conflicts rarely group to her real

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

tower contains a special room that can transform the simulacrum into a real person—or any magical illusion into the real thing, for that matter. If this change occurs, the simulacrum

Dzaan's Simulacrum

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

its remaining spell slots sparingly. The sunken Netherese tower contains a special room that can transform the simulacrum into a real person—or any magical illusion into the real thing, for that matter

rarely travel abroad without an escort. They generally favor undead servants and bodyguards, since they find that undead tend to be more obedient than the living. Dzaan's bodyguard is a Thayan wight

Kakkuu Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

; 10 hit points; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).Resembling enormous spiders, kakkuus are the most numerous and least intelligent spyder-fiends. In large conflicts, they serve as

. Spyder-fiends loyally serve their general, Miska the Wolf-Spider. While they were rarely seen during Miska’s imprisonment in Pandemonium, they have become increasingly active as Miska struggles to free himself in Pandesmos.PoisonCold, Fire, Lightning

Deathless Rider

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

unexplained phenomenon. In either case, deathless riders are undeniably real. They are undead knights, once human, who ride undead steeds through the remotest parts of the wilds. They are sometimes

heart of the forest than anyone is aware. But when mortal knights meet them in the wilds, the encounter rarely ends well for the living. The deathless riders fight with superhuman strength, heedless

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.

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

Sapphire Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

unhappy. (Lawful) 5 Preparation. Justice and righteousness do not guarantee victory. Planning and tactics do. (Lawful) 6 Companionship. Sure, my hoard brings me great joy. But the real

. 3 Two sapphire dragon wyrmling;sapphire dragon wyrmlings vie for the same territory. Their primary battle tactic involves luring grell;grells into each other’s lairs. 4 A group of Lolth

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Everybody’s always trying to get a leg up on somebody in Baldur’s Gate. One group’s con artist might be another’s revolutionary. Or maybe you’re just in it for yourself

you make them sound like the real deal. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of HandTool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, Forgery kitEquipment: A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit

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

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

, the verdan found that they were often mistaken for smaller, green-skinned half-elves. Attracting curiosity but no real questions, they have thus been able to make their way reasonably freely in the

the character of the different cultures these folk have encountered since coming out into the sunlight. When a group of verdan live near dwarves, they might take on more dwarven-sounding names, only

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

Adult Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, my hoard brings me great joy. But the real treasures are the guests who stop by to see it. (Good) Sapphire Dragon Adventures The Sapphire Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for

. 7 A group of stone giant;stone giants believes a young sapphire dragon to be an emissary of their god, Skoraeus Stonebones. The dragon considers the notion ridiculous but loves having an audience

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

Hobgoblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

banners, each one made up of a group of interrelated families. Members of a banner live, work, and fight together, and each banner has a separate status within the legion that is reflected in the power of

. Suitably (and somewhat ironically), the outward politeness and civility that they demonstrate among each other enables them to avoid conflicts in daily life. This same form of “courtesy&rdquo

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

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

two hunters viciously attack. A captured group of invaders might hang in a net while dozens of goblins pass by and pay them no heed until a group of gatherers shows up. Lashers. The closest thing a

, and thus each group has one leader that exerts autocratic control. But as with many tyrannies, the passing of a leader often results in a chaotic transition to the next. Sometimes a goblin boss has

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

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

Shared World

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

the other DMs in your group could divide it thematically. Using the setting in chapter 5 of this book as an example, each DM could focus their campaign on one of the three overarching conflicts of that

setting. This approach allows the same group of adventurers to sink their teeth into all three overarching conflicts while ensuring that each storyline feels distinct.

Shared World

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

the other DMs in your group could divide it thematically. Using the setting in chapter 5 of this book as an example, each DM could focus their campaign on one of the three overarching conflicts of that

setting. This approach allows the same group of adventurers to sink their teeth into all three overarching conflicts while ensuring that each storyline feels distinct.

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

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Flock leaders enforce discipline and minimize conflicts, but they fail at effective planning or crafting long-term schemes. Although unable to speak in their own voices, kenku can perfectly mimic any

city, alerting their allies to the approach of a guard patrol or signaling a prime opportunity for a robbery. Since kenku can precisely reproduce any sound, the messages they carry rarely suffer

Evil Inside

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

and Dark Gifts presented later in this chapter provide such opportunities. How a character engages with the evil inside themself can make for exciting conflicts. Be sure that your choices allow your

character to remain a reliable part of your adventuring group, though, and not a near-villain the other heroes only tolerate.

Evil Inside

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

and Dark Gifts presented later in this chapter provide such opportunities. How a character engages with the evil inside themself can make for exciting conflicts. Be sure that your choices allow your

character to remain a reliable part of your adventuring group, though, and not a near-villain the other heroes only tolerate.

Knowledge of Avernus

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

would be fruitless to fight every Fiend the characters come across in Avernus, since conflicts invariably escalate as infernal combatants join in against interlopers in the Nine Hells. To accomplish

landscape, reeking of ash and brimstone. Due to this perpetual smoky twilight, there are no real days or nights in Avernus. Time passes as usual, though, and can be tracked in hour increments. History

Mutual Respect

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

behavior is interfering with everyone else’s enjoyment, everyone has a stake in helping to resolve the issue. Setting Expectations Before you assemble a group around a game table, pitch the

adventures you’re thinking about running to your prospective players. Note the in-world conflicts that might arise, the setting’s overall tone, and the themes you’d like to explore. (The “Every DM Is Unique

Set Expectations

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

Set Expectations Well before you assemble a group around a game table, pitch the adventures you’re thinking about running to your prospective players. Note the types of conflicts that might arise

Set Expectations

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

Set Expectations Well before you assemble a group around a game table, pitch the adventures you’re thinking about running to your prospective players. Note the types of conflicts that might arise

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