defending instance are better

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

determines the properties of your inheritance and how they figure into the item’s history and importance. For instance, the object might be a minor magic item, or one that begins with a modest

city, especially hard drink. 5 Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land. 6 I have trouble trusting in my allies.

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

laden wagon or after heroically defending it from thieves gain great respect and advance higher in the tribe’s pecking order. All Are Fighters Most of the orcs that stay behind when the

their savagery. Green dragons, for instance, sometimes use orcs as sentinels or shock troops. Orcs are sometimes attracted to the service of frost giants or fire giants, who then “reward&rdquo

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

invasion and oppression. Although individually they are timid and shy away from conflict, kobolds are dangerous if cornered, vicious when defending their eggs, and notorious for the dangerous

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

Spellcasting Services

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

in a given area, and also of the costs of goods and services there. For instance, a restaurant that is said to serve food of comfortable quality is one where a patron who lives a comfortable lifestyle (or better) can afford anything on the menu.

Commerce

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

attention of adventurers. These merchants can’t provide the services normally found in a city. For instance, when the characters are in need of a library or a dedicated sage, a trainer who can handle

the griffon eggs they’ve found, or an architect to design their castle, they’re better off going to a large city than looking in a village.

Ten-Towns Overview

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

monsters compelled the poorly defended lakeside towns to turn Bryn Shander from a modest hilltop trading post into a walled town capable of defending all Ten-Towners if and when the worst comes. Most

the cold wind to get the better of them. Auril’s winter spell has caused the population of Ten-Towns to dwindle and has heightened rivalries that have simmered for years, turning neighboring towns

Umbraxakar

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

to transform him into a shadow dragon to better serve Vanrak in the battles to come. Thereafter, Glyster became known as Umbraxakar (“shadowborn” in Draconic). The death knight and the shadow dragon

fought side by side for many years, expanding their domain and then defending it against adventurers and other invaders. By this time, Umbraxakar had stopped caring about anything except his friendship

Final Confrontations

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

characters a better chance against the raiders. For their part, the Uthgardt, despite portentous visions, are unwilling to perish to serve Javor. If they suffer significant losses, including either

halfling pluck and dark devotion make the wicked Nettlebees unlikely to back down easily. In fact, Wiggan tries to bribe the characters into defending Bertram and him “against these savages.” He also uses

Factional Assets

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

cousins. However, they cooperate with allies better than the evil dragons do, giving them a greater impact on the battlefield. Devils. Certain powerful devils don’t want to see Tiamat unleashed on Faerûn

battle. Skyreach will be assaulted by chromatic dragons the moment it appears above the Well of Dragons, drawing those powerful combatants away from defending the caldera. Arcane Brotherhood. Members

Immersive Storytelling

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

against the player’s better judgment, because “that’s what the character would do.” Since combat isn’t the focus, game rules take a back seat to character development. Ability check modifiers and skill

part of the game. For instance, you might gloss over an unimportant journey by telling the players that they spend three uneventful days on the road before moving along to the next point of interest

Mind Flayers

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

about its own future has forced Extremiton to hold off on transforming into an elder brain. Instead, it is focused on defending the colony and destroying its githyanki neighbors. With only a dozen mind

captive audience reacts. Meanwhile, it continues to use its telepathy to reach out to the Waterdavians in the city above, gathering more information to better realize its version of the city.

Roleplaying

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

life. Experiment with different speech patterns. For instance, a barmaid and a city magistrate probably use their words differently. Similarly, peasants could speak in earthy dialects, while rich folk

?” Or just ask the player what his or her character is doing while the conversation is going on. The first approach is better for players who are already comfortable speaking in their characters’ voices

Assigning Assets

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

players that the Black Network’s expert killers can be put to better use against the cult leaders of Severin’s inner circle, while Harper agents or forces of the Lords’ Alliance help in the tunnels

they see easy victory but withdraw when they sense defeat. Evil Mercenaries. Mercenary companies form the backbone of the cult’s army. Better trained than the cultists, these mercenaries are capable of

Circle of the Shepherd

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

that all living things play a role in the natural world, yet they focus on protecting animals and fey creatures that have difficulty defending themselves. Shepherds, as they are known, see such

adventurers to oppose forces that threaten their charges or to seek knowledge and power that will help them safeguard their charges better. Wherever these druids go, the spirits of the wilderness are with

The Elder Brain

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

represents a category or subsection within the library. One mind flayer might specialize in biology, while another is an expert in defending the colony. Given that an individual mind flayer has a near

illithid remains fearful of gith attacks, and likely sets about creating a sort of colony of its own, the better to remain undetected. It gathers minions, establishes a lair, and makes defense of its

High Moor

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

family becoming immolated in its home, but most agree the culprit was a dracolich, of all things, residing in the ruin and defending the family’s wealth. The gods only know what led to the creation of

plenty, the local humans know well that the elves protect them and punish trespassers who poach in the forest. Even barbarians know better than to hunt here, as they don’t wish to draw Melandrach’s

Mages of High Sorcery

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

cooperate as part of a single organization, overseen by a council of experienced members known as the Conclave. Equally devoted to the study of magic and united in defending their knowledge and

only to make the world a better place. The path they walk is a narrow one, and almost daily, a mage of the White Robes faces the agonizing decision of whether to intervene in the affairs of others for

Into the Doomvault

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

righteousness colored by fatalism. Her belief is that death is better than being raised as another of Szass Tam’s undead servants. With the characters, she is honest and forthright, as well as cynical

divided into sectors dedicated to the creation and control of specific types of monsters. Each sector is subdivided into protected zones for security, defending against attack from outside and

Girallon

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

another sort of forest — and better yet, one whose uppermost “branches” can easily support the creatures. In such a setting, the girallons take full advantage of their skill in climbing. The creatures

with the monsters. For instance, yuan-ti enslave girallons, turning them into border sentinels for their serpent kingdoms. Because girallons are known to be peaceful among their own kind, some

Home, Sweet Home

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

inspiration, or you can develop a unique location. Work with the players to develop the connections that each character has to the site. If the location is a tavern, for instance, a bard character

modest food and lodging to adventurers who are trying to make the city a better place. 5 The Red Hammer (Blackbones, the Cogs) caters to warforged. It is run by two warforged, the envoy Blue and a

Xvarts

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

. They lack the physical equipment to reproduce, as well as the inclination to do so. They are greedy, conniving, and obsessed with the acquisition of valuables — the more ornate or bizarre, the better

. They know they are flawed, and this minor amount of self-awareness only magnifies their other deficiencies. They hate almost any creature they perceive as better than they are, which includes almost

Monastic Orders

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

death. Some of the monks consider themselves to be nothing less than visionaries whose work will pave the way for a better future for all Faerûn. When death is truly understood, it can be harnessed and

dwell, and they travel the countryside gathering information for isolated groves and fastnesses. They don’t ever seek to provoke violence, but are quite deadly when defending themselves, their charges, and their holy sites.

Life in the Tribe

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

heroically defending it from thieves gain great respect and advance higher in the tribe’s pecking order. All Are Fighters Most of the orcs that stay behind when the warriors go on their raids are weaker than

accept this subservient role either because they are forced to or because it offers them a measure of security while they engage in their savagery. Green dragons, for instance, sometimes use orcs as

Warforged Colossus

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

the warforged were, though, House Cannith never lost interest in building a better titan. Cyre didn’t lose its desire for deadly weapons that could give it an edge over its enemies, and tremendous

twisted will, defending the interior of the colossus and giving voice and form to the docent’s otherwise disembodied intelligence. A Deadly Dungeon. House Cannith’s artisans lined the interior of each

Ruins Locations

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

side? “He has achieved mastery over life and death. There is no better lord to command this ruined fortress.” What do you know about the ruined fortress? “We died defending it, and we defend it still

Class Training

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

fighting, and I refined my talents by defending myself against people who crossed me. 6 I could always pick up just about any weapon and know how to use it effectively. Monk d6 I became a monk

or a thief wronged me, so I focused my training on mastering the skills of my enemy to better combat foes of that sort. 3 An experienced rogue saw something in me and taught me several useful tricks

Strahd's Enemy

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

possible results, A and B; in such a case, you can pick the one you prefer or that better suits the circumstances of the adventure.) Strahd senses that this NPC is a danger to him and tries to eliminate

. Characters can manipulate him into going by preying on his good heart. For instance, he might go there to help rescue missing Barovians, or to save the life of Ireena Kolyana, who is very beautiful. The

Court of Air

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

error of his ways and seek out a better life. He adopted the name Little One, to honor the halfling whose life he cut short. Shunned by polite society, Little One came to Candlekeep hoping to learn as

the cornices and gaze down protectively; these seemingly inert statues are stone golems charged with defending the temple. If called to service, they glide gently to the ground using a programmed

The Walking Statues

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

assume it to be a monument to Waterdeep’s Griffon Cavalry, but Waterdavians know better. The Sahuagin Humbled For years, the only visible walking statue of Waterdeep was known simply as “the walking

statue.” It stood at the foot of Mount Waterdeep near the head of Julthoon Street. Then, after its critical role in defending the city against an invasion of sahuagin in 1370 DR, Khelben Blackstaff

Tool Descriptions

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

these skills. For instance, you might spot hidden messages in a map, identify when the map was made to determine if geographical features have changed since then, and so forth. Nature. Your familiarity

life. With a cook along on the journey, your meals will be much better than the typical mix of hardtack and dried fruit. Components. Cook’s utensils include a metal pot, knives, forks, a stirring spoon

Getting Around

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

instance, traveling from Lower Menthis to Upper Central involves passing through three wards (taking a bridge from Lower Menthis to Lower Central, then ascending two levels) and can take 90 minutes or

home to the few powerful families that have remained in Dura. It’s in better condition than most of Middle Dura, and Deneith mercenaries protect the streets. Middle Dura Tumbledown A poor residential

Faerûn

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

the upheaval ended and the Chosen began to disappear, the gods of Mulhorand remained to rule their people, focusing their attention on defending their restored homeland to keep the war in Unther and

, who are better trained than their predecessors were. A few of Sembia’s less scrupulous former soldiers have taken to banditry, which offers other Sembians more opportunities for guard work. Thay. For

A Detour to Neverwinter

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

be prepared to store and carry it without looking in it. Omin isn’t keen to get into additional details, though, suggesting that the less the characters know, the better. (This is another potentially

message her indirectly through a third party (a bribed guard or worker, for instance), Oppal’s response makes it clear that she is willing to pass along “the information” only if she is liberated. She

Lower City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

mechanisms and cleverer magic. In addition to defending the city, the Seatower also serves as the local prison of Baldur’s Gate. Three levels of dungeons extend beneath it, the lower two below sea level

keep suspicion away from him, and he has to admit it’s a better deal than paying protection money himself. Water Queen’s House The oldest temple in Baldur’s Gate, the Water Queen’s House clings to its

Lower City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

secret doors leading to its vaults hidden by clever mechanisms and cleverer magic. Mike Schley The Seatower of Balduran In addition to defending the city, the Seatower also serves as the local

, and he has to admit it’s a better deal than paying protection money himself. Water Queen’s House The oldest temple in Baldur’s Gate, the Water Queen’s House clings to its enormous pier like a monster of

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