death insects are better

Wand of Orcus

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

some fell goal. The wand is topped with a skull that once belonged to a human hero slain by Orcus. The wand can magically change in size to better conform to the grip of its user. All Holy Water

from it (save DC 18). The table indicates how many charges you must expend to cast the spell. Spell Charge Cost Animate Dead 1 Blight 2 Circle of Death 3 Finger of

Grim Champion of Pestilence

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Halo of Pestilence. The champion is surrounded by an aura of deadly magic that takes the form of a host of glowing white insects. Each creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the champion

must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or have the incapacitated condition until the start of its next turn, as the insects ravage its body. Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the champion

Baba Lysaga

Monsters Curse of Strahd

Shapechanger. Baba Lysaga can use an action to polymorph into a swarm of insects (flies), or back into her true form. While in swarm form, she has a walking speed of 5 feet and a flying speed of 30

black tentacles, polymorph 5th level (2 slots): cloudkill, geas, scrying 6th level (1 slot): programmed illusion, true seeing 7th level (1 slot): finger of death, mirage arcane 8th level (1 slot

Death Giant Reaper

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

gains temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt.Death giant reapers wield massive scythes and wear armor that resembles the carapaces of giant insects. They wield the magic of shadow, which lets

them take on a ghastly appearance and disappear, as well as twist shadow into terrifying bolts of energy that drain the vigor of their victims. Death Giants Long ago, a large band of cloud giants

Witherbloom Professor of Growth

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

nature through their magic. They brew infusions of plants, fungi, and insects or other minuscule creatures that thrum with the essence of life, using these infusions to fuel their magic instead of using

conjured poisonous vines to avatars of nature’s wrath. These professors teach their students to focus on the growth side of the natural cycle of life and death and to avoid wasting resources. They

Nurvureem

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

snakes infest the lair, which is filled with the stench of death and decay. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the

within 20 feet of such a pool must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water and knocked prone. A cloud of swarming insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere

Skabatha Nightshade

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Hourglass Coven. Better known as Granny Nightshade, she offers her assistance to those who are haunted by regret. Her deals often result in cruel twists; for example, a petitioner who asks to be reunited

. Personality Trait. “When dealing with outsiders, I present myself as a kindly old grandmother.” Ideal. “Children are better off working for me than picking up lots of bad habits

Orcus Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

tampering with the dead in my search to better understand death.” 61–80 “I want to achieve the everlasting existence of undeath.” 81–00 “I am awash in

with dead. Alternatively, he can expend 1 or more of the wand’s charges to cast one of the following spells from it: circle of death (1 charge), finger of death (1 charge), or power word kill (2

Leucrotta

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

cover up the stink of death. The first leucrottas came into being alongside some gnolls during the rampages of Yeenoghu on the Material Plane. While many of the hyenas that ate Yeenoghu’s

like doing their own killing, since leucrottas are meticulous in their cruelty and able to draw out kills for better and longer sport. And when there are no victims to be had, a leucrotta can mimic the

Keresta Delvingstone

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

4th level (3 slots): blight, death ward, divination 5th level (1 slot): antilife shell, destructive waveMultiattack. (Vampire Form Only). Keresta makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite

stranger to hardship. Hoping to make a better life for herself, she became an adventurer and sought fame and fortune in Undermountain. Keresta met her end in the lair of a vampire and became a vampire spawn

Auril (Second Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

her to explode and die. A mephit that dies in this way does not use its Death Burst. Instead, each creature within 10 feet of the exploding mephit must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking

that can harm her. Auril’s worshipers know better than to disturb her self-imposed isolation. Terrible blizzards have cut off Icewind Dale from the rest of the world, and a shroud of mist

Adult Black Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

infest the lair, which is filled with the stench of death and decay. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects

feet of such a pool must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water and knocked prone. A cloud of swarming insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a

Ancient Black Dragon Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

the lair, which is filled with the stench of death and decay. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the

of such a pool must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water and knocked prone. A cloud of swarming insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point

Star Spawn Larva Mage Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

: circle of death Return to Worms. When the larva mage is reduced to 0 hit points, it breaks apart into a swarm of insects in the same space. Unless the swarm is destroyed, the larva mage reforms from it

Mark of Shadow Elf

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Thuranni, Regalport (Lhazaar Principalities) Elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of years. The mark’s bearers left Aerenal after the conflict that wiped out the Mark of Death

espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while Thuranni operates in the eastern lands. As a rule, Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents are superior assassins. Thuranni and Phiarlan

Wand of Orcus Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. Made from bones as hard as iron, the wand is topped with a magically enlarged skull that once belonged to a human hero slain by Orcus. The wand can magically change in size to better conform to the

or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells (save DC 18) from it: animate dead (1 charge), blight (2 charges), circle of death (3 charges), finger of death (3 charges), power word kill

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

You are a member of a teeming horde — one small part of a sprawling organism. Just as you are part of the swarm, the swarm is part of a larger ecosystem, a never-ending cycle of life, death

Golgari, no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle. Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit Languages

Urchin Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

securely for at least ten days. How did you come by that money? What allowed you to break free of your desperate circumstances and embark on a better life? Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of

shaped by lives of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better

Urchin - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

circumstances and embark on a better life? Skill Proficiencies: Sleight of Hand, StealthTool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, thieves’ toolsEquipment: A small knife, a map of the city you grew up

of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better life &mdash

Grim Champion of Pestilence

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

and faced the avatar of death, Aleron came to his ally’s aid. A second avatar of death appeared, and Aleron was slain; soon after, his Undead corpse crawled from Withered Vineyard, tainted with plague

. Aleron resents his fellow Undead in the Grim Harrow, considering himself better than all of them and unjustly condemned to the Gardens of Decay for an act of altruism. Though the weakest of the

Golgari Creatures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

beetles (swarm of insects) MM 1 Skein spider (giant spider) MM 1 Thorny VGM 2 Ankheg MM 2 Ogre zombie MM 2 Vegepygmy chief VGM 3 Erstwhile (wight) MM 4 Kraul death priest GGR 5 Deadbridge goliath beetle

(or at least less ambitious) creatures. Erstwhile A significant shift in the Golgari balance of power began when the kraul death priest Mazirek discovered an ancient mausoleum compound. Deep in the

Touch of Death

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

Touch of Death Your touch is pain, harming whoever you come in contact with. The deathly power within you is beyond your control, afflicting any who touch your bare skin. By the same token, you can

deliver death to your enemies with your touch. Roll on or choose an option from the Deadly Touch table to determine how this Dark Gift presents itself. Additionally, you gain the traits that follow

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

law-abiding citizens of Ravnica. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait 1 I revel in mayhem, the more destructive the better. 2 When violence breaks out, I lose myself in

guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Hedonism. Death comes for everyone, so take as much pleasure as you can from every moment of life. (Neutral) 3 Creativity. I strive to

Death Giants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

and the Material Plane for souls that might please their divine queen. Most giants know better than to make regular use of the death rune. —Diancastra “Know better”? Perhaps, but there’s no

denying that death giants can make excellent use of it. —Bigby Death Giant Reaper Death giant reapers wield massive scythes and wear armor that resembles the carapaces of giant insects. They wield the

Golgari Swarm

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

tiny, riotous insects that moved in and out of the sheen of moss growing on their shoulders — a bed for sprouting fungi. Whether it was the Golgari themselves who had made the chittering sound or

fact that death is part of the cycle of life. They believe the idea of life and death as opposing forces to be nothing more than naive sentimentality. They know everything crumbles and rots in the end

Facing Strahd

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Facing Strahd After he arrives at Death House, Strahd, Master of Death House (see appendix B) waits for the characters in the house’s main hall (area D2a). He is accompanied by two vampire spawn. If

am forever disappointed with the insects that think themselves worthy of meeting me. I suppose I could entertain myself with destroying you.” Sarusanda’s Influence If Sarusanda is with the party

Preparation

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

Mastiff Swarm of Insects Venomous Snake Key NPCs Name Role Stat Block Location Armin Whisperwind Lost elf council member Scout (Medium) R4 Darrin, Jherris, Lyrienne, and Rayna

Lightpurse Halfling traveling merchant Commoner (Small) “Village Green” Sunset-Is-Nigh Child of Death-at-Sunset Green Dragon Wyrmling L6

Running This Chapter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

Running This Chapter In this chapter, the characters explore the halls of Lavoglia, better known as the Palace of Heart’s Desire. Most likely, they’ve learned of Zybilna’s betrayal at the hands of

’ experience as entertaining as possible: Read the description of Iggwilv’s Cauldron in appendix A. Read this chapter in its entirety, and reacquaint yourself with the “Rules of Conduct” and “Death in

Creating a Bronze Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

this matter, simpler is better! -Fizban Use the Bronze Dragon Personality Traits and Bronze Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive bronze dragon characters, and use the Bronze

strategy. A quick death in combat is its own kind of courtesy. 6 I trust my gut. I’d rather act on incomplete information than be hamstrung by indecision. 7 I’m fascinated by other species

Desert Encounters (Levels 5–10)

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

Desert Encounters (Levels 5–10) d100 Encounter 01 1d6 scouts 02 2d4 jackalweres 03 2d6 hobgoblins 04 1d4 + 3 dust mephits 05 1d6 swarms of insects 06 1 giant constrictor snake 07–08 1 lion 09–10

tents 41–43 1d6 + 2 thri-kreen 44–46 2d4 yuan-ti purebloods 47–50 1d6 + 3 death dogs 51–52 1d4 giant scorpions 53 1 fire elemental 54–55 1 hobgoblin captain with 3d4 hobgoblins 56 1d6 + 2 ogres 57–58

Monsters by Habitat

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

, Giant Wolf Spider, Pseudodragon, Winged Kobold 1/2 Dust Mephit, Gnoll Warrior, Hobgoblin Warrior, Jackalwere, Swarm of Insects 1 Brass Dragon Wyrmling, Death Dog, Giant Hyena, Giant Spider, Giant

Boss 5 Cambion, Flesh Golem, Gladiator, Half-Dragon 6 Mage, Performer Maestro, Pirate Captain 7 Bandit Deceiver 8 Aberrant Cultist, Assassin, Berserker Commander, Death Cultist, Elemental Cultist

Baba Lysaga

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

goddess to afflict Queen Ravenovia with ill health and visit death upon her. Lysaga eventually got her wish, and after Strahd settled in the valley of Barovia, Lysaga moved as close to him as she dared to

passive Perception 13 Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Giant Challenge 11 (7,200 XP) Shapechanger. Baba Lysaga can use an action to polymorph into a swarm of insects (flies), or

19. Giant Spider Den

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

starved to death. The skeleton is clad in a chain shirt and wears a ring of swimming on one bony finger. Characters who search the armoire also find an explorer’s pack (minus water and rations). 19c

of insects (spiders) that bursts forth and attacks if the cocoon is torn open. Treasure. The dead nothic has no treasure. A thorough search of the goblin corpses yields 20 cp, 18 sp, 5 gp, and a silvered dagger.

Journey Spread Example

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

the character succeeds on the Wisdom check and chooses the better path, the characters’ travel time decreases by a day, but their path is lined with omens that foretell terrible events when they reach

possible day of hiking through the wilderness, and describe the litany of horrors the characters face: biting insects and leeches, a sudden rainstorm making a river impassible, a broken backpack strap, lost

Desert Encounters (Levels 1–4)

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

swarm of insects 36–40 An oasis surrounded by palm trees and containing the remnants of an old camp 41–44 3d6 bandits 45–46 1d4 constrictor snakes 47–48 2d4 winged kobolds 49–50 1 dust mephit 51–52

with 2d6 hobgoblins 84 2d4 death dogs 85–86 1d4 giant scorpions 87 1 yuan-ti malison with 1d4 + 1 yuan-ti purebloods 88–89 1 bandit captain with 1 druid and 3d6 bandits 90 2d4 thri-kreen 91 1 air

D&D Beyond

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