both before death carries risk

Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Elf

Species Lorwyn: First Light

’s death knell, its people’s self-importance and unwillingness to collaborate with other species had already led to the empire’s decline. In Shadowmoor Shadowmoor elves’ horns

heroism and self-sacrifice the highest forms of beauty. Bloomseekers are Shadowmoor elves who study and explore Lorwyn. Each one carries a Reliquary of Twilight (see Lorwyn: First Light). Alongside

Narth Tezrin

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

","rollAction":"Hand Crossbow","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage. Narth carries twenty crossbow bolts. Roleplaying Information Narth sells gear to adventurers, and he also has an

ran off and never returned. Ideal: “The bigger the risk, the greater the reward.” Bond: “I adore my colleague Alaestra, and I’d like to do something to impress her.” Flaw: “I’ll risk life and limb to become a legend.”

Pyroconverger

Magic Items Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

A Pyroconverger is an Izzet-made flamethrower. It carries a risk of malfunction each time you use it. As an action, you can cause the Pyroconverger to project fire in a 10-foot cone. Each creature

Khargra

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

tasty, refined metal their victim carries, they quickly flee—and will flee before that rather than risk death. Stealthy Couriers. A number of clans among the dwarves, duergar, and azers have trained

, digesting the dust but leaving the message lodged in its digestive tract. Trained over long years and with plentiful treats to learn the direction to different underground strongholds and outposts, the khargra carries its burden to its destination, then coughs up the message on command.

Death Dog Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

. Hate burns in a death dog's heart, and a taste for humanoid flesh drives it to attack travelers and explorers. Death dog saliva carries a foul disease that causes a victim's flesh to slowly rot off the bone.

failure. This reduction lasts until the disease is cured. The creature dies if the disease reduces its hit point maximum to 0.A death dog is an ugly two-headed hound that roams plains, and deserts

Darkling Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

Death Flash. When the darkling dies, nonmagical light flashes out from it in a 10-foot radius as its body and possessions, other than metal or magic objects, burn to ash. Any creature in that area

, and doing so wizens the creature, much like the effect of rapid aging. For this reason, darklings cover every part of their body with clothing when exposure to light is a risk. The light a darkling

Darkling Elder Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

Death Burn. When the darkling elder dies, magical light flashes out from it in a 10-foot radius as its body and possessions, other than metal or magic objects, burn to ash. Any creature in that area

must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 7 (2d6);{"diceNotation":"2d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Death Burn","rollDamageType":"radiant"} radiant damage and

Beldora

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2);{"diceNotation":"1d6+2","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Hand Crossbow","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage. Beldora carries ten crossbow

strive to help one another.” Bond: “I’ll risk my life to protect the powerless.” Flaw: “I like lying to people. Makes life more interesting, no?”

Black Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

abishai was once a mortal who somehow won Tiamat’s favor before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a draconic devil to serve at her pleasure in the Nine Hells. Each type of

whether an abishai follows Tiamat’s orders or Asmodeus’s. There is inherent risk in countermanding an order given by Tiamat, but interfering with Asmodeus’s plans invites certain

Blue Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a draconic devil to serve at her pleasure in the Nine Hells. Each type of abishai is associated with one of Tiamat’s five dragon

;s. There is inherent risk in countermanding an order given by Tiamat, but interfering with Asmodeus’s plans invites certain destruction.Fire, Lightning, PoisonCold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and

Green Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

ensure they can manipulate even the shrewdest opponents. Abishais Each abishai was once a mortal who somehow won Tiamat’s favor before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a

work for them, but most archdevils do so rarely, since it is never clear whether an abishai follows Tiamat’s orders or Asmodeus’s. There is inherent risk in countermanding an order given by

Rictavio

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Special Equipment. In addition to his sword cane, Rictavio wears a hat of disguise and a ring of mind shielding, and he carries a spell scroll of raise dead. Spellcasting. Rictavio is a 9th-level

): augury, lesser restoration, protection from poison 3rd level (3 slots): magic circle, remove curse, speak with dead 4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of movement 5th level (1 slot): dispel

Bheur Hag

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

bluish hue of a person who has frozen to death. The hag’s hair is white, and the hag is emaciated, with pale eyes surrounded by bruise-colored flesh. A bheur hag carries a twisted gray wooden

Control Weather (1/Day). The hag can cast the control weather spell, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability. Graystaff Magic. The hag carries a graystaff, a

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Death isn’t always the end. The reborn exemplify this, being individuals who have died yet, somehow, still live. Some reborn exhibit the scars of fatal ends, their ashen flesh or bloodless

veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured

Mizzium Apparatus

Magic Items Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Innovation is a dangerous pursuit, at least the way the mages of the Izzet League engage in it. As protection against the risk of an experiment going awry, they have developed a device to help

acid arrow 5 scorching ray 6 shatter 3rd-Level Spells d6 Spell 1 fear 2 feign death 3 fireball 4 gaseous form 5 sleet storm 6

Ghost Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

immune to this ghost dragon’s Terrifying Breath for the next 24 hours.A dragon’s attachment to a hoard can be strong enough to bind the dragon’s spirit to existence after death. Such

incorporeal version of the original dragon. Though its breath weapon resembles ghostly flames, lightning, or acid, it carries an otherworldly curse. The breath’s shadowy mist can induce waking nightmares.Acid, Cold, Necrotic, PoisonBludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing

Black Rose Bearer

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

as a guardian. Its name derives from the preserved black rose the bearer carries inside a delicate bell jar. The slightest jostle can cause the bearer to lose its grasp on the bell jar, destroying

black rose bearer bursts into furious violence, attacking indiscriminately. A bearer’s black rose is an homage to the tyrannical Lord Soth, the most powerful death knight on Krynn, who was once a Solamnic Knight of the Order of the Rose.Poison

Prisoner 237

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

his criminal ventures by capturing him. Rather than put Gant to death for his crimes in Icewind Dale, the Council of Speakers in Ten-Towns made a deal with representatives of the Lords' Alliance to have

release, and that the Lords' Alliance would acquiesce to the brotherhood's demands rather than risk an all-out attack on Revel's End. But by now, Gant has been incarcerated long enough to reasonably

Frostmourn

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

keep them roaming the wilds for years after their murderers are slain. A frostmourn looks like a desiccated corpse mummified by exposure to bitter cold. It carries the marks of its death on its body: a

Ziraj the Hunter

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

hulking shadow that glares from its perch, rains down death in the form of long black arrows, and slinks off without so much as a whisper. Where he comes from — if he even has a home — remains a mystery, as

does the question of where he might show up next. Treasure. Ziraj wears leather,+2;+2 leather armor and carries an oversized longbow. This unique weapon can be used only by a Medium or larger

White Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

destruction on the battlefield. Abishais Each abishai was once a mortal who somehow won Tiamat’s favor before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a draconic devil to serve at her

do so rarely, since it is never clear whether an abishai follows Tiamat’s orders or Asmodeus’s. There is inherent risk in countermanding an order given by Tiamat, but interfering with

Nightmare Shepherd

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

destroyed. They disappear when the shepherd dies.A nightmare shepherd is a gaunt, ashen fiend with leathery wings. It carries a shepherd’s crook, which it uses to direct a flock of wandering

miserable lives they had. Having been despicable in life, these spirits fester in death. The worst of these hateful dead, through ages of bitterness, gradually transform into fiends, the tormentors of

Smiler the Defiler

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Equipment. Smiler wears leather, +2;+2 leather armor. He carries seven soul coin;soul coins in a bag and a shortsword, +1;+1

shocking recklessness. Smiler thinks he can accomplish anything with a positive attitude and some death-defying stunt. Although he admits others might end up getting killed by his actions, he believes he

Red Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

somehow won Tiamat’s favor before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a draconic devil to serve at her pleasure in the Nine Hells. Each type of abishai is associated with

Tiamat’s orders or Asmodeus’s. There is inherent risk in countermanding an order given by Tiamat, but interfering with Asmodeus’s plans invites certain destruction.Fire, PoisonCold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered

Ulitharid

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

the colony. This process doesn’t work on the brain of an ulitharid that dies a natural death, as such brains are too decrepit to be used. Instead, each ulitharid carries a psionically enhanced

, taking a group of mind flayers with it, and moves to another location to form a new colony. After the death of the ulitharid’s body, a special process transforms its brain into a new elder brain for

Acererak

Monsters Tomb of Annihilation

Special Equipment. Acererak carries the Staff of the Forgotten One. He wears a talisman of the sphere and has a sphere of annihilation under his control. Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Acererak

, hold monster, wall of force 6th level (3 slots): chain lightning, circle of death, disintegrate 7th level (3 slots): finger of death, plane shift, teleport 8th level (2 slots): maze, mind blank 9th

Orzhov Representative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

command, illusory script 2nd enthrall, ray of enfeeblement, zone of truth 3rd bestow curse, speak with dead, spirit guardians 4th blight, death ward

convinced that everyone I know is plotting against me. 3 I’ll brave any risk if the monetary reward is great enough. 4 I am convinced that I am far more important than anyone else is

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

away in the night to seek the cold will of fate. In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in

give up their lives as their physical skills decay. Because of their risk-taking, goliath tribes suffer from a chronic lack of the experience offered by long- term leaders. They hope for innate

Bak Mei

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Bak Mei fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. Special Equipment. Bak Mei carries a staff of striking with 10 charges. Unarmored Defense. While Bak

death, Bak Mei became obsessed with living an unending life. He began collecting texts on the subject, consulting with practitioners of the necromantic arts, and seeking audiences with dark forces. The

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

dominated by his emotions—intelligent, but not wise. Arrogant and prone to gloating, he carries grudges, has a huge chip on his shoulder, and spends a lot of time fashioning elaborate revenge scenarios

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

Archaeologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good) 2 Greed. I won’t risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Any) 3 Death Wish. Nothing is more

exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death. (Chaotic) 4 Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful) 5 Immortality. All my

Something to Lose

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

Something to Lose In a noir story, things don’t necessarily end well. But any adventure carries a risk of death or failure, so what additional factors might be at risk for the characters? They should

Topaz Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

creations are ultimately doomed to death and decomposition, and the dragons’ demeanor is typically morbid and curmudgeonly as a result. Gleaming Gold Upon hatching, topaz dragon wyrmlings&rsquo

love gazing upon it, but I abhor being wet. 4 Why should I risk damaging my splendid physique when I can fight with the power of my mind? 5 I am predictable only in my unpredictability

Young Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

the necrotic energy of the Negative Plane that suffuses them. Their psionic power manifests the fundamental entropic principle that mortal beings and their creations are ultimately doomed to death and

abhor being wet. 4 Why should I risk damaging my splendid physique when I can fight with the power of my mind? 5 I am predictable only in my unpredictability. 6 It takes true

Death

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

Death Adventures involve risk, with consequences that can be as catastrophic as the death of a single character or an entire group. Given the degree to which players get attached to their characters

, character death can be an emotionally charged situation. It might even be a hard limit for some players (see “Ensuring Fun for All” in chapter 1), so it’s worth having a conversation about how to handle character death at the start of a new game.

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