could into calling being secrets need

College of Whispers

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

tales to the audiences they gather. In truth, the College of Whispers teaches its students that they are wolves among sheep. These bards use their knowledge and magic to uncover secrets and turn them

, members of this college rarely reveal their true nature. They typically claim to follow some other college, or they keep their actual calling secret in order to infiltrate and exploit royal courts and

College of Whispers (XGtE)

Classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

tales to the audiences they gather. In truth, the College of Whispers teaches its students that they are wolves among sheep. These bards use their knowledge and magic to uncover secrets and turn them

, members of this college rarely reveal their true nature. They typically claim to follow some other college, or they keep their actual calling secret in order to infiltrate and exploit royal courts and

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

d6 Flaw 1 I like secrets so much that I’m reluctant to share details of a plan even with those who need to know. 2 I would let my friends die rather than reveal my true

You’re a spy. Secrets and misinformation are your stock in trade. You skulk in the shadows, infiltrate other guilds, and steal the most precious secrets, whether they’re written in locked

Sailor - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

, and a pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Ship’s Passage When you need to, you can secure free passage on a sailing ship for yourself and your adventuring companions. You might sail on the ship

you served on, or another ship you have good relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route

Ezmerelda d'Avenir

Monsters Curse of Strahd

for two years, helping him track down and slay many creatures of the night. But because van Richten could never bring himself to fully trust a Vistana, he kept secrets from her. The two vampire

he might need help and traveled for months to reach Strahd’s domain. She rode her wagon to Vallaki and learned about an old tower that seemed the sort of place van Richten would use as a base

Satyr Legacy

Species Mythic Odysseys of Theros

eccentricities. Some people spend too much time worrying over why satyrs behave as they do. But satyrs themselves simply are as they are, feeling no need to understand what drives them, much less explain it

amazing things ever. I want to pick them, wear them, and discover their silent secrets. 2 There isn’t a tree or statue that isn’t fun to climb. 3 Nothing wards off bad luck like a

Archaeologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

the treasures and relics of wizards, warlords, or royalty. Some archaeologists plunder for wealth or fame, while others consider it their calling to illuminate the past or keep the world’s

1 Ever since I was a child, I’ve heard stories about a lost city. I aim to find it, learn its secrets, and earn my place in the history books. 2 I want to find my mentor, who

Investigator

Backgrounds Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

could have witnessed something remarkable or terrible, and now you must know more about this hidden truth. Or maybe you’re a detective for hire, uncovering secrets for well-paying clients. Whether

the mysteries you’re embroiled in are local crimes or realm-spanning conspiracies, you’re driven by a personal need to hunt down even the most elusive clues and reveal what others would

Sword of Zariel

Magic Items Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

. Ideals D6 IDEAL 1 Charity. I always help those in need. (Good) 2 Faith. I choose to follow the tenets of a particular lawful good deity to the letter. (Lawful

! 5 I allow nothing to stand in the way of my crusade to eradicate evil from the multiverse. 6 I ignore those who do not support my plans, for my calling is higher than all others

Cloistered Scholar

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

of knowledge. The most well known of Faerûn’s fonts of knowledge is Candlekeep. The great library is always in need of workers and attendants, some of whom rise through the ranks to

. . . everyone . . . is . . . compared . . . to me. 7 I am horribly, horribly awkward in social situations. 8 I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets

Urchin - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

in, a pet mouse, a token to remember your parents by, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp FEATURE: CITY SECRETS You know the secret patterns and flow to cities and

) 3 Change. The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things. (Chaotic) 4 Retribution. The rich need to be shown what life and death are like in

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

, and might have set you on the path to adventure, but it could also come with many dangers, including those who covet your gift and want to take it from you — by force, if need be. Skill

. (Neutral) 6 Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any) d6 Bond 1 I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see

Anthropologist

Backgrounds Tomb of Annihilation

desensitized to violence. 5 I would risk life and limb to discover a new culture or unravel the secrets of a dead one. 6 When I arrive at a new settlement for the first time, I must learn all its

culture—even one in need of aid. (Lawful) 3 Knowledge. By understanding other races and cultures, we learn to understand ourselves. (Any) 4 Power. Common people crave strong

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

need. You can roll a d6 or choose from the options in the Research Options table to determine your area of research. Research Options d6 Clade/Project 1 Hull Clade, focused on

library, a university, or an independent scholar or other learned person or creature. Knowing where the information can be found doesn’t automatically enable you to learn it; you might need to

Ancient Deep Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

attached to their front legs and can fold in close to the body, allowing deep dragons to easily maneuver through relatively narrow tunnels. Deep dragons often hoard secrets, delighting in knowledge of

or ambush visitors if the need arises. A well-cultivated lair abounds with Underdark fungi and plants, with the floor, walls, and ceiling covered in carpets of mold and moss, or featuring larger

Folk Hero - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Baldur’s Gate is a city badly in need of heroes, and every so often, one rises from among its own. Ordinary people who rise to greatness are beloved in local history, but the popular

me away from my higher calling. (Any) d6 Bond 1 I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again. 2 I worked the land, I love the land

Adult Deep Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

attached to their front legs and can fold in close to the body, allowing deep dragons to easily maneuver through relatively narrow tunnels. Deep dragons often hoard secrets, delighting in knowledge

that allow them to escape or ambush visitors if the need arises. A well-cultivated lair abounds with Underdark fungi and plants, with the floor, walls, and ceiling covered in carpets of mold and moss

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

fight it off. 2 I assume that anyone outside the Golgari looks down on me. 3 I feel a need for revenge against those who enjoy the privilege of living above ground. 4 I don’t

joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the sergeant of that Boros squad would love to prove that it was me. 3 I had a romance with a Dimir agent whom I still feed secrets to

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder. Suggested

from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good) 4 Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil) 5 People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Ideal 1 Guild. My guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Creativity. Half the world’s troubles come from stodgy thinking, stuck in the past. We need innovative

solutions. (Chaotic) 3 Discovery. Every experiment has the potential to reveal more secrets of the multiverse. (Any) 4 Science. A rigorous application of logical principles and

Grudgel

races

same legends speak of how the orcs abandoned their lands en masse—not because of enemy incursions or natural disaster, but because of some mysterious calling from their ancestors to sail west

across the sea. While it’s agreed that orcs did flee Etharis in a great fleet, their legacy calling to Thorgard av Holgar a century later, it seems apocryphal that an entire heritage could simply

Sailor Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route that will meet your every need. Your Dungeon

’s Passage When you need to, you can secure free passage on a sailing ship for yourself and your adventuring companions. You might sail on the ship you served on, or another ship you have good

Urchin Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

, and a pouch containing 10 gp FEATURE: CITY SECRETS You know the secret patterns and flow to cities and can find passages through the urban sprawl that others would miss. When you

. (Lawful) 3 Change. The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things. (Chaotic) 4 Retribution. The rich need to be shown what life and death

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

beyond the horizon—makes an adventuring career a natural calling. Every adventure is an opportunity to learn, practice a variety of skills, enter long-forgotten tombs, discover lost works of magic

3 1 — — — — 10th +4 Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Magical Secrets 4 14 4 3 3 3 2

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder. Suggested Characteristics Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an

be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic) 3 Charity. I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good) 4 Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

spell). Sometimes the heads of people who have information the bugbears need speak their secrets amid blubbered pleas for mercy (as with the speak with dead spell).

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

are comfortable in light armor and know how to use simple weapons. Delvers into Secrets Warlocks are driven by an insatiable need for knowledge and power, which compels them into their pacts and

, hags, and alien entities of the Far Realm, warlocks piece together arcane secrets to bolster their own power. Sworn and Beholden A warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being. Sometimes the

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. Whether calling on the elemental forces of nature or emulating the creatures of the animal world, druids are an embodiment of nature’s resilience, cunning, and fury. They claim no mastery over

and animal life, and the need for people to live in harmony with nature, not in opposition to it. Druids accept that which is cruel in nature, and they hate that which is unnatural, including

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of the world, but even fewer people can claim the true calling of a paladin. When they do receive the call, these warriors turn from their former occupations and take up arms to fight evil. Sometimes

angel of death by the gods or driven by your need for revenge? The Gods of the Multiverse section lists many deities worshiped by paladins throughout the multiverse, such as Torm, Tyr, Heironeous

Lorehold College

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

Lorehold College Lorehold is the College of Archaeomancy—a term that describes the exploration of ancient things through magic. Its mages explore the past by poring over archaeological sites, calling

forth magical energy from old tomes, and summoning the spirits of long-dead historical figures. Lorehold mages travel far and wide across the world, gathering relics of bygone ages and learning dead languages to unpack the secrets of history.

Undermountain Secrets

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

Undermountain Secrets Appendix C of this book contains the Secrets Deck — paper cards for you to photocopy and hand out to the players when their characters learn reliable information about Halaster

, and characters need keen ears and sharp insight to determine which stories have weight. Have each character make a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check or Wisdom (Insight) check. If the check

The Gods of Two Peoples

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

or need to do so. As with any people, half-elves often choose a favored deity based on their calling or profession: Corellon Larethian, Azuth, or Mystra for wizards, Solonor Thelandira or Mielikki

. Half-elves often revere the gods of the culture in which they were raised, although some rebel against their upbringing, seeking out the gods of the other aspect of their heritage, or feeling a calling

Walking a Different Path

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

you still can’t invoke the power of a totem creature when you need it. Rather than calling upon the bear, eagle, or wolf as your totem, you might gain the same features by calling upon more urban

the Ancestral Guardian Rather than calling upon the spirits of your ancestors, you are in communion with the franchise executives and corporate raiders who have traveled your path before. These paragons

Secrets and Discovery

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

Secrets and Discovery In the course of an adventure, the players and their characters will uncover information that was previously unknown to them. Make sure the information they need to complete the

adventure is obtainable. Don’t hide important secrets or discoveries in places where the characters aren’t likely to uncover them. Make sure they can’t miss an important secret or discovery simply by

Use an Object

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

chapter, such as breaking down doors, intimidating enemies, sensing weaknesses in magical defenses, or calling for a parley with a foe. The only limits to the actions you can attempt are your imagination

DM tells you whether that action is possible and what kind of roll you need to make, if any, to determine success or failure.

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