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DDAL10-04 - Cold Benevolence
DDAL10-04 - Cold Benevolence
COLD BENEVOLENCE
A Plague of Ancients Adventure
Feral-Tongue must be stopped! But without aid, your efforts will likely be in vain.
Amid rising tensions, Old Goat suggests an unlikely ally: chwingas! Her plan,
however, isn’t popular among other members of the clan. Can you sway their
opinion? Better yet, can you find the elusive elemental spirits?
Part Four of the Plague of Ancients Series of Adventures.
Credits
Lead Designer: Travis Woodall D&D Adventurers League Wizards Team: Brandy Camel,
Designer: Justice Arman Lea Helotis, Chris Lindsay, Chris Tulach
D&D Adventurers League Administrators: Ma’at Crook,
Editing: Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson
Amy Lynn Dzura, Claire Hoffman, Greg Marks, Alan
Art Director and Graphic Designer: Rich Lescouflair Patrick, Travis Woodall
Interior Art: Jedd Chevrier, Marcela Madeiros, Irina
Playtesters: James Bowen, Daniel Oliveira, James
Nordsol, April Prime, provided by Wizards of the Coast
Schweiss, JJ Tin, Marcello Velazquez
and used with permission.
Cartography: Travis Woodall Special Thanks: Samantha Cubbage, The GM Tim, Anne
Gregerson, Paige Letterman, Laura Thompson
D&D Adventurers League Guildmaster: Chris Lindsay
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D
Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.
Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
©2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented
by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
Adventure Primer Part 3: Fish Stew (50 mins). The reclusive chwinga known
as Lor the Timid hides amongst the Twenty Stones
of Thruun in Dougan’s Hole. A local who spends his
I lay there, pinned under the collapsed ice, frostbite creeping time reflecting at the stones can help the party earn the
up my crushed foot. Before doom befell me, a small, play- chwinga’s blessing. This is Story Objective C.
ful creature appeared—no taller than my boot and wearing Part 4: Frostbite (60 mins). On their return to Wyrmdoom
a splendid mask—and bestowed upon me a supernatural Crag, Frostclaw ambushes the characters during a
raging blizzard. They must defeat Frostclaw and return
warmth. What was this winter spirit? to the Thuunlakalaga Clan. This is Story Objective D.
—Felrin Emptycup, Felrin’s Frozenfar Phenomena
Story Awards
This adventure is designed for three to seven 1st- to 4th-
At certain points in the adventure, you’ll see this
level characters and is optimized for five characters with
glyph along with an entry describing how the
an average party level (APL) of 3. Characters outside this
specified story award is earned or impacted by
level range can’t participate in this adventure.
the story. Ignore the entry if it refers to a story award none
This adventure takes place in and around Wyrmdoom
of the characters have. If it refers to a story award the
Crag, Good Mead, and Dougan’s Hole.
characters just earned, it provides information for you and
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2 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
No Hope Too Small
Estimated Duration: 20 minutes
Tension in the Tribe
Wyrmdoom Crag Feral-Tongue and his awakened animals have shaken the
Thuunlakalaga clan, causing a rift in the friendly goliath
Themes. Doubt, isolation, hope. tribe. Though normally eager to share the story of the White
Old Goat addresses the Thuunlakalaga clan’s concerns Dragon’s Doom (see chapter 2 of Rime of the Frostmaiden),
with an unorthodox plan. She asks the characters to locate a character who speaks with or listens to members of the
three elusive chwingas living throughout Icewind Dale, gathered clan may instead learn of their recent struggles.
You can use the following sample lines during roleplay to
secure their magical blessings, and to take the fight to
convey the tension within the Thuunlakalaga clan:
Feral-Tongue.
• “Longsight has the sharpest eyes of any hunter. If they
Old Goat has spent many nights listening to the clan’s
didn’t see any other game, there was none.”
concerns about Feral-Tongue and Frostclaw. After reflecting
• “That creature dragged Hideminder from his bed
on the needs of her tribe, Old Goat has gathered everybody screaming. What animal would be so bold?”
in the main hall (area W5 on the Wyrmdoom Crag • “Old Goat isn’t the warrior she used to be. Spearsong is
map in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden) for an strong and speaks true. Maybe he should lead the tribe.”
announcement.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 3
To Boxed Text or Not to Boxed Text
You can read this boxed text dramatically to your players
or you can ignore it and describe the Old Goat’s entrance
yourself; tell the players what they sense and let them decide
what their characters do. As the DM, you get to portray the
entire world; let the players focus on their own characters.
Sharp-Tongued Hunter
As Old Goat speaks, Kaskur mocks the aging chieftain
and her plan. Normally, most of the Thuunlakalaga clan
ignores Kaskur’s brusque remarks, but the recent turmoil
has fostered unrest within the tribe. Old Goat ignores the
hunter’s pointed criticism.
Characters can silence Kaskur with a successful Lor the Timid, a shy and reclusive spirit who lives among
DC 15 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check. the Twenty Stones of Thruun in Dougan’s Hole, the
Alternatively, a character could attempt to best him in a feat smallest Ten-Town.
of strength, such as wrestling, or earn his respect with their This isn’t the first time the Thuunlakalaga clan has heard
marksmanship prowess. If defeated, Kaskur returns to the of these chwingas. Goliath storytellers speak their names
southern ledge and licks his wounds. If the characters are over crackling fires on calm, snowy nights, much to the
unsuccessful or do nothing to quell Kaskur’s comments, delight of the tribe’s wide-eyed youth.
other clan members participate in the ridicule, causing 1d6 Upon the conclusion of Old Goat’s plan, Kaskur tells the
+ 2 goliaths to leave the gathering early, dismissive of Old tribe that their chieftain is weak and that “All this ice has
Goat’s plan. frozen her judgment.” The hotheaded hunter then storms
off, his loyal hunters stamping their spears against the
Are You Talkin’ to Me? stone floor in support as they follow closely behind.
This part showcases the developing tension in the
Thuunlakalaga clan, personified by Kaskur and Old Goat. Development
Rather than portraying the conflict with the characters on the
After Kaskur’s exit, Old Goat approaches the characters,
sidelines, consider having Kaskur direct his comments to the
accompanied by a goliath storyteller who uses a crutch
characters, attempting to appeal to their sense of reason.
This engages your players and spares you roleplaying two named Nararhak Tree-Eye. The chieftain hands the
NPCs arguing with each other. characters a bag containing a crystal set in a golden frame
with a wooden handle—a gift for Sappa Ever-Watching.
Old Goat suggests the characters start with the chwinga
easiest to locate: Singing Gir. The chwinga lives in a
Old Goat’s Plan frozen forest just outside the brewing town of Good Mead.
Nararhak has told the story of Singing Gir many times and
Old Goat tells the characters to find three chwingas—tiny
knows the chwinga well. They suggest the characters stop
elemental spirits capable of bestowing magical blessings—
in town first to fetch a few clay mugs and learn a rowdy
living throughout Icewind Dale. She asks the characters
drinking song or two.
to secure the chwingas’ blessings and take the fight to
Feral-Tongue.
While chwingas don’t use names themselves, Old Goat Exploring Wyrmdoom Crag
refers to the three chwingas as: The characters may wish to explore other areas of Wyrmdoom
Singing Gir, a chwinga who delights in song and pottery. Crag before their departure. Refer to chapter 2 of Icewind
They reside in a frozen forest outside Good Mead. Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden for areas other than the main
hall. Old Goat stresses the urgency of the situation and
Sappa Ever-Watching, a hermetic chwinga who observes
encourages the characters not to delay. There’ll be plenty of
Icewind Dale from the peaks of a nearby mountain range.
time for goat-ball after Feral-Tongue is dealt with!
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 5
1
Pleased to Mead You
Estimated Duration: 40 minutes
Story Objective A
Traveling to Good Mead Gaining Singing Gir’s charm is Story Objective A.
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6 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Walls and Ceilings. The mead hall’s walls are lined with
casks of mead, animal hides, and a handful of mounted Bjorn Snowslayer
Chaotic neutral human berserker
trophies, including the imposing head of a remorhaz. The
20-foot-high ceiling is supported by thick wooden beams. Until a few days ago, Bjorn was a brave warrior in Good
Mead’s militia, when an encounter with a verbeeg left him
Temperature. A rectangular firepit situated between the
physically and mentally scarred. Bjorn is shaken by the death
two rows of feasting tables keeps the hall comfortably warm.
of Speaker Rielsbarrow and the town’s uncertain position, but
Lighting. The hall is dimly lit by the orange glow of the he’d rather drink himself to death than admit he’s afraid.
fireplace and whale oil lamps. What They Want. Speaker Rielsbarrow was like a father
Sounds. In addition to a bellowing warrior’s singing, the to Bjorn, and carousing in the mead hall dulls the pain.
mead hall vibrates to the buzzing of thousands of bees. Bjorn hasn’t thought about what he’ll do after the storm
Though they aren’t housed in the taproom, a large portion subsides. The only thing on his mind is the next drink.
of the mead hall is dedicated to bee husbandry, by which Broken Warrior. Bjorn’s encounter with the verbeeg left him
Good Mead draws the honey for its namesake. The droning in a state of self-doubt. The warrior’s anxiety manifests as
bees are audible throughout the town, but the buzzing is raucous merrymaking and bullying.
especially prevalent within the mead hall.
Beehive. Occasionally, stray bees slip through cracks
in the wood and begin constructing a hive within the Clay Mugger
taproom. Normally, a beekeeper moves this hive back to the Bjorn’s clay mug belongs to a meager beekeeper named
apiary, but after the recent discovery of nearly a hundred Jordan. Like Bjorn and most residents of Good Mead,
cold, dead bees, the brewers aren’t taking any chances Jordan’s had a tough time of late. On top of the recent
by disturbing the bees’ preferred location. Bees circle the bee deaths, Jordan recently received word that a caravan
1-foot-wide hive, which hangs from a support beam over transporting a care package from their mother—including a
the one of the feasting tables. box of homemade cookies—perished in an avalanche along
The beehive has AC 10 and 5 hit points. When reduced the Spine of the World. They were looking forward to a pint
to 0 hit points, the beehive falls from the beam and crashes of mead until the towering warrior snatched it from their
onto one of the feasting tables, bursting open and releasing grasp—mug and all.
an angry swarm of insects in the nearest unoccupied space. Due to their netted outfit, the doleful beekeeper
On their turn, the bees attack the creature closest to them. immediately stands out to any character who surveys the
room. At this point, Jordan doesn’t care if they get their mug
Creature Information back. They just want to see Bjorn knocked down a peg or
Eleven sullen-eyed patrons dot the taproom; hunters, two. Jordan tells the characters they can keep the mug if
fishers, and three guards in the local militia taking solace they retrieve it.
in the mead that still flows into their cups. A boisterous Here are a few ways the characters could obtain the clay
warrior (berserker) sings “Dig It Up, Doddie” (see mug:
handout 2) at the center feasting table, only stopping long Beehive. Though the mead hall sees its share of brawls,
enough to guzzle mead from his drinking horn. His song fighting with weapons is strictly forbidden. If a character
draws the attention of a sulking beekeeper at a nearby table brandishes a weapon, they invoke the ire of the local militia.
and Sigrid Bronzebelly, a dwarf brewer who’s discreetly That said, knocking the beehive from the ceiling is certain
enjoying spoonfuls of “comfort honey” from behind the bar. to cause a large enough distraction to secure the mug.
Drinking Contest. If a character asks for Jordan’s mug
Pleased to Mead You back, Bjorn challenges them to a drinking contest. Each
contestant must make a successful DC 10 Constitution
When the characters enter the mead hall, read or check to drink their mead without succumbing to
paraphrase the following: intoxication. The participants repeat the check until only
one remains.
During the contest, the patrons in the mead hall sing “Dig
A blond-haired mountain of a man laughs and takes a swig
It Up, Doddie.” A character who doesn’t participate in the
of golden mead from a curved drinking horn, while his contest can memorize the song with a successful DC 13
other hand slowly brings a clay mug brimming with foam Intelligence (Performance) check.
toward his dripping beard. The wooden bench bows under Stealing the Mug. If the characters can get Bjorn to set
the weight of the muscular, bare-chested warrior, who down the mug, a character who makes a successful DC
17 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check can swipe the mug
sings over the droning bees between lengthy gulps.
without Bjorn noticing.
“DIG IT UP, DIG IT UP, DIG IT UP, DODDIE! I HEAR THE
FISHING’S GREAT.” To the Forest
The blizzard subsides after 1d4 hours, at which point
The rowdy patron is a worshipper of Tempus named the patrons begin to return to their homes. Having had
Bjorn Snowslayer. A character can memorize “Dig a chance to secure both mug and song, characters can
It Up, Doddie” with a successful DC 13 Intelligence proceed to the frozen forest to meet Singing Gir.
(Performance) check after listening to Bjorn sing for 10
minutes. Alternatively, they can pay any patron 5 gp to write
down the lyrics and teach them the melody.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 7
B. Frozen Forest (see handout 2) or any other drinking song makes their
check with advantage. On a success, Singing Gir emerges
Just north of Good Mead lies a thicket of snow-covered from the igloo and begins a fervent dance, kicking
pines. In the winter months, when trade routes are up glittering snow. The chwinga bounces among the
especially dangerous, locals who tire of knucklehead trout characters throughout its performance, bestowing upon
venture into the frozen forest to hunt and trap. Most Good them the Charm of Singing Gir story award.
Mead residents understand the importance of conservation If the characters proceeded directly to the frozen forest
and are careful not to overhunt—after all, the town thrives despite the blizzard, Singing Gir is agitated by the storm.
thanks to the careful nurturing of bees. The chwinga buzzes angrily at the characters from inside
its igloo, refusing to come out. As a result, characters have
Area Information disadvantage on their Charisma (Performance) checks.
A squat, three-tiered igloo rests in a clearing. Dozens of
clay mugs dangle above the igloo, suspended by stiff twine Chwingas and Their Magical Gifts
attached to the towering evergreens’ branches. A steady, The chwingas are a bit less generous than their counterparts
rhythmic buzz emanates from a small opening at the base in the jungles of Chult. Because of this, they don’t bestow
of the igloo. their supernatural charms during these adventures. Instead,
their aid manifests later when it’s truly needed.
Creature Information
The glassy evergreens of the frozen forest are home to
snowy owls, arctic hares, and a merry chwinga which
Development
After the characters have attempted to earn Singing Gir’s
is often heard but rarely seen. To Singing Gir, the ever-
blessing, they can seek out either Sappa Ever-Watching in
droning bees of Good Mead are a nonstop choir of
the mountains of Icewind Dale (part 2) or Lor the Timid
thousands of tiny voices—a choir in which the chwinga
in Dougan’s Hole (part 3). The characters don’t need to
frequently takes part. Singing Gir has a striped oval mask
return to Wyrmdoom Crag after each chwinga, but they’re
adorned with two large white ears and wears a pair of
welcome to solicit additional wisdom from Nararhak and
wings fashioned from pine needles and tree sap. When the
Old Goat if they get stumped.
chwinga hears a song, it hums along with a kazoo-like buzz
that causes its mask to vibrate, shaking off ice and snow in Story Award: Charm of Singing Gir
a gentle cloud. The characters earn this story award if they
To coax Singing Gir out of hiding, the characters must persuade Singing Gir to lend their aid.
make a successful DC 13 group Charisma (Performance)
check. Any player who sings a verse of “Dig It Up, Doddie”
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8 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
2
Winter’s Witness
Estimated Duration: 70 minutes
Lighting in Icewind Dale
Mount Shatterglass Unless otherwise noted, daytime hours provide dim light
outdoors, while nighttime hours are dark. The permanent
Themes. Desperation, paranoia, secrecy. dusk of Auril’s curse makes the promise of sunlight seem a
From the highest peak of a nearby mountain range, teasing possibility, but the sun never breaks the horizon.
Sappa Ever-Watching looks down on Icewind Dale with its
collection of spyglasses. Skeptics within the Thuunlakalaga
clan think Sappa Ever-Watching is more curious than Sounds. Whistling winds grow louder as characters near
vigilant, but Old Goat believes the chwinga is a sentinel, the peak of Mount Shatterglass.
dutifully watching over the Dale. She sends the characters Frozen Corpses. The occasional, blue-skinned corpse
to Mount Shatterglass with a gift for the tiny creature, but a lies half-buried in the snow. Frozen in time, their poses
jagged ice maze and a harrowing climb stand between the tell the story of their final moments: huddling for warmth,
characters and the chwinga. scribing illegibly on a scroll with frostbitten hands, or
Sappa Ever-Watching spies from the summit of Mount injured, crawling along a risky ledge toward companions
Shatterglass, named for how the mountain rises from the who forged ahead long ago.
ice maze located around its base, called the Glassfoot. Fauna. All manner of arctic creatures lurk inside the
Many explorers have bravely (or foolishly) entered the Glassfoot—crag cats, frost giants, and remorhazes have
maze, eager to uncover its secrets, but few return. Where all roamed the frigid chasm at one time or another. In
there are secrets, there’s often danger. addition, various beasts acclimated to the cold inhabit the
maze. The characters may encounter walruses, foxes, or
snowy owls.
Story Objective B
Gaining Sappa Ever-Watching’s charm Story Objective B. A. Traversing the
Glassfoot
Area Information Unlike other mazes, the Glassfoot is alive, and changes
by the hour. Frigid air solidifies into thin walls of ice, and
Mount Shatterglass has the following features:
whipping katabatic winds collapse precarious passages,
Terrain. The terrain throughout the icy maze at the base
transforming them into stretches of treacherous blades.
of this 3,000-foot-tall mountain features rock-hard snow,
Rather than providing a map for the icy labyrinth,
frozen lakes, and smooth, blue permafrost.
navigating the maze is a narrative experience interspersed
Walls and Ceilings. The Glassfoot’s walls are made
with discoveries. Roll twice on the Ice Maze Encounters
from rock and ice, ranging from 10 to 25 feet in height.
table and consult the following sections to determine what
Frost and powder snow settle on most surfaces, imposing
surprises await the characters at the base of the mountain.
disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to climb
If the characters make quick work of these challenges,
walls. Though the majority of Glassfoot is open to the gray
consider rolling a third time on the Ice Maze Encounters
sky, some areas descend into sub-zero tunnels with 10-foot-
table.
high ceilings made of thick, blue permafrost.
Exiting the Maze. After 1 hour of exploring, the
Temperature. Bone-chilling katabatic winds permeate
characters must make a DC 14 group Wisdom (Survival)
Mount Shatterglass and the Glassfoot below. Creatures
check to traverse the Glassfoot. On a success, proceed
who aren’t acclimated to extreme cold or wearing proper
to the “Scaling the Mountain” section. On a failure, the
winter clothing quickly become grim omens for future
characters gain a level of exhaustion and must spend
expeditions.
another hour searching the maze. This level of exhaustion
Lighting. Gray clouds block the afternoon sun, allowing
can only be removed by completing a long rest in a warm,
dim light, but no warmth.
dry location with access to hot food and drink (such as an
established tent, tavern, or inn). It isn’t possible to recover
while ranging about the frigid wilds of Icewind Dale.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 9
Ice Maze Encounters Creature Information. The den isn’t empty. Since
d6 Encounter the remorhaz’s departure, two glacial snakes (giant
constrictor snakes with immunity to cold damage) have
1 A1. Glacial Snake Nest
made this lair their nest. At the end of the slippery tunnel
2 A2. Dead Giant is a 20-foot-diameter cavern hollowed from the ice. In the
3 A3. Frozen Lake center of the cavern lies a shimmering nest of crushed ice,
4 A4. Last Resort upon which rest 3d12 eggs. The glacial snakes aggressively
5 A5. Hot Springs defend the eggs from intruders.
6 A6. Guardian
Adjusting This Encounter
A1. Glacial Snake Nest Here are some suggestions for adjusting this encounter,
according to your group. These aren’t cumulative.
This area has the following features: • Very Weak or Weak: Remove one giant constrictor snake.
Area Information. A thin layer of snow and ice masks • Strong: Add one giant constrictor snake with immunity to
the entrance of a smooth tunnel, created years ago by a cold damage.
remorhaz that’s since outgrown its former den. Characters • Very Strong: Add one giant constrictor snake and two
with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 15 or constrictor snakes, all with immunity to cold damage.
higher notice the tunnel. Any creature who doesn’t make
a deliberate effort to avoid stepping in the center of the
pathway must make a successful DC 15 Dexterity saving A2. Dead Giant
throw or slide down the glassy tunnel, taking 7 (2d6)
bludgeoning damage and landing prone at the bottom. This shallow ravine is the grave of an overzealous frost
Climbing back up the ice tunnel requires a successful giant. This area has the following features:
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. Area Information. This 40-foot-wide chasm is dominated
A character with climbing gear, such as an ice pick, has by a 30-foot-tall ice spire, smooth and sharpened to a point
advantage on this check. by wind erosion.
Creature Information. Ligvov the Splitter came to
Mount Shatterglass to praise Thrym, god of frost giants,
from its peak. Like several other frost giants in his tribe,
Ligvov incorrectly identified the Everlasting Rime as the
fulfillment of a frost giant prophecy which foretold the Age
of Everlasting Ice. During his ascent, a loose ledge plunged
Ligvov hundreds of feet to the Glassfoot, where he was
impaled on an ice spire.
It’s a grisly sight. Ligvov’s arms hang behind him, resting
several feet above the snow, and his head is cocked back
lifelessly. The ice spire, covered in crystallized blood, juts
from his chest, refracting reddish light across the ravine.
Treasure. Two objects lay in the snow near the spire: a
completely white axe sized for a frost giant and a battle horn
with a rune carved into its surface. A character who makes
a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check recognizes
the white axe as a ceremonial weapon honoring Thrym, god
of frost giants. The horn isn’t magical, but a character fluent
in Giant recognizes the marking as the ise (“ice”) rune.
Frigid Water
A creature can be immersed in frigid water for a number
of minutes equal to its Constitution score before suffering
any ill effects. Each additional minute spent in frigid water
requires the creature to make a successful DC 10 Constitution
saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with
resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed
on the saving throw, as do creatures adapted to living in ice-
cold water.
A character who was immersed continues to suffer the
effects of the frigid water until their wet clothes are replaced
with dry ones.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 11
Greed Trap. The glittering treasure in the guardian’s
mouth is an illusion. A creature can identify it as such with
a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check, or by
physically interacting with the illusion.
If a creature tampers with the stone head in any way
or comes within 10 feet of it, the face’s hollow eyes and
mouth illuminate with a swirling blue mist and 1-foot-thick
walls of ice instantly form at both entrances to this area.
Each wall has AC 12, 30 hit points, and vulnerability to
fire damage. Reducing a wall to 0 hit points destroys it
completely.
On initiative counts 20 and 10 (losing ties) the stone
head casts Snilloc’s snowball swarm (spell save DC 15,
see Xanathar’s Guide to Everything), targeting a random
creature within range. Casting a dispel magic spell on the
head suppresses this effect for 1 round.
The stone head has AC 20 and 40 hit points. Reducing
the statue to 0 hit points destroys the head completely,
preventing it from casting further spells.
Treasure. A character who reaches past the illusion
into the stone head’s mouth discovers a potion of
resistance (cold).
Sappa Ever-Watching
A tiny chwinga perches atop Mount Shatterglass, scanning
Icewind Dale with one of its many spyglasses. Sappa Ever-
Watching has a blank white mask with a single black dot
in the center and wears several pairs of goggles around
Hot Springs. The hot springs consist of three cascading its neck. As the characters approach the elemental spirit,
pools roughly 5 feet in diameter that drain into an it skitters behind a pile of snow, popping up moments
underground reservoir. A character who relaxes in the later with a set of binoculars. The chwinga inspects the
springs for 10 minutes gains 5 temporary hit points. characters from a distance, making sure they aren’t a threat.
Creature Information. If a character relaxes in the pool, If the characters present the crystal kaleidoscope Old Goat
a mischievous arctic monkey (use baboon stats) attempts gave them, Sappa Ever-Watching cautiously emerges and
to sneak up and steal one article of winter clothing—such approaches the characters. After examining the device, the
as an overcoat or snow boot—from the character during chwinga clicks its heels together and bestows the Charm of
their time of serenity. Sappa Ever-Watching story award on the characters.
Story Award: Charm of Sappa
A6. Guardian Ever-Watching
This area has the following features: The characters earn this story award if they
Area Information. A cylindrical stone head is set into persuade Sappa Ever-Watching to lend their aid.
the eastern wall of this 50-foot-square area. The stylized
face carved into its smooth black rock scowls angrily at the Development
characters, its open mouth full of glittering treasure. To the After attempting to secure Sappa Ever-Watching’s blessing,
north of the area, a 10-foot-wide passage continues toward the characters can seek out Lor the Timid in Dougan’s Hole
the base of Mount Shatterglass. (part 3). If Sappa Ever-Watching was the last of the three
Creature Information. The ground in front of this stoic chwingas mentioned by Old Goat, instead proceed to Part
guardian is littered with frozen corpses: explorers, arctic 4: Frostbite.
foxes, and snowy owls all lay stiff in the powdery snow, The characters don’t need to return to Wyrmdoom Crag
their bodies coated with thick frost. after each chwinga, but they’re welcome to solicit additional
wisdom from Nararhak and Old Goat if they get stumped.
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12 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
3
Fish Stew
Estimated Duration: 50 minutes Creature Information
Dougan’s Hole Less than one hundred people inhabit Dougan’s Hole, most
of whom are human commoners earning their daily bread
Themes. Isolation, paranoia, secrecy. from knucklebone trout fishing or scrimshaw carving.
Continuing with Old Goat’s plan, the characters head to If encountered outside, residents appear as amorphous
Dougan’s Hole, a small fishing village built along the banks bundles of winter clothing shuffling through the snow.
of the Redwaters. There, a reclusive chwinga the goliaths
call Lor (pronounced “Lore”) the Timid lives among the
standing stones known as the Twenty Stones of Thruun.
A. Warm Welcome
After a not-so-warm welcome, the characters meet Kurl While Old Goat and Nararhak know how to earn the other
Seglir, a welcoming local who can introduce them to the two chwingas’ favor, the Thuunlakalaga goliaths aren’t sure
chwinga. how to cajole Lor the Timid into granting the characters its
blessing. They suggest asking the locals for help, but that’s
easier said than done.
Story Objective C
Gaining Lor the Timid’s charm is Story Objective C. Speaking with the Locals
The people of Dougan’s Hole are as inhospitable as their
icy village and don’t like to be bothered. A character
Area Information can attempt a DC 10 Charisma (Investigation) check to
locate a resident, whether by knocking on doors, walking
The town has the following features:
down to the pier, or visiting the Lake Inn. Most residents
Lighting. Dreary, dark-gray clouds hang overhead.
have tired of the Twenty Stones of Thruun and pay the
Sounds. The town is eerily quiet, save for the crunch of
enigmatic monument no attention. In fact, the ill-tempered
snow underfoot as the occasional fisher returns from the
locals don’t talk about much of anything—except maybe
lake.
knucklebone trout, but even that subject has its limits—and
Buildings. Dougan’s Hole consists of a cluster of squat,
they’re particularly feisty when responding to “tourists.”
steeply sloped residences, including a modest fish house
The Rude Remarks table contains a sampling of phrases
and the Lake Inn, a boardinghouse of questionable
the characters might hear when addressing a local:
comfort.
Twenty Stones of Thruun. These mysterious granite
Rude Remarks
slabs stand on a hill overlooking the town. The stones
are arranged in an equilateral triangle with a single stone d6 Remark
placed in the center. 1 “Quit yer yappin’! Yer’ gonna scare off the trout!”
2 “Good Mead’s a few miles north of here. Why don’t you
head up there so you can mind your beeswax?”
Who Is Thruun?
3 “I’m busy! Go bother someone at the inn!”
The townsfolk maintain that the Twenty Stones of Thruun
existed before the town’s founder, Dougan Dubrace, 4 None. The resident stares at the characters ominously
arrived at his famous fishing spot on the frozen shore of and spits into the snow before walking off.
Redwaters lake. Scholars from all over Faerûn make academic 5 “Here’s what I know about the Twenty Stones of
pilgrimages to study the black monoliths. Though no one Thruun: they’re tall, there’s twenty of them, and they
knows for sure, researchers speculate that the Twenty Stones have something to do with someone named Thruun.
of Thruun are an ancient temple to a long-forgotten god—or Now leave me alone!”
the prison of a terrifying beast.
6 None. The local takes a huge, voracious bite out of a
still-wriggling trout while glaring at the characters.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 13
As he prepares a hot meal for the characters, Kurl
Kurl Seglir attempts to get to know them. Kurl asks the characters a
Neutral good human acolyte
couple of questions such as where they’re from, why they
Kurl is a former priest of Amauntor from Bryn Shander. When took up adventuring, and what their favorite meals are.
he wasn’t serving at the city’s temple, Kurl moonlighted as
Kurl answers what questions he can about the Twenty
a healer to sellswords and guards, scrimping and saving in
Stones of Thruun but deflects if asked about the chwinga.
hopes of sending his daughter Sylvia to a college far south of
the unforgiving tundra. When giants attacked the city a few A successful DC 13 Wisdom (Insight) check reveals he’s
years ago, Kurl and Sylvia relocated to Dougan’s Hole, where suspicious of the characters’ intentions. The characters
Kurl made a pact with Levistus after nearly drowning in the can assure Kurl of their good intentions with a successful
Redwaters. DC 13 group Charisma (Persuasion) check, convincing
What They Want. Kurl is a protector with a giving heart. He Kurl to introduce them to Lor the Timid. Characters who
cares deeply for his daughter (who now attends college make a successful DC 16 Intelligence (History or Nature)
outside Icewind Dale) and has befriended Lor the Timid in check know an unusual piece of trivia about the stones,
her absence. Kurl wants to live vicariously through the joy impressing Kurl and granting them advantage on their
of those he loves by ensuring no harm befalls them. Persuasion check.
Twenty Stones, Twenty Years. After Sylvia left for school, Kurl Fish Stew. Given the town’s small population, the
tried his hand at knucklebone trout fishing. When his boat residents of Dougan’s Hole have been substituting
capsized and plunged him into in the frigid lake, Kurl cried
humanoid sacrifices with aquatic ones. Each night,
out to Aumantor, but it was the archdevil Levistus who
answered. Kurl struck a deal with the Lord of the Sixth,
residents sacrifice a portion of their catch. As a result,
exchanging his soul for twenty more years of life—long Kurl’s famous fish stew is little more than a tasty broth.
enough to see Sylvia graduate and find her place in the When he delivers the food to the table, Kurl apologizes for
world. As he lives out his final years, Kurl spends his days the lack of meat, commenting, “Life is full of sacrifices.”
carving scrimshaw, reading Sylvia’s letters, and reflecting at
the Twenty Stones of Thruun. C. Twenty Stones
of Thruun
B. Kurl’s House If the characters succeeded on their group check, Kurl
takes them to the Twenty Stones of Thruun after their
Kurl lives in a small one-story house on the western side of meal. The standing stones rest on a snowy hill on the
town. western edge of Dougan’s Hole.
Area Information Area Information
Kurl’s residence has the following features: Twenty granite megaliths form an equilateral triangle,
Lighting. A single whale oil lamp rests on a worn kitchen one of which is located directly in the center of the
table, providing dim light to the main room. arrangement. The stones are over 10 feet tall and spaced
Walls and Ceilings. The walls are constructed from equidistant from one another.
logs of varying sizes. They’re mostly barren, save for a few
small animal pelts and a dusty holy symbol of Aumantor. A
central wooden support beam runs across the 8-foot-high
Creature Information
ceiling in the main room. The tiny chwinga Old Goat called Lor the Timid hides
Floors. Kurl masks the creaking wooden floors with a amongst the standing stones, invisible to the characters.
series of animal hides gifted to him by gracious adventurers Lor has a vaguely wolflike mask with eight pairs of dots
in years past, including a fearsome rug made from a crag running along its snout.
cat. Kurl coaxes the chwinga from hiding by drawing a picture
Sounds. A well-seasoned fish stew bubbles in a cauldron of one of the stones on a sheet of parchment and leaving it
hanging above a low crackling fire. A sleeping dog snores on the ground near the central stone. When the chwinga
in front of the small stone fireplace. appears, it runs to Kurl and hugs his leg. Then, the chwinga
Letters. A stack of opened letters rests on a small table scuttles up the central standing stone and lets out a meek,
beside the front door. Each is addressed to “Dad” from melodic howl, bestowing the Charm of Lor the Timid
Kurl’s daughter, Sylvia. story award upon the characters.
If Kurl isn’t present, Lor the Timid remains hidden inside
Creature Information one of the standing stones, studying the characters. At the
DM’s discretion, a character proficient with calligrapher’s
Aside from Kurl and the characters, the only other creature supplies or painter’s supplies may still be able to coax the
at Kurl’s house is a friendly old dog named Ginger. The chwinga from the stone without Kurl’s help, assuming they
fluffy, brown-haired mastiff greets visitors affectionately know how to.
before continuing its nap.
Story Award: Charm of
A Break from the Cold Lor the Timid
Kurl takes off his coat and pours the characters a warm The characters earn this story award if they
drink. Though many folks in Dougan’s Hole bite their persuade Lor the Timid to lend their aid.
thumbs at their rivals in Good Mead, Kurl has always
enjoyed the rich taste of honey wine. For those who don’t
drink, Kurl offers to brew a cup of steaming black tea.
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14 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
4
Frostbite
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
A menacing snowy owlbear with a chardalyn beak and
Icewind Dale claws blocks the path ahead. She stands on her hind
legs—easily measuring over 10 feet tall—and roars
Themes. Fear, isolation.
As the characters return to Wyrmdoom Crag, they’re over the howling winds, hot breath emanating from her
caught in a blizzard, masking the heavy tread of Frostclaw, fearsome beak in a cloud of winter fog. Frostclaw growls
the Hunter. Emboldened and stronger than ever before, the menacingly.
snowy owlbear ambushes the characters from the cover of
the storm. Refer to the Chasm map in appendix A.
Story Objective D
Defeating Frostclaw is Story Objective D.
Area Information
The area has the following features:
Blizzard. A raging blizzard reduces visibility to 30 feet
and ranged attacks are made with disadvantage.
Chasm. The chasm is 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Two
corpses lie at the bottom, empty flasks frozen to their stiff
hands.
Bridge. A partially ruined stone bridge spans the chasm.
Spear-sized icicles hang from its crumbling underside.
Creature Information
Frostclaw, the Hunter stalks the mountain around
Wyrmdoom Crag, using her heightened senses to ambush
goliaths who leave the safety of the caves. Frostclaw
has been tracking the characters since they first left
Wyrmdoom Crag and intends to make them her next
victims.
Frostclaw
Chaotic evil awakened owlbear
Frostclaw was the first creature Feral-Tongue awakened
following his discovery of the chardalyn staff. Frostclaw is
a murderous creature whose lust for blood is made more
terrifying by her intellect. She resembles other snowy
owlbears, but her beak and claws have been transformed
into chardalyn—a manifestation of the evil magic in Feral-
Tongue’s staff. Crystals of frozen blood cling to her fur and
feathers—tinkling and chiming eerily as she moves.
What They Want. Frostclaw lives to drive terror into the hearts
of her prey; their screams are almost as sweet to her as
their meat.
Thrill of the Hunt. Her skill at hunting is matched by her
thirst for instilling terror in her victims.
Treasure
If the characters successfully obtain all three charms, Old
Goat gifts them with a robe of useful items made from tanned
goat hide and a handful of valuable baubles.
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16 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Dramatis Personae Twenty Stones, Twenty Years. After Sylvia left for school,
Kurl tried his hand at knucklebone trout fishing. When
The following NPCs feature prominently in this adventure: his boat capsized and plunged him into the frigid lake,
Kurl cried out to Aumantor, but it was the archdevil
Bjorn Snowslayer (bee-YORN) Levistus who answered. Kurl struck a deal with the Lord
of the Sixth, exchanging his soul for twenty more years
Until a few days ago, Bjorn was a brave warrior in Good
of life—long enough to see Sylvia graduate and find her
Mead’s militia, when an encounter with a verbeeg left him
place in the world. As he lives out his final years, Kurl
physically and mentally scarred. Bjorn is shaken by the
spends his days carving scrimshaw, reading Sylvia’s
death of Speaker Rielsbarrow and the town’s uncertain
letters, and reflecting at the Twenty Stones of Thruun.
position, but he’d rather drink himself to death than admit
he’s afraid.
What They Want. Speaker Rielsbarrow was like a father Ogolai (oh-GOH-lie) Orcsplitter
to Bjorn, and carousing in the mead hall dulls the pain. “Old Goat” Thuunlakalaga
Bjorn hasn’t thought about what he’ll do after the storm
The chieftain of the Thuunlakalaga goliaths is an elderly
subsides. The only thing on his mind is the next drink.
goliath with a heavily scarred face. She dresses plainly
Broken Warrior. Bjorn’s encounter with the verbeeg in goat hide clothing and carries an immense greataxe
left him in a state of self-doubt. The warrior’s anxiety fashioned from white dragon bone. She has a crippling
manifests as raucous merrymaking and bullying. fear of griffons stemming from a childhood trauma that’s
created tensions between her clan and the Akannathi
Kaskur (KASS-kerr) Spearsong goliaths of Skytower Shelter (see Icewind Dale: Rime of
Thuunlakalaga the Frostmaiden).
What They Want. Old Goat’s priority is the safety and
This headstrong and impetuous goliath leads the clan’s prosperity of her clan—especially in these unusual and
hunters. He’s grown angry and frustrated at the lack trying times. She’s quick to stymie dissent, particularly
of game in the area, and he resents Old Goat’s “poor from Kaskur Spearsong. She fears his disagreements
leadership” for a lack of solutions. He wields a longbow will turn violent but does everything within her power to
taller than most humans and claims he once felled an elk delay this apparent inevitability for as long as possible.
from a half mile away. He wears little in the way of clothing,
Done It, Seen It; but the End Is Nigh. Old Goat has
even in the driving wind—a feat that’s earned him the
been around a long time and seen many things. This
respect of his fellow hunters.
experience lends her a tremendous amount of wisdom to
What They Want. Kaskur has grown tired of Old Goat’s draw on when making decisions. However, she’s getting
personal fears preventing an alliance with the goliaths of old and refuses to surrender the yoke of leadership until
Skytower Shelter. He views her as weak and her ideas as a worthy (equally wise) replacement is found. If it weren’t
outdated, especially when Kugan Windwhisper (Feral- for his sharp tongue, Old Goat would’ve offered Kaskur
Tongue)—who Kaskur views as being even weaker than the mantle of leadership years ago. However, she fears
Old Goat—is involved. He wants to usurp control of the what the clan would become under his leadership.
clan for himself.
Words Are Wasted Wind. Kaskur doesn’t have a
negotiator’s tongue; he’s terse and speaks his mind Thomkins
without hesitation. Despite this, he’s experienced and Thomkins was promised “unfathomable riches” by
knows the area better than any of his peers. Bumheim Seaglade, but when his employer slipped and
impaled himself on his own ice pick, Thomkins realized
Kurl Seglir (CURL SAYG-leer) he’d never see a single gold piece. Thomkins dragged
Bumheim to a nearby cave for medical attention, but by
Kurl is a former priest of Amauntor from Bryn Shander. then Bumheim had already bled out. That was five days
When he wasn’t serving at the city’s temple, Kurl ago. With supplies depleted, Thomkins did the unthinkable
moonlighted as a healer to sellswords and guards, to survive—and developed a taste for Waterdhavian finger
scrimping and saving in hopes of sending his daughter to food.
a college far south of the unforgiving tundra. When giants What They Want. Thomkins is too far gone. If the
attacked the city a few years ago, Kurl and Sylvia relocated characters bring Thomkins with them, he secretly plots
to Dougan’s Hole, where Kurl made a pact with Levistus to make them his next meal. If confronted about his
when he nearly drowning in the Redwaters. cannibalism, he denies it. If at any point Thomkins feels
What They Want. Kurl is a protector with a giving heart. cornered, he tries to bite one of the characters and flees
He cares deeply for his daughter (who now attends deeper into the maze.
college outside Icewind Dale) and has befriended Lor Got Your Goat. In addition to his recent taste for human
the Timid in her absence. Kurl wants to live vicariously flesh, Thomkins has also developed an unhealthy
through the joy of those he loves by ensuring no harm obsession with a scrimshaw mountain goat he calls
befalls them. Franklin. He often says what he’s thinking aloud to the
goat.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 17
Creature Statistics Brown Bear
Large beast, unaligned
The following creatures appear in this adventure:
Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
Baboon Hit Points 34 (4d10 + 12)
Small beast, unaligned Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
Pack Tactics. The baboon has advantage on an attack roll against Actions
a creature if at least one of the baboon’s allies is within 5 feet of Multiattack. The bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and
the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated. one with its claws.
Actions Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8
(1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1
(1d4 − 1) piercing damage. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Berserker
Medium humanoid (any race), any chaotic alignment Frostclaw, the Hunter
Apply the following adjustments to the brown bear stat block
Armor Class 13 (hide armor) when your party is Very Weak:
Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27) Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Speed 30 ft. Intelligence 10 (+0)
Languages Giant
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Frostclaw fails a saving
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 9 (−1) 11 (+0) 9 (−1) throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Legendary Actions. Frostclaw can take 3 legendary actions,
Senses passive Perception 10 choosing from the options below. Only one legendary
Languages any one language (usually Common) option can be used at a time and only at the end of another
Challenge 2 (450 XP) creature’s turn. Frostclaw regains spent legendary actions at
the start of her turn.
Attack. Frostclaw makes one claws attack.
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the berserker can gain advantage
Fearsome Roar (Costs 2 Actions). Frostclaw roars loudly. Any
on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls creature within 30 feet that can see and hear Frostclaw
against it have advantage until the start of its next turn. must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be
frightened of Frostclaw until the end of their next turn.
Actions Icy Breath (Costs 3 Actions). Frostclaw exhales a blast of
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. frigid air in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must
Hit: 9 (1d12 + 3) slashing damage. make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 4 (1d8)
cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
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18 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Chwinga Commoner
Tiny elemental, neutral Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
1 (−5) 20 (+5) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Actions
Evasion. When the chwinga is subjected to an effect that allows
it to make a Dexterity saving throw to only take half damage, it Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2
instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
only half damage if it fails.
Innate Spellcasting. The chwinga’s innate spellcasting ability is Constrictor Snake
Wisdom. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no Large beast, unaligned
material or verbal components:
Armor Class 12
At will: druidcraft, guidance, pass without trace, resistance
Hit Points 13 (2d10 + 2)
Unusual Nature. The chwinga doesn’t require air, food, or drink. Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
When it dies, it turns into a handful of flower petals, a cloud of
pollen, a stone statuette resembling its former self, a tiny sphere STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
of smooth stone, or a puddle of fresh water (your choice). 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 1 (−5) 10 (+0) 3 (−4)
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 19
Frostclaw Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is
Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the creature is
restrained, and the snake can’t constrict another target.
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed 40 ft. Goliath Warrior
Medium humanoid (goliath), any alignment
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 7 (−2) Armor Class 12 (hide armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27)
Skills Perception +3 Speed 30 ft.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Giant STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 10 (+0)
Keen Sight and Smell. Frostclaw has advantage on Wisdom Skills Athletics +6, Perception +4, Survival +4
(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell. Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 14
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Frostclaw fails a saving throw, Languages Common, Giant
she can choose to succeed instead. Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. Frostclaw makes two attacks: one with her beak and Mountain Born. The goliath is acclimated to high altitude,
one with her claws. including elevations above 20,000 feet.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: Powerful Build. The goliath counts as one size larger when
10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage. determining its carrying capacity and the weight it can push,
drag, or lift.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage. Actions
Multiattack. The goliath makes two attacks with its greataxe or
Legendary Actions hurls two javelins.
Frostclaw can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the
options below. Only one legendary option can be used at a time Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Frostclaw regains Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) slashing damage.
spent legendary actions at the start of her turn. Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
Attack. Frostclaw makes one claws attack. range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Fearsome Roar (Costs 2 Actions). Frostclaw roars loudly. Any Reactions
creature within 30 feet that can see and hear Frostclaw must
succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of Stone’s Endurance (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). When
Frostclaw until the end of their next turn. the goliath takes damage, it reduces the damage taken by 9
Icy Breath (Costs 3 Actions). Frostclaw exhales a blast of frigid air (1d12 + 3).
in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13
Constitution saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) cold damage and 9
(2d8) slashing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage Guard
on a successful one. Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
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20 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Mastiff Swarm of Insects (Wasps)
Medium beast, unaligned Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 7 (−2) 3 (−4) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 1 (−5) 7 (−2) 1 (−5)
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 27 (6d8) Walrus
Speed 30 ft. Large beast, unaligned
Actions
Multiattack. The spy makes two melee attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120
ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 21
Handout 1: The Story So Far
Here’s a quick recap of events you should know for this adventure:
• You’re in Icewind Dale, a frigid tundra north of the Spine of the World.
• Feral-Tongue, a member of Wyrmdoom Crag’s Thuunlakalaga goliath clan,
recently went missing. Unbeknownst to the clan, Feral-Tongue has been
corrupted by an ancient staff composed of chardalyn.
• Using the staff, Feral-Tongue has corrupted beasts around Wyrmdoom Crag,
infusing them with chardalyn. The first beast was a snowy owlbear—Frostclaw,
the Hunter. Frostclaw has claimed several lives, most recently that of Rikuur
Hideminder Thuunlakalaga, the clan’s beloved shepherd.
• With their security threatened and resources scarce, pressure rises for the
Thuunlakalaga chieftain, Old Goat, to deliver the goliaths of Wyrmdoom Crag
from Feral-Tongue’s icy grasp.
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22 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Handout 2: Drinking Song
This morbid drinking song is a favorite in the town of Good Mead:
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 23
Appendix A: Chasm Map
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24 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)
Appendix B:
Character Rewards
The characters may earn the following rewards in this d100 Patch
adventure: 01–08 Bag of 100 gp
Magic Items 09–15 Silver coffer (1 foot long, 6 inches wide and deep)
worth 500 gp
16–22 Iron door (up to 10 feet wide and 10 feet high,
Potion of Resistance (Cold) barred on one side of your choice), which you can
Potion, uncommon place in an opening you can reach; it conforms to fit
A shimmering blue liquid sloshes within this crystalline the opening, attaching, and hinging itself
flask. 23–30 10 gems worth 100 gp each
When you drink this potion, you gain resistance to cold 31–44 Wooden ladder (24 feet long)
damage for 1 hour. 45–51 A riding horse with saddle bags
Robe of Useful Items 52–59 Pit (a cube 10 feet on a side), which you can place
Wondrous item, uncommon on the ground within 10 feet of you
60–68 4 potions of healing
This robe is made of expertly tanned mountain goat hide.
The items depicted in its patches are of spartan design, 69–75 Rowboat (12 feet long)
but exceedingly high quality. The wearer suffers no harm 76–83 Spell scroll containing one spell of 1st to 3rd level
in temperatures as cold as −20 degrees Fahrenheit or as 84–90 2 mastiffs
warm as 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 91–96 Window (2 feet by 4 feet, up to 2 feet deep), which
This robe has cloth patches of various shapes and colors you can place on a vertical surface you can reach
covering it. While wearing the robe, you can use an action 97–00 Portable ram
to detach one of the patches, causing it to become the
object or creature it represents. Once the last patch is
removed, the robe becomes an ordinary garment.
The robe has two of each of the following patches:
Story Awards
• Dagger
Story Award: Charm of
• Bullseye lantern (filled and lit)
• Steel mirror
Lor the Timid
• 10-foot pole The characters earn this story award if they persuade Lor
• Hempen rope (50 feet, coiled) the Timid to aid them.
• Sack Story Award: Charm of
In addition, the robe has seven other patches. The DM
chooses the patches or determines them randomly.
Sappa Ever-Watching
The characters earn this story award if they persuade
Sappa Ever-Watching to aid them.
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DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0) 25
Appendix C:
Dungeon Master Tips
To DM an adventure, you must have 3 to 7 players—each
with their own character within the adventure’s level range New Players? No Problem!
(see Adventure Primer). Characters playing in a hardcover With starter adventures like this one it’s possible you may
adventure may continue to play too, but if they play a have players new to D&D, or just new to fifth edition. It’s up
to you as the DM to ensure they a) have fun with the game
different hardcover adventure, they can’t return to the first
and b) learn the basics of how to play. At this level, having fun
if they level beyond its level range. is more important than learning every rule exactly right. Be
gentle with new players who make mistakes.
New to D&D Adventurers League? Make sure to keep your players smiling and rolling dice.
https://dnd.wizards.com/ddal_general Be positive and enthusiastic when describing the action, and
you’ll notice they quickly follow suit.
Preparing the Adventure If you’re a new DM, then welcome—and thank you! New
DMs are the lifeblood of the D&D community. This adventure
Before you start play, consider the following: includes sidebars like this one that explain of some rules used
• Read through the adventure, taking notes of anything as the adventure progresses!
you’d like to highlight or remind yourself of while
running the adventure, such as a way you’d like to
portray an NPC or a tactic you’d like to use in a combat. Adjusting This Adventure
Familiarize yourself with the adventure’s appendices
and handouts. To determine whether you should consider adjusting the
adventure, add up the characters’ levels and divide the total
• Gather any resources you’d like to use to aid you in
by the number of characters (rounding .5 or greater up; .4
running this adventure—such as notecards, a DM
or less down). This is the group’s average party level (APL).
screen, miniatures, and battlemaps. To approximate the party strength for the adventure,
• Ask the players to provide you with relevant character consult the table below.
information, such as name, race, class, and level;
passive Wisdom (Perception) score, and anything the Determining Party Strength
adventures specifies as notable (such as backgrounds,
Party Composition Party Strength
traits, and flaws).
Players can play an adventure they previously played 3–4 characters, APL less than Very Weak
as a player or DM, but may only play it once with a given 3–4 characters, APL equivalent Weak
character. Ensure each player has their character’s 3–4 characters, APL greater than Average
adventure logsheet (if not, get one from the organizer)
5 characters, APL less than Weak
with their starting values for level, magic items, gold, and
downtime days. These are updated at the conclusion of the 5 characters, APL equivalent Average
session. The adventure information and your information 5 characters, APL greater than Strong
are added at the end of the adventure session—whether
6–7 characters, APL less than Average
they completed the adventure or not.
Each player is responsible for maintaining an accurate 6–7 characters, APL equivalent Strong
logsheet. If you have time, you can do a quick scan of a 6–7 characters, APL greater than Very Strong
player’s character sheet to ensure nothing looks out of
order. If you see magic items of very high rarities or strange
arrays of ability scores, you can ask players to provide
documentation for the irregularities. If they can’t, feel free Safety Tools
to restrict item use or ask them to use a standard ability Safety tools ensure that players aren’t pushed beyond their
score array. comfort levels. They let your players know you want them to
Point players to the D&D Adventurers League Players have a positive experience.
Guide for reference. If players wish to spend downtime A broad range of safety tools are available for you and your
days and it’s the beginning of an adventure or episode, players online, but for more information reach out to your
Event Organizer or to [email protected]
they can declare their activity and spend the days now,
or they can do so at the end of the adventure or episode.
Players should select their characters’ spells and other
daily options prior to the start of the adventure unless
the adventure specifies otherwise. Feel free to reread the
adventure description to help give players hints about what
they might face.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
26 DDAL10-04 Cold Benevolence (v1.0)