borders bad diffusing conquest role

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below

. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Strahd's Torment

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

borders of his domain. His desire for novelty, passion, and conquest matches his thirst for blood. Strahd considers Barovia’s people dull inferiors, even as he resents them for the simple pleasures of hope and companionship they possess.

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

orcs can be dominated by evil creatures of immense power, and they accept this subservient role either because they are forced to or because it offers them a measure of security while they engage in

everywhere in the world around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should

Vladeska's Powers and Dominion

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

executions serve the greater good and impose necessary order, but make it clear that zombies aren’t the realm’s only monsters. Only Bad Decisions. There is one simple truth in Falkovnia: the dead are

about to kill everyone. This sets the stage for countless bad decisions, from leaders making terrible sacrifices or permitting amoral acts to individuals making fatalistic choices. Everyone in Falkovnia

Sowing Your Oaths

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

, albeit with a few minor adjustments. Oath of Conquest Most paladins who take the Oath of Conquest consider martial subjugation the ultimate form of defeat for an enemy. You have a wider view, though

, and are able to embrace monetary or business-related conquest as equally fulfilling activities. Is a business rival really all that different from a rampaging dragon? Both are dangerous and

Death's Head Phalanx

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

brutal tyranny sweeping across Faerûn. He expects to play an important role in Emberosa’s ascension and conquest, and he dreams of ruling what remains of the High Forest once the elves and other forest

The Age of Humanity

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

in the Underdark, the drow fought wars of survival and conquest in their new domain. The Rise and Fall of Netheril More than five thousand years ago, a group of human fishing villages on the shores

the role of the goddess of magic. The resulting disruption in the fabric of magic sent Netheril’s floating cities crashing to the ground, destroyed a host of other wards and enchantments, and brought

Orc Culture and Beliefs

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

around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should react to them. As a race, orcs

stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle. Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must swallow a stone. A tribute of elf ears brings favor from Gruumsh. If you bury

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

body, thought, and emotion. Freed from the limitations of their human bodies, the yuan-ti used their new abilities to conquer new lands and expand their borders. One Race, Many Forms The bodies of all

common apes. Although some purebloods are able to reproduce with humans, most are disgusted by the idea and would do so only if seduction is necessary for a pureblood to preserve a role as a confidant or

Athreos's Influence

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

Athreos’s Influence Most mortals focus on the River Guide’s role in their own deaths. Countless mortal superstitions prescribe ways to garner Athreos’s favor, but all Athreos demands of those he

borders, boundaries, and that which is “neither.” Those who undertake journeys, especially dangerous ones, often drop a coin into a fountain or a body of water in apotropaic acknowledgment of the River

Dark Fantasy

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

keep in mind the role of heroes and ensure places for light in your dark fantasy domain. If a domain holds no place for hope, there’s also little call for resistance and meaningful plots. In addition

and evil are blurred. Choices involve deciding which outcome is least bad. Corruption and suspicion flourish among organizations and individuals. Magic and magic items might be rarer or require a

Foreword

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

. We’ve visited Waterdeep before, but not like this. Clever heroes will respect the city’s rules. Those who get on the city’s bad side are in for a rough time, as the City of Splendors is home to some of

before work on the adventure was scheduled to begin. Matthew Mercer, whom you might know from the livestreamed show Critical Role, lent us his boundless imagination and helped flesh out the villains and

Darkon

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

hungry. Once the prison of the lich Azalin Rex, Darkon stretched between two oceans, its lands filled with gothic cities and the monuments of forgotten wizard-tyrants. Largely ignoring his role as

the Mists surrounding the domain roil with hidden activity and creep inward. These Mists, now known throughout the domain as the Shroud, erode Darkon’s borders. Those fleeing the Shroud report

Personal Impact

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

Personal Impact As players develop characters in an Eberron campaign, you can work with them to determine the role that the war played in their background. Here are a few topics for conversation

: Military Service. Did the character fight in the war? If so, which nation did they serve and what role did they fill? If more than one of the characters fought in the war, did they serve together (or as

Horror in Your Game

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

tales, but what place do they have in your D&D game? As a DM, you determine what place horror has in your adventures. Consider the following topics and how this book can aid you in determining the role of

attention for both of us. We’ve found no trace of Vhorishkova since arriving, but I feel her watching. It’s like she’s everywhere. It’s bad here, Uncle. Not snake-headed hogs bad. Like, full Delmunster

Matriculating from the Schools of Magic

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

school can help define your role in the business, as well as your fellow franchise members’ expectations for you. Abjuration Protective magic is often underappreciated by the members of the lesser

party members, your role as an abjurer is always greatly appreciated. Just don’t make the rookie mistake of protecting everybody else before you take care of yourself and the goods. And if you need to

Build Your Group

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

this role, as are paladins—as long as they aren’t asked to do things that violate the tenets of their oaths. Marshal. Combat is the specialty of the Marshal, who focuses on enforcing the law of the

Intelligence scores or proficiency in Investigation. Warden. The Warden’s focus isn’t so much on the people of the nation, but on the land encompassed within its borders, both cultivated and wild. Sometimes

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, designed to collapse under the weight of any creature heavier than a kobold. On occasion, the route through a kobold lair runs along a ledge that borders a cavern or a crevasse, and the kobolds might

on. Even a stupid or physically weak kobold is given a role in the tribe, whether something as simple as picking mushrooms for food or watching over hatchlings, and they all understand that their

Factions in Athas

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

important common values and work toward the same end: the destruction of slavery. They fulfill something like the role of the Order of the Gauntlet in Athas. The Free are not directly concerned with

bureaucracy of a specific city-state can serve a similar role in a Dark Sun conversion of this adventure. The city-state most immediately concerned with the rise of a dangerous magical cult in the Great

Survival Skills

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

itself to give its fellows time to collapse a nearby tunnel and prevent invaders from getting to the rest of the tribe. All kobolds know that fleeing from danger, especially against bad odds, is the smart

into this role by its peers — is just hoping to slow down the invaders long enough to give the rest of the tribe time to prepare a lethal trap, an ambush, or a quick getaway. The tribe’s leader is

The Darkening

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

see the “darkening” up ahead. It’s difficult to see anything clearly within its borders, though you can vaguely make out the outline of a mountain of sunken ships resting on the sea floor, grown over

he opened (Umberlee’s Maw) have created an area in the ocean that acts like a beacon for strong, irregular currents and bad weather. Underwater, the effect manifests as a general darkness in an oddly

Campaign Events

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

prominent role in your campaign is to apply a draconic twist to any of these events. A half-dragon conqueror acquiring an Orb of Dragonkind can throw a world into chaos Rise or Fall of a Leader or an Era. A

riders wheeling overhead could begin the conquest of a neighboring realm. Or a dragon’s minions might launch an attack in preparation for the dragon establishing a new lair. Rebellion, Revolution

Fensirs

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

the outer plane of Ysgard. The campaign’s aspirations of conquest quickly failed, but the raiders discovered a key feature of Ysgard: creatures slain on that plane return to life the next dawn. Thus

seems like a transparently bad idea. What were those giants thinking? —Bigby And yet, can we fairly say that the existence of fensirs is “transparently bad”? Some might argue they are a

Kruphix's Influence

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

the few who understand the role of mortal belief in shaping the younger gods—a concept even most gods don’t fully comprehend. Kruphix is the only being who has the ability to seal the borders between

Humans Transformed

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

, becoming like the gods in body, thought, and emotion. Freed from the limitations of their human bodies, the yuan-ti used their new abilities to conquer new lands and expand their borders. One Race

common apes. Although some purebloods are able to reproduce with humans, most are disgusted by the idea and would do so only if seduction is necessary for a pureblood to preserve a role as a confidant or

Ephara's Influence

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

, the god of the sea, because Ephara recognizes the necessity of water for a thriving polis. She also admires Purphoros’s craft, realizing the essential role of the forge and other forms of industry to

build a city. Ephara and Nylea are almost polar opposites, and there is no shortage of bad blood between the god of the cities and the god of the hunt. Nylea resents the construction of every

Ascendant Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

all divine power. Faction Attire. Defiers wear geometric, starry fabrics that hint at their astral ties. They adorn their outfits with silver chains and broken holy symbols. Role in Sigil. The Athar

. Bleakers dress in gloomy, drab color schemes. Frayed clothing and weather-beaten gear are common. Role in Sigil. The Bleak Cabal’s headquarters is the Gatehouse, a fortress of healing and respite in

Acquisition as a Holy Chore

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

campaign, but a few select gods, goddesses, and otherworldly powers might play a larger role. Abbathor This dwarven deity of greed gets a bad rap. Because seriously, greed is just another form of the

the rhetorical question, “Would you rather be lucky or good at something?” Because no matter how good you are, you’ll eventually have the bad luck of facing off against someone who’s a whole lot

What You Need

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

What You Need Here’s what you need to play D&D with one or more friends (a typical group has five people): Dungeon Master. One person takes on the role of the Dungeon Master (DM), the game’s lead

useful: DM Screen. Many DMs like to use a screen to shield their notes and dice rolls from players. It’s bad manners to peek over the screen! Miniatures and Battle Grid. Some DMs use a battle grid and

Life in the Styes

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

, blood and offal from butchers, lye and fur from tanners, and indescribable chemical mixtures from alchemists. In the eastern portion of the Styes, the pollution is so bad that the river’s flow has been

organized faith exists in secret in the Styes, and it plays a central role in the adventure — the cult of Tharizdun. Health Disease and infection are real concerns in the Styes. Most residents suffer

Dragon Relationships

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

ruses (posing as their own children and grandchildren, for example) that allow them to reign across multiple generations. The size of a dragon’s territory is irrelevant to the “emperor” role. A dragon

importance, even when helping other creatures, and dragons’ “children” might face serious consequences if they forget who’s in charge. Patron Dragons might take on the role of patron, using a fraction of

Halflings

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

off bad luck or to bring good fortune. Villages or even families might have superstitions observed by no one else, such as the following: For a safe journey through a forest, leave a few seeds or a

looks like a plucked chicken, know that Charmalaine is near — and heed her warning. Put a frog under your cap to bring good luck, but not for too long, or it’s bad luck for a fortnight. If you step on a

Dwarves of the Multiverse

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

deity’s influence weakened Bhaerynden and left it vulnerable to the dark elves that threatened its borders. That claim might well be true, but shield dwarf scholars point out that those who abandoned

.” That is a truism that both subraces of dwarves repeat with pride and derision, each extolling the qualities of their own kind. Gold Dwarves. The conquest of Bhaerynden by the drow spurred its

Hobgoblins

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

, Bargrivyek serves as Nomog-Geaya’s second in command. Nomog-Geaya would prefer the position were filled by someone more like himself, but Bargrivyek was all he was left with after Maglubiyet’s conquest

they know will result in death if the act will bring glory to the banner or the legion. Honor the Gods. Hobgoblins give regular recognition to the deities left to them after Maglubiyet’s conquest

Red Wizards of Thay

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

masters, destroying some of Szass Tam’s lich zulkirs and thinning the ranks of other undead. Little is known of the conflict beyond Thay’s borders, however. In this quiet civil war, both sides fear that

gratitude for the pivotal role he and his fellow Red Wizards played in her return, granting them an army of dragons with which to assault Thay. After unseating Szass Tam, Rath Modar plans to take his

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