D&D 5E - The Rise of Tiamat

When the characters face off against Arauthator,
the dragon roars so loudly that the whole iceberg
reverberates with his rage. This calls the ice trolls from
area 12, which arrive 5 rounds later.
Pools of slush spread across the floor of the cavern,
prevented from freezing by the seawater’s high salt
content. One such pool, in the westernmost angle of
the cavern, conceals a flooded passage connecting to
the Sea of Moving Ice. This is Arauthator’s customary
entrance and exit. When the dragon is reduced to 100
hit points or fewer and facing three or more foes, he
dives for this exit and escapes into the frozen sea. If the
dragon flees, the ice trolls retreat as well.
D e v e l o p m e n t s
If the characters defeat Arauthator, the reactions of
Oyaviggaton’s other inhabitants are dependent on
whether the dragon is killed or driven off.
If Arauthator is killed, the ice toads grieve, but
they won’t take any action against the characters. In
contrast, the kobolds are furious with grief, throwing
themselves at the characters in frenzied, suicidal
attacks. The ice trolls’ reaction w ill likely be influenced
by whatever interaction the characters had with them
earlier. The trolls might flee without a word, or they
might decide they like Oyaviggaton and make it their
permanent home.
The Ice Hunters are elated over the dragon’s death.
When the characters emerge from the iceberg, the
normally reserved villagers greet them with cheers and
offers of the choicest fermented fish. The villagers then
begin packing their few belongings into their hide boats
and prepare to leave immediately.
If Arauthator is wounded and driven off, Maccath
or Marfulb know enough of the dragon to predict that
he w ill spend months recovering at one of his other
lairs before returning to Oyaviggaton. The Ice Hunters
believe that this gives them enough time to lose
themselves in the vast expanse of the Sea of Moving Ice
and find a new home where Arauthator can’t track them.
The dragon is vengeful, but with everything else going
on, Maccath believes Arauthator won’t put any real effort
into seeking out his former thralls. The Ice Hunters
have no contact with civilization, so they can’t possibly
spread word of his humiliating defeat.
W ith the dragon’s disappearance, the kobolds hide
if they can, while the ice toads demonstrate the same
impassive stoicism they show if the dragon is killed. The
ice trolls shy away from Arauthator’s treasure as long
as he is alive, knowing better than to come between a
dragon and its hoard. They don’t really care if someone
else plunders items from the dragon’s hoard, and
they’re too stupid to think they might be blamed for any
such thefts.
L e a v i n g O y a v i g g a t o n
The characters have no chance to sail away from the
iceberg aboard Frostskim m r while Arauthator is free
to attack. The dragon can strike just as easily from the
sky or from beneath the water, freezing or capsizing
the ship, then picking off the crew at his leisure. If
the adventurers try to sneak away with Maccath, the
sorcerer’s absence is noticed by the kobolds and ice
toads within a day.
If Arauthator was beaten in combat and forced
to retreat, he w ill not pursue Frostskim m r as the
characters sail away. The adventurers and the crew
might see the dragon shadowing them in the far
distance, but Arauthator is too proud and fearful to face
the party again.
A r a u t h a t o r ’s T r e a s u r e
If Old White Death is killed or driven away, he leaves
his iceberg lair’s treasure hoard behind. (Because
Oyaviggaton is just one of a number of minor lairs
maintained by the dragon, the treasure here represents
only the smallest part of his total wealth.)
Areas 19 and 20 contain a total of 700 gp, 1,000
sp, and 20 precious stones (five each worth 200 gp,
400 gp, 600 gp, and 800 gp). In addition, add potions,
scrolls, and magic items at your discretion. Alternatively,
use the treasure tables in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide to generate a hoard whose value is in line with
your campaign.
To claim this treasure, it must be hacked out of the ice
in the lair cavern. Doing so takes half a day (and is thus
impossible if Arauthator is still in the lair).
Marfulb’s four decades of data on Arauthator is
priceless to the Arcane Brotherhood (a fact Maccath w ill
recognize if the characters don’t) or to other collectors
of draconic lore. If the dragon is dead, Marfulb can be
talked into letting this material be transported south,
provided she gets to come along. If Arauthator still lives,
the ice toad would prefer to stay and continue her work
with her records intact.
C o n c l u s i o n
Arauthator is a strong ally of the Cult of the Dragon,
and the adventurers deal a solid blow to the cult by
defeating him. Additionally, by returning Maccath and
the stolen lore of the Hosttower, the characters can earn
the allegiance of the Arcane Brotherhood in the fight
against the cult’s plans.
The characters gain a level at the end of this episode.