monsters starting with openly alive from for led

Monk

Classes Player’s Handbook

’s Tools or Musical Instrument Armor Training None Starting Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Spear, 5 Dagger;Daggers, Artisan’s Tools or Musical Instrument chosen for the tool

slaying monsters and plundering treasure; they strive to turn themselves into living weapons. Becoming a Monk... As a Level 1 Character Gain all the traits in the Core Monk Traits table. Gain

Ranger

Classes Player’s Handbook

Shields Starting Equipment Choose A or B: (A) Studded Leather;Studded Leather Armor, Scimitar, Shortsword, Longbow, 20 Arrows, Quiver, Druidic Focus (sprig of mistletoe), Explorer's Pack, and 7 GP

wilderness. A Ranger’s talents and magic are honed with deadly focus to protect the world from the ravages of monsters and tyrants. Becoming a Ranger... As a Level 1 Character Gain all the

Wizard

Classes Player’s Handbook

, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, or Religion Weapon Proficiencies Simple weapons Armor Training None Starting Equipment Choose A or B: (A) 2 Dagger;Daggers, Staff

explosive fire, arcing lightning, subtle deception, and spectacular transformations. Their magic conjures monsters from other planes of existence, glimpses the future, or forms protective barriers. Their

Black Viper

Monsters Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

of her station. In her younger days, Esvele openly rebelled, but that behavior led to locked doors at night and house guards watching her every move during the day. So she taught herself how to pick

Girallon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of several individuals and their offspring, usually led by a dominant adult that also tends to be the oldest member of the group. When on the hunt away from their lair, girallons use roars and body

out across the world. Numerous creatures have tried to tame, subjugate, or cooperate with the monsters. For instance, some forest-dwelling peoples capture girallons and train them to serve as sentinels

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

by walls and crowds. They thrive in the wilds of their homelands: the tundra, jungle, or grasslands where their tribes live and hunt. Barbarians come alive in the chaos of combat. They can enter a

fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to. Their courage in the face of danger makes

Rictavio

Monsters Curse of Strahd

hunting evil monsters. The Waiting Game. Van Richten isn’t a young man anymore. He knows his road is coming to an end, but his work isn't done. He has come to Barovia to kill Strahd von Zarovich

as he can, starting with evil Vistani. Man with a Plan. Van Richten doesn’t know that his former protégé, a good-aligned Vistana named Ezmerelda d’Avenir, has come to Barovia

Folk Hero Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

tyrants and monsters that threaten the common folk everywhere. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools, vehicles (land

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

Investigator

Backgrounds Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

d8 Case 1 A friend was wrongfully accused of murder. You tracked down the actual killer, proving your friend’s innocence and starting your career as a detective. 2 You’re

corpse. Ever since, other spectral clients have sought you out to help them find rest. 4 You revealed that the monsters terrorizing your home were illusions created by a cruel mage. The magic-user

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

you care to remember. You trained as a youth, studied the use of weapons and armor, learned basic survival techniques, including how to stay alive on the battlefield. You might have been part of a

instinct proves a useful starting point when determining who might take a bribe, who might turn a blind eye to a crime, or who might have criminal connections. You can also use this sense to get a

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

. Bugbears understand that by venerating Hruggek and Grankhul, they also give tribute to Maglubiyet, even though they don’t openly pay homage to their overlord. When bugbears are called to join a

in a cowardly fashion; a bugbear that knows or feels itself to be in mortal danger is affected by a form of madness and will do anything, including trying to flee, in order to stay alive. Bugbears

Kalashtar Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

me in dreams, and at times her voice whispers in the silence of my mind. As long as at least one of my sisters is alive, Kashtai will survive — and as long as she lives, she will fight il

kalashtar communities focus on acts of devotion known as the Path of Light. But the dark powers of Dal Quor have their own plans for Eberron. Through the force known as the Dreaming Dark, these monsters

Cycle of Dread

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

Cycle of Dread Monsters and wild beasts mysteriously appear to menace the people of Yeonido A bitter spirit and strict local traditions trap Yeonido in a cycle of quiet suffering. While spirits

called gwishin are well known among the city’s populace, social mores prevent people from speaking openly about their dead ancestors. One vengeful gwishin takes advantage of this custom to torment the city.

Initiative Legacy

Rules

rolls for monsters.Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their Initiative roll. For example, if an ambusher starts combat while hidden from a

foe who is unaware that combat is starting, that foe is surprised.Initiative Order. A combatant's check total is called their Initiative count, or Initiative for short. The DM ranks the combatants, from

Politics Among the Lizardfolk

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Politics Among the Lizardfolk Two political groups operate in the social structure of the lizardfolk lair. On the one hand are the dominant progressives led by the queen, Othokent, who is supported

, for the rule of the queen remains absolute) are the traditionalists, led by the shamans. The shamans believe that allying and intermingling with other races is contrary to the divine will of their god

Hired by Markos's Family

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

concerned about Markos and fear his recent studies have led him down a troubled path. One of Markos’s family members hires the characters to travel to Delphi Mansion and stop Markos from doing anything that

gp to each character for delivering The Celestial Codex safely to Vasil Talistrome, plus an extra 150 gp each if the characters bring Markos home. (The family strongly prefers him to be alive but pays to have him raised from the dead if necessary.)

Introduction

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

Introduction It’s good to be the Dungeon Master! Not only do you get to tell fantastic stories about heroes, villains, monsters, and magic, but you also get to create the world in which these stories

&D tabletop roleplaying game. If you haven’t played before, the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is a great starting point for new players and DMs. These rules have two important companions: the Player’s

Knowledge of Kalaman

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

province of Nightlund. Ancient Bastion. Kalaman is a thriving trade city known for its strong walls, castle, and harbor beacons, all of which predate the Cataclysm. Rulers. The city is led by a

governor, a council of prominent guild leaders, and a military marshal. Military. Kalaman maintains a significant military force to deter raiders from Estwilde and monsters from the Dargaard Mountains. Vingaard Port. The city sits at the mouth of the Vingaard River, about thirty miles downriver from Vogler.

Location Overview

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

Location Overview The wizard Thalivar built a tower at the heart of Leilon as a laboratory to study the monsters of the cosmos. Using a device called a planar beacon, Thalivar lured his prey into the

the town, and the monsters lurking within the tower were released. A local adventuring party, the Swords of Leilon, died trying to stop them from spilling out into the town below. Since then, the

Xanathar

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

beholders, Xanathar is a paranoid tyrant that charms and bullies its minions into servitude. The Xanathar Guild is made up of some of Waterdeep’s most disreputable folk, as well as monsters forced into

constantly, but even their ministrations can’t keep such a creature alive forever. Whenever the fish dies, panic spreads through the occupants of the lair as minions try to replace the fish before Xanathar

Gothic Horror Villains

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

creating the perfect poison, machine, or lifeform 4 A beloved magnate who abducts commoners to steal their blood for his beauty rituals 5 A celebrity who openly murders innocents but uses

terrible deeds 8 A poisoner who seeks to manipulate history through targeted killings 9 An artist who manufactures terrible accidents to provide inspiration and reference for her art 10 A monster hunter who accuses those they consider sinful of being monsters

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, and no orc will leave an elf alive. Orcs become so frenzied in combat against elves that they forget all about taking loot and valuables back to the tribe — the only trophies of any worth are

battle skills. 3 I always appear like I am about to kill everyone around me. 4 I love a good brawl. 5 I drink the blood of monsters to consume their power. 6 I chant orcish war

Adventure Conflict

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

Adventure Conflict A premise can be a good starting point, but before you can turn it into an adventure, it needs a conflict worthy of the heroes’ attention. The conflict might be driven by a single

villain or monster, a villain with lackeys, an assortment of monsters, or an evil organization. But it need not involve the forces of evil; it could be a rivalry or disagreement between two families

Tracking Initiative

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

’ index cards. Do the same when you roll the monsters’ initiative. Then arrange the cards in order from highest to lowest. Starting at the top, you move down through the stack. When you call out the name

record the current hit points of monsters, as well as other useful notes. A downside of this approach is that you have to remind the players round after round when their turns come up. Visible List You

Tracking Initiative

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

Hit Points of monsters, as well as other useful notes. If you use this approach, you tell the players when it’s their characters’ turn. When you call out the character whose turn is starting, consider

monsters, placed in Initiative order in a stack you cycle through A hidden list allows you to track combatants who haven’t been revealed yet, and you can use the list as a place to record the current

Shown the Door

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

Shown the Door When the characters are ready to enter Little Lockford, they’re led to the town’s fortified entrance by Sergeant Yombad Cragknuckle (neutral good deep gnome), the highest ranked of the

presence of monsters there. (Normally kept at bay by the clockwork automatons, monsters are likely to have ventured from their hidey-holes and into the streets. Gricks are a particular nuisance.) Healing

Starting Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

Starting Characters Characters start this adventure at 3rd level. Players can create new 3rd-level characters, as described in the next section. If the players wonder why characters start at this

adventure. As the DM, you decide what character options are available to your players. Consider allowing players to choose from the character options in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse when

Wyvern Tor

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

vicinity of Conyberry catch glimpses of Wyvern Tor to the south as they go. The tor was formerly the home of a large and dangerous nest of wyverns, but a band of bold adventurers dealt with the monsters

years ago. Though the wyverns never returned, other creatures lair here from time to time—including a band of orc raiders that set up camp a couple of months ago. Led by an orc named Brughor Axe-Biter

Para-elemental Queen

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Scions of Elemental Evil

Para-elemental Queen Ulsedra Vox recently learned from the Elder Elemental Eye how to activate the portal in the Temple of Elemental Evil’s high altar. The portal led to the buried Primordial Nexus

500 feet underground. Vox excavated the nexus; now, she uses its power to summon evil elemental monsters to do her destructive bidding. By the time the characters confront her, Vox has called forth her

Starting the Story

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

Starting the Story Kicking off a dungeon adventure can be as simple as having a mysterious stranger offer the characters a quest while they are at the Yawning Portal (or some other tavern). This

Secret d8 Secret 1 Intends to betray the party 2 Unwittingly provides false information 3 Has a secret agenda (roll another quest) 4 Is a devil in disguise 5 Has led other parties to their doom 6 Is the charmed thrall of a mind flayer 7 Is possessed by a ghost 8 Is a solar in disguise

Starting Point: Callestan

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

Starting Point: Callestan The Sharn Watch won’t set foot in Callestan. Located at the base of Lower Dura, it’s been abandoned by the city above. Colors are faded, stones are cracked, and half the

buildings should be condemned. The closest thing this district has to law is the Boromar Clan… and now they’re being challenged by the monsters of Daask. Every day there’s the chance that a war will

Starting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

Starting the Adventure The adventure begins when the characters arrive in the town of Promise or, if they are already there, as they explore the Awakening Festival. Read or paraphrase the following

to set the scene: In the town of Promise, the annual Awakening Festival is underway, and the streets are alive with vibrant music. As the history of the land is recounted through song, musicians play

Cavern Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

, which use it to attack any potential threats. Use the statistics for the oaken bolter (from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes) and the kobold inventor (from Volo’s Guide to Monsters). 3 The characters’ tunnel

between passageways. Negotiating with it successfully allows access to a secret tunnel that cuts days off the characters’ journey. 5 Roving outlaws (five to ten thugs led by a bandit captain) heading to

Undead Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

, both sets of doors are under attack by humanoid figures. They have already breached the smaller door, and they are starting to make cracks in the larger. The smaller doorway leads into a cloak room

, and another door bars the way into the common room from there. The larger doors lead into the courtyard, where there are stables and a smithy. Monsters. The attacking creatures are comprised of 1

Investigating Rivergard

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

recruit thugs and monsters to join the Cult of the Crushing Wave. When the characters arrive at Rivergard, read the following text: A small castle overlooks the mighty Dessarin River, which is a good half

depends on why the characters are here and how they approach. Peaceful Approach If the characters approach openly and politely ask for admittance for almost any plausible reason, the cultists welcome

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