building before details called race

Undercity Medusa

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

medusas of Ravnica, often called gorgons, are a monstrous race of creatures that appear superficially similar to human women. In place of hair, a gorgon has a writhing mass of black, serpentine

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

Aurnozci

Monsters The Book of Many Things

that’s both its fiefdom and its prison. It lairs within a grotesque hive dangling from a mountain-size tree of tar and flame called Gorewood. Aurnozci relies on demonic proxies and mortal

leader, a masked archmage called the Eye of Aurnozci. Aurnozci’s followers believe the demon lord’s imprisonment is coming to an end, and soon the Caged Worm will shed its current form and

Bavlorna Blightstraw

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Create Lornlings"}. Bavlorna creates one or two 1-foot-tall duplicates of herself, called lornlings (use the Quickling stat block in appendix C). Each lornling appears

Endelyn, Bavlorna is called Slack-jawed Lorna because her wide mouth is prone to hang agape. Flies flit in and out of it. She is the hag of the present, the here and now, the moment to moment. Those

Arasta

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

within her hair, and sacrificing themselves in her defense if they must. See “Myths of Nylea” in chapter 2 for more details on the tragedy of Arasta. Arasta as a Mythic Encounter Arasta

in an enormous, gnarled olive tree called Enorasi, which was planted millennia ago by Klothys. It is said that those who eat of its fruit can see glimpses of the future. Eating the fruit brings with

Rahadin

Monsters Curse of Strahd

his attention to building Castle Ravenloft, Rahadin saw to it that wizards and artisans were brought to Barovia. Years later, Strahd appointed Rahadin his castle chamberlain. Rahadin was pleased to do

desired above all. She told him of a vault of forbidden lore called the Amber Temple, where the secret of gaining immortality was hidden. While Strahd was off exploring the temple, Rahadin handled

Alustriel Silverhand

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

fails.Lady Alustriel Silverhand, called the Shining Lady, has been an influential wizard and proponent of good across Toril for centuries. Alustriel is one of the Seven Sisters—immortal daughters

are to spread kindness, reward virtue, and promote a culture of compassion throughout the multiverse. She is good at building alliances and quick to intervene when she senses a threat to the forces of

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

each other with immediate hostility. Only a truly great warlord can force legions to work together as an army if Maglubiyet has not called forth a host. Hobgoblins have a code of honor. Its details vary from legion to legion, but it’s always brutal. — Volo

; 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

Endelyn Moongrave

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

called the Orrery of Tragedies clicks and turns day and night, giving Endelyn glimpses of her terrible fate. Alignment. Neutral evil. Personality Trait. “I have foreseen not only this moment but

of a symbolic depiction of one. See the stat block for details. Hourglass Coven The Hourglass Coven is a group of three hags, each one bound to an aspect of time: one reflects the past, another

Lineages

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

overshadow their original race, if any, becoming their new race. A character might choose a lineage during character creation, their transformation having occurred before play begins. Or, events might

unfold during adventures that lead your character to replacing their race with this new lineage. Work with your DM to establish if you’re amenable to such a development and how such stories

Githyanki

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

psionic powers and built a great city called Tu’narath. They have since spread throughout the multiverse, starting in outposts outside the Astral Plane, called creches, where time passes and their

astral clouds. Githyanki who reside in the Astral Plane can live indefinitely. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

and worse, so you know you can count on them in a fight. — Brego Stoneheart, sea captain Tritons guard the ocean depths, building small settlements beside deep trenches, portals to the

catalog all its details in a journal. 6 You mistakenly assume that surface folk know about and are impressed by your people’s history. Triton Names Most triton names have two or three

Crown of Lies

Magic Items Vecna: Eve of Ruin

After betraying and nearly destroying the lich Vecna, the warrior Kas found himself trapped in the Shadowfell, imprisoned in a Domain of Dread called Tovag. There, he languished as a vampire. In time

form. Interactions with you while you are transformed by the crown reveal no illusory magic, nor do they reveal anything other than details about the creature you’re disguised as. You count as

Aarakocra

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

;and were imbued with a measure of their masters’ power over winds. Their descendants still command echoes of that power. From below, aarakocra look like large birds and thus are sometimes called

At 1st level, you 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

Shifter Legacy

races Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Shifters are sometimes called weretouched, as they are descendants of people who contracted full or partial lycanthropy. Humanoids with a bestial aspect, shifters can’t fully change shape, but

race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character’s ability

Changeling

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

on the spur of the moment, with no depth or history—is called a mask. A mask can be used to express a mood or to serve a specific purpose and then might never be used again. However, many

level, you 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

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

at the burned-out building, a sudden cacophony erupted around us. Birds squawked, cats hissed, and dogs growled. Lidda hustled us back to the city’s safer avenues. Only when we were back within

groups called flocks. A flock is led by the oldest and most experienced kenku with the widest store of knowledge to draw on, often called Master. Although kenku can’t create new things, they have

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Shaped by draconic gods or the dragons themselves, dragonborn originally hatched from dragon eggs as a unique race, combining the

self-improvement reflects the self-sufficiency of the race as a whole. Dragonborn value skill and excellence in all endeavors. They hate to fail, and they push themselves to extreme efforts before they

Choosing a Race

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

race, including personality, physical appearance, and features of society. These details are suggestions to help you think about your character; adventurers can deviate widely from the norm for their

Choosing a Race Humans are the most common people in the worlds of D&D, but they live and work alongside dwarves, elves, halflings, and countless other fantastic species. Your character belongs to

Choosing a Race

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

race, including personality, physical appearance, and features of society. These details are suggestions to help you think about your character; adventurers can deviate widely from the norm for their

Choosing a Race Humans are the most common people in the worlds of D&D, but they live and work alongside dwarves, elves, halflings, and countless other fantastic species. Your character belongs to

Knight of the Order

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

order’s cause. The “Knightly Orders of Faerûn” sidebar details several of the orders that are active at present and is designed to help inform your decision about which group

again in ruins, Dove Falconhand decided to reform the group with the primary goal of building alliances and friendship between the civilized races of the world and goodly people in order to combat evil

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

own, which giff have learned to channel through their weapons. Most giff have no idea where this so-called astral spark comes from, but they feel its presence most strongly when they are in Wildspace

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

Chapter 4: Personality and Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

that class and race define. This chapter expounds on the details that distinguish characters from one another, including the basics of name and physical description, the rules of backgrounds and languages, and the finer points of personality and alignment.

Chapter 4: Personality and Background Characters are defined by much more than their race and class. They’re individuals with their own stories, interests, connections, and capabilities beyond those

Chapter 4: Personality and Background

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

that class and race define. This section expounds on the details that distinguish characters from one another, including the basics of name and physical description, the rules of backgrounds and languages, and the finer points of personality and alignment.

Chapter 4: Personality and Background Characters are defined by much more than their race and class. They’re individuals with their own stories, interests, connections, and capabilities beyond those

1. Choose a Race

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

1. Choose a Race Every character belongs to a race, one of the many intelligent humanoid species in the D&D world. The most common player character races are dwarves, elves, halflings, and humans

about these races. The race you choose contributes to your character’s identity in an important way, by establishing a general appearance and the natural talents gained from culture and ancestry. Your

Introduction

compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack

Key Locations Set the scene with a description of the environment, building or room the action is taking place in. You’ll also find hints for hazards, traps and other noteworthy details that are present in the area.

1. Choose a Race

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

them later. Record the traits granted by your race on your character sheet. Be sure to note your starting languages and your base speed as well. BUILDING BRUENOR, STEP 1 Bob is sitting down to

1. Choose a Race Every character belongs to a race, one of the many intelligent humanoid species in the D&D world. The most common player character races are dwarves, elves, halflings, and humans

Race For The Crab Temple

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

Race For The Crab Temple An adventure for Level 3 characters THESHARN INQUISITIVE RIVALS RACE TO WRETCHED RUIN Not one but two expeditions from Morgrave University launch this week to explore the

so-called Crab Temple, discovered last month near Stormreach. Which team will be the first to cross the deadly Straits of Shargon, cut through the jungles of the Skyfall Peninsula, and discover the great crab’s secrets?

Chapter 6: Customization Options

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

Chapter 6: Customization Options The combination of ability scores, race, class, and background defines your character’s capabilities in the game, and the personal details you create set your

character apart from every other character. Even within your class and race, you have options to fine-tune what your character can do. But a few players — with the DM’s permission — want to go a step

Chapter 6: Customization Options

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

Chapter 6: Customization Options The combination of ability scores, race, class, and background defines your character’s capabilities in the game, and the personal details you create set your

character apart from every other character. Even within your class and race, you have options to fine-tune what your character can do. But this chapter is for players who — with the DM’s permission — want to

Using the Entries

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Using the Entries For each dragon’s entry in this chapter, you’ll find information about crafting personalities, inspiration for building adventures, details about lairs, and ideas about the kinds of

Burning Sugar

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

through the structure’s roof. Workers race toward the building as smoke billows through the roof and doors. A character who succeeds on a DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana or Religion) check suspects that the

leap up nearby columns and race along the thatched reed roof. A half dozen workers have fallen into the sinkhole and struggle to clamber out. The mill is in chaos as a dozen workers make

Creating a Race or Subrace

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

Creating a Race or Subrace This section teaches you how to modify existing races, as well as create new ones. The most important step in customizing or designing races for your campaign is to start

with the story behind the race or subrace you wish to create. Having a firm idea of a race’s story in your campaign will help you make decisions during the creation process. Ask yourself several

Draconic Races

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

section offers three variant dragonborn race options that can be used to create a character with clear connections to a specific draconic ancestry. When you’re making a new character using one of these races, use the rules under “Creating Your Character” to fill out the details.

dragonborn race in the Player’s Handbook is the most direct way to reflect a character with dragons somewhere far back in their ancestry. But for players who want to try a more nuanced approach, this

Your Character's Abilities

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

with a low Charisma might come across as abrasive, inarticulate, or timid. BUILDING BRUENOR, STEP 4 Bob fills in some of Bruenor’s basic details: his name, his sex (male), his height and weight

Your Character’s Abilities Take your character’s ability scores and race into account as you flesh out his or her appearance and personality. A very strong character with low Intelligence might think

D&D Beyond

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