contrast well runes

Jarl Storvald

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

supplies, as well as to pillage wood from the mainland to repair the damaged ships and lodges of Svardborg. Storvald has childhood memories of a legend about the Ice That Never Melts — a

immortality to its wearer, was last seen in the possession of a human adventurer (and former Harper) named Artus Cimber. Guided by magical runes of tracking, Storvald plans to find the ring and bring about the

Deathless Rider

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

called lich-knights or fell horsemen. In stark contrast to the knights of Eldraine, the deathless riders are without virtue of any kind. They are few in number—unless many more lurk in the dark

heart of the forest than anyone is aware. But when mortal knights meet them in the wilds, the encounter rarely ends well for the living. The deathless riders fight with superhuman strength, heedless

Brain Breaker

Monsters Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Creature Sense. The brain breaker is aware of creatures within 1 mile of itself that have an Intelligence score of 4 or higher. It knows the distance and direction to each creature, as well as each

breakers look like giant brains with stout legs, and they wear steel armor made from interlocked links of Ilvaash’s runes (knots of tentacles, brains, and jagged lines reminiscent of jaws).Psychic

Category 1 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

-crab), and the sharktocrab (an improved shambleshark that includes octopus elements as well). Major Adaptations d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Major Adaptations

thick scales, increasing its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving

Category 2 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

(an improved shambleshark that includes octopus elements as well). Major Adaptations d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Major Adaptations"} Major Adaptation 1

its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving throws against spells and other

Category 3 Krasis

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

shark-crab), and the sharktocrab (an improved shambleshark that includes octopus elements as well). Major Adaptations d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Major Adaptations

or thick scales, increasing its Armor Class by 4. 3 Bioluminescent Markings. The krasis has glowing patterns on its skin that take the shape of defensive runes, granting it advantage on saving

Halaster Blackcloak

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

sight, and allows him to see invisible creatures and objects, as well as into the Ethereal Plane, out to a range of 120 feet. Halaster wields a blast scepter (a very rare magic item that requires

casting elder runes on them. Halaster’s gates connect the different levels of Undermountain, thus enabling him to bring new monsters into the dungeon to replenish those that die or escape. Even as

Genasi Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

into the mortal world. They adapt well to the mingled elements of the Material Plane, and they sometimes visit—whether of their own volition or compelled by magic. Some genies can adopt mortal

up to the Sword Coast, and into the Western Heartlands to the east. Some remain in their ancient homeland. In contrast, water and earth genasi have no common history. Individuals have difficulty

Rest Warden

backgrounds

trade of the gravedigger, the mortician, and the embalmer. There are times when you have been the only one to say a kind word in honor of those who passed. The depredations of the Undead are well-known

Warden Rest wardens tend to be either a dour and somber lot or—in contrast to their trade—are filled with the vibrance and joy of life. Those who understand the thin thread between life

Gnome Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

his or her appearance. A male gnome’s beard, in contrast to his wild hair, is kept carefully trimmed but often styled into curious forks or neat points. A gnome’s clothing, though usually

whenever they can. Their homes are well hidden by both clever construction and simple illusions. Welcome visitors are quickly ushered into the bright, warm burrows. Those who are not welcome are

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

. Ash is associated with life and oak with strength. These woods make excellent hafts or whole weapons, such as clubs or quarterstaffs, as well as shields. Alder is associated with air, and it might be

Hiatea's Hearth Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

. Throne. An immense granite throne stands at the head of the hall. It is intricately decorated with stylized figures of giants and beasts, as well as more Giant runes.

from whole tree trunks run the length of the hall. Hearth. An enormous fireplace holds iron spits, pots, and kettles within. Inscribed on the stone arch surrounding the fireplace are Giant runes

Monsters

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

Monsters Ghosts, mind flayers, werewolves—every monster is a story. Consider which monsters complement or contrast a Darklord’s story. In a few sentences, describe which monsters best represent the

ghosts who suffer from the Darklord’s experiments. For inspiration, refer to the “Darklord’s Shadows” section and your answers to the questions there, as well as the Monsters tables in the “Genres of Horror” section later in this chapter.

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

of Martisha for many years. Cooragh is famous for her incredibly tasty, and alarmingly well-spiced, stews and meat pies. Map 2: Wayside Inn View Player Version

Far Realm Rifts

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

their ritual gate. Together, these runes strengthened the gateway, allowing the fanatics to pass through with their pieces of the Netherese obelisks, as well as their victims kidnapped from Phandalin. The

flesh, hair, and blunt teeth called gnawbles (see “Gnawbles” in the “Far Realm Rifts Features” section). The runes are too faded to be effective, but the gnawbles formed from the runes’ residue can

19. Steering Tower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

the room. You see glowing moonstones, thumb-sized emeralds, shining silvery mithral wands, and strange spheres covered in turquoise and gold, as well as dozens of copper levers and golden spheres

glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes. This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of Esclarotta

19. Steering Tower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

the room. You see glowing moonstones, thumb-sized emeralds, shining silvery mithral wands, and strange spheres covered in turquoise and gold, as well as dozens of copper levers and golden spheres

glowing white runes wink into existence, drifting about the room like snowflakes. This is the castle’s steering chamber. When no one is present, the castle is under the control of the spirit of

Chapter 5: Giant Treasures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

Chapter 5: Giant Treasures Working together forged our friendship as well as my beneficent bracelet. Afterward, Diancastra delighted in showing me the glory of the giants across the breadth of the

' civilizations. “Magic Items” presents new magic items associated with giants, their legends, and their magic runes. Adrián Ibarra Lugo

6. Annam's Temple

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

archway is 40 feet wide and 40 feet tall. Six different runes are carved into it, each one inlaid with mithral, and a glowing mist fills the arch. Niches in the walls on either side of it contain empty

vanish and reappear in the appropriate statue’s grasp. If the statue is destroyed, the weapon has nowhere to return to and disappears. The table shows which statue holds which weapon, as well as the

Describing Monsters

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

, the whistled tune of a well-known nursery rhyme issuing from its lipless mouth, and the unnatural heat that forms ripples in the air around it. These details don’t need to rely on grotesque

descriptions. Sometimes it’s a contrast between mundane and terrifying details that stands out, like a monster’s soulful eyes or pearly teeth set amid vicious features. Make it Personal. There’s a fine line

D6. Hall of Vows

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

Dethek runes on it, reading, “A beacon in the dark depths.” The axe’s wielder always knows the way to the nearest passage leading from underground toward the surface, as well as the approximate depth the axe is underground.

Para-elemental Planes

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

, and red dragons, as well as creatures from the neighboring planes. Lava flows down the slopes of these mountains toward the Plane of Fire. Plane of Ooze The border region between the Plane of Water

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

The Giant Lords

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

ships and plunder their supplies, as well as to pillage wood from the mainland to repair the damaged ships and lodges of Svardborg. Storvald has childhood memories of a legend about the Ice That Never

grants immortality to its wearer, was last seen in the possession of a human adventurer (and former Harper) named Artus Cimber. Guided by magical runes of tracking, Storvald plans to find the ring and

Warlock

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

spells the warlock knows. Does the Eyes of the Rune Keeper invocation work on magical runes? Eyes of the Rune Keeper lets you read any form of writing, including the linguistic meaning of a rune, if any

, but the feature doesn’t give that creature the ability to telepathically reply. In contrast, the telepathy ability that some monsters have (MM , "Telepathy") does make two-way communication possible

11. Melissara's Study

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

by Melissara. Inside is a small black journal. The first page of the book is trapped with a glyph of warding spell, whose explosive runes deal fire damage (save DC 15). The glyph is keyed to go off if

anyone but Melissara opens the journal (a precaution to prevent her cousins from reading it and discovering her secrets). The journal details Melissara’s unease with her family, as well as her growing

Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin)

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

Deep Gnomes (Svirfneblin) Also known as svirfneblin, the deep gnomes of the Underdark are a stark contrast to their surface kin, dour and serious compared to the cheerful and generally optimistic

rock gnomes and forest gnomes. They share their cousins’ obsession with privacy, and their homes below the surface of Faerûn are well guarded and deeply hidden. Owing to the hostility of their Underdark

2. Hunting Kennel

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

statistics), which the cultists use to track and kill game and intruders. The drakes obey Trepsin as the leader of their pack. Trepsin wears a mossy and filthy cape that he soaks in water from the well; this

rope: probably a young boar, though the flies make it hard to tell. Beneath it is a bowl circled by runes written in blood. The runes are written in Giant. Trepsin is a follower of the demon lord

Studies and Philosophy

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

fundamental conflict at the heart of Lorehold’s philosophy. This conflict revolves around the forces that underlie and drive history. Is the course of time driving toward a well-ordered ideal state or

of chaos, by contrast, emphasizes individual actions, personal bonds of families and friends, and the disruptive force of lone, passionate people in history. Scholars of chaos gravitate toward

Silent Sound Lighthouse

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

investigate the wards understands the purpose of the runes, as well as the ways in which the wards can fail (see below). Trapped Stairs. Runes scribed onto the six bottom stairs leading up to the next

contract between Acquisitions Incorporated and the Order of the Stout Half-Pint. The franchise was established two years ago, and has been doing well by all accounts. A wall calendar with the name “Wizzy

Setessa's Surroundings

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

Setessa’s Surroundings Beyond the city’s encircling trees, the territory of Setessa extends to cover about a third of the Nessian Wood and a wide swath of the open chaparral. In contrast to Meletis

Setessan society. Experts train the renowned falcons of Setessa here, along with horses for riding and for combat. More unusual animals are found here as well: trainers work with pegasi, wolves, and

2. Hunting Kennel

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

soaks in water from the well; this provides both good camouflage and partial protection against fire. The muddy cape allows him to ignore the first 10 points of fire damage from any attack or source

carcass hangs from the tripod by a rope: probably a young boar, though the flies make it hard to tell. Beneath it is a bowl circled by runes written in blood. The runes are written in Giant. Trepsin

Far Realm Explorers

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

, inimical to mortal life and sanity. If the characters decide to explore the Far Realm further, they would be well advised to seek out one of the Far Realm’s few safe harbors. Examples of these

interlocked links of Ilvaash’s runes (knots of tentacles, brains, and jagged lines reminiscent of jaws). A brain breaker uses the stat block of an infected elder brain (see chapter 7) with the following

D&D Beyond

Search Results