both before directly come rule

"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

Death Kiss

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Drain", "rollDamageType":"lightning"} lightning damage, and the death kiss regains half as many hit points.A death kiss is a lesser beholder that can come into being when a true beholder has a vivid

. Lacking the egotism of their stronger kin, a death kiss usually submits to the rule of its creator or any other beholder it encounters, but it tries to escape as soon as the beholder is preoccupied. A

Animate Objects Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

Objects come to life at your command. Choose up to ten nonmagical objects within range that are not being worn or carried. Medium targets count as two objects, Large targets count as four objects

bonus and bludgeoning damage determined by its size. The GM might rule that a specific object inflicts slashing or piercing damage based on its form. At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, you can animate two additional objects for each slot level above 5th.

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

Owlin

Species Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Distant kin of giant owls from the Feywild, owlin come in many shapes and sizes, from petite and fluffy to wide-winged and majestic. Owlin have arms and legs like other Humanoids, as well as wings

increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your

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

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

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

deities who are brothers, Hruggek and Grankhul. Hruggek is the fearsome elder sibling, possessed of legendary might and prowess in battle. Bugbears believe their strength and bravery come from him

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people

filthy dungeons to sipping zzar at a ball? Or have you taken up sword or spell on your family’s behalf, ensuring that they have someone of renown to see to their legacy? Work with your DM to come

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

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

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

magical power than a potion, but they all believe that the tribal sorcerer can figure out how to use any such item they come across. When kobolds sense an opportunity to separate a magic item from its

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

good that even if some people you meet have heard of your homeland, they know merely the name and perhaps a few outrageous stories. You have come to this part of Faerûn for your own reasons, which

of those who emigrate from Evermeet are either exiles, forced out for committing some infraction of elven law, or emissaries who come to Faerûn for a purpose that benefits elven culture or

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

Luthic. He predicts that the war will end with Luthic the only deity standing, as the cave mother ascends to rule her warrior children. Life in the Tribe Orcs survive through savagery and force of

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

Score Increases When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule, moonstone dragons are

things up, insisting that visitors come to the Border Ethereal for a meeting or sleeping in the middle of a heavily trafficked forest on the Material Plane. Moonstone dragons navigate their

Ancient Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

once every hundred years, when they choose targets for a deadly hunting spree. 3 Two ancient deep dragon;ancient deep dragons fight over territory. Unwilling to move against each other directly

, they use local settlements—and any competent visitors—as pawns in their struggle. 4 An ancient deep dragon has put the folk of a city to work building the dragon a metropolis to rule

Skill Variants

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

come up with at least four positive personality traits when creating a character. When a character’s negative personality trait directly impacts an ability check, the character has disadvantage on the

the following variants. Choose whichever one best suits your campaign. Ability Check Proficiency With this variant rule, characters don’t have skill proficiencies. Instead, each character has

Ten Rules to Remember

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Ten Rules to Remember 1. The DM Adjudicates the Rules The rules of D&D cover many of the twists and turns that come up in play, but the possibilities are so vast that the rules can’t cover

everything. When you encounter something that the rules don’t cover or if you’re unsure how to interpret a rule, the DM decides how to proceed, aiming for a course that brings the most enjoyment to your whole

Ancient Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

artists and poets, encourage great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule

storage. Occasionally, though, a whimsical moonstone dragon delights in shaking things up, insisting that visitors come to the Border Ethereal for a meeting or sleeping in the middle of a heavily

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

. (Good) 3 Honor. If I dishonor myself, I dishonor my whole clan. (Lawful) 4 Might. The strongest are meant to rule. (Evil) 5 Nature. The natural world is more important than all the

Those Who Rule

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

Those Who Rule The following sahuagin rule the fortress, oversee its armed forces, and direct its worship of Sekolah. Baroness Seklaz The initial attack against the lizardfolk and the subsequent

priestesses have summoned an avatar of their god, who swims inside the temple. Blademaster Makaht Makaht is a hulking brute responsible for leading the sahuagin army in the impending campaign. He takes orders directly from the baroness and the baron, though he prefers the former over the latter.

C: Nothic Lair

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

arcane secrets, the nothic hopes to regain its memories and attain enough power to rule the Caves of Chaos. Recently, a carrion crawler slithered into the cave and interrupted the nothic’s research

. Unwilling to confront the creature directly, the nothic is now trapped in its laboratory as it concocts a solution. You can add monsters, such as Stirges, to the cave to make this scenario longer and

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

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

offer bribes, favors, or other incentives to induce people to reveal their secrets. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an inaccessible place, or that it simply can

very different. 7 I borrowed a lot of money from an Orzhov syndic to help finance my research. 8 A Rakdos ringmaster has taken an interest in my research which, come to think of it, might

Amble

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising

Amble If Amble has joined the characters, the tortle remains a steadfast ally in the ﬁght to come. Amble will focus any attacks on the drowned, leaving Gar to the characters. If things get tough

, Amble can also act as a backup healer for the party. Note that dealing damage to Gar does not break Amble’s rule, as the tortle believes that Gar is some kind of aberrant being. Because of this, Amble will not intercede when the characters attack Gar.

4. Tortle in Torpor

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising

4. Tortle in Torpor As the characters approach this ship, read or paraphrase the following boxed text: The coral creates a passageway here that leads directly to another sunken ship which is nearly

underwater plants grow in abundance, all lit by the soft green glow. If any character peers directly into the hole, read or paraphrase the following boxed text: The source of the green light quickly

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

Age of Trax

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

historical memory, is marked by the rule of supernatural beings called archons. The archons of Trax are said to have come from unknown lands to the north and established a heavy-handed rule over the

humanoids of Theros. Many peoples remember this as a time of oppressive servitude, when they were forced into the armies of the tyrant Agnomakhos. The archons dubiously suggested that their rule actually

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

Socializing

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

Socializing Many groups include players who come to the game primarily because they enjoy the social event and want to spend time with their friends, not because they’re especially invested in any

details of the game, rules, or story. As a rule, don’t try to force these players to be more involved than they want to be.

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

running. There are times, though, when the design intent of a rule isn’t clear or when one rule seems to contradict another. Dealing with those situations is where Sage Advice comes in. This column

perspectives that help you see parts of the game in a new light and that aid you in fine-tuning your D&D experience. When I answer rules questions, I often come at them from one to three different

D&D Beyond

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