contrast ritual given to have repeated

Draegloth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

priest of Lolth in an unholy, dangerous ritual in which it is infused with the fey essence of the creator and the fiendish essence of a glabrezu. This ritual rarely succeeds, but Lolth’s

. Before a draegloth is given any duties, it receives instruction in accepting the role set for it and not challenging authority. Most draegloths fiercely resent being given orders, but thanks to their

Rot Troll

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

their bodies were damaged by elemental forces. These unusual forms can also be produced and shaped by the ritual magic of evil spellcasters or by trolls’ own practices, as is the case for dire

nature is something of a mystery, but Vaprak is always portrayed as a horrid, misshapen, greenish creature strongly resembling a troll. Vaprak is given to fits of mindless destruction and uncontrollably

Dire Troll

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

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

strongly resembling a troll. Vaprak is given to fits of mindless destruction and uncontrollably fears the plots and ambitions of other deities. Vaprak’s troll worshipers believe this god

Venom Troll

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

vast scale, or if their bodies were damaged by elemental forces. These unusual forms can also be produced and shaped by the ritual magic of evil spellcasters or by trolls’ own practices, as is the

. Vaprak’s true nature is something of a mystery, but Vaprak is always portrayed as a horrid, misshapen, greenish creature strongly resembling a troll. Vaprak is given to fits of mindless destruction

Alhoon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

achieving lichdom requires an arcane spellcaster to be at the apex of power—a significant challenge for mind flayers, given the scarcity of available mentors and training. Confronting this

amethyst. The process requires at least three mind flayer arcanists and the sacrifice of an equal number of souls from living victims in a three-day-long ritual of spellcasting and psionic communion. Upon

Spirit Troll

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

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

, greenish creature strongly resembling a troll. Vaprak is given to fits of mindless destruction and uncontrollably fears the plots and ambitions of other deities. Vaprak’s troll worshipers believe

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

Arisen

races

arisen is constructed and given the gift of life, usually by a creator. Arisen are people, to be sure. They have unique personalities, intellects, and experiences, as all humanoids. But do they possess

specification or plan. Others start out innocuously through experimentation to replace living limbs or organs, with repeated experiments inexorably pushing a creature to lose all connection to

Grung

Species One Grung Above

;s scholars and magic users. They are superior to purple, blue, and green grungs and given proper respect even by grungs of higher status. Higher castes include orange grungs, which are elite

caste for life. On rare occasions, an individual that distinguishes itself with great deeds can earn an invitation to join a higher caste. Through a combination of herbal tonics and ritual magic, an

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

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

to another dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races—or even from the gods. Dragonborn Names Dragonborn have personal names given at birth, but they put their clan names first as a

DRACONIANS In the Dragonlance setting, the followers of the evil goddess Takhisis learned a vile ritual that let them corrupt the eggs of metallic dragons, producing evil dragonborn called draconians

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

Quest Goals

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

is a powerful tool. Images or symbols, when repeated, become a pattern that strengthens a story. Subtle differences in repeated scenes can add to the horror, comedy, or drama of a situation. In this

at the Wayside Inn previously, the ritual being performed by the cultists could incorporate movement that harkens back to that dance. Although it’s a small detail that a typical player might overlook, if even just one of your players gets chills or a laugh because of the echo, it’s worth the effort.

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

The Stage Is Set

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

The Stage Is Set The characters must find where Murgaxor is conducting his life-draining ritual and stop it before its completion. Given that Dean Tullus found Murgaxor’s orb in the Fortress Badlands just off campus, that’s the best place for the characters to start their search for Murgaxor’s hideout.

Let This Be Their Battlefield

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

can be placed in any location. Wherever the players decide to place the talisman, their characters must travel to that location while Vizeran makes his final preparations for the ritual. Given their

characters might choose to stay with Vizeran during the nine-hour performance of the ritual, whether to guard against treachery or to reclaim Gromph’s grimoire once the ritual is done. If this is the case

Adventure Background

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

learned the truth: the adventurers who had supposedly slain Drendarylix were cultists who had arrived to worship the wicked beast. Worse, the cult was conducting a ritual to turn Drendarylix into a

dracolich. Displeased with the idea of a dracolich on his doorstep, Vrakir slew the cultists before they could finish the ritual, destroying Drendarylix in the process. Only once the dust settled did the

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

Heliod's Influence

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

respected, there would be peace and order in Nyx and the mortal world alike. Divine Relationships Heliod’s repeated attempts to establish himself as the ruler of the pantheon anger Erebos and Purphoros

, who both have a degree of the arrogance he demonstrates. Thassa and Nylea, by contrast, aren’t bothered by his efforts because they see themselves as being safely outside his reach. He could declare

Crawling Claw

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

long passed on to another plane, the ritual fails. The ritual invoked to create a crawling claw works best with a hand recently severed from a murderer. To this end, ritualists and their servants

mentally command its every action. If the crawling claw’s creator doesn’t command it, the claw follows its last command to the best of its ability. Commands given to a crawling claw must be simple. A

Vizeran's Scheme

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

cup for himself and makes a point of drinking first, although he scoffs at any suggestion that he would try to poison his guests, given all the trouble he has taken to arrange their meeting. Within

enough to satisfy him. “From this tower of exile, I kept watch on Gromph’s activities. This was no easy task given his suspicious and circumspect nature. Nonetheless, my observations revealed that he

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

Druid Spells

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

Druid Spells When druids prepare their spells, they have access to the entire spell list for their class. Given that fact, beware of making all of these new spells available to a player who is easily

Dust devil (conjuration) Earthbind (transmutation) Skywrite (transmutation, ritual) Warding wind (evocation) 3rd Level Erupting earth (transmutation) Flame arrows

Character Objectives

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

Character Objectives When players don’t know what they’re supposed to do in a given encounter, anticipation and excitement can quickly turn to boredom and frustration. A transparent objective

presence. Complications might ensue if they are detected. Stop a Ritual. The plots of evil cult leaders, malevolent warlocks, and powerful fiends often involve rituals that must be foiled. Characters

Draegloth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

Draegloth A draegloth is a demon created by an elf priest of Lolth in an unholy, dangerous ritual in which it is infused with the fey essence of the creator and the fiendish essence of a glabrezu

. This ritual rarely succeeds, but Lolth’s faithful consider it worth the risk, as the resulting creature is gifted with innate magic and physical might. The draegloth usually serves its creator, lending

Hags

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

actions invoke. Dark Sorority. Hags maintain contact with each other and share knowledge. Through such contacts, it is likely that any given hag knows of every other hag in existence. Hags don’t like each

given to other hags — as long as the oath isn’t given with the fingers crossed. Some humanoids make the mistake of thinking that the hags’ rules of conduct apply to all creatures. When confronted by such

The End of the World

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

Dran Map 6.2 shows the setup of the ritual site and the final battle. The inky black space above is now dotted by pulses of purple and green fire. The canyon narrows, then opens again into a cavern

strange mutations. The Far Realm goblins push forward, trying to press through the portal and into your world. Splugoth laughs. “You are too late! The ritual is under my control, and now you must hear

Chapter 10: The Ruins of Berez

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

Night and collects their blood, then bathes in the blood on nights of the new moon in a ritual to stave off the effects of extreme old age. Baba Lysaga recently stole a magic gemstone from the Wizards of

Wines vineyard (chapter 12), in the hope that the wereravens who protect the vineyard will try to reclaim it. She keeps it in her hut as bait to lure her enemies to their deaths. The gem has given her

Exploring the Mortuary

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary

, and experience the occasional encounter. Given the Mortuary’s size and confounding layout, if the characters are searching for a specific place in the Mortuary, the characters might need to make a

grave dirt 6 A cadaver room where maimed Undead can peruse replacement limbs 7 A craft room for caskets, ships, and other containers used in funerary ceremonies 8 A ritual chamber affected by a

Wreck of the Star Goddess

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

the ship. A successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check is enough to reach the ship from the ground. The same check must be repeated to move from one section of the ship to another; alternatively, a

climbing speed, they can move anywhere on the map as easily as on the ship. The NPCs fight back, but they aren’t very effective given their exhaustion. The girallon zombies aren’t above grabbing

Zariel

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

the demons and devils battled. The hosts of Mount Celestia, she believed, could descend upon Avernus en masse and wipe both hordes of evil from the cosmos if they so desired. After her repeated requests

, that change signaled a major shift in the devils’ tactics. Zariel’s fiery temperament and reckless maneuvering stand in stark contrast to Bel’s approach, which relied on his expertise in logistics and

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

Dungrunglung

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

secrecy by Krr’ook. At any given time, Dungrunglung is home to grungs representing all castes and colors. There is only one gold grung (Groak) and one red grung (Krr’ook). For grung stat blocks and more

talks of the great ritual to summon Nangnang. Once the characters are rested, Groak commands them to help Krr’ook make final preparations. If the party looks capable of putting up a good fight, they are

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