continued rather game to have recently

Black Viper

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

who died a century ago, after a long and nefarious career. Esvele Rosznar, a brash young noble, has recently adopted the Black Viper's persona to lead a secret life of crime. Like many other nobles

years ago, but has since returned. The Rosznars' inability to regain the respect they feel they deserve rankles them. The slave trade has continued in Amn and elsewhere, and it's not like other noble

Vladimir Horngaard

Monsters Curse of 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

feelings fueled the spirits of many of his fellow knights—including Godfrey—to come back as revenants as well. Vladimir continued to wage the hopeless war, even as Strahd tightened his grip on the valley

Mark of Finding Human

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

;ak, Shadow Marches House Tharashk traditionally licenses inquisitives and bounty hunters. Recently the house’s Finder’s Guild has expanded into dragonshard prospecting. As dragon

customs of the others. The distinct clans that united to form the house remain important, and heirs of the family usually retain their family names rather than adopting “d’Tharashk” as

Leonin Iconoclast

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

warrior;tribal warriors, but those who hunt the servants of the gods rather than game are known as leonin iconoclasts.

Mark of Finding Half-Orc

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

;ak, Shadow Marches House Tharashk traditionally licenses inquisitives and bounty hunters. Recently the house’s Finder’s Guild has expanded into dragonshard prospecting. As dragon

customs of the others. The distinct clans that united to form the house remain important, and heirs of the family usually retain their family names rather than adopting “d’Tharashk” as

Gremorly's Ghost

Monsters The Book of Many Things

, Wisdom, Charisma, and immunity to the charmed and frightened conditions. He otherwise uses the target’s game statistics, but Gremorly doesn’t gain access to the target’s knowledge

came to investigate the seemingly abandoned keep, Gremorly murdered them and trapped their ghosts. But fortune recently turned against Gremorly when a behir entered the keep seeking a nest. It slew

The Abbot

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Abbot retains its game statistics and ability to speak, but its AC, movement modes, Strength, Dexterity, and special senses are replaced by those of the new form, and it gains any statistics and

in reuniting Strahd with his lost love and, in so doing, ending Barovia's curse. The Abbot has recently completed work on a flesh golem bride made from the body parts of dead women. While the Belviews

Baba Lysaga

Monsters Curse of Strahd

that Strahd would never accept her as his true mother, nor could she bear his rejection. As a result, she has never confronted him. She would rather exist in perpetual denial, whiling away the days

witches, Lysaga recently uncovered a potential threat to Strahd: a secret society of wereravens called the Keepers of the Feather, a group that uses ordinary ravens as their spies. Strahd doesn’t

Priest of Osybus (Ectoplasmic)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

slime to make itself look and feel like any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8 hours or until the priest drops to 0 hit

revive with a benefit from the Boons of Undeath table. You can give a priest one or more of these boons of your choice before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

prefer for the DM to invent these details as part of the game, allowing you to learn more about your inheritance as your character does. The Dungeon Master is free to use your inheritance as a story

your adventuring career, you can decide whether to tell your companions about your inheritance right away. Rather than attracting attention to yourself, you might want to keep your inheritance a secret

Noble - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

you need to determine your noble title, but you should also work with the DM to describe your family and their influence on you. Is your family old and established, or was your title only recently

wish to use the background’s standard feature might have gained their standing in Baldur’s Gate from business rather than inheritance. Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion Tool

Priest of Osybus (Blazing)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest can receive each boon only once. Boons of Undeath d6 Boon 1 Priest of Osybus (Dread);Dread. Eerie whispers can now be

. In addition, as an action, the priest can use the slime to make itself look and feel like any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8

Priest of Osybus (Deathly)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest can receive each boon only once. Boons of Undeath d6 Boon 1 Priest of

, until which the creature is covered by ectoplasm. In addition, as an action, the priest can use the slime to make itself look and feel like any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game

Adult Deep Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. The dragon magically transforms into any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics (other than its size). This transformation ends if the dragon is reduced to 0 hit points

rather enjoy the company of people—as long as they remain unaware of my true nature. Deep Dragon Ideals d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal

Mercenary Veteran

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

company, including the names and reputations of its commanders and leaders, and who has hired them recently. You can find the taverns and festhalls where mercenaries abide in any area, as long as you speak

enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Priest of Osybus (Spectral)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

the Boons of Undeath table. You can give a priest one or more of these boons of your choice before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest

make itself look and feel like any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8 hours or until the priest drops to 0 hit points. 3 Priest

Priest of Osybus (Vampiric)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

these boons of your choice before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest can receive each boon only once. Boons of Undeath d6 Boon

, while retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8 hours or until the priest drops to 0 hit points. 3 Priest of Osybus (Vampiric);Vampiric. When the priest deals necrotic

Ancient Deep Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. Change Shape. The dragon magically transforms into any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics (other than its size). This transformation ends if the dragon is reduced to 0

rather enjoy the company of people—as long as they remain unaware of my true nature. Deep Dragon Ideals d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal

Priest of Osybus (Dread)

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Boons of Undeath table. You can give a priest one or more of these boons of your choice before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest can

itself look and feel like any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8 hours or until the priest drops to 0 hit points. 3 Priest of

Priest of Osybus

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

boons of your choice before the priest faces adventurers. If you do so, the priest is Undead, rather than Humanoid, and a priest can receive each boon only once. Boons of Undeath d6 Boon

retaining its game statistics. This transformation lasts for 8 hours or until the priest drops to 0 hit points. 3 Priest of Osybus (Vampiric);Vampiric. When the priest deals necrotic damage to any

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

miles on a side, with each tribe hunting in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging farther should game become scarce. A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines

lies on the slopes of the Star Mounts’ southernmost mountains. At the headwaters of the Unicorn Run, the Last Aerie is home to several dozen aarakocra. Recently, aarakocra elders detected

Create Undead Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

You can cast this spell only at night. Choose up to three corpses of Medium or Small humanoids within range. Each corpse becomes a ghoul under your control. (The GM has game statistics for these

hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather

Animate Dead Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

creature. The target becomes a skeleton if you chose bones or a zombie if you chose a corpse (the GM has the creature's game statistics). On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally

-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to four creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating a new one. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell

Undead Enthrallment

spells

with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an Undead creature. You can choose for the target to become an Undead creature of CR 3 or lower (the GM has the creature’s game statistics). On each

creature again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over 1 creature you have animated with this spell, rather than animating a new one. Any creature you

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

player characters are of the Humanoid type. A race tells you what your character’s creature type is. Here’s a list of the game’s creature types in alphabetical order: Aberration

Accursed

races

of the other typical senses of “curse” in the game. Rather, accursed reflects the grim sense of how most other folk in the campaign will view such a character, especially those who don

Illithinoch

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

disrepair when all but a few weakened mind flayers abandoned it. The mind flayers that remained continued their service to Illithinoch’s elder brain, but the elder brain became obsessed with recovering their

lost grandeur, and many mind flayers transformed themselves into tormented monsters called nothics. The few mind flayers able to maintain their wits and their focus have lacked the ability to seize the might of the old mind flayer empire—until recently.

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

Chapter 3: Danger at Dunwater

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

. ABOUT THE ORIGINAL Dave J. Brown and Don Turnbull continued the Saltmarsh series in this classic. Doubling down on TSR UK’s penchant for exploration and interaction in their work, this scenario

challenges the characters to act as ambassadors to a colony of lizardfolk. While such roleplay-focused adventures are the norm today, at the time of its publication (in 1982) this adventure was the first to make interaction an absolute requirement for success, rather than one option among many.

Setting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

wish. Consider the following suggestions: Dragonlance. The old fortress rises in the Hinterlund region of Solamnia. It was built before the Cataclysm and has been uninhabited until recently. Corlie

. Allied forces have recently recovered it, but the fortress is in the path of a horde of monsters sent by the sinister lich Lady Illmarrow. Greyhawk. The recently reclaimed fortress stands in the northern

Preparing for Horror

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

but is immediately thrust into unexpected horror, the game can feel like a trap. You should avoid this. Rather, set expectations with your players about what a horror-focused game means, and determine what topics and themes will encourage or discourage players’ participation.

Preparing for Horror Before you run a horror game, consider the following steps to ensure the willingness and full engagement of your players. If a group gathers to play a fun, low-stakes adventure

Chapter 2: Traps Revisited

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

elaborate approach — describing traps in terms of their game mechanics and offering guidance on creating traps of your own using these new rules. Rather than characterize traps as mechanical or magical, these rules separate traps into two other categories: simple and complex.

Chapter 2: Traps Revisited The rules for traps in the Dungeon Master’s Guide provide the basic information you need to manage traps at the game table. The material here takes a different, more

Secrets of Immortality

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

creature can benefit from only a limited number of potions of longevity before continued consumption is likely to age the drinker rather than reduce their age. When a pinch of Dragon’s Blessing is added to a

of Dragon’s Blessing has been depleted—and this potion might age him rather than adding years to his life. Currently, only the imperial alchemists and their overseer, Grand Secretary Wei, are aware of

Re-created by the Doctor

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

terrifying new forms. Such a plot comes with both opportunities and pitfalls. On the one hand, waking up in Mordenheim’s laboratory, either recently changed into reborn (see chapter 1) or about to

such possibilities. It’s better to tip your hand about the plot than to lose a player’s investment in the game. When delivering characters into the Darklord’s clutches, employ scenarios where the

Game Customization

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

technology do you prefer? Do you enjoy solving in-game puzzles and riddles? Do you like to track experience points, or would you rather have your character advance in level when I tell you to? House

Game Customization In addition to shaping the game around the characters in the adventuring party, you should be prepared to customize the game to suit the players’ tastes. The “Know Your Players

D&D Beyond

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