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Returning 35 results for 'setting secret'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
the Forgotten Realms setting) might notice one curious fact about the islands’ human inhabitants: no infants or elderly are among them. This is because babies born to the Rocklanders are claimed
transformation in order to keep the secret of the Purple Rocks.
Kraken priest;Kraken priests tend to the kraken’s flock. Most of the priests are island natives, but some are other sorts of creatures that
Monsters
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Lady Illmarrow is no folk tale. She is the greatest necromancer in Eberron, and after centuries of silence, she is setting ancient plots into motion at last. She is the power behind the Order of the
island domain.
Long ago, it was revealed that the elven line of Vol — a house that practiced the art of necromancy and bore the Dragonmark of Death — was engaged in secret blood rites
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
from many walks of life, setting them to tasks that serve the goals of the Black Network but aren’t necessarily criminal in nature. Agents of the Black Network must often work in secret, and are
proliferation of secret societies and conspiracies in those lands. If your background is as an agent for one of the main factions of the North and Sword Coast, here are some possibilities.
The Harpers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
No Silent Secret “No Silent Secret” is a short adventure for a party of four to six 1st-level characters, who will advance to at least 2nd level by the adventure’s conclusion. At the outset, choose
choosing a polis allows the group to get a glimpse of their potential “hometown,” this setting serves as a backdrop only briefly, with much of the adventure taking place far from the safety of civilization.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
running list of ideas as you decide on other aspects of your setting. What Factions and Organizations Are Prominent? Nations, temples, guilds, orders, secret societies, and colleges shape the social
superstitions? What Mysteries Does the World Hold? Every campaign setting has mysteries: a fabled land across the sea, a grim forest hiding a terrible secret, restless spirits haunting a ruined keep for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
setting, where an order of Wizards used him as a bootblack and scribe. He studied magic in secret until he amassed enough power to slaughter the order, and then he turned his efforts toward scribing
. The group enjoys the patronage of Yolande, the queen of Celene, and carries out missions on her behalf both in the Greyhawk setting (see chapter 5) and in the Feywild (see chapter 6). Prominent
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
following reasons: To encourage a party to discover information through teamwork To provide an opportunity for characters to use their skills in uncommon ways To make a setting feel more whimsical
, mysterious, or otherworldly To explain why no one has ever discovered something hidden close at hand To reveal a secret no one knows and magic can’t reveal Some puzzles can take considerable time to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Baldur’s Gate The city of Baldur’s Gate (BAWL-durz GATE), in the Forgotten Realms setting, is a teeming metropolis haunted by the lingering influence of three evil gods (Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul) who
refuse to stay dead. It’s a place where a sword for hire can find a rich patron, join a secret guild, pursue killers for a bounty, or aid desperate citizens. The city offers opportunities for good
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Sending Vecna Back The Chime of Exile is Alustriel’s property and ultimately can send Vecna back to Oerth, interrupting his ritual. The interruption would dissipate the secret-based magic Vecna is
weaving, significantly setting back his plot and leaving the lich-god in a weakened state. If the characters wish to take the chime with them, Alustriel assents. Chime of Exile Wondrous Item, Very Rare
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
without needing to make a check and can open the secret door without setting off the trap (see below). Behind the secret door is a dusty, web-filled hallway filled with sweet dulcimer music. The music
pathways. Charred Skeleton and Secret Door The charred skeleton points to the arch containing a secret door that slides open to reveal area 81 beyond. Glyph of Warding. Opening the secret door
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
before will be known. Only a special escape route — a secret passage known only to a palace’s most trusted servants, for example — should come as a surprise to the cultists and Red Wizards. Frontal
hide in, setting it ablaze. Half-dragons, cultists, and mages watch all known exits, including underground ones, to prevent the characters from slipping away.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
hidden within these supernatural mists, and of these secret realms, the most terrifying are those born of your nightmares and given grim life through your adventures. Although Ravenloft is a setting of
Ravenloft in Barovia—home of the notorious Strahd von Zarovich. In this mysterious setting, the land, the passage of time, the tides, and every other reliable truth can shift unpredictably. Rather than
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Aftermath After fleeing Gralhund Villa with the Stone of Golorr, Lady Gralhund’s nimblewright hides the artifact in a secret location in Waterdeep, setting the stage for chapter 4. Even if the bloody
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
years ago, the vast continent of Sarlona was the cradle of human civilization. Three thousand years ago, the first human colonists left, setting in motion events shaping modern-day Khorvaire. Sarlona was
is known of the nation. Merchants tell stories of massive monoliths that control the dreams of the people, and of secret police who use psionics to root out dissidents. A single nation stands against
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
. Only a special escape route—a secret passage known only to a palace’s most trusted servants, for example—should come as a surprise to the cultists and Red Wizards. Frontal Assault Because clever ruses
. When they finally face off against the adventurers, the attackers fight to kill. If the characters try to stay inside and under cover, the dragons attack whatever building they hide in, setting it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
sconces or torch brackets. A few even have secret doors built into them. Doors Dungeon doorways might be set within plain arches and lintels. They might be festooned with carvings of gargoyles or leering
check. Chapter 8, "Running the Game," provides guidelines for setting the DC. Locked Doors. Characters who don’t have the key to a locked door can pick the lock with a successful Dexterity check (doing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
things such as setting up camp and carrying gear. Ideally, a sidekick’s abilities should complement those of the main character. For example, a spellcaster makes a good sidekick for a fighter or
locations marked on both the DM’s map and the players’ map are described below in alphabetical order. This information is not secret and can be shared with players if they request details about a location.
Map 1: The Sword Coast View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a1
Sunless Citadel is designed to be easily located in whatever setting the DM prefers. Here are some examples.
Dragonlance. On Krynn, the citadel was once part of Xak Tsaroth, and it harbored
worshipers of Takhisis. When that city was destroyed during the cataclysm, it fell into a rift that opened in the earth. In this setting, consider replacing the kobolds in the adventure with gully dwarves
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
).
Secret Door. The slime obscures a secret door. Ability checks made to search the walls for secret doors are made with disadvantage until the slime is scraped off the section of wall in which the
secret door is hidden.
Altar. What appears at first viewing to be a glistening altar of variegated gray stone is, in fact, a hollow glass altar with three psychic gray oozes sealed inside it.
The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
be found on the shelves. The den’s other furnishings include rotted divans, broken chairs, overturned ottomans, and smashed oil lamps. A secret door at the north end of the east wall can be pushed
AC 15, 1 hit point, and immunity to fire, poison, and psychic damage. If it is reduced to 0 hit points, it explodes and fills the room with fire, setting fire to the dry furnishings. Each creature in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2
Follow the Map The party has acquired a map showing the location of a secret dwarven stronghold named Khundrukar. Perhaps the characters discovered the map and other lore about the place during a
setting that includes a mountainous region has a ready-to-use location for the dwarven stronghold in The Forge of Fury.
Dragonlance. On Krynn, Khundrukar can be placed anywhere in the Kharolis
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
Introduction It’s fitting that a gaming fundraiser is named Extra Life. In our games, there’s always a raise dead spell, a secret power-up that delivers a 1UP mushroom, or something else to keep the
notes on the great conflicts of the multiverse, I have been deluged with requests to reveal more of my hard earned, well-guarded secrets.
Nonsense, I say. A secret shared is a secret no more. My
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
dragon has accumulated litters the floor, as well as many items that are broken beyond repair.
Secret Door. A secret door in the north corner of the east wall opens into area 43b. (The homunculus is
collection’s pieces might be useful and many are colorful or whimsical in design, nothing here holds any special value. 43b. Otto’s Secret Stash Otto’s most prized possessions fill this cluttered space. These
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
town of Saltmarsh. The original backdrop of three of this collection’s tales (The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh, Danger at Dunwater, and The Final Enemy), this fishing community has a tradition of
explore more of the coast of the Azure Sea. Ghosts of Saltmarsh continues that tradition, presenting a portion of the coastal lands of Keoland, a kingdom in the Greyhawk setting. Each adventure notes where
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
12. Glasstaff’s Quarters If the characters approach this room through the secret passage from area 7, they can surprise the leader of the Redbrands—Iarno “Glasstaff” Albrek. Otherwise, his rat
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
plot point gets to add some element to the setting or situation that the group (including you) must accept as true. For example, a player can spend a plot point and state that his or her character
has found a secret door, an NPC appears, or a monster turns out to be a long-lost ally polymorphed into a horrid beast. A player who wants to spend a plot point in this way should take a minute to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
Factions of the Sword Coast The lack of large, centralized governments in the North and along the Sword Coast is likely directly responsible for the proliferation of secret societies and conspiracies
reputation among the common people. The faction draws employees and associates from many walks of life, setting them to tasks that serve the goals of the Black Network but aren’t necessarily criminal
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
(see area 28) senses when the secret door to area 47A is opened and uses the scrying pool in area 25 to observe the adventurers as they contend with the cells. An antimagic field fills each cell
blast out of this cramped cell. The walls are scribed with relief carvings showing volcanoes setting cities ablaze. Rows of tiny holes are bored into the floor and the ten-foot-high ceiling. A human
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
patience of his duergar followers is wearing thin, and he loses nothing by setting the adventurers loose against the planetar. In exchange, Valtagar guarantees safe passage through his domain whenever
they need it and promises to tell them the location of a secret staircase that descends to the next level of Undermountain (see area 19a). To establish trust, he tells them about the secret vault
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
. Dwarves use a variety of approaches and devices in setting their defenses. The strongholds of many clans are honeycombed with secret passages designed to enable the dwarves to ambush and flank enemies
they see, a dwarven stronghold is well built but austere. The greatest treasures crafted by a clan are sequestered in the innermost chambers of the stronghold, behind secret doors in areas that are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
few secret doctrines for themselves, believing only the most enlightened souls are prepared to hear these harsh truths: Imperfect Gods. The gods aren’t perfect and can’t create perfection, and
Things is key to the destruction of the multiverse. Performing a reading with this Deck of Many Things won’t simply reveal the future; it will determine the future, setting a date for the arrival of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
, but it can easily be transplanted — the site and the story alike — into another setting.
Dragonlance. On Krynn, the Doomvault is likely to be the work of renegade wizards, perhaps of more than one
for their own.
Eberron. The Doomvault, lying beneath the Mournland, might be the secret project of King Kaius of Karrnath. Kaius I hid in the dungeon from the time the lich Vol made him a vampire
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
elders offer to hire the party to board and commandeer the smugglers’ ship when it returns to its secret port. That event sets in motion “The Sea Ghost,” which likely unfolds in the following sequence
ominous. PLACING THE ADVENTURE
The town of Saltmarsh is a small, respectable fishing town located in the Greyhawk campaign setting, in the southernmost part of Keoland. It is situated some twenty miles
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
fireflies buzzing through groves and fields. The sky is alight with the faded colors of an ever-setting sun, which never truly sets (or rises for that matter); it remains stationary, dusky and low in the sky
either court, and fey of independent spirit reject the courts entirely. The courts have warred at times, but they also compete in more-or-less friendly contests and even ally with one another in small and secret ways.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Adventure Setting Many D&D adventures revolve around dungeons—interior spaces such as great halls and tombs, subterranean monster lairs, mazes riddled with traps, natural caverns extending for miles
leads them into the great hall, lined with pillars, where the fire giant king holds court. If they leave by the secret door to the southeast, you check the map and follow the secret tunnel as it winds