Beyond the Player's Handbook
Over the decades, writers have packed the various campaign settings with bizarre details and surprising backstories that rarely make it to the average gaming table. It’s fascinating to see how much thought has gone into the biology of a Beholder or the specific dietary habits of a Gelatinous Cube. Let’s peel back the curtain on 20 of the strangest and most intriguing secrets hidden in DnD.
1. Beholders Dream Themselves Into Existence
Beholders come into existence by dreaming themselves into reality. Should they sleep deeply enough, anything they dream of has the potential to materialize in front of them. Naturally, they rarely ever dream of other Beholders, but when they do, there are problems.
2. Giff Are Obsessed with Military Rank
The Giff are obsessed with rank. Don’t believe it? Try addressing one without its title during a meeting. They’ll have a head swinging from the rafters before anyone can say “Captain.”
3. Mind Flayers Were Once Humanoids
Illithids start as normal humans before becoming hosts for parasitic brain creatures. Given enough time, the host’s mind will be entirely replaced with a hive-minded monster with pointy teeth. Mind Flayers are essentially shells of their former victims.
4. Tiamat’s Five Heads Have Distinct Personalities
Some gods have different aspects to their powers, but Tiamat has literal additional personalities with their own goals and methods. One of her heads may want to burn everything, while another will try to reason.
5. Kobolds Believe They Are Tiny Dragons
Technically, dragons are their cousins, but Kobolds have lived their whole lives believing they’re noble kin. From birth, they believe they’re working toward some greater good that will make their families proud.
6. The Tarrasque Is a Singular Entity
With almost every monster species in D&D, groups can be found roaming around. The Tarrasque, unfortunately, is not one of them. There is only ever meant to be one titanically huge beast wreaking havoc.
7. Aboleths Remember Everything Ever
These telepathic squid monsters have excellent memories and can recall everything their ancestors have ever experienced. This means they remember back before the gods were powerful enough to care about them.
8. Gnome Names Are Ridiculously Long
A typical Gnome doesn’t just have a first and last name, but a collection of dozens of nicknames and familial titles gathered over a lifetime. They love to chat and share stories, so their names serve as a verbal résumé of their entire personal history. Asking one to introduce themselves properly might take an hour or two.
9. Gelatinous Cubes Are Scavengers by Design
Ever notice how Gelatinous Cubes are always perfect cubes? It allows them to squeeze into hallways and clean up anything left behind. They essentially act like vacuum cleaners deep beneath dungeon surfaces.
10. Lich Phylacteries Don't Have to Be Fancy
While many powerful wizards choose ornate jewelry or ancient tomes to store their souls, a phylactery can technically be any hollow object. A clever villain might choose something mundane like a single copper coin and toss it into a massive treasure hoard to hide it. This makes the job of a hero much harder.
11. Drow Use Giant Spiders as Livestock
In addition to harvesting silk from them, drow use spiders as pack animals and a source of food. Large spiders can carry a fully grown dark elf if travel needs to happen quickly.
12. Kenku Lost Their Ability to Fly
Kenku used to be able to fly before their master cursed them as punishment. They also can’t think original thoughts, which makes communication difficult. As a result, they can only communicate by repeating things they hear from others.
13. Orcs Value Crafts as Much as Combat
Orcs admire blacksmiths and builders almost as much as warriors. Crafting is just as important to their culture as warfare. A good weapon and a strong wall can make the difference.
Lucas Salcedo (www.lucsalcedo.deviantart.com) on Wikimedia
14. Owlbears Were Likely a Wizard’s Mistake
The origins of the Owlbear are murky, but the most common theory among scholars is that a mage created them through magical experimentation. Crossing a bear with a giant owl may sound strange, yet the creature thrived in the wild and became iconic.
15. Hags Form Covens for Extra Power
Grouping grants hags access to more spells. They despise each other but are weak enough individually that cooperation becomes necessary. Three is the number needed to unlock additional magic.
16. Warforged Are Not Simple Robots
Created for a massive conflict known as the Last War, these beings are living constructs with souls rather than simple programming. They don’t eat or sleep, but they have personalities, fears, and a desire to find purpose now that the war has ended. Many struggle to integrate into societies that still view them as tools.
17. Metallic Dragons Can Shapeshift into People
Unlike their evil chromatic cousins, good-aligned dragons like Gold or Silver dragons often spend years living among humans in disguise. Even when they blend in, their behavior can still feel unusual. Some have been known to take on roles like librarians or politicians.
18. Mimics Are Actually Quite Intelligent
Most players view Mimics as mindless chests with teeth. While many are hostile, older and wiser variants can speak. They may still eat anyone who refuses to cooperate, but at least conversation is possible.
19. The Spellplague Changed the Laws of Magic
The gap between the 3rd and 5th Edition wasn’t just due to real-world factors. An in-world event called the Spellplague altered how magic functioned. Mountains fell from the sky, landscapes shifted, and gods vanished overnight.
20. Rakshasas Reincarnate
When a Rakshasa is defeated on the Material Plane, its soul returns to the Nine Hells and slowly forms a new body. This process can take years, but once complete, the creature returns seeking revenge on whoever defeated it.
