books bad diffusing call reality

Varnyr

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

centuries at Candlekeep. She loves the books, which she cares for as though they were her grandchildren. She has little ambition to rise in the ranks of the Avowed, perfectly content as a senior

scribe. She is hardworking and expects others to be as well. Personality Trait. “I have a warm, calming demeanor, even when circumstances call for concern.” Ideal. “Everything has its

Cadaver Collector

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of a conquering army on the Material Plane. These fearsome Constructs obey their summoners until they are dismissed back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might

can summon the spirits of these cadavers to battle against its enemies. Although these specters are individually weak, a cadaver collector can call up an almost endless supply of them, if given enough

Order of Scribes

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Magic of the book—that’s what many folk call wizardry. The name is apt, given how much time wizards spend poring over tomes and penning theories about the nature of magic. It’s rare

to see wizards traveling without books and scrolls sprouting from their bags, and a wizard would go to great lengths to plumb an archive of ancient knowledge. Among wizards, the Order of Scribes is

Balhannoth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

roll.Native to the Shadowfell, the vicious, predatory balhannoth alters reality in its lair to make the place appear inviting to travelers. A limited form of telepathy enables a balhannoth to

identify images of places where its prey expects their needs and desires to be met, such as an inn or a temple offering healing. It then warps reality around itself, hiding itself and remaking its

Cadaver Collector Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

back to Acheron, but if a summoner comes to a bad end, a cadaver collector might wander the Material Plane for centuries, collecting corpses while searching for a way to return home. Sweeping the Dead

creatures for eventual impalement. Although these specters are individually weak, a cadaver collector can call up an almost endless supply of them, if given time. Constructed Nature. A cadaver collector

Order of Scribes (TCoE)

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Magic of the book—that’s what many folk call wizardry. The name is apt, given how much time wizards spend poring over tomes and penning theories about the nature of magic. It’s rare

to see wizards traveling without books and scrolls sprouting from their bags, and a wizard would go to great lengths to plumb an archive of ancient knowledge. Among wizards, the Order of Scribes is

Failed Merchant

Backgrounds Acquisitions Incorporated

Maybe you come from a long line of merchants. Perhaps you were an entrepreneur. Regardless, your ventures ended poorly. Whether it was because of outside influences, bad luck, or simply because your

clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Supply Chain From your time as a merchant, you retain connections with wholesalers, suppliers, and other merchants and entrepreneurs. You can call upon these connections when looking for items or information.

Balhannoth Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

the following effects; the balhannoth can’t use the same lair action two rounds in a row: The balhannoth warps reality around it in an area up to 500 feet square. After 10 minutes, the terrain

material only and can’t create anything with moving parts or magical properties. Any object created in this area is, upon close inspection, revealed as a fake. Books are filled with empty pages

Ygorl, Lord of Entropy

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

Teleport action. Call the Void (Costs 3 Actions). Each creature that is not a construct or undead within 30 feet of Ygorl must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw against the lord of entropy’s

of eternity. It has no sense of empathy or compassion, driven only to unmake so that the resulting base elements of reality can fuel the multiverse’s endless cycles of creation and destruction

Avarice

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

fantasizes about rising to fame and prominence in record time and hopes that plundering the lost Netherese city of Ythryn will turn her fantasies into reality. The tiefling has the secret support of the

the Knights of the Black Sword, if she needs to call on their talents. Familiar. Avarice’s familiar throughout the adventure is a squawking raven named Skelm. It uses the raven stat block in

Baernaloth

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

the Books of Keeping—ancient tomes detailing the true names of the first yugoloths—report no mention of baernaloths within. Some posit that these enigmatic yugoloths were created by a

the far-flung past and inscrutable future of the multiverse. Many of these rare scholars of the profane seek to manipulate reality on a grand scale, while others unleash horrific experiments on the

Leonin

Species Mythic Odysseys of Theros

the leonin who call that land home. Leonin and the Gods d6 Attitude 1 I’m amused by the antics of the gods and their earnest, but ultimately deluded, mortal champions, and I

adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games. 4 I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

always straining to peer into another reality that seems to be just beyond my senses. 5 I’m uneasy if I can’t see plants growing or feel soil beneath my feet. 6 Seeing illness

conclave has a deeper connection to the Worldsoul than I do. 6 I’m trying to atone for the life of crime I led before I joined the Selesnya, but I find it hard to give up my bad habits

Knight of the Order

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

reflect the agenda, sentiment, or philosophy of one’s order. KNIGHTLY ORDERS OF FAERÛN Many who rightfully call themselves “knight” earn that title as part of an order in

. The reality of the dangers they faced eventually sank in, as did Lurue’s tenets. Over time the small group grew and spread, gaining a following in places as far as Cormyr. The Knights of the

Hierophant Medusa

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Devotion’s Call (1/Day). The medusa can cast the Resurrection spell, requiring no material components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability. Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If the medusa

filling books, scrolls, tablets, or stranger archives—such as magical crystals that hold captured memories or the voices of those long dead. You can use this lair and the lair actions described for

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

then passing through the shadow of That-Which-Endures changed them forever. Now the newest race to call Faerûn home, the verdan do their best to find their way in an unfamiliar world

. Reality is a descent into chaos punctuated by brief flashes of order, whence we arose and so imagine it to be the norm rather than a distant outlier. That-Which-Endures held entropy back for a mere instant

Beholders: Bad Dreams Come True

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Beholders: Bad Dreams Come True To those who would seek to conquer beholders or merely understand them, nearly everything about their quarry is unfathomable. These bizarre creatures are possessed of

alien intelligence, inhuman forms of perception, and the ability to shape reality through force of will — or even by their mere presence. Inside the comfortable confines of its subterranean lair, a

2N. Library

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

2N. Library Books and manuscripts line wooden shelves constructed from salvaged lumber. One dragonwing (see appendix D for statistics) and four cultists (initiates) spend most of their time here

, organizing the books. Since treasure first started funneling through Naerytar, Dralmorrer Borngray has pulled out any books, parchments, tablets, and other written material that interested him. He knows

2N. Library

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

2N. Library Books and manuscripts line wooden shelves constructed from salvaged lumber. One dragonwing (see appendix D for statistics) and four cultists (initiates) spend most of their time here

, organizing the books. Since treasure first started funneling through Naerytar, Dralmorrer Borngray has pulled out any books, parchments, tablets, and other written material that interested him. He knows

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

hatred of the civilized races of the world and their need to satisfy the demands of their deities, the orcs know that if they fight well and bring glory to their tribe, Gruumsh will call them home to

. It is also not unheard of for an exceptionally strong and charismatic evil human to lead stray orcs that no longer have a tribe to call their own. When Tribes Team Up An orc tribe typically has no

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

copy existing items with exceptional skill, allowing them to become excellent artisans and scribes. They can copy books, make replicas of objects, and otherwise thrive in situations where they can

kenku make an easy living serving as messengers, spies, and lookouts for thieves’ guilds, bandits, and other criminal cartels. A network of kenku can relay a bird call or similar noise across the

Wizard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

-force mind control. Their magic conjures monsters from other planes of existence, glimpses the future, or turns slain foes into zombies. Their mightiest spells change one substance into another, call

. Some aspire to become like the gods, shaping reality itself. Though the casting of a typical spell requires merely the utterance of a few strange words, fleeting gestures, and sometimes a pinch or

The God-Brain

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

The God-Brain The scope of what mind flayers call history exists on a cosmic scale. Through ages of empire and conflict, the illithid elder brains indulged experiments without comparison or reference

for lesser beings, explorations beyond the boundaries of time, reality, immortality, and the multiverse. Many failed—at least one catastrophically so. To summarize an eon of atrocities, one elder

First World, The

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

First World, The Scholars speak of a primordial state, a single reality they call the First World, which preceded the Material Plane. Many of the peoples and monsters that inhabit the worlds on the

Amberdune Books

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

Amberdune Books seriously. She denies all accusations of deception with curt professionalism and threatens to call for the guards if characters are too aggressive. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check

Amberdune Books Although it’s located in an out-of-the-way corner of the Wide, Amberdune Books always has a few customers perusing its wares. This market stall is stocked with legitimate but

Quinn Hightopple

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sleeping Dragon’s Wake

. Personality. “Nice set of teeth you got there. Be a shame if something bad happened to ’em.” Ideal. “No challenge is too big to overcome. As Papa Bartho always says, the bigger they are, the harder

they fall.” Bond. “Nothing’s more important than friendship. That’s why I’ll never leave a friend behind.” Flaw. “I can’t resist punching tall folk in the groin. I call it the Halfling Hello.”

Quinn Hightopple

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

. Personality. “Nice set of teeth you got there. Be a shame if something bad happened to ’em.” Ideal. “No challenge is too big to overcome. As Papa Bartho always says, the bigger they are, the harder

they fall.” Bond. “Nothing’s more important than friendship. That’s why I’ll never leave a friend behind.” Flaw. “I can’t resist punching tall folk in the groin. I call it the Halfling Hello.”

Quinn Hightopple

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

. Personality. “Nice set of teeth you got there. Be a shame if something bad happened to ’em.” Ideal. “No challenge is too big to overcome. As Papa Bartho always says, the bigger they are, the harder

they fall.” Bond. “Nothing’s more important than friendship. That’s why I’ll never leave a friend behind.” Flaw. “I can’t resist punching tall folk in the groin. I call it the Halfling Hello.”

Quinn Hightopple

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

. Personality. “Nice set of teeth you got there. Be a shame if something bad happened to ’em.” Ideal. “No challenge is too big to overcome. As Papa Bartho always says, the bigger they are, the harder

they fall.” Bond. “Nothing’s more important than friendship. That’s why I’ll never leave a friend behind.” Flaw. “I can’t resist punching tall folk in the groin. I call it the Halfling Hello.”

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

changes in the prevailing winds that they regarded as a bad omen. Unlike the aarakocra of other worlds on the Material Plane, the aarakocra of the Realms rarely travel to the Elemental Plane of Air

, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the aarakocra adventurer’s chosen path. Two other circumstances might call an aarakocra to adventure. First, aarakocra

New Race: Verdan

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

goblinoid things. But then passing through the shadow of That-Which-Endures changed them forever. Now the newest race to call Faerûn home, the verdan do their best to find their way in an unfamiliar world

. Reality is a descent into chaos punctuated by brief flashes of order, whence we arose and so imagine it to be the norm rather than a distant outlier. That-Which-Endures held entropy back for a mere instant, and the Verdan emerged. I’m sorry, was that the question? — K’thriss Drow’b

Roleplaying Lorinda

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

“lostling,” “caterpillar,” or “sweetskin.” She insists that others call her some variation of “mother.” Lorinda relishes the worship of Viktal’s people but treats them as livestock, guarding them fiercely

to prevent the villagers from learning her true nature. Personality Trait. “I’m the greatest parent in the world. I just need children worthy of my love.” Ideal. “Good children get rewards. Bad

Fear

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

Fear An overwhelming foe or horrid monster doesn’t need magic or some supernatural ability to strike fear into the most stalwart adventurers. During any frightful encounter, you can call on a

spells. An enemy demonstrates it can deal enough damage to reduce a character to 0 hit points in one blow. A creature is alien or monstrous in ways the character never could have imagined. An object undermines a character’s understanding of reality.

Saving Throws

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

Saving Throws In contrast to an ability check, a saving throw is an instant response to an effect and is almost never made by choice. A saving throw makes the most sense when something bad threatens

what kind of saving throw is involved and providing a DC for it. In other situations that call for a saving throw, it’s up to you to decide which ability score is involved. The Abilities, Ability Checks, and Saving Throws table offers suggestions.

Cosmic Horror

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

emerges through imagination and the indescribable, not details. At its best, cosmic horror makes characters feel gradually unmoored from their familiar reality. Cosmic horror is about ineffable forces

driven by motivations humans can’t understand. Cults, forbidden books, and strange symbols form the cornerstones of cosmic horror. The genre has a history of framing marginalized demographics as monstrous and stigmatizing mental illness. Be aware and avoid those tropes.

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