both before directly come races

"The Demogorgon"

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

. At one time, he was told that he was a statue of Demogorgon brought to life by Thessalar’s experiments. He has since come to believe that he is now the actual Demogorgon, with his two heads

Demogorgon’s heads. Much like the true Demogorgon, the ettin’s two heads constantly clash and refuse to speak directly with one another, instead relaying messages through their assigned

Tomb Tapper

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

are in awe of earth elementals, believing that they come directly from this source, and are reluctant to attack them.Cold, FireLightning

Bodak

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

lord’s symbol on their chest over the heart. Orcus’s power flays body, mind, and soul, leaving behind a sentient husk that consumes life energy near it. Most bodaks come into being in

recall anything a bodak sees or hears. If he so chooses, he can speak through a bodak to address his enemies and followers directly. A bodak retains vague impressions of its past life. It seeks out its

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You are the heir to something of great value — not mere coin or wealth, but an object that has been entrusted to you and you alone. Your inheritance might have come directly to you from a

, and might have set you on the path to adventure, but it could also come with many dangers, including those who covet your gift and want to take it from you — by force, if need be. Skill

Kalashtar Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

I am kalashtar, born of two worlds. Over a thousand years ago, my ancestor bound her bloodline to the spirit Kashtai, and I am a child of that union. Kashtai moves within me. Her memories come to

in a variety of ways. Kalashtar have symmetrical, slightly angular features, and their eyes often glow when they are focused or expressing strong emotions. Kalashtar can’t directly communicate

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the

, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a courtier. The noble court or bureaucratic organization where you got your start is directly or indirectly associated with your bond

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

races have little good to say about kobolds, but they do admit that the little reptilians do respectable tunnel work using simple tools. If a band of kobolds is enslaved by more powerful creatures

retaliation usually prevents them from trying to directly harm the gnomes, but they might spit in the milk, balance dishes on tables so they’re easily knocked over and broken, or scatter sewing

Dwarf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

them into an exile that lasted over 250 years. This longevity grants them a perspective on the world that shorter-lived races such as humans and halflings lack. Dwarves are solid and enduring like the

trade. They dislike boats, so enterprising humans and halflings frequently handle trade in dwarven goods along water routes. Trustworthy members of other races are welcome in dwarf settlements, though

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; Elminster Bugbears feature in the nightmare tales of many races — great, hairy beasts that creep through the shadows as quiet as cats. If you walk alone in the woods, a bugbear will reach out

crafting simple tools and hunting and gathering food, and gangs sometimes come together peacefully to exchange members and goods between them. Malevolent Worship of Malign Gods Bugbears worship two

Giants: World Shakers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

another, but those races have no shared heritage. In contrast, every true giant, regardless of type, can trace its ancestry directly to Annam the All-Father. Most giants believe that Annam took a number

Giants: World Shakers If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that any empire that rises will fall. They all come crashing down. — Volo The saga of giantkind began in the dawn of the

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

the signs written in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to them in peace

dragon until initiative count 20 on the next round. A creature charmed in this way obeys to the best of its ability any command the dragon issues that isn’t directly harmful to the creature. Ice

Ancient Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

sky and tracking the signs written in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to

dragon issues that isn’t directly harmful to the creature. Ice Passage. The dragon can open a passage through a wall of ice or snow that is up to 5 feet thick, creating an opening up to 30 feet

Elder Brain

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, rewriting their thoughts and authoring their dreams. An elder brain sustains itself by consuming the brains of other creatures. If its mind flayer servants don’t bring meals directly to it, the

elder brain reaches out with tendrils of thought, compelling creatures to come to it so that it can feed on them. When a mind flayer perishes, the elder brain’s servants feed its brain to their

Uthgardt Tribe Member

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

abandoned that path, you find yourself adrift. Or you might come from a segment of the Uthgardt that adheres to tradition, but you seek to bring glory to your tribe by achieving great things as a

fullest. 3 I remember every insult I’ve received and nurse a silent resentment toward anyone who’s ever wronged me. 4 I am slow to trust members of other races, tribes, and

Fairy

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

a special physical characteristic that sets the fairy apart. For your fairy, roll on the Fey Characteristics table or choose an option from it. You’re also free to come up with your own

;t meet a violent end on an adventure. Members of some races, such as dwarves and elves, can live for centuries. Fairies and harengons, however, have a life span of about a century. Height and Weight

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

area is at risk. If orcs come upon a target that is too large to assault directly, they will lurk along supply routes, taking out their frustration on caravans and travelers. Left unchecked, a tribe can

hatred of the civilized races of the world and their need to satisfy the demands of their deities, the orcs know that if they fight well and bring glory to their tribe, Gruumsh will call them home to

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

extended their stewardship over the sea floor from their initial settlements and built outposts to create trade with other races. Despite this expansion, few folk know of them. Their settlements are so

remote even merfolk and sea elves rarely encounter them. Haughty Nobles As a result of their isolation and limited understanding of the Material Plane, tritons can come across as haughty and

Gnoll Names

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

lords, and flinds, receive names directly from Yeenoghu. The same applies to Yeenoghu’s blessed followers among humans, orcs, and other races. Gnoll Names d12 Gnoll Name 1 Aargab 2 Alark 3 Andak 4

Chapter 2: Character Races

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Chapter 2: Character Races Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. This chapter presents character races that are some of the more distinctive race options in the D&D multiverse. They supplement the

options in the Player’s Handbook and are more rare in the worlds of D&D than the races in that book are. If you’re a player, consult with your DM before using any of the races here. Many DMs like to

Ancient Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

stone to come and go. The challenge rating of a legendary sapphire dragon increases by 1 when it’s encountered in its lair. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the

to the best of its ability any command the dragon issues that isn’t directly harmful to the creature. Stone Passage. The dragon touches a section of stone up to 30 feet in any dimension. The

Half-Elves

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

Half-Elves I’m not half anything. You humans come from Sarlona. Elves are from Aerenal. Me? I’m a true child of Khorvaire. — Nandon Tam, Khoravar activist From the Towering Woods of the Eldeen

bias than members of other races, and some half-elves could easily be mistaken for human. In making a half-elf character, consider whether you were born in a Khoravar community, or if your parents were

Inheritor

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

Inheritor You are the heir to something of great value—not mere coin or wealth, but an object that has been entrusted to you and you alone. Your inheritance might have come directly to you from a

, and might have set you on the path to adventure, but it could also come with many dangers, including those who covet your gift and want to take it from you—by force, if need be. Skill Proficiencies

Amplifying Your Ideal

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

Amplifying Your Ideal Many characters’ ideals come directly from their service to a god. Each god’s description in chapter 2 includes a table you can use to determine your hero’s ideal if your

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

smooth-skins is far greater. Despite their alien outlook, some lizardfolk make an effort to understand and, in their own manner, befriend people of other races. Such lizardfolk make faithful and

utility and importance. Nowhere does this come through as strongly as when lizardfolk deal with the dead. To a lizardfolk, a comrade who dies becomes a potential source of food. That companion might have

The True Threat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

them to participate rather than the elves. Members of these four races have come together, overlooking their previous rivalries and differences, to negotiate an agreement of cooperation. But even as

aquatic races. The lizardfolk’s main purpose is to form an army to expel the sahuagin from the area. In so doing, they hope to discourage the sahuagin from ever again intruding on the region. The

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

elemental cults has been taken as a sign from Gruumsh that blood and gold must flow from the lands of lesser races. The orcs seek supply sources in the valley. Scouts found that the farmers and ranchers

in the area are prime options. Now, roving war bands attack the frontier families directly, raiding the homesteads with impunity. In addition to stealing livestock, the Iceshields take any carts and

General Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

through the dangerous rocks, because the granite cliffs beyond them rise directly out of the water, offering no place to land or come ashore. Only the sandy area at the southernmost tip of the island

there are on the island were imported by the clerics, either deliberately or accidentally, when they arrived and built the abbey. Some other more dangerous creatures have also come ashore recently.

The Long View

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

come to an end. Paradoxically, elves pay special interest to the ephemeral: a cloud of mayflies, bubbles in water, illusions, eclipses, rainbows, artistic performances, and so forth. They are

lives. It’s a rare elf who forms strong relationships with people of other races, particularly those whose life spans are much shorter. Humans like to believe that elves don’t form close bonds with

Goblinoids: The Conquering Host

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

hobgoblin legions. Maglubiyet takes three races and turns them into one people. In bygone times the goblinoids were distinct from one another, with separate faiths and different customs. Then Maglubiyet came

another as strangers or foes. Instead they know that by the fact of their meeting alone, Maglubiyet has commanded them to come together. They know the time has come to form a host. Ahh, the Sly Fox

Dinosaur Racing

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

Dinosaur Racing The city is famous for its weekly dinosaur races through the streets. Dinosaurs are painted in bright designs, and their riders try to steer them along a course that winds around the

harbor and the city’s four hills. Spectators are seldom injured, but it’s a dangerous sport for the dinosaurs and their riders. A typical race day has three races: one for four-legged beasts, one for

Elves of the Five Nations

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

, almost three thousand years ago), but more often wanderers and exiles have come to Khorvaire and made their way there. Many of the finest wizards and most renowned artisans in the Five Nations are

shorter-lived races. You might not be as concerned with history and tradition as the Aereni and Tairnadal; you could even live your life entirely in the moment, with no care for your family or your

Flavors of Fantasy

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

this baseline: a multitude of humanoid races coexist with humans in fantastic worlds. Adventurers bring magical powers to bear against the monstrous threats they face. These characters typically come

Otaaryliakkarnos

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

Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and

the dwarves for their Dragonmoots of old — great hunts during which clans would come together to end the perceived threat of a particular dragon. Centuries before, Otaaryliakkarnos’s niece was killed

Half-Elves

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

Half-Elves “I’m not ‘half’ anything. You humans come from Sarlona. The elves are from Aerenal. Me? I’m a true child of Khorvaire.” —Nandon Tam, Khoravar activist Half-elves are spread across

by the rise of House Lyrandar and House Medani. In making a half-elf character, think about whether you were born into a Khoravar community, or if you were born to parents of different races. Is your

Otaaryliakkarnos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and

the dwarves for their Dragonmoots of old—great hunts during which clans would come together to end the perceived threat of a particular dragon. Centuries before, Otaaryliakkarnos’s niece was killed

D&D Beyond

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