build blessings diffusing contests reason

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

blossom into hard feelings, loud arguments, and head-butting contests, but they rarely escalate beyond that. Creating Your Character When you create your D&D character, you decide whether your

. 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 character’s class offers suggestions on which

Orc Legacy

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

order from the encroachments of Fiends and other extraplanar threats. Gruumsh’s blessings have made orcs tireless guardians and mighty allies wherever they are found, even when they turn their

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 character’s

God-Based Adventures

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

God-Based Adventures Three elements combine to form the adventures recounted in the epics of Theros: heroes, gods, and monsters. Each god’s section in this chapter provides the ingredients to build

your own epics: champions and blessings, villains and monsters, divine schemes, and adventure locations.

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

dozen) in a fortified compound enclosed by stone walls that are easily defensible. If no such compound exists, they build one. The parents spend the remainder of their lives guarding the compound

prefer simple, non-gender-specific names that are usually no more than two syllables. If a tortle doesn’t like its name for whatever reason, it can change it. A tortle might change its name a dozen

Tower of Traitors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

of Arijani and Reeva. Ramya’s skeletal soldiers continue to build the tower as part of her plan to rid Kalakeri of evil and receive the gods’ blessings.

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

sewer tunnels, paying them with food and tools the kobolds wouldn’t have access to on their own. If they are treated well and left alone to do the job, the kobolds work industriously and build a

, they might build a warren and make a permanent home there, while continuing to expand the town’s sewers as the community grows. These so-called “city kobolds” live underground but

Link to Vecna

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

Link to Vecna The characters each gain a metaphysical link to Vecna, which follows the rules for blessings presented in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Vecna’s Link is the result of feedback from the

interrupted ritual. Vecna is unaware the characters—or anyone, for that matter—are linked with him, so the god has no reason to sever the tie. The link can manifest as subtly or as obviously as each

Vistani

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

Vistani The Vistani (singular: Vistana) are wanderers, traveling about in horse-drawn, barrel-topped wagons, which they build themselves. Compared to Barovians, they are flamboyant, dressing in

are closely knit. They resolve disagreements through contests that end with reconciliatory singing, dancing, and storytelling. The Vistani are quick to act when their lives or traditions are threatened and are merciless when they believe they must be.

Arena

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

competitions stand here to receive medals, wreaths, rewards, the blessings of priests, and the praise of the crowd. Outside the arena and beneath the seats are open areas and alcoves where vendors

gamblers, cruel trainers, savage animals, and worse. The Arena Villains table presents just a few ne’er-do-wells who might frequent physical contests. Arena Villains d8 Villain 1 A

Champions of Rock Throwing

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

throwing rocks in ways that hone their skills for hunting and war. One of the most popular contests, especially among fire giants, involves nothing more than taking turns trying to knock each other down with

boulders. Frost giants build targets out of snow and ice and compete to see who can knock down the most with a single toss. A popular one-on-one game begins with the challenger throwing a stone as

Wearing and Wielding Items

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

magic item that's meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Rare

exceptions exist. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn't adjust. For example, drow-made armor might fit elves only

Life in Tletepec

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

you haven’t met.” Tletepecs build villages near the land’s many volcanoes, but travel between villages can be challenging, as the dirt paths that connect them often shift or are blocked. Therefore

, every village assembles a communal offering to the gods to request blessings, chief among them protection from disaster. The gathered offerings are carried by a caravan of walkers and wagons to a

Ephara's Villains

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

system. 5 A group of mages who follow Ephara want to build a city on an island, heedless of the current residents. 6 An oracle (see chapter 6) leads a cadre of scholars secretly destroying

few foes likely to serve the god’s will. Ephara’s urn is a fountain of blessings (NOAH BRADLEY) Ephara’s Monsters Challenge Creature Source 1/8 Guard MM 1/2 Anvilwrought raptor MOoT

Erebos's Villains

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

populace. Some become death-crazed killers or dispassionate murderers, unable to see the difference between dying now and dying later. Others abuse their blessings to cheat death for themselves or their

daughter is restored as a potent Returned who now terrorizes the polis. 4 A wealthy noble drives tenants out of a poor part of a polis so he can build a temple to Erebos. 5 The queen of a remote

The Darklake

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

The Darklake To move their expeditionary force across the Darklake, the characters must build rafts or coracles from Underdark materials, or seek out duergar or kuo-toa ferries for hire. Each ferry

chapter 1) was not killed in a previous chapter of the adventure, the characters find him among Sloobludop’s survivors. He is the sole point of calm and reason in the ruined settlement, and the various

The Dark Powers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

villains to add to their terrifying menagerie. To what end, no one knows. The Dark Powers don’t move in the shadows of Ravenloft; they are the shadows. They’re the Mists and the darkness. They’re the reason

. These diminished vestiges manipulate their realm to create negative forces that sustain their essence and build toward renewed apotheosis. Rudolph, I write you in the throes of a most perplexing

Ability Checks

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

. Contests A contest is a kind of ability check that matches two creatures against each other. Use a contest if a character attempts something that either directly foils or is directly opposed by another

Constitution Stamina and health Endure a marathon, grasp hot metal without flinching, win a drinking contest Intelligence Memory and reason Recall a bit of lore, recognize a clue’s significance

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

cases, a magic item that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Rare

exceptions exist. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn’t adjust. For example, armor made by the drow might fit

Champions and Quests

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

, and blessings the god might bestow. Serving Two or More Masters Often, each of the characters in an adventuring party is the champion of a different god—or no god at all. What brings the characters

example, you might build a campaign around the idea that Erebos, Mogis, and Pharika are conspiring to unleash slaughter and plague on the mortal realm. Perhaps heroic champions of Ephara, Heliod

One for All: The Stronghold

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

at the touch of a child when they are unlocked. While some other races erect statues or build special structures to honor their heroes or commemorate momentous events, the dwarves live and work within

of art makes any stronghold a prime target for thieves and raiders. For that reason, the entrance to a stronghold doesn’t broadcast its presence by being a stellar example of dwarven stonework. The

Worshiping Kruphix

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

created the divine artisan Nykthos and ordered him to build altars to the gods. Nykthos’s story isn’t widely known among mortals, but the Shrine to Nyx is still called Nykthos in his honor. Kruphix’s

, he etched all their names—including his own—in the bark of his great tree at the edge of the world. Immediately, the gods’ oracles could no longer hear them, their blessings faded, and the night sky

Nobility

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

abroad, as well as the many expressions of the arts. They spend coin to fund celebrations, contests at the Field of Triumph, upkeep at the city’s temples and shrines, civic projects, guild events, and

charitable actions such as burial of the unknown dead. Their motives are manifold, but their actions — no matter the reason — earn them loyalty and high regard from those who benefit from their largesse

Divine Characteristics

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

little reason to pay attention to what is spoken there. Gods can speak directly to their oracles. They can appear in the dreams of mortals or manipulate natural phenomena to create omens. They can

by spell effects. For example, Purphoros can make a volcano erupt, and Thassa can call up a tidal wave. Gods can bestow supernatural blessings on mortals, and they can lay terrible curses (such as when

Build Your Group

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

Build Your Group Naturally, a large portion of the Boromar Clan’s members come from a criminal background. There’s no reason characters with other backgrounds can’t be part of the syndicate, though

Minions and Pets

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

beholder can kill them whenever it wants and it is in their best interest to stop resisting and just obey the beholder’s orders. Minions build walls in the beholder’s lair, distribute food to other

last line of defense against foes that threaten the inner sanctum. Pets A beholder often has one or more pets in its lair, mainly because (for whatever reason) it enjoys the company of such creatures

Inside the Cult

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

fear that any other guild might gain enough power to overwhelm all the others and impose its own values on everyone. For this reason, they focus their efforts on subverting other guilds’ schemes, by

undermining popular and powerful leaders and interfering — often violently — with any effort to build a centralized concentration of authority. The Azorius Senate currently stands as the greatest

Build Your Group

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

Build Your Group Newspapers employ a wide range of adventurers to bring news back to the home office. Consider some or all of these roles for the characters in your party: Voice of BRELAND

’ wealth and influence. Whose interest, then, does the Chronicle serve? All the more reason, loyal readers, to rely on the Voice of Breland for unbiased news you can use. Civilian. Some groups include

Giants and Other Ancients

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

. You could build an entire campaign in the shadow of such a conflict, which is basically taking the ideas described under “Clash of Titans” earlier in this chapter and extending them through many

thousand years for good reason: neither giants nor dragons were ever particularly numerous, and actual skirmishes between giants and dragons were rare. For this reason, you could run a campaign where battles

Orc Lairs

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

their differences or engage in contests of strength. War Chief’s Quarters Adjacent to the main chamber is the room where the war chief resides, holds council, and hands out blessings or punishments

Loose Pantheons

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

religious rites and festivals. Priests at such sites relate stories of the gods, teach the ethics of their patron deities, offer advice and blessings, perform religious rites, and provide training in

gods the locals revere. To quickly build a pantheon for your world, create a single god for each of the eight domains available to clerics: Death, Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Tempest, Trickery

Racial Traits

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

races—a reason for the monstrous races to be used in a campaign with care. Bugbear Traits Your bugbear character has the following racial traits. Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by

discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Long-Limbed. When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal. Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when

Creating a Rival

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

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

methods the rival can bring to bear against the characters. Goals. An effective rival has a clear reason for interfering with the characters’ lives. Think about what the rival wants, how and why the

High Moor

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

attention or ire. Travelers who leave the inhabitants of the Misty Forest alone, and who build their campfires small and solely of fallen branches, are usually permitted to pass, so long as the folk of the

forest aren’t in a foul mood or stirred up against outsiders for some other reason. Secomber Just off the High Moor, on the north bank of the Delimbiyr near the Unicorn Run, is the small town of

City Celebrations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

. Many festhalls sponsor Founders’ Day costume contests, with prizes going to those who wear the best recreations of the garb of historical personages. Once banned as frivolous and distracting, the

martial skill, and stage mock battles. Those desiring to join their ranks are given a chance to demonstrate their prowess, usually with wooden practice weapons in contests against veteran soldiers

Index of Stat Blocks — Monsters and NPCs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

, and other peoples, as some of them rise to greet the morning and others retire after a hard night of work or play. They are the reason she is here: sworn to protect them, she leads a flight of roc

because the world’s ten guilds strongly support the way players build Magic decks. As it turns out, Ravnica’s ten guilds also provide a great framework for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. They offer

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