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Returning 35 results for 'secrets of rune defense variant'.
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Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the giant fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Fire Rune. The giant has a fire rune inscribed on a medallion or some other object in its
possession. While holding or wearing the object bearing the rune, the giant can use its Magma Wave action and Furnace Armor bonus action.
The object bearing the rune has AC 15; 40 hit points; and immunity to
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Frost Rune. The giant has a frost rune inscribed on a chunk of ice or some other object in its possession. While holding or wearing the object bearing the rune, the giant can use its Ice Wolves
action and Ice Armor reaction.
The object bearing the rune has AC 16; 40 hit points; and immunity to necrotic, poison, and psychic damage. The object regains all its hit points at the end of every turn
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
The Book of Many Things
encounter.
Variant: Servants of Living Stars
Some stars in the sky are Elder Evils, alien beings of godlike power from the reality-defying Far Realm.
A living portent can be a fragment of these beings
minions to avert its own demise.
Khirad, the Star of Secrets. A blue-white star whose gifts grant insight but also reveal terrible truths.
Zhudun, the Corpse Star. A dead star that whispers of the
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your
easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you’re more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter.
Variant: Investigator
Rarer
Book of Vile Darkness
Legacy
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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
Criminal / Spy
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
; 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
sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.
Suggested Characteristics
Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an
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
Frost Giant Ice Shaper Frost giants who master rune magic are known as ice shapers, and their sheer power typically contributes to a meteoric rise in the giants’ ordning. Many of them end up as jarls
energy of air and water to wield ice in both offense and defense. They summon ice elementals in the shape of wolves, cloak themselves in icy armor, and just as quickly turn that armor into a hail of deadly
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
keen intellect and magic to discover the secrets of making steel. Its military shattered rival tribes and developed advanced tactics for fighting in forests and open plains.
The civilization grew into a
can more easily pronounce the name in this altered form. An adopted name of this sort is recognized as a variant of the birth name, rather than a unique name unto itself. A yuan-ti might refer to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge
Fire Giant Forgecaller A fire giant who masters traditional rune magic can control the heat of a volcanic environment and conjure raw elemental energy of fire and magma. In a fire giant community
, these forgecallers oversee both forges and the community’s defense, often in Surtur’s name. Some forgecallers prefer to live and work in isolation, seeking the hottest fires in volcanoes’ hearts or the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
variant feature that ties the background to a group in Baldur’s Gate, provided to give characters an additional connection to the city. Characters may choose to replace the standard feature of their
background with one of these variant features. Each background also includes a bonus feature that marks a character as a native of Baldur’s Gate who’s familiar with the city — both its streets and its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
variant feature that ties the background to a group in Baldur’s Gate, provided to give characters an additional connection to the city. Characters may choose to replace the standard feature of their
background with one of these variant features. Each background also includes a bonus feature that marks a character as a native of Baldur’s Gate who’s familiar with the city — both its streets and its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Fire Giant Forgecaller A fire giant who masters traditional rune magic can control the heat of a volcanic environment and conjure raw elemental energy of fire and magma. In a fire giant community
, these forgecallers oversee both forges and the community’s defense, often in Surtur’s name. Some forgecallers prefer to live and work in isolation, seeking the hottest fires in volcanoes’ hearts or the
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
always occur in shady venues.
Variant Criminal: Spy
Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very
different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.
Suggested
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->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
, 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
that nevertheless wield rune magic. Giant Cultists. Other variations include giants that follow the cults of "interloper gods." Some of these are Fiends transformed by their devotion to demon lords or
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->Dungeon Master’s Guide
to reward players who take the time to search for them. For each door and room, consider their original purpose: were secret doors a defense against invaders, or do denizens of the dungeon scheme to keep secrets from each other? Secrets can help you develop the story of a dungeon.
stream might run through the middle of a stronghold, causing variation in the shapes and sizes of rooms and necessitating features such as bridges and drains. Secrets. Add secret doors and secret rooms
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
Githzerai Psion These powerful psions oversee githzerai sanctuaries, study enigmatic planar events, and lead rrakkma—hostile forays into mind flayer colonies to slay illithids and uncover secrets of
the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16):
At Will: Mage Hand (the hand is Invisible)
1/Day Each: Plane Shift, See Invisibility
Reactions
Psionic Defense. The githzerai casts Feather Fall or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
rising back up to the ceiling in the next 50 feet, and a rune of fear in its final 30 feet. Whirling Blades (Initiative 20). The blades attack each creature in the first 80 feet of the hallway, with a
prone. Rune of Fear (Initiative 10). Each creature in the 30-foot-long area beyond the Crushing Pillars must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed saving throw, the creature becomes frightened by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
in her head and pull her tentacles up into the shell protectively, like a strange hermit crab. Whymsee (Kraken Priest Variant)
Medium humanoid (human), neutral evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor
next turn.
Shell Defense. Whymsee withdraws into her shell. Until she emerges, she gains a +4 bonus to AC and has advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in her shell, Whymsee is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
. Slaughtertusk is happy to let a fight drag on, feasting on its enemies’ pain before finally slaying them. If reduced to fewer than 100 hit points, it uses its Summon Demon feature (see the “Variant
if the adventurers have it at their mercy, promising to tell them the secrets of the Maze Engine or anything else they want. At the first opportunity, it teleports away, summoning demonic aid to cover its retreat if possible.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
called Fire Eyes and the Lord of the Bronze Mask, is the god of defense and vigilance, the protector of dwarves. Haela Brightaxe is the goddess of luck in battle, and the patron of dwarf fighters. Gods
of Craft Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain, is the patron of the shield dwarves, as well as the god of buried wealth, mining, gems, and exploration, and the guardian of the dead
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Mount Ironrot, the graymatter engine fell into a despondent torpor that lasted until the arrival of its recent visitors. Brian Valeza Landro Sharing Secrets Landro understands the world by peering into
the clandestine variety. I would be interested to learn your secrets.”
Landro wishes to learn secrets from the characters through a type of osmosis. Landro tells the characters that this process is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
rules from chapter 6 of the Player’s Handbook, your Dungeon Master might allow you to take a feat as a variant supernatural gift. You gain one feat of your choice. This list suggests twelve feats from
my strength when I rest on it. (Durable)
The stars of Nyx are never hidden from my sight, revealing their secrets to my eyes. (Keen Mind)
I hear the echoes of the gods’ speech in every mortal
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
their stat block earlier in the adventure) are training in this area. When the fighting starts, read: “Intruders!” shouts the woman. “They’re here to steal the secrets of Master Bak Mei! Students, show
Tigress carries a red wooden key that unlocks the door to area L3. Jade Tigress Medium humanoid (human)
Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 71 (11d8 + 21)
Speed 40 ft.
STR
18
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
breathing No Goggles of night No Rope of climbing No Sending stones No Wand of magic detection No Wand of secrets No Replicable Items (6th-Level Artificer) Magic Item Attunement Boots of elvenkind
levitation Yes Boots of speed Yes Bracers of defense Yes Cloak of the bat Yes Dimensional shackles No Gem of seeing Yes Horn of blasting No Ring of free action Yes Ring of protection Yes Ring of the ram Yes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
No Goggles of night No Rope of climbing No Sending stones No Wand of magic detection No Wand of secrets No Replicable Items (6th-Level Artificer) Magic Item Attunement Boots of elvenkind No
Artificer) Magic Item Attunement Amulet of health Yes Belt of hill giant strength Yes Boots of levitation Yes Boots of speed Yes Bracers of defense Yes Cloak of the bat Yes Dimensional shackles No
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
of climbing No
Sending stones No
Wand of magic detection No
Wand of secrets No
Replicable Items (6th-Level Artificer) Magic Item Attunement
Boots of elvenkind No
Yes
Boots of levitation Yes
Boots of speed Yes
Bracers of defense Yes
Cloak of the bat Yes
Dimensional shackles No
Gem of seeing Yes
Horn of blasting No
Ring of free action Yes
Ring of protection Yes
Ring of the ram Yes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Having eluded the drow so far, ten grimlocks huddle in the back of this 10-foot-high cavern. They feed on fish from the River Sargauth and fight only in self-defense. 10c. Sea Hag Coven This 30-foot
damages the cauldron, an elder rune materializes above it (see “Elder Runes”). Draw from the Elder Runes Deck (see appendix B) to determine which rune appears. The elder rune targets a random creature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
approaching, Iarno the evil mage grabs his staff of defense (see appendix A) and the scrolls in his chest (see the “Treasure” section), and flees through the secret door in the northeast corner of the room
ruffians to secure his own position in town. Iarno knew of the Black Spider through his contacts in the Lords’ Alliance and brokered a meeting. The drow promised to share the secrets and wealth of the