creating revealing grim to have reclusive

Drowned Assassin

Monsters Ghosts of Saltmarsh

succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or contract bluerot (see the “Bluerot” sidebar). Reveal (1/Day). The drowned assassin removes its mask, revealing its rotting face. Each

and kills in a grim pantomime of its former occupation. Sneaking from shadow to shadow, and appearing in the undead assault of Tammeraut’s Fate, it aims its barnacle-encrusted hand crossbow with

Razorvine Blight

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

by the seemingly inanimate plant, the blight strikes, revealing its twisted, humanlike form and lashing out with razor-sharp vines to feed its bloodlust. While razorvine blights are usually

dangerous, in Sigil they sometimes mimic the behaviors of the city’s other inhabitants—for better or worse. At least one blight, known as Patch, spreads copies of itself across the city, creating a spy network of copies with mysterious goals.

Soulknife Legacy

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

revealing their full potential as you experienced the stress of adventure. Or you might have sought out a reclusive order of psychic adepts and spent years learning how to manifest your power.

Hythonia

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage for every 5 feet it moves on those spikes.Theros’s reclusive medusas often delight in collecting and expanding their galleries of petrified victims

medusa rising up anew, the last of her shed skin dropping away, revealing glistening, unscarred scales. Fighting Hythonia as a mythic encounter is equivalent to taking on two challenge rating 17

Klauth

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

of abandoned mines and dwarven strongholds. Caves with volcanic or geothermal activity are the most highly prized red dragon lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and

dragon’s power, telling the grim story of its life, the enemies it has slain, and the nations it has conquered. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

At the highest mountain peaks — far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl — dwell the reclusive goliaths. Few folk can claim to have seen a

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

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. Creating a Dragon Turtle Use the Dragon Turtle Personality Traits and Dragon Turtle Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive dragon turtle characters, and use the Dragon Turtle Spellcasting

, though some dragon turtles prefer coastal lairs with easier access to settlements they can trade with—or prey upon. Particularly reclusive dragon turtles seek lairs in even more remote locales

Adult Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to

a constant battle against deep gnome miners, who scour the tunnels of the dragon’s lair in search of emeralds. 2 An adult silver dragon tries to befriend and draw out a reclusive adult

Adult Red Dracolich Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

strongholds. Caves with volcanic or geothermal activity are the most highly prized red dracolich lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and volcanic gases wash over a

, telling the grim story of its life, the enemies it has slain, and the nations it has conquered. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dracolich takes a lair action to cause

Ancient Red Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and volcanic gases wash over a dragon as it sleeps. With its hoard well protected deep within the lair, a red dragon spends as

control. Throughout the lair complex, servants erect monuments to the dragon’s power, telling the grim story of its life, the enemies it has slain, and the nations it has conquered. Lair

Adult Red Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and volcanic gases wash over a dragon as it sleeps. With its hoard well protected deep within the lair, a red dragon spends as much of its

. Throughout the lair complex, servants erect monuments to the dragon’s power, telling the grim story of its life, the enemies it has slain, and the nations it has conquered. Lair Actions On

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century. Variety in All Things Humans are the most

, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; (female) Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele; (surnames) Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood

Shadar-kai

races Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

’s grim energy. Shadar-kai have ashen skin tones, and while they’re in the Shadowfell, they also become wizened, reflecting the somber nature of that gloomy plane. Like other elves

, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old. Creating Your 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

Yetis

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Yetis Chilling Stalkers of the Frozen Wilds Habitat: Arctic; Treasure: Any Across alpine extremes and frozen frontiers, yetis hunt those that trespass in their territories. Reclusive and merciless

, they resemble giant apes with pale fur and ram-like horns. Yetis easily blend in with snow and icy cliffs, revealing themselves with blood-chilling howls just before striking with their icy claws

Ranger Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

talents and abilities are honed with deadly focus on the grim task of protecting the borderlands. Independent Adventurers Though a ranger might make a living as a hunter, a guide, or a tracker, a

in a fight against monstrous foes are worth any extra burden. Coddled city folk might not know how to feed themselves or find fresh water in the wild, but they make up for it in other ways. Creating a

Creating a Domain

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

Creating a Domain The guidelines in this section help you create your own unique Domain of Dread. This setting’s details should reflect the Darklord of the domain, being a reflection of that

villain’s evil and torment. Use the “Genres of Horror” section later in this chapter or your own grim imaginings to inspire the details of your nightmare domain.

Haunted Traps

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

. Such traps provide a way to theme the dangers and monsters of a haunted place to reveal a grim history or frightening tale. When creating haunted traps, consider what events brought them into being and how the trap’s effects suggest those origins.

Creating Domains of Dread

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

Creating Domains of Dread Ravenloft is a place where your nightmares can run wild, where anything you can imagine in moments of dread or despair can come to frightful life among the Mists. The

setting as a whole is made up of countless isolated domains, each one a perfect expression of a particular flavor of the macabre. Creating your own domain allows you to blend legendary evils, unexpected

Character Creation

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

nightmares. This chapter explores how to create a character prepared to face the horrors of Ravenloft, while also forging ties to the haunted pedigrees and grim fates common to the Domains of Dread

. This chapter offers you, the player, the following tools and choices: Haunted Heroes. Explore your role in creating a tale of terror and how you might design a character that contributes to frightful

Gothic Horror Villains

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

gothic villains are most effective when they are slowly revealed as shockingly cruel, immoral, or the antithesis of goodness. Gothic Horror Villains d10 Villain 1 A reclusive noble who

creating the perfect poison, machine, or lifeform 4 A beloved magnate who abducts commoners to steal their blood for his beauty rituals 5 A celebrity who openly murders innocents but uses

Ghost Stories

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

Ghost Stories Ghost stories number among the more psychologically elaborate genres of horror. Only through revealing tales of tragedy and past wrongs can heroes truly bring peace to forces that share

closure, lingering in a place until they bring about the completion of the work they hoped to accomplish in life. In addition, consider the following genre tropes when creating your haunted domain: All

Horror Adventures

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

Horror Adventures Creating your own horror adventures is like crafting any other D&D adventure with one exception: your goal is to horrify your players in the most fun way possible. Frightening

toolbox of horror-focused rules also provides options for what sort of grim adventures you might create. At the end of this chapter, a horror adventure puts these methods to use and leads characters on

Volcanic Threats

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

lightly obscures the characters’ surroundings for the next hour. 3 The ground suddenly collapses, creating a 30-foot-deep fissure that’s 120 feet long and 20 feet wide. The gap severs the road ahead

of the characters. 4 The earth cracks, revealing magma flowing below. A fire snake rises from the crack and attacks the first creature it sees before retreating after 1 round.

36. Looted Vaults

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

10-foot-high walls are lined with stone bricks veined with gold. A few of the bricks have come loose, revealing thin sheets of lead behind them. These lead sheets are designed to prevent magical

senses from piercing the vault. 36c. Obsidian Vault The lead door that once secured this room is bent inward at the bottom, creating a 3-foot-high triangular hole through which Medium and smaller creatures

Eldeen Characters

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

Eldeen Characters When creating an Eldeen character or NPC, consider the following: Farm or Forest? Did you grow up on one of the farms of the eastern Reaches, or did you spend your childhood in the

farmers from bandits and beasts. Natural Magic. Druidic traditions play an important role in Eldeen society. If you’re a druid or ranger, are you a stoic Warden of the Wood or a grim Child of Winter? Even

Dark Fantasy

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

, whether it’s a fantasy story steeped in horror elements or an otherwise realistic world that features a supernatural terror. Dark fantasy refers to fantasy worlds where grim themes, nihilistic plots, or

, consider the following genre tropes when creating your dark fantasy domain: Good does not always win. Evil individuals with great power and unopposed schemes might be the norm. The lines between good

Karrnath

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

Karrnath Capital: Korth Noted for Ale, dairy, glass, livestock, lumber, paper, textiles; undead, martial discipline The people of Karrnath are stoic and grim. Karrnath is a nation of storms and long

and has stopped creating new undead, but Karrnath still has a significant number of skeletons and zombies in service. Many Karrns still follow the faith of the Blood of Vol and approve of the use of

Gothic Horror

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

tropes when creating your gothic horror domain: Gothic stories include intense, even exaggerated, emotions. Romances, rivalries, and life-changing events are common in these adventures. Atmosphere and a

before revealing them fully. Sacrifices feature prominently in gothic stories. Give characters heart-wrenching choices to make.

A Multiversal Glitch

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

themselves, their true memories return, and their place in the multiverse solidifies, unlocking lost abilities and revealing the characters’ actual nature. The “Glitch Characters” section provides details on creating and running characters affected by this multiversal glitch.

Featured Domains

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

. Darklord. A description of the domain’s Darklord appears here, along with details revealing the roots of their evil. Adventures. This section describes the kinds of adventures that naturally fit within

the domain. Domain Focus. For most domains, this final section highlights specific story elements and provides domain-specific tools to aid you in creating adventures around the domain’s Darklord and the horror of their realm.

Karrnath

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

Karrnath Capital: Korth Hallmarks: Ale, dairy, glass, livestock, lumber, martial discipline, paper, textiles, undead In a nation of storms and long winters, the grim and stoic Karrns are accustomed

national religion. The priests of this faith bolstered Karrnath’s forces with undead. The current king, Kaius ir’Wynarn III, broke ties with the Blood of Vol and has stopped creating new undead, but

Chapter 5: Adventure Environments

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

from their grim fortresses to wage war against their neighbors, ogres plunder farmsteads for food, and monstrous spiders drop from the web-shrouded canopies of trees. Within a dungeon, adventurers are

, takes many forms, and urban settings aren’t always the safe havens they seem to be. This chapter provides an overview of these three environments plus a few unusual environments, taking you through the process of creating an adventure location, with plenty of random tables to inspire you.

Drowned Assassin

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

Drowned Assassin The drowned assassin stalks and kills in a grim pantomime of its former occupation. Sneaking from shadow to shadow, and appearing in the undead assault of Tammeraut’s Fate, it aims

or contract bluerot (see the “Bluerot” sidebar). Reveal (1/Day). The drowned assassin removes its mask, revealing its rotting face. Each creature of the assassin’s choice within 30 feet of it that

Aftermath of the Last War

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

with Karrnath left farms and cities such as Shadukar devastated and abandoned, home only to the lingering undead left behind after the Karrnathi retreat. For most, these grim reminders of war

wound. The Council of Cardinals is determined to hold onto this prize, but it is a bitter point of contention with Aundair and a constant source of tension and violence. In creating a Thrane character

Arriving at the House

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

Arriving at the House When the characters seek the source of the light, read or paraphrase the following description: Gradually the haze and brush give way, revealing a bald hilltop. There stands a

grim black tower, the last defiant turret of a long-crumbled fortress. Attached to this tower is a three-story manor house, weather beaten and veined with ivy. A porch girds the house, its sagging roof

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