The Cult of the Dragon is a fictional semi-religious evil organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The cult worships dragons, believing they will rule the world in the future and will keep them as monarchs next in line. Sammaster, a mage of considerable prowess, founded the cult. The cult schemes to create undead dragons, mainly the dracolich.
Contents
The Cult of the Dragon "marshals the Evil Dragonkind of the Forsaken North against hapless villagers".
Publications
The Cult of the Dragon is first detailed in the article "The Cult of the Dragon," by Greenwood, Ed, in Dragon #110 (June 1986).
The Cult is described in great detail in the sourcebook Cult of the Dragon (1998), by Dale Donovan.
History of the cult
The Cult of the Dragon venerates dragons, evil dragons in particular, and specifically dead evil dragons. They reanimate the gargantuan corpses as powerful and fell dracoliches. The Cult acts as an information network for its draconian "masters", brings gems and riches as offerings, and encourages evil dragons to become dracoliches. Their belief is that dracoliches are destined to one day rule Faerûn and beyond.
The Cult is active throughout the Realms, but is specifically powerful in the Cold Lands and the North, where dragons are particularly abundant. Cult member activities include gathering information on particularly rich caravans to be raided, stealing unique items to be offered to their masters, and leading raids against their enemies (who, in their minds, are all those who might oppose the rulership of the dragons).
Senior members of the Cult of the Dragon are known as Keepers of the Secret Hoard or, more recently, Wearers of Purple, and to them is given the secret of creation of dracoliches. Each senior member is also in possession of a Ring of Dragons. The keepers use these to protect themselves against assailants.
In 5th edition D&D, the new leaders of the Cult of the Dragon seek to aid dragons in dominating the world by bringing about the coming of Tiamat to Faerûn. While these new cultists have almost completely reformed the Cult's beliefs, there are still several old guard members dedicated to bringing about a world ruled by evil undead dragons.