This appendix details a few creatures that have roles to play in this adventure, and which can play an ongoing part in an Acquisitions Incorporated campaign.
- Chaos Quadrapod
- Clockwork Dragon
- Deep Crow
- Ancient Deep Crow
- Keg Robot
- Splugoth the Returned
Iconic Faction Features
An Acquisitions Incorporated campaign frequently pits the characters against rival franchises and enemy factions. This section provides iconic features that can be added to any monster or NPC stat block to make that stat block representative of a specific faction, allowing employees of organizations such as Dran Enterprises or the Six to show off specific training or tactics endemic to those organizations.
Not all monsters or NPCs in the employ of a faction need to have faction features. Lower-ranked members of an organization might have only one iconic feature, with that feature replacing some other aspect of their stat block. Faction leaders and specialist field operatives might have all the iconic features, in addition to the regular features of their stat block. Each set of iconic faction features comes with a list of NPCs that work well as members of that faction, but those are only suggestions.
Many faction features increase the relative challenge of a creature, and thus can increase the threat level of an encounter. Be especially aware of this if you add faction features to multiple foes in a combat encounter, and think about decreasing the number of foes to keep the encounter balanced.
Iconic Dran Enterprises Employee
The iconic employee of Dran Enterprises has two goals over and above all others: serve Dran Enterprises loyally, and prove the superiority of Dran Enterprises over Acquisitions Incorporated. Enemy franchises are to be undermined, defeated, and acquired at any cost.
Recommended NPCs: Bandit captain, guard, veteran (Monster Manual); bard, swashbuckler, transmuter, warlock of the archfey (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Corporate Focus
The creature has advantage on saving throws against being
Freeze Assets (1/Day)
The next time this creature hits with an attack, it can use a bonus action to cause the target of the attack to make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is
Hostile Takeover (1/Day)
When a visible attacker within 15 feet of this creature makes an attack roll, this creature uses its reaction to force the attacker to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. Unless the save succeeds, this creature forces the attack roll to be rerolled against a different target of its choice (other than the attacker) that is within the attack’s range.
Iconic Noble Knife Agent
The iconic Noble Knife agent sees Acquisitions Incorporated as just another power-hungry group inevitably getting in the way of their own order’s principled stand against tyranny. And maybe a few of the higher-ups in Acq Inc need to be looked at a little more closely in that regard.
- Recommended NPCs: Acolyte, mage, spy, thug (Monster Manual); archer, enchanter, swashbuckler (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Noble Strike (1/Day)
The next time this creature hits with an attack, it can use a bonus action to cause the target of the attack to become
Ready to Fight
This creature has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that is surprised.
Reality Slip (1/Day)
As a reaction when this creature is hit by an attack, it can move up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks, then can make one melee weapon attack.
Iconic Zealot of the Silver Sliver
The iconic zealot of the Silver Sliver is guided by a desire for justice and good, but appears to have no grasp of business or market forces. Zealots hide behind their masks as they carry out their pro bono heroics, and chastise other hard-working adventurers at every opportunity.
- Recommended NPCs: Berserker, knight, priest (Monster Manual); diviner, war priest (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Touch of the Mask (1/Day)
As an action, this creature thrusts a mask into the face of another creature within 5 feet of it, forcing that creature to make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the target is
True Believer (1/Day)
As a reaction when this creature fails a saving throw against being
Zealot’s Justice (1/Day)
As an action, this creature unleashes a cacophony of platitudes that can leave others reeling. Each creature of its choice within 30 feet of it that can hear it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be
Iconic Affiliate of the Six
The iconic affiliate of the Six aims not to acquire rival franchises, but to destroy them completely. Affiliates of the Six love to toy with their foes, revealing the full extent of their evil only as they prepare to eradicate those foes.
- Recommended NPCs: Bandit captain, berserker, cultist, cult fanatic (Monster Manual); blackguard, conjurer, illusionist, warlock of the great old one (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Glimpse of the Beyond (1/Day)
As an action, this creature provides a glimpse into its true nature by extolling the madness of the Far Realm. Each creature within 30 feet of this creature that can see and hear it must succeed on a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw or be
Something Feels Off (1/Day)
When a visible attacker within 5 feet of this creature makes an attack roll against it, it can use its reaction to unleash a pulse of distracting otherworldly power, imposing disadvantage on the attack roll.
Touch of Madness
This creature has advantage on saving throws against being
Iconic Franchise Features
The line between competitors and enemies can be razor thin in an Acquisitions Incorporated campaign, and franchise members will often find themselves bumping heads with the members of other Acq Inc franchises. Things might even get rough sometimes. It’s just business.
The following iconic features can be added to NPC or monster stat blocks to represent company positions similar to those of the characters. These features are inspired by the company positions in chapter 2 but are intended only for quick use in combat encounters, and thus do not recreate all of a position’s features in NPC form. DMs creating NPCs who have company positions can use additional position features from chapter 2 for those NPCs as desired.
Other factions such as the Six or Dran Enterprises have employees that take on company positions similar to those adopted by members of Acq Inc. These features can be used for members of those factions as well, either on their own or added to the faction features from the previous section.
A monster or NPC that has a company position always carries the special items granted by that position (a cartographer’s
Iconic Cartographer
The iconic cartographer makes a point of knowing the position of every member of their team, understanding the layout of their immediate area and the location of any exits or escape routes.
- Recommended NPCs: Acolyte, druid, guard, scout, spy (Monster Manual); archer (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Map of Shortcuts (1/Day)
As an action, the cartographer produces a map from its
Iconic Decisionist
The iconic decisionist constantly polls allies and foes during the ongoing battle, getting a read on what everyone thinks, and then explaining how they’re all completely wrong.
- Recommended NPCs: Bandit captain, knight, scout (Monster Manual); archer, enchanter (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Better Odds (1/Day)
As an action, this creature flips its
Iconic Documancer
An iconic documancer acts with the authority of their organization. Documancers constantly speak in legalese, referencing obscure reasons why opponents will fail or should surrender.
- Recommended NPCs: Acolyte, mage, priest, veteran (Monster Manual); bard (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Scroll Service (1/Day)
As an action, the documancer draws a
Iconic Hoardsperson
The iconic hoardsperson flaunts their wealth, knowing that foes are daunted by that which they have failed to earn.
- Recommended NPCs: Bandit captain, gladiator (Monster Manual); master thief, swashbuckler (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
That Thing You Need (3/Day)
The hoardsperson pulls one item of its choice from the
Iconic Loremonger
The iconic loremonger trades in information, even when locked down in battle. A loremonger constantly tries to goad foes into revealing plans and secrets.
- Recommended NPCs: Cult fanatic, druid, mage, priest (Monster Manual); bard, enchanter (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Whispered Encyclopedia (1/Day)
When a visible creature within 20 feet of the loremonger makes an attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check, the loremonger can use its reaction to impose disadvantage on the roll.
Iconic Obviator
The iconic obviator sees foes as obstacles worthy of respect. Obviators engage in repartee, testing the minds and skills of their opponents as their own strategy is deployed.
- Recommended NPCs: Assassin, gladiator, priest (Monster Manual); martial arts adept, swashbuckler (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Read the Opposition (1/Day)
As a bonus action, the obviator chooses one other creature it can see, then relays information about the target’s tactics to all creatures that can hear this creature. Until the end of the target creature’s next turn, attack rolls and contested ability checks made against the target are made with advantage.
Iconic Occultant
The iconic occultant believes that every action changes the world around them, requiring a proper reaction. Occultants attempt to inspire fear in their foes with dire prognostications and mysterious portents.
- Recommended NPCs: Berserker, druid, gladiator, knight, and tribal warrior (Monster Manual); diviner (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Bead of Instant Karma (1/Day)
When a creature the occultant can see makes an attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check, the occultant can use its reaction to give its choice of advantage or disadvantage to the roll.
Iconic Secretarian
The iconic secretarian treats their foes like customers, offering deals they shouldn’t refuse and inviting them to switch allegiances for greater profit and security.
- Recommended NPCs: Acolyte, berserker, knight, noble, and priest (Monster Manual); bard, warlock of the archfey (Volo’s Guide to Monsters)
Charming Introduction (1/Day)
As an action, the secretarian hands a business card from its