contrast reasons given to have reflection

Astral Elf Commander

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

starlight through their weapons, and they can rescue warriors from a perilous situation by using their gods-given power of teleportation. Astral Elves Long ago, some elves ventured to the Astral

the Silver Void is their home, astral elves often venture into Wildspace systems and place their ships and citadels in orbit around stars. Astral elves do this for several reasons. Proximity to a

Outlander - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Coming to Baldur’s Gate might seem like a good idea for a spectrum of reasons. Profit, excitement, and cosmopolitan opportunities all present tempting prospects, but rarely does one start on

’s clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Outlander Origins Foreigners of all kinds come to Baldur’s Gate daily, drawn by countless reasons from countless lands. The Outlander Origins

Genasi Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter. A given genasi might have some features reminiscent of the mortal parent (pointed ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair from a dwarf, small

, or a member of a desert tribe, is an auspicious event. Most Athasians believe a given genasi is destined for greatness—or infamy. Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

among them usually venture into the world for reasons of community, friendship, wanderlust, or curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple things, such as an exotic food or an unfamiliar

wide and wonder-filled world. For them, adventuring is less a career than an opportunity or sometimes a necessity. Halfling Names A halfling has a given name, a family name, and possibly a nickname

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

contrast, throw themselves into the thick of society, putting their charisma and social skills to great use in diplomatic roles or as swindlers. Half-Elf Names Half-elves use either human or elven

naming conventions. As if to emphasize that they don’t really fit in to either society, half-elves raised among humans are often given elven names, and those raised among elves often take human names

Light

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

Light A tale that is perpetually dark in tone becomes tiresome very quickly. It needs to feature the occasional ray of light for contrast and to create a sense of hope. Monsters and other terrors

must be offset with creatures that are kind and lovable, giving the characters even more reasons to stand against the darkness. Here are a couple of ways to add glimmers of light to a tragic tale: In a

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and

of Greyhawk and the Forgotten Realms, druidic circles are not usually connected to the faith of a single nature deity. Any given circle in the Forgotten Realms, for example, might include druids who

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

hold and controls their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.&rdquo

notable deeds or actions. For example, Garurt translates as “axe,” a name given to a lizardfolk warrior who defeated an orc and claimed his foe’s weapon. A lizardfolk who likes to

Location Overview

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

bandits. Others have given up relatively quickly, when the dangers become apparent. The current owner of the Wayside Inn is Martisha Vinetalker, a striking half-elf whose pleasing features contrast with

Experience Point Awards

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

Experience Point Awards In this part of the adventure, XP is awarded for overcoming monsters, as in parts 2 and 3. However, XP awards for monsters is not given in the encounter description. Instead

, the amount of XP that a monster is worth is noted in its stat block (see appendix B). You calculate the award by totaling the value for each monster the characters overcome. Additional XP awards, and the reasons for them, are described in the text, under the “Awarding Experience Points” heading.

Warforged Ossuary

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

Warforged Ossuary A warforged ossuary is a former temple, crypt, or warehouse deep in the Mournland that now houses the remains of slain warforged. It is a place of honor and reflection for the Lord

Adventures The Warforged Ossuary Adventures table offers some reasons why characters might seek out such a place. Warforged Ossuary Adventures d6 Adventure Goal 1 Rescue an artificer who is

Childhood

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

is an elf of their own kind, for when the primal elves went against Corellon and took permanent shapes, they chose this fate for themselves. How many elves are born to which parents or in any given

numbers of elves will be needed to withstand. In contrast, if an elven community goes a century or longer without a new birth, members take this as a sign that the community has stagnated and must disband

Outlander

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

Outlander Coming to Baldur’s Gate might seem like a good idea for a spectrum of reasons. Profit, excitement, and cosmopolitan opportunities all present tempting prospects, but rarely does one start

firsthand experience — likely somewhere in the Outer City. Outlander Origins Foreigners of all kinds come to Baldur’s Gate daily, drawn by countless reasons from countless lands. The Outlander Origins table

Noteworthy Sites

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

can do nothing but admire her own reflection in a mirrored cell that neutralizes her power. Given Atash’s intolerance for misconduct, the prison’s population continues to grow, but now it fills with more ordinary folk guilty of lesser crimes.

Preparing for Battle

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

spectators finally reaches High Hill. The grassy slope is spotted with trees and crumbled stone fencing. Near the base, several dozen soldiers in matching armor stand in even formation. The contrast

are given wooden spears with padded tips to prevent them from dealing damage. The mayor reminds everyone not to use real weapons during the reenactment so nobody gets hurt. Mercenaries of the Ironclad

Para-elemental Planes

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

fundamentally similar to places found on the Material Plane—the place where all four elements mingle freely. At a symbolic level, the Para-elemental Planes represent the interaction and sometimes the contrast

between the forces and ideals embodied by their constituent elements. The Plane of Ash, for example, highlights the commonality between air and fire—the tendency to movement and change, given a

Folk Horror

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

adventures, particularly as they contrast with what majorities consider the status quo. In folk horror tales, characters often discover that their beliefs aren’t as universally held as they assumed, and

stories are rarely tolerant of nonbelievers. Outsiders might be given a chance to adopt the community’s ways, but otherwise are considered heretics or corrupting elements. Assuredly, their ancient

M6. Performers' Quarters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Lyn or Bitter End, snares them in her traps. Given a chance, one or more of the actors also share the following information: “Even if Creeping Lyn hates you, it’s still possible to win her favor by

, or jealous rivals.) Among the junk can be found the following treasures: A powder brush with a painted handle sculpted to resemble a bunch of roses (25 gp) A gold hand mirror that removes wrinkles, blemishes, and scars from the onlooker’s reflection (250 gp) A fully charged wand of web

City Locations

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

Emridy Meadows. A character with the Wayfarer background might know Miklos as a generous man who gives away food and sometimes even lodging to people in need. Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might

visit the Black Dragon Inn for one of the following reasons: Eavesdropper’s Paradise. Many clandestine meetings occur at the Black Dragon. Adventurers eavesdropping on private conversations might overhear

Skulk

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

humanoid. Summoned Servants. A skulk can be summoned from the Shadowfell by performing a ritual. If the creature is given a portion of the summoner’s identity, the skulk is bound to obey the summoner’s

) Fallible Invisibility. The skulk is invisible. This invisibility can be circumvented by three things: The skulk appears as a drab, smooth-skinned humanoid if its reflection can be seen in a

Genies

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

gender, as well as one or two key personality traits. Although they resemble humanoid beings, genies are elemental spirits given physical form. They don’t mate with other genies or produce genie

their thralls, but never to the extent that they can no longer work. In contrast to their love of servants, most genies loathe being bound to service themselves. A genie obeys the will of another only

Mausoleum: Summer

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

main villains. The characters might want to explore the lairs for a variety of reasons, including the following: Disrupting the villain’s operation Gaining an audience with the villain (perhaps to

forge a truce or an alliance) Completing a special mission for a faction (see “Joining Factions”) Investigating a false clue given to them as part of a scheme concocted by another villain Stealing

Life in Yeonido

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

—whether for love or for social or political reasons, both of which are considered equally valid—they must choose which partner’s clan they will belong to after the union. In rare cases, a new couple

individual’s clan name is spoken before their given name. The royal family is an exception—they have no clan name, since it is expected that everyone should know them at first glance. Given names in Yeonido

Optional Rule: Loyalty

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

by 1d4 if the NPC is treated particularly well (for example, given a magic weapon as a gift) or rescued by another party member. An NPC’s loyalty score can never be raised above its maximum. When other

endangered by other party members for purely selfish reasons. An NPC whose loyalty score drops to 0 is no longer loyal to the party and might part ways with them. A loyalty score can never drop below 0

Lurking Danger

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

abnormally across the floor to reach for them. Characters who view themselves in a reflection momentarily see the face of a lost loved one or a hated enemy instead of their own. The hair on their arms and

transformed into a meenlock. If given the opportunity, meenlocks psychically torment their prey for hours or days, breaking down their mental and emotional state to make the eventual transformation easier

Bruenor's Plan

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

the characters. The king provides honest answers to any questions. He truly does believe the characters represent the best option to find out more about the demonic threat, unless they’ve given him any

various factions on board. One of the reasons he is looking to the adventurers to lead a new mission into the Underdark, apart from their experience, is that they can serve as brokers among all the

E6: Passenger Car

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

a magic missile spell. Given where the body fell, the direction Quintus was walking when he died, and where the wounds on the body are located, a character can deduce, with a successful DC 16

is less cooperative than when he was dead, for reasons explained in the “Motive” section below. He offers no possible reasons for why someone would want to kill him. Speaking with the Dead. If a

Regional Effects

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Leaves change color to contrast with those trying to hide among them, branches move to reveal creatures, fog clears, and so on. Smooth Roads. Difficult terrain

the lair shows a reflection of the dragon flying overhead; the image disappears upon further examination. Face in the Clouds. The dragon’s visage appears in cloud formations above the lair, giving

Recurring Villains

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

and evil. Even adventure villains are more often driven by human motives than by cosmic concepts of good and evil. People sometimes do evil things for good reasons. Exercise some caution when

you can add to the villains in this chapter, giving them more or less good reasons to perform their evil deeds. Morally Ambiguous Villains d4 Villain 1 The villain is targeting people with

A Race Divided

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

longer be trusted. The elf gods who sided with Corellon became the Seldarine, and those who fled along with Lolth became the Seldarine’s dark reflection. Save for those who had been named gods, Corellon

Arvandor. Instead, when an elven soul returns to Arvandor, it is adopted by the other gods of the Seldarine and given respite from the world for a time, during which it is left alone to contemplate its

Religious Institutions

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

Religious Institutions Those who serve as priests of a god aren’t necessarily clerics. Indeed, the power invested in clerics and other divine spellcasters by the gods is given out only rarely (see

, but they aren’t taken into custody or punished as long as they obey the laws of the city. Some places take this form of persecution a step further, for a variety of reasons. A tyrant might outlaw

NPCs as Party Members

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

personal goal. Likewise, an NPC’s Loyalty Score increases by 1d4 if the NPC is treated particularly well (for example, given a magic weapon as a gift) or rescued by another party member. An NPC’s Loyalty

Loyalty Score by 2d4 if the NPC is abused, misled, or endangered by other party members for purely selfish reasons. A Loyalty Score can never drop below 0. Meaning of Loyalty. An NPC with a Loyalty Score

Manshoon

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

duel, Halaster captured Manshoon and amputated his left arm at the elbow for reasons unknown. Manshoon escaped imprisonment and fled Undermountain, taking refuge in the city above. Attempts to

expense of its spellcasting ability. Manshoon can have only one simulacrum at any given time, and he uses it as a subordinate to command his Zhentarim minions in the field. If his simulacrum is

Military Force

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

be the disciplined regiments of a nation’s standing army, a fleet of ships comprising a kingdom’s armada, or a devastating horde of warriors and magical beasts. A given kingdom’s military could be a

the instruments of that will. Military Force Envoys You might join a military force for a wide range of reasons, or the military has reasons for seeking you out. Those with specialized skills

Enemies All Around

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

reminisce over the defeat of a dragon, or weep as they recall the death of a beloved elder. In contrast to clan gatherings, dwarves who drink alone invariably become morose and sullen — when

war wagon laden with gold, gems, stout armor, and sharp weapons. Given the orcs’ propensity to rely on brute force rather than cunning, they can overcome only severely weakened dwarven strongholds

D&D Beyond

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