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Returning 35 results for 'story of runes defense variant'.
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Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
valuable: their honk is a powerful defense against intruders, and they can lay eggs with shells of pure gold.
When commanded by its keeper, a giant goose lays a golden egg—a hollow shell of
that’s important to the story of an adventure or your campaign.
Goose Egg Trinket
d12;{"diceNotation":"1d12","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Egg Contents"}
Egg Contents
1
The
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your
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
Entertainer
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
1
I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2
Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip.
3
I’m a hopeless romantic, always searching
Magic Items
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
weapon is searching for a new owner.
Azuredge has a solid steel handle etched with tiny runes, wrapped in blue dragon hide with a star sapphire set into the pommel. The axe head is forged from silver
defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force.
When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue flames erupt from its blade and deal an extra 2d6
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
high-minded ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.
d8
Personality Trait
1
I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2
Whenever I come to a new
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead
Waterdeep (Northeast) The siege weapon in Waterdeep’s defense zone (see Map 1.5) is a small bronze cannon inlaid with arcane runes and mounted on a heavy tripod. It launches balls of crackling
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
lock of a loved one’s hair, or a painting of a favorite place. A story of happy times fondly remembered is more precious to a moonstone dragon than a sack of gold.
Creating a Moonstone Dragon
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
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
Magic Items
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
a random destination, which could be on a different world of the Material Plane.
Destroying the Teeth. Each tooth must be destroyed individually by sowing it in the area where the tooth’s story
;green hags in a Green Hag (Coven Variant);coven
When you damage a target that hasn’t taken a turn in this combat, the target takes an extra 3d10 slashing damage from ghostly blades.
5
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
11. King’s Walk This interconnected series of rooms tells the story of King Melair’s life in art. The duergar have looted each chamber. 11a. Training Years Pillars. Stone pillars support a series of
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
faith, making them proficient with the quarterstaff and nothing else. You could give them a benefit to make up for the loss of proficiencies—something like the monk’s Unarmored Defense class feature, but
, paladins might not swear their oaths to ideals, but instead swear fealty to powerful sorcerers. To capture this story concept, you could build a new paladin spell list with spells meant to protect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
in her head and pull her tentacles up into the shell protectively, like a strange hermit crab. Whymsee (Kraken Priest Variant)
Medium humanoid (human), neutral evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor
next turn.
Shell Defense. Whymsee withdraws into her shell. Until she emerges, she gains a +4 bonus to AC and has advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in her shell, Whymsee is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Force Grey named Meloon Wardragon (see appendix B), but the weapon is searching for a new owner. Azuredge has a solid steel handle etched with tiny runes, wrapped in blue dragon hide with a star
made with this magic weapon. The shield spell provides no defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force. When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
mention Prince Kirina endangering Prince Simbon to Uzoma, she’s surprised and listens to their story. Kirina denies the allegation, claiming the characters are in league with Simbon. With little patience
Kirina’s defense. If Kirina’s excuses are believed, he swiftly leaves the area and, soon after, returns to his home city of Niba. Otherwise, with Prince Simbon’s support, Uzoma throws status to the wind and orders her miners to lock Kirina in a nearby office while she summons the guards.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
concern of any stronghold is defense, but older and prosperous strongholds can grow to become wondrous underground cities filled with generations of exquisite dwarven artisanship. Regardless of a
composed recounting of deeds, events, and important persons. Dwarves combine their runes into patterns, present pictorial histories in seemingly unconnected murals and images, and otherwise leave their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
believes the characters’ story, he finds the evidence against Secretary Wei irrefutable. Nevertheless, in her defense, the secretary shares the information from the “End of an Era” section at the start of
’ story. He believes their tale if they can support it with any three of the following pieces of evidence: The documents to and from Secretary Wei found in area S3 The confession of one of the alchemists
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
is consistent with the character’s personality trait, flaw, or bond. The character’s action should be notable in some way. It might drive the story forward, push the adventurers into danger, or make
characters agree to help a suspicious but seductive noble and thereby become entangled in a web of intrigue and betrayal, reward them with inspiration. Similarly, characters in a horror story typically
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
twelve runes engraved around the sphinx statue. Each is an ancient symbol for a different hour. If the characters fail to answer the riddle correctly, Oliekintara seems pleased with her own cleverness
. She offers to tell them what she knows in return for a gift. This can be anything the characters think a sphinx might like—perhaps a song, a story, a meal, a future visit—or treasure worth at least
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
L2. Living Quarters Members of the order live in a modest single-story building built on raised posts. Its shingled roof provides protection from the elements, and its sliding exterior wall panels
defeated, the remaining ones flee to the training grounds (area L4) to seek reinforcements. Immortal Lotus Monk Medium humanoid
Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
magmin dives under the coals and disappears. Animated Coals. If the characters attack the magmin, eight of the coals from the bed spring to life and come to the magmin’s defense. See the “Animated
chance) or a giant dragonfly (25 percent chance; see appendix C). Unicorn Horn. If the Story Tracker indicates that the missing unicorn’s horn is here, the characters can find it amid the coals. (Bavlorna
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
The Path Forward With the forces of evil defeated, Grand Duke Ravengard regains his faculties and can relay the story of the spirit journey he undertook while wearing the Helm of Torm’s Sight. Torm
the Helm of Torm’s Sight and experiences Torm’s vision feels the same way. Ravengard remembers nothing more of his vision, but Lulu flaps her wings in excitement at the final part of his story as she
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
to reward players who take the time to search for them. For each door and room, consider their original purpose: were secret doors a defense against invaders, or do denizens of the dungeon scheme to keep secrets from each other? Secrets can help you develop the story of a dungeon.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check notices that the lock of the stone door is connected to wires that run into the tower’s stone walls. This custom-built franchise defense system is rigged to
, and both wear ornate collars of silvery metal. Each stands within a square scribed onto the floor, ten feet on a side and edged with runes. The rune-marked boundaries appear to push the creatures back
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
of many Material Plane worlds, as a reflection of that primordial story. It begins to explore the connections linking dragons on different worlds, which is elaborated throughout the rest of this book
. Chapter 1 introduces draconic-themed options for adventurers, including three variant dragonborn races, two dragon-oriented subclasses (the Drakewarden ranger and the Way of the Ascendant Dragon monk
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
middle of this frost-glazed room stands a nine-foot-tall table of carved stone surrounded by three giant-sized chairs, also carved from stone. A fat iron cauldron etched with runes rests upon the table
and gladly aid in its defense. Presently, Wiglof is using a magic cauldron (see “Treasure” below) to perform an augury ritual and hopes to ascertain the most likely outcome of Blagothkus’s alliance
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
matter what. 2 I work hard so that I can play hard when the work is done. 3 I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale. 4 I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story
, it’s hard for me to stop. 5 I can’t help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets I come across. 6 My pride will probably lead to my destruction. Variant Sailor: Pirate You spent your youth under the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
molds and repeat the process. Without their armor, Brok and Fumira have AC 10. They keep their war picks and javelins close by, but fight only in self-defense. If they detect intruders, they stop working
out tremendous heat thanks to a fire elemental magically trapped inside it. Runes carved on the inside walls of the forge prevent the elemental from escaping or harming anyone outside the forge
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
middle of this frost-glazed room stands a nine-foot-tall table of carved stone surrounded by three giant-sized chairs, also carved from stone. A fat iron cauldron etched with runes rests upon the table
gladly aid in its defense. Presently, Wiglof is using a magic cauldron (see “Treasure”) to perform an augury ritual and hopes to ascertain the most likely outcome of Blagothkus’s alliance with the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
creatures that enter the room using their Psychic Crush action option (see the “Variant: Psychic Gray Oozes” sidebar in the “Oozes” entry in the Monster Manual). While contained in the altar, the oozes
Plane. An oath of service binds the ghost to the temple for as long as it stands. The ghost is unaligned and fights only in self-defense. If reduced to 0 hit points, the ghost is destroyed for 24 hours
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
desiccated and skeletal humanoid corpses litter the floor of this small chamber. The stone of the north wall has been etched with intricate runes, but the pattern ends abruptly.
Bodies and Runes. A closer
examination of the still-intact bodies reveals that each bears tattoos matching the runes carved on the walls. The corpses wear a wide range of clothing and armor, but have been stripped of all
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
hermit invites the party into her hut, where she shares her story and the rumors on her NPC Card. On a failed check, Xanthe slams the door in their faces. Alexander Mokhov Xanthe
Elf Hermit
demon worshiper.” (Partially true; Xanthe is referring to Ivlis, the former priest)
Occult Ritual Eventually, you come across an eerie statue in a forest clearing. Strange runes are etched into
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
, all its answers support Awa’s story from the “Death in the Mines” section. Multiple Paths. Awa wasn’t sure which of the southern tunnels he fled through. Characters who search the area and succeed on
commoner stat block. Suspicious Runes. Characters who investigate the area where the survivors were hiding can make a DC 14 Intelligence (Investigation) check. If they succeed, they find a series of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
2. Giants’ Lodge This two-story lodge is partially buried in the ice. It has three possible entrances: the main entrance on the ground floor (leading to area 2A), an ice tunnel that leads to a door
looking toward the southeast contains a wooden brace supporting an ancient red dragon’s horn that the frost giants have etched with runes and made into a musical instrument. The horn weighs 450 pounds. Only
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. If the encounter takes place at the Helm and the characters don’t make a strong case against him, five commoners (tavern regulars) come to his defense. They aren’t cult servants, just bystanders
players to take on the challenges in this chapter in whatever order they wish — let their interests drive the story. If you want to pace the adventure, the Temple of Howling Hatred suits a 6th-level
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Having eluded the drow so far, ten grimlocks huddle in the back of this 10-foot-high cavern. They feed on fish from the River Sargauth and fight only in self-defense. 10c. Sea Hag Coven This 30-foot
damages the cauldron, an elder rune materializes above it (see “Elder Runes”). Draw from the Elder Runes Deck (see appendix B) to determine which rune appears. The elder rune targets a random creature