?

Appendix: Festive Monsters

compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack

single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or logic. Although a snow sphinx can speak, it generally greets its prey with claws and

it sinking into soft snow and thick fur to ward out the cold. The sphinx’s muscular wings carry the same spotted markings as its fur; they are strong enough to withstand the bitter winds that whistle

Heroes of Destiny

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

choose the entries that speak to you or randomly pull cards from The Deck of Many Things card set. One of the most important steps of a warrior’s journey is discovering the reason why you fight. Glory

their toes. Rogue Tales of your past heroic deeds might be somewhat exaggerated. Ruin When you lost everything, you realized the only thing you could rely on was your martial skill. Sage Descended

Klothys's Villains

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

for the world to heal. If Klothys didn’t intend this, they reason, then surely she wouldn’t have brought so many monsters along in her wake. The Klothys’s Villains table suggests just a few foes that

Klothys. The seer manufactures tragedy for the individual to provoke this revelation. 6 A cult fanatic of Klothys believes that the characters’ deeds mark them as servants of the titans, destined to

One for All: The Stronghold

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

composed recounting of deeds, events, and important persons. Dwarves combine their runes into patterns, present pictorial histories in seemingly unconnected murals and images, and otherwise leave their

of art makes any stronghold a prime target for thieves and raiders. For that reason, the entrance to a stronghold doesn’t broadcast its presence by being a stellar example of dwarven stonework. The

Nabassu

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

reason, most demons shun nabassus and force them to live on the fringes of the Abyss. There, nabassus pick off weaker demons or, if the situation warrants, gather in packs to take down larger prey. Some

hour, provided that creature is neither a construct nor an undead. The devouring requires the nabassu to be within 5 feet of the corpse for at least 10 minutes, after which it gains a number of Hit

Wood Elves: The Tairnadal

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

whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours? Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the

Tairnadal. Do you experience visions of your patron ancestor driving you on a particular course? Are you pursuing an epic quest that mirrors your ancestor’s legendary deeds? Are you seeking vengeance

Prince Oargev of New Cyre

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

Khorvaire in the wake of the Last War. Oargev does significant work in reaching out to his displaced subjects, and the majority of them sympathize with his goals and aid his agents. Enemies. Bitter Cyran

Nations. Aundairians, Karrns, and Thranes are generally unsympathetic to the plight of displaced Cyrans. Many of them bitterly bear the scars of the war, their resentments reinforced by the deeds of

Vladimir Horngaard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and battled Strahd’s armies to the bitter end. Deadly Vengeance. Unwilling to accept his failure, Vladimir returned as a revenant. So great was his hatred of

war, even as Strahd tightened his grip on the valley. When Strahd became a vampire, Vladimir and his revenants should have gone to their eternal rest. But Strahd’s deeds were so heinous that Barovia and

Lord of Blades Campaign Themes

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

Lord of Blades Campaign Themes The Voice of THRANE Do They Know the War Is Over? Against all logic and reason, people in Breland continue to argue that the warforged — creations of House

construct eldritch machines and other weapons. What would happen if the Lord of Blades were to discover the power that caused the Mourning and unleashed that power across Khorvaire?

NPC Support

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

kobold minion (or some other poor fool) to ensure her own survival. Vellynne’s most potent spells are useless against the dragon construct, so she relies on her wand of magic missiles, using its

buried under the Reghed Glacier (see “Vellynne’s Quest” at the end of the chapter). If you’re unable to save Vellynne for whatever reason, have the characters discover a journal in her belongings that

Phenax's Influence

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

metaphorical progenitor of the Returned, Phenax also takes time to provide shelter and opportunities for his children to disrupt the mortal world. Divine Relationships It stands to reason that the god of

Lord of the Underworld and the River Guide. Still bitter over Phenax’s deception, Erebos concocts ways to torment the upstart god. Were he to discover a method to slay Phenax and return him to the

12. Shrine to Olhydra

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising

grown quiet, bitter, and apprehensive. He doesn’t understand how Gar can serve both Olhydra and Umberlee, and has developed an extreme mistrust of his morose benefactor. Because of this, it wouldn’t take

to the characters: Gar once served as the elemental prophet of the elder elemental being known as Olhydra. In Gar’s former career, he recruited Shoalar to help construct a temple and recruit other

Background

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

likely a reason why you’ve avoided them. In addition to the gods, the supernatural gifts presented earlier in this chapter might influence your background. Consider what story emerges from your

. Myths of the Iroan Games Competitors seeking a place among the athletes of legend endlessly push themselves to claim victory during Akros’s world-renowned annual contest, the Iroan Games. The deeds

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