death instinct 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

Eyedrake

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

effect on itself on a success. 6: Death Ray. The target must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6);{"diceNotation":"8d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"", "rollDamageType":"necrotic

;beholder's eye rays. An eyedrake left to its own devices exhibits much of the stereotypical behavior of a young dragon, attempting to establish a lair and a hoard. Driven by instinct to jealously

Grim Champion of Pestilence

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Spellcasting.Aleron was once a tiefling adventurer, but unlike so many victims of the Deck of Many Things, he never drew the Skull card. Instead, when one of his allies drew the card 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

Esthetic

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

esthetic becomes a nearly mindless entity with an instinct for self-preservation. Reigar use their esthetics as spelljamming warships. When a hostile reigar in its esthetic encounters another

":"1d12","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Esthetic (Creator Death)"} days and then expires.AcidJammerscream (Recharge 6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Jammerscream"}. The

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

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

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. For example, humans confronted by an angry troll experience fear on a basic level. Their limbs shake, their thinking becomes panicked and jumbled, and they react by instinct. The emotion of fear takes

learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how metaphors work. That doesn’t stop

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

Monk

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

Monk Few monks are found on Krynn, but those active in the world fall into two camps. The Way of the Long Death provides a good match for those evil monks who worship Sargonnas. The minotaurs who

, passion, fighters, and fire. Sirrion is said to sculpt the fire of the soul, and these monks seek to sculpt their minds and bodies so that all three act in unison, making instinct and action one and the same.

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

Druids

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

all the gods of the First Circle in their turn, and see them as embodiments of the natural world, which moves in cycles: creation and destruction, waxing and withering, life and death. Thus, Grumbar

isn’t just god of the earth to a druid; he is the fertile soil and the rolling hills themselves. Malar isn’t just the Beastlord, but the hunger and the hunting instinct of a predatory beast. Although

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

10. Noble Quarters

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

exile and chooses to remain in Shadowdusk Hold despite every instinct telling her to flee. Melissara is a human archmage, with these changes: Melissara is neutral. She speaks Common, Deep Speech, Draconic

to destroy Dezmyr and Zalthar before they can enact their plan to conquer Waterdeep, not realizing that death knights are not so easily vanquished. Melissara asks that she and Derrion be left out of

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

Death Giants Long ago, a large band of cloud giants traveled to the Shadowfell in search of a way to preserve their collapsing empire. Desperate to save themselves and their way of life, they

The Adventuring Biz

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

Do’Urden while journeying through the Underdark. When Jim Darkmagic became afflicted with the Death Curse, there was no definitive proof that this was a direct result of his employment with

Acquisitions Incorporated, or had been incurred while on assignment. However, as Omin had already made his stance on the subject of death and termination of employment contracts very clear, he sought to break

Roleplaying Strahd

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

believed, that he is the master of his own fate. When he was alive, Strahd could admit to letting his emotions get the better of him from time to time. Now, as a vampire, he is more monster than man

, with barely a hint of emotion left. He is above the concerns of the living. The only event that occasionally haunts him is the death of Tatyana, but his view of the past is bereft of romance or regret

Eyedrake

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

and a hoard. Driven by instinct to jealously defend its hoard, an eyedrake fights to the death if anything threatens even the smallest trinket it claims as its own. Eyedrake Large Aberration

throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. 6: Death Ray. The target must make a DC 14

Watchtower

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

energy woke again. The dead beholder was reanimated as a diabolical Undead known as a death tyrant. This creature, and other Far Realm Aberrations that fell from the comet, still hunt within the tower

. But the knights’ protective magic hasn’t failed entirely; the creatures within the watchtower are trapped inside until someone or something frees them. The watchtower is in better physical shape

Breaking the Law

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

could end with one or more of the characters being exiled, sentenced to several years of hard labor, imprisoned, or put to death. If that’s how their adventure ends, so be it. Hopefully, your next group will fare better.

Pharika's Villains

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Basilisk* MM 6 Medusa* MM 8 Assassin MM 8 Hydra MM 8 Spirit naga MM 17 Hythonia MOoT * See chapter 6 for details about these creatures in Theros. Pharika’s clerics believe that they are better healers because they are so well acquainted with death (CHASE STONE)

-saving help to those on the brink of death. All the while, Pharika watches with interest to see how mortals contend with both good fortune and misfortune, gleaning new knowledge through every cry of

An Unwelcome Visitor

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

fights to the death. Any character who aced their Magical Physiologies Exam about slaadi (see “Campus Kerfuffle” in chapter 3) receives advantage on attack rolls made against the slaad during this

attacking. The characters don’t yet know the mage hunters’ identity or full plans, but they’ll soon have a better idea once they realize the sort of creatures hunting them.

The Houses of Shadow

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

The Houses of Shadow The elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of years. The families that carry the mark left Aerenal after the conflict that wiped out the Mark of Death and

rule, Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents are superior assassins. On the surface Thuranni and Phiarlan maintain a peaceful relationship, but rivalries run deep.

Acquisition as a Holy Chore

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

fundamental urge for survival. If gold is power and power is life, then the more gold you accumulate, the better and longer your life will be. Why is it that people who have money and power are admired

cognizant of not wanting to throw away potential customers that way, how much risk of going down that path could there be? Jergal Death is a serious business. Literally. Jergal is a lesser deity who

Weird Magic

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

how to invoke the razor wind, or the runestone containing the three syllables for crystallizing blood, it is better to use such things than to risk death by not doing so.

, a hag should be able to use weird magic only once or twice per encounter in her lair, or only once per encounter if she is elsewhere. A hag who is expecting a fight might be better prepared and able

Erebos's Influence

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Returned and even sneaks into the Underworld to assist them, earning him Erebos’s undying ire. Pharika and Karametra understand, better than many of the other gods, that life and death are closely

typically fear death, yet death is the inevitable end of each one’s time in the mortal world. Erebos, having long ago come to terms with his own banishment, teaches his followers to accept the

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

provoke retaliatory attacks from the creatures they steal from. It’s better to be cautious and overlooked than to be considered dangerous and a threat. In a couple of situations, kobolds might

serve similar roles but under threat of death. URDS: WINGED KOBOLDS Winged kobolds, known as urds, hatch seemingly at random from kobold eggs, even in a tribe that has no adult urds. Although

Developments

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

permanent home. The Ice Hunters are elated over the dragon’s death. When the characters emerge from the iceberg, the normally reserved villagers greet them with cheers and offers of the choicest fermented

they can, while the ice toads demonstrate the same impassive stoicism they show if the dragon is killed. The ice trolls shy away from Arauthator’s treasure as long as he is alive, knowing better than

D&D Beyond

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