clear rather getting to her respective

Water Weird Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

location, such as a pool or fountain. Invisible while immersed in water, its serpentine shape becomes clear only when it emerges to attack, using its coils to crush any creature other than its summoner and

interlopers rather than kill them, while a neutral evil water weird kills its victims for pleasure and might turn against its summoner. A water weird loses its evil alignment if its waters are cleansed

Vladimir Horngaard

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Strahd's armies time and again as they swept across the land. When it became clear that Strahd couldn't be stopped, the knights of the order led hundreds of refugees to Argynvost's valley, but Strahd

witnessing Strahd himself slay Vladimir's beloved, his fellow knight Sir Godfrey Gwilym. With the battle won, Strahd surrounded Argynvostholt. Rather than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and

Spectral Cloud

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

’s appearance becomes clear: a skeletal cloud giant corpse. Tales suggest cloud giants sometimes seek this fate rather than accept the end of their naturally long lives. In such stories, a

Theran Chimera

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

being. As a result, a hungry chimera might appear out of a clear sky to pick off prey nearly anywhere. This threat grows even more significant in regions where magic runs rampant or where portals to

, and Tail Attacks tables replace those respective actions in the stat block. Theran chimeras always have the Claws action. If the results of multiple tables conflict, chose your preferred result. Body

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

them like they were children’s books. It’s a useful talent, and one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather

always pursuing someone. 2 I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate. 3 Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want. 4 I’m

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured

sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back. Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Common sense should steer people away from things that

of love easily, and am always pursuing someone. 2 I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate. 3 Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

. Reality is a descent into chaos punctuated by brief flashes of order, whence we arose and so imagine it to be the norm rather than a distant outlier. That-Which-Endures held entropy back for a mere instant

other verdan who have traveled to different parts of the world, they drop everything to spend as long as possible sharing stories and observations from their respective travels. However, their

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

1 I never raise my voice or lose my temper. 2 I feel the pains and joys of everyone around me, friend or foe. 3 I would rather make a friend than thwart an enemy. 4 I’m

of them. Flaws d6 Flaw 1 I’m terrified of getting into a fight where my side is outnumbered. 2 I assume that people mean well until they prove otherwise

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

of the world beyond their home. Barterers of Lore Tabaxi treasure knowledge rather than material things. A chest filled with gold coins might be useful to buy food or a coil of rope, but it’s

You have a minor phobia of water and hate getting wet. 4 Your tail always betrays your inner thoughts. 5 You purr loudly when you are happy. 6 You keep a small ball of yarn in your

Special Delivery

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

Special Delivery The two agents remain engaged in a constant war of espionage against one another. Even their couriers (both neutral human spies) compete to deliver their respective invitations first

contents are short on details beyond the agent’s name, but the invitation promises a lucrative reward for services rendered that will benefit all good and free folk, and includes a map to the respective

Post Quest

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

getting caught. The characters’ peers are true to their word and pay for the characters’ lunches for a month. Further, the characters can keep Sassy Sally Jane. (However, obvious use of the doll around

faculty in the morning. The characters are taken to the infirmary in their respective dorms, then formally chastised and made to attend special behavioral courses that prevent them from participating

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

;t a native, your reason for leaving “home” probably has something to do with getting away from a bad situation. Feature: All Eyes on You Your accent, mannerisms, figures of

foreign land. 2 I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. 3 I have a weakness for the new intoxicants and other pleasures of this

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what they mean. Be clear

Through the Tunnels

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

Through the Tunnels As the characters travel between Illithinoch and Phandalin, they can clear out any dangerous areas they missed in the “Journey through the Deep” section in chapter 7. Continue to

roll on the Tunnel Encounters table in that chapter, as the route is never truly safe. However, since the characters have already faced several threats, roll every 2 hours of travel rather than every hour.

Getting Started

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

Getting Started The Caves of Chaos Map displays all the locations characters can visit in the Caves of Chaos. The player version of this map doesn't reveal the caves' contents or names, only the cave

mouths and their respective elements. Share that map with your players. To begin, read the following boxed text aloud: You pass through a dense forest of gnarled trees with grasping roots, the woods

Right and Wrong

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

to do, do poorly, or do wrongly can be just as important as what they accomplish. Don’t let failure and setbacks derail an adventure or a campaign. Rather, look for ways that failure or partial

Acquisitions Incorporated campaign, so make use of unheroic irony whenever the players and characters provide it. ADJUSTING THE ADVENTURE Wow. Can you believe the advice your players are getting in that

Getting the Quest

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Getting the Quest When the characters arrive at the Blue Clam, read: Outside the tavern, you see two bundled-up humanoids talking to one another. When they see you, one waves to you in a friendly

fell down the central shaft, which is deep enough that his body would never be found. One piece of information that Oarus fails to mention is that he ordered the town militia to clear out the mine

Adventure Background

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

Adventure Background On the plane of Mount Celestia, the angel Zariel chastised her peers for not getting involved in the Blood War. She felt that it was the responsibility of the angelic host to

destroy evil in the multiverse, rather than stand back and watch demons and devils annihilate one another, destroying vast swaths of the multiverse in the process. In defiance of her superiors, Zariel

Customizing the Puzzle

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

Customizing the Puzzle “Chimera” might not be the password but rather a reference to something or someone else in the tavern. Characters who solve the puzzle and succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception

themselves in places where the characters can overhear them. A patron might say something like, “This inn keeps getting more expensive. With these fancy new meals, I’m surprised they aren’t charging a

Approaching the Spire

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

that the stone is neither naturally formed nor manually hewn, but rather shaped by magic. If the check succeeds by 5 or more, the character also discerns that that the protruding rock is of the top of

bottom, landing prone in area P1 but taking no damage. Characters can forgo climbing and simply slide down the tunnel, with a similar result. Getting back to the surface requires climbing gear or magic.

Reception at Bow's End

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

reception is noteworthy, but its relevance won’t be clear until later in the adventure. Dean Augusta Tullus At the reception, the characters can catch up with other students and enjoy magical snacks

. The event concludes with a student getting ill (see “One Too Many?”)—foreshadowing events later in this adventure—and disgruntled students demanding the characters face them in a magical contest (see “The Challenge”). This challenge works best if it comes from a character’s Rival.

Kenku Adventurers

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

you’re playing a kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what

they mean. Be clear about your character’s intentions unless you’re deliberately aiming for inscrutable or mysterious. You might say, “Snapper makes the noise of a hammer slowly and rhythmically

Sigil at a Glance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

behind observers, as if they stood in a bowl or valley, stretching upward and disappearing into an industrial haze. On a clear day, a creature that looks upward sees the other side of the city

edge are ever heard from again. Those who pass over the edge don’t end up in the Outlands; rather, they are flung to random corners of the planes.

Exiting Xonthal's Tower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

sundial, from which they can exit the maze. The characters are not yet in the clear, though. However much Jorgen Pawl opposed Severin, he remained loyal to the Cult of the Dragon. As soon as he understood

hope to stop her? Give me the mask!” This dragon is loyal to the cult, but it has no intention of getting killed before Tiamat’s glorious return. It fights until it is reduced to 75 hit points, then flies away to recuperate.

Exiting Xonthal's Tower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

, from which they can exit the maze. The characters are not yet in the clear, though. However much Jorgen Pawl opposed Severin, he remained loyal to the Cult of the Dragon. As soon as he understood that

her? Give me the mask!” This dragon is loyal to the cult, but it has no intention of getting killed before Tiamat’s glorious return. It fights until it is reduced to 75 hit points, then flies away to recuperate.

What Coalition?

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

interest in battling the Xaryxian Empire, which seems only a distant threat to them. They would rather fight among themselves. You saw for yourselves how prickly the aartuks were. My peaceful entreaty

characters can use their Wildspace orrery to ascertain that getting from Aruun to Vocath will take 3 days by spelljamming ship, since the two moons are currently 300 million miles apart.) Vocath’s Arena

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

divination (to find raw materials and foresee threats to the tribe). The main reason why kobolds depend on arcane magic rather than divine is Kurtulmak’s imprisonment, which makes it difficult for

Province Scale

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

travel in any direction from the center of the map, assuming clear terrain. As such, province scale is a useful scale for mapping a campaign’s starting area (see “Creating a Campaign,” later in this

chapter) or any location where you expect to track the adventurers’ movement in hours rather than days. The ground cover of an area this size will include broad stretches of one predominant terrain type

The Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

recover and regroup. Encourage tactical thinking. If one of the sides of the battle consists of savage monsters or mindless undead, give clues that they attack the nearest enemy rather than thinking

. Three-sided battles can sometimes take longer because of the number of combatants participating. Use your discretion as the DM to have the excitement of the battle build up rather than fizzle out

Dragons

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

avoid contact with those they see as lesser creatures. They are obsessed with the Draconic Prophecy, which is a map of possible futures rather than a clear-cut prediction. Its paths are revealed in

What's Going On?

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

to Nidalia, even though she has been dead for months. Rather than corrupting and tormenting others, Nidalia preferred to collect books and scrolls. Though she was peaceful and compassionate, she was

working on a way to resurrect Nidalia. It soon became clear that wouldn’t be a simple task. After all, the resurrection spell requires both a diamond worth at least 1,000 gp and the services of a

Darklake District

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

with drow, svirfneblin, orcs, and others — pay little attention to the characters unless they are looking to do business. Guards posted at the gates make it clear to the characters that non-duergar are

restricted to the Darklake District, and the characters have better luck asking other outsiders for directions rather than trying to engage the duergar locals. They are directed to the Blade Bazaar if

Across the Fungal Fields

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

rise up and attack the characters. Created by Araumycos to perfectly duplicate the abilities, traits, and actions of otyughs, these creatures are plants rather than aberrations. They attack until slain

defeated. The creature bursts like an overfull wineskin, releasing a clear ichor and a cloud of dusty spores. The deflating bulk of its body sinks back beneath the shimmering fungal field where you

Shadow of Soth

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

get at whoever’s in charge in there!” Rookledust encourages the characters to find the Dragon Army’s leaders within the city rather than pursing Soth. The gnome is confident that Kalaman’s forces

can retreat safely, telling the characters she has a few tricks in store for their pursuers. Make it clear the characters don’t need to rush their exploration of the city to return to their allies.

D&D Beyond

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