continuing race guarding to have relatively

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves

single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or a powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes. While dwarf clans and halfling

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

that, avoiding offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless and so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of empires and on the edges of wars and political strife

Couatls

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

Couatls Couatls are a celestial race born from Siberys at the dawn of time. Along with the dragons, they battled the fiendish overlords of Khorvaire and Sarlona. Ultimately, the couatls sacrificed

on Eberron are devoted servants of the light. They are most often found guarding the prison of the ancient fiendish overlords, and individuals sometimes act directly to aid adventurers who fight the forces of darkness.

Aberrant Dragonmarks

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

produce a child, and for this reason such unions are forbidden by the Twelve. But aberrant dragonmarks can appear on members of any race, at any age, regardless of bloodline. No two aberrant

of the Mark, aberrant dragonmarks were few in number and relatively weak. But since the Mourning, aberrant marks have been appearing in greater numbers.

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, they might build a warren and make a permanent home there, while continuing to expand the town’s sewers as the community grows. These so-called “city kobolds” live underground but

at the actions or deeds of other races. They aren’t forgiving of other races, and they enjoy nursing their hatred until they get a chance to wreak revenge on a creature or a race that has wronged

Gatekeepers

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

, in addition to guarding the seals that bind the daelkyr and keep Xoriat at bay, the Gatekeepers remained vigilant against the possibility of worse to come. In the millennia since that struggle ended

Wardens of the Wood, the Greensingers, and the Ashbound. Today, the Gatekeepers are one of the smaller sects, and many of the sites of their long-ago battles have been abandoned and forgotten. But some Gatekeepers still remain in the Shadow Marches and the Eldeen Reaches, continuing their vigil to this day.

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

Core Assumptions

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

world’s fate. The World Is Magical. Practitioners of magic are relatively few in number, but they leave evidence of their craft everywhere. The magic can be as innocuous and commonplace as a potion that

heals wounds to something much more rare and impressive, such as a levitating tower or a stone golem guarding the gates of a city. Beyond the realms of civilization are caches of magic items guarded

Aberrant Dragonmarks

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

dragonmarked families produce a child, and for this reason such unions are absolutely forbidden by the Twelve. But aberrant dragonmarks can appear on members of any race, at any age, regardless of bloodline

persecution of innocents; but most feared the aberrants and stood by as the houses hunted them down. Ever since the War of the Mark, aberrant dragonmarks have been few in number and relatively week

Random Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

discovers a homestead. Roll a d6 to determine the race of the people there: 1–3, Tethyrian human; 4, Illuskan human; 5–6, halfling. A homestead consists of 1d6 adult commoners and 1d6 − 1 noncombatant

bandit captain). Shepherds. A group of shepherds watch over herd animals. Roll a d6 to determine the shepherds’ race: 1–4, human; 5–6, halfling. The group consists of 1d4 commoners and 1d2 leaders

Mirabar

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

dwarf-like human can live so deep below ground for only so long. Almost all of its citizens, regardless of race, honor Moradin and the dwarven gods, making Mirabar a dwarven city in spirit and ethics

dust. Still, despite the city’s overall wealth, there are rich and (relatively) poor Mirabarrans. Not everyone shares in the coin the city’s sales bring in, and wage workers whose income is

Orc Lairs

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

and one that is wholly or partly underground, an orc chieftain typically opts for the latter. If the surface location happens to be a ruin left behind by another race, orcs are more likely to use it

their elders by guarding the stronghold’s vulnerable spot. Off to one side of the chamber, away from where the warriors are quartered, is the fighting pit, a sunken and fenced-off area where orcs settle

Adventure Hooks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

that he stays near Aerisi. The character earns inspiration for reaching the air temple and again for defeating Windharrow. Dangerous Information It’s a race against time — the character overheard

, as does obtaining a flying mount. Feathergale Rebel The character has been sent to retrieve a Waterdhavian noblewoman. Savra Belabranta is currently guarding the front gate of Feathergale Spire. The

Mind Flayer Thralls

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

creature retains its Hit Dice, hit points, racial traits (but not proficiencies granted by race), and all of its ability scores except for Intelligence. After the first stage of the process, the creature’s

groups, and their fear and despair in the face of a mind flayer incursion make their brains tasty to the illithid palate. They are also relatively easy for larger, stronger humanoid thralls to control

The Xanathar Guild

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

constantly wary of betrayal. The only allies it considers relatively safe are individuals that it (or its predecessor) has worked with for years, and most of these are creatures it has no reason to fear

beholders have held the job). Most believe their leader is a member of a long-lived race, perhaps a dwarf or an elf. Some think the truth is more monstrous, and that the Xanathar is a drow or perhaps a

Getting About

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

boulevard then splits to the north, continuing as the High Road, and to the west as a boulevard called Waterdeep Way, heading toward the Palace of Waterdeep (not to be confused with Waterdeep Castle

atop the easternmost point of this spur stands Castle Waterdeep. If you can see these landmarks, it’s relatively easy to orient yourself. The mountain peak looms over the southern third of the city near

Waterdeep

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

guarding nobility, to investigating a ruin or rumor of monsters anywhere in the North. Though it has stood for hundreds of years, Waterdeep is only now returning to its status of a century and a half ago

neighborhood of many winding streets, where folk are comfortable making deals that might in other places provoke the displeasure of the law. Field Ward. Of relatively recent vintage, the Field Ward stands

Portal Encounters

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

reaching the crow’s nest, then continuing on to the aft platform and the exit portal. At different points during the crossing of the rigging, the characters might attract the attention of crew members

human scouts among the Six operatives, two stay behind and fire arrows at the party, while the other two scouts and a human cult fanatic race toward the barges. The intention of the Six operatives is to

Verbeeg Lair

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

relatively warm. The scent of roasting meat fills the air as a hunk of meat on a spit drips juices into the fire. Goats and sheep are held in a spacious animal pen enclosed by a crude wooden fence. Other

Stream To the north along the frozen stream, the tunnel splits, with one way continuing north and the other veering east. The stream follows the dark northward tunnel. Light from a distant fire is

Getting Around

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

few wealthy estates. Upper Dura Hope’s Peak A relatively new temple district, with shrines and churches that have relocated from Fallen in Lower Dura. Hope’s Peak includes several monasteries and a

, Hareth’s Folly is a place to gamble and enjoy modest food and drink. The Hollow Tower is a center for aerial sports, and Hareth’s Folly is where the Race of Eight Winds begins and ends. Middle Dura

Zorzula's Rest Locations

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

stands a thin spiral staircase, which ascends to one of the arrow slits guarding the entrance, as described in area Z1. The parapet that runs underneath the arrow slits includes a lever that opens the

). Long ago, duergar miners captured and brought several otyughs from the Underdark to serve as a convenient way to dispose of the outpost’s waste. The otyughs survived the mind flayers’ attack, continuing

Roleplaying a Giant

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

mastery of our traditional crafts. (Good) 3 Strength. No other race can match the strength of giants, and none should dare to try. (Evil) 4 Lordship. Giants are the rightful rulers of the world. All

place in the ordning not to their crafting ability but to their extraordinary physical prowess. They take on a lot of the work of guarding the forges and keeping them stoked — effort without which

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