both believe diffusing claims race

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

The contents of this foul manuscript are the meat and drink of the wicked. It contains knowledge so horrid that to even glimpse the scrawled pages invites doom. Most believe the lich-god Vecna the

disappears, your Attunement to it ends immediately, and you lose all benefits granted by it. If you die while attuned to the book, an entity of great evil claims your soul. You can’t be restored to life

King Hekaton

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

presided over a court that included representatives of every race of giant, from mighty storm giants to lowly hill giants. He used the power of the Wyrmskull Throne — a gift given to him by his wife

;t answer prayers, and his divine offspring — the lesser giant gods — were out of touch, constantly waging war against one another on the Outer Planes. Hekaton came to believe that the giants were no longer the rightful masters of the world.Lightning, ThunderCold

Chardalyn Berserker

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

partly out of chardalyn that has been tainted by demonic magic. Battleaxes, flails, javelins, and spears are favored weapons, though other weapons are possible. A character who claims one or more of

to believe that its weapons are conduits through which it can speak to a demon lord or other dark power, as well as channel its rage. If the berserker’s madness is cured using magic that removes

Oath of the Ancients Legacy

Classes Player’s Handbook (2014)

The Oath of the Ancients is as old as the race of elves and the rituals of the druids. Sometimes called fey knights, green knights, or horned knights, paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with

the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in principles of honor, courage

Bael

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

following of cultists. Those who worship at his altar call him the King of Hell, and the most deluded believe that he is the lord of all devils. In arcane circles, certain writings, such as the dreaded Book

of Fire, say that Bael revealed the invisibility spell to the world, though some scholars of magic hotly refute such claims. Bael is sometimes depicted as a toad, a cat, a human, or some combination of

Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Elf

races Lorwyn: First Light

fallen empire to support their claims. These elves blame the fall of their empire on outside threats, especially the Phyrexian invasion (see Lorwyn: First Light). Though the invasion was the empire

Shadowmoor elf’s definition of “beautiful” can be abstract. Many of their kind believe beauty is gained or lost in accordance with one’s actions; in particular, they consider

Book of Vile Darkness Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every diseased idea, every unhinged thought, and every

great evil claims your soul. You can’t be restored to life by any means while your soul remains imprisoned. Random Properties. The Book of Vile Darkness has the following random properties: 3

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

innumerable times. Currently, Levistus claims lordship over Stygia, but he has been trapped in an enormous block of ice at the command of Asmodeus. In response, Geryon is marshaling his followers, hoping to

hierarchy. Sages who study the Nine Hells believe the battle for control of Stygia is a test staged by Asmodeus in hopes of purging the worst impulses from both Geryon and Levistus—or discovering a

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

times. Currently, Levistus claims lordship over Stygia, but he has been trapped in an enormous block of ice at the command of Asmodeus. In response, Geryon is marshaling his followers, hoping to use this

. Sages who study the Nine Hells believe the battle for control of Stygia is a test staged by Asmodeus in hopes of purging the worst impulses from both Geryon and Levistus—or discovering a competent

Minotaur

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Minotaurs are barrel-chested humanoids with heads resembling those of bulls. Blessed with a supernaturally strong sense of direction, minotaurs make great navigators. Some sages believe minotaurs

choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

crowds. They're also natural swimmers. Most giff believe they originated on one world, but their home world is now the stuff of legend, because no living giff has seen it or knows where it is. The

character is a member of the human race or one of the game’s fantastical races. If you create a character using a race option presented here, follow these additional rules during character creation

Anthropologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

and the ways of their people, who eventually treated you as one of their own. One culture had more of an influence on you than any other, shaping your beliefs and customs. Choose a race whose culture

trinket that I believe is the key to finding a long-lost society. d6 Flaw 1 Boats make me seasick. 2 I talk to myself, and I don’t make friends easily. 3 I

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

body, thought, and emotion. Freed from the limitations of their human bodies, the yuan-ti used their new abilities to conquer new lands and expand their borders. One Race, Many Forms The bodies of all

they don’t believe they have a reasonable chance of success. This reaction isn’t out of cowardice, but practicality—yuan-ti value their own lives much too highly to risk them when the

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Gang Mentality Since bugbears aren’t a particularly fecund race, their overall population is small and spread over a wide area. Bugbears live in family groups that operate much like gangs. The

remove opposition or exile weaker or unpopular members to keep the rest of the gang strong. Fortunately for the race as a whole, even young and elderly bugbears have the ability to survive alone in the

Book of Vile Darkness (Variant)

Magic Items Keys from the Golden Vault

even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every diseased idea, every unhinged thought, and every

great evil claims your soul. You can’t be restored to life by any means while your soul remains imprisoned. The Book of Vile Darkness has the following properties: Circle of Death. While attuned

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; entire society forever stands prepared for war. Brutal Civility Hobgoblins hold themselves to high standards of military honor. The race has a long history of shared traditions, recorded and retold

gods unique to their race, the only survivors of a pantheon that was decimated by Maglubiyet so long ago that hobgoblins don’t remember the names of the fallen. Nomog-Geaya is the greater of the

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. In fact, in the world of Greyhawk, the druidic faith is called the Old Faith, and it claims many adherents among farmers, foresters, fishers, and others who live closely with nature. This tradition

religions of the world. They believe that every living thing and every natural phenomenon—sun, moon, wind, fire, and the world itself—has a spirit. Their spells, then, are a means to

Centaur Legacy

Species Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

freedom to travel. As much as they can, centaurs run — in wide plazas, spacious parks, and expanses of rubble and ruin. They race the wind, hooves thundering and tails streaming behind them

memory — and, the centaurs believe, some shard of the spirit — of the departed. Centaurs don’t use family names, but they wear symbols that represent their family membership. These

Shifter Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

weretouched, as many believe they are the descendants of humans and lycanthropes. Whatever their origins, shifters have evolved into a unique race. They are humanoids with a bestial aspect; while they

body and mind. Some shifters believe that these spirits are independent entities, and they may speak of Bear or Wolf as ancestors or guides. Most just see the beast within as a formidable expression

Chapter 9 Summary

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

the Rod of Seven Parts retrieved, the characters must allow the spellcasters to examine the rod—or so “Mordenkainen” claims. The archmage reveals himself as Kas and uses the rod to subdue Alustriel and

Tasha. Kas flees to Pandemonium to free Miska the Wolf-Spider and usurp Vecna’s ritual. The characters must race to Pandemonium in pursuit of Kas, who has discovered where Vecna’s ritual is taking place.

Shifters

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

many believe that they are the descendants of humans and lycanthropes. They are humanoids with a bestial aspect; while they cannot fully change shape they can temporarily enhance their animalistic

features—a state they call shifting. Whatever their origins, shifters have evolved into a unique race. A shifter walks on the knife’s edge between the wilds and the world around them. Do they embrace their primal instincts or the path of civilization?

Shifters

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

many believe they are the descendants of humans and lycanthropes. Whatever their origins, shifters have evolved into a unique race. They are humanoids with a bestial aspect; while they can’t fully

Aldani Basin

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

foliage enclose the marsh. The basin is named after the aldani, a race of lobsterfolk (see appendix D). Many Chultans recall childhood fables about the eerie lobsterfolk that lived in the rivers and lakes

of their homeland. No reliable witnesses have reported an encounter with aldani in decades, so most Chultans believe the aldani perished. In fact, the lobsterfolk retreated to the secluded lakes of

Kalashtar Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

-Lashtavar. —Lakashtai, servant of the light The kalashtar are a compound race created from the union of humanity and renegade spirits from the plane of dreams — spirits called quori

evil spirits that dominate it. The rebel quori believe that through meditation and devotion, they can change the fundamental nature of Dal Quor, shifting the balance from darkness to light. Most

Background

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

hopes of restoring his family’s lackluster reputation. Most of the elders believe Gargosh’s plan is a fool’s quest. Gargosh has developed and maintained an extensive diary of his quest, filling it with

glory. Drannin has put a separate plan into motion, one that involves stealing Gargosh’s diary and tricking Gargosh’s allies into doing all the dirty work before Drannin claims the axe himself

Emerald Claw Campaign Themes

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

village from a necromancer who is sucking the life out of the land, or race through a dungeon to acquire a necromantic relic before the Claw can claim it. The Emerald Claw is ideally suited to pulp action

members of the Emerald Claw believe that they are fighting for Karrnath, they are truly serving the lich Lady Illmarrow (see chapter 6). The greatest necromancer of the age, she seeks to unlock the

Bandit Captain

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

not or claims not to know anything of the captain’s colorful reputation. Bandit Captain Medium humanoid (any race), any non-lawful alignment Armor Class 15 (studded leather) Hit Points 65 (10d8

Lady Wachter's Wish

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

claims that he keeps a watchful eye on all strangers, though he doesn’t mention the name of his employer. If the characters threaten him, he backs off and reports to Lady Wachter after he believes he’s

sighted leaving. The Vistani, worried that the characters might be more than a match for them, send one emissary on horseback to race ahead of the characters and inform Strahd. If Arrigal is alive, he makes the ride himself. Otherwise, the rider is a young Vistana bandit named Alexei (see area N9c).

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

the plane of Acheron. It is there in the afterlife where the chosen ones will join Gruumsh and his armies in their endless extraplanar battle for supremacy. Gods of the Orcs Orcs believe their gods

great unknown. NISHREK AND THE ETERNAL WAR Orcs believe that if they die with honor, their spirits go to the plane of Acheron, the Infinite Battlefield — specifically the layer of Nishrek

Roleplaying a Yuan-ti

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

than among other creatures, including my own kind. 4 I sometimes become consumed by philosophy. 5 I believe I am superior to others of my caste. 6 I am driven by wanderlust and want to explore lands

above those of our race. (Any) 4 Kinship. My allegiance is to my caste and my city. Other settlements can burn for all I care. (Any) 5 Inspiration. My actions set an example for the lesser castes to

Kraken Priest

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

Kraken Priest A kraken can seem godlike to folk who have witnessed its fury. Those who believe that its might comes from being a divine entity and those who seek to appease the monster through its

veneration sometimes find themselves infused with special abilities, to serve thereafter as kraken priests. Kraken Priest Medium humanoid (any race), any evil alignment Armor Class 10 Hit Points

A Culture of Fugitives

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

A Culture of Fugitives Despite all their unique and overwhelming abilities, the mind flayers are a race on the edge of extinction. Thousands of years ago, the illithids were the dominant power of the

mind flayers relied on a slave race, the gith, to provide physical labor and sustenance when other sources of food grew thin. Eventually, the gith revolted. Whether the mind flayers became decadent or

Gnomes

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

wider exposure. Gnomes gladly socialize and work with humans, elves, and dwarves, but they always keep in mind that, as a small and relatively insignificant race, their interests can become secondary

, goblinoids, and orcs, but gnomes and kobolds share a special hatred for each other. Both races believe in a legend that, long ago, the deity Garl Glittergold tricked the kobold god Kurtulmak, collapsing the earth and trapping him in an endless underground maze and earning his everlasting enmity.

Sports and Games

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

Sports and Games The Sharn Inquisitive The Race of Eight Winds Begins! Banners are flying across Dura today, and the streets are full of color. Walk through Oldkeep wearing brown and red, and

think our city’s gone mad. And in some ways it has, but it’s a madness that reaches its peak every summer with the Race of Eight Winds. Long ago, King Galifar used Dura as a proving ground for aerial

Sun Elves

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

Sun Elves Sun elves, also known as gold elves, or Ar’Tel’Quessir, have a reputation for being arrogant and self-important. Many of them believe they are Corellon’s chosen people and that other races

— even other elves — are subordinate to them in skill, significance, and sophistication. They claim the title of “high elves” with pride, and indeed their race is responsible for great, and sometimes

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