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Returning 35 results for 'both before directly contain rival'.
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both before directly certain ritual
both before direct certain revel
both before direct certain rivals
both before direct certain real
both before direct certain reveal
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
rival and an equal. The Zlan Liches table gives a brief description of each component.
Zlan Liches
Name
History
Argent Black
Emerged from the Negative Plane, fed on hate and
direct action when an oblique or hidden action will suffice. Its plans always contain fallbacks and contingencies. One of these contingencies—one the other liches who constitute its new form failed
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
the spew.Maw demons share the ceaseless hunger for carnage and mortal flesh of their master, Yeenoghu. After a maw demon rests for 8 hours, anything devoured by it is transported directly into the
;t command the demons, which simply accompany the war band and attack whatever creatures the gnolls fall upon.
Because maw demons are indiscriminate in their hunger, their stomachs contain all manner
Monsters
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
sprout out from their rounded frames in all directions. Their heads contain ten eyes to readily observe the operations of surrounding base modrons. In emergencies, a decaton can discharge a bolt of
. Each modron dutifully obeys commands from the rank directly above it and in turn acts as the superior to the rank directly below it, passing down commands from paragons of law to the lowliest monodrone
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
draw the blood of your enemies, or even directly touch their souls.
Suggested Characteristics
Members of the Orzhov Syndicate range from the decadent nobility at the top of the oligarchy to the debt
activities in crime, banking, or debt collection could tie you to members of other guilds.
Roll twice on the Orzhov Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Orzhov Contacts table
Backgrounds
Tomb of Annihilation
century old.
Suggested Characteristics
Few archaeologists can resist the lure of an unexplored ruin or dungeon, particularly if such a site is the source of legends or is rumored to contain
disappeared on an expedition some time ago.
3
I have a friendly rival. Only one of us can be the best, and I aim to prove it’s me.
4
I won’t sell an art object or other treasure that
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
contain numerous caves, two of them large enough for Klauth to shelter in. He keeps his legendary hoard in tunnels beneath one cavern, which can be entered only by lifting or pushing aside a massive slab of
might rival him in power, in a fighting style marked by sudden attacks and just as sudden disappearances.
Klauth spends many waking hours scrying Faerûn with his spells, and he probably knows more
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
characters stand in the way, and how the conflict could be resolved. Ideally, a rival’s goal directly involves the characters or something they care about. Assets. Think about the resources the rival can
Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
keen intellect and magic to discover the secrets of making steel. Its military shattered rival tribes and developed advanced tactics for fighting in forests and open plains.
The civilization grew into a
you’re roleplaying a yuan-ti, the following tables contain possible inspiration. They suggest characteristics that a yuan-ti might possess.
Yuan-ti Personality Traits
d8
Personality
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
research grant or an academic award. Or they might be conspicuously spending ill-gotten wealth, boasting of their accomplishments, or directly taunting the characters. (A rival group at these levels might
Rival Explorers Morgrave University teems with unscrupulous adventurers and researchers driven by avarice. Additionally, the university itself has academic rivals—the University of Wynarn in Aundair
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
protect against psychic damage or mental intrusion. The centerpiece of a sapphire dragon’s hoard is usually a cataloged, orderly collection of war gear, which can contain ancient relics of
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
Ancient Deep Dragon
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
financial or sentimental value to the host dragon are stored away in the protected hoard, these tastefully appointed visitors’ chambers contain lesser treasures from inaccessible or storied locales
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
rival orcs first and foremost as competitors for food and victims.
On some occasions, though, tribes that have a common concern band together. The result is an orc horde — a sea of slavering
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
earth are strong or weak, are bearing a load or are safe to excavate, or are likely to contain minerals or offer access to water. This ability enables them to fashion secure homes in places where other
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
network of which the Bloodgate was a part gave her the ability to open portals directly into the Doomvault. The following sections contain details on the logistics of running an adventure set there. When
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
enhanced medusa for Lynx, or the brains in iron for Sir Ursas (see below for more information on both). Each expedition also has its own mechanical guide. You might use the members of the rival expedition
missing components, whether they steal them out from under the characters or take them directly in combat. Any stolen components will be delivered to their respective agents before the characters return from the past.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
only from the floors above) contains the vaults of the Dezina Museum of Antiquities, whose public areas fill several of Dalannan’s middle floors. These vaults contain hundreds, if not thousands, of
(Medium Noble Prodigy) descends directly from Lareth ir’Morgrave, founder of the university, and serves as its current master. Though his job involves more administration than scholarship, he
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
eternal honor directly caused the destruction of Manivarsha. Having lived a cursed life as a pride-obsessed fiend in the depths of the swamps for centuries, Jijibisha has recently heard of a rival that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
transported directly into the Lord of Savagery’s gullet. Maw demons appear among gnoll war bands that worship Yeenoghu, usually summoned as part of ritual offerings of freshly slain Humanoids made to him
contain all manner of oddities in addition to the remains of their recent prey. You may choose one or more items appropriate for your campaign for a maw demon to contain, or roll on the Maw Demon’s Stomach
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Rival Princes When the characters arrive at the square, read or paraphrase the following: Locals crowd a shaded square, listening to a fervent argument between two well-dressed human men wearing dark
come directly from King Diara. Personality Trait. “I’m happiest when I’m working with my hands.” Ideal. “Though I might have more responsibility, I’m no better than anyone else who works in the
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond
issues that isn’t directly harmful to the creature.
Distort Perceptions. The dragon attempts to alter the perceptions of one creature it can see within its lair. That creature must succeed on a DC
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
the school in a contest against a rival college.
7
An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond.
8
An
this way obeys to the best of its ability any command the dragon issues that isn’t directly harmful to the creature.
Distort Perceptions. The dragon attempts to alter the perceptions of one
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
important common values and work toward the same end: the destruction of slavery. They fulfill something like the role of the Order of the Gauntlet in Athas. The Free are not directly concerned with
Alluvial Sand Wastes is Tyr, struggling to find its way after the death of King Kalak. The templars of Tyr can’t allow a new threat to grow on their doorstep — or allow the templars of a rival city such
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
intrusion. The centerpiece of a sapphire dragon’s hoard is usually a cataloged, orderly collection of war gear, which can contain ancient relics of immense power.
Creating a Sapphire Dragon
Use
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 dragon can shape the stone to open or close a passage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
of Spiders and her brood rarely take part directly in the Blood War; rather, her agents in the Abyss contrive to lure her enemies into throwing themselves into the struggle. Her servitors spy on both
sides, playing demon and devil against each other.
Lolth’s plan, as far as those who study the Abyss understand it, is to tempt her rival demon lords into venturing onto other planes or to send them
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
carved into the stone. These records contain only what the librarians were able to write down. Even with their network of messengers and informants, and the visions they receive using the powers of
doorway in runes that anyone who knows Dwarvish or Giant understands: The past is a crystal, for it can be seen from many facets yet it always remains the same.
These rooms contain crystals of many
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
magical weapon.
4 Defeat a rival.
5 Open a planar portal.
6 Summon fiends or undead.
7 Overthrow a peer or superior.
8 Cause a riot in the Cogs.
9 Start a war
.
3 A third party shows up with their own agenda.
4 There’s a hostage, or an ally of the PCs is directly at risk.
5 A manifest zone or planar conjunction has an unexpected effect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
particularly sapphires. Green Dragons. Dwarves and green dragons don’t often interact, and when they do, the dragon doesn’t usually threaten them directly. A typical green dragon has no burning desire
by creatures it can catch in the open, including the travelers that enter and exit the place. On occasion, this state of (relatively) peaceful coexistence is shattered when a devious rival dragon with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
spore drifted into this cave from area 8. Its spores contain memory fragments of the dead beholder that birthed it. A creature that inhales the spores inherits a random memory, determined by rolling on
rival to dust with a Disintegration Ray. 41–60 The beholder examines a tower-sized stalagmite with a large crystal atop it (see level 20, area 14). 61–80 The beholder is swallowed by a purple worm and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
their knowledge, they seem genuinely eager to shepherd your work. 3 Hidden Benefactor. Whoever your contact is, they don’t communicate directly. They send messages via couriers or letters. No one in
a professional who works directly toward the guild’s specialty or whose fortunes align with the guild’s interests. Alternatively, you could provide the guild with services to which their members
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
resources, goals, and leaders—directly sponsors and guides your adventures. Types of Religious Orders Not every religious order represents an alliance of worshipers devoted to godly ideals. Perhaps your
your group as the adventuring arm of the organization, or perhaps a legion of paladins who call on your group’s finesse where swords and shields fail. You might receive orders directly from the immortal
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
sovereign. Roll or pick from the Sovereign Contact table to determine who manages the relationship between you and the throne, if not the sovereign directly. Sovereign Contact d6 Contact 1 Intimate
embroil you directly in political intrigues, court maneuverings, or threats from national foes. It’s up to you and the sovereign to determine whether your work is publicly acknowledged or top secret
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
. Many performers moonlight as assassins, spies, and thieves, given their talents and resources, and as such many amphitheaters contain hidden shrines to Phenax. Amphitheater Adventures Adventures in
a criminal cabal from a rival gang’s assault.
4 Take the place of a group of performers on stage to impress an audience member.
5 Assassinate an audience member during a performance
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
directly for the them or pay tribute in exchange for independence. The Boromars control a vast network of extortion, blackmail, and graft that extends throughout the city, and their influence reaches
Council. Of the seventeen members of Sharn’s city council, four have close ties to the Boromar Clan—including one, Ilyra Boromar, who reports directly to the head of the syndicate. These four vote as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
directly sharing what they want to see in a campaign. You can learn about your players’ preferences in two ways: Direct Input. Ask your players what they want to do in a campaign. Regularly inquire about how
rival midcampaign should be handled carefully to avoid straining credulity. Make sure a player is comfortable with new developments about their character before introducing them. Character-Focused
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
see its opponents before 60-foot darkvision sees it. A beholder always has several backup plans ready. When dealing with one, I have three plans of my own: run, hide, and distract. Rival adventurers
are always a good distraction. Rival beholders are the best one.
— Volo
Best of all, if ye can learn what schemes a beholder holds dearest, threaten those schemes. Its lured attention will at






