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Returning 35 results for 'some of read despite variant'.
Monsters
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
Enigmatic Mind. The archaic’s mind can’t be read, creatures can communicate telepathically with the archaic only if it allows, and magic can’t determine whether the archaic is lying
target ends.Archaics are towering, multi-armed creatures overflowing with magic. Despite their solitude, archaics carry vast understanding of magic and the world’s history, as well as the ability
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Turn Resistance. The Returned has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its
. Despite this, even the most languorous Returned defend themselves if threatened and might be pressed into the service of their more willful brethren.
Returned have escaped the Underworld and dwell among
Monsters
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
Aberrant Mind. Magic can’t read the psurlon’s thoughts or put the psurlon to sleep.Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2;{"diceNotation":"1d20+2","rollType":"to hit","rollAction
none of its class features or other abilities. The transformation is permanent and can be undone only by a wish spell. Despite appearances, the psurlon ringer is still an Aberration, and other psurlons
Entertainer
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
liking to you.
Variant Entertainer: Gladiator
A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can
likely repeat.
5
I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.
6
Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
throws against any effect that turns undead.
Unreadable Face. The Returned is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts. Wisdom (Insight) checks to ascertain the
. 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
Blackrazor
Legacy
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
feet.
The weapon can speak, read, and understand Common, and can communicate with its wielder telepathically. Its voice is deep and echoing. While you are attuned to it, Blackrazor also understands
along.
Despite its nihilism, Blackrazor feels a strange kinship to Wave and Whelm, two other weapons locked away under White Plume Mountain. It wants the three weapons to be united again and wielded
Spell Scroll
Legacy
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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
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
lurking just out of sight, and many of them have sneaked away from that god’s influence.
They are long of limb and covered in coarse hair, with wedge-shaped ears and pointed teeth. Despite their
ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.
Languages
Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
occupation or social class that frequents the establishment. This contact is delighted to talk with you, and to listen.
Variant Entertainer: Gladiator
A gladiator is as much an
follow me around.
4
I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.
5
I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.
6
Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
in starlight. They read these signs as omens, giving them glimpses of what is to come, and they eagerly examine the potential futures of any creatures who come to them in peace.
Crystal dragons&rsquo
’t always appreciate the dragon’s sense of humor.
5
A young crystal dragon finds some manticore;manticores' bluster hilarious and befriends them despite their fear. But the dragon is
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
The saurian lizardfolk are thought by some sages to be distant cousins of dragonborn and kobolds. Despite their resemblance to those other scaled folk, however, lizardfolk are their own people and
follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.
Languages
Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Humans typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal
with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on. VARIANT
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Large 10 by 10 ft. Hippogriff, ogre Huge 15 by 15 ft. Fire giant, treant Gargantuan 20 by 20 ft. or larger Kraken, purple worm MODIFYING CREATURES
Despite the versatile collection of monsters in
, perhaps by borrowing a trait or two from a different monster or by using a variant or template. Keep in mind that modifying a monster, including when you apply a template to it, might change its challenge rating.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
dominated Khorvaire for thousands of years. They founded the Five Nations and make up the majority of the population in these countries. Despite their relatively short lifespan—or perhaps because of it
Lhazaar pirate with a knack for the mystic arts. The variant human presented in the Player’s Handbook provides an additional opportunity to capture some of the flavor of Eberron. Does your choice of skill proficiency and feat reflect the culture you were raised in?
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Variant Half-Orc or Human: Mark of Finding If your half-orc or human character has the Mark of Finding, the following traits replace the character’s racial traits in the Player’s Handbook, aside
can speak, read, and write Common and Goblin. Spells of the Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of Finding Spells table are added to the spell
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
of the unique magic bound into a book of tips for channeling self-love and inner beauty, and they break up the sinister plots of a coven of hags. Despite its ordinary contents, The Price of Beauty
radiates auras of illusion and conjuration magic courtesy of a magic mirror set into its cover. Though the full function of the mirror has never been determined by the Avowed, the book is known to speak to some of those who read it—including an acolyte who has vanished from Candlekeep without a trace.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
The Twilight Rose The Twilight Rose is a few minutes’ walk from Three Sun Square. As the characters approach the theater, read or paraphrase the following text: Colorful geometric tiles emboss the
double door.
The Twilight Rose was shut down by the Brightguard years ago for hosting performances deemed immoral. Despite this, the building’s doors are unlocked. Any character who listens at the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
place feels like a graveyard, where battle and the sands of time destroyed a city and its population. It’s eerily silent except for the hissing of the sandstorm in the distance. Despite the silence, the
characters can’t shake the feeling that they’re being watched (even though the city is clearly abandoned). As the characters enter the necropolis, read the following boxed text: You see before you a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
the characters are underway, read or paraphrase the following to summarize the journey: The journey from Promise leads north through the Ribbon, where clustered farmhouses dot the dark-red ground
agriculture in the region has been deteriorating for years, forcing locals to farm the Rattle despite its dangers. If the characters stop at any of the farms they pass in the Ribbon, they see no sign of danger, but no one at the farms knows Kianna.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
’ corruption begins to take hold, the plants have become living traps. Read or paraphrase the following to set the scene: Your path through the woods descends along a ridgeline, with the trees crowding together
under a dense canopy above. The ground is littered with fallen nuts. Tree trunks are coated in thick patches of fungus, and a musty smell fills the air. Yet despite the rising gloom, vivid sunbeams
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
vane. Read or paraphrase the following once the device is restored: The villagers gather around the Storm’s Eye Weather Vane with their gazes cast toward the shore. Peals of thunder shake the ground
sweeps toward Respite, the clouds suddenly part around the village. Despite howling winds tearing across the surrounding countryside, nary a breeze nor a drop of rain hits Respite.
The villagers cheer
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
variants of the monsters discussed in chapter 1. This chapter is a continuation of the Monster Manual and adopts a similar presentation. If you are unfamiliar with the monster stat block format, read the
that are appropriate for your adventure or campaign. If you’re looking for ways to use the variant beholders, giants, gnolls, goblinoids, hags, kobolds, mind flayers, orcs, and yuan-ti described in this
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
, read: The sultry day is silent except for the sounds of the sea. A lone bird circles in lazy loops in the sky overhead. Eventually it descends and alights on a nearby rock. It’s a gull, and an old one
returned to its home. It continues to watch the party despite any attempts to shoo it away. Having observed the characters’ actions against the drowned ones, the ex-familiar believes that they might be the sort of heroes who could finish Archais’s work and end the undead menace.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
fade, or it crumbles into dust. Unless a scroll’s description says otherwise, any creature that can understand a written language can read the script on a scroll and attempt to activate it. VARIANT
an action. Applying an oil might take longer, as specified in its description. Once used, a potion takes effect immediately, and it is used up. VARIANT: MIXING POTIONS
A character might drink one
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
Cavemouth (Areas L10–L11) When the characters first enter Cavemouth, read the following text: Mining equipment lies abandoned in the alleys and stalagmite-lined streets of this gloomy district.
The
. Schnella refused to leave and died fending off Tockworth’s clockwork defenders. Her restless soul lurks in this building, manifesting as a troublesome specter known as a poltergeist (see the “Variant
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
with Amanisha, the effects of Jijibisha’s wall of fire spell spring up, separating as many characters from their boat as possible. Read the following description: A woman with tattered, ancient robes and
!”
Jijibisha Manivarshi uses the ultroloth stat block, but she has access to only the wall of fire spell and the at-will spells from her Innate Spellcasting trait. Despite her fiendish powers, she looks
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Boo’s Astral Menagerie
is permanent and can be undone only by a wish spell. Despite appearances, the psurlon ringer is still an Aberration, and other psurlons recognize it for what it is. Psurlon Ringer
Medium Aberration
.
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Aberrant Mind. Magic can’t read the psurlon’s thoughts or put the psurlon to sleep.
Actions
Multiattack. The psurlon makes two Dagger attacks.
Dagger
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
A Culture of Fugitives Despite all their unique and overwhelming abilities, the mind flayers are a race on the edge of extinction. Thousands of years ago, the illithids were the dominant power of the
, yet no one can be sure exactly what the illithids are and are not capable of. VARIANT: MIND FLAYER PSION
Mind flayers sometimes devote themselves to deeper study of psionic power, and many excel at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
go through half-hearted parodies of life, impeded by distraction and ennui. Despite this, even the most languorous Returned defend themselves if threatened and might be pressed into the service of
any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts. Wisdom (Insight) checks to ascertain the Returned’s intentions or sincerity are made with disadvantage.
Actions
Scimitar. Melee
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
become hermits and hunters, either wandering alone or leading packs of giant spiders. On rare occasion, a drider returns to the fringes of drow society despite its curse, most often to fulfill some
hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.
VARIANT: DRIDER SPELLCASTING
Driders that were once
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
Quest: Tools of Destruction If a character asks to purchase armor or weapons, Kalista explains why she no longer sells those to outsiders. Read the following boxed text aloud: “I used to sell arms
wilderness.
When the characters arrive at the shop, read the following boxed text aloud:
Dusty rays of sunlight stream into this general store through small windows near the ceiling. Barrels
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Commanders’ Retreat After the Dragon Army soldiers are dealt with, read or paraphrase the following text: A dozen mounted soldiers gallop from the tree line, rushing south toward the crossing
. Kalaman’s colors are visible on these soldiers’ armor, despite the dents and stains of battle. It’s easy to pick out Darrett among these riders in his distinctive Solamnic armor. Another figure sits behind
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
Centaur “I hear centaurs make excellent mounts!”
— Batley Summerfoot, a halfling adventurer who never read HOOVES OF FURY,
by Irvil Grayborn of Sundown
Reclusive wanderers and omen-readers of
residents. Many such communities owe their survival to the insight and acumen of a centaur. Despite their reclusive nature, centaurs trade with elves and with the caravans of other benevolent
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. If the characters move cautiously despite the rush to catch up, then they can gain surprise. Otherwise, the orcs spot them as they approach. In any case, read the following aloud: Four brutish orcs
Smoke on the Horizon This encounter occurs early in the day. As the party travels, they spot smoke. Read the following text: The trail emerges from a dry gulch. A column of thick, black smoke rises
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
example, in a campaign inspired by film noir, characters could have an additional flaw: “I can’t resist helping a person I find alluring despite warnings that he or she is nothing but trouble.” If the
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