building bonds diffusing certain relative

Cosmic Horror

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

horrors are colossal, malevolent entities that occasionally slip the bonds of the Far Realm and find themselves adrift on the Astral Plane. Drawn to the light of distant stars, these creatures invade

they have certain qualities in common. Each one is roughly 100 feet long or tall, and its physical form is a seemingly impossible conglomeration of eyes, mouths, wings, tentacles, and less recognizable organs and appendages.Acid, Poison

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

spellcasting, forming spirals that reflect the mathematical perfection of nature. Suggested Characteristics The bizarre science of the Simic Combine attracts a certain type of personality and encompasses

a set of beliefs about the nature of life. Simic members’ bonds and flaws derive from their scientific research — including their creation of new life forms, which they can become very

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

affairs of other guilds is a great way to get squashed like a bug. (Neutral) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I cherish the finger of a family member who was petrified by a

the moss-covered building where I took part in my first reclamation mission. 5 I found something in the sewer that must never come to light. 6 I am forever grateful to the reclaimer who

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

basic knowledge of the structure of buildings, including the stuff behind the walls. You can also find blueprints of a specific building in order to learn the details of its construction. Such

. (Chaotic) 6 Power. Someday I’ll find or create the magic that will make me the most powerful being in Ravnica. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I have dedicated my life

Hobgoblin

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

creates a mystical bond between the giver and the receiver of a gift. On some worlds, such bonds lead hobgoblins to form communities with deep ties to one another. In Eberron and the Forgotten Realms, vast

some rules in the game affect creatures of certain types in different ways. For example, the cure wounds spell doesn’t work on a Construct or an Undead. Life Span The typical life span of a

Gruul Anarch

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

;AAAAAARRRRggggh! [To live is to feel and express the rage burning in your belly.] (Chaotic) 6 Tradition. The Old Ways must be preserved and upheld. (Any) Bonds d6 Bond 1

encounters with members of other guilds are more often violent than friendly, but occasional bonds do form. Roll twice on the Gruul Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Gruul

Orzhov Representative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

the flesh as long as possible, and as a spirit afterward. (Any) Bonds d6 Bond 1 The unbearable weight of my debt has driven me to desperation. 2 I’m duty-bound

priests. 5 A Gruul druid hates me but would never dare to touch me. 6 I know an Izzet engineer who is desperate to pay off a debt accrued by a deceased relative. 7 Roll an additional

Knight of the Order

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You belong to an order of knights who have sworn oaths to achieve a certain goal. The nature of this goal depends on the order you serve, but in your eyes it is without question a vital and honorable

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

Belashyrra

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

, if available, to move as far as its speed allows away from Belashyrra. Rend Reality (Costs 3 Actions). Belashyrra rips at the bonds of reality in its immediate area. Each creature within 10 feet of

“I perceive certain types of people — vocations or entire societies — as hideous monsters.” 3 “Someone is watching everything I do.” 4 “When I

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Guild took over your family business, ran it into the ground, and burned the building for insurance money. You were driven into crime yourself, but you’ll never work for the Guild. You take

Guild. If either of them ever finds out, your life as you know it will be over. 6 A close friend or relative joined the Guild and vanished mysteriously. You’ve worked your way into the lower

Random Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

escaped from their classroom bonds 7–8 1 cloaker that has been hiding in the rafters of an abandoned classroom building 9–10 1 treant that is angry the campus abuts a natural forest and is initially hostile

Azorius Functionary

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

-minted 1-zino coins) Feature: Legal Authority You have the authority to enforce the laws of Ravnica, and that status inspires a certain amount of respect and even fear in the populace. People mind

is an excellent deterrent for other criminals. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I am beholden to an Azorius arrester who captured the criminal who killed my parents, saving me from

Boros Legionnaire

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

;Society functions only if people do their duty and respect the chain of command. (Lawful) 6 Conviction. Anything worth doing is worth doing with your whole heart. (Lawful) Bonds

. 5 An adolescent relative ran off to join the Gruul in an act of rebellion and has not yet returned. 6 I once befriended an Izzet scientist, and we’re still cordial though the

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

(which could pertain to certain individuals in the group, such as your sponsor or mentor). Your ideal might be concerned with the prevailing philosophy of your court or organization. Guild

. d6 Ideal 1 Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. (Lawful) 2 Generosity. My talents were

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

. Others strike out on their own in search of the secrets of flight, to master magic, or to uncover the secret of their curse and find a method to break it. Kenku adventurers, despite their relative

Using the Poster Map

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

Using the Poster Map Sigil and the Outlands contains a fold-out, double-sided poster map intended to be shared with the players at certain points in the adventure. One side of the poster map depicts

the scope of traditional cartographic methods. Nevertheless, the location of places relative to one another prove useful as characters navigate these surreal locales. The adventure tells you when to show these maps to your players.

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. (Chaotic) 6 Nihilism. I don’t believe in anything, and anyone who does is a fool. (Neutral) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I discovered a secret I can’t let

unmasked and killed. My revenge on the killers will be thorough and painful. 4 I spend as much time as I can in the Ismeri Library because I’m certain an information hub operates behind its

Chapter 5: Neverlight Grove

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

safe passage to any who approach them peacefully. The relative isolation of Neverlight Grove, its abundance of food and water, and the welcoming nature of its inhabitants might bring the characters

Demon Queen of Fungi, who wasted no time building herself a stronghold in a colossal mushroom called Yggmorgus. There, she works on a malevolent scheme to claim all the Underdark as her domain. More and

Death House Features

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

ceilings, the third floor has 8-foot-high ceilings, and the attic has 13-foot-high ceilings. Haunted Doors When Strahd enters the house later in this chapter, certain doors marked on the map become

the characters arrive. The cultists take oil lamps into the ritual chamber (area D38) when they gather there. The Mists When the characters enter Death House, the Mists surround the building and prevent

Event-Based Adventures

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

common example of this type of villain, your villain could be a serial arsonist favoring a certain type of building, a magical sickness that affects spellcasters who cast a specific spell, a thief that

importance. Building an event-based adventure is more work than building a location-based one, but the process can be simplified by following a number of straightforward steps. Several steps include tables

16. Central Cavern

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

exempted certain creatures and objects from its shrinking effect. The spindle itself is unaffected, as is Maddgoth’s homunculus. Faerie dragons are also immune to the shrinking effect, and there might

creature that is reduced to one-twelfth its normal size falls from the castle, it will travel over 600 relative feet before hitting the cavern floor due to the reducing effect around the castle, which

Members Only

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Members Only Difficulty: Medium A secret club, cultist meeting, or thieves’ guild requires a password to enter. In this puzzle, those who guard a certain door are so secretive that they change the

, “Six.” The figure replies, “Three.” The guard then opens the door, allowing the figure to enter. This building seems to have only one entrance: the oak door with a small slide window. A guard opens the window and speaks a seemingly random number to anyone who knocks on the door.

4. Describe Your Character

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

bonds, and the flaws that could one day undermine him or her. Your character’s background describes where he or she came from, his or her original occupation, and the character’s place in the D&D world

background gives your character a background feature (a general benefit) and proficiency in two skills, and it might also give you additional languages or proficiency with certain kinds of tools. Record this information, along with the personality information you develop, on your character sheet.

Dragonmarked Characters

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

associate with different houses but have a common purpose. (See the “Building a Party” section below for suggestions on bringing together a party from different houses.) If the characters work for a single

Agent and various house heir backgrounds in chapter 2 suit characters in this campaign, giving them benefits and capabilities related to their house affiliation. Certain other backgrounds can reflect

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

intruders. This does not mean that you, as Dungeon Master, must surrender your creativity and become a mere script reader. You will have to make up certain details for areas and items that characters

guards present on the second and subsequent visits.) The time has come to see what is afoot! If the party decides to retire between forays against the steading, they can retreat to the relative safety of

1. Choose a Race

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

with certain weapons or tools, proficiency in one or more skills, or the ability to use minor spells. These traits sometimes dovetail with the capabilities of certain classes (see step 2). For example

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

Idyllglen Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

businesses that the gnolls have set ablaze. The buildings’ supplies were taken by fleeing townsfolk or ransacked by Yeenoghu’s horde. Each building is one or two stories tall (DM’s choice) and 10 feet

high per story. The interior rooms of the buildings have 9-foot-high ceilings with 8-foot-high doorways connecting them. A character can climb the walls of a building without equipment by succeeding on

1. Choose a Race

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

character’s race grants particular racial traits, such as special senses, proficiency with certain weapons or tools, proficiency in one or more skills, or the ability to use minor spells. These traits

sometimes dovetail with the capabilities of certain classes (see step 2). For example, the racial traits of lightfoot halflings make them exceptional rogues, and high elves tend to be powerful

Chapter 2: Dungeon Master's Tools

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

. The chapter opens with optional rules meant to help you run certain parts of the game more smoothly. The chapter then goes into greater depth on several topics — encounter building, random encounters

Quentin Togglepocket

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

years ago when, in a major tournament, he lost the final gambit (and the entire prize) to a relative newcomer: a young tiefling named Verity Kye. Quentin never forgave Verity for what he felt was a

stunning humiliation and vowed to take his revenge. He spent the next several years building up a false friendship with her, traveling the gambling circuit with her and cultivating a mutual dream: owning

Noncombat Challenges

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

agreement with a clan of surly dwarves, or successfully navigate the Chasm of Doom, you might decide that they deserve an XP reward. As a starting point, use the rules for building combat encounters in

failure. Milestones You can also award XP when characters complete significant milestones. When preparing your adventure, designate certain events or challenges as milestones, as with the following

L3. Hall of Knowledge

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

L3. Hall of Knowledge This grand wooden building is constructed around ancient stone walls of a structure forgotten by time. Its red-lacquered double door, which is locked, bears a carving of a lotus

bonds. As you draw closer, you see dark, painful bruises on their body in a pattern that matches the grooves on the wooden dummies. They look up at you with tears streaming from their eyes and rasp

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

royal family could poison a meal and declare it “safe” after taking a bite. There are legends of certain yuan-ti infiltrating human cities and forming deadly covert societies that sell

. (Evil) Yuan-ti Bonds d6 Bond 1 I will see our empire rise again and, in so doing, win the favor of the serpent gods. 2 I am enamored with the culture and trappings of

Roleplaying a Beholder

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

certain it is trying to manipulate me. 5 I pretend to be insane so my enemies underestimate me. 6 I am weary of frequent interruptions. 7 Assassination attempts are the only events that quell my feelings of

perfect as I am, I can strive to be even better. (Neutral) 6 Power. I will be secure when I rule over all. (Evil) Beholder Bonds d6 Bond 1 My followers are all spying on me, and I seek motivated

Alignment

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

fiends. Both types of creatures are associated with metaphysical planes of existence—specifically the Outer Planes—that embody certain alignments. For example, most devils hail from the Nine Hells, a

help you bring him or her to life as you play the game. Four categories of characteristics are presented here: personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. Beyond those categories, think about your

D&D Beyond

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