continued race gaining to have rarely

Rahadin

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Rahadin that the king made the dusk elf an honorary member of his family. Chamberlain. After Barov died, Rahadin continued to fight as one of Strahd's generals. When the wars ended and Strahd turned

desired above all. She told him of a vault of forbidden lore called the Amber Temple, where the secret of gaining immortality was hidden. While Strahd was off exploring the temple, Rahadin handled

Dire Troll

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

resulting dire trolls crave more and more troll flesh to fuel their continued growth. Dire trolls also increase their size by grafting flesh onto themselves. When a slab of quivering troll flesh is bound

shaped by the ritual magic of evil spellcasters or by trolls’ own practices, as is the case for dire trolls. Vaprak the Destroyer Although trolls are rarely devout and seldom ponder spiritual

Lineages

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

overshadow their original race, if any, becoming their new race. A character might choose a lineage during character creation, their transformation having occurred before play begins. Or, events might

unfold during adventures that lead your character to replacing their race with this new lineage. Work with your DM to establish if you’re amenable to such a development and how such stories

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

blossom into hard feelings, loud arguments, and head-butting contests, but they rarely escalate beyond that. Creating Your Character When you create your D&D character, you decide whether your

character is a member of the human race or one of the game’s fantastical races. If you create a character using a race option presented here, follow these additional rules during character creation

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

changes in the prevailing winds that they regarded as a bad omen. Unlike the aarakocra of other worlds on the Material Plane, the aarakocra of the Realms rarely travel to the Elemental Plane of Air

pieces across the multiverse. Recovering the pieces means gaining honor and esteem in the eyes of the vaati who forged it and could possibly restore a powerful weapon for defense against the agents of

Shapechange Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus listed in its statistics is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus in place of yours. You

hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious. You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them, provided that your new form is physically capable of doing

Shadar-kai

races Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Shadar-kai are the elves of the Shadowfell, originally drawn to that dread realm by the Raven Queen. Over the centuries, some of them have continued to serve her, while others have ventured into the

, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

coloration and features lie somewhere between their human and elf parents, and thus show a variety even more pronounced than that found among either race. They tend to have the eyes of their elven

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

, even by the standards of his diminutive race, with the fluff of his curly brown locks barely cresting the three-foot mark, but his belly was amply thickened by his love of a good meal, or several, as

communities are threatened. Pastoral Pleasantries Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much

Aboleth

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

, killing off fish and other river dwellers that provide sustenance to the kuo-toa. Illuun plans to take over the entire level as a step toward gaining control of Undermountain and then Waterdeep. The aboleth rarely leaves its watery lair and relies on its servants to capture new slaves.

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

seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame. More than other people

Lineages

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

overshadow their original race, if any, becoming their new race. A character might choose a lineage during character creation, their transformation having occurred before play begins. Or, events might

unfold during adventures that lead your character to replacing their race with this new lineage. Work with your DM to establish if you’re amenable to such a development and how such stories unfold. WHAT

Renown in Kalakeri

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

with the factions changes, granting them access to favors or provoking reprisals. Characters adjust their renown score once per adventure, and rarely by more than 5 points. The Renown in Kalakeri table

opportunities? Benefits of Renown. Whether the characters back Ramya or Arijani and Reeva, or seek to play both sides, those who advance in their standing with a faction advance in that side’s esteem, gaining

The Hunters' Role

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

the priests and the pharaoh search for Ankhtepot’s lost treasure in hopes of gaining leverage over the ruler. 3 The sphinxes of Har’Akir know that Ankhtepot is close to finding his lost ka. They

characters die, Pharaoh Ankhtepot resurrects them (perhaps as reborn; see chapter 1). Their continued existence is contingent on searching for and finding his ka.

Extras

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

Extras Extras are the characters and creatures in the background that the main characters rarely, if ever, interact with. Extras might be elevated to more important roles by virtue of adventurers

no importance becomes a central figure in an improvised roleplaying scene. Whenever extras are present, be prepared to come up with names and mannerisms on the fly. In a pinch, you can plunder the race-specific character names found in chapter 2 of the Player’s Handbook.

Half-Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

wizard’s spell or a ritual bath in dragon’s blood. In all these cases, the result is a creature that combines the essence of a dragon with the form of its original race. Regardless of their origins

, all half-dragons have similar features and appearance, gaining special senses, resistance to destructive energy, and a breath weapon. Draconic Nature. Half-dragons are incapable of having natural born

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Gang Mentality Since bugbears aren’t a particularly fecund race, their overall population is small and spread over a wide area. Bugbears live in family groups that operate much like gangs. The

remove opposition or exile weaker or unpopular members to keep the rest of the gang strong. Fortunately for the race as a whole, even young and elderly bugbears have the ability to survive alone in the

Languages in Eberron

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

regions or cultures. The DM may change the languages assigned to a monster or NPC to reflect this. Giant is the common tongue of Xen’drik. It is rarely encountered on Khorvaire. Monsters in Khorvaire

language granted by your race for a different standard language. Your DM must approve the language you select. This is a way to reflect a character with no ties to the culture of their race. Halfling is

Body Horror

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

Body Horror Body horror as a genre examines a universal fear: our own failing anatomies. We rarely think about what goes on beneath our skin. We understand that the organs operate in harmony: the

bodies, turning to stone, or even gaining one’s ideal form might all feature in this genre. The genre has a history of portraying disability as monstrous. Be aware of those tropes and avoid them.

Adventure Background

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

Adventure Background Dr. Cassee Dannell, a brilliant academic, long ago learned to hide her interest in the occult. She instead built a career gaining expertise in the peoples and cultures of the

Natural History offered a generous price for the stone, it was soon whisked from the dig site to the museum. Dr. Dannell continued to research the strange stone. Her concern turned to dread when she found

Sex

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

Sex You can play a male or female character without gaining any special benefits or hindrances. Think about how your character does or does not conform to the broader culture’s expectations of sex

character’s sexual orientation is for you to decide. Height and Weight Race Base Height Height Modifier Base Weight Weight Modifier Human 4'8" +2d10 110 lb. × (2d4) lb. Dwarf, hill 3'8" +2d4

Diplomats or Wanderers

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

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in contrast

get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make excellent

Yeenoghu

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Material Plane. During his rampage across the world eons ago, the race of gnolls sprang up in his wake. Every gnoll is a miniature embodiment of Yeenoghu’s rage and hunger. They mimic their creator

, killing any creatures that cross them and respecting only those that can withstand their fury. Cultists. Yeenoghu rarely acquires cultists other than gnolls, leucrottas, and the other creatures spawned by

Diplomats or Wanderers

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

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in contrast

get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make excellent

Swashbuckler

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

, rarely staying in one place for too long. Swashbuckler Medium humanoid (any race), any non-lawful alignment Armor Class 17 (leather armor) Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12) Speed 30 ft. STR 12(+1

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Beast Masters and Slave Drivers Goblins know they are a weak, unsophisticated race that can be easily dominated by bigger, smarter, more organized, more ferocious, or more magical creatures. Their god

the symbols used are rarely the same between different tribes and often make little sense to other creatures. Some possible status symbols are given in the Status Symbols table. A caste or a boss

Dark Elves (Drow)

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

of these few heroic drow have tempered some people’s opinions toward the race, although the appearance of a dark elf on the surface remains a rare event and a cause for alarm. Many drow in Faerûn hail

the city-states. Most of these individuals live as outcasts and wanderers, though a rare few find new homes with another race or culture. Drow have the racial traits of dark elves in the Player’s

Fomorian

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

deformed, gaining a glimpse into the pain and malice that has consumed this evil race. Fomorian Huge giant, chaotic evil Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Hit Points 149 (13d12 + 65) Speed

misshapen, warty heads. Others have limbs of grossly different sizes and shapes, or emit terrible howls each time they draw breath through misshapen mouths. Their wretched appearance rarely evokes sympathy

Gladiator

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

who command huge fees but rarely fight to the death. Gladiator Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield) Hit Points 112 (15d8 + 45) Speed 30 ft. STR

Gnomes

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

wider exposure. Gnomes gladly socialize and work with humans, elves, and dwarves, but they always keep in mind that, as a small and relatively insignificant race, their interests can become secondary

even among their allies. Indeed, members of other races sometimes thoughtlessly treat gnomes as second-class citizens, perhaps thinking highly of their gnome friends but rarely giving credit to gnomes

Auril

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

participants. Those who finish the race are thought to have helped make the winter easier, and they rarely have to pay for food or ale all winter long.

Rahadin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

forced to live among the Vistani. So pleased was Barov with Rahadin that the king made the dusk elf an honorary member of his family. Chamberlain. After Barov died, Rahadin continued to fight as one of

Strahd with the prospect of immortality—something Strahd desired above all. She told him of a vault of forbidden lore called the Amber Temple, where the secret of gaining immortality was hidden

Quickling

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

owe their existence — and their plight — to the Queen of Air and Darkness, the dread ruler of the Gloaming Court. Once a race of lazy and egotistical fey, the creatures that would become the

curse gave quicklings their amazing speed but also accelerated their passage through life — no quickling lives longer than fifteen years. They race themselves to death, and scheme as fast as they run

Blood Will Tell

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

, because while they are often left alone by those who fear them, they also become targets of discrimination, or outright attacks, from those who feel threatened by them. This prejudice against the race

anger and inclined to lash out at those who treat them unfairly. Having grown up among orcs or under the shadow of their heritage, half-orcs rarely have experience with pleasant society, and they often

Elves

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

elves of Ansalon largely keep to themselves, half-elves are few and are rarely seen outside the elven nations. Silvanesti High Elves Silvanesti, the original elven kingdom, lies in southern Ansalon. For

, they have deep bonds with the sea and all life within. Both groups of sea elves are rarely seen by the peoples of Ansalon and keep to their own aquatic communities. Though sea elves are exceptionally

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