collective rather gentle to her return

Way of Mercy Legacy

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

bring a swift end as an act of mercy. Those who follow the Way of Mercy might be members of a religious order, administering to the needy and making grim choices rooted in reality rather than idealism

. Some might be gentle-voiced healers, beloved by their communities, while others might be masked bringers of macabre mercies. The walkers of this way usually don robes with deep cowls, and they often conceal their faces with masks, presenting themselves as the faceless bringers of life and death.

Vladimir Horngaard

Monsters Curse of Strahd

on the same plane of existence and regains all its hit points. While the soul is bodiless, a wish spell can be used to force the soul to go to the afterlife and not return. Special Equipment

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

Vampiric Mist

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

without squeezing. Each foot of movement in water costs it 2 extra feet, rather than 1 extra foot. The mist can’t manipulate objects in any way that requires fingers or manual dexterity. Sunlight

undetected to bleed their victims dry. Vampiric mists, sometimes called crimson mists, are all that remain of vampires who couldn’t return to their burial places after being defeated or suffering

Caradoc

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

at his core, the seneschal didn’t return as a skeletal knight but rather as an intangible spirit. Caradoc’s Undead form suits him well, allowing him to possess the living and use unwilling

Kelubar Demodand

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

farastu minions—rather than fight directly. Demodands Demodands, also called gehreleths, are Fiends from the Tarterian Depths of Carceri. Cast into the prison plane long ago for forgotten

creatures trapped there. Demodands that manage to leave Carceri know they’re doomed to return; a demodand that dies outside Carceri re-forms there in a torturous process that takes 2d20

Moonstone Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

teachers and storytellers who anchor Feywild communities. The worst of them are pompous and ill behaved, but even those remain gentle by nature and curious about all things—especially travelers

others is often difficult because I’m so easily distr… oh my goodness, is that circlet made of silver? 7 I find the waking world tedious and mundane and would much rather spend my

Young Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

worst of them are pompous and ill behaved, but even those remain gentle by nature and curious about all things—especially travelers from faraway places. Moonstone dragons can project themselves

… oh my goodness, is that circlet made of silver? 7 I find the waking world tedious and mundane and would much rather spend my time asleep, in the realm of dreams. 8 I find the

Pidlwick II

Monsters Curse of Strahd

return the courtesy, the duchess commissioned the legendary toymaker Fritz von Weerg to build a clockwork effigy of Pidlwick as a gift for Strahd's family. Although the duchess's heart was in the right

, instead assuming that the guests had died in their sleep. But Strahd was not fooled. He came to realize fairly quickly that the clockwork effigy had begun to display a murderous nature. Rather than have

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

a patriar’s scion in an illegal duel. The family swore revenge, and you fled to the slums rather than risk bringing their wrath down on your kin. 6 You aren’t originally from Baldur

superseding event. Suddenly directionless and unable to return to your homeland, you have lingered, adrift, in this wretched city. Feature: Discovery The quiet seclusion of your extended

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the

looking for someone worthy. 3 I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today. 4 I pursue wealth to secure someone’s love. 5 One day I will return to my

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

teachers and storytellers who anchor Feywild communities. The worst of them are pompous and ill behaved, but even those remain gentle by nature and curious about all things—especially travelers from

often difficult because I’m so easily distr… oh my goodness, is that circlet made of silver? 7 I find the waking world tedious and mundane and would much rather spend my time asleep

Nafas

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

this role, Nafas sends adventurers to distant worlds to fulfill the wishes of creatures beyond his reach. Adventurers who return to Nafas successful receive gifts as rewards. As a noble genie, Nafas

, can be heard within 3 miles of the lair as fleeting voices carried on gentle breezes. If Nafas is destroyed, all these effects end immediately, resuming when he either gains a new body or is replaced

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

silver light dance in the air around you, and phantasmal green leaves might waft through the air. A sensation of gentle warmth and the smell of spring flowers or autumn leaves might accompany your

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

Ancient Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

mature into wise teachers and storytellers who anchor Feywild communities. The worst of them are pompous and ill behaved, but even those remain gentle by nature and curious about all things&mdash

Conversing with others is often difficult because I’m so easily distr… oh my goodness, is that circlet made of silver? 7 I find the waking world tedious and mundane and would much rather

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

regular shift patrolling either the Lower City or the Outer City. In return, you have access to the Flaming Fist’s fortresses and a direct line of communication with Flaming Fist officers and

regular patrol in the Upper City or take a regular shift at its gates, and must report for training in the Watch Citadel once every ten days. In return, you have access to the Citadel and a direct line of

Anthropologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

. 2 I’m a stickler when it comes to observing proper etiquette and local customs. 3 I would rather observe than meddle. 4 By living among violent people, I have become

. 2 Having lived among the people of a primeval tribe or clan, I long to return and see how they are faring. 3 Years ago, tragedy struck the members of an isolated society I befriended, and

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

the group’s needs, but the effect each action will have on the forest and the rest of the natural world. Firbolg tribes would rather go hungry than strain the land during a famine. Hidden

Shepherds As caretakers of the land, firbolgs prefer to remain out of sight and out of mind. They don’t try to dominate nature, but rather seek to ensure that it prospers and survives according to its

Greater Crawling One

monsters

shape of a human body. The collective mass of wriggling creatures possesses the mind of a dead spellcaster, long since devoured by the maggoty horde. The ingested “will” of the mage

vermin devour the body, the spellcaster’s evil presence spreads throughout the devourers. They become a collective entity that allows the cultist to arise once more. Relentless Malevolence. A

Lesser Crawling One

monsters

individually alive and constantly squirms, though, together, they generally hold the shape of a human body. The collective mass of wriggling creatures possesses the mind of a dead spellcaster, long

collective entity that allows the cultist to arise once more. Relentless Malevolence. A crawling one’s true threat lies in its ability to live on despite horrid wounds. If a small mass of the worms and

Disgraced Raider

backgrounds

your nerve and fled the battlefield. Perhaps you lost your mind and killed when you were only supposed to capture. Perhaps you saw the terror you inspired in others as a moral failing rather than a

point of honor. Regardless, you were cast out of your clan and told never to return. You now travel Etharis having to live with what you’ve done and the shame (or honor) of your clan’s shunning.

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

rather than perform the work or confront the foe. Even when subsumed into a goblinoid host and drawn into war, bugbears must often be roused from naps and bribed to get them to do their duties. This

. Cunning Grankhul is the younger one, and in the stories bugbears tell, he gifted them with stealth but in return he sapped their vigor, so that bugbears sleep in his stead while he remains eternally alert

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

stories, artifacts, and lore. Those who survive this period of wanderlust return home in their elder years to share news of the outside world. In this manner, the tabaxi remain isolated but never ignorant

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

Karametra as Campaign Villain

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

mortal lives, the collective force of mortal belief can reshape the gods’ very nature. As a campaign villain, Karametra might seek to return to her blood-soaked origins, sending her champions to

aspect held in check by the power of mortal belief, which paints her as a gentle, mothering source of bounty. She no longer demands blood sacrifices from her worshipers because they no longer believe

Karametra as Campaign Villain

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

mortal lives, the collective force of mortal belief can reshape the gods’ very nature. As a campaign villain, Karametra might seek to return to her blood-soaked origins, sending her champions to

aspect held in check by the power of mortal belief, which paints her as a gentle, mothering source of bounty. She no longer demands blood sacrifices from her worshipers because they no longer believe

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

serve as a battering ram if a settlement dares to close its gates, blocking the way to the treasures and tasty food that lie within. A heavily laden wagon that requires the strongest orcs to return it to

authority and cause the tribe to collapse into chaos, with the survivors scattering either to join new tribes or to strike out on their own. At the other extreme, warriors that return home with a heavily

New Ilvin

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

New Ilvin Remarkably, when the town of Ilvin burned, no lives were lost. Rather than rebuilding, the seven hundred survivors moved their homes a few miles east and founded New Ilvin. This sleepy

community seems ordinary in every way, but residents avoid speaking of Old Ilvin and never return, going so far as to pave a new road to avoid the burned-out ruins.

The Noble Knife

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

for the greater good. The organization doesn’t “take jobs” as such. Rather, its leadership assesses the moral and political landscape of the realm and selects targets thusly. The Noble Knife is named

knife is undertaken by a collective of artisans, and requires a range of exotic materials and components. Additionally, the act of creation takes twenty or more years off the lead artisan’s life. It goes

The Noble Knife

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

for the greater good. The organization doesn’t “take jobs” as such. Rather, its leadership assesses the moral and political landscape of the realm and selects targets thusly. The Noble Knife is named

knife is undertaken by a collective of artisans, and requires a range of exotic materials and components. Additionally, the act of creation takes twenty or more years off the lead artisan’s life. It goes

New Ilvin

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

New Ilvin Remarkably, when the town of Ilvin burned, no lives were lost. Rather than rebuilding, the seven hundred survivors moved their homes a few miles east and founded New Ilvin. This sleepy

community seems ordinary in every way, but residents avoid speaking of Old Ilvin and never return, going so far as to pave a new road to avoid the burned-out ruins.

Hidden Shepherds

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

Hidden Shepherds As caretakers of the land, firbolgs prefer to remain out of sight and out of mind. They don’t try to dominate nature, but rather seek to ensure that it prospers and survives

firbolgs only when the events affect the forest. Even in the face of an intrusion, firbolgs prefer a subtle, gentle approach to prevent damage to their territory. They employ their magic to make the

Underdark Natives

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

of this adventure. The Underdark is a dangerous place, and characters might be reluctant to let their newfound friends fend for themselves. Helping some of them return home makes a good incentive to

visit locations in the Underdark. Shuushar, Topsy, Turvy, Stool, Rumpadump, and Glabbagool would rather remain in the Underdark than suffer sunlight.

Underdark Natives

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

of this adventure. The Underdark is a dangerous place, and characters might be reluctant to let their newfound friends fend for themselves. Helping some of them return home makes a good incentive to

visit locations in the Underdark. Shuushar, Topsy, Turvy, Stool, Rumpadump, and Glabbagool would rather remain in the Underdark than suffer sunlight.

Hidden Shepherds

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

Hidden Shepherds As caretakers of the land, firbolgs prefer to remain out of sight and out of mind. They don’t try to dominate nature, but rather seek to ensure that it prospers and survives

firbolgs only when the events affect the forest. Even in the face of an intrusion, firbolgs prefer a subtle, gentle approach to prevent damage to their territory. They employ their magic to make the

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

Chapter 3: Backgrounds

compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Grim Hollow: Player’s Guide

your nerve and fled the battlefield. Perhaps you lost your mind and killed when you were only supposed to capture. Perhaps you saw the terror you inspired in others as a moral failing rather than a

point of honor. Regardless, you were cast out of your clan and told never to return. You now travel Etharis having to live with what you’ve done and the shame (or honor) of your clan’s shunning.

D&D Beyond

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