guarding corrupt life

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

Archlich;Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every horrid idea, every corrupt thought, and every example of foul magic he came across or devised. Other practitioners of

disappears, your Attunement to it ends immediately, and you lose all benefits granted by it. If you die while attuned to the book, an entity of great evil claims your soul. You can’t be restored to life

Warforged Soldier

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

steel, then magically imbued with life and sentience. The warforged were created to fight in the Last War, and in the aftermath of that conflict, they struggle to understand their place in the world. Most

warforged soldiers still serve their former masters, often guarding dragonmarked houses or merchant caravans. Many warforged find it difficult to separate themselves from the soldiers they were made

Gem Stalker

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Underdark, hunting Aberrations, and guarding its creator’s lair. A gem stalker is imbued with life, sapience, and purpose by the mystical energy of the gem dragon’s breath, and it is dedicated to

Medusa (Theran variant)

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

target.Medusas (often called gorgons on Theros) are closely associated with Pharika, the god of poison and medicine. Pharika has charged her favored servants with guarding secrets of life, health, and

Phantom Warrior

Monsters Curse of Strahd

master or because it believes it must perform a task to satisfy its honor or sense of duty. For example, a guard who dies defending a wall might return as a phantom warrior and continue guarding the

. A phantom warrior retains the alignment and personality it had before it died, and it remembers how it died. Memories of its life from shortly before it died are hazy, and older memories are

Catoblepas

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of carrion, and wallowing in mire. A catoblepas might be found with the one mate it chooses for life and, on occasion, with a calf. A catoblepas attacks anyone that moves too close, especially if

guarding its young. A catoblepas’s stink, like the stench of death mixed with swamp gas and skunk musk, gives it away as being much more ghastly than its appearance suggests. When it is on the

Girallon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

environments abundant with life. They share apes’ adeptness at climbing, although few trees can support the weight of these half-ton creatures. The ruins of cities, especially those found in deep

. A girallon that’s captured when young and carefully trained could end up in a seemingly unlikely place, such as guarding the entrance to a city’s thieves’ guild. Those who would

Greater Death Dragon

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

of their former selves, albeit twisted by their state of being. These greater death dragons scheme to achieve their ends, all the while amassing and jealously guarding treasure hoards as they did in

life. In battle, they are deadly foes, channeling the Cataclysmic fire that limns their bones and fuels their breath. They take cruel delight in snatching foes in their jaws, rushing into the air, then

Rahadin

Monsters Curse of Strahd

. Exile. Rahadin was exiled for refusing to bow down to a dusk elf prince whom he considered weak and corrupt. When the dusk elves later declined to pay fealty to King Barov, Rahadin helped Barov

haunted by them if he could. The only thing he cares about is Strahd von Zarovich, for whom he would gladly give his life. Rahadin's Traits Ideal. “Loyalty is everything.” Bond. “I am a son of King Barov

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

able to awaken psionic potential in others, and many of the greatest psi warriors in history were the dragon’s students. 4 After centuries guarding the world against incursions from the Far

, requiring no spell components and targeting any body of water in that region. If the dragon dies, the populations of aquatic life near the lair return to normal levels over the course of 1d10

Sammaster (Dracolich Form)

monsters

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Sammaster fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. Life Suppression. Creatures within 60 feet of Sammaster can’t regain Hit Points. Magic

dedicated to transforming living dragons into undead inheritors of a world blasted of life. Sammaster was slain centuries ago but now exists as a lich with his essence tied to a powerful dracolich form

Sammaster (Lich Form)

monsters

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Sammaster fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. Life Suppression. Creatures within 60 feet of Sammaster can’t regain Hit Points. Magic

transforming living dragons into undead inheritors of a world blasted of life. Sammaster was slain centuries ago but now exists as a lich with his essence tied to a powerful dracolich form. History

Moonblade Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

. A moonblade passes down from parent to child. The sword chooses its bearer and remains bonded to that person for life. If the bearer dies, another heir can claim the blade. If no worthy heir exists

special ritual in the throne room of an elven regent or in a temple dedicated to the elven gods. A moonblade won’t serve anyone it regards as craven, erratic, corrupt, or at odds with

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

foreign house. The sword at his back was the same, though, the one he had carried since even before he had found the twins left in swaddling at the gates of Arush Vayem. For all her life, Farideh had

calling in life. Proud Dragon Kin Dragonborn look very much like dragons standing erect in humanoid form, though they lack wings or a tail. The first dragonborn had scales of vibrant hues matching the

Acolyte Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. 3 I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died. 4 Everything I do

You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below

; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different

Folk Hero Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

disaster. 3 I stood alone against a terrible monster. 4 I stole from a corrupt merchant to help the poor. 5 I led a militia to fight off an invading army. 6 I broke into a tyrant

, I love the land, and I will protect the land. 3 A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I will take my revenge on any bully I encounter. 4 My tools are symbols of my past life

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves

traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single human’s memory. They live fully in the present—making them well suited to the adventuring life—but also plan for the future

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

I caught a big fish. Now I search for a good friend To share my lunch with. — Tortle haiku What many tortles consider a simple life, others might call a life of adventure. Tortles are

test, and make new acquaintances. Life of a Tortle A tortle hatches from a thick-shelled egg and spends the first few weeks of its life crawling on all fours. Its parents, old and near death, spend

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Mercenaries, private guards, Watch soldiers, and members of the Flaming Fist number among just a few of the many soldiers on the streets of Baldur’s Gate. War has been your life for as long as

the behaviors common to corrupt guards and military officers a mile away. While awareness of such corruption doesn’t equate to evidence of it, and your sense certainly isn’t foolproof, your

Acolyte - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

background might aspire to greater things, not for themselves, but for their faith. You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary

his or her teachings. (Any) d6 Bond 1 I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

’s Gate. If you wish, you may roll on the Criminal Origins table for an event that began your life of crime. d8 ORIGINS 1 You crippled a Guild kingpin’s cousin without

Guild. If either of them ever finds out, your life as you know it will be over. 6 A close friend or relative joined the Guild and vanished mysteriously. You’ve worked your way into the lower

Faction Agent

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

relic of my faith that was lost long ago. 2 I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. 3 I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my

from many walks of life, setting them to tasks that serve the goals of the Black Network but aren’t necessarily criminal in nature. Agents of the Black Network must often work in secret, and are

G'henna

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

G’henna Darklord: Yagno Petrovna Hallmarks: Corrupt theocracy, false deity Born of a Barovian family, Yagno Petrovna went missing upon the slopes of Mount Ghakis as a youth. As a violent storm rose

to help him, but when they discovered Yagno secretly sacrificing people to his fictitious god, they chased him into the Mists. When Yagno emerged, the domain of G’henna sprawled before him. Life is

Gatekeepers

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

come, and to protect nature from those that would corrupt it. Thousands of years later, the daelkyr (see chapter 6) opened gates from the plane of Xoriat and unleashed hordes of mind flayers

, in addition to guarding the seals that bind the daelkyr and keep Xoriat at bay, the Gatekeepers remained vigilant against the possibility of worse to come. In the millennia since that struggle ended

Adventure Background

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

ancient nation of Anauria with guarding the priceless scroll. The sapphires allowed both Hamukai and the golem (whether together or separate) to unlock a magically sealed vault that held the Nether

dearly loved him, the prince ordered his wizards to perform a ritual that would keep him on the brink of death for millennia. His magically sustained life force would maintain the shield that would

Medusa

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

Medusa Medusas (often called gorgons on Theros) are closely associated with Pharika, the god of poison and medicine. Pharika has charged her favored servants with guarding secrets of life, health

Preserve the Balance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

promote one element to the exclusion of others. Druids are also concerned with the delicate ecological balance that sustains plant and animal life, and the need for people to live in harmony with nature

and vampires). Druids sometimes lead raids against such creatures, especially when the monsters encroach on the druids’ territory. Druids are often found guarding sacred sites or watching over regions

Chapter 4: Adventures in Sharn

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

makes good people bad and bad people worse. In its mean streets, gritty detectives contend with corrupt law officers while trying to foil the efforts of merciless gangs and monstrous thugs. In the highest

, and monstrous mercenaries do battle with heroes from all walks of life, while unscrupulous collectors and smugglers carry on a brisk trade in artifacts brought back from the cyclopean ruins of

Life of a Tortle

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation Supplement

Life of a Tortle A tortle hatches from a thick-shelled egg and spends the first few weeks of its life crawling on all fours. Its parents, old and near death, spend what little time they have left

by stone walls that are easily defensible. If no such compound exists, they build one. The parents spend the remainder of their lives guarding the compound, defending their offspring, and sharing a

Zariel's Fall

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

weapon and hide it, so that the devils would not destroy or corrupt it. Yael took the sword and fled, along with Zariel’s faithful hollyphant companion, Lulu. Zariel’s other two generals, Olanthius

grace. Haruman followed his master into damnation willingly and was transformed into a narzugon devil, while Olanthius, who took his own life rather than bow before Asmodeus, was brought back to serve as a death knight under Zariel’s burning gaze.

Preserve the Balance

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

promote one element to the exclusion of others. Druids are also concerned with the delicate ecological balance that sustains plant and animal life, and the need for civilized folk to live in harmony

zombies and vampires). Druids sometimes lead raids against such creatures, especially when the monsters encroach on the druids’ territory. Druids are often found guarding sacred sites or watching over

Self-Sufficient Clans

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

Self-Sufficient Clans To any dragonborn, the clan is more important than life itself. Dragonborn owe their devotion and respect to their clan above all else, even the gods. Each dragonborn’s conduct

followers of the evil goddess Takhisis learned a dark ritual that let them corrupt the eggs of metallic dragons, producing evil dragonborn called draconians. Five types of draconians, corresponding to

Roleplaying Strahd

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

. In his mind, her death couldn’t have been prevented, and what is done cannot be undone. In life, Strahd lived to conquer. In undeath, he conquers still—not realms, but people, driving good souls to

become corrupt and destroying those who won’t yield. Characters who try to appeal to Strahd’s humanity will be gravely disappointed, because there is little humanity left in him. If they ask Strahd

Melding

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

vitality. Upon her arrival, she quickly assessed the situation, realizing the shortest path to gain control of the grove would be to sway and corrupt its original sovereign to serve her until she recovered

becomes a more extravagantly festive place. The quiet, contemplative joy of the mushroom folk’s way of life is being inexorably replaced by decadent, enraptured euphoria — and the madness that euphoria hides.

D&D Beyond

Search Results