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Returning 35 results for 'secrets of rune descent variant'.
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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
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->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
About the Adventure Designed for an adventuring party of four to six 1st-level characters, Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure that begins in the city of Baldur’s
Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. Use the first session of the game to help your players create their 1st-level characters. As part of this process, the players can choose their party’s dark secret (see "Dark Secrets").
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
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->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->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
Dark Secrets During character creation, once players have developed their own characters, they should collectively choose a dark secret shared by the entire party. Every member of the party is
blackmail the characters or push them toward a course of action. For more information on the NPCs in this table, see chapter 1 of Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus. Who Knows? d8 NPC 1 Captain
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->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
intellects to stalk through the Mists. A wandering scholar, Firan Zal’honan is quick to claim his descent from a noble pedigree. In another life, he claims, he could have ruled as a wizard-king. But his
seeks assistance traversing them. His most noteworthy partner is the Vistani leader Madame Eva, who secretly allows him to barter strange secrets for her agents’ guidance through the Mists. Firan is an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Traveler, and Touched by the Far Realm: A Wizard’s Lamentable Descent into Lunacy. Tucked among these mundane tomes is Melissara’s spellbook, which bears the (right side up) Shadowdusk family crest on the
anyone but Melissara opens the journal (a precaution to prevent her cousins from reading it and discovering her secrets). The journal details Melissara’s unease with her family, as well as her growing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Chapter 10: Descent into the Depths Having survived Mantol-Derith and obtained Ghazrim DuLoc’s ring, the adventurers and their allies continue on into the Underdark. This time, rather than escaped
its secrets. The events described in chapters 13 through 16 can be interspersed among the material in this part of the adventure, as the characters work to fully understand the new menaces that have
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->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->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->Basic Rules (2014)
descent dominate the central lands of Faerûn, around the Inner Sea. Chondathan Names: (Male) Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; (female) Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail
, Ramondo VARIANT HUMAN TRAITS
If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from chapter 6, your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace the human’s Ability Score
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
”). Each apparition takes a harmless swing at any creatures that pass through the area before sinking back into the fog. 9c. Unpleasant Descent This 10-foot-high passage slopes down gently as it runs
higher to pass through this gate (see “Jhesiyra 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 34a on level 6, in the closest unoccupied space next to the identical gate located there.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
, after which Halaster will seize power as the city’s Shadow Lord. The Shadowdusk family motto used to be “No secrets without truth.” After the family’s fall, its motto changed to “We do not fear the
darkness.” The family’s crest is a lit torch with three embers rising from the flame, set against a purple background. In the wake of the family’s descent into Undermountain and madness, this crest has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
obvious risks, Orvex looks forward to exploring more of the city and unlocking its secrets. If he’s still with the characters when they retrieve all nine puzzle cubes, he jumps at the chance to accompany them on their descent into the Tomb of the Nine Gods.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
world. Living portents seek out beings who will play a part in the prophecies they serve, and as the living portents search, they relate fragments of the prophecies to those they encounter. Variant
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 power to defy death
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
span in width. From that time onward, they struggle to survive at all costs, growing throughout their lives. Those ixitxachitl that master the secrets of survival gain powers of regeneration and feed
+ 3) piercing damage.
VARIANT: IXITXACHITL CLERIC
Some ixitxachitl and vampiric ixitxachitl are able to cast divine spells. Such a creature gains the following feature.
Spellcasting. The
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->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
and Darkness is an invisible presence around it, her voice thundering from the Night Diamond or whispering secrets directly in the ears of her courtiers, and sometimes both at once. The Prince of Frost
collects warlocks like one might collect butterflies. His favorite collection, the Troil Thirteen, includes warlocks of blood descent from the thirteen who first made a pact with Asmodeus. Malkizid is a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
descent through Undermountain. Such a raft is stored in area 14, and Melith makes good on her promise. Though she has great affection for Melith, Thirza sees any alliance with the characters as an
“Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Gates”). A creature that passes through the gate appears in area 5 on level 2, in the closest
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->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
can’t help but spend a night in a haunted house to learn its secrets. They probably also go off alone when they shouldn’t. If the party splits up, consider giving each character inspiration. A sensible
your campaign is one where you let the dice fall where they may. It’s a good option for gritty campaigns or ones where the DM focuses on playing an impartial role as a rules arbiter. Variant: Only
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
accompany fools on their descent for cheap. Monsters and unusual pests plague Undersigil and its inhabitants. Screams of terror echo in its deserted halls, muffled by the leathery wings of vargouilles
, cling to life in the darkness, searching the underground for secrets that could lead to their ascension. Undersigil Encounters d6 Encounter 1 A vargouille reflection (see Morte’s Planar Parade