castes reflective group to have rarely

Kraul Warrior

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.The kraul are an ascendant power group within the Golgari Swarm, long content to linger at the margins of

metaphor or nuance. Kraul society is organized into well-defined roles and castes. The vast majority of the kraul occupy various tiers of soldiery, from commanders and elite troops down to the lowliest

Chitine

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

social insects such as ants. They are divided into worker and warrior castes; choldriths, when present, occupy the top levels of a colony’s hierarchy. Each chitine has a social position that comes

floors, walls, structures, objects, and traps that benefit the colony. A warrior might be responsible for crafting web armor (which is as tough as hide or leather), while a group of workers might be

B'rohg

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

accustomed to eking out a meager existence in their natural habitat, and they rarely bond with other kinds of creatures. A b’rohg that benefits from a stranger’s act of kindness is at

navigate perilous terrain. A solitary b’rohg that is befriended by a group of adventurers might follow them around for a while, but it will soon tire of their company and once again seek out others of its own kind.

Dzaan

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

. Dzaan’s Demise. Dzaan’s trouble started after he broke away from his fellow wizards and hired adventurers to scour Icewind Dale for Netherese ruins. One group of them uncovered a buried

effectively becomes a clone of Dzaan, authentic in every way. Companion. Because they’re so despised throughout Faerûn, Red Wizards often adopt disguises and rarely travel abroad without an escort

Grim Champion of Pestilence

Monsters The Book of Many Things

;rival Jyn for power and together can oppose her. The fact that the three champions rarely agree on anything is a major check on the group’s power. Instead of the Grim Harrow acting as a unified

Grim Champion of Bloodshed

Monsters The Book of Many Things

, Grim Champion of Bloodshed, and Aleron, Grim Champion of Pestilence—rival Jyn for power and together can oppose her. The fact that the three champions rarely agree on anything is a major check on

the group’s power. Instead of the Grim Harrow acting as a unified force, each of the three champions usually pursues their own interests, seldom cooperating or sharing intelligence or resources.PoisonCold, Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

single mistake can bring doom to an entire tribe, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire group’s survival. Goliaths thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and

goliaths. If a king lacks the intelligence or leadership to lead, then clearly the most talented person in the kingdom should take his place. Goliaths rarely keep such opinions to themselves, and

Ulitharid

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, plane shift (self only), project image, scrying, telekinesisVery rarely, when a tadpole from the brine pool of an elder brain is implanted into a creature, that creature transforms into an ulitharid

, taking a group of mind flayers with it, and moves to another location to form a new colony. After the death of the ulitharid’s body, a special process transforms its brain into a new elder brain for

Grim Champion of Desolation

Monsters The Book of Many Things

champions rarely agree on anything is a major check on the group’s power. Instead of the Grim Harrow acting as a unified force, each of the three champions usually pursues their own interests, seldom

Amethyst Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

an end to the restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before

rarely cultivating connections with other creatures. When they do connect with others, it is most often for intellectual and philosophical pursuits or to fulfill some arcane purpose involving the dragons

Young Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

disables all teleportation within a thousand miles of their lair. Governments within that area seek emissaries who can negotiate an end to the restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of

. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time and rarely cultivating connections with other creatures. When they do connect

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks before swapping back. 5

godhood, perhaps recreating or replacing Sardior. Connected Creatures Amethyst dragons are generally aloof creatures, dwelling in isolation for long periods of time and rarely cultivating

Adult Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

negotiate an end to the restriction. 4 An amethyst dragon recruits a group of adventurers to psychically trade bodies with adventurers from another world, so that each can carry out certain tasks

and rarely cultivating connections with other creatures. When they do connect with others, it is most often for intellectual and philosophical pursuits or to fulfill some arcane purpose involving the

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

cruel in victory, goblins are fawning and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids

higher-ranking castes keep their status by not sharing their knowledge and skills with other families, while those in the lower castes have little hope of escaping their plight. Outsiders who don&rsquo

Planar Ally Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

waived. Nonhazardous tasks typically require only half the suggested payment, while especially dangerous tasks might require a greater gift. Creatures rarely accept tasks that seem suicidal. After the

are unable to agree on a price for the creature's service, the creature immediately returns to its home plane. A creature enlisted to join your group counts as a member of it, receiving a full share of experience points awarded.

Disembodied

races

. Founded in the Bürach Empire by a group of ambitious wizards who chafed under the limitations imposed upon them by government bureaucracy, Ulmyr’s Gate boasted free study for all mages who sought

two realms, often haunted by memories of the city’s destruction, of which they rarely if ever speak. Disembodied Traits Creature Type: HumanoidSize: Your size is Small or Medium, as you

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century. Variety in All Things Humans are the most

, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social dynamics. EVERYONE’S SECOND-BEST FRIENDS

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

individuals in a group typically number fewer than a dozen, consisting of siblings and their mates as well as a handful of offspring and an elder or two. A gang lives in and around a small enclosure

wild, and the cast-off members of a gang might eventually catch on with a different group. Left to their own devices, bugbears have little more impact on the world than wolf packs. They subsist by

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

actions contribute to the survival of the group. The tribe practices for the eventuality of defending the lair against intruders, and their plans always include knowing the best escape routes and who is

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

warriors are commanded to scour the surrounding landscape for any opportunity to spill blood and bring glory to their gods. Often, bands of warriors work on a rotation, with one group heading out on a

raid just as another group returns, laden with severed heads, sacks of loot, and armfuls of food. Warriors also serve as scouts, bringing back detailed reports about the surrounding area so that the

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

implement better tactics. Any enemy who chases a group of fleeing yuan-ti might be on the victorious side of a rout or could be heading into a trap; if the enemy has been encountered before, it is likely

. (Any) 5 Inspiration. My actions set an example for the lesser castes to emulate. (Any) 6 Power. Everything I choose to do is determined by whether it will make me smarter and stronger

Ether Cyclones

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

. Less often, a group is blown into the Border Ethereal of a random plane. Rarely, the cyclone tears a hole in the fabric of the plane and hurls the party into the Astral Plane.

character in a group traveling together must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. If at least half the group succeeds, travel is delayed by 1d10 hours. Otherwise, the journey’s travel time is doubled

White Abishai

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

White Abishai Abishais stand outside the infernal hierarchy, having their own chain of command and ultimately answering to Tiamat. Other archdevils can command abishais to work for them but rarely do

so, since it is never clear the extent of Tiamat’s influence over the creatures. There are five kinds of abishai, each one reflective of one of Tiamat’s dragon heads (black, blue, green, red, and

Adventure Background

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

Cognoscenti rarely collect enough evidence to support their outlandish claims. Still, the organization occasionally stumbles upon something of true significance. Recently the group acquired a magical painting

known as Constantori’s Portrait, a work reputed to depict one of the most beautiful men who ever lived. The group spent a small fortune acquiring the painting and prepared to host a debate over its

Goblins

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

and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids. Beast Masters and Slave Drivers Goblins

the tribe’s survival. Families that belong to the higher-ranking castes keep their status by not sharing their knowledge and skills with other families, while those in the lower castes have little

Episodes and Serials

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

adventure rarely resurface to trouble the characters again. If your game group plays infrequently, an episodic campaign might be ideal because the players can enjoy the current adventure even if they’ve

, and the outcome of one adventure can affect how the rest of the campaign unfolds. If your game group meets regularly and often, a serialized campaign allows you to keep your players guessing what

Chitine

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

insects such as ants. They are divided into worker and warrior castes; choldriths, when present, occupy the top levels of a colony’s hierarchy. Each chitine has a social position that comes with

, structures, objects, and traps that benefit the colony. A warrior might be responsible for crafting web armor (which is as tough as hide or leather), while a group of workers might be tasked to dig pit

Connection to Strahd

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

group of Vistani travelers and rarely visits Barovia. 5 The incarnation hides from Strahd by taking a magic potion that causes them to sleep for all but one hour a day. 6 The incarnation

their cycle of rebirth by freeing Barovia from the Mists—or destroying it. 9 The incarnation falls in with a sinister group such as the priests of Osybus* and seeks to manipulate Strahd to

Half-Orc Deities

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

Ilneval, who is thought of as a patron of half-orcs and other orc crossbreeds. Faerûnian Gods Half-orcs trying to fit in with human society often adopt a human deity out of expediency (though rarely

just for the sake of appearances). They favor Faerûnian deities of war and trickery, such as Bane, Mask, and Tempus. First Family The orc pantheon, known as the Tribe of He Who Watches, is a group of

What the Prisoners Know

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

What the Prisoners Know Allow the characters to freely mingle and interact with their fellow prisoners or even the drow guards, although the guards rarely talk to the “surface-dweller scum.” Of all

, in which case the other prisoners are initially indifferent toward the characters. Handle the interactions using roleplaying, Charisma checks, or a balance of the two as best suits your group and the

Gibbet Crossing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

mind flayers attacked the area long ago, the groups didn’t fight alongside one another and were individually annihilated. Only monsters live in the crossroads region today. Humanoids rarely travel

through the area, as cave-ins and flooding have made it inconvenient as a thoroughfare. A group of thieves who recently obtained an obelisk fragment came to plunder an abandoned vault in Gibbet Crossing

The Temple of Elemental Evil

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

infiltrating the temples. Each cult’s monstrous allies rarely challenge a group of cultists that proceeds with confidence. Human members of the cult have a good chance to spot impostors at close range, but

. At least two cultists from any group the characters interact with serve as escorts. Driving the Cults into Retreat The cultists learn and adapt as the characters attack their strongholds. The four

Mage of High Sorcery

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

misuse. You’ve trained among the Mages, but whether you’ll face the dangerous test required to become a full member of the group remains to be determined. Your passion for studying magic has likely

, and they rarely let unique opportunities or individuals pass them by. Even members of martial classes who train in magic might find a rare place among the group’s three orders. Mage of High Sorcery

Prepare to Be Scared

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

, discuss with your group how much fear ties into the game’s rules. Would you prefer to keep frightful reactions narrative, or would you like to use game rules that present additional challenges and

rules every time something frightening occurs, but your group might use them as a way to highlight individual fears and build an adventure’s overarching sense of dread. FROM THE MISTS OR BEYOND

Planar Ally

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

especially dangerous tasks might require a greater gift. Creatures rarely accept tasks that seem suicidal. After the creature completes the task, or when the agreed-upon duration of service expires, the

returns to its home plane. A creature enlisted to join your group counts as a member of it, receiving a full share of experience points awarded.

D&D Beyond

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