Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 32 results for 'secrets of runes deserved variants'.
Other Suggestions:
secrets of rules deterred variant
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
5th
dominate person
Your magic often takes the form of blue or golden runes floating and glowing in the air in circular patterns or of shimmering azure barriers of magical energy. If you
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->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
mystic shapes of our runes.
—Diancastra
You’ve dedicated your life to studying runecraft. Whether you were taught by a master rune carver or learned by poring over ancient engravings, you can tap into
the supernatural power held within runes. The art of runecraft was initially created by giants, but over time, the practice has been adopted by many peoples. As such, though Giant runes are the most
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->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
cleft surrounded by foul, bleeding runes. Inside is the Book of Vile Darkness. Secrets of Eternity If a character agrees to let the Scholar share a forbidden secret, the baernaloth requests that the
was meant to know with one interested character (see the “Secrets of Eternity” section below). If the characters ignore the baernaloth, leave its cave, or refuse its offers, it lets them go. If the
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->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
by Melissara. Inside is a small black journal. The first page of the book is trapped with a glyph of warding spell, whose explosive runes deal fire damage (save DC 15). The glyph is keyed to go off if
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->Monster Manual
Archmage Archmages have mastered incredible magical power. While some use their magic to protect the world, others become tyrants or pursue forbidden secrets. Many archmages retain magical servants
and collect magic items and occult lore. Have you gazed on the Runes of Chaos, held the Death Moon Orb in your trembling hands, entered the Devouring Portal and walked the Paths of the Doomed, or sat
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
) might use the magic of Giant runes, or a paladin’s Sacred Oath could involve allegiance to the tenets of a philosophy or organization of giants (such as those described in chapter 2). Giant-Made
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
include Chalnefaaz, a community of myconids that bud tiny, wailing faces, and the Bulwark of Secrets, an abbey of guardian nagas who protect dangerous lore. You can use the nodules in the Endless Void
interlocked links of Ilvaash’s runes (knots of tentacles, brains, and jagged lines reminiscent of jaws). A brain breaker uses the stat block of an infected elder brain (see chapter 7) with the following
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
approach the characters take, remember that learning the full scope of the orrery’s history, the secrets of its creator, and the range of its powers is the goal of the whole campaign. Whatever small bits
Waterdeep can undertake research to study its mysterious runes, which can lead to information regarding That-Which-Endures (see the sidebar in the “New Race: Verdan” section in chapter 3.) Gorkoh the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
grants immortality to its wearer, was last seen in the possession of a human adventurer (and former Harper) named Artus Cimber. Guided by magical runes of tracking, Storvald plans to find the ring and
empower his runes. Unbeknown to Storvald, the runes are steering the frost giants not to Artus Cimber but to other, closer individuals who carry the Cimber bloodline — Artus’s living relatives, most of whom
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
front of the ship. During the Lambent Zenith’s crash, arcane wards should have sealed the safe room’s doors. The safe room is inaccessible while the wards are active. Ward Runes. Two runes hidden on the
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->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
or fewer, Kavil switches sides and offers information in exchange for his life. He knows one random Undermountain secret, determined by drawing a card from the Secrets Deck (see appendix C), as well as
through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). A creature that passes through the gate appears in area 16 on level 18, in the closest unoccupied space next to the identical gate located
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
runes. The doors have neither handles nor hinges. The writing on them reads, “THE THREE KEYS. BRING THEM FORTH.” The doors part, sliding back into the walls, when the three correct keys are brought
side of the hammer that was facing the wall is the following inscription in Dwarvish runes: “Let hearts be lifted and battles won.” The hammer must be removed from its indentation for the inscription
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
treasures, and the secrets of the earth. It is said he gave Surtur the secret of smelting, showed Thrym how to carve magic runes on weapons, and crafted spears for Hiatea so she could complete her tasks of
her father of her clever deeds rather than her feats of strength: she solved a sphinx’s riddles, plumbed the secrets of the ocean, and stole a string of pearls from a god of the kuo-toa. Through these
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
: Escape Tunnel This tunnel stretches one hundred feet before ending at a flat wall.
The secret door in the wall is obvious: emblazoned on the masonry is a wide circle of dimly glowing runes. A character
who examines the secret door immediately realizes they can trace the runes to cause that circular section of wall to disappear, revealing the remainder of the tunnel on the other side. The wall re
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
warrior researches ways to assert his will over the artifact known as the Hand of Vecna, so he can use its secrets to free the evil dragon queen Tiamat from the Nine Hells. Arkhan has traveled to a nearby
shell is carved with Draconic runes that spell out prayers to Tiamat, is joined by four ghouls that serve as his assistants. The ghouls gnaw on bones and eye the characters hungrily as Krull negotiates
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Encounters
Cloud Giant Encounters Cloud giants and related creatures thrive where there is fantastic wealth to be earned, plundered, or swindled; where there are secrets to be uncovered; and where
diplomacy or guile can carry the day. Cloud Giant Encounters d12† Encounter
1 1 cloud giant seeking to learn the secrets of 1 spectral cloud* (attitude for both: 1d8)
2 1 cloud giant
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Nest of the Eldritch Eye
catacombs several months ago, whispering about strange rituals and secrets. Delvin. Chanelle saw a man matching Delvin’s description flee through the rotunda from deeper within the catacombs, pursued by
the symbol of Vecna, a powerful lich and god of secrets known and feared on many worlds. Any loud noises here awaken the cultists in area N13, who investigate at once. N13: Cultist Quarters If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
dictates that he cannot draw first blood. Thus, he tries to goad characters into wounding him first. S5. Shrine of Mind and Spirit An eight-foot-tall stone inscribed with runes stands in the middle of
). GRIFFON TAMING
Goliaths of the Akannathi clan can learn to raise and tame griffons using secrets passed down through the generations. The clan’s griffon trainer, Rahi, shares these secrets with clan
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
secrets of longevity, but difficult to decipher.” This oversized tome is full of esoteric, archaic text that would require extensive research to decipher. A character who spends 12 weeks studying it
and succeeds on a DC 22 Intelligence (Arcana) check finds a page that serves as a spell scroll of sequester. (The thesis is worth 500 gp.) Each item is protected by two separate abjuration runes that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
player until each character has an NPC. (If your group has more than seven players, you’ll need to come up with additional NPCs and secrets.) Describe the NPCs and their relationships to all the
characters have a different plan, they can execute it now. The party can contact Flabbergast to have him perform the ritual at any time. Secrets. No secrets specifically activate at this time. However
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
with strange symbols and wrapped in silver chains. An explorer tried to open the door, but a jolt of lightning from the door’s runes nearly killed her. Shortly afterward, strange spirits and capering
stronghold, but he can’t shake the idea of following the deeper passages for the chance of unearthing Zenopus’s lost secrets. If the characters earn his trust, he might take them into his confidence. The details of the deep dungeons are left to the DM’s invention.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
visiting Skullport, claiming that it’s not safe for adventurers. It also tells them an Undermountain secret, hoping they’ll be lured away by the mystery. Draw a card from the Secrets Deck (see
on a success. If the characters promise not to harm her, Preeta shares two Undermountain secrets with them. Determine each secret by drawing a card from the Secrets Deck (see appendix C). SIDE QUEST
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
dedicated to a deity or deities related to the portal and its defenders 31–35 Cistern providing fresh water 36–38 Classroom for use of initiates learning about the portal’s secrets 39 Conjuring room for
traps 41–42 Dining room (large) for the temple’s servants and lesser priests 43 Dining room (small) for the temple’s high priests 44–46 Divination room, inscribed with runes and stocked with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
be confirmed by a detect evil and good spell or similar magic. Dark swirls of noxious steam fill this circular chamber, whose floor is taken up mostly by a large reflecting pool. Runes carved into the
DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check, recognizes that the runes along the edge of the pool once channeled divination magic, but have been corrupted. Though the 10-foot-deep pool once held holy water
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules. At your discretion, if the characters help Naxa return to her sister and
section sees faint Abyssal runes in each chamber. A character who understands Abyssal can read them as Drill Field, Guard Hall, Planning Chamber, Vault, and Miska’s Prison Hall. Tower of Mystery. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
giant gods about magic, wards, banes, hidden treasures, and the secrets of the earth. Skoraeus gave the secret of smelting to Surtur. Skoraeus showed Thrym how to carve runes on his old weapons to
keeper of secrets that he must be forced or tricked into divulging.
In a classic tale, Memnor came to Skoraeus and whispered something in his ear. When Surtur demanded to know what Memnor had said
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
. Chaos can only destroy, and her visions are a tool to ensure that society can live in safety in all variants of the future.
Precognitive Mage
Medium humanoid (any race), lawful neutral
Armor
cells woven subtly throughout the fabric of Ravnica and across all the guilds. Dimir agents excel at information gathering, covert operations, and assassination. They collect secrets, relay intelligence
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
room. A five-foot-tall, triangular stone covered in runes stands in this bare room’s center. At the top of the stone, a plum-sized diamond pulses with red light.
The triangular stone is immovable and
powers the juggernauts in area T14. A character who examines the triangular stone and succeeds on a DC 17 Intelligence (Arcana) check can decipher its runes and discern its purpose. Destroying the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
an escort. Altar. Close inspection of the altar reveals that old runes and emblems in its surface have been recently chiseled out. A character who examines the marks can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence
(Religion) check to identify the erased marks (a dwarf succeeds automatically). The runes show that the temple was once dedicated to Moradin. Bronze Lever. The lever triggers the collapsing stair trap
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
, including runes etched in stone or messages in frescoes or other displays. Decipher Treasure Map. This tool proficiency grants you expertise in examining maps. You can make an Intelligence check to
. Footwear holds a surprising number of secrets. You can learn where someone has recently visited by examining the wear and the dirt that has accumulated on their shoes. Your experience in repairing