both back defusing corrupt rituals

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

Archlich;Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every horrid idea, every corrupt thought, and every example of foul magic he came across or devised. Other practitioners of

damage unless the creature is a Fiend or an Undead. Destroying the Book. The Book of Vile Darkness allows pages to be torn from it, but any evil lore contained on those pages finds its way back into the

Gnoll Witherling

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

their hunger and violent urges. Eventually, they fight among themselves. The survivors devour the flesh of their slain comrades but preserve the bones. Then, by invoking rituals to Yeenoghu they bring

the remains back to a semblance of life in the form of a gnoll witherling. Witherlings travel with their comrades and try to kill anything in their path. They don’t eat and aren’t motivated

Dragonflesh Grafter

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

obsessed with treasure. Their greed compels them to gather any gold or gems they can. After taking this treasure back to their lairs, they gaze for hours on end at their glittering trinkets and golden

baubles. Dragonflesh Grafters Dragonflesh grafters practice forbidden rituals and risky experiments on themselves, modifying their bodies and minds to emulate the dragons they revere. They

Oath of the Ancients Legacy

Classes Player’s Handbook (2014)

The Oath of the Ancients is as old as the race of elves and the rituals of the druids. Sometimes called fey knights, green knights, or horned knights, paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with

principles are simple. Kindle the Light. Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair. Shelter the Light. Where there is good

Prisoner 13

Monsters Keys from the Golden Vault

tattoo across her back, filling a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on her. Each other creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 13 (3d8

her triumph onto her skin. Using ancient rituals, Korda infused many of these artful etchings with the magic of Gauntlgrym’s forges, granting her wondrous gifts. Korda grew too ambitious for

Eye of Fear and Flame

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

living, commanding individuals to perform evil deeds of the undead's choosing or be destroyed. If its commands are not obeyed, an eye of fear and flame throws back its hood to reveal its skull—set

momentous decision. The undead seeks to corrupt vulnerable individuals, especially those of lawful or good alignments, by setting tasks that test its targets' moral foundations. A paladin might be ordered

Retriever

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

cultists to enslave or use in their rituals. The automatons proved so effective and so fearsome that they now perform many different missions. Though retrievers were created to operate only in the Abyss

, they are sometimes dispatched when a powerful devotee of Lolth needs some creature or object captured and brought back alive and intact. Only under the rarest of circumstances is a retriever handed

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

foreign house. The sword at his back was the same, though, the one he had carried since even before he had found the twins left in swaddling at the gates of Arush Vayem. For all her life, Farideh had

DRACONIANS In the Dragonlance setting, the followers of the evil goddess Takhisis learned a vile ritual that let them corrupt the eggs of metallic dragons, producing evil dragonborn called draconians

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Flint squinted into the setting sun. He thought he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing, Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better. The man’s walk was

. EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS Many half-elves learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and

Shadar-kai Shadow Dancer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

their enemies from all angles with a flurry of entangling chains that hold fast and corrupt the flesh. When their quarry is helpless, they dispatch it and then loot the corpse for trinkets

the Shadowfell are often on quests to find the most sorrow-touched items they can find to bring back to their queen’s gloomy castle.NecroticShadow Jump. The shadar-kai teleports, along with any

The Abbot

Monsters Curse of Strahd

than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the Abbot's choice). In a new form, the

some much-needed light to Barovia. His efforts worked for a while, but then the Dark Powers began to corrupt him. Imperfections. The Abbot's fall from grace started when the Belviews—a family of sickly

Hulgaz

Monsters The Book of Many Things

long, snakelike tail. In the midst of a conversation with an especially tantalizing victim-to-be, Hulgaz can’t help but whip her tail back and forth with excitement. Selfless heroes and true

martyrs pique Hulgaz’s interest because she loves the challenge of twisting and defiling the souls of such noble beings. She responds to unwavering do-gooders by redoubling her efforts to corrupt

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different

important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. 4 I will become the greatest thief that ever lived. 5 I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it. 6

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; Elminster The serpent creatures known as yuan-ti are all that remains of an ancient, decadent human empire. Ages ago their dark gods taught them profane, cannibalistic rituals to mix their flesh

advisor in human society. The very rare offspring of such a union are always purebloods, although they may appear fully human at birth and for several years afterward. The yuan-ti know rituals that

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

realizing the connection. You got the Guild to back off demands for your death by offering to make amends by working for the criminals, but even so the kingpin still plots a personal revenge. 2 The

work, do what needs to be done, and get paid. Anyone who pursues crime for thrill-seeking, to strike back at unjust authorities, or anything else are amateurs, and they’re liable to get you

Olhydra

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

in the black depths of vast seas or enthroned among jagged reefs. Olhydra waits for the chance to enter the Material Plane through elemental water nodes or when called by the proper rituals. Whether

mortal world to dwell near those points. If Olhydra is destroyed or banished back to her home plane, the regional effects fade over the next 1d10;{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType":"roll"} days.Acid, Cold, PoisonLightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Ogrémoch

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

through large and well-established nodes of elemental earth, with a little help from the proper rituals. Within such a node, Ogrémoch wields great power. Lair Actions Ogrémoch can assert

creatures into the mortal world to dwell near those points. If Ogrémoch is destroyed or banished back to his home plane, the regional effects fade over the next 1d10;{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType":"roll"} days.PoisonBludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Pterafolk

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

culture, pterafolk are often referred to as “terror folk” for their habit of swooping down from the sky to snatch whatever and whomever they can, then transporting treasure and food back to their roosts

. Pterafolk have 20-foot wingspans and give birth to live young. Ancient rituals once bestowed upon pterafolk the ability to assume the forms of pteranodons and wingless lizardfolk, but those rituals

Rockblight

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

Rockblight When the drow attacked Blingdenstone, Ogrémoch’s Bane retreated to the far corners of the ruined city, waiting for the time to reemerge and seek out earth elementals to corrupt. The

by her own greed and vanity, Neheedra engaged in dark rituals designed to secure her hold on power, imagining that Blingdenstone would one day become a drow enclave with her as its immortal leader

Zariel's Fall

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

weapon and hide it, so that the devils would not destroy or corrupt it. Yael took the sword and fled, along with Zariel’s faithful hollyphant companion, Lulu. Zariel’s other two generals, Olanthius

grace. Haruman followed his master into damnation willingly and was transformed into a narzugon devil, while Olanthius, who took his own life rather than bow before Asmodeus, was brought back to serve as a death knight under Zariel’s burning gaze.

Ludendorf

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

cramped tenements and powering the cranes needed by the city’s fleet. These ironclad, ice-breaking whaling vessels dare the Sea of Secrets to bring back massive beasts that provide vital food and fuel for

the city. Ensconced in the city’s heart, Ludendorf University supports many local industries. Funded by corrupt entrepreneurs and wealthy but immoral benefactors, the university’s vast curriculum

Clandestine Hags

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

appearances the hags have stolen for their own use, and who have been enslaved by the hags to help with their corrupt gardening. If the characters treat with Banrion, the unicorn asks them to help

free the dryads to set the woods back to order. Instead of the hags being disguised as goodly dryads, you might instead choose to reverse the scenario. The Three Mothers might really be dryads in need

Book Description

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

by becoming a mummy lord, using the rituals described in the book. The list of names in the back of the book is written by many scribes, since it includes creatures bonded to other mummy lords before

accompanies the book and is tucked in an envelope that bears the seal of the House of the All-Seeing Orb, a temple of Savras in Tashluta, the capital city of Tashalar. The book describes rituals relating to

9. The Fane

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

fleshy odors. To the west, a huge gong carved with snake patterns stands on a second balcony. During rituals, the fane swells with yuan-ti, but the room is unguarded otherwise. When struck, the gong

sometimes brought here to be eaten by frenzied revelers or transformed into yuan-ti (see “Yuan-ti Rituals” below). Cauldron A stew made from boiled flesh sloshes inside the cauldron, which is heated by a

Soldier

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

if you pick up a sword, it will all come back to you soon enough. 3 You’re an officer of the Cyran army. You once held a fairly high rank, but your nation is destroyed and your soldiers

Watch by a group of corrupt officers. You still have friends among the guards, but there’s a lot of bad apples in the barrel. Do you want to clean up the Watch, or are you content to enforce justice on your own?

Cataclysmic Fire

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

on one who failed the gods and the world. Lord Soth has come to the catacombs seeking the Cataclysmic fire for its magical properties, which can be harnessed through rituals whispered to him by the

first vision. They taunt him and point back the way he came. The knight slays them and turns back home in a rage. Confrontation. The knight slays his wife as the world around him crumbles and burns. The

Chapter 4: Adventures in Sharn

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

makes good people bad and bad people worse. In its mean streets, gritty detectives contend with corrupt law officers while trying to foil the efforts of merciless gangs and monstrous thugs. In the highest

, and monstrous mercenaries do battle with heroes from all walks of life, while unscrupulous collectors and smugglers carry on a brisk trade in artifacts brought back from the cyclopean ruins of

Nepenthe

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

. But Isolde will never part with the blade willingly, and if it is taken from the Carnival, the sword will always find its way back. In addition to having the properties of a holy avenger, Nepenthe is a

fallen companions as it drives her to catch their fiendish killer. Unlike Isolde, whose motives are good, the sword is corrupt and irredeemable.

Gatekeepers

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

come, and to protect nature from those that would corrupt it. Thousands of years later, the daelkyr (see chapter 6) opened gates from the plane of Xoriat and unleashed hordes of mind flayers

sealed the gates and imprisoned the daelkyr in Khyber. Even after this triumph, the orcs couldn’t be sure if they had turned back the threat Vvaraak had foreseen, or if a greater danger lay ahead. So

Voice in the Dark

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

dark. Suddenly, a loud voice booms out all around you in Undercommon: “Turn back or suffer a death so horrible you cannot imagine! You have been warned!” The voice is actually a minor illusion cantrip

Hallen, leads the Dark Hunters — drow explorers who steal purple worm eggs. These eggs are prized by wizards, who use them in various arcane rituals. Hanne was on her first egg run with her mother’s team

6. Shrine to Lolth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

shrine, overseeing routine rituals and offerings to Lolth. Roll a d6 when the characters enter the shrine to determine who they might meet. Shrine Activity d6 Activity 1–2 Asha is in the room alone

, resting 3–4 Asha and 1d4 drow are engaged in worship 5–6 The shrine is empty The back half of the chamber, behind the altar, is piled with a semicircle of pillows and cushions. Resting among these

Suggested Characteristics

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

drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I’ve lost. 4 A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions. 5 There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must

never be set free. 6 I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for him (or her). Flaws d6 Flaw 1 I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them. 2

Servants of the Queen

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

place to enter it willingly. In their communities they reenact their old rituals and ceremonies, in a pale imitation of the days when they dwelled in the life and light of their now-lost kingdom. When

wishes them to collect. Sometimes they are small: a spurned lover, a lost item, a betrayal. But some tragedies are much graver: a murder, a war, a diabolical bargain. To bring back a trinket for their

Worshiping Phenax

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

, with the most sacred rituals performed on nights of the new moon. Offerings are made to attract Phenax’s favor, with valuables from successful robberies, parchment filled with lies, or loaded dice being

identity, Athreos couldn’t detect him, and thus Erebos couldn’t use his great lash to pull Phenax back. When he emerged back into the realm of mortals, he did so as the first of the Returned. In time

Vaeve's Offer

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

with a vampire. Vaeve and her identical twin sister, Naxa, are adventurers from Neverwinter who came here to retrieve potent magical components for their arcane rituals. They were using the chaos of

battle to steal back a magic cloak—a family heirloom, Vaeve says—recently taken to Miska’s treasure vault somewhere in the stone citadel on the beach below. But Vaeve and Naxa became separated in the

D&D Beyond

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