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Returning 35 results for 'both barriers down cults return'.
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Monsters
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
of their psionic abilities, goblin psi commanders wield blades of pure psychic energy. They can throw barriers of mental force while toppling foes with a single, mind-splitting burst.
Psionic
with other Aberrations, which help them transform in return for their service as shock troops. Regardless, the result is the same: a goblin with unnatural and barely contained psychic power.
Psionic
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Return to Worms. When the mage is reduced to 0 hit points, it breaks apart into a swarm of insects (see the Monster Manual) in the same space. Unless the swarm is destroyed, the mage reforms from it
Blessings
Disciples of certain Elder Evils can bestow supernatural gifts on those who serve that cult, including star spawn. The following powers are unique to specific cults; typically a creature has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
cults. After emissaries failed to return from Rundreth Manor, the elemental cults have learned to give Nurvureem a wide berth. The Harpers, the Zhentarim, and the Lords’ Alliance believe the elemental cults are courting the Dark Lady, so they send the characters to investigate.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
deals a sharp setback to the affected cults, but unless the characters follow up on their initial successes by infiltrating the temple complex, the cults recover quickly from their early defeats and return in greater force.
Chapter 4: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water In chapter 3, the characters succeeded in exposing some or all of the elemental cults’ surface outposts as nests of villainy. However, the Haunted Keeps
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Scions of Elemental Evil
return to Celene. Filonia is briefed on the cults. If the characters ask, she reveals the information in the following sections.
has orders to drive the characters to the temple, camp nearby during the characters’ mission, then return with them to Queen Yolande’s palace. If the characters don’t return in a week, Filonia must
Orc
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death.
Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who
serve as a battering ram if a settlement dares to close its gates, blocking the way to the treasures and tasty food that lie within.
A heavily laden wagon that requires the strongest orcs to return it to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
initiative, it can choose itself and up to three allies it can see if it isn’t incapacitated. It can swap the initiative results of the chosen creatures among them. WHY DEVILS WANT CULTS
For all
summoning conducted by an entity on a distant plane. They have little will in determining where they can go.
Because of this restriction, on the Material Plane most devils work through cults. Cults
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
, and many hope he can be convinced to return to his divine throne if the giants restore their ancient glory. But some giants believe that Annam is dead, that he is petulant and unworthy of worship, or
. More than most members of individual Elemental Evil cults, giants see the big picture of the four cults working toward the common goal of elemental cataclysm. Some giants even worship the Elder
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
adventurers any lore you wish. She knows only the basics of what the elemental cults are planning, but she’d like to know more. She’s willing to trade information to get it. The exchange of information can
the characters reveal about the cults, the Dark Lady reveals one, too. Skipping anything the players already know, the Dark Lady might begin by revealing some of the following points: Four elemental
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Cult of Asmodeus Asmodeus demands the loyalty of all cultists who gain power and leadership in the cults of the Nine. His cult subsumes all the others. Any NPC who leads a diabolical cult must
acknowledge the power of Asmodeus. In return, the most worthy of those leaders gain the Demands of Nessus trait. Demands of Nessus. At the start of each of this creature’s turns, this creature can choose
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
secrets, offering them in return for a creature’s soul. His cults typically trade secrets to devils in return for other information. They often hatch conspiracies aimed at toppling and replacing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
seals and fight aberrations. However, many orcs were corrupted by the daelkyr and embraced the madness of the Cults of the Dragon Below. These cultists also live in the Shadow Marches, and battles between
Tharashk operations. As an orc, you could be a Ghaash’kala paladin seeking to protect the innocent from evil. You might be a Gatekeeper druid or ranger hunting aberrations working to prevent the return of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
the town council. The council members are unable to provide context beyond what is written on the board. When the characters return to the fishery after completing a quest, the council pays the reward
cults, one of which has an ancient dragon in its employ. The gnomes of Gnomengarde have offered to supply a magical weapon to drive off this beast should it trouble the town. Meet the gnomes at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, Elemental Evil cults, and Iuz and his followers. You can replace one or more of these conflicts with ones of your devising or with ones from the “Flavors of Fantasy” section earlier in this chapter. If you
of destructive, extraplanar entities—demon lords, evil elemental princes, and elder gods—who ravaged the world of Oerth long ago. Many of these entities are now trapped in dungeons, with cults and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
can’t return to the surface, their minions can. This leads to the Cults of the Dragon Below, mad mortals who work with mind flayers and lesser aberrations. A cult of the Dragon Below can spring up
lycanthropes, clever doppelgangers, and cults devoted to the Dark Six. There are stories of a cabal of assassins with aberrant dragonmarks and elves twisted into creatures of nightmare. And that’s not to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal
ambitious souls might launch impromptu expeditions into the dungeon. Few such ill-prepared parties ever return. Groups seeking to enter Undermountain for a specific reason generally come to the tavern
during its quiet hours. Even at such times, there are still a few prying eyes in the taproom, lurkers who carry news of the comings and goings from Undermountain to the Zhentarim, dark cults, criminal gangs, and other interested parties.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Cult Retaliation The eradication of one or more of the surface outposts of the elemental cults marks the characters as dangerous enemies. As the party continues the assault on cult strongholds in
temple complexes. A temple is overcome when its prophet is defeated or the monsters in its shrine are eliminated.
After the characters defeat the first prophet, run “Dire Tidings” when they return to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
The Temple of Elemental Evil The four elemental cults maintain their chief stronghold in the ancient dwarven citadel of Tyar-Besil beneath the Sumber Hills. Each cult controls a portion of the old
. At least two cultists from any group the characters interact with serve as escorts. Driving the Cults into Retreat The cultists learn and adapt as the characters attack their strongholds. The four
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
castles are haunted by ghosts and prowling monsters. Sensible valley dwellers avoid them. In recent years, four elemental cults have taken over the keeps. The cultists are careful to keep the curious
outside their walls — or to make sure visitors who learn the truth either join the cult or never return from their visit. Reason to Visit. These four sites are central to the adventure (see chapter 3
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
initiation ritual. The foundation myth of a mystery cult is usually simple and often involves a god’s death and rising, or a journey to the underworld and a return. Mystery cults often revere sun and
on two opposing deities or forces), mystery cults (involving personal devotion to a single deity, usually as part of a pantheon system), animistic religions (revering the spirits inherent in nature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Strahd von Zarovich. Strangers are widely viewed with suspicion. Many locals believe Count von Zarovich is a vampire. He dwells in Castle Ravenloft, a citadel from which few return. Vistani bands
. (See “Travelers in the Mists” at the end of this chapter for details on the Vistani.) The stories of Barovia’s people are full of hidden evils: treacherous witches, secretive cults, portentous ravens
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
lead them to where the barriers are weakest so they can then slip across planes to their destination. Once at their destination, the shadar-kai watch and wait, looking for the tragedies their queen
might also bring a bit of the sediment as a gift to the Raven Queen. What she would give in return is never known ahead of time, but her boons come in many wondrous forms: the restoration of a lost soul, the rediscovery of a missing memory, or a glimpse into the forgotten knowledge of the ancients.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
their lairs inside the hulls of wrecked or abandoned ships. Best of Both Worlds Many hags settle in places where the barriers between the mortal world and the Feywild are thin, making it easy for
exact her vengeance, and no dish of revenge is sweeter than one served cold and to the next three generations of her enemy’s family. Hags hate to be in debt to someone who’s done them a favor spontaneously, outside of any bargain, and so will return favors unexpectedly to such folk.
— Elminster
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
. Many of the cults devoted to these lesser gods are unique to a particular city, and followers of the three main yuan-ti deities usually consider these religious practices quaint rather than
worshipers of Dendar are led by nightmare speakers, malison warlocks that honor their deity through acts of terror and receive magical power in return. Rather than killing enemies, these followers of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
sinkhole in town. The sinkhole opens up shortly after the characters return to Red Larch from Lance Rock or other explorations in the area; see the adventure in chapter 6 for more details. Elemental Cult
Spies The spies for the elemental cults in Red Larch (Justran Daehl, Ghileeda, and Iraun Thelder) aren’t formidable combatants and are unwilling to fight adventurers. They pass information by slipping
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
Asmodeus The Lord of the Ninth, The Cloven, Old Hoof and Horn Open worship of Asmodeus began roughly a century ago when small cults with charismatic leaders sprang up in the aftermath of the
followed any particular ethos, might wait centuries before Kelemvor judges where they go. People who fear such a fate can pray to Asmodeus, his priests say, and in return a devil will grant a waiting
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
wage small-scale wars on humanoids, usually through proxies such as cults and allied creatures, and uses these conflicts to gather riches and slaves until it has enough resources to establish the yuan
. Because they get to wield power and influence while playing such roles, some purebloods surround themselves with luxury in their human guises and then become resentful when they have to return home
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
demon cults, I’ve seen the corrosive effect of these groups not just on individual giants, but on whole societies.
—Bigby
It’s hard to express just how deeply most giants loathe and distrust
revelation from Annam and begins a campaign of unification and conquest to prepare the way for the All-Father’s return. A rival asks adventurers to stop the prophet. 2 A mysterious woman leads
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
rock crushing power of ice and glaciers. Crushing Wave cultists see all living creatures as nothing more than trapped water that could one day be free to return to the seas or skies in a new form. The
seas and deep waters are eager to reclaim the parts of themselves currently held in the blood and bodies of living creatures, and it is the duty of Crushing Wave initiates to return nonbelievers to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Elemental Magic Items Elemental power has allowed the cults to have more magic items than is normal for groups of their size, yet there still aren’t enough magic items for each cultist to have one
. Every member of the air cult, for example, would love to be able to soar on the wind, but only certain members have a magical ability or an item that confers that blessing. The cults have some special
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
years. But the giants remember. Their empire and their unified purpose are long gone, but a yearning for a return to the greatness that was once theirs burns in all their memories. OSTORIA AND OTHER
and arrogant trickster, have substantial followings. Like humans, some giants even fall prey to demon cults, in which they pay homage to a demon lord such as Baphomet or Kostchtchie. Worshiping such
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
and a day. Demonic Cults. Despite the dark risks involved in dealing with fiends, the mortal realm is filled with creatures that covet demonic power. Demon lords manipulate these mortal servants into
essence of a demon on the Material Plane, placing it within a weapon, idol, or piece of jewelry and preventing the fiend’s return to the Abyss. An object that binds a demon must be specially prepared
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
powers of a lesser god. Worshiped as such in the Material Plane, Asmodeus inspires the evil humanoid cults that take his name. In the Nine Hells, he commands scores of pit fiend generals, which in turn
lemure killed in the Nine Hells is only permanently destroyed if it is killed with a blessed weapon or if its shapeless corpse is splashed with holy water before it can return to life. Promotion and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
barriers to gain access to the tunnel. As with the tunnels between chambers, escape tunnels are usually a steep climb or nearly vertical to make it difficult for non-flying creatures to follow. A tunnel
flee, the beholder and its forces return night after night, each time eliminating key defenders, and ultimately breaking the morale of the survivors, at which point the beholder’s minions can capture anyone or anything worth keeping and raze the settlement.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Scions of Elemental Evil
characters pass if a character expresses loyalty to Elemental Evil, the intent to join the cults, or any similar sentiment. The guardian does nothing if the characters don’t answer, but if a character
condemns the cults or tries to step past the guardian into area T3 without expressing positive sentiment toward Elemental Evil, the guardian attacks. The characters’ actions in other nearby temple areas






