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Returning 35 results for 'strange of rites death variants'.
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
, foul rites that allow one to transform into a death knight or lich, or long-lost spells crafted by beings so evil their names ought never to be spoken aloud.
Vile Speech. While the book is on your
attuned to the book, you can cast the following spells (save DC 18) from it:
Animate Dead
Circle of Death
Dominate Monster
Finger of Death
Once you use the book to cast a spell, you can’t
Monsters
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
, with little grasp of metaphor or nuance.
The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon
Feed on Death. When a creature within 30 feet of the kraul drops to 0 hit points, the kraul or another creature of its choice within 30 feet of it gains 5 (1d10);{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType
monsters
):
At Will: Charm Person, Detect Thoughts, Mage Hand
1/Day Each: Compulsion, Hold Person (level 3 version)A brain in a jar is the gray matter of one who cheated death through magic or strange surgeries
. It now forces its will on those around it.
Some brains in jars are the result of strange experiments, bizarre punishments, or the aberrant preservation methods of creatures and mi-go (detailed in
Shadar-kai
Legacy
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Species
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
now they exist in a strange state between life and death. Eladrin and shadar-kai are like reflections of each other: one bursting with emotion, the other nearly devoid of it.
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Death Throes. When Virruza is reduced to 0 hit points, he turns into a puddle of acid and splashes acid on those around him. Each creature within 5 feet of him must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity
", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Throes", "rollDamageType":"acid"} acid damage at the start of each of its turns.
Innate Spellcasting. Virruza’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Orcus who plundered corpses from necropolises to create the first spawn of Kyuss. Even centuries after Kyuss’s death, his malign disciples continue performing the horrific rites he perfected
classes
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Druids of the Circle of Spores find beauty in decay. They see within mold and other fungi the ability to transform lifeless material into abundant, albeit somewhat strange, life.
These druids
believe that life and death are parts of a grand cycle, with one leading to the other and then back again. Death isn’t the end of life, but instead a change of state that sees life shift into a new
monsters
to a bodytaker plant, the podling throws itself into battle and fights to the death.
Roll on or choose a result from the Podling Behaviors table to inspire the unusual habits a podling might
demonstrate.
Podling Behaviors
1d6
The Podling Exhibits the Strange Habit Of …
1
Drinking water from dirty troughs.
2
Eating one type of food for all meals.
3
monsters
to a bodytaker plant, the podling throws itself into battle and fights to the death.
Roll on or choose a result from the Podling Behaviors table to inspire the unusual habits a podling might
demonstrate.
Podling Behaviors
1d6
The Podling Exhibits the Strange Habit Of …
1
Drinking water from dirty troughs.
2
Eating one type of food for all meals.
3
Monsters
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
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
, polymorph
5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, cone of cold, hold monster, scrying
6th level (2 slot): chain lightning, circle of death, create undead
7th level (2 slot): finger of death, forcecage
classes
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Druids of the Circle of Spores find beauty in decay. They see within mold and other fungi the ability to transform lifeless material into abundant, albeit somewhat strange, life.
These druids
believe that life and death are parts of a grand cycle, with one leading to the other and then back again. Death isn’t the end of life, but instead a change of state that sees life shift into a new
Reborn
Legacy
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Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Death isn’t always the end. The reborn exemplify this, being individuals who have died yet, somehow, still live. Some reborn exhibit the scars of fatal ends, their ashen flesh or bloodless
veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
becoming an eldritch lich.
Like other liches, eldritch liches are spellcasters who have cheated death, but an eldritch lich does so by allowing a Great Old One to implant a Far Realm parasite in the lich
. That parasite bestows undeath upon the spellcaster and causes strange tentacles to sprout from the body. The parasite’s mouth is visible on the lich’s torso, and the parasite guards the
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
’s goal is to tap into vast energy sources and perform the dire rites that will extend a bridge between the Material Plane and the squirming chaos of an Elder Evil’s realm.
An entity that
, transforming it into a star spawn seer. Whoever the mortal once was largely vanishes beneath the mass of tumorous skin than builds up in strange whorls all over the seer’s body. The mortal’s
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
of their former selves. Coral encrusts them. Barnacles cling to their cold skin. Lungs that once filled with air can now breathe in water as well.
Tales provide myriad reasons for these strange
death.
Sea spawn come in a wide variety of forms. An individual might have a tentacle for an arm, the jaws of a shark, a sea urchin’s spines, a whale’s fin, octopus eyes, seaweed hair, or
Magic Items
Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
heavily muscled warrior, and its great helm is unusual in that it has no openings — only a broad glass plate in the front with a second piece of glass above it. Strange plates, tubing, and large
advantage on death saving throws.
The armor has further capabilities that can be powered either by energy cells or by your own life energy. You can use a bonus action to draw power from an energy cell
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Journey into Death Those who are prepared for death, or who receive funeral rites, typically have or are given a coin (or similar token of value) interred with their corpse. When these individuals
given funeral rites have no means to pay Athreos’s toll and thus have no way of reaching their place of rest. These lost souls primarily collect along the Tartyx’s shores where they languish or beg
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
up on Innsmouth island and shelter in the village. They experience strange dreams. Soon after, they encounter cultists who seek to initiate them and others who seek to sacrifice them. The characters
characters’ dreams and suggests ways to escape the island. After proving their worth, a character receives the cult’s Dark Gift (see “Cult Rites”). Levels 6–16. Led by their dreams and duplicitous cult
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
Cult Rites The cults of Innsmouth seek initiates to aid in their unfathomable works. Those who prove themselves reliable devotees gain access to the transformative power of strange gods. Cult Renown
Gifts table. Innsmouth Cults Dark Gifts Cult Dark Gift Cult of Chthonic Night Gathered Whispers Cult of the Drowning Wave Symbiotic Being Cult of the Heavenly Doom Touch of Death Cult of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
Kelemvor The Lord of the Dead, the Judge of the Damned Kelemvor is seen as a just, fair, and comforting god of death. Death comes to all, and when it occurs Kelemvor is there to take each soul by
the hand and lead it to the proper afterlife. Kelemvor’s priests teach that those who revere the gods according to the rites of their religion have done their proper service and will be offered the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
Mayastan Sadaar Word of Mayastan Sadaar’s death hits the scholars of Candlekeep hard. At your discretion, the characters can return the scholar’s body to Candlekeep so that she can be returned to
life (perhaps with the characters performing the rites). Alternatively, you might decide that the nature of Valin’s ritual prevents Mayastan from being restored to life even with a resurrection spell
Human
Legacy
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Species
Basic Rules (2014)
pages were tales of bold heroes, strange and fierce animals, mighty primitive gods, and a magic that was part and fabric of that distant land.
— Elaine Cunningham, Daughter of the Drow
In the
(except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone.
Although some humans can be
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
rites passed down for generations. It isn’t quite a civic organization, despite the fact that some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in Red Larch are members. The members of the Believers use
the town. The Believers formed years ago when local miners discovered a secret underground chamber beneath the town. Strange things happened in the chamber, such as heavy stones levitating and moving
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
years when their dreams fixate on death, morbid apotheoses, or journeys to realms inhospitable to life. Some death tyrants rise from the corpses of slain beholders or result from exposure to strange
Death Tyrant Beholder beyond Death Habitat: Underdark; Treasure: Any Simon Dominic A death tyrant is a beholder that pursues aberrant goals beyond its death. Ten magical singularities—all that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Dakra Isles The Dakra Isles were created when Thassa wept over the death of Korinna, a triton queen killed by a human’s harpoon. Where the god’s tears fell onto the sea there exploded forth an isle
suffused with immortal magic and memory. Ages later, the Dakra Isles—also called the Isles of Enchantment—harbor strange sights and fierce monsters. Thassa’s power makes it impossible to keep an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Athreos when you honor him or the cycle of life and death through acts such as these: Providing coins and overseeing burial rites for those slain during a tragedy Ensuring that the deeds and
Athreos’s Champions Alignment: Usually lawful, often evil Suggested Classes: Cleric, monk, rogue, wizard Suggested Cleric Domains: Death, Grave (described in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) Suggested
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
Kraul Death Priest The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon crippling necromantic
magic, and the presence of death seems to fortify them. They draw power from the defeat of their enemies and channel it to their followers, ensuring the continuation of the cycle. The current leader
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
greater efficiency in the transition of the doomed into death, such as by impeding medical treatment or wrecking warships destined for hopeless wars. Athreos doesn’t approve of utter cruelty, but
.
4 A group of cult fanatics charges exorbitant prices for funeral rites, threatening to lead the dead astray unless they’re shown proper respect.
5 A priest of Athreos speaks out against healers
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Shadows of Sithicus
Concluding the Encounter After the characters either dispatch or defeat Greeve and the bugbears, they hear noises from the direction of a strange tree. When they move to investigate, start “Encounter
3: Death Heads.” Treasure Greeve carries 100 GP, two Potions of Greater Healing, and a Spell Scroll of Invisibility.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
Heralds of Dust Roles Eulogists, gravediggers, and morticians, the Heralds of Dust serve Sigil in all things related to death. The faction attracts the grief stricken, the undead, and those with a
departed and chronicle the dead’s deeds in obituaries. Necrologists also research burial rites appropriate to the deceased creature’s beliefs, religion, or cultural background. Recruiters. Recruiters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
orcs and other foul creatures, practicing strange rites by the light of the moons. While flawed, this vision isn’t entirely inaccurate. The Shadow Marches are a desolate land of swamps and moors. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
against the south wall, on which several bodies lie wrapped in funeral shrouds.
The wooden platform is used as a dais for religious rites. The faithful are brought here after death, blessed, and then
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
, and its remains are strewn on the floor. The stench of death and decay grows stronger as the characters approach this room, and they can hear the hisses and snarls of the ghouls that lair here. The
the players as follows: This chamber was once a shrine, as evidenced by wall carvings that depict dwarves carrying censers and observing religious rites. However, the eastern section of the room has
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
traditions, sacrifices to strange gods or placations to lurking monsters are everyday events. For outsiders, though, these practices reveal the subjectivity of normalcy and societal truth. Examples
include Midsommar and The Wicker Man. Folk Horror Principles Consider the following principles when creating Darklords and domains with folk horror themes: Isolation Begets Weirdness. Strange and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
approaches peacefully and shares the following warnings: “Strange witchlights hover over Dragon Barrow at night. The hill is haunted by the restless spirits of the dead.” “Neverwinter Wood has become
overrun with orcs in league with half-orc spellcasters. Deep in the forest, atop a cave-riddled hill, is a circle of standing stones where the evil half-orcs perform their dark rites.” Xanth avoids