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Returning 34 results for 'breaking before diffusing cunning rivals'.
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bearing before diffusing counting rival
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
claim the throne themselves.
Those favored consorts who prove their cunning gain the ear, and perhaps even the heart, of their priestess and are relied on to provide useful advice. No position of
consort is assured for long, though; Lolth’s priestesses are notoriously fickle, and a consort must often contend with rivals.
Some favored consorts work behind the scenes to undermine the evils
Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
, chaotic, and temperamental nature they all share. When its diabolical aspect shines through, a forlarren is a cunning, calculating, and brutal enemy. It might use its natural charm to worm its way
. Unfortunately, when it reaches that breaking point, its diabolical nature asserts itself, and it remains in this scheming, dominating mindset until its plans are foiled and it faces defeat. Then, overwhelmed
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
At will: mage hand (the hand is invisible), minor illusionEmerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding
adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
hand is invisible), minor illusion
1/day each: detect thoughts, invisibility, silent imageEmerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding psionic power to
experienced adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
. Rumor claims the light of Daoud’s Wondrous Lanthorn (see appendix A) is the key to breaking the curse. A ruler who believes the lantern is in the Lost Caverns sends an agent to recruit the characters
to retrieve it. Racing Rivals. The margrave of a land near the Yatil Mountains seeks to weaken his political rivals without drawing suspicion. Having heard of the party’s exploits, he hires the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
characters solve this problem by breaking the curse rather than killing the rivals, but either way, these foils no longer trouble the characters after they resolve this situation. (A rival group at these levels might consist of an Archmage, an Archpriest, a Spy Master, and a Warrior Commander.)
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
monster often toys with its prey, breaking off an attack prematurely and leaving a creature wounded and terrified before returning to finish it off.
Servant of Evil. Though chimeras are far from cunning
.
These three aspects drive a chimera to stake out a territory that is as large as 10 miles wide. It preys on wild game, viewing more powerful creatures as rivals to be humiliated and defeated. Its
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
personal reasons, since their government has a strict stance against unauthorized involvement with other nations and organizations. You might have been exiled for breaking one of Halruaa’s many
and wonderful! (Chaotic)
4
Cunning. Though I may not know their ways, neither do they know mine, which can be to my advantage. (Evil)
5
Inquisitive. Everything is new, but I have a thirst
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
mercenaries were hired by enemies of Yeonido seeking to undo the city from within. 3 Cunning spies are breaking into the homes of magistrates across the city, looking for proof that the Pearl of Mireu is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
of its mother’s house, lending its thirst for destruction to that house’s plans to triumph over its rivals. A draegloth is an ogre-sized, four-armed humanoid with purple-black skin and yellow-white
family’s rivals, which were not thus gifted. The birth prompts the leaders of the house to begin crafting new plans to strike at its rivals when the draegloth is fully grown. These plans always use
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Connected Creatures
1 After breaking free from captivity at the hands of a cocky mage, a cunning black dragon wyrmling claimed the mage’s amulet—and the suits of animated armor the amulet controls
types of blights to spread prodigiously and upset nature’s balance.
4 A black dragon wyrmling is setting cunning traps along local roadways, hoping to injure horses and draft animals for easy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
knowledge by force and cunning. A mighty wizard with magic worthy of epic tales, she is a monster whose adamantine claws can flense whole armies before any soldier can land a blow on her plated hide
have allies, except for a handful of other legends like the following groups: Daughters of Sora Kell. Sora Kell’s three daughters—the gifted oracle Sora Teraza, the cunning trickster Sora Katra, and the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
of food often brings them to the surface to hunt. Orcs respect an orog’s strength and cunning, and a lone orog might command an orc war band. Stronger and Smarter. An orog uses its strength to bully
makes them ideal leaders, and thus deadly rivals to orc war chiefs, who must be wary of orog treachery. Detached Killers. Wanting nothing more than to hack their enemies to pieces, orogs are a
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
":"damage", "rollAction":"Emerald Embers", "rollDamageType":"fire"} fire damage.Emerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding psionic power to weave illusions to
adventurers in the hopes of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals. They usually
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
":"Emerald Embers", "rollDamageType":"fire"} fire damage.Emerald dragons are the most curious, cunning, and manipulative of the gem dragons, wielding psionic power to weave illusions to deceive and
of pitting them against fire giant rivals.
Hoarded Histories
Emerald dragons prize knowledge, particularly local histories that focus on magical events and individuals. They usually know of places
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
must change the timing of events so that the Tyranny of Dragons story and the events that precipitate Storm King’s Thunder happen concurrently, with Annam the All-Father breaking the ordning to stir
orchestrated the king’s abduction. Although they share a disdain for dragons, Blagothkus and Countess Sansuri are bitter rivals. If the characters intend to confront Sansuri (see chapter 9, “Castle of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
ambitious consorts aspire to be the power behind the throne—or even to claim the throne themselves. Those favored consorts who prove their cunning gain the ear, and perhaps even the heart, of their
priestess and are relied on to provide useful advice. No position of consort is assured for long, though; Lolth’s priestesses are notoriously fickle, and a consort must often contend with rivals. Some
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
confidence games. Patriars might even hire Guild members to gain (or plant) information about their rivals, involving the Guild in Upper City politics. Only the most talented criminals dare to burgle
, thieves’ cant
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Cunning Action. On each of her turns in combat, Nine-Fingers can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Dagger Thrower. Nine-Fingers adds
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
confidence games. Patriars might even hire Guild members to gain (or plant) information about their rivals, involving the Guild in Upper City politics. Only the most talented criminals dare to burgle
: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
Bonus Actions
Cunning Action. Nine-Fingers takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Reactions
Uncanny Dodge. Nine-Fingers halves the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
diabolical aspect shines through, a forlarren is a cunning, calculating, and brutal enemy. It might use its natural charm to worm its way into earning trust from those it encounters, casting itself as a
death, or to throw itself into caring for others with such relentless energy that it eventually collapses from exhaustion. Unfortunately, when it reaches that breaking point, its diabolical nature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Gellan (NE male human noble) is a well-spoken, dapper older gentleman with a neatly trimmed beard and a fancy wardrobe. With his cunning instincts, he has positioned his family to become the most prominent
it means breaking the law. Gellan secretly believes that even if he is caught, he can spend his way back into the town’s good graces by throwing the biggest, most extravagant festival Saltmarsh has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
force open this door from the other side, breaking the crossbar with a successful DC 22 Strength (Athletics) check. When the dining room is in use, the guard retires to the barracks (area K10). K12
Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish, Gnomish, Goblin
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Gnome Cunning. Spellix has advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Innate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
, sultans, and rajahs are ready choices for powerful individuals who patronize a party of adventurers. Those on track to become such individuals—such as cunning senators, royal heirs, or influential
identity a highly guarded secret. Political rivals, enemy countries, and natural disasters all pose dangers to the sovereign’s nation. Yet a sovereign who sows chaos, enacts tyrannical decrees, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
house to which the drow is affiliated. Drow House Loyalty d6 House 1–2 House Baenre 3–4 House Faen Tlabbar 5–6 House Xorlarrin House Faen Tlabbar and House Mizzrym are bitter rivals. If the drow
sake, and disloyalty to their clans. Of late, the folk of Gracklstugh have become increasingly more violent, abandoning their characteristic cunning and stoic pragmatism for wanton malice and petty
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
away at the ice, breaking through it after 1 hour. (The more characters who help, the more quickly the ice is removed.) The noise is loud enough to attract the ice troll in area D9. If the characters
Captain Bluemoon was a cruel, cunning individual who ruled his ship through fear instead of respect. He had many enemies and few friends. The captain’s final journal entry reads: “That damned white
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
—a ghoul—lurks in the aft part of the hold. Much more cunning than the zombies, the ghoul waits to attack until the characters are busy with the zombie. It hopes to paralyze a character with its Claw
Blood Lord, the demon lord Orcus is a fiend whose power rivals that of the gods. Ruling over hordes of demons in the nightmarish plane of existence called the Abyss, Orcus yearns to transform the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
them breaking free and rampaging through the district. Hamhocks Slaughterhouse This huge complex of pens, barns, and abattoirs is the largest slaughterhouse and knackery in Baldur’s Gate. Located in the
damage.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage.
Bonus Actions
Cunning Action. Rilsa takes the Dash
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Attack on Goldenfields Guh, the self-styled chief of the hill giants, has driven off her female rivals and conquered their husbands. Now, she tasks her mates with collecting food for her voracious
of guards confront the two foolish giants, but they retreat once Lob and Ogg start breaking off and hurling wall battlements (treat as hurled rocks). The two giants eventually make their way toward
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
creatures, many neighbors fear that Ubis doesn’t take security seriously enough, and that his desire to coddle such dangerous beasts could lead to them breaking free and rampaging through the district
artistic genius can appreciate his flagrant breaking of taboos, with risqué burlesque and satirical scripts mocking everyone from the dukes to Nine-Fingers Keene herself. The fact that these performances
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
companion nearby to hold culpable for your crimes. Gossip can be as deadly as the venom on an assassin’s blade. Use the poison of words to destroy your rivals, that you may claim for yourself all they
cunning — a trait that drow attach more importance to than they do to sanity. Give no quarter to drow, for none shall be given to you. Capture by drow means certain death, either as a sacrifice or after
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
animosity. They have bad blood with the Harmonium, who view the Fated as wrongheaded and dangerous, and Factol Darkwood and Factol Montgomery of the Society of Sensation are bitter rivals. Fraternity of
unabating pursuit of justice. Alix Branwyn Factol Alisohn Nilesia (lawful evil, tiefling mage), a young and cunning leader raised in Sigil’s penitentiary, was born to head the Mercykillers. She’s a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
NPCs by Guild This section describes various nonplayer characters that belong to each guild. These characters can serve as enemies, rivals, allies, or contacts. In addition to the NPCs presented here
troops of the legion. They are adept at breaking up mobs and organized lines of defense. Sometimes described as living thunderstorms, reckoners charge their bodies with lightning that bursts forth in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
until destroyed. This workshop was used to create metal cages of various sizes, all adorned with wicked spikes pointing inward and outward, or both. Cunning hinges and reinforced pins make these cages
into their profits. Treasure. Each roper has consumed four amethysts, each worth 30 gp. The xorn in area G14 is desperate to recover these amethysts. G11: Talhundereth Passage Breaking into this room
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
. They spy on draconic rivals from afar, looking for opportunities to slay weaker dragons and avoid stronger ones. If a stronger dragon threatens it, a black dragon abandons its lair and seeks out new
. Any sinkholes remain where they are. Green Dragon The most cunning and treacherous of true dragons, green dragons use misdirection and trickery to get the upper hand against their enemies. Nasty






