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Returning 35 results for 'secrets of runes design variant'.
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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
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
in the cosmos. A character can use the lore the book contains to unearth terrible secrets no mortal should know. Among the contents a character might find are the following, plus whatever else you
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 touches on every evil in the cosmos. A character can use the lore the book contains to unearth terrible secrets no mortal should know. Among the contents a character might find are the following
Criminal / Spy
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
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
Magic Items
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
vanishes and the deck becomes a normal tarokka deck, with no special properties, but it includes a new card of the DM’s design.
Mother Luba and the Vistani
The creator of the Tarokka of Souls
realm of Barovia. These travelers have learned many secrets of these domains and encountered countless others wandering amid the Shadowfell’s horrors. Most Vistani bands accept well-intentioned
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply
, including deep-sea trenches or underwater volcanoes.
Dragon turtles are largely unconcerned with the design of their lairs and seldom work to improve them. A dragon turtle’s primary concern when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
properties. The command word to activate a ring might be etched in tiny letters inside it, or a feathered design might suggest that it’s a ring of feather falling. Wearing or experimenting with an item can
what happens. You then say the character jumps unexpectedly high. Variant: More Difficult Identification If you prefer magic items to have a greater mystique, consider removing the ability to identify
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
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->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
to power up once more, and not even the Blackstaff can shut them down. Old histories suggest that Kwalish’s lore might hold the secrets of doing so, and the characters are sent to seek that lore out
destruction across the city. After stopping the threat, the characters learn that it was built based on a Kwalish design, and that other such designs might be used to build great engines of destruction. 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->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
design, but each cult of Innsmouth knows the meaning of a few. Only cultists imbued with the might of all four cults can perform the ritual these runes describe and force open Cthulhu’s prison. The
. Ritual Site. A partially toppled monument bearing a tentacled visage marks a weak point in Cthulhu’s prison. Before it stands an altar etched with bizarre runes. These symbols are of otherworldly
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
stone arches beneath a 30-foot-high domed ceiling.
Frescoes. Stone panels set into the walls bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes.
The frescoes chronicle the birth of Melair, a common shield dwarf
, and his early years struggling as a brewer, metalsmith, and stonecarver. 11b. Prospecting Years Frescoes. Stone panels set into the north and south walls bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes.
Displays
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
. Behir The behir lies in wait in this 50-foot-high cavern, its muscled, serpentine body woven through the stalagmites. Scars are carved into its hide in the form of arcane runes, placed there by
Halaster. The runes grant the behir the ability to use the following legendary actions. Legendary Actions
The behir can take three legendary actions, choosing from the options below. It can take only one
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->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
tell you how to design new class features. The best place to start is by looking at other class features, or at spells, feats, or any other rules for inspiration. You’re almost certainly going to have
some missteps, as features that seem good on the surface fall apart in play. That’s all right. Everything you design will need to be playtested. When introducing new class features, be sure the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
“Spell: Encode Thoughts” later in this section) and telepathic couriers. By design, you don’t have much interaction with other members of your guild. You might never meet your primary guild contact face
to face, instead receiving assignments and sending reports by way of secret message drops and codes. Goals of the Dimir House Dimir is all about secrets and misinformation, even where its own members
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->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
coins found in giants' bags are ordinary coins minted by more recent civilizations.) Giant-made coins vary in shape and design across civilizations, but in general, the coins are about 4 inches in
mask depicting an expression of raucous laughter 3 A set of gilded, giant-sized cutlery 4 A 5-foot-tall stone tablet engraved with runes that feel warm to the touch 5 A quartz pendant carved in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
of this secret is up to you to decide, and learning more about it might color future adventures of your own design. Secrets of Phenax d6 Result
1 As a mortal, Phenax was destined to free the
left to you to choose, depending on the story you want to tell. Consult the Secrets of Phenax table, which presents several options for what divine secret Varyas’s eidolon might relate. The veracity
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->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
23. Ruined Dwarven Temple These rooms once formed a temple dedicated to the dwarven god Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain, but Halaster has destroyed and replaced most of their
carvings almost beyond recognition and to create tentacle-like protrusions that weren’t part of the original design. These tentacles writhe as creatures pass by them — a harmless effect created by the
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->Volo's Guide to Monsters
The Grand Design The first priority of any mind flayer colony is to survive. The elder brain and its servants seek to remain hidden, typically deep within the earth, while harvesting enough
intelligent humanoids to nourish themselves and allow for slow but steady growth. Once a colony is secure, it focuses on the Grand Design — the mind flayers’ plan to rebuild their lost empire. The illithids
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->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
to ash by an angry red dragon, a haughty fire giant, or a destructive war machine. Design Note
If you have Glory of the Giants, you can follow along with the process we used to create this
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
it could be rooted in the way you feel about the world and your role in it. Secrets d6 Secret 1 An imp offers you counsel. You try to ignore the creature, but sometimes its advice is helpful. 2
up serving, choose a Divine Domain that is appropriate for it, and if it doesn’t have a holy symbol, work with your DM to design one.
The cleric’s class features often refer to your deity. If you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
versions of your own design—perhaps with signature cosmetic effects. Monsters. Monsters can serve as threats but also agents of noble houses. Shape-shifting creatures such as Imps and Wererats excel at
supernatural intrigue. Choose a single spell—such as Clairvoyance, Geas, or Speak with Dead—and consider how to make it central to a plot involving secrets and mysterious revelations. Consider doing
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->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
extremely rare and powerful magic artifact. As a former pirate, Kycera helped Captain Inda design the security system to protect the artifact. Safe Room. The artifact was stored in a safe room at the
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