Dragons of Faerun

The dragons in this article are infamous fixtures of the Forgotten Realms and have lived for centuries. Each was introduced in a column of *Dragon Magazine* called "Dragons of the North" by Ed Greenwood, one of the co-creators of the Forgotten Realms.

## **Chromatic Dragons**

The following chromatic dragons have a powerful presence throughout the Realms. Several are featured in the adventures Tyranny of Dragons, Princes of the Apocalypse, and Storm King's Thunder. The descriptions refer to statistics that can be found in the *Monster Manual*.

### **Arauthator, "Old White Death"**

To Arauthator, an **adult white dragon**, all cold-dwelling creatures are prey to be devoured. Dragons and other formidable foes are rivals to be destroyed or driven away. If that means letting them explore the domain or lair unchallenged for a time, so be it. Only Arveiaturace is acceptable as a mate, and she is always escorted out of the domain when her pregnancy is achieved. Explorers, prospectors, and adventurers are the worst invading perils but might be misdirected into wild goose chases or into attacking other nearby wyrms. Avalanches are useful weapons against all foes.

Arauthator appears in the adventure Rise of Tiamat, part of the Tyranny of Dragons saga.

### **Arveiaturace, "The White Worm"**

A loner except when she (rarely) mates with Arauthator and rears his progeny, this **ancient white dragon** is intelligent, sensitive, suspicious, and always vigilant. She regards humans -- particularly those aboard ships -- as her food, and she loves plunging into wild battle-lust when fighting creatures who fly into her air over the Sea of Swords. On the other hand, her loneliness often drives her to spare those who talk with her. She respects and is respected by Laeral, the Lady Mage of Waterdeep, and the shipwright Old Aldon of Mintarn. She bears the corpse of a powerful wizard that was once companion and rider upon her back and sometimes converses with him as if he was still alive.

### **Balagos, "The Flying Flame"**

A megalomaniac, this **ancient red dragon** is a fearless, ruthless foe who delights in slaughtering adventurers, wizards, and dragons alike. He possesses three outstanding talents: He never forgets the appearance, name, or manner of any encountered being; he's a shrewd judge of character; and he considers consequences and likely outcomes. No foe is to be underestimated, but no being is worthy of his friendship and love, or no being will be allowed to remain in any place (or in possession of any property) the Flying Flame desires for himself. He loves to take spectacular and public revenge on all who defy or withstand him.

### **Claugiyliamatar, "Old Gnawbone"**

From her lair in Deeping Cave, this **ancient green dragon** commands a domain stretching down the Sword Coast from the south bank of the River Mirar to the north bank of the Dessarin. Almost all of this territory is claimed by other dragons, but Claugiyliamatar cares not. She seldom leaves her lair, preferring to scheme and watch the world through scrying crystals while employing dozens of humans and halflings to carry out her will. She abandons her idleness, however, to defend her territory against intruding dragons. She is cunning, paranoid, and utterly cruel. Through her agents, she enjoys manipulating affairs in Neverwinter and Waterdeep. Most of Old Gnawbone's earnings are invested so as to stir up rivalries and strengthen organizations she controls to create more trouble and squeeze profits anew.

Claugiyliamatar appears in the adventure Storm King's Thunder.

### **Hoondarrh, "The Red Rage of Mintarn"**

The folk of Mintarn pay this **adult red dragon** tribute money in return for his protection against pirates. He delights in toying with ships south of Mintarn; only his Long Sleeps have kept humans from abandoning water travel in the region. Between slumbers, he entertains himself by watching human doings (mostly in Waterdeep). He rewards those whose pranks, bold deceptions, treacheries, and intrigues amuse him -- but he tirelessly hunts down anyone who dares to steal from him. Hoondarrh often plays elaborate deceptions of his own and regards adventurers seeking his hoard or life as entertainment.

### **Iymrith, "The Doom of the Desert"**

Driven by all-consuming ambition, this **ancient blue dragon** lairs in a nameless ruined city in Anauroch, northeast of Ascore. She slays all intruders and is attended by many gargoyles of her own creation. The gargoyles fly patrols, tunnel the city to keep back the sand, and transport rocks from nearby mountains to expand the wall on the windward side of the city. She will do anything to gain all the magic she can and so rise to supremacy over all Faerûn. Then she can live forever, crafting ever-stronger magic. No one knows if she'll ever feel secure enough to think of mating, dwelling elsewhere, or sharing her magic -- but for now she's an enthusiastic menace to all who venture within her reach.

Iymrith is featured in the adventure Storm King's Thunder.

### **Klauth, "Old Snarl"**

A huge, scarred **ancient red dragon**, Klauth is known for swift and brutal attacks but has recently retired into brooding paranoia in his lair of Klauthen Vale. Habitually snarling and savage, he's also unpredictable -- and may aid stricken creatures (except dragons, whom he drives away or slays on sight) rather than devouring them. Over the years he has become an expert on creatures of the North and acquired magical means of affixing wands to his wings and firing them as he swoops at foes. He is thought to have bargained information with Alustriel Silverhand of the Seven Sisters to gain some kind of mutual agreement.

Klauth appears in the adventure Storm King's Thunder.

### **Mornauguth, "The Moor Dragon"**

A priestess of Shar trapped in dragon shape by rivals, this **adult green dragon** lairs in the Rockshaws, a monster-haunted, trackless region of broken country in the northeastern High Moor. She lairs in extensive caverns beneath Greenleaf Vale (a forested bowl valley) but uses them only when wounded or as shelter from fierce wintry weather, spending most of her time spying on the doings of others or basking on high mountain ledges around Amn, plotting. Mornauguth seems to ignore the very concept of draconic territory, never defending her own lair nor caring if she angers other dragons by her roamings. Only fear of being caught over water curtails her wanderings, which are concerned with the doings of the Sharran clergy, rival priesthoods, and other human intrigues, broken by hunting trips and explorative forays. The only "domain" she'll defend against other dragons are the Sharran temples of Faerûn (Amn in particular).

### **Nurvureem, "The Dark Lady"**

This **adult black shadow dragon** can change between drow and shadow dragon forms. Using illusion spells to appear human, she poses as the Dark Lady of Rundreth Manor, a ruin overlooking the Long Road north of Amphail, and lures men thence. Most she robs, slays, and devours at leisure, but some she seduces and releases. Freed consorts who speak of the Dark Lady are hunted down and destroyed; those who keep silent and remain friendly are suffered to live. Occasionally she visits one of these "Faithful Few" for companionship and to check on their doings. Those who prove weak or turn against her become coerced allies, fearful servants, or (most often) swiftly dead. Some of them remain her willing servants lifelong. The infamous bard, Inder Braelen, sung the following of the Dark Lady:

> *For those who enter Rundreth's Gloom, go willingly to waiting doom*
>
>

Nurvureem appears in the adventure Princes of the Apocalypse, part of the Elemental Evil saga.

### **Olothontor, "The Minstrel Wyrm"**

An **ancient blue dragon** who dwells in Mount Araddyn, Olothontor loves music. For about a fifth of each year, Harpers and other bards stay at his lair, which he rarely leaves, on promised "return visits" (some have been making annual appearances for nigh twenty years). The front of Olothontor's lair is a crumbling old stone mansion built by titans (hence, large enough for the dragon) and enchanted by him so that entry into rooms causes favorite songs to be heard. These magical "recordings" warn Olothontor of intrusion and awe timid intruders into flight from this "haunted" place. Especially accomplished or promising guests are almost pleaded with to stay and lift the dragon's loneliness with music, but the hostile or tuneless feel the dragon's spells or breath weapon forthwith.

### **Voaraghamanthar, "The Black Death"**

In the heart of the Mere of Dead Men, the vast coastal swamp between Leilon and Waterdeep, dwells the **ancient black dragon** Voaraghamanthar. This marauder of the swamp is said to have strange powers -- able to emerge suddenly from beneath long-placid swamp waters; read and reason as intelligently, patiently, and humbly as a timid human scholar; and to be in two places at once. The latter power is due to the true nature of the wyrm: "Voaraghamanthar" is really two identical twins who pose as one dragon in their dealings with intruders into the Mere and with members of the Cult of the Dragon. Their true names are Voaraghamanthar and Waervaerendor, but they call each other by the short-names Weszlum and Welzour -- that is, when they need to speak at all. The twins share an empathic link and work together with no trace of jealousy. They are thought to be seeking immortality (as all dragons are) -- hence their dealings with the cult.

The twins appear in the adventure Hoard of the Dragon Queen, part of the Tyranny of Dragons saga.

## **Metallic Dragons**

The following metallic dragons preside over the Realms. Several are featured in the adventures Tyranny of Dragons and Storm King's Thunder. The descriptions refer to statistics that can be found in the *Monster Manual*.

### **Deszeldaryndun Silverwing, "The Guardian Worm of Everlund"**

Silverwing is graceful, prudent, good-humored, and helpful to humans and other civilized folk in need -- usually providing healing and shelter, but sometimes assisting them in personal endeavors and goals. He avoids human society and politics but works behind the scenes against trolls, orc hordes, and other evils, preferring to make foes simply vanish. This **ancient silver dragon** prefers to render aid in disguise, but he won't hesitate to reveal his true powers. A shrewd judge of character, he uses magic covertly to probe alignments and true natures. He prefers a simple life in the wilds and frequent human contact on his own terms, spending much of his time posing as a human woodcutter or -- with her permission -- as the human sorceress Alustriel Silverhand -- whom he's spent enough time working with that he can portray her flawlessly.

### **Felgolos, "The Flying Misfortune"**

This **adult bronze dragon** roams Faerûn more or less freely, ignoring territories claimed by other creatures -- and most beings have learned that it's easiest to ignore his intrusions. He's clumsy and has a knack of crashing into or unintentionally destroying things, blundering into the midst of delicate or dangerous situations, and generally causing mayhem. Fighting or trying to entrap him always carries a cost, and Felgolos clearly has no intention of carving out a domain of his own, seizing treasure, or competing for food. Possessed of sleek build, unshakable curiosity, and unfailing good nature, he refuses to make enemies or to be prudent, and he wanders Faerûn intruding everywhere and blithely venturing into great danger. Through years of peering about in perpetual wonderment, Felgolos has led a charmed life; though he's often been hurt and forced to flee, he has survived. Curiosity as to the doings of others rules him.

Felgolos appears in the adventure Storm King's Thunder.

### **Galadaeros, "The Sunset Flame"**

From the island of Flamehome, this **adult copper dragon** roams the waters in a wide circle that takes in the Purple Rocks, fiercely defending them against encroaching dragons. Outside his own domain, his encounters with dragons are as polite, brief, and casual as possible; he offers no menace, ignores it when offered to him, and soon departs. He spends his days acting as the steed, reinforcements, and advisor to the all-female Galadran Company, between twenty and thirty female human adventurers (derisively known as "Sharptongues") whose ranks originally consisted of highborn Waterdhavian ladies. Galadaeros is gentle and good humored, lacking typical draconic pride, and he has an uncanny ability to judge the needs and schemes of humans (females in particular). He has few known foes, but the Cult of the Dragon is definitely among them.

### **Lhammaruntosz, "The Claws of the Coast"**

A homely, whimsical, kindly, and inquisitive **ancient bronze dragon**, the Claws of the Coast is famous for owning and operating her own Sword Coast merchant shipping fleet, the Scaly Eye, and for her "swoop from the sky" rescues of shipwrecked humans. Her fleet is over two dozen vessels strong, and she often appears when one is endangered (suggesting she magically scries their progress). She preys largely on pirates; her depredations have made the Nelanther passable to shipping in recent years. Lhammaruntosz often transfers "fast mail" messages and small items from ship to ship, using "flyover" droplines.

### **Miirym, "The Sentinel Wyrm"**

All that remains of this former silver dragon is a malevolent, diligent guardian force bound under Candlekeep, as she has been for over fifteen hundred years. In that time, her lair, a pillarlike islet just offshore from Ulgoth's Beard, collapsed into the sea. Miirym once roamed coastal lands between the High Moor and the Sea of Swords (and as far offshore as Mintarn), south to the Cloud Peaks, and north to Mount Helimbrar, but her territory is now as lost as her name and body.

### **Nymmurh, "The Wyrm Who Watches"**

A kindly **ancient bronze dragon** now sleepy with age, Nymmurh has devoted much of his life to watching over the Silmerhelve human noble family of Waterdeep. He crafted several magic mirrors and portraits in their homes to serve as constant scrying portals that he can see, hear, and speak through at will (remaining hidden unless he desires otherwise). These portals entertain Nymmurh as the Silmerhelves live out their lives under his scrutiny. Nymmurh can scry all of his portals constantly and adjust their magic to allow him, another creature, or items to travel through them in either direction. He reveals himself to at least one family member of each generation so as to advise the clan, and he has become a family legend.

Nymmurh appears in the adventure Rise of Tiamat, part of the Tyranny of Dragons saga.

### **Palarandusk, "The Sun Dragon"**

Mature when Netheril was young, this **ancient gold dragon** prolonged his existence beyond natural death and decay through powerful magic, but the spells that maintain his magically knit form are now failing, and he dares materialize for only minutes per day. In solid form, Palarandusk appears as a fierce gold dragon whose jaws are white with age, whose scales are cracked and pale, and who weeps when he must slay -- but slays nonetheless, without hesitation or mercy. The rest of the time, Palarandusk exists as an invisible entity who can watch, listen, speak, and move about. In his invisible, semisolid form, Palarandusk doesn't age, the spells that maintain him don't deteriorate further, and he suffers no harm from the elements.

### **Protanther, "The King of Ice"**

Protanther, an **ancient gold dragon** and former King of Justice, does not like the humanoid races. He thinks that the humanoids attained too many powers in a very short time without developing the wisdom to use them judiciously. For this reason he believes the humanoid races are dangerous. Protanther forgave humanity because their short lifespan was an impediment, but he does not give the elves the same leniency. He is a staunch opponent of the evil that plagues the Great Glacier and Vaasa, and he opposes the frost giants and other evil residents, usually freeing enslaved populations. Protanther makes his lair in an enormous series of caverns in one of the smaller peaks in the mountain range of Novularond.

Protanther appears in the adventure Rise of Tiamat, part of the Tyranny of Dragons saga.

### **Valamaradace, "The Dragon Queen of Silverymoon"**

The Dragon Queen is an **ancient gold dragon** seldom seen by humans except as Targarda, an agile, diminutive female human possessed of elven looks. She dwells with her consort, Deszeldaryndun Silverwing, in the Floating Mountain, a gigantic, hollow oval rock kept aloft by her spells. She concerns herself with patrolling its borders and planning how best to tend its growing things, rather as a diligent human minds a prized garden. Her consort deals with intruders and "civilized" beings within the territory, whereas Valamaradace sees to removing diseased trees and plants, planting new ones, balancing light and shade, marsh and dry land, and so on to create as lush and stable a land of plenty as she can. She is constantly busy "adjusting the balance" of living things and refining her spells to give her greater control over the domain.

## **Gem Dragons**

The following gem dragons are sung of in song and legend. Currently, there are no official statistics for gem dragons.

### **Eldenser, "The Lurker"**

This **ancient amethyst dragon** uses magic to leave his withered, wasted, magically preserved body in secure hideaways and transfer his sentience into the blade of any tempered, edged metal weapon (from whence he can perceive and employ his magic as if in his own body). In this form, he roams all Faerûn inside swords, considering none of it his territory, but all of it his to freely traverse. Eldenser ignores other dragons unless they discover him, whereupon he'll cheerfully do battle against attempts to menace or control him or anyone wielding "his" blade. A fan of adventurers (who as blade-carriers can bring him excitement and travel), Eldenser is wary only of spellcasters who want to magically examine the blade he's in -- and actively aids and spies on anyone working on magic that might allow a dragon to regenerate or replace an aged, crumbling body.

### **Gaulauntyr, "Glorytongue"**

Glorytongue, an **adult topaz dragon**, spends her days watching human life on the Sword Coast and devising new ways to steal gems or food (she loves exotic cheeses). One of the most intelligent -- and paranoid -- dragons of the North, she cloaks her true form in illusions and hides whenever possible. An accomplished mimic of human voices, she has a wry and shrewd grasp of human and draconic nature, always having a ready escape route, a scheme to disappear or adopt a disguise, and secondary plans if the first one fails. Gaulauntyr's nickname comes from her habit of delivering touch spells with her elongated tongue.

### **Malaeragoth, "The Dragon Unseen"**

This **ancient sapphire dragon** dwells in a vast cavern network beneath the Graypeak Mountains that he calls his Realm of Stone and Shadow. Scrying mirrors drift slowly along its passages, and Malaeragoth uses them often to spy on Faerûn, bending much of his attention on Sembia and the Cult of the Dragon. Malaeragoth commands legions of skeletons and zombies, but he has no allies and prefers solitude. On his rare flying forays, he doesn't hesitate to fight if anyone bars or disputes his way. He watches over approaches to his lair, having developed an intense dislike of surprise guests and visitations. Patient and shrewd, he hates the Cult of the Dragon and has become expert at manipulating it.

### **Raulothim, "The Silent Shadow"**

This gigantic **ancient emerald dragon** won his more famous nickname for his habit of flying over almost every important event in the Sword Coast North a century ago, watching and never speaking. There was much speculation as to what mysterious master he served, but the truth was simply that Raulothim liked gliding on high winds and being a part of everything. Now, however, a mature Raulothim spends long days lying motionless, gazing out over the North from his lair in the Pit of Stars, a volcanic cauldron on Axard, the northeasternmost isle of Ruathym. The sight of a spelljamming ship and the opening of a *portal* to another plane frightened him deeply: How many realms unknown to him exist? Who watches Toril from them, and what are their aims?

### **Saryndalaghlothtor, "Lady Gemcloak"**

This **adult crystal dragon** makes her lair in a cave in the Crags, overlooking Mirabar. A recent arrival in the North, she has taken over a rich gem mine developed by the Kreeth goblin tribe (whom she exterminated) and spends much time in its depths, devouring the exposed ores. Certain bold dwarves approached her to gain permission to mine in her lair and have struck a bargain: They're free to mine, defend her lair against intruders, and even to dwell in certain of its reaches, in return for feeding her all the gems and metals she desires. She's quite happy to eat flawed and shattered gems, low-grade metal ores, and rust scraps, and she has come to trust the dwarves -- who in turn see her as the "mother" under whose protection they can found a new city or tribe.

## **Dracoliches**

Statistics for the dracolich Daurgothoth can be derived by applying the **dracolich** template found in the *Monster Manual* to the **ancient black dragon** statistics.

### **Daurgothoth, "The Creeping Doom"**

From his lair in Dolblunde, this **ancient black dracolich** spies on a territory bounded by the coast from the mouth of the Dessarin to Mount Sar, east to Amphail and Bargewright Inn, and thence down the Dessarin to the sea once more. He is interested in all things magical and news of dragon activity. To escape detection by prying mages and adventurers, he seldom acts openly. He is obsessed with two goals: gaining abilities of other dragon breeds to become the supreme dragon, and "coming back to life" sufficiently to sire his own new dragon species. He continually strives to improve his spells and find a suitable mate -- or construct one.