born better diffusing concerns ready

Jarund Elkhardt

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

in battle. The strain of his long years of rule is etched on his weather-worn face. Jarund's late son, Jarund Twice-Born, was killed almost a decade ago while trying to bring down a cave bear, leaving

Jarund without an heir. He has failed to produce another child with his wife, Wynneth, and his mistress, Froya, so the future of his royal line remains uncertain. Auril's unyielding winter concerns

Goliath Werebear

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Keen Smell. The werebear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell. Mountain Born. The werebear is acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. Powerful

snow. Elders invoke her name to keep young goliaths from wandering too far from home before they’re ready. Adult goliaths sometimes encounter this legendary individual in their travels to the far

City Watch / Investigator

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

City of Skilled Hands. Even if you’re not city-born or city-bred, this background can describe your early years as a member of law enforcement. Most settlements of any size have their own

constables and police forces, and even smaller communities have sheriffs and bailiffs who stand ready to protect their community. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, InsightLanguages: Two of your

Eladrin Legacy

Species Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

You spend excessively on creature comforts. Winter d4 Winter Personality Trait 1 The worst case is the most likely to occur. 2 You preserve what you have. Better to

be hungry today and have food for tomorrow. 3 Life is full of dangers, but you are ready for them. 4 A penny spent is a penny lost forever. d4 Winter Flaw 1

Alustriel Silverhand

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

gives no hint of her supernaturally extended life span. She typically wears long robes and wields a unicorn-headed staff, her Staff of Silverymoon. Personality Alustriel’s primary concerns

Alustriel and her deeds better known than in the Silver Marches and its capital, Silverymoon. Alustriel ruled Silverymoon for centuries, once disguised as a wizard named Elué Dualen and then later

Lesser Star Spawn Emissary

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

and just as readily appear as people, animals, or other creatures—the more unassuming, the better. Should it reveal its true form, an emissary appears as a roughly bipedal mass of agitated organs

emissaries are the fingers of alien realms, digits that tip the scales of reality toward terror. Heralded by ominous astrological events, these ravenous invaders make worlds ready for unimaginable masters or

Minotaur Legacy

Species Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

fur extend down minotaurs’ necks and powerful backs, and males have long tufts of hair on their chins and cheeks. Their legs end in heavy, cloven hooves. Minotaurs are born with long, tufted

, are much better known and respected. Boros minotaurs choose the precision of the legion over the fury of the pack. Minotaurs tend to vent their outrage through violence, but they aren’t

Folk Hero Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

you. Suggested Characteristics A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their

home communities remain very important to them. d8 Personality Trait 1 I judge people by their actions, not their words. 2 If someone is in trouble, I’m always ready to

Mark of Handling Human

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

were born to rule it. —Dalin d’Vadalis The Mark of Handling gives its bearer a primal connection to beasts and the natural world, granting the power to calm and coax. This extends beyond

rumors claim that Vadalis has crafted monsters of its own. Some rumors even insist that Vadalis is trying to magebreed better humans.

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

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

there, I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her. 4 I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my lands and title from those who

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

remained ensconced in their hidden strongholds, biding their time until they were ready to strike again. Today, with their numbers greatly depleted and their enemies much stronger than in ages past, the

odds aren’t in their favor. A short retreat might be just the thing to reach a better tactical position, find allies, or to allow the yuan-ti the opportunity to study their opponents and

Shifter Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

also be a cunning rat who darts through the shadows. Wildhunt shifters are born from any creature that tracks its prey. While the beast within certainly has a physical impact on a shifter, it has a

ready for change or opportunity. Shifters have a natural inclination toward classes with a primal connection. A shifter barbarian draws their rage from the beast within. A shifter ranger indulges

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

pity. Born into the world lacking stout scales and sharp teeth, it’s a wonder they have managed to survive for so long. The typical human would barely make it through a day in the swamps. Still

learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how metaphors work. That doesn’t stop

Folk Hero - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

; Suggested Characteristics A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their home communities

remain very important to them. d8 Personality Trait 1 I judge people by their actions, not their words. 2 If someone is in trouble, I’m always ready to lend help. 3

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

trouble, I’m always ready to lend help. 3 When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way. 4 I have a strong sense of fair play and always try to find

city, especially hard drink. 5 Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land. 6 I have trouble trusting in my allies.

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

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

. 3 Somewhere out there, I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her. 4 I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my lands and

Entertainer - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

find ready audiences, and the constant flow of travelers means that both new spectators and new spectacles are always passing through. You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them

less than perfection. 8 I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song. d6 Ideal 1 Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good

Falthrax's Resolve

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

Falthrax’s Resolve With the curse lifted, Falthrax Loderr is ready to return to Candlekeep. The experience of having sought and then rejected a magical return to youth has taught him much about

focusing on the positive aspects of his life and his service to knowledge. Though his struggles aren’t over, a new inner resolve promises to leave him in a better position to face those struggles.

Lizardfolk Personality

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

species of humanoid: lizardfolk and meat. 5 You have learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how

metaphors work. That doesn’t stop you from using them at every opportunity. 7 You appreciate the soft humanoids who realize they need chain mail and swords to match the gifts you were born with. 8 You enjoy eating your food while it’s still wriggling.

Running the Adventure

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

most of the creatures encountered in this adventure. When a creature’s name appears in bold type, that’s a visual cue pointing you to its stat block as a way of saying, “Hey, DM, you’d better get

this creature’s stat block ready. You’re going to need it.” If the stat block is not from the Monster Manual, the adventure’s text tells you where to find it. Spells and equipment mentioned in the

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

, that’s a visual cue pointing you to its stat block as a way of saying, “Hey, DM, you better get this creature’s stat block ready. You’re going to need it.” The Monster Manual contains stat blocks for

Conflict without End

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

activity or to recover stolen treasures if they can do so without attracting too much attention. This eternal enmity between duergar and dwarves doesn’t consume either side; both have other concerns

and needs that take much of their time and attention, At the same time, the never-ending state of war is never out of mind — every dwarf knows that a chance encounter with a duergar could be fatal, and every duergar would like nothing better than to have such an opportunity.

Roleplaying Strahd

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

believed, that he is the master of his own fate. When he was alive, Strahd could admit to letting his emotions get the better of him from time to time. Now, as a vampire, he is more monster than man

, with barely a hint of emotion left. He is above the concerns of the living. The only event that occasionally haunts him is the death of Tatyana, but his view of the past is bereft of romance or regret

Moonstone Dragon Treasures

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

with unique, whimsical, or absurd designs. The more fanciful an item’s form is, the better. Moonstone Dragon Art Objects d8 Object 1 A statue of a beautiful Fey who appears to be laughing

of pixies and sprites; the dragon insists that Fey allies address any questions and concerns to the figurines 5 A painting of a beautiful Feywild vista; the dragon studies the painting every

Involving the Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

inventive. You can help spur their creativity with a few questions about their characters: Are you a native, born and raised in the area? If so, who’s your family? What’s your current occupation? Are you

story is convincing enough. Suggest alterations to a character’s story so it better fits your world, or weave the first threads of your campaign into that story.

Right and Wrong

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

important quest goal. But if the town burns down despite the heroes’ best intentions — or because they had better things to do — let them be mistaken for local authorities come to lend a hand in the

sidebar on the last page? And after all the time you’re going to put in getting ready to run this adventure? Outrageous! Someone needs to teach these people a lesson. If you’re running the adventure for

City Watch

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

the City of Skilled Hands. Even if you’re not city-born or city-bred, this background can describe your early years as a member of law enforcement. Most settlements of any size have their own

constables and police forces, and even smaller communities have sheriffs and bailiffs who stand ready to protect their community. Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight Languages: Two of your choice Equipment

Noteworthy Features

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

of the outlying villages, like Shuaran? Were you adopted? Were you born without the gift, or do you display a different manifestation? What secret of the land do you know better than anyone else? Is

The Athasian Cult

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

dedication to evil. An elemental priest protects and guides the common people, using elemental magic to better their lives. An elemental cultist demands abasement, sacrifice, and obedience. The element

and powerful elemental priests promising their followers a “better” way. The elemental weapons are heirlooms or lost treasures created long ago during an earlier incarnation of the cult. When the Elder

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

few miles from where they were born. You aren’t one of those folk. You are from a distant place, one so remote that few of the common folk in the North realize that it exists, and chances are

pilgrimage to understand the gods that others worship, so that you might better appreciate your own deities. The Underdark. Though your home is physically closer to the Sword Coast than the other

Arborea

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. Elves born on this plane have the celestial type and are wild at heart, ready to battle evil in a heartbeat. Otherwise, they look and behave like normal elves. Optional Rule: Intense Yearning Keep track

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

provoke retaliatory attacks from the creatures they steal from. It’s better to be cautious and overlooked than to be considered dangerous and a threat. In a couple of situations, kobolds might

room to dig, and ready sources of food. Although lairing in these locations puts kobolds in competition with surface-dwelling humanoids, their ability to avoid detection often means their warrens go

Personalities

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

to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how metaphors work. This doesn’t stop you from trying to use them at every opportunity. 7 You appreciate

the soft humanoids who realize they need chain mail and swords to match the gifts you were born with. 8 You enjoy eating your food while it’s still raw and wriggling.

Lord of Blades NPCs

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

Lord of Blades NPCs The Lord of Blades highlights the issues surrounding the creation of the warforged. He and his followers are ready antagonists, employing deadly methods in pursuit of their aims

, but their ire isn’t born from evil. The Lord of Blades’ greatest desire is to ensure that his people have a future, but his methods are colored by his anger at the injustices the warforged have

Shieldbearers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel

attacked. They are among the bravest of the Citadel, and heroes who die in service to the Shieldbearers receive the city’s highest honors. Shieldbearers stand ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to save

outlander backgrounds. Arayat Arayat (neutral, human assassin) was born to a family of Dayawlongon freedom fighters who had no more wars to fight. Peace did not bring them prosperity, and the family’s

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