Argynvost

An ancient Silver Dragon that protected the southeastern Crowncrest Mountains for many years, Argynvost lived a solitary life in the Sea of Clouds. As his hoard grew in stature and he increased in magical ability, he began to leave the mountains more often, and found that very few Dragons resided in the western Head of the Greatwyrm. He began to research the secrets of his kind, and learned that they may be related to the Azure Paragon and an ancient war with Giant-kin.

He used his wealth and resources to attract other champions of good, and valorous Human knights flocked to join the cause. This organization became the Order of the Silver Dragon, founded to protect the land against the growing evil threats in the region. Though he headed the Order, Argynvost himself was often away, so he appointed Sir Vladimir Horngaard as the organization's captain and Sir Godfrey Gwilym as his steward. Generally, he kept himself in the guise of a human himself: only trusted members of the Order were aware of his true draconic nature, and for those few, he crafted each a Shield of the Silver Dragon.

Argynvost's research led him to the Silver Dragon's Hideout, an old fortification of the Azure Paragon that had long been emptied. The fort was easily both magically and naturally defensible, so Argynvost lead the Order there through the Underdark. Over years, he built up its defenses and re-activated its Teleportation Circles, and used it as a base; he also consorted with a Winter Wolf pack, ensuring that the hideout would be guarded for generations event when unoccupied. During this time, he met the Dark Gnome ranger Irsel Rill Lakerun Gembop Geoheart, who had shown bravery in defending his knights from the Underdark's threats. Argynvost quickly befriended the gnome; using his own scales, he fashioned for her a set of Silver Dragon Scale Mail.

Not long after, he learned of a place called the Amber Temple, a repository of evil power that may have been created by the Paragon past the Balinok Mountains.  Argynvost wanted to make sure that the evil sealed there would not be able to be allowed to escape, and looked to establish a base to investigate the dangerous temple. He went to visit the Zarovich Valley in the guise of a nobleman, but found that political forces in the region were tumultuous. He quickly grew to love the people and hill-tribes of the mountains, and found himself embroiled in a conflict against a man who sought to conquer the valley.

He placed his plans with the Amber Temple on hold as he built a fortified mansion to defend the valley from: Argynvostholt. The Order drove away the forces of Strahd von Zarovich and provided refuge to those who were displaced by his conquests. They lead many campaigns against him, most notable in the Rout Of Barovia where they defeated Strahd's parents Barov von Zarovich and Ravenovia van Roeyen. These early victories were soon eclipsed, however, as Strahd's superior numbers overwhelmed Argynvost and his knights at a battle near Berez. When it became clear that Strahd could not be stopped, the knights of the Order led hundreds of refugees to Argynovst's valley, where their activities slowed.

However, after the Wedding That Never Was, the now-Vampire Strahd tracked them to their sanctuary and overwhelmed them in the Attack On Argynvostholt. Rather than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and battled Strahd's armies to the bitter end. The Count had become a Darklord, and possessing Vampyr's magic, he slayed Argynvost in front of his own mansion. The dragon was hacked to pieces, and the castle became haunted by the Revenant ghosts of his former knights.

As a trophy, Strahd took Argynvost's skull to Castle Ravenloft, leaving the dragon's skeleton desecrated in his own mausoleum.