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Returning 35 results for 'both before defense compels read'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
, often trapping them in a cage or tying them to a post. A priest of Grolantor visits the famished giant daily, trying to read portents in the puddles of bile the hill giant retches up. If the sickness
mouths of Grolantor are set loose is during a war, during a raid against an enemy settlement, or in a last-ditch defense of Grolantor’s faithful. When a mouth of Grolantor has slaughtered and eaten
Magic Items
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force.
When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue flames erupt from its blade and deal an extra 2d6
out to a range of 120 feet.
The weapon communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Common. It has a calm, delicate voice. The weapon can sense the presence of non
Warlock
Legacy
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Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
(such as the ability to see in darkness or to read any language) to access to powerful spells. Unlike bookish wizards, warlocks supplement their magic with some facility at hand-to-hand combat. They
are comfortable in light armor and know how to use simple weapons. Delvers into Secrets Warlocks are driven by an insatiable need for knowledge and power, which compels them into their pacts and
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
within her hair, and sacrificing themselves in her defense if they must.
See “Myths of Nylea” in chapter 2 for more details on the tragedy of Arasta.
Arasta as a Mythic Encounter
Arasta
encounter, as Arasta summons her arachnid children to protect her. While she has temporary hit points from this trait, she can choose one of her mythic actions when she uses a legendary action.
Read or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
outside. As Olanthius moves through the catacombs, he compels any ghosts he encounters to fight at his side. Any ghosts that the characters summoned from the urns in the funerary chambers (area C2
knight to their cause, the characters must have read his journals and learned of his hatred for Zariel. Otherwise, he tries to annihilate them for their impudence. Olanthius is willing to reveal the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead
encountered in this adventure. Their names appear in bold in the adventure. Appendix B provides maps of the fortress defense zones; you will need only one of these maps. Text that appears in a box
like this is meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a specific circumstance, as described in the text.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
A Boar-ing Encounter Shortly after entering the woods, the characters have an encounter that is not what it seems. Read the following boxed text aloud: About sixty feet ahead of you, a wild boar
stands in a small clearing. The boar glares at you suspiciously.
The boar is actually a female anchorite of Talos in boar form. The anchorite, Drethna, attacks only in self-defense. If the characters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Inner Blingdenstone Population: 300 deep gnomes (svirfneblin)
Government: Work collective led by Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock
Defense: Militia, summoned earth elementals
Commerce: Salt
, the true character of the settlement is revealed. Warm, cozy, and welcoming, Blingdenstone is a rarity in the Underdark. Read the following boxed text when the characters first arrive in Inner
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead
First Wave Once the players have reviewed the relevant map of their defense zone from appendix B and positioned their characters, read or paraphrase the following: Scouts shout from within the walls
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
Beast of Grakenok When Grakenok comes into sight, read or paraphrase the description below. If Sytri or Tol reached Grakenok before the characters, they are already engaged in battle. With its
town’s few bariaur defenders, smashing fishing boats and cottages in its rampage.
The bariaurs of Grakenok have put up a heroic defense of their home. They’ve been suffering whirlwyrm attacks for days
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
Xedalli’s defense, read: The crowd chants, “All hail Emperor Xeleth!”
Xeleth glowers at you. “Pathetic fools. Hurling yourselves into the void without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here
Trial by Combat Xedalli asks the characters to serve as her champions. If the characters accept, read: Xeleth sneers. “Very well, sister, since you won’t face me yourself, I, too, name a champion
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
With the Red Dragon Army on its way, Becklin Uth Viharin summons the characters to Cudgel’s command tent at the village’s edge. When they arrive, read the introduction to scenario 1 in Dragonlance
: Warriors of Krynn, then play that scenario. This scenario details an organized defense of Vogler and the characters’ desperate attempt to get the villagers to safety.
If the characters attain a win or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
-shaped passageway that narrows as it draws closer to the main vault, where the Cult of the Dragon stores its treasure. If the characters explore the tunnels, read or paraphrase the following: The walls
and crunches underfoot.
When the characters reach the main vault, read: All tunnels seem to lead to a central core—a glittering cavern of ice with jagged walls and icicles the size of stalactites
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
-shaped passageway that narrows as it draws closer to the main vault, where the Cult of the Dragon stores its treasure. If the characters explore the tunnels, read or paraphrase the following: The walls
and crunches underfoot. When the characters reach the main vault, read: All tunnels seem to lead to a central core — a glittering cavern of ice with jagged walls and icicles the size of stalactites
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
approach, read: “Very few people would dare to come here,” says a voice from above. Perched twenty feet above you is a man balanced with his legs braced between two of the larger stone columns. He has
Crane carries a red wooden key that unlocks the door to area L3. Steel Crane Medium humanoid (human)
Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 76 (9d8 + 36)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
13 (+1
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
their stat block earlier in the adventure) are training in this area. When the fighting starts, read: “Intruders!” shouts the woman. “They’re here to steal the secrets of Master Bak Mei! Students, show
Tigress carries a red wooden key that unlocks the door to area L3. Jade Tigress Medium humanoid (human)
Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 71 (11d8 + 21)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
18
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
made with this magic weapon. The shield spell provides no defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force. When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue
a Charisma of 15. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 120 feet. The weapon communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Common. It has a calm, delicate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
the revenant. If the characters approach it, it says, “Go away.” If they don’t leave immediately, read: The creature’s grip on the greatsword tightens. “If you have come to destroy me, know this: I
anyone who tries to end his torment.”
Vladimir fights in self-defense. He also rises from his throne and attacks if the characters fail to heed his warning and press him for help destroying Strahd
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
Getting Started The Keep on the Borderlands Map displays all the locations characters can visit in the keep. Share this map with your players. To begin, read the following boxed text aloud: You
this guildhall. 11: Temple Priests offer guidance and healing in this house of worship. 12: Inner Gatehouse This fortification is the keep’s last line of defense. 13: Inner Bailey The keep’s guards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation Supplement
. Shell Defense. You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, you gain a +4 bonus to AC, and you have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in your shell, you
. Survival Instinct. You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. Tortles have finely honed survival instincts. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Aquan and Common.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
others have yet to board a boat. The remaining boats have enough space for them and the characters. Before the characters head to their boats, read the following text: “Hold the boat!” a voice rasps from
, Mayor Raven, Jeyev, and a few other locals. Read or paraphrase the following as the characters leave Vogler behind: Vogler is in flames. Amid the columns of smoke rising from the village, invaders
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
fights only in self-defense and disintegrates if destroyed. Nine Hells Wardrobe The scene on this door depicts twisted, screaming humanoid faces wrapped in chains. When the door is opened, read
psychic damage. Acheron Wardrobe The scene on this door depicts an army of orcs clashing with an army of hobgoblins. When the door is opened, read: Dust and smoke billow from the wardrobe, and the air
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
citizens and peaceful visitors.
Summary. The beginning of each location summarizes its function in the keep and the NPCs who can be found at it. Don’t read this aloud.
When the characters
arrive at the outer gatehouse, read the following boxed text aloud:
Two stone towers flank an archway that leads into the keep. A sturdy-looking gatehouse spans the archway and connects the towers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
, read the following aloud: The Gemstone Wing’s oak doors open into a luxuriously appointed ballroom. Crimson tablecloths and fine china adorn dining tables, and chandeliers sparkle overhead. Cabinets with
occult theory is missing. Gemstone Wing Security Measures. A character who spends at least 1 minute studying the pedestal during the gala realizes it has an elaborate defense mechanism (see area V13).
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
The Final Steps of Courage As the characters pass the final bend of Flames Everlasting, read the following description of the skybridge’s end: The skybridge descends onto a sizable island overgrown
incorporeal Undead attacking the camp’s south gate and soldiers making an organized defense. A moment later, whether the characters are near the gate or elsewhere, three wraiths that look like the spirits of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
, give one NPC to each player and put the extra NPCs aside. These leftover NPCs don’t participate in the battle. After giving out the NPCs, read the following explanatory text to the players: In addition
points. These NPCs are predisposed to aid in their settlement’s defense, but players might try to keep them out of harm’s way instead. Each NPC has an ideal, a bond, and a flaw, and though you should
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
from the rest of the community, often trapping them in a cage or tying them to a post. A priest of Grolantor visits the famished giant daily, trying to read portents in the puddles of bile the hill giant
mouths of Grolantor are set loose is during a war, during a raid against an enemy settlement, or in a last-ditch defense of Grolantor’s faithful. When a mouth of Grolantor has slaughtered and eaten
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
heading to the ramparts atop Castle Kalaman. When the party arrives, read the following text: On a broken stone buttress jutting from the ancient tower wall perches an exhausted dragonnel, its coppery
chapter assumes the characters use these tunnels. Once the characters and their allies agree on a plan, Clystran and his dragonnel rest briefly before heading off to find the other dragonnels and convince them to aid in Kalaman’s defense.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
come back from foraging. They arrive in the middle of combat. When the fighting begins, read: Stroking his well-kept white beard, the old man begins to mock you as his students take up fighting
Medium humanoid (human)
Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
10 (+0)
DEX
18 (+4)
CON
18 (+4)
INT
13 (+1
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Bryn Shander when the attack begins, either together in one place or scattered throughout the town. Read or paraphrase the following boxed text when the attack begins. Another dreadfully cold day in
way inside. While this is happening, a young man named Sirac at the House of the Triad learns what the giants are after and realizes he might be able to save the town. Defense of Bryn Shander The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
are destroyed forever, ready access to supplies and support from the Nine Hells tilts the tide heavily against invading demons. Also, the prospect of a permanent death compels the devils fighting on
devils extended a tenacious defense out to the planes beyond Avernus, they could keep the demons away from Hell’s doorstep, but such a strategy would place a great strain on supplies, reinforcements, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
traveler trudges toward you. Suddenly, there’s a shriek overhead, and a vulture-headed griffon dives toward the traveler.
The thri-kreen is 100 feet ahead of the characters and has little defense
guides the characters across the eastern extent of the Llanos, growing more excited as he recognizes familiar terrain. Read the following description when the characters reach the plains near the bend
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Return to Ten-Towns As the characters start to make their way back to Ten-Towns, read: Over the sound of the wind, you can hear the barking of dogs getting louder. Through the blowing snow come three
for last, because Xardorok knows that refugees from the smaller towns have nowhere else to go but there. Bryn Shander’s walls provide no defense against the dragon’s attacks from the sky, and the closer Ten-Towners huddle together, the easier it becomes for the dragon to annihilate them.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
“Blizzards”). Oobok’s Remains When the characters arrive at the location where the dwarves were forced to abandon their sled, read: You crest a snow-covered ridge and see a frozen, dismembered corpse
them for a half-hour catch up to the goblins, who are hindered by the sled they’re hauling. Goblins When the characters find the goblins, read: The creatures you’ve been following appear to be goblins
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Council Meeting When the group arrives at the council chamber, the guard escorts the characters inside and explains who they are. After this, read the following: Eight serious-looking people sit
Miat. Your leader has briefed us on the situation in Vogler, his bold defense, and his eagerness to strike back against these invaders.” As Miat says this, he nods to a man near him—Lord Bakaris, who