Cryovain, The Everfrost
Cryovain, also known as the Everfrost, the White one, or the sleeper under the ice, is a legendary white dragon of immense power that has recently returned to the frozen heights of the Sword Mountains. Terrorizing the region with his freezing presence, Cryovain’s sudden escape from the Cult of the Dragon has set off a chain of events that threatens the delicate peace of the Sword Coast.
Ancient History and the Chroma Conclave
According to ancient histories, three centuries ago, a coalition of Chromatic Dragons—often remembered in the lore as the Chroma Conclave—launched a devastating campaign against the rising cities of the North—Luskan, Neverwinter, Waterdeep, and Baldur’s Gate. While Luskan capitulated and offered tribute to the beasts, the other cities formed the Lord’s Alliance to resist them. This draconic coalition was nurtured by Tiamat (the Scaled Tyrant), who wished to crown them as lords of the North. The coalition consisted of four great wyrms:
- Cryovain, the Everfrost (initially driven to the frozen northern peaks known as the Throat of the World)
- Skaldreth, the Red Rage
- Barakis, the Sandstorm
- Nocturne, the Dread Prince
The Lord’s Alliance successfully fought back the threat, assisted by a legendary band of heroes:
- Elminster Aumar, the Sage of Shadowdale and Waterdeep, who remains alive as a leader of the Harpers.
- Lady Tanager Alagondar of Neverwinter, who was tragically killed when the green dragon Virethas’s (the Jade Queen) claw burst through her chest, though she managed to slay the beast. She is buried with her sword in the Dragon Barrow.
- Hrothgar Hillsfar (also known as Farwald) of Kuldahar, a towering Firbolg who went missing and lived for centuries as an amnesiac human adventurer. Hrothgar personally helped banish Cryovain to the north during the ancient conflict.
- Esfaloth Nightbreeze (also known as Reidoth), the Fey Touched, a 500-year-old druid and the last of the Naila tribe from the ancient Silverwood.
Banishment and the Dragon Masks
During the ancient war, the heroes constructed five powerful dragon masks—one of each color—which granted immense power over the chromatic dragons and allowed the wearers to influence their minds. While three of the great wyrms were convinced to fly away, the white dragon Cryovain was bound and supposedly laid to rest. He was buried in Hrothgar’s empty grave, located in a tomb near Kuldahar by the frozen shores of Lac Dinneshere in Icewind Dale.
For nearly three centuries, Cryovain remained quiet under the ice, sustained by the warmth of Kuldahar’s world tree which countered his freezing influence on nature. However, as the masks’ power waned over the centuries and outside forces began to meddle with his lair, the dragon began to stir once more.
The Cult’s Plot and Escape
Recently, agents of the Cult of the Dragon attempted to reclaim Cryovain and dominate his mind. However, Cryovain resisted their magic. Crucially, the intrusion disabled the ancient protective wards guarding his lair. Seizing the opportunity, and realizing his ancient binder Hrothgar was no longer an immediate threat, Cryovain abandoned his lair and fled south to the Sword Mountains.
Current Threat and Ambitions
Cryovain’s presence has brought an unnatural, biting winter to the Sword Coast. An altar to Ioun, the Knowing Mistress, revealed that Cryovain’s deepest desire is to blanket the world in an eternal winter, and that he has gathered powerful allies to aid him in this frozen crusade.
Eole informed the party that Cryovain was spotted flying south a few months ago.
During his flight south, Cryovain was spotted overhead by adventurers near the Snowmont Monastery, passing like a serpentine shape of living frost heading toward the highest peaks of the Sword Mountains. Though currently nesting in the south, recent intelligence reveals he was seen hunting goats near the Throat of the World as recently as six months ago by the Uthgardt ranger Eole.
According to Neverwinter’s Spymaster Lucian Nightshade, standard military tactics are useless against a threat of this scale. To defeat Cryovain, heroes must either match his incredible aerial speed or locate the true White Dragon Mask still hidden in Hrothgar’s empty tomb at Lac Dinneshere to strip the dragon of his free will.