boss black diffusing cunning refuge

Fist of Bane

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

right gauntlet of their armor black in honor of their patron. Bane’s clerics wield black maces with heads shaped to look like a closed fist. Cult Ranks. Bane’s cultists operate according

to strict military hierarchies. The lowest rank consists of the fist of Bane;fists of Bane, foot soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consul;iron consuls, cunning

Iron Consul

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consul;iron consuls, cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat. The black gauntlet of bane;black gauntlets are the priests who command the consuls.

Bane are warriors who wear heavy armor and wield maces, swords, spears, and crossbows. They paint the right gauntlet of their armor black in honor of their patron. Bane’s clerics wield black

Skeemo Weirdbottle

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Gnome Cunning. Skeemo has advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic. Spellcasting. Skeemo is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell

for the Black Network in Waterdeep, setting up a cover in the Trades Ward in the form of a cramped little shop called Weirdbottle's Concoctions. Most of his potions and elixirs are nonmagical, but he

Black Viper

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Cunning Action. On each of her turns, the Black Viper can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Evasion. If the Black Viper is subjected to an effect that allows her to make

. Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The Black Viper deals an extra 14 (4d6);{"diceNotation":"4d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Sneak Attack"} damage when she hits a target with a weapon attack and has

Kakkuu Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

foot soldiers, but they prefer to avoid more powerful Fiends, who boss them around. Left on their own, kakkuus lurk in ambush and use their webs to snare prey. Spyder-Fiends Demonic beasts that

is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy based on might and cunning, with higher

Xvart

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Black Sewers, a realm within Pandemonium that he filled with his beloved creatures, rat;rats and bat;bats, which xvarts befriend to this day. He enjoyed his reign only briefly before Graz’zt

unleashed his vengeance. The demon prince urged villains far and wide to pursue the Infinity Spindle for themselves and destroy Raxivort.Low Cunning. The xvart takes the Disengage action.

Boss Augustus

Monsters The Book of Many Things

few words. He shares leadership of the guild with Boss Delour and has a knack for planning heists. Guild members consider him a brutal but fair leader. Some perceptive guild members—like Kathra

transformed. He reverts to his humanoid form if he dies. Cunning Action. Augustus takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Boss Delour

Monsters The Book of Many Things

"} poison damage.Delour the wererat is a sly trickster and consummate thief who rules the Moonstalkers alongside his friend Boss Augustus;Augustus. Delour’s honeyed words and calculating mind make

hybrid, a Medium giant rat, or his humanoid form. His statistics, other than his size and speed, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his humanoid form if he dies. Cunning Action. Delour takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Blue Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, wall of forceSeekers of forgotten lore and lost relics, blue abishais are the most cunning and learned of their kind. Their research into occult subjects gleaned from tomes plundered from across the

heads: black, blue, green, red, and white. Tiamat deploys abishais as her agents, sending them forth to represent her interests in the Hells and across the multiverse. Some have simple tasks, such as

Xvart Warlock of Raxivort

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

transform even a creature as lowly as Raxivort into a demigod. After his apotheosis, Raxivort forged the Black Sewers, a realm within Pandemonium that he filled with his beloved creatures, rat;rats and bat

;bats, which xvarts befriend to this day. He enjoyed his reign only briefly before Graz’zt unleashed his vengeance. The demon prince urged villains far and wide to pursue the Infinity Spindle for themselves and destroy Raxivort.Low Cunning. The xvart takes the Disengage action.

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

appreciation for the finer things! — Volo Goblins occupy an uneasy place in a dangerous world, and they react by lashing out at any creatures they believe they can bully. Cunning in battle and

, smelting, forging, and religion. If the tribe has any spellcasters, this caste includes them. Lashers follow the lead of the tribe’s boss, and enforce their will on other goblins with whips

Baba Lysaga

Monsters Curse of Strahd

black tentacles, polymorph 5th level (2 slots): cloudkill, geas, scrying 6th level (1 slot): programmed illusion, true seeing 7th level (1 slot): finger of death, mirage arcane 8th level (1 slot

consider the wereravens a serious threat, but Lysaga has chosen to make them the bane of her existence. After much searching and scrying, she discovered a wereraven refuge at the Wizard of Wines

Lich Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

haunts the abode it favored in life, such as a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps

. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses

Adult Green Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Wing Attack","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.The most cunning and

its spine, reaching full height just behind the skull.The forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic taiga

Ancient Green Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

":"2d6+8","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Wing Attack","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.The most cunning

continues down its spine, reaching full height just behind the skull.The forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic

Exethanter

Monsters Curse of Strahd

academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including

Valindra Shadowmantle Legacy

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair

reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses, emerging to destroy those who dare to disturb

Prisoner 13

Monsters Keys from the Golden Vault

steal away most of the clan’s gold, leaving only a pittance. Prisoner 13 is a cunning schemer, ruthless and patient. She listens and watches, absorbing every detail she can, and shares as

. Black and gray smoke and shadows coil down her left arm, ending in runes on the fingers of her left hand. Knotwork. Purple and blue knotwork and runes run down her right arm, across the back of her right

Arcturia

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

lich often haunts the abode it favored in life, such as a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, or an academy of black magic. Alternatively, some liches construct secret tombs filled with powerful guardians

and traps. Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy

Baphomet Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

minotaur—considered the greatest gift of the Prince of Beasts. Baphomet himself appears as a great, black-furred minotaur, 20 feet tall with six iron horns. An infernal light burns in his red eyes

. Although filled with bestial bloodlust, there lies within a cruel and cunning intellect devoted to subverting all of civilization. Baphomet wields a great glaive called Heartcleaver. He sometimes

CR 4

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

CR 4 Aarakocra Aeromancer Archelon Banshee Black Pudding Bone Naga Bullywug Bog Sage Chuul Couatl Elephant Ettin Flameskull Ghost Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu Guard Captain

Helmed Horror Hippopotamus Incubus Juvenile Shadow Dragon Lamia Lizardfolk Sovereign Red Dragon Wyrmling Shadow Demon Succubus Swarm of Dretches Tough Boss Wereboar Weretiger

Black Dragons

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

Black Dragons Black Dragons at various ages Black dragons are evil-tempered, cunning, and, malevolent. Their crafty, sinister faces reflect this. They are sometimes known as “skull dragons” for

their deeply socketed eyes and distinctinve nasal opening. Adding to this impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the horn base/cheekbone. This does no harm to the dragon but increases with age. Black Dragon Identifiers

Black Dragons

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

Black Dragons Black Dragons at various ages Black dragons are evil-tempered, cunning, and, malevolent. Their crafty, sinister faces reflect this. They are sometimes known as “skull dragons” for

their deeply socketed eyes and distinctinve nasal opening. Adding to this impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the horn base/cheekbone. This does no harm to the dragon but increases with age. Black Dragon Identifiers

9. Boss Hark's Cave

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

9. Boss Hark’s Cave This 10-foot-high cave contains Hark, the goblin boss, two female goblins (bodyguards) named Ratcha and Zukluk, and seven giant rats (Hark’s beloved pets). When the characters

clubs, two daggers, and six wooden shields. Hark’s Larder At the north end of the cave is a smaller cave where Boss Hark keeps prisoners before feeding them to his giant rats. Cowering in the back of this

Claugiyliamatar (possessed)

Monsters Divine Contention

up to half its flying speed.The most cunning and treacherous of true dragons, green dragons use misdirection and trickery to get the upper hand against their enemies. A green dragon is recognized by

is possessing the body of ClaugiyliamatarThe forest-loving green dragons sometimes compete for territory with black dragons in marshy woods and with white dragons in subarctic taiga. However, a forest

Goblins

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

Goblins Goblins are small, black-hearted, selfish humanoids that lair in caves, abandoned mines, despoiled dungeons, and other dismal settings. Individually weak, goblins gather in large — sometimes

all manner of wickedness. Leaders and Followers. Goblins are ruled by the strongest or smartest among them. A goblin boss might command a single lair, while a goblin king or queen (who is nothing more

Giant Patrons

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

monstrous crime lord). Make sure the boss survives! 5 The boss wants a treasure that’s being held in an underground refuge the giant can’t enter. Plan and execute the perfect heist. 6 Another group of

. Giant Patrons Giant Role Group Patron Type Boss Criminal Syndicate Financier Aristocrat Seer Ancient Being Sovereign Sovereign Tutor Academy Warleader Military Force Boss A giant boss wields

Creating a Black Dragon

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

Creating a Black Dragon Use the Black Dragon Personality Traits and Black Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive black dragon characters, and use the Black Dragon Spellcasting

table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. Black Dragon Personality Traits d8 Trait 1 I demonstrate my brilliance through the cruel subtlety of my actions. 2 Watching the

Bring It to an End

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

nefarious activity happening in an adventure, having the dragon’s minions mention the nature of their boss sets up the coming climactic encounter. Although the climax must hinge on the successes and

a villain and a group of minions in a battle to the finish. 2 The adventurers chase a villain while dodging obstacles designed to thwart them, leading to a final confrontation in the villain’s refuge

Random Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

, except for a few isolated outposts where Chultans and their allies take refuge behind walls. Map 2.1 shows where the undead are thickest. Characters passing through territories marked with black skull-and

Black Dragon Adventures

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

Connected Creatures 1 After breaking free from captivity at the hands of a cocky mage, a cunning black dragon wyrmling claimed the mage’s amulet—and the suits of animated armor the amulet controls

types of blights to spread prodigiously and upset nature’s balance. 4 A black dragon wyrmling is setting cunning traps along local roadways, hoping to injure horses and draft animals for easy

Z1. Main Room

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

Z1. Main Room The Black Network’s main business is recruiting, training, and equipping sellswords. Crates packed with weapons, rations, boots, black uniforms, and other gear fill the warehouse. When

the area, stairs rise to an open level above. If the kenku aren’t hidden, add: Four short, avian creatures with long beaks and black feathers look over in surprise from where they stand in the middle

Important Members

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

humanoid form if he dies. Cunning Action. Augustus takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Christopher Burdett Boss Delour Delour the wererat is a sly trickster and consummate thief who rules

Important Members Here are some of the Moonstalkers’ most powerful and respected members. Boss Augustus Augustus is a hulking human werewolf of few words. He shares leadership of the guild with Boss

Zodiac Associations

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

, might be referred to as shrewd or cunning, a sign of their high Intelligence score. Common Zodiac Associations Sign Nickname Prominence Birthstone Creature Color Ability Score Skull The

Watcher Midwinter Onyx Imp Black, white Constitution Balance The Merchant Late winter Quartz Fish Orange Intelligence Sage The Wise One Early spring Garnet Sphinx Purple

Thavius's Betrayal

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

, Thavius Kreeg fled Elturel in secret and watched from a safe distance as the Companion transformed from a radiant sun into a black orb awash with crackling energy. It ripped Elturel from the Material

Kreeg was one of the first of his people to arrive at Baldur’s Gate with news of Elturel’s “destruction.” He slipped through the city’s gates with the help of his influential friend, Duke Vanthampur, and took refuge in her home.

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