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Returning 35 results for 'secrets of rune defeat variants'.
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Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Hill Rune. The giant has a hill rune inscribed on a rock or some other object in its possession. While holding or wearing the object bearing the rune, the giant can use its Stone Avalanche action and
Hill Rebuff reaction.
The object bearing the rune has AC 15; 20 hit points; and immunity to necrotic, poison, and psychic damage. The object regains all its hit points at the end of every turn, but
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Death Rune. The giant has a death rune inscribed on a giant’s skull in its possession. While holding or wearing the skull bearing the rune, the giant can use its Reaping Scythe action and
Shroud of Souls bonus action.
The skull bearing the death rune has AC 18; 35 hit points; and immunity to necrotic, poison, and psychic damage. The skull regains all its hit points at the end of every turn
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh: the dao were forced to
that yakfolk are lazy—quite the contrary. They simply consider most menial tasks beneath them.
Yakfolk have a drive for learning, particularly when it comes to the secrets of elemental magic
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
enslave dao for a time. It is said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh
secrets of elemental magic and dark knowledge that might serve to corrupt or dominate others. Knowledge that the yakfolk can’t gain or use is to be destroyed. Unsentimental by nature, yakfolk
Book of Vile Darkness
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
The contents of this foul manuscript of ineffable wickedness are the meat and drink of those in evil’s thrall. No mortal was meant to know the secrets it contains, knowledge so horrid that to
darkness. An evil rune might appear on your face, your eyes might become glossy black, or horns might sprout from your forehead. Or you might become wizened and hideous, lose all facial features, gain a
Magic Items
Keys from the Golden Vault
The contents of this foul manuscript of ineffable wickedness are the meat and drink of those in evil’s thrall. No mortal was meant to know the secrets it contains, knowledge so horrid that to
.
Mark of Darkness. After you spend the requisite amount of time reading and studying the book, you acquire a physical disfigurement as a hideous sign of your devotion to vile darkness. An evil rune might
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
cast ensnaring strike, for example, the vines created by the spell might appear as rune-inscribed glowing bands that wrap around the target and hold it in place.
Suggested Characteristics
recruited me into the Azorius left and joined the Boros.
3
I have a friendship with a Dimir agent who sometimes funnels me secrets about Azorius activities.
4
A Golgari spore druid would love to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
; it isn’t maug, but it isn’t maat, either. Mastering the secrets of magic, though, demands a degree of devotion that would take giants away from pursuits that are valued by the ordning. As a
consequence, it’s a path rarely taken. The exception is rune magic. Giants are drawn to the solidity and permanence of magical runes. Stone giants are great practitioners of rune carving, both because of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
later in this chapter). Nikki Dawes Orc Rune Carver Building a Rune Carver Character Scholarly pursuits, ancient mysteries, or a fateful encounter might inspire a character to pursue the secrets of a
Rune Carver What we call rune magic is the palest imitation of Annam’s creative work. He shaped worlds from the primal elements; we struggle to bind the merest scraps of elemental power into the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Hill Giant Avalancher Hill giants who master rune magic discover a close connection to the natural forces of earth and stone. Their magic, combined with their size and strength, helps them quickly
with their ability to defeat and devour their prey as quickly as a torrent of boulders cascades down a mountain, leads other giants to call them avalanchers. Hill Giant Avalancher Huge Giant (Druid
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Level 6: Lost Level The Lost Level is designed for four 9th-level characters, and characters who defeat the monsters on this level should gain enough XP to advance halfway to 10th level. This level
was a temple complex dedicated to the dwarven god Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain. Hidden inside is the tomb of Melair, king of the Melairkyn dwarves. Before running this level
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
never known defeat, and all who oppose him live in torment. By the time this adventure begins, the lich has gathered a hoard of secrets and is nearly ready to begin the Ritual of Remaking. Only the characters can stop Vecna’s evil plan.
The Ritual of Remaking Vecna’s Ritual of Remaking involves gathering powerful secrets, extracting energy from them, and interweaving this energy with the lich’s essence and magic. After Vecna and his
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Giants. Each of the giants of the ordning has new variants in this chapter. The cloud giant destiny gambler, fire giant forgecaller, frost giant ice shaper, hill giant avalancher, stone giant rockspeaker
, and storm giant tempest caller all wield the traditional rune magic of their kind. They are joined by the death giant shrouded one and the fomorian warlock of the dark, giants outside the ordning
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
and the Material Plane for souls that might please their divine queen. Most giants know better than to make regular use of the death rune.
—Diancastra
“Know better”? Perhaps, but there’s no
frightened condition until the end of that creature’s next turn.
Tony Foti Death Giant Shrouded One A death giant shrouded one has learned the secrets of death magic—some say from the Raven Queen
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
facing the might of one of the multiverse’s most powerful good-aligned spellcasters, so the warlord devised a plot to trick Alustriel into helping him defeat Vecna. With the help of spies, Kas learned
to dispel the collective power of the secrets Vecna gathered, rendering the lich’s Ritual of Remaking useless. Despite looking identical to Mordenkainen, Kas has no significant magical power. This
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
natures are then confirmed by the agents themselves. Any injury dealt to Lynx Creatlach shows the unnatural construction of her undead flesh and the rune-scribed skeleton beneath it. Any injury dealt to Sir
Ursas causes him to shout out in rage, swearing vengeance “in the name of my unholy patron, Bel!” If either agent gains control of the Infernal Machine, they immediately use it to attempt to defeat
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
came here to learn secrets and receive divine guidance. While attuned to the room and inside it, a dwarf can cast the divination spell at will. Answers provided by the spell come from an unknown source
(perhaps the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain, perhaps the mountain itself). Too many castings of the spell in a short amount of time can lead to false readings, as noted in the spell’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Jhesiyra Kestellharp Among the greatest of Undermountain’s secrets is the story of Jhesiyra Kestellharp, who was one of Halaster’s most gifted apprentices until it became clear to her that Halaster
, inhabiting the very dungeon itself. Halaster is unaware of Jhesiyra’s presence but also wonders over her disappearance following the Spellplague. Jhesiyra’s plan is to use adventurers to defeat Halaster so
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
damage is real. A character free of the vision can free another character from it by using an action to shake or slap them. If the characters defeat Hexacali, their last collective memory is of pinning
Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). A creature that passes through the gate appears in area 25b on level 10, in the closest unoccupied space next to the identical gate located there.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
had risen again, becoming an evil god of secrets and magic on Oerth. Vecna’s defeat of Kas grates on the warlord’s ego. Kas aches to annihilate Vecna. Meanwhile, Vecna has been building his power, though the lich yearns to finally destroy his former lieutenant.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
. As characters adventure in a Darklord’s domain, they learn about the Darklord, hear reports of the Darklord’s infamy, and eventually discover secrets to frustrate or undermine the villain. Consider
memories, might also reveal secrets. Such truths might be hidden, but the Dark Powers ensure they survive to torment the Darklord. Jane Katsubo The Tome of Strahd recounts the
tale of Strahd von
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
enslave dao for a time. It is said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was
yakfolk are lazy—quite the contrary. They simply consider most menial tasks beneath them.
Yakfolk have a drive for learning, particularly when it comes to the secrets of elemental magic and dark
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge
. To fill the gaps in her knowledge and learn the secrets of the Star Forge, Brimskarda has kidnapped the renowned human smith Theldin and forced him to toil at the forge alongside her. Complicating
territorial dragon distracted. Work on the runic colossus is almost complete. Unless capable heroes arrive to rescue Theldin or defeat Brimskarda, it’s only a matter of time until the region is turned
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
broadly accepted reality? Stories and Secrets. Are tales of other domains or settings treated as facts, lore known only to a few, legends, or nonsense? Is that true for all places beyond a domain’s borders
potential defeat of a Darklord? Or would you rather keep a Darklord in the background and focus on other stories? Darklord Downfalls. Can a Darklord be defeated, or are they an enduring and recurring threat
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Find a long-lost artifact that bestows oracular visions upon the user.
5 Defeat the champion of another god in a battle of wits (perhaps Phenax, Mogis, or Klothys).
6 Find and restore a
prophecies, potentially drawing in secrets of the other gods or of reality itself. It is relatively easy for a mortal to lose Keranos’s favor because the god is quick to anger and doesn’t suffer failure
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
slaying a many-headed monster.
What such deeds have you done?”
“The sphinx’s riddles I solved to claim her prize.
I plumbed the secrets of the sea.
I ventured to the vault of the venerated
,
Perfectly imperfect and unformed.
You cannot perfect potential.”
Laughter filled Annam’s hall, loud as thunder,
Shaking floor and firmament.
The All-Father acquiesced, admitting defeat,
And
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
stalkers to carry on the fight. Each creature summoned in this manner appears in an unoccupied space of Reggaryarva’s choice within the circle of thrones. If the characters defeat the frost giant skeleton
. Carved into each urn is a rune. Above the alcoves looms a stone archway, into which some words are inscribed.
The inscription carved into the arch above the alcoves is a poem written in the Dwarvish
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Mordenkainen is Kas in disguise, it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules in this book’s introduction. If They Find Out? Diana Cearley Malaina van Talstiv Although it’s unlikely, the
eventually defeat Kas, they learn where Vecna weaves his ritual and can proceed to chapter 11. The Characters Defeat Kas. If the characters defeat Kas, allow them to decide how to proceed. They might still
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
with the Giant type, or you could write enmity toward giants into the tenets of your paladin’s Sacred Oath. Giant Lore You might have learned magic, martial techniques, or other secrets from studying
motivation, but it also might explain some of your class features or magic. A bard of the College of Lore might focus on the study of giants, a Rune Knight fighter (from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
14. Sepulchers This corner of the dungeon holds a pair of dusty crypts. 14a. Southern Crypt The door to this room is engraved with a large rune, while the door frame is carved with leering dwarven
skulls. A character who understands Dwarvish recognizes the rune on the door as a dwarven symbol of death (identical to the one in area 27). Behind the door is a dusty, 10-foot-high crypt that contains
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
traverse. Regardless of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules in this book’s introduction. Ward Rune. The ward rune is
ship power the wards. Kycera knows one rune was placed in the ship’s stateroom, but she doesn’t remember the second rune’s location. She believes that magic or a pass phrase can deactivate the runes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
more than create life—she could defeat death! She wished to breathe sentience into dead flesh and produce sturdier shells than the bodies of fragile, temporary mortals. She added corpse theft to her
as Mordenheim sought to glimpse the secrets hidden in the instant of death. One moonless night, Elise fell into a sleep from which she wouldn’t wake. Bringing Elise to her lab, Dr. Mordenheim worked
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
to know the secrets it contains, knowledge so horrid that to even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its
your devotion to vile darkness. An evil rune might appear on your face, your eyes might become glossy black, or horns might sprout from your forehead. Or you might become wizened and hideous, lose all
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
gods, whether by mediating, forcing a truce, or siding with the weaker group to defeat the stronger one.
A Kruphix Campaign A campaign structured around champions of Kruphix can embrace moral
balance, either to enrich themselves or to serve what they see as the greater good. Kruphix would then become a villain, as he sends other agents to suppress the secrets the adventurers carry with them
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
find out what lies beyond the basalt doors. When the characters arrive, she tries to forge a truce with them, promising them safe passage through the Lost Level if they defeat the golem and depart the
in pursuit of fleeing creatures. If the characters defeat the golem or lure it away, any duergar in the temple seize the chance to approach the black basalt doors and inspect them more closely