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Returning 35 results for 'duty instead are bad'.
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
capital of Cormyr. He came to Icewind Dale to become a knucklehead trout fisher but instead found religion. The misbegotten son of Artus Cimber, a renowned human adventurer, Sirac hasn’t seen his
father since he was a baby.
Ideal: “Without duty or loyalty, a man is nothing.”
Bond: “Icewind Dale is where I belong for the rest of my life.”
Flaw: “I am honest to a fault.”
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
", "rollAction":"Death Ray", "rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target instead takes 64
the creature has such a feared reputation that stories about it are ingrained in the popular culture. Any rumor of a catoblepas taking up residence nearby is taken to be a bad omen, even if the rumor is
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
, instead assuming that the guests had died in their sleep.
But Strahd was not fooled. He came to realize fairly quickly that the clockwork effigy had begun to display a murderous nature. Rather than have
Ideal. “I wish I could make people happy.”
Bond. “I would like to find someone—anyone—who isn't afraid of me and who enjoys my company.”
Flaw. “When I'm upset, I do bad things.”Poison
Monsters
Princes of the Apocalypse
instead.
Magic Resistance. Olhydra has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Water Form. Olhydra can enter a hostile creature’s space and stop there. She can move
— bad weather, strong tides, and increasing aggression from dangerous sea life.
Violent downpours become frequent within 10 miles of the lair. A downpour occurs once every 2d12;{"diceNotation
Species
Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
the patron ancestors formed a bond with you. Now it is your duty to follow in the footsteps of your patron, living your life as they lived theirs, allowing this champion to live on through you. This
or clever? Whatever their nature, it’s your duty to follow their example. Is this something you proudly embrace, or do you resist it? Each patron ancestor is tied to many Valenar: do you have a
Species
Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
the patron ancestors formed a bond with you. Now it is your duty to follow in the footsteps of your patron, living your life as they lived theirs, allowing this champion to live on through you. This
or clever? Whatever their nature, it’s your duty to follow their example. Is this something you proudly embrace, or do you resist it? Each patron ancestor is tied to many Valenar: do you have a
Sailor
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
more than one deserving soul to a briny grave. Fear and bloodshed are no strangers to you, and you’ve garnered a somewhat unsavory reputation in many a port town.
Variant Feature: Bad
Reputation
If your character has a sailor background, you may select this background feature instead of Ship’s Passage.
No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
world.
Perhaps instead you were taken in by the scholars of the Vault of the Sages or the Map House in Silverymoon, and now you have struck out to increase your knowledge and to make yourself available
path to power and domination. (Evil)
6
Self-Improvement. The goal of a life of study is the betterment of oneself. (Any)
d6
Bond
1
It is my duty to protect my students
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
. Fear and bloodshed are no strangers to you, and you’ve garnered a somewhat unsavory reputation in many a port town.
Variant Feature: Bad Reputation
If your character has a sailor
background, you may select this background feature instead of Ship’s Passage.
No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When you are in a settlement, you can get away with
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death.
Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who
everywhere in the world around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
a haughty tone. “By order of Vlaakith the Undying, Queen of the Astral Sea, I declare that you are guilty of the crime of trespassing. As your punishment, it is my solemn duty to decapitate your
captain. So, which one of you dung-eaters commands this barge?”
After a beat, Dagaz smiles and adds: “A bad joke on my part. I wish you swift passage through Her Majesty’s realm. My dragon and I are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
creatures for scouting or guard duty, or using dimension door to slip away from a deal gone bad. The hard part of that last one is always figuring out which of your franchise mates you’ll bring with you
nightmare of franchise-branded zombies running amok. Still, if things get bad, there’s nothing like a general marketing campaign reminding local folk that necromancy means raise dead. Even if you can’t cast
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
deal an extra 6d8 slashing damage instead. You might also have the shards be from a polymorph blade, a blade of the medusa, or some other type of weapon. Another option is to allow decapitated
bad for it in combat, it might choose to do so in order to escape (if you wish to preserve the Grand Master as a future villain), or to summon an ally (if the fight against it proves too easy).
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
5. Watch Room The guards here are companions of the force resting in area 4. They are on active duty, watching the stairs down into area 1. Creatures If the four lizardfolk stationed here spot
mechanical guide spend 1 charge in this area causes the guards to change shifts, leaving here for the barracks (area 6). Spending 2 charges causes them to instead head into the temple complex to search
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and
instead unfriendly. Desire. Otaaryliakkarnos would like the metallic dragons to strike now as Protanther suggests, but she does not know if they can succeed alone. An alliance would reduce casualties for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and
in a Dragonmoot, and with the long ancestral memory of the metallic dragons, she holds all dwarves responsible. Attitude. Neutral. If the party includes one or more dwarves, Otaaryliakkarnos is instead
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
duty to follow in the footsteps of your patron, living your life as they lived theirs, allowing this champion to live on through you. This is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to
you’re a ranger, was your ancestor a famous blademaster, or a stealthy hunter? Was your ancestor chivalrous or merciless? Bold or clever? Whatever their nature, it’s your duty to follow their example
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
locked. Two town guards (LG male and female humans) stand just inside each gate. Instead of spears, they carry pikes (reach 10 ft., 1d10 + 1 piercing damage on a hit). These weapons are long enough
echoed across Vallaki, putting the entire town on alert within minutes. Vallaki has twenty-four human guards, half of whom are on duty at any given time (six stand watch at the gates, six patrol the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
to your campaign, shaping it to fit your needs and the tastes of your players. You can stack the deck with low-level effects that prompt roleplaying instead of mechanical changes or create a deck that
has only good cards (or bad ones!) in it. You can do all this without losing the wonder of the deck: its unique nature as a physical object that players—not just their characters—can hold in their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
loss because Urwin was on watch the night the gem was taken. Davian is convinced that Urwin shirked his duty to spend time with his betrothed, and the two men have been at odds ever since. To this day
against the winery, antagonizing the wereravens like a bad neighbor. Five days ago, evil druids stole the third and final gem and bore it to Yester Hill (chapter 14). The wereravens launched a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
clerks reminding you of expense accounts and budgets. Other times, they are fellow heavies and knee breakers who died in the line of duty, sarcastically calling out your mistakes in a misguided effort
other skilled warriors. Rather than worshiping Tempus or Bane, Gruumsh or Tyr, you instead bow down before the altar of your own superiority, channeling your ego to drive your franchise’s success
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
.
2 I’m an epicurean, and I live to eat all the delightful foods people concoct.
3 It’s my duty as a member of an elder species to protect and guide other peoples.
4 I like coming up with
fight when they could talk instead and build on this ecosystem of wondrous cultures and fascinating traditions.
7 I owe the short-lived mortals I become friends with the responsibility of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
was fun for a while, but the zombie started to smell real bad, so we doused it in oil and set it on fire. Beek would’ve found that hilarious.”
— Fonkin Hoddypeak, on friendship
Hideous Forms
hit point instead.
Actions
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
Beholders: Bad Dreams Come True To those who would seek to conquer beholders or merely understand them, nearly everything about their quarry is unfathomable. These bizarre creatures are possessed of
is the natural companion to eternal vigilance. Beholders are among the few creatures that can shape reality in their vicinity. In addition, beholders don’t truly sleep when they rest. Instead, a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
. Though he sees both good and bad in the lesser races, he believes that their capacity for attaining great power despite their physical limitations makes them dangerous. For all their capability, humanoids
strength. If this puts the humanoids at risk, so be it. Attitude. Neutral. If there are humans or tieflings in the party, Protanther is instead cautious. If there are elves in the party, he is unfriendly
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
. Though he sees both good and bad in the lesser races, he believes that their capacity for attaining great power despite their physical limitations makes them dangerous. For all their capability
full strength. If this puts the humanoids at risk, so be it. Attitude. Neutral. If there are humans or tieflings in the party, Protanther is instead cautious. If there are elves in the party, he is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
the Bad Reputation feature (see sidebar) instead of the Ship’s Passage feature. Variant Feature: Bad Reputation
If your character has a sailor background, you may select this background feature
instead of Ship’s Passage.
No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your reputation. When you are in a settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
likely a legendary archmage. Was your ancestor a famous blademaster, a stealthy hunter, or a war chanter? Were they chivalrous or merciless? Bold or clever? Whatever their path, it is your duty to follow
whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours? Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
) 2 Responsibility. It is my duty to respect the authority of those above me, just as those below me must respect mine. (Lawful) 3 Independence. I must prove that I can handle myself without the
coddling of my family. (Chaotic) 4 Power. If I can attain more power, no one will tell me what to do. (Evil) 5 Family. Blood runs thicker than water. (Any) 6 Noble Obligation. It is my duty to protect and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
their duty above mortal life. If threatened, a sphinx of valor defends its charge with its supernaturally empowered roar and fierce strikes. Sphinx of Valor Large Celestial, Lawful Neutral
AC 17
, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The sphinx makes two Claw attacks and uses Roar.
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +12, reach 5 ft. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) Slashing damage.
Roar (3
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
protrudes from the rooftop of the closer north wing, which also sports a chimney billowing gray smoke.
The iron gates are unlocked but squeal loudly when someone opens them. Two gate guards are on duty, but
feet, 9 inches tall and squats instead of standing upright. He looks like a beardless dwarf with patches of donkey flesh covering his face and body. He has one human ear and one wolf’s ear, and a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
to get out of debt. Several bad investments ruined her money-lending business, and most of her reliable customers have turned to other providers such as the Cassalanters. Jelenn could have borrowed
exposure led her to borrow money from the Zhentarim instead — a decision she has come to regret. The Zhents working for Manshoon promise to keep their relationship secret on the condition that she do
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Peace Domain Have these peaceful clerics even considered that they’re subverting a most holy system, one where bad decisions coincide with the teaching power of pain?
Tasha
The balm of peace
damage instead. Potent Spellcasting 8th-level Peace Domain feature You add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you deal with any cleric cantrip. Expansive Bond 17th-level Peace Domain feature The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
, read the following text instead: Green-glowing wisps of steam bubble up from a fat, black cauldron in the center of this dark, oppressive room. Surrounding the cauldron are seven tall wooden stools
percent chance that a potion has “gone bad,” in which case it’s actually a potion of poison. Not visible from the entrance is a small table behind the cauldron on which sits an opened spellbook
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
strongholds and settlements deep in the forests. Today, most wood elves stand guard over the ruins of the past, believing it their duty to preserve their fallen glory as an object lesson of the dangers of
large realm of their own since the kingdom of Eaerlann was destroyed millennia ago. Instead they maintain a number of smaller settlements, the better to keep those communities hidden or protected. Wood






