cousins whether reason

Snow Sphinx

monsters

whips around a feline face, revealing piercing blue eyes that can freeze foes with a single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or

Dragon Root

Equipment

Combat Utility Whimsy 14 15 16 There is no discernable rhyme or reason for where dragon root is located on Obojima. But like all such mysteries, legends abound. The story

most often repeated regarding dragon root claims that wherever it is found, it marks the footfalls of a spirit dragon from a bygone age named Runivarish. Whether or not this is true, or not, locals do

Waterdhavian Noble

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an exception, people

your family, possibly in line to become its leader one day. Or you might be one of any number of cousins, with less prestige but also less responsibility. Skill Proficiencies: History

Ancient Deep Crow

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

cousins, the ancient deep crows. Whether these gargantuan specimens are elder deep crows grown to great size or some higher form that holds lesser deep crows in thrall remains to be determined. Ideally

Warforged Colossus

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Mourning more or less intact and are thought to only be in stasis, waiting to be awakened. Cannith artificers are eager to track them down and determine whether they can be awakened or, at the very

is built to carry wizards, artificers, magewrights, and elite troops. For this reason, these constructs are largely hollow on the inside, with tunnels, ladders, storage areas, and observation decks

Young Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

in the depths of the Underdark, deep dragons are nightmarish cousins of chromatic dragons. The warped magical energy of their subterranean realm gives them the ability to exhale magical spores that

enigma for other creatures. (Any) 4 Adaptability. Whether taking on a new form, making new allies, or trying a new strategy, flexibility keeps one youthful. (Chaotic) 5 Superiority. Weaker

Deep Dragon Wyrmling Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

nightmarish cousins of chromatic dragons. The warped magical energy of their subterranean realm gives them the ability to exhale magical spores that instill fear and scar the mind. Deep dragons&rsquo

. Whether taking on a new form, making new allies, or trying a new strategy, flexibility keeps one youthful. (Chaotic) 5 Superiority. Weaker creatures cannot be trusted, so I constantly remind my

Bugbear

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Neither bugs nor bears, bugbears are the hulking cousins of goblins and hobgoblins. With roots in the Feywild, early bugbears resided in hidden places, in hard-to-reach and shadowed spaces. Long ago

formidable build, bugbears are quiet skulkers, thanks to a fey magic that allows them to hide in spaces seemingly too small for them. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

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

guildless masses of the city. Consider why you’re embedded in the secondary guild. Create a story with your DM, inspired by rolling on the following table or choosing a reason that suits you

Far Traveler

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

provided. The following section, discussing possible homelands, includes some suggested reasons that are appropriate for each location. d6 Reason d6 Reason 1 Emissary 4 Pilgrim

hundreds of miles of the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea. No one from your nation makes the effort to cross such colossal barriers without a convincing reason. You must fear something truly

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

undetected and don’t give their targets reason to harm them. For example, a group of city kobolds might sneak into a cobbler’s house at night to loot it of knives, leather bits, nails, and

, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The kobolds prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger

Waterdhavian Noble

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

reputation across Faerûn for being eccentric, spoiled, venal, and, above all else, rich. Whether you are a shining example of the reason for this reputation or one who proves the rule by being an

your family, possibly in line to become its leader one day. Or you might be one of any number of cousins, with less prestige but also less responsibility. Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion Tool

Firbolg

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Distant cousins of giants, the first firbolgs wandered the primeval forests of the multiverse, and the magic of those forests entwined itself with the firbolgs’ souls. Centuries later, that

Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character

Githyanki

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Once members of a people who escaped servitude to mind flayers, githyanki split from their cousins, githzerai, and fled to the Astral Plane. In that timeless, silvery realm, githyanki honed their

astral clouds. Githyanki who reside in the Astral Plane can live indefinitely. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical

Hobgoblin

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

hobgoblin legions have emerged, with ranks of devoted soldiers famed for their unity. Hobgoblins are generally taller than their goblin cousins but not quite as big as bugbears. They have curved

, pointed ears and noses that turn bright red or blue during displays of emotion. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a

Gnomes of the Five Nations

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

gnomes find new homes and integrate easily into local cultures. Gnomes can be found in any walk of life, whether they be as merchants, magewrights, scholars, or scoundrels. While the gnomes of the Five

Nations aren’t as inherently devious as their Zil cousins, they share the Zil emphasis on the importance of family. As a gnome character from the Five Nations, you might have a network of connections

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

, elemental forces hold greater sway than they do on other worlds. As a people touched by elemental power, genasi are viewed as seers, prophets, and chosen ones. The birth of a genasi, whether a slave, a noble

Githzerai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Githzerai migrated to the Everchanging Chaos of Limbo after the ancient schism that split their ancestors from their cousins, githyanki. Limbo is a roiling maelstrom of matter and energy, collapsing

choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score

Lizardfolk

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

The saurian lizardfolk are thought by some sages to be distant cousins of dragonborn and kobolds. Despite their resemblance to those other scaled folk, however, lizardfolk are their own people and

level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score

Ancient Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

cousins of chromatic dragons. The warped magical energy of their subterranean realm gives them the ability to exhale magical spores that instill fear and scar the mind. Deep dragons’ black-and

we would all do well to prioritize that kinship. (Any) 3 Mystery. I appreciate a question I cannot answer, so I strive to be an enigma for other creatures. (Any) 4 Adaptability. Whether

Adult Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

nightmarish cousins of chromatic dragons. The warped magical energy of their subterranean realm gives them the ability to exhale magical spores that instill fear and scar the mind. Deep dragons’ black

, and we would all do well to prioritize that kinship. (Any) 3 Mystery. I appreciate a question I cannot answer, so I strive to be an enigma for other creatures. (Any) 4 Adaptability. Whether

Alignment

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

Alignment A creature’s alignment provides a clue to its disposition. For example, a chaotic evil creature might be difficult to reason with and might attack characters on sight, whereas a neutral

creature might be willing to negotiate. Alignment indicates whether a creature leans toward law or chaos and good or evil or whether a creature is neutral. Any Alignment. Some creatures, such as the

Starting the Adventure

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

Starting the Adventure When this adventure begins, the characters are in Neverwinter. Consider telling the characters that they’ll all join the same wagon headed to Phandalin, whether it’s because

they’re working for the dwarf Gundren Rockseeker (see the “Meet Me in Phandalin” adventure hook above) or they have another reason to go to the frontier town. No matter the characters’ motivation, allow

Appendix: Festive Monsters

compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack

single glance. Compared to its desert-dwelling cousins, this sphinx is far less likely to be defeated with reason or logic. Although a snow sphinx can speak, it generally greets its prey with claws and

Improvising Ability Checks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

things that the adventure can’t possibly anticipate. It’s up to you to decide whether their attempts are successful. If it seems like anyone should have an easy time doing it, don’t ask for an ability

determine how hard the task is so that you can set the DC for the check. The higher the DC, the more difficult the task. The easiest way to set a DC is to decide whether the task’s difficulty is easy

The Ordning

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

smallest of the true giants are the hill giants, as gluttonous as they are loathsome. Hill giants are dullards who live in fear of their more powerful giant cousins. In hill giant society, the biggest

the cause of the giants’ unrest. It remains to be seen whether the old ordning between the giant types will be restored, or whether a new hierarchy will replace the old one, knocking the storm giants from their lofty perch.

Cultural Melancholy

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

Cultural Melancholy The reason that elves are seldom frivolous and carefree is rooted in an inborn malaise or sorrow that infused the primal elves when they chose to stop following Corellon’s path

doing so they somehow compromised Corellon’s mutability as well. Whether or not Lolth tricked the primal elves, to Corellon’s mind, is beside the point. They chose to follow her lead, which precipitated

Barbarian

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

emotion, making its manifestation all the more terrible. Whether the impetus for the fury comes entirely from within or from forging a link with a spirit animal, a raging barbarian becomes able to perform

all others; see the following sections for some ideas. Rawr! I’m really angry! Funny, I don’t feel any stronger. Maybe because I’m always angry, I’m always in top condition. Stands to reason.

Wearing and Wielding Items

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

exceptions exist. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn't adjust. For example, drow-made armor might fit elves only

. Dwarves might make items usable only by dwarf-sized and dwarf-shaped folk. When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your discretion as to whether the item functions as intended. A ring placed on a tentacle might work, but a creature with a snakelike tail instead of legs can't wear boots.

Caught in the Middle

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

mother. At the moment, neither is interested in listening to reason. Gammon clumsily collides with a random character, bounces off them, and falls to the ground. A moment later, Lamai catches up and

engaging diplomatically and succeeding on a DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Less than a minute later—whether or not the characters get involved—Gammon’s mother, Kusa Xungoon, appears from the surrounding crowd.

Ability Checks

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

Ability Checks An ability check is a test to see whether a character succeeds at a task that he or she has decided to attempt. The Player’s Handbook includes examples of what each ability score is

whether both sides use the same ability or whether different abilities should counter each other. For example, when a creature tries to hide, it engages in a contest of Dexterity against Wisdom. But if two

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

exceptions exist. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn’t adjust. For example, armor made by the drow might fit

elves only. Dwarves might make items usable only by dwarf-sized and dwarf-shaped characters. When a nonhumanoid tries to wear an item, use your discretion as to whether the item functions as intended

Life in Yeonido

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

clan information before personal details, and the few folk in the city who have no clan—whether they were ejected from a clan or never adopted into one—are viewed with sympathy. When people marry

—whether for love or for social or political reasons, both of which are considered equally valid—they must choose which partner’s clan they will belong to after the union. In rare cases, a new couple

Investigating Rivergard

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

depends on why the characters are here and how they approach. Peaceful Approach If the characters approach openly and politely ask for admittance for almost any plausible reason, the cultists welcome

the characters to find out who they really are. Aggressive Approach Grimjaw and his cutthroats aren’t expecting an attack. Characters who sneak in are challenged by anyone they meet inside. It’s up to you whether fast-talking characters can stave off conflict at such a meeting.

Adversary

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

nature of their profession that rogues often come into contact with criminal elements, whether out of choice or necessity. Some of those people can be adversaries too, and they’re likely to be harder to

deal with than the average member of the city watch. If your character’s backstory doesn’t already include a personage of this sort, you could work with your DM to come up with a reason why an

D&D Beyond

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