current read guarded to have reason

Wand of Orcus

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

everything in the multiverse. The wand is cruel, nihilistic, and bereft of humor. To further Orcus’s goals, the wand feigns devotion to its current user and makes grandiose promises that it has no

guarded. Bathing the wand in positive energy (such as that which permeates the Positive Plane) causes it to crack and explode, but unless the above conditions are met, the wand instantly re-forms on Orcus’s layer of the Abyss.

Archdruid

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

typically has one or more pupils who are druid;druids (see the Monster Manual), and the archdruid’s lair is usually guarded by loyal Beasts and Fey creatures. When an archdruid uses their Change

is replaced by the stat block of that form, except the archdruid keeps its current hit points, its hit point maximum, this bonus action, its languages and ability to speak, and its Spellcasting action

Auril (Third Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

time). Thus, she has no reason to capitulate to mortals’ demands. As the embodiment of winter’s cruelty, she is incapable of showing mercy or compassion. Play her as a supremely cold and

invincible while underestimating her mortal enemies, even in her current weakened state. Auril’s Three Forms In her current weakened state, Auril can assume three different forms. To destroy her

Auril (First Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

can’t truly die (although the characters can rid the world of her for a time). Thus, she has no reason to capitulate to mortals’ demands. As the embodiment of winter’s cruelty, she is

own flaws. It’s appropriate for Auril to act as though she’s invincible while underestimating her mortal enemies, even in her current weakened state. Auril’s Three Forms In her

Crystal Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to them in peace. Crystal dragons’ connection to

dragon intent on exploring a new world of the Material Plane has acquired a magic ship for the journey and now just needs a brave crew. 5 A crystal dragon who has guarded a mountain pass for

Azuredge

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

Forged by the archwizard Ahghairon, this intelligent battleaxe was crafted to defend Waterdeep. Its current wielder is a former member of Force Grey named Meloon Wardragon (see appendix B), but the

feet and a long range of 180 feet. Whether it hits or misses, the axe flies back to you at the end of the current turn, landing in your open hand or at your feet in your space (as you choose). The axe

Aurnozci

Monsters The Book of Many Things

worshipers to enact its will beyond the Abyss. The exact nature of the curse that binds Aurnozci to Xulregg is its cult’s most closely guarded secret, fully known only to the faith’s enigmatic

leader, a masked archmage called the Eye of Aurnozci. Aurnozci’s followers believe the demon lord’s imprisonment is coming to an end, and soon the Caged Worm will shed its current form and

Auril (Second Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

might prove helpful: So long as she has mortal worshipers, Auril can’t truly die (although the characters can rid the world of her for a time). Thus, she has no reason to capitulate to mortals

her current weakened state. Auril’s Three Forms In her current weakened state, Auril can assume three different forms. To destroy her, heroes must reduce each of her forms to 0 hit points one

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

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

. d8 Reason for Infiltration 1 My parents belong to this guild, and I let them think I’m following in their footsteps. 2 I’ve been assigned to track this guild&rsquo

Shield of the Hidden Lord

Magic Items Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Intelligence of 22, a Wisdom of 18, and a Charisma of 24, as well as hearing and truesight out to a range of 120 feet. The shield can speak, read, and understand Common and Infernal, and it can communicate

released from the shield, the pit fiend honors the terms of whatever bargain it struck to facilitate its escape. While trapped in the shield, Gargauth carefully steers the shield’s current owner

Cloistered Scholar

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

your cloister, a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, ink, folded parchment, and a small penknife), a borrowed book on the subject of your current study, and a pouch containing 10 gp FEATURE

Personality Trait 1 I use polysyllabic words that convey the impression of great erudition. 2 I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or I like to boast that I

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

can tease out their hearts’ desires after a few minutes of conversation, and with a few leading questions you can read them like they were children’s books. It’s a useful talent, and

want. 4 I’m a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. 5 I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. 6 Sarcasm and

Young Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to them in peace. Crystal dragons&rsquo

. 4 A crystal dragon intent on exploring a new world of the Material Plane has acquired a magic ship for the journey and now just needs a brave crew. 5 A crystal dragon who has guarded a

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

Dessarin Valley, were ever a secretive and guarded people, only spotted during their flights over the High Forest. A cruel and rapacious green dragon nearly wiped out the population and scattered the

. Great Purpose Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

divine beings who created giff have likewise been forgotten. Their titanic petrified bodies drift on the Astral Sea, isolated and unrecognizable in their current forms. Although they don’t realize

speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of widespread languages to choose from. The

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

the signs written in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to them in peace

has guarded a mountain pass for decades unexpectedly retires to the Elemental Plane of Air. Monstrous forces immediately move into the area—and might take control of the pass unless the dragon

Ancient Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

sky and tracking the signs written in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to

crystal dragon who has guarded a mountain pass for decades unexpectedly retires to the Elemental Plane of Air. Monstrous forces immediately move into the area—and might take control of the pass

Deck of Many More Things

Magic Items The Book of Many Things

the transformation early. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the same state you were in when you initially transformed. Book. You gain the ability to speak, read, and write 1d6 + 2

offer, it returns to its home plane. Giant. You immediately grow 2d10 inches in height, and your hit point maximum and current hit points both increase by 20. Humanoid. You can immediately choose to

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

their quest for power beyond the mortal world. As their patron did, they secure their remains within well-guarded vaults, using soul gems to maintain their phylacteries and destroy the adventurers who

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Wand of Orcus Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

to a range of 120 feet. The wand communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Abyssal and Common. Personality. The wand’s purpose is to help satisfy Orcus

’s desire to slay everything in the multiverse. The wand is cold, cruel, nihilistic, and bereft of humor. In order to further its master’s goals, the wand feigns devotion to its current

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

You have always had a way with people. You know what makes them tick, you can tease out their hearts’ desires after a few minutes of conversation, and with a few leading questions you can read

a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. 5 I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. 6 Sarcasm and insults are my

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

rage against their enemies. They simply observe and react as a situation warrants. Lizardfolk lack meaningful emotional ties to the past. They assess situations based on their current and future

into the future. This approach allows them to maintain their current level of influence in the world, but it limits their growth. Lizardfolk have no interest in developing writing, making long-term

Water Genasi

races Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

scales. Their hair can resemble seaweed, waving as if in a current, or it can even be like water itself. Genasi Tracing their ancestry to the genies of the Elemental Planes, each genasi can tap into

suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20. Languages Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is

Finding the Books

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

adventures rests within the walls of Candlekeep is reason enough for an adventurer to seek out this legendary book and claim a cozy corner to read about the escapades of Alkazaar and his dungeon-delving

perhaps procure for the library the fabled Nether Scroll that Alkazaar believed the golem once guarded. Alternatively, an ogre named Little One (see the “Little One” sidebar in the “Candlekeep” section

Trench of Love Lost

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

Trench of Love Lost The region around Janya is well guarded, but dangers still occasionally slip past the Billowing Patrol. Following Xoese-Addae, the trip to the Trench of Love Lost takes 2½ hours

deep sea whales. No spirits or ghost ships make an appearance, though. As the characters near the trench, read or paraphrase the following description: Meadows of feathery, pale-pink sea lilies move

The Long Road

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

destabilize Yartar so they can replace the current waterbaron with their own stooge. Then the new waterbaron can swiftly fix the troubles and thereby win local support. The Black Network is an incidental

characters become involved in the overland caravan, because the Zhentarim think they’re perfect for the job. Any fast caravan guarded by a sizable contingent of armed Zhentarim mercenaries indicates

Wei's Betrayal

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

, she witnesses the discovery of the potions of longevity, the lack of Dragon’s Blessing, and any slips Zhong Yin makes when talking about the reason for the investigation. After this, whenever the

characters decide to head for area Y1 to leave the ruins, read the following: Rumbling fills the tunnels, and a tremor disturbs the nearby rubble. All goes quiet again, but now a haze of dust hangs in

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

about their fate in hopes of receiving an answer from the sages. Unknown to outsiders, the sages’ talents come from their best-guarded secret: a series of ancient, magical tomes called the Books of

, inherited the magic required to read these books from the line of sages who came before him—but this magic prevents him from turning more than one new page per day, allowing only a peek at the future

Laleh's Plea

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

Laleh’s Plea Regardless of the characters’ reason for coming to the theater, Laleh commends the characters for finding her, saying their industriousness makes it clear that they’re the best suited to

guarded. There’s time before the plan is to commence, but when the characters are ready, she leads them to meet with a group of Silent Roar agents—see the “Pedestal of Judgment” section. If the

The Oases

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

. The waters of this oasis are said to be able to heal any affliction, but they are guarded by the sphinxes who dwell in the nearby canyons. White Oasis. Holy to the god Neb, the White Oasis is surrounded

to die soon, for one reason or another, and seek to cleanse themselves with the White Oasis’s waters before meeting their end.

Aurnozci, the Caged Worm

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

the Abyss. The exact nature of the curse that binds Aurnozci to Xulregg is its cult’s most closely guarded secret, fully known only to the faith’s enigmatic leader, a masked archmage called the Eye of

Aurnozci. Aurnozci’s followers believe the demon lord’s imprisonment is coming to an end, and soon the Caged Worm will shed its current form and transform into an even more powerful shape. Once it

Introduction: Ascend to Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

untold adventures. Quests from the Infinite Staircase collects six adventures from Dungeons & Dragons history, updated for the current edition of the game. Beloved for their strange and wondrous locations

the staircase’s landings, a wistful traveler can find the door to the destination of their dreams. Adventure awaits behind every door. Kamila Szutenberg A luminous branch of the Infinite Staircase ascends to a celestial door guarded by a vigilant sphinx

Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monstrous Compendium Volume One: Spelljammer Creatures

favorites from past editions of the game as well as monsters created for the current edition. The creatures in this bestiary are organized alphabetically. If you are unfamiliar with the monster stat

block format, read the introduction of the Monster Manual before proceeding further. It explains stat block terminology and gives rules for various monster traits—information that isn’t repeated here.

The Codicil and the Orb

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

. Vellynne has every reason to believe that both items are currently on an island in the Sea of Moving Ice. The Codicil Vellynne describes this book as follows: “Written and guarded by Auril’s followers

Skytower Shelter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Skytower Shelter Skytower Shelter is one of two goliath settlements described in this chapter, the other being Wyrmdoom Crag (see "Wyrmdoom Crag"). Read both entries before running encounters in

Skytower Shelter might return home for some reason, perhaps to seek help with matters concerning Icewind Dale. All goliaths who dwell in Skytower Shelter are members of the Akannathi clan. In addition to

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