monsters survive with only armed from for led

Dead Magic Dweller

Backgrounds Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

desert are anathema to spellcasters and monsters that rely on magic—which is exactly why you made your life there. Perhaps you’re on the run from Red Wizards, or you ran afoul of a

powerful djinni in Calimshan. Whatever the case, you decided that living in Anauroch was your best option. After long months or years, you’re stronger, wiser, and armed with hard-earned knowledge of desert medicine and wasteland survival.

Girallon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

looks like an oversized, four-armed ape with grayish-tan skin and white fur. Its vicious fangs and claws reveal it to be a monstrous predator. Girallons are most common in temperate or warm forest

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

Space Clown

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

first spelljamming helm;spelljamming helms from dohwar merchants (see “Dohwar”). Subsequent visits to other Wildspace systems led to contact with a multitude of other folk. In the wake of

space in garishly decorated ships and sometimes take up residence on populated worlds, where they set up carnival tents to lure curious onlookers into their clutches. They are armed with colorfully

Kolyarut

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

: Monsters of the Multiverse) and punished in brutally decisive fashion. In cases where the terms of a contract or a foundational truth of an agreement come into question, the Kolyarut sends a component part

their questions have been satisfied, they report back to their creator, allowing the Kolyarut to impose accurate judgments. Kolyaruts are four-armed beings of magic and machinery. Like maruts, they

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form

might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver. Small and Practical The diminutive halflings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or, barring

Pirate Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, monsters of the deep, and those who wanted to sink your craft to the bottomless depths. Your first love is the

under the sway of a dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and lawlessness. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent more than one

Sailor Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, monsters of the deep, and those who wanted to sink your craft to the bottomless depths. Your first love is the

You spent your youth under the sway of a dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and savages. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

Nature. A demilich doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep. So great is a demilich’s will to survive that it always has the maximum number of hit points for its Hit Dice, instead of average

hit points.A Demilich’s Lair A demilich hides its earthly remains and treasures in a labyrinthine tomb guarded by monsters and traps. At the heart of this labyrinth rests the demilich’s

Kasimir Velikov

Monsters Curse of Strahd

led her down a path of evil and deceit. For that reason, Kasimir wants to see the vampire destroyed so that his sister can be rescued from her eternal damnation. Secrets of the Amber Temple. Patrina

spying on the temple for years, but he needs adventurers to help him survive its perils. He thinks that the secret to breaking Strahd's pact and freeing Barovia from its curse might be hidden there, but

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

Assassin Bug

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

able to survive an assassin bug's infestation without immediately being treated with magic or fire. Incredibly hardy monsters such as catoblepas and gorgons have sometimes been observed with deep

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

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

stranger in the area of the campaign? Or is the campaign set in a rough-and-tumble frontier where barbarians are common? What led you to take up the adventuring life? Were you lured to settled lands

Sailor - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

, characters with this background are common. You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, monsters of the deep, and those who wanted to sink your craft to

dread pirate, a ruthless cutthroat who taught you how to survive in a world of sharks and savages. You’ve indulged in larceny on the high seas and sent more than one deserving soul to a briny grave

Gruul Anarch

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

’t survive away from the comforts of the city. 4 Don’t tell me I’m not allowed to do something. 5 Laws are for people who are afraid to face their inner beasts. 6 I

siblings or ancestors.] Flaws d6 Flaw 1 If you question my courage, I will never back down. 2 HrrrGGGAAAARRuuuh! [My anger in battle led to the death of a loved one

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

Ancient Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

track the influence of the Far Realm. Armed with that knowledge, sapphire dragons stamp out alien influence before it spreads. People who dwell or delve deep beneath the earth can easily find

discuss how they might reunite and restore Sardior, the Ruby Dragon. 2 A horde of revenant;revenants led by a death knight has one goal—destroying the ancient sapphire dragon who defeated

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

scythe. Only a skilled and determined hero can hope to survive single combat with an orc. Savage and fearless, orc tribes are ever in search of elves, dwarves, and humans to destroy. Motivated by their

Luthic. He predicts that the war will end with Luthic the only deity standing, as the cave mother ascends to rule her warrior children. Life in the Tribe Orcs survive through savagery and force of

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

out while still getting decent performance out of the slaves. But humanoids and monsters that are especially capable or that provide unusual services find themselves treated like favored (though

of farming of which goblins are capable and are charged with checking traps for captured people or beasts. Gatherers aren’t usually armed with weapons more deadly than a sling or a knife, but

Odunos

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

Odunos The Returned of Odunos despise the living, feeling sparks of pleasure when they destroy whatever the living value, be it property or people. Within their city, armed Returned gangs roam the

streets, quarreling for no apparent reason. Beyond the city’s walls, undead raiders strike out, menacing the lands of Akros, Meletis, and Phoberos. These raids are led by the city’s de facto ruler

Law and Order

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

Defense One hundred trained warriors serve in the town guard. Each of them wears studded leather armor marked with a town guard’s badge — the green reed of Saltmarsh — and is armed with a club while

the town guard is Eliander Fireborn. The guard also patrols the area around Saltmarsh on horseback. Groups assigned to this duty are more heavily armed and armored; they wear chain mail and wield

Noteworthy Sites

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

have suffered neglect that has led to increased banditry on top of the usual attacks by monsters. One of the largest borderlands settlements, Milpazul, caters to travelers looking for shelter. It has

Noteworthy Sites San Citlán is a land of contrasts. Lavish mansions cradle the wealthy while the poor scrape to survive. Purses are filled in lively markets and emptied in cantinas and wrestling

Quaggoths

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

can survive on bitter lichens and toxic fungi, they viciously attack anything they can make a meal of, from giant spiders to explorers. Quaggoths sometimes serve as muscle for Underdark-dwelling

villains. Quaggoths frequently collect in small bands led by the most fearsome group member. These bands are proud and quick to hold grudges. Anyone who harms a quaggoth—or who is suspected of doing so

Canyon Shrine

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

through the canyon walls, offering shelter to both fugitives and monsters, and the darkness within the caverns provides a suitable environment for the bloodthirsty deeds of the god’s most depraved

servants. Canyon Shrine Adventures A journey into a canyon where Mogis is worshiped can be an adventure full of unspeakable horrors. A group of characters could come to a canyon shrine as armed escorts

Rudolph van Richten

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

, van Richten has hunted monsters and armed others with the knowledge they need to confront evil. Though he’s made many devoted allies, he keeps them at arm’s length, fearing the threat of his curse

a wicked vampire. In the process of hunting the vampire, Rudolph came under a terrible curse: “Live you always among monsters, and see everyone you love die beneath their claws.” In the decades since

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

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.

Notorious Monsters

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

Notorious Monsters Every monster tells a story. The more you treat monsters as unique individuals and foreshadow their threat, the larger they’ll loom in characters’ minds. Build dread by giving

monsters reputations that suggests their form, deeds, or peculiarities while letting players’ imaginations embellish details. For example, tales describe a horrifying skeletal figure that corrupts the

A Pox on the Land

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

obliterating them, she hopes to impress the gods and elevate her people to the top of the ordning. By the time the adventurers set a course for her canyon, Kayalithica has already led major assaults

stone giants won’t easily be turned against their thane, but they might be persuaded to help adventurers survive the perils of Deadstone Cleft by providing information about the canyon and its defenses. They can also shed light on Kayalithica’s evil intentions.

Survival Skills

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

hold off a group of armed attackers and attribute the act either to idiocy or the creature’s ridiculously inflated idea of its prospects for success. The truth is that the lone kobold — persuaded

usually the oldest and smartest kobold; the other kobolds respect the old one’s ability to survive so long, and they assume the leader will use that knowledge to help the tribe survive. In some cases, the

Level 5: Wyllowwood

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

Level 5: Wyllowwood Wyllowwood is designed for four 8th-level characters. Those who defeat the monsters on this level should gain enough XP to reach 9th level. In some cases, defeating a monster can

begins its lengthy, tumultuous descent into the Underdark — a voyage no ordinary boat or raft can survive.

Dark Sun

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

followed the defeat of the gods, mighty sorcerer-kings came to power and nearly destroyed the world with their reckless use of defiling magic. They made Athas into a desert where terrible monsters roam and

only the strongest survive. One of the hallmarks of the Dark Sun setting is that the heroes don’t need to seek out forgotten dungeons to find adventure — mere survival is adventure enough. But there is no reason you can’t successfully adapt Princes of the Apocalypse to your Dark Sun campaign.

Lamordia

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

chemical accidents and the proper formulas. Golems, homunculi, and other constructed beings groan to life to support a populace desperate to survive in this frigid realm. Frozen bogs and glacial expanses

vain ambitions. And no ambitions have led to greater evils than the work of the domain’s Darklord, Dr. Viktra Mordenheim.

Overview

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

ensure the prosperity and security of Phandalin by clearing the rich mine of its monsters, and to put an end to the troublemaking of the Black Spider — if they can survive the dangers of the Lost Mine of Phandelver.

map have been taken to somewhere called “Cragmaw Castle.” In part 2, “Phandalin,” the characters arrive in Phandalin to find it terrorized by the Redbrands, a gang of miscreants led by a mysterious

Noteworthy Features

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

or creature in the jungles of Valachan might turn hostile toward explorers. Packs of displacer beasts roam the jungle, led by Yana, a preternaturally cunning displacer beast that serves Chakuna

names take inspiration from Mesoamerican languages. When players create characters from Valachan, consider asking them the following questions: How did you avoid or survive participating in the

Adventure Background

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

, god of storms, led by their champion Fheralai Stormsworm. The cult’s headquarters are inside a death knight dreadnaught, an undead galleon, which prowls the coast looking for trade ships to plunder

both groups pose to the region. They need the help of adventurers if they want their rebuilt settlement to survive the danger.

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