conversely regarded grinding to have rather

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

; animosity, gnomes tend to avoid or abandon settlements that have a severe infestation of kobolds, and conversely kobolds are usually driven out of communities that have a large gnome population

Able Scavengers

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

are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation where the townsfolk would try to

infestation of kobolds, and conversely kobolds are usually driven out of communities that have a large gnome population. Second, kobolds are always on the lookout for magic that might help them free their

Meeting the Queen

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

knows about the outside world but feigns ignorance in an attempt to catch the characters in a lie. She respects those who show her respect and treat her people as their equals, rather than as primitive

unnecessarily. If hatchlings are among the characters’ victims, the queen is close to outrage and makes no secret of it. Conversely, if the characters arrive with hatchlings in tow, her estimation of them

Droaam

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

until medical attention can be obtained. Harpies in the taverns of Droaam use their hypnotic songs to entertain rather than to harm. When you bring creatures from Droaam into the campaign, consider how

continent’s cities. Gargoyle couriers are in high demand. Though monstrous workers of these sorts are still rare in many nations, their numbers are growing. Conversely, a visit to Droaam gives adventurers a

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

magic button to bring things back to the way they should be, this person you love so much restored to who they really are rather than what cancer is grinding them down into. It’s easy to give in to

The Dual Role of Abbathor

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

dwarven pantheon. Abbathor is an advocate of change, not stability — an attitude normally regarded with suspicion by dwarves. But in this case, the god delivers his message inside the embrace of avarice

their creation, or actually steal them. Greed distorts the joy that dwarves normally take from their work. It focuses on the value of the end result, rather than the importance of the process of creation

Giantkind

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

associated son of Annam: Stronmaus, Annam’s firstborn, is regarded as the progenitor of storm giants, and Grolantor, progenitor of hill giants, is Annam’s youngest son. Thus, the ordning neatly encompasses and

is never regarded as a proper son of Annam. The Dwarvish Saga of Gnarldan Steelshield describes how Vaprak arose from Annam’s blood when it was spilled on one of the worlds he tended, and the trolls

Simple Traps

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

experience, the characters can become overly cautious, and you run the risk of the action grinding to a halt as the players search every square inch of the dungeon for trip wires and pressure plates

characters discover a trap, be open to adjudicating their ideas for defeating it. The trap’s description is a starting point for countermeasures, rather than a complete definition. To make it easier

Adventure Structure

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

unconscious rather than killed. Such characters might awaken in an alley, a sewer tunnel, or a prison cell, with or without their gear. Conversely, they might awaken safe and sound with all their gear in a private residence, being cared for by friendly NPCs who took them in.

Barrow Mound

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

the following text: Sunlight coming through the barrow’s entry hall dims, as if a shadow has been cast on the entrance. Right afterward, a grinding of stone is followed by cascade of dirt and stone in

from the earth in the main chamber. It attacks those it can see, rather than pursuing Javor. While the party fights the elemental, Javor works with supernatural fervor to clear the rubble choking the

Mind Flayer

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

fears. Mind flayers will sometimes harvest a brain rather than devour it, using it as part of some alien experiment or transforming it into an intellect devourer. QUALITH On the rare occasion that

the effect on itself on a success. VARIANT: MIND FLAYER ARCANIST A few mind flayers supplement their psionic power with arcane spells. However, they are regarded as deviants by their illithid

Currency

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

realms of Thay and Halruaa) use the currencies of other realms when trading abroad because their own coins and tokens are feared to be magically cursed, and so are shunned by others. Conversely, the

coins of long-lost, legendary lands and centers of great magic are honored, though those who find them are wise to sell them to collectors rather than merely spending them in markets. The coins of the

The Peg and Hook

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

, NPCs will begin to take notice of them, and not just vice versa. Rather than the adventurers constantly thinking about which NPCs might make solid prospective business partners, those NPCs might start

. Conversely, the NPCs the players most actively dislike could become foes, joining Dran Enterprises or the Six, then appearing later in the campaign to pay the characters back for some real or imagined

Life in the Domains of Dread

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

. Religion In many domains, locals maintain chilly relationships with aloof deities, knowing “the gods” only through hollow rituals and clergy with scant supernatural powers. Conversely, some people

domains, locals measure time by “moons” rather than months. As a measurement of time, each moon begins on the first night of a full moon and lasts a full lunar cycle. A year consists of twelve moons, or

Fey Contracts

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory

something. This nagging sense doesn’t go away until the Fey figures out what they lost and who has the stolen item. Moreover, the Fey might not want the stolen thing back, but rather something of equal or

. Major Magic Item. You gain a very rare magic item that is yours to keep, or a legendary magic item for 5d12 days. Safety. One creature that previously regarded you as an enemy no longer remembers you

Zodiac Signs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things

are regarded as harbingers of mortal doom or fatal misfortune. Many experience tragedy at a young age. Professions associated with this sign include coroner, executioner, exorcist, grave robber, and

circles, a pair of hands pressed palms together. In mythological stories, the Lovers are bored by the Talons and would rather make tragic deals with the Gem. When portrayed as a person, the Flames takes up

Uthgardt Lands

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

call themselves “children of Uthgar.” Though the Uthgardt each belong to a given tribe, these are markers of identity, rather than coherent populations. In my experience, it is rare outside of

size that near the ancient ancestral mound of the Red Tiger tribe. The settlement was founded some time ago by members of the Black Lion tribe, who put down roots here rather than continuing to live

Ascendant Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

gather in the Shattered Temple, a place once dedicated to Aoskar, a now-dead god of portals. Rather than serve in Sigil’s government, the Athar’s self-appointed spy network closely surveils the city’s

Mercykillers—if there’s no meaning, there can’t be order. Conversely, the Doomguard, Hands of Havoc, and Heralds of Dust all find enough common points with Bleakers to call them allies. Doomguard Who

Outer City Gazetteer

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

visitors might bring with them. Few seek the church’s services on their own. Rather, most who come to dwell at the church either have a room rented for them by concerned family or receive a somewhat

the south came sailing into Gray Harbor. Rather than opening their doors to the foreigners, the people of Baldur’s Gate quickly hustled them out of the city, forcing them out the Basilisk Gate in the

Outer City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

extol the virtues of meditation and whatever calm faiths visitors might bring with them. Few seek the church’s services on their own. Rather, most who come to dwell at the church either have a room

Generations ago, a fleet of Calishite refugees fleeing war in the south came sailing into Gray Harbor. Rather than opening their doors to the foreigners, the people of Baldur’s Gate quickly hustled them

City Celebrations

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

Nimoar. The illusion typically lasts from midday to sunset (unless someone has the audacity and magical might to dispel it) and is regarded as a stunning work of magical art. Flamerule 3–5: Sornyn Sornyn

inspires misfortune rather than avoiding it. For fear of catching the bad luck of cynics, citizens do their best to avoid talking to anyone known to not have played along, or dealing with them in any way

Locations I - L

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

to be the easternmost extent of the Spine of the World, rather than being mountain ranges in their own right. The difference is academic, since all three areas have soaring peaks, permanent snowpack

in an endless tumult, like winter grinding its teeth in anticipation of its next freezing assault. Between these formidable obstacles lies windswept tundra dotted with settlements and the occasional

Lair Locations

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

room. All the chests are unlocked. Each contains personal effects and a small ivory statuette of Semuanya. These are of no value but are regarded as very valuable by the shamans. Treasure. The chests

minister’s favorites: The Politics of Power by Lucia Domici (5 gp), another rather obscure work dealing with the shiftier side of politics. The Triumph of Diplomacy by Tyrons Scroot (5 gp), a history

Areas of the Air Temple

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

, you hear the grinding of enormous gears hidden deep below the stone floor. Two Howling Hatred priests (see chapter 7) supervise as five commoners slowly turn the westernmost wheel (see “Stone

creature is either disguised in plain sight as a cloak or hiding on the ceiling. The cloaker uses hit-and-run tactics against the characters, rather than risking itself in a drawn-out fight. Treasure The

Locations in Triboar

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

Waterdeep elected by the people of Triboar to command the town militia, settle disputes, and keep the peace. Her association with the Harpers is not widely known, but she is widely regarded as a fair

as Gwaeron Windstrom. The oni cleans up after itself, leaving little evidence of its victims behind. This “tidiness” has led others to believe that sometimes Gwaeron, rather than sending prophetic

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