D&D 5E - The Rise of Tiamat

been charged with establishing temples for her open
worship in Faerun. This aspect of the cult’s plans is still
in the early stages, and the inner circle remains divided
on how the Cult of the Dragon should interact with the
faithful of Tiamat.
T h e I n n e r C i r c l e
These four Wearers of Purple are the keepers
of the dragon masks and Severin’s most devoted
servants in the effort to summon Tiamat. Each of
these wyrmspeakers bears one of the dragon masks,
which they never part with except under the direst
circumstances—and then only at the request of Severin
or a draconic ally. The members of the inner circle
each have an affinity for a particular color of chromatic
dragon. They treat with dragons of those colors to
recruit more dragons to the cause, and plan cult
missions that advance Severin’s plots.
In addition to Severin, the Red Wyrmspeaker, the
members of the inner circle are: Galvan (male human),
the Blue Wyrmspeaker; Neronvain (male moon elf),
the Green Wyrmspeaker and son of Melandrach, King
of the Misty Forest; Rezmir (female half-black dragon),
the Black Wyrmspeaker; and Varram (male dwarf), the
White Wyrmspeaker.
If any wyrmspeakers are killed or captured in your
campaign—including Rezmir, who the characters might
have defeated in Hoard o f the Dragon Queen—Severin
appoints new followers to his inner council.
D i s s e n t i n t h e R a n k s
Under Severin’s leadership, most cultists are devoted
to Tiamat--but not all. Some of the old guard dislike
the cult’s new direction, and long for the established
traditions and the rise of the dracoliches. A common
thought among the dracolich loyalists is that Severin
is being played by the fiendish Tiamat. Notable among
these members of the old guard are Naergoth Bladelord,
the former commander of the stronghold at the Well
of Dragons, and Jorgen Pawl and Iskander, two high-
ranking cultists in command of Xonthal’s Tower.
U s i n g t h e C u l t o f t h e D r a g o n
Cultists are suitable foes for the adventurers in
most situations. They keep a low profile in public, so
characters are unlikely to see cultists in full regalia on
the streets of Waterdeep or Scornubel. As their plots
near fruition, however, the cultists grow bolder and
might engage the adventurers openly.
By the start of The Rise o f Tiamat, the effects of the
cult’s activities are visible across the Sword Coast.
The scorched ruins of farming communities pillaged
by cultists for Tiamat’s hoard are a common enough
occurrence that travelers know something is amiss.
R e d W iz a r d s o f T h a y
The Red W izards hail from Thay, over two thousand
miles east of the Sword Coast. A grim, dismal region
spread across a towering plateau, Thay is defended
by an army of undead warriors and ruled by the lich
Szass Tam and the zulkirs he appoints to rule over the
eight schools of magic. The Red Wizards of Thay are
known across Faerun, and are easily recognized by
their distinctive crimson robes and the arcane sigils
tattooed onto their shaved heads. Because of their evil
reputation, Red W izards are arrested or killed on the
spot in many lands. For that reason, they often travel in
disguise, invisibly, or by magical means.
For many years, Szass Tam’s grip on absolute power
in Thay has been weakened by internal strife. Mortal
Red W izards have risen against their undead masters,
destroying some of Szass Tam’s lich zulkirs and
thinning the ranks of other undead. Little is known of
the conflict beyond Thay’s borders, however. In this
quiet civil war, both sides fear that too much attrition
w ill make Thay a target for its long list of enemies.
Szass Tam questions the allegiance of all living Red
W izards outside Thay, and has made it clear that death
and worse await any who oppose him.
R a t h M o d a r ’s A m b i t i o n
One such Red Wizard exile is Rath Modar, an illusionist
of great skill who long ago made the Sword Coast his
home. Having a natural interest in dragons, it wasn’t
long before Rath Modar came into contact with the Cult
of the Dragon and Severin. The young, ambitious cult