corrupt rather grown to have realms

Draegloth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

mouth full of sharp teeth. Among the drow noble houses of Menzoberranzan in the Forgotten Realms, a high priestess’s successful creation of a draegloth is seen as a sign of Lolth’s favor

to strike at its rivals when the draegloth is fully grown. These plans use the draegloth in a significant role, because its abilities can turn the tide in a battle against a house that doesn’t

Annis Hag

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

their kind, standing eight feet tall. They can easily tear a fully grown person apart, but they love hunting the young, preferring their flesh above all others. Annis hags leave tokens of their cruelty

child. Much as annis hags befriend children in order to corrupt them, they may adopt a group of ogres, trolls, or other creatures (ogre;ogres and troll;trolls appear in the Monster Manual), ruling them

Spring Eladrin

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

will: Tasha's hideous laughter 1/day each: major image, suggestionTheir hearts filled with joy, spring eladrin cavort through their sylvan realms, their songs and laughter filling the air. These

they aren’t incapacitated. When the eladrin makes this change, they use the stat block of the new season rather than their old stat block. Any damage the eladrin sustained in their previous form

Isolde

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

archfey named Zybilna, who had forged secret pacts with some of the fiends Isolde and her companions had slain. Rather than be angry at Isolde, Zybilna was impressed by her. She enlisted a powerful fiend

known only as “the Caller” to corrupt and slay all of Isolde’s companions, leaving Isolde alone, bitter, and vulnerable. The insidious archfey then befriended Isolde and offered to

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

away in the night to seek the cold will of fate. In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in

wisdom in their leadership, for they can rarely count on a wisdom grown with age. Goliath Names Every goliath has three names: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, a nickname

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the

functionaries in Baldur’s Gate or Neverwinter, or you might have grown up in and around the castle of Daggerford. Even if you are no longer a full-fledged member of the group that gave you your start in

Acolyte - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

religious service. The Gods of the Multiverse section contains a sample pantheon, from the Forgotten Realms setting. Were you a lesser functionary in a temple, raised from childhood to assist the priests in

his or her teachings. (Any) d6 Bond 1 I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. BALDUR’S GATE

could be hidden. 4 I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. 5 I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide. 6 I don’t pay

Faction Agent

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and

relic of my faith that was lost long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. 3 I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

the behaviors common to corrupt guards and military officers a mile away. While awareness of such corruption doesn’t equate to evidence of it, and your sense certainly isn’t foolproof, your

keep that mistake secret. 4 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

subterranean cities or settlements, you are probably a member of the race that occupies the place—but you might also have grown up there after being captured and brought below when you were a child

foreign land. 2 I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. 3 I have a weakness for the new intoxicants and other pleasures of this

Xill

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

, built for a specific purpose. Some are fortresses, designed to keep wanderers from the material world away. Others are far more sinister, dark realms where evil dreams take root and become ghastly

target young but promising adventurers, those whose natural talent and aptitude point to a bright future but whose skills have not yet grown sharp enough to repel a dedicated assault.

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Her father stood on the first of the three stairs that led down from the portal, unmoving. The scales of his face had grown paler around the edges, but Clanless Mehen still looked as if he could

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

Acolyte Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

, from the Forgotten Realms setting. Were you a lesser functionary in a temple, raised from childhood to assist the priests in the sacred rites? Or were you a high priest who suddenly experienced a call

long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. 3 I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died. 4 Everything I do

Human

races

homelands. The period written in history as the Era of Expansion is often portrayed as an endless eruption of violence that lasted centuries as humans spread to every corner of Etharis. Rather, the

their realms are far from homogeneous, each with their own history and mix of folk from other heritages. Of all human vices, ambition is thought to be the most insidious. Humans still dominate

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different

new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden. 4 I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. 5 I am incredibly slow to trust. Those

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

, humans champion causes rather than territories or groups. Human Names and Ethnicities Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as a whole have no typical names. Some human parents

naming traditions of their ancestors. The material culture and physical characteristics of humans can change wildly from region to region. In the Forgotten Realms, for example, the clothing, architecture

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

of the world beyond their home. Barterers of Lore Tabaxi treasure knowledge rather than material things. A chest filled with gold coins might be useful to buy food or a coil of rope, but it’s

wanderers keep to civilized realms, preferring to bargain instead of pursuing more dangerous methods of sating their curiosity. However, they aren’t above a little discreet theft to get their claws

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of nature itself or from a nature deity. Many druids pursue a mystic spirituality of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature

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

Warlock

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

, most notably Vecna and Tharizdun, also offer pacts to warlocks who dare contact them. Both Iuz and Vecna fit the Undying patron’s role. Iuz, in particular, uses offers of power to corrupt and

subvert folk among his enemies. He offers easy bargains and great power to those in the realms of Furyondy and Veluna who are willing to subvert those states from within. Some warlocks relish their role as turncoats, a few others turn against Iuz, and still others take his power and use it to their own ends.

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

adventurers are usually the survivors of a flock that has sustained heavy losses, or a rare kenku who has grown weary of a life of crime. These kenku are more ambitious and daring than their fellows

kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what they mean. Be clear

Elf Rangers

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

Elf Rangers Elf rangers are usually associated with a particular community such as Evereska or the tribes in the Misty Forest. Rather than being wandering explorers, elf rangers typically act as

scouts and guardians of elven realms. Such elves usually devote themselves to Rillifane Rallathil or Solonor Thelandria. Elf rangers driven to roam might instead favor Fenmarel Mestarine, god of lone wanderers, or Shevarash, elven god of vengeance.

Intrigue

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

Intrigue The corrupt vizier schemes with the baron’s oldest daughter to assassinate the baron. A hobgoblin army sends doppelganger spies to infiltrate the city before the invasion. At the embassy

create a defense-focused dwarf paladin, only to find he is out of place among elf diplomats and tiefling spies. The Brimstone Angels novels by Erin M. Evans focus on intrigue in the Forgotten Realms

Shadow Crossings

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

battlefields, graveyards, and tombs. They manifest only in darkness, closing as soon as they feel light’s kiss. EVERNIGHT The city of Neverwinter in the world of the Forgotten Realms has a dark reflection

missing enough stones that they appear pockmarked. The sky is corpse gray, and the breeze blows cold and humid, bringing a chill to the skin. The city’s living residents include necromancers, corrupt

The Great Wheel

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

, with the Material realms at the center. The Inner Planes form a wheel around the Material Plane, enveloped in the Ethereal Plane. Then the Outer Planes form another wheel around and behind (or above

between Bytopia and Arcadia; rather, this theoretical positioning is based on the philosophical shading among the three planes and the relative importance they give to law and good. Other

T5. Tiger's Eye

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

Waterdeep for years, switching identities as often as needed to keep its true nature hiden. It has grown accustomed to living among mortals and, much to its own astonishment, is rather fond of

Zariel's Fall

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

weapon and hide it, so that the devils would not destroy or corrupt it. Yael took the sword and fled, along with Zariel’s faithful hollyphant companion, Lulu. Zariel’s other two generals, Olanthius

grace. Haruman followed his master into damnation willingly and was transformed into a narzugon devil, while Olanthius, who took his own life rather than bow before Asmodeus, was brought back to serve as a death knight under Zariel’s burning gaze.

Cyric

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

claims to be heresy. Their Prince of Lies isn’t a twisted madman, but a god of dark majesty who proves that, ultimately, all bonds between folk corrupt and wither away. Cyric’s church works openly in Amn

folk pray to Cyric when they want to do wrong but don’t want others to find out about it. “The Dark Sun,” originally one of Cyric’s epithets, has become a metaphor for strife in the Realms. “A Dark Sun

Setting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

Setting the Adventure This adventure takes place in the Western Heartlands of the Sword Coast region in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. You can set the adventure on a different world if you

part of the Kingdom of Furyondy. The evil cambion Iuz, rather than Szass Tam, sends forces against the fortress.

Appendix B: Character Names

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

determine a name. Even though names are associated with races in this appendix, a character might not have a name from their own race. For instance, a half-orc might have grown up among dwarves and

have a dwarven name. Or, as DM, you might decide that dragonborn in your campaign have a culture reminiscent of ancient Rome and therefore use Roman names, rather than the dragonborn names suggested here.

Roleplaying Strahd

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

. In his mind, her death couldn’t have been prevented, and what is done cannot be undone. In life, Strahd lived to conquer. In undeath, he conquers still—not realms, but people, driving good souls to

become corrupt and destroying those who won’t yield. Characters who try to appeal to Strahd’s humanity will be gravely disappointed, because there is little humanity left in him. If they ask Strahd

Courtier

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

Courtier In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather

functionaries in Baldur’s Gate or Neverwinter, or you might have grown up in and around the castle of Daggerford. Even if you are no longer a full-fledged member of the group that gave you your start in life

Survival of the Fittest

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

themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk

tribes suffer from a chronic lack of the experience offered by long-term leaders. They hope for innate wisdom in their leadership, for they can rarely count on a wisdom grown with age.

Strahd von Zarovich

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

since his transformation, Strahd’s lust for life has grown. He broods in his castle, cursing the living for all he has lost and never admitting to his role in the tragedy. KATERINA LADON The Summer

crop with a smile and summon wildfires with the merest crinkling of her brow. Sword Coast, The The Sword Coast is the western edge of the continent of the Forgotten Realms setting, running along the

Character Alignment

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

character’s beliefs aren’t what they profess. Alignment doesn’t limit the actions characters can take; rather, the actions they take indicate what their alignment is. It’s OK to stray from the tenets of one’s

chapter 1 if you run into trouble with evil characters played in a disruptive way. Planes and Alignment The Outer Planes (described in chapter 6) are realms where alignment manifests in reality. When

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