{ "monsterFluff": [ { "name": "Abyssal Chicken", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Abyssal chickens are carnivorous, temperamental, tasty bottom-feeders native to the Abyss. They beat their leathery wings to scare predators and to help them run faster, and they taste like fatty chicken.", "With your permission, a character who casts the {@spell find familiar} spell can henceforth choose to conjure an abyssal chicken instead of a raven." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Abyssal Chicken.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Amrik Vanthampur", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Second son of Duke Thalamra Vanthampur of Baldur's Gate. Amrik loves to exchange pleasantries over drinks before conducting business. He has trained Laraelra's staff to recognize a variety of innocuous hand gestures that signal them to deliver drinks to the table. If he wants poison added to his clients' drinks, he has a secret sign for that. Hidden behind the bar is a small bottle containing four doses of torpor (see \"Poisons\" in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide), which the kenku bartender can use to spike drinks when Amrik gives the signal." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Amrik Vanthampur.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Archduke Zariel of Avernus", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Once a mighty angel charged with watching the tides of the Blood War, Zariel succumbed to the corrupting influence of the Nine Hells and fell from grace. Asmodeus admired Zariel's passion for war and offered her rulership of Avernus. She accepted his offer and was transformed by Asmodeus into an archdevil.", "Zariel's \"rise\" came at the expense of Bel, her pit fiend predecessor. Zariel and Bel hate each other. To keep Bel busy and out of her sight, Zariel tasks him with forging weapons, armor, and gruesome demon-slaying machines.", "To replenish her legions, Zariel needs the souls of mortals to create lemures, which she can then promote to higher forms of devils. Only by tempting mortals with power on the Material Plane and striking bargains with them can she bind them to her in the afterlife.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Matalotok", "entries": [ "Zariel recently defeated the demon lord Kostchtchie and took his hammer, Matalotok, which grants Zariel immunity to cold damage. Without this hammer, Zariel has resistance to cold damage instead." ] } ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Archduke Zariel of Avernus.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Arkhan the Cruel", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Arkhan the Cruel is an evil dragonborn champion of Tiamat. Arkhan believes he can use the Hand of Vecna to unlock the means of freeing Tiamat from her prison in the Nine Hells, but only if the hand doesn't kill him first. The hand is slowly corrupting Arkhan's flesh and decomposing his body on one side.", "In battle, Arkhan uses branding smite to channel the radiant power of Tiamat into his weapon attacks. If a fight turns against him, he uses the teleport power of the Hand of Vecna to return to his tower with as many allies as possible. Should one or more of his comrades fall in battle, Arkhan uses {@spell revivify} and {@spell raise dead} spells to bring them back to life as soon as possible.", "If Arkhan finds himself overwhelmed with opposition, he orders the abishai to attack. Arkhan can also use a bonus action to call forth Asojano, a chimera lairing in the depths of the colossal dragon skull." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Arkhan the Cruel.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Bel", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "From his bastion, Zariel's second-in-command and the former lord of Avernus oversees the forges that furnish weapons and armor for the Blood War. Though Asmodeus has instructed Zariel to accept Bel as her advisor, Bel and Zariel loathe each other and invent distractions to keep them apart.", "Bel outwardly plays the role of Zariel's loyal vassal. However, Bel rankles at Zariel's rulership of the layer of the Nine Hells that was once his, but he won't challenge her directly as long as he thinks Asmodeus supports Zariel." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Bel.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Bitter Breath", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/057-u4jqy-03-09.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Black Gauntlet of Bane", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bane's devoted followers are warriors who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and shower the strong with gifts and promises of power to turn them into loyal vassals.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Cruel Tyrants", "entries": [ "Whenever Bane's followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They stamp out all opposition while richly rewarding those who swear fealty." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Warrior Cult", "entries": [ "Cultists of Bane are warriors who wear heavy armor and wield maces, swords, spears, and crossbows. They paint the right gauntlet of their armor black in honor of their patron. Bane's clerics wield black maces with heads shaped to look like a closed fist." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Bane's cultists operate according to strict military hierarchies. The lowest rank consists of the fists of Bane, foot soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consuls, cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat. The black gauntlets are the priests who command the consuls." ] } ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Black Gauntlet of Bane.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Bone Whelk", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bone whelks are large mollusks that excrete an adhesive to attach skulls, bones, and other detritus to their bodies for protection." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Bone Whelk.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Chukka", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/053-p0ex0-03-05.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Clonk", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/053-p0ex0-03-05.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Crokek'toeck", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Crokek'toeck is Yeenoghu's demonic pet. Resembling a giant mudskipper with the teeth, fur, ears, and laugh of a hyena, this unique demon can hold smaller demons in its gullet and disgorge them anywhere Yeenoghu wishes. Immune to the mind-shattering effects of the River Styx, Crokek'toeck is often used to transport smaller demons (and sometimes Yeenoghu himself) through the Styx's terrible waters." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Crokek'toeck.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Death's Head of Bhaal", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bhaal's cultists emulate their deity, carrying out gruesome murders to spread fear and horror. They are charming and disarming when they wish, but in combat their true, bloodthirsty nature comes to the fore.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Bloodletters", "entries": [ "All cultists of Bhaal learn to call upon their god's power to leave their victims vulnerable to their long-bladed knives. When Bhaal's magic works its power, stab wounds erupt in terrible gouts of blood. Seemingly minor wounds plunge deep into a victim's body and cause terrible pain and bleeding." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Killers from the Shadows", "entries": [ "Bhaal's followers are cunning murderers who kill to strike fear and thrive on sowing terror in the cities they inhabit. They can call upon their god's power to blend into the shadows with ease, or even turn {@condition invisible} for a crucial moment." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Low-ranking cultists of Bhaal are called night blades, whom Bhaal blesses with {@sense darkvision} and superior stealth. Reapers are the next rank up. They gain the ability to turn {@condition invisible} and can use Bhaal's magic to evade suspicion. The highest rank are the death's heads, who can take on the skull-faced guise of their deity to terrify their prey. In combat, they intimidate foes by shrugging off the deadliest attacks with ease, showing that resisting Bhaal's schemes is futile." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Duke Thalamra Vanthampur", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Acid-tongued, shrewd, and aggressive, Duke Thalamra Vanthampur is the matriarch of the Vanthampur family. Born with nothing, she spent years wallowing in obscurity, repairing and renovating the city's ancient sewer system. One promotion after another followed until she was named Master of Drains and Underways. By then, she had been married three times and given birth to three sons. Her lifelong goal has been to lift herself and her family out of the sewers and into high society.", "Years of political dealing, blame shuffling, and bribery paid off when Thalamra was elected to the Council of Four. Although she has served on the council for the shortest amount of time, Duke Vanthampur is easily the most politically savvy council member. She speaks little during meetings of the council, preferring to further her political agenda through meetings in her private offices and at her family estate. When she does choose to debate, she speaks with a strength beyond what it seems like her age should allow, and is known for leveling insults that land unsettlingly close to (supposedly) hidden truths.", "Thalamra Vanthampur is a cunning, devil-worshiping beast of a woman in her late sixties who can stare down a hell hound without flinching. She is barrel-bodied, with strong hands and forearms that speak to her beginnings as a manual laborer. Her youth was spent in the cellars and sewers of Baldur's Gate, repairing pipes and clearing out the city's filth. Thalamra rose from such lowly work to become the minister of the city's sewers and waterworks. Now she dresses in the finery that suits her station as a duke of Baldur's Gate." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Duke Thalamra Vanthampur.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Feonor", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/058-gyhxw-03-10.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Fiendish Flesh Golem", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "A fiendish flesh golem is a particularly big flesh golem made of stitched-together body parts from devils, demons, yugoloths, and other fiends. As these parts can come from different creatures and be combined in different ways, no two fiendish flesh golems look exactly alike. Night hags guard the secret to making such golems, rarely sharing it with anyone else.", "Some fiendish flesh golems have wings. However, the magic used to create these golems allows them to fly and hover even without wings." ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Fist of Bane", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bane's devoted followers are warriors who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and shower the strong with gifts and promises of power to turn them into loyal vassals.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Cruel Tyrants", "entries": [ "Whenever Bane's followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They stamp out all opposition while richly rewarding those who swear fealty." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Warrior Cult", "entries": [ "Cultists of Bane are warriors who wear heavy armor and wield maces, swords, spears, and crossbows. They paint the right gauntlet of their armor black in honor of their patron. Bane's clerics wield black maces with heads shaped to look like a closed fist." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Bane's cultists operate according to strict military hierarchies. The lowest rank consists of the fists of Bane, foot soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consuls, cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat. The black gauntlets are the priests who command the consuls." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Gideon Lightward", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Gideon Lightward was a priest of Lathander who served Elturel and his deity proudly. Zariel saw that his fervor could be an asset to her, so she sent devils to corrupt him in the months leading up to the fall of Elturel. The devils posed as angels, offering Gideon increased power if he would dedicate himself to fighting the ever-present threat of demons.", "Gideon slowly gave up his sanity and free will to the devils, leaving him corrupted by Zariel and fully serving her in the months leading up to Elturel's fall. He died during the destruction wrought as the city was drawn to Avernus, but the priest rose as an undead creature. Even as an undead, Gideon remains his mistress's most loyal servant in Elturel. He sees his cause as a noble one\u2014fighting the demons whose chaos marks the end of all things. But his mind is broken and filled with hatred for those who refuse to follow his commands." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Gideon Lightward.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Hellwasp", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "A hellwasp is an intelligent, malevolent insect native to the Nine Hells. It has a thick protective carapace, thin metallic wings, and strong legs ending in swordlike talons. It uses its stinger to inject a chemical admixture similar to alchemist's fire into its victims. This same solution carries a paralytic enzyme that renders the victim helpless long enough for the hellwasp to grab its prey and flee.", "Hellwasps thrive in hot weather, but extreme cold causes their shells to crack and their metabolisms to shut down. Consequently, they avoid the icy layers of the Nine Hells (Stygia and Cania).", { "type": "entries", "name": "Nests", "entries": [ "Hellwasps spew a golden bile similar to amber, which they use to craft enormous nests riddled with chambers and passages. The hellwasps use these nests as communal shelters and food storage. A typical nest is large enough to support a commune of {@dice 1d10 + 10} hellwasps, with each hellwasp having an equal voice and role in the society." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Hellwasp Telepathy", "entries": [ "Hellwasps communicate with one another via a form of telepathy perceptible only to their kind." ] } ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Hellwasp.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Hollyphant", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Hollyphants are gentle, stalwart creatures native to the Upper Planes. Good-aligned deities and angels use them as messengers and helpers. Hollyphants treasure friendship and honesty.", "A hollyphant looks like a miniature elephant with luminous gold fur and small, rapidly fluttering wings that not only hold it aloft but also propel it at great speed. Although kind, a hollyphant won't bear witness to an evil act without punishing the malefactor. Its pearlescent tusks are far from formidable, but it can unleash trumpet blasts from its trunk that can deafen creatures or engulf evildoers in radiant sparkles of positive energy. A hollyphant is also blessed with powerful innate magic to help it combat evil and protect its friends." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Hollyphant.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Iron Consul", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bane's devoted followers are warriors who seek to rule through martial strength and intimidation, cruel tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and shower the strong with gifts and promises of power to turn them into loyal vassals.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Cruel Tyrants", "entries": [ "Whenever Bane's followers gain power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that their rule is unquestioned. They stamp out all opposition while richly rewarding those who swear fealty." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Warrior Cult", "entries": [ "Cultists of Bane are warriors who wear heavy armor and wield maces, swords, spears, and crossbows. They paint the right gauntlet of their armor black in honor of their patron. Bane's clerics wield black maces with heads shaped to look like a closed fist." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Bane's cultists operate according to strict military hierarchies. The lowest rank consists of the fists of Bane, foot soldiers who obey all orders without hesitation. They are led by iron consuls, cunning field officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat. The black gauntlets are the priests who command the consuls." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Kostchtchie", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "The demon lord Kostchtchie resembles a squat hill giant with short, bandy legs and a grossly shaped head.", "Frost giants who forsake their gods and turn to demon worship can summon Kostchtchie with bloody offerings left on altars of hewn ice. If the demon lord chooses to answer the giants' call, he hunts and fights alongside them for a time, infecting the frost giants with savage madness and bloodlust before disappearing back to the Abyss." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Kostchtchie.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Krull", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Krull.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Lulu", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/101-efblf-05-01.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Mad Maggie", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/052-vhatr-03-04.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Mahadi the Rakshasa", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Mahadi appears as a wealthy merchant lord. Though extremely powerful, Mahadi doesn't believe in taking unnecessary risks, particularly in the Nine Hells where he can be permanently slain. Mahadi acts as the eyes and ears of Asmodeus in Avernus. As a deal broker and moderator, he's privy to all manner of dealings that might otherwise escape the attention of his patron.", "In his role as the master of the Wandering Emporium, Mahadi has received special dispensation from Asmodeus to travel freely between the Material Plane and the Nine Hells to operate his business, as well as to pursue information and broker contracts and other such arrangements as needed.", "In addition to managing the Wandering Emporium, Mahadi is also the proprietor and host of Infernal Rapture, a restaurant and spa. Since the establishment exists within a demiplane, patrons can comfortably visit it at any time, even while the caravan is on the move. As long as they can pay for services rendered, guests need not fear being trapped within, since Mahadi is very serious about maintaining the contract between host and guest. Each guest must agree to this formal arrangement prior to gaining entrance.", "Mahadi presents himself as a charismatic and gracious host. He makes each guest of Infernal Rapture feel as though they're the most important person in all the planes of existence, catering to their every whim and desire. While he is equally cordial to all guests of the Wandering Emporium, those entering his establishment fall under a special contract and therefore rank most highly in his esteem.", "Of course, guests leaving Infernal Rapture are expected to pay their bills in full prior to departure. If a guest cannot pay for whatever reason, the contract they signed on entry clearly stipulates their soul is forfeit. They're required to pay off their debt through service. All such individuals fall under the effect of a geas cast as a 9th-level spell, which cannot be willingly broken by the affected individual until their debt is paid in full. What Mahadi does with such defaulters depends on their capabilities. Some become indentured servants, working at Infernal Rapture. If they possess a talent for sales, they might eventually obtain a business to run within the Wandering Emporium." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Mahadi the Rakshasa.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Master of Souls", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Those who follow Myrkul are either wizards or those who seek to master the necromantic arts.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Delvers into Lore", "entries": [ "Cultists of Myrkul study rituals that allow them to force the souls of the dead into service, compelling them to answer questions and share forgotten lore. They seek out arcane secrets in ancient ruins, and attempt to steal spellbooks and other tomes from wizards outside of the cult." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "A follower of Myrkul wields a flail that has a skull replacing the normal flail's striking head. Necromites are initiates who have not yet mastered arcane magic and rely on their flails in battle. Skull lashers are spellcasters who use magic to augment their combat abilities. The Masters of Souls delve deep into Myrkul's secrets, allowing them to animate the dead and perform other grave magic." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Mortlock Vanthampur", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Mortlock is tolerated by his mother, Duke Thalamra Vanthampur, and despised by his older brothers, Thurstwell and Amrik, who view him as a simpleton and an abomination. Half of Mortlock's face was scarred by fire when he was a child, and his disfigurement gives him a fearsome countenance." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Mortlock Vanthampur.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Necromite of Myrkul", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Those who follow Myrkul are either wizards or those who seek to master the necromantic arts.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Delvers into Lore", "entries": [ "Cultists of Myrkul study rituals that allow them to force the souls of the dead into service, compelling them to answer questions and share forgotten lore. They seek out arcane secrets in ancient ruins, and attempt to steal spellbooks and other tomes from wizards outside of the cult." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "A follower of Myrkul wields a flail that has a skull replacing the normal flail's striking head. Necromites are initiates who have not yet mastered arcane magic and rely on their flails in battle. Skull lashers are spellcasters who use magic to augment their combat abilities. The Masters of Souls delve deep into Myrkul's secrets, allowing them to animate the dead and perform other grave magic." ] } ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Necromite of Myrkul.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Night Blade", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bhaal's cultists emulate their deity, carrying out gruesome murders to spread fear and horror. They are charming and disarming when they wish, but in combat their true, bloodthirsty nature comes to the fore.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Bloodletters", "entries": [ "All cultists of Bhaal learn to call upon their god's power to leave their victims vulnerable to their long-bladed knives. When Bhaal's magic works its power, stab wounds erupt in terrible gouts of blood. Seemingly minor wounds plunge deep into a victim's body and cause terrible pain and bleeding." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Killers from the Shadows", "entries": [ "Bhaal's followers are cunning murderers who kill to strike fear and thrive on sowing terror in the cities they inhabit. They can call upon their god's power to blend into the shadows with ease, or even turn {@condition invisible} for a crucial moment." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Low-ranking cultists of Bhaal are called night blades, whom Bhaal blesses with {@sense darkvision} and superior stealth. Reapers are the next rank up. They gain the ability to turn {@condition invisible} and can use Bhaal's magic to evade suspicion. The highest rank are the death's heads, who can take on the skull-faced guise of their deity to terrify their prey. In combat, they intimidate foes by shrugging off the deadliest attacks with ease, showing that resisting Bhaal's schemes is futile." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Nine-Fingers Keene", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "The current leader of the Guild, Nine-Fingers Keene, disdains flashy garb and illusion magic. She appears to the world as she is: an unassuming woman of middling age and build. Her forgettable looks have proven her greatest asset as a thief, as her victims have trouble recognizing her even when they meet her again face-to-face. Keene's leadership over the years earned her a reputation of thoughtful pragmatism. When necessary, she seeks revenge for offenses against the Guild\u2014provided doing so is profitable. Her methods are vicious when necessary, and she is as feared as she is respected.", "Keene has become increasingly intolerant of the populous tide turning against her organization. While the occasional rabble-rouser has always impeded criminal business, the rise of organized crews and vigilantes is interfering with Guild operations. After a carefully coordinated attack on a patriar's estate fell to pieces when a vigilante clumsily alerted the estate guards, Keene declared open season on do-gooders of all stripes." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Nine-Fingers Keene.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Princeps Kovik", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/059-kyqim-03-11.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Raggadragga", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/055-1ivlr-03-07.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Reaper of Bhaal", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Bhaal's cultists emulate their deity, carrying out gruesome murders to spread fear and horror. They are charming and disarming when they wish, but in combat their true, bloodthirsty nature comes to the fore.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Bloodletters", "entries": [ "All cultists of Bhaal learn to call upon their god's power to leave their victims vulnerable to their long-bladed knives. When Bhaal's magic works its power, stab wounds erupt in terrible gouts of blood. Seemingly minor wounds plunge deep into a victim's body and cause terrible pain and bleeding." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Killers from the Shadows", "entries": [ "Bhaal's followers are cunning murderers who kill to strike fear and thrive on sowing terror in the cities they inhabit. They can call upon their god's power to blend into the shadows with ease, or even turn {@condition invisible} for a crucial moment." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "Low-ranking cultists of Bhaal are called night blades, whom Bhaal blesses with {@sense darkvision} and superior stealth. Reapers are the next rank up. They gain the ability to turn {@condition invisible} and can use Bhaal's magic to evade suspicion. The highest rank are the death's heads, who can take on the skull-faced guise of their deity to terrify their prey. In combat, they intimidate foes by shrugging off the deadliest attacks with ease, showing that resisting Bhaal's schemes is futile." ] } ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Reaper of Bhaal.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Rilsa Rael", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "The Guild kingpin of Little Calimshan. Among Little Calimshan's most notorious locations is the Calim Jewel Emporium, widely regarded as the best jeweler in the city\u2014and the best place to fence stolen gems, as it's also the local Guild headquarters. In addition to hosting regular public forums in her shop, Rael tacitly oversees the Garden of Whispers, a maze of wood-and-paper screens where people from across the city can buy and sell secrets with Guild agents and each other, speaking through the barriers so as to maintain anonymity." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Rilsa Rael.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Skull Lasher of Myrkul", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Those who follow Myrkul are either wizards or those who seek to master the necromantic arts.", { "type": "entries", "name": "Delvers into Lore", "entries": [ "Cultists of Myrkul study rituals that allow them to force the souls of the dead into service, compelling them to answer questions and share forgotten lore. They seek out arcane secrets in ancient ruins, and attempt to steal spellbooks and other tomes from wizards outside of the cult." ] }, { "type": "entries", "name": "Cult Ranks", "entries": [ "A follower of Myrkul wields a flail that has a skull replacing the normal flail's striking head. Necromites are initiates who have not yet mastered arcane magic and rely on their flails in battle. Skull lashers are spellcasters who use magic to augment their combat abilities. The Masters of Souls delve deep into Myrkul's secrets, allowing them to animate the dead and perform other grave magic." ] } ] } ] } ] }, { "name": "Smiler the Defiler", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Smiler has an unnerving smile\u2014hence his name.", "A more apt name for this eladrin would be Smiler the Beguiler, as he's constantly trying to intoxicate others with his relentless optimism and shocking recklessness. Smiler thinks he can accomplish anything with a positive attitude and some death-defying stunt. Although he admits others might end up getting killed by his actions, he believes he can bend the multiverse to his whims if he tries hard enough. He's really quite insane.", "One of Smiler's favorite antics is to use a {@spell hallucinatory terrain} spell to create a little bit of the Feywild in Avernus: a beautiful woodland glade in which to lose himself for a few hours while he meditates and plots.", "This eladrin adventurer from the Feywild became stranded in Avernus after his companions abandoned him. He has spent the past seventy years roaming Avernus, making deals with fiends to survive. Smiler eventually sold his soul to a pit fiend, who gave him the means to topple a nycaloth warlord named Yarrasto. Smiler took control of the nycaloth's warband and their infernal war machines. Smiler's gang came to be known as Smiler's Defilers, and their ferocity terrified the other warlords of Avernus for a while.", "Three of Smiler's rivals\u2014Bitter Breath, Feonor, and Princeps Kovik\u2014joined forces to wipe out Smiler's Defilers. Smiler escaped and tears around Avernus on a Devil's Ride, looking for adventurers willing to help him get revenge on the warlords who ganged up on him. Mad Maggie remains his only ally, though he refuses to join her gang." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Smiler the Defiler.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Thavius Kreeg", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/001-ud5xx-00-01.webp" } }, { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/089-zbxl3-03-20.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Thurstwell Vanthampur", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Thurstwell is a pale and sullen recluse in his forties. A veritable shut-in, he uses imps to spy on his brothers, Amrik and Mortlock. Thurstwell resents both of them\u2014Amrik for being their mother's favorite, and Mortlock for being a monstrous dolt." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Thurstwell Vanthampur.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Torogar Steelfist", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Torogar Steelfist.webp" } } ] }, { "name": "Tressym", "source": "BGDIA", "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Tressym.webp" }, "title": "Slobberchops the Tressym" } ] }, { "name": "Ulder Ravengard", "source": "BGDIA", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ { "type": "entries", "entries": [ "Ulder Ravengard is a fearless soldier who rose up through the ranks of the Flaming Fist to become its supreme marshal. Ravengard used his military position and influence to secure for himself a seat on the Council of Four. Following the deaths of two council members amid a cloud of corruption and scandal, he persuaded the Parliament of Peers to back his election to grand duke.", "Upon ascending to the highest position in the city government, Ravengard refused to relinquish command of the Flaming Fist, making him the most powerful figure in the city by far. This decision has not endeared him to anyone, but Ravengard could care less about his popularity. His only concerns are the stability and prosperity of Baldur's Gate, and he doesn't trust any of the other dukes or anyone in the Parliament of Peers to put the city's interests before their own.", "Ravengard rose to grand duke on a platform largely backed by idealistic commoners and enemies of the other established dukes. While he won election handily, Ravengard has struggled in performing his duties, finding his hands tied at every turn by both overt and {@condition invisible} bureaucracy. Despite this, he's been a voice of reason and common sense on the Council of Four\u2014if not the egalitarianism some hoped. He's also proven largely resistant to scandal and corruption, though many of his fellow dukes and those in the Parliament of Peers still regularly outmaneuver him politically. One of his only obvious pleasures remains the surprise inspections he regularly visits upon the troops at Wyrm's Rock.", "Ravengard was recently tricked into attending a diplomatic summit in Elturel, unaware that his political enemies in Baldur's Gate orchestrated this meeting in a fiendish plot to remove him from power. In his absence, the Flaming Fist is leaderless, the council rudderless." ] } ] } ], "images": [ { "type": "image", "href": { "type": "internal", "path": "bestiary/BGDIA/Ulder Ravengard.webp" } } ] } ] }