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Norker War Leader

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

make a single melee attack.Defensive Rebuke. If a creature within 5 feet of the norker makes a melee attack against it, the norker can use its reaction to cause 6 piercing damage to it.Cruel, vicious

defeat goblinoids that underestimate the norkers' strength and ferocity.. For this reason, norkers are likely encountered away from their brethren. Their natural armor and weapons make them dangerous

Ironscale Hydra

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious. Whenever the hydra takes 35 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, the

lore of a people that, even after a hydra’s defeat, the beast might reappear as a Nyxborn being and begin its legend anew.Acid

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

would be adequate compensation for her failure. Bifurcated Souls. The divided nature of the forlarren reflects their origin, marking each one as two entities trapped in a single form. One forlarren

, set itself up as a petty lord, and rule over all those who fall into its grasp. A Sinister Cycle. A forlarren in its fey aspect demonstrates self-destructive urges that reflect the inherent tension in

Oath of Conquest

classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

to consort with the powers of the Nine Hells, valuing the rule of law over the balm of mercy. The archdevil Bel, warlord of Avernus, counts many of these paladins — called hell knights &mdash

conquest seared on the upper arm. Douse the Flame of Hope. It is not enough to merely defeat an enemy in battle. Your victory must be so overwhelming that your enemies’ will to fight is shattered

Oath of Conquest (XGtE)

classes Xanathar's Guide to Everything

to consort with the powers of the Nine Hells, valuing the rule of law over the balm of mercy. The archdevil Bel, warlord of Avernus, counts many of these paladins — called hell knights &mdash

conquest seared on the upper arm. Douse the Flame of Hope. It is not enough to merely defeat an enemy in battle. Your victory must be so overwhelming that your enemies’ will to fight is shattered

Ettin Ceremorph

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

experiments all ended in failure: a giant’s body is simply too large for a single tadpole to take over. Ettin;Ettins, however, proved to be perfect subjects. An ettin’s two brains provide

ceremorphs serve mind flayer colonies, protecting the elder brain;elder brains that rule the communities and guarding their treasures. They retain no memory of their previous existence as ettins.Psychic

Yakfolk Warrior

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh: the dao were forced to

that image until the strangers can be disarmed and taken prisoner. In their seemingly idyllic hideaways, the yakfolk rule with iron fists, and for all their learning and culture, they are enormously

Yakfolk Priest

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

enslave dao for a time. It is said that the Forgotten God journeyed to the Elemental Plane of Earth and, through guile and deception, defeated the Grand Khan of the dao. The price of that defeat was harsh

, and the yakfolk foster that image until the strangers can be disarmed and taken prisoner. In their seemingly idyllic hideaways, the yakfolk rule with iron fists, and for all their learning and

Polukranos

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

. Whenever Polukranos takes 40 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, Polukranos dies. At the end of its turn, it grows two heads for each of its heads that died

the minds and lore of a people that, even after a hydra’s defeat, the beast might reappear as a Nyxborn being and begin its legend anew.Acid

Returned Palamnite

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its composition and craftsmanship

. They think and speak and even feel emotions based on their new experiences, but given their circumstances, those emotions tend to be muted. VARIANT: RETURNED KAKOMANTIS Although the dead typically

Dragon Turtle Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

characters, and use the Dragon Turtle Spellcasting table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for

refuse to recognize my rule over these waters suffer my displeasure. (Lawful or Evil) 5 Preservation. I am the ocean’s steward, tending reefs and waters to ensure that they remain unspoiled

Thessalkraken

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

of each of the thessalkraken’s turns. If the thessalkraken takes 35 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, it must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw at the end

. Among the largest was the thessalkraken—a slightly smaller variant of the legendary kraken, resembling that great tentacled titan but with a jagged-toothed maw that drips constantly with

City Watch / Investigator

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

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

defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. 5 Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. 6 I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. d6 Flaw

Young Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8

the surface world. (Any) 4 Supremacy. Creatures who refuse to recognize my rule over these waters suffer my displeasure. (Lawful or Evil) 5 Preservation. I am the ocean’s steward

Spell Scroll Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

A Spell Scroll bears the words of a single spell, written in a mystical cipher. If the spell is on your spell list, you can read the scroll and cast its spell without Material components. Otherwise

copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the Spell Scroll is destroyed. VARIANT: SCROLL MISHAPS A creature who tries and fails to cast a spell from a spell scroll must make a DC 10

Animate Objects Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

damage carries over to its original object form. If you command an object to attack, it can make a single melee attack against a creature within 5 feet of it. It makes a slam attack with an attack

bonus and bludgeoning damage determined by its size. The GM might rule that a specific object inflicts slashing or piercing damage based on its form. At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, you can animate two additional objects for each slot level above 5th.

Deck of Several Things

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

the duration of the adventure. Lawful becomes chaotic, good becomes evil, and vice versa. If you are true neutral or unaligned, this card has no effect on you. Comet. If you single-handedly

defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you have advantage on ability checks made using one skill of your choice for the duration of the adventure. Otherwise, this card has no

Reborn Legacy

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

realized you have no memories except for a single name. 4 You were a necromancer’s undead servant for years. One day, your consciousness returned. 5 You awoke in an abandoned laboratory

rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. Your class’s “Quick Build” section offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule, moonstone dragons are

a night hag (coven variant);night hag coven are determined to prevent an adult moonstone dragon from contacting creatures in the dream realm, and the dragon has no idea why. 7 An adult

Marine

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

how you survived a particular battle. Every arrow and bolt missed you. You slew scores of enemies single-handedly and led your comrades to victory. 5 Stowaway. For days, you hid in the bilge

Might. The strong train so that they might rule those who are weak. (Evil) 5 Bravery. To act when others quake in fear — this is the essence of the warrior. (Any) 6

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

single mistake can bring doom to an entire tribe, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire group’s survival. Goliaths thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and

individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Goliaths love to win, but they see defeat as a prod to improve their

Tying Knots

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Sleight of Hand with Intelligence, rather than Dexterity. This is an example of how to apply the rule in the “Variant: Skills with Different Abilities” section in chapter 7 of the Player’s Handbook.

to untie a knot or slip out of one. Here’s an optional rule for determining the effectiveness of a knot. The creature who ties the knot makes an Intelligence (Sleight of Hand) check when doing so. The

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

cruel in victory, goblins are fawning and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids

;t understand the goblins’ social system are sometimes surprised by how different castes interact with them. A single human warrior might frighten away a dozen gatherers, only to be shocked when

Leveling Up

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

expended. Variant: Training to Gain Levels As a variant rule, you can require characters to spend time between adventures training or studying before they gain the benefits of a new level. This

variant slows the passage of time in the game world, which can help support a more realistic or gritty tone in your campaign. If you choose this option, after earning enough Experience Points to attain a

Ancient Dragon Turtle

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

) 3 Curiosity. I want to know about everything that enters my domain, especially oddities from the surface world. (Any) 4 Supremacy. Creatures who refuse to recognize my rule over these waters

Multiclassing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

Multiclassing Multiclassing allows you to gain levels in multiple classes. With this rule, you have the option of gaining a level in a new class whenever you advance in level instead of gaining a

level in your current class. Doing so lets you mix the abilities of those classes to realize a character concept that might not be reflected in a single class.

Multiclassing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Multiclassing Multiclassing allows you to gain levels in multiple classes. With this rule, you have the option of gaining a level in a new class whenever you advance in level instead of gaining a

level in your current class. Doing so lets you mix the abilities of those classes to realize a character concept that might not be reflected in a single class.

Initiative Variants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

remembering where you are in the list can bog the game down. If you want quicker combats, at the risk of those combats becoming unbalanced, try using the side initiative rule. Under this variant, the

Initiative Variants This section offers different ways to handle initiative. Initiative Score With this optional rule, creature don’t roll initiative at the start of combat. Instead, each creature

Skill Variants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

the following variants. Choose whichever one best suits your campaign. Ability Check Proficiency With this variant rule, characters don’t have skill proficiencies. Instead, each character has

distinction among characters. For example, a character can’t choose to emphasize persuasion or intimidation; he or she is equally adept at both. Background Proficiency With this variant rule, characters don’t

Bane

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

Bane The Black Hand, the Lord of Darkness Bane has a simple ethos: the strong have not just the right but the duty to rule over the weak. A tyrant who is able to seize power must do so, for not only

does the tyrant benefit, but so do those under the tyrant’s rule. When a ruler succumbs to decadence, corruption, or decrepitude, a stronger and more suitable ruler will rise. Bane is vilified in

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

alteration, causing your alignment to change. Lawful becomes chaotic, good becomes evil, and vice versa. If you are true neutral or unaligned, this card has no effect on you. Comet. If you single

-handedly defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you gain experience points enough to gain one level. Otherwise, this card has no effect. Donjon. You disappear and become

Optional Rule: Tough Minions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer

a minion with a single attack. To keep minions believable, you can use the following rule. When a minion’s challenge rating is at least 6 higher than an NPC’s challenge rating, that NPC’s actions and

Optional Rule: Tough Minions Minions of a higher challenge rating, such as fire giants, make for powerful foes. Consequently, it could break the game’s verisimilitude for an NPC commoner to kill such

Massive Damage

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Massive Damage This optional rule makes it easier for a creature to be felled by massive damage. When a creature takes damage from a single source equal to or greater than half its hit point maximum

that Constitution save if it takes 15 damage or more from a single source. System Shock d10 Effect 1 The creature drops to 0 hit points. 2–3 The creature drops to 0 hit points but is stable. 4–5 The

Ancient Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

artists and poets, encourage great thinkers, and spur adventurers to heroic deeds. They sometimes give guidance to those in need or request help from adventurers to encourage them to greatness. As a rule

dragon. Moonstone Dragon Lairs Often, a moonstone dragon’s lair is not a single location, but rather a collection of personally significant places spread out across multiple planes of

Variant Abilities

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Variant Abilities When a beholder’s dream-imagination runs wild, the result can be an offspring that has an unusual or unique set of abilities. Rather than the standard powers of a beholder’s central

eye and eyestalks, the creature has one or more variant abilities — guaranteed to surprise any enemies who thought they knew what they were getting themselves into. This section provides several

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