Table of Contents Introduction 3 Introduction Tips for the DM 3 Scientific Secrets of is a supplement About the Creators 4 containing 33 monsters designed for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. These monsters use rules, Scientific Secrets of spells, and concepts from the Wizards of the Coast’s D&D 5th Edition and are intended to supplement the Icewind Dale 7 Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign. Caprilrime Cat 7 These creatures are rooted in the lore of Icewind Dale, Chilling Breath 8 Auril the Frostmaiden, the Ten Towns, and Netherese Diamond Veil 9 ruins in order to make them easy to include in the Frigid Doom 10 adventures within that campaign. Alternatively, you Frilled Snow Crawler 11 can simply use them to replace other creatures which appear in Icewind Dale. Spells referenced in this Frost Mustela 12 supplement can be found in the Player’s Handbook Hallowed Aurora 13 and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. When a creature’s Harebou 15 name appears in bold type, that’s a visual cue pointing Ice Salp 16 you to the . Ice Trawler 17 And remember, stay vigilant while traveling in Icejaw Orchid 18 Frozenfar… You never know what lies over the next Kimat 20 snowbank. Lupine Kimat 21 Antlered Kimat 22 Abominable Kimat 22 Tips for the DM Lewkon 23 As with any supplement, Scientific Secrets of Icewind Lindwurm 24 Dale should be adapted to work for your group. If you Woolly Ironwing 25 don’t like the way a monster works, please feel free Mist Angel 27 to change it. Adjust the hit points, damage, abilities, Permafrost Undead 28 spells, and lore of these creatures to suit your games Permafrost Undead Template 28 and your players. For example, if you want to use a Permafrost Mammoth 29 monster, but think that its ability to impose certain conditions on the characters won’t be fun for your Polar Aukbear 30 group, instead have it deal extra damage or give it a Polar Bulette 31 new trait! Prism Fox 32 Pykrete Golem 33 To deliver an optimum experience for your players, it is best to read the stat blocks of the monsters you Remmite 34 intend to use in full before attempting to run them. Remmite 34 There are spells, attacks, and abilities that you need Remmite Hatchling 35 to understand in advance to run a fun and effective Swarm of Remmite Hatchlings 35 encounter. Have fun using these monsters! Rimemare 36 Rimereef Ooze 37 Slivershard 38 Stirge Hive Mother 39 Unappheron 41 Wasteling 42 Appendix A: MonstersSample by CR 43 file

Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale 3 About the Creators Zeke Gonzalez Andrew Kornblatt Zeke Gonzalez is a queer graduate student who loves to For the last nine years Andrew Kornblatt has been infuse science and horror into his fantasy TTRPGs. He working in communications, outreach and marketing for is the head designer of the Scientific Secrets series and NGOs, clean tech companies, and conservation and ocean writes adventures & bestiaries for the DMs Guild. Find science. He has been playing D&D since he was 12 and Zeke geeking out over #ScienceDnD and indie horror in loves world building in the campaigns he runs and playing equal parts at @FantasyEcology on . He recently with homebrew elements that flips traditions on their released the Pretty Little Liches [PLL] trilogy, a level 17- head. He runs and produces the podcast Ocean Science 20 campaign that pits the heroes against a team of unique Radio and plays Marmo, the halfling lawyer (bard) in the and powerful liches featuring new monsters, traps, magic Dungeons & Dragons & marine science podcast Dugongs items, and more! & Seadragons. You can find him on twitter as @akornblatt. Anja Svare Anja Svare is a graphic designer who has played D&D for E.C.M. (Chris) Parsons longer than most of you whippersnappers have been alive, Dr. Chris Parsons has been involved in whale and dolphin so get off my lawn. After 25 years working in the biotech research for over two decades and has been involved industry, they finally found enough free time on their in projects on every continent. However, he’s been hands in retirement to jump into the RPG scene with both playing Dungeons & Dragons for nearly 40 years. He’s feet. Creating new D&D content, designing layout for cool currently a consultant for a number of environmental supplements, and generally having a blast working with groups in Washington DC, consulting on marine wildlife, the awesome people in the DMsGuild community conservation and science communication and policy (when they’re not building and DMing the homebrew issues. He’s also the Scientific Content & Creative Chronicles of Arkata campaign for their incredible players Director for the leading independent nature podcasting out in the wilderness of NEPA). You can follow them company Speak Up for Blue media. He hosts and @anjaproductions, or Anja Svare Productions, and see all produces a number of science podcasts including: the the cool projects they have either created or collaborated Marine Mammal Science podcast, the Environmental on at DMsGuild and her entire portfolio of projects here. Studies & Sciences podcast and the Marine Conservation New projects and collaborations are always welcome, Happy Hour. He also produces and edits the Dungeons subject to how awesome the project is, how awesome you & Dragons & marine science podcast Dugongs & are, and how awesome they feel, which is always. Seadragons. Website: https://ecm-parsons.weebly.com/. Erin Anderson Frederic Walker Erin is an artist, illustrator, and compulsive tea Frederic Walker, also known as Kor-Artificer, is a disabled drinker. After studying marine biology and scientific freelance game designer from London, who has been communication in college, Erin blended her science designing RPG content since his first campaign in 2014, know-how with her artistic skills to better her monster and has been publishing RPG rules professionally since creation. She has illustrated several monster manuals 2018. He comes from a background working in museums including Secrets of Avernus, Scientific Secrets of the and archives, and his past published work explores the Saltmarsh, as well as a contributor to Descent into Ravnica setting, and introduces designs inspired by his Midnight. When she isn’t working on commissions, background working with history. He is also the head writing, or running her own webcomic Erin also plays designer of the Odyssey Anthology. You can find him on Dungeons & Dragons on the marine science podcast twitter as @KorArtificer. Dugongs & Seadragons. You can see her work on her twitter at @ErintheZ or at Jacky Leung ErinZAndersonIllustration.com. Jacky Leung, also known as Death by Mage, is a freelance RPG designer and editor that sometimes appears on actual play RPG streams. He’s also a lich and a huge foodie. He has written and worked on various collaborative projects on the DMsGuild, plus worked for a few RPG publishers as well. He is one of the creative directors for the Unbreakable Anthology, an anthology Sampleof tabletop Asian stories by Asianfile creators in their own voices. You can follow him Twitter at @deathbymage and find his portfolio of works at bit.ly/DBMPort.

4 Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale Joe Raso Mellanie Black Joe Raso is a is a dad, a husband, and a long suffering DM Mellanie Black is a copywriter by day, and narrative who’s had the pleasure of gaming with the same group designer by night. She’s also a Light Cleric and since his university days. Some of his recent publications Half-Elf Fiendlock on alternating Mondays. When she on the Dungeon Master’s Guild include Terror Beneath isn’t preoccupied with the above, she spends her time the Frozen Gate and The Great Dale Campaign Guide, devising a special place in The Nine Hells for TTRPG and he’s the editor of the Khyber Khronicle as of issue 8. gatekeepers, eradicating bioessentialism from every You can follow him on twitter @_joe_raso and on his blog possible aspect of her gaming, and finding ways to delete https://theschemingdm.wordpress.com. bisexual erasure from the code of the universe. Find her @MissBox on Twitter for news and updates about her Jonathan Kennedy-Ellis upcoming projects. Jonathan is a Medicinal Chemistry Phd candidate who found himself organising most of the Adventurer’s Nemo B. League events that occurred in Buffalo NY. Primarily an Nemo Bueno, also known as Awkward Bard, is a adventure writer, Jonathan has several credits to his name freelance writer and student of Psychology. Writer of on the DM’s Guild including Midwinter Maleficence, Illion, the Archipelago of Eternal Night, they have also Trouble in Neverwinter, and ’s Rancid Webs. contributed to other TTRPG projects such as Uncaged Follow him @longbowjon on twitter to stay up to date Anthology vol. I and IV; Friends, Foes and Other Fine with his forays into the world of adventure. Folk; and Book of Seasons: Solstices, all available on DMs Guild. You can follow them on Twitter Kai Linder (@AwkwardBard). Kai Linder is a writer and editor with a chaotic body of DMsGuild work including Goblin Heist and Musical Robert Cain Subclasses. He comes from an international background The day Rob figured out his first initial and surname with a Master’s in Psychological Research, and is a huge made up ‘Arcane’ he took it as a sign and ran with it. A fan of classic pulp action and horror. He’s also terrible at relatively fresh face in the TTRPG Publishing community writing bios and can be found on Twitter as @Paradoliak. and he is looking to get more involved in as much as he can. Currently you can find their work with Arcane Kirsty Kidd Script, a 5e eZine based on HeavyWaiteGaming’s world of Colossus where he writes and edits the ideas of ‘Heavy’. As a newbie to publishing TTRPG work, Kirsty doesn’t You can find him on Twitter at @Soirgriffe and hopefully have any other work to try to sell you here. What she will in more publications going forward on DMsGuild. try to sell you instead is her handmade felt terrain for TTRPGs that you can find @battle_fluff on Twitter or Instagram! She hopes to have some actual adventures Samuel Dillon online real soon and to never have to write about herself Samuel is a professor of biology and a long-time D&D in the third person again. player. He is a prolific podcaster, hosting a variety of RPG-focused shows, such as 4Geeks4e, Play on Target, Leon Barillaro Across a Table Madly, and Bonus Action. Currently he is co-host of the Edition Wars podcast, which explores Leon is a writer and editor of ttrpg content, a game the rules and quirks of the various editions of D&D designer for an immersive theater company in Brooklyn, (though no actual wars occur on the show) and he DMs and a dog dad trying their best. You can find more of their D&DeBrief, a live streamed 5th edition game featuring work on Twitter (@barilleon) or their website: after-session commentary. Lastly, Sam is the chief barilleon.com editor and frequent host of The Tome Show, a D&D news, reviews, and interviews show. You can find him on Maxine Henry twitter @DMSamuel and read his work on the web at Maxine Henry lives in South Carolina and dreams RPGMusings.com. longingly of winter. She enjoys being on both sides of the DM screen and believes that RPGs can be life-changing for the better. In her spare time, she enjoys fiber and textile arts, and reading about cutting edge technology. MaxineSample has participated in Scientific Secrets of Avernus file as well as Scientific Secrets of Saltmarsh, and more of her work can be found on Dungeon Masters Guild.

Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale 5 I remember when I first arrived from Hillsfar: the freezing Teos Abadía winds, the shifting ice, and Teos Abadía is a Colombian-American freelance author and developer working with Wizards of the Coast, the determined people were Penny Arcade, Dwarven Forge, and several organized all so different from what play programs. Teos has a master in environmental management and his first collaborative D&D monster I was used to down south. project was the Net Book of Athasian Ecology, published Despite the wild tales and in 1998, because he loves creatures and the environment. Teos maintains a blog at Aphastream.org and is @ unsettling stories I heard over Alphastream on Twitter. Teos is active on the DMs Guild. at the Winter’s Cradle, nothing His mega-adventure collaborations with Dwarven Forge, Dungeon of Doom and Caverns Deep, are available free! prepared my party for the host of unthinkable monsters that Tim Eagon inhabited the frozen landscape Tim Eagon is a longtime TTRPG player, GM, and freelance writer who is excited to be writing D&D beyond the Ten Towns. I’m content once again. His most recent work appears in the semi-retired now and the people CAPERS Offworld supplement by Nerdburger Games, of Easthaven need me, but if and you can find more of his stuff over at DriveThruRPG and the DMs Guild. You can follow him on Twitter you fancy a cautionary tale or @Tim_Eagon. two, buy me a pint and we’ll TK Johnson see what old memories this TK Johnson is your favorite Auntie, as well as a narrative grizzled badger can muster up. designer, editor, Dungeon Master, and eldritch horror. Follow them on Twitter: twitter.com/tkjoinsthefray or -Hrothgar check out their writing on their website: tkjwrites.com V.J. Harris V.J. Harris (they/he), also known as Vic Harris, is a Black queer (bi & trans) disabled freelance creator, streamer, and d&d product reviewer. If they aren’t working on d&d professionally they are working on it creatively, building their homebrew world Karse for their players to get lost in. They’ve written Restless: A Guide to Laying Incorporeal Undead to Rest and Through the Kraken Reef (The Lonely Scroll Adventure Contest: Saltmarsh) on the dmsguild. They also have work coming out soon in: Odyssey Anthology Volume 1: In Callaphe’s Wake, Fight to the Top, and An Elf and an Orc Had a Little Baby. Visit their website or follow them on Twitter (@victhhe) for updates on future releases. Willy Abeel Willy is a game designer with a penchant for the macabre and strange. It is usually a mistake to allow Willy to exist behind a keyboard. Just... be on the lookout for rogue clowns, werecreatures, and memes with excessive rationalization for appearing normal in . Twitter:Sample @theWillyboo Links: https://linktr.ee/Willyboo file

6 Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale Capilrime Cat Author: Maxine Henry Inspired By: The Tapetum Lucidum in Cat Eyes Citation: Seabrook, A. (2008, October 31). Why Do Animals’ Eyes Glow In The Dark? NPR. https://www. npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96414364 Ollivier, F. J., Samuelson, D. A., Brooks, D. E., Lewis, P. A., Kallberg, M. E., & Komáromy, A. M. (2004). Comparative morphology of the tapetum lucidum (among selected species). Veterinary Ophthalmology, 7(1), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463- 5224.2004.00318.x Art: DMs Guild Creator Resources

Prowling the northern reaches of Frozenfar with pelts the color of falling snow and snowshadow, capilrime cats are at home in the cold and inhospitable climate. Their thick fur makes a strong barrier against the wind, and their six-digit handfeet give extra Caprilrime Cat Large monstrosity, neutral purchase over icy terrain as well as extra fine-motor manipulation skill. Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Glowing Eyes. The eyes of caprilrime cats glow Hit Points 68 (9d10 + 18) 40 ft. from within, and survivors of a caprilrime cat attack Speed often fear candles for months afterwards. While in a normal feline, the glowing eyes are due to the STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 8 (–1) tapetum reflecting light and occurs under certain circumstances, caprilrime cats’ eyes glow at will, as if Saving Throws Dex +5 the cat has conscious control of tapetum properties. Skills Perception +4 Damage Resistances cold Cunning Illusionists. Caprilrime cats also are able to Condition Immunities blindness, charmed create a doubled illusion of their eyes, so that it may Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 appear that more than one cat is present. This is a Languages – tactic for harrying prey, as well as distracting whatever Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) might be hunting the cat itself. However, being apex predators, caprilrime cats don’t have much to fear. Pounce. If the cat moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target Now You See Me. Caprilrime cat fur is excellent must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked camouflage. While standing still, they blend near- prone. If the target is prone, the cat can make one bite attack perfectly into the background. against it as a bonus action. Fade Away. Even when the cat is in plain sight, it requires a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot a cat that has neither moved nor attacked. A creature that tries to enter the cat’s space while unaware of the cat is surprised by the cat. Grappler. The cat has advantage on attacks against any creature grappled by it.

Actions Multiattack. The cat makes two claw attacks, or one claw and one bite attack. If the cat makes two claw attacks and hits the same target with both, the target is also grappled (escape DC 14). Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. SampleBite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit,file reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage. Disembowel. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grappled by the cat. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) slashing damage.

Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale 7 Chilling Breath Huge elemental, lawful evil

Armor Class 15 Hit Points 104 (9d12 + 45) Speed 0 ft., fly 45 ft. (hover)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 6 (–2) 18 (+4) 20 (+5) 6 (–2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)

Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +6 Damage Resistances acid, lightning, necrotic, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities cold Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained Senses blindsight 100 ft. (blind beyond this distance), passive Perception 11 Languages Auran Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Chilling Breath Disperse. The breath can use its movement to extend its mass across any configuration of nine 5-foot squares instead of its Author: Willy Abeel entire body. If any segment of its mass gets separated, the smaller portion dissipates and the larger portion regains its original mass Inspired By: The Wim Hof Breathing Method at the end of its next turn. Citation: Muzik, O., Reilly, K. T., & Diwadkar, V. Misty Form. The breath can occupy another creature’s space and A. (2018). “Brain over body”-A study on the willful vice versa. In addition, if air can pass through a space, the breath can pass through it without squeezing. Each foot of movement regulation of autonomic function during cold exposure. in water costs it 2 extra feet, rather than 1 extra foot. The breath NeuroImage, 172, 632–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. can’t manipulate objects in any way that requires fingers or manual neuroimage.2018.01.067 dexterity without harnessing a creature that can. Artist: Erin Anderson Damage Transfer. While harnessing a creature, the breath takes only half the damage dealt to it (rounded down) and that creature takes the other half. In frigid environments where the air is thin and the Actions landscape is deathly still, no adventurer dare proceed Breathe. The breath touches one creature in its space and further. The chilling breath is a contemptuous, silvery attempts to wrap itself around the creature’s mind. The target breeze that wants to be surrounded by absolute must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma saving throw or the target is stillness. It slips into the heads of offenders and uses harnessed by the breath. While harnessed, the target moves and takes actions according to the breath’s will. If the target suffers them like puppets to kill off one another. The remainder any harm or the breath wills it to actively harm itself, the target that dares to keep moving are then suffocated. may immediately repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. If the target successfully saves against this effect, or if An Elemental Apart. Chilling breaths are adverse the effect on it ends, the target gains advantage on subsequent to the free and constantly moving elemental plane of saving throws against this breath’s Breathe action. The breath can air. Those that escape into the material plane often harness up to nine creatures at a time. isolate themselves into desolate regions devoid of Suffocate. The breath thins the oxygen within its area. Any creatures in its area that need to breathe must succeed on a life. They even deplete the air around their territory DC 14 Constitution saving throw to hold their breath in time, or to deter other air elementals from approaching.The immediately start choking. The breath must use its action on each chilling breath’s mentality puts them at odds with most of its subsequent turns to maintain this effect. If it moves, takes another action, or loses 20 or more hit points, the effect ends and other air elementals. While they may share the auran the oxygen in the area immediately returns to normal. language, breaths are almost indignant about ever When a creature is choking, it can survive for a number of rounds communicating with it. equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round). At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying, Amid A Frozen Graveyard. It’s not uncommon for a and it can’t regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe chilling breath to gather corpses it finds frozen in the again. If a creature manages to hold its breath, it can maintain it snow. Not only do they make useful puppets when a for a number of minutes equal to 1 + its Constitution modifier breath is endangered, their bodies are meant to deter (minimum of 30 seconds) before choking. unwanted travelers.However, the arrangement of these Envelope (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If there are corpses within 5 feet of the breath, it reanimates 1d8 + 2 corpsiclesSample often garners gossip amongst explorers (maximum 9) of the corpses as zombiesfile. The zombies are as otherworldly (if macabre) art galleries. To witness considered harnessed by the breath. one of these displays and survive the wrath of the chilling breath is both a fool’s errand and a momentous accomplishment. 8 Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale Diamond Veil Author: Mellanie Black Inspired By: Cloudless Ice Crystal Precipitation Citation: Intrieri, J. M., & Shupe, M. D. (2004). Characteristics and Radiative Effects of Diamond Dust over the Western Arctic Ocean Region. Journal of Climate, 17(15), 2953–2960. https://doi. org/10.1175/1520-0442(2004)017<2953:CAREOD>2 .0.CO;2 Artist: Erin Anderson

A diamond veil is the manifestation of a (usually) malevolent fey creature that sends energy through from the Feywild into the wildest, coldest regions of the Prime Material Plane. So Pretty. So Deadly. A diamond veil manifests as a shimmering cloud that reflects light as it hovers in the chill air. The creature appears to be formed of tiny ice Diamond Veil flecks that twinkle and catch the eye. The diamond veil Large fey, any alignment aims to lure travellers with this gleaming spectacle. As they draw nearer, entranced by its beauty, the diamond Armor Class 15 (natural armor) veil takes the opportunity to slice into their flesh. As Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20) the victim slowly bleeds out, a slushy blood puddle is Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft (hover) created for the diamond veil to consume when the fight is won. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 13 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) Not All Diamond Veils. While feeding to empower a fey presence beyond this plane is a common motivation Saving Throws Cha +6, Wis +4 for a diamond veil to lure travellers, other motivations Skills Insight +4, Persuasion +6, Stealth +7 cold have been observed. The hypnotic beauty of diamond Damage Immunities Senses passive Perception 16 veils has proven useful for rings of fey criminals, Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan travelling theatre troupes desperate to find an audience Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) in chill conditions, and even enterprising merchants drawing wanderers to their wares. Incorporeal Freeze. The diamond veil can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. If a creature Shimmering Form. Diamond Veils maintain a largely ends its turn inside the diamond veil, it takes 11 (2d10) cold amorphous form, but have been known to vary, damage. contorting into humanoid and other forms to suit their Irresistible. The diamond veil ambushes travellers with its beauty. purposes. Some survivors have reported seeing a Any creature that sees the diamond veil must succeed on a DC 14 barely-visible silvery form within the cloud, leaping and Charisma saving throw or be paralyzed for one minute. An affected creature may repeat this saving throw at the end of their turn, twirling as the cloud moves on the wind. ending the effect on itself on a success. Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the diamond veil until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the diamond veil in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.

Actions Multiattack. The diamond veil makes two slice attacks. Howling Gust. The diamond veil attacks with sharp ice particles on a sudden gust of wind in a 20 ft. cone. Creatures in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 25 (5d10) slashing Sampledamage on a failed save or half as muchfile damage on a successful one. Slice. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) cold damage.

Scientific Secrets of Icewind Dale 9