Tyranny of Dragons

*Tyranny of Dragons* is an adventure saga that spans the Sword Coast, in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. *Tyranny of Dragons* began roughly in Tarsakh, 1373 DR, using the Timeline of the shared world state.

In the first part of the saga, Hoard of the Dragon Queen, the heroes are thrust into the midst of an apocalyptic plot hatched by the Cult of the Dragon after defending the village of Greenest from a raid. In gratitude, the village's governor offered to sponsor the heroes as an adventuring company in order to uncover the true machinations of the Cult and Dragon and stop them before they can succeed.

In the second part of the saga, Rise of Tiamat, the heroes must gather powerful allies and take the fight to the Cult of the Dragon before it can usher the Queen of Dragons from the Nine Hells into Realms!

## **The Players**

* Bernard, son of Hurg'dash, of the line of Dakog, male half-orc barbarian
* Buddy, wood elf rogue
* Hirrathak Jharthraxyn, green dragonborn druid
* Lucien Shadowmantle, drow sorcerer
* Phaedra Phanthraxa, blue dragonborn cleric

## **Main Characters**

* Leosin Erlanthar
* Ontharr Frume
* Rath Modar
* Tiamat, Queen of Dragons

## **Campaigns**

* **Hoard of the Dragon Queen**
* **Rise of Tiamat**

## **The Cult of the Dragon**

The principal antagonists of the *Tyranny of Dragons* saga are members of the Cult of the Dragon, an eccentric secret society that has roots deep in Faerun's history. The cult's Sword Coast cell, led by a fanatic Calishite named Severin Silrajin, has diverged radically from the teachings of the cult's bizarre patriarch and seeks to usher Tiamat, the Queen of Dragons, into the Realms from her prison in the Nine Hells. At the same time, Kya Mordrayn works with the ancient red dragon Pelendralaar in the ruins of Myth Drannor to corrupt a mystical Pool of Radiance for the cult's nefarious purposes.

### **Known Cultists**

* Sammaster the Mad
* Kya Mordrayn, Red Wyrmspeaker
* Severin Silrajin, Red Wyrmspeaker
* Galvan, Blue Wyrmspeaker
* Neronvain, Green Wyrmspeaker
* Rezmir, Black Wyrmspeaker
* Varram, White Wyrmspeaker
* Wearers of Purple
	+ Frulam Mondath
	+ Langdedrosa Cyanwrath
	+ Talis the White
	+ Captain Othelstan

### **Cult Structure**

The cult is divided into a hierarchy of tiers. An initiate trains for months or years before gaining any rank within the organization, and many trainees don't survive the tests. An initiate who passes the tests must choose an affinity to a particular color dragon: black, blue, green, red, or white. He or she is then welcomed into the ranks as a dragonclaw.

The higher ranks of the cult, in ascending order, are dragonclaw, dragonwing, dragonfang, and dragonsoul. The cult's operations are overseen by leaders called Wearers of Purple for the color of the ceremonial robes that they wear. In each cell there is an overlord called a Wyrmspeaker for each color of dragon. Sammaster's Wyrmspeakers are considered sovereign over local Wyrmspeakers.

### **History of the Cult**

The Cult of the Dragon was founded around the 10th Century DR by an archmage named Sammaster the Mad. After delving through forbidden secrets of necromancy, his mind was shattered and he turned to the worship of undead dragons. Along with the dracolich Shargrailar, Sammaster gathered many into his flock until the Cult of the Dragon became a force to be reckoned with throughout the Realms. For a brief period, Sammaster disappeared and was thought dead, which threw the cult into chaos. Years later he returned as a lich, and the cult swelled with renewed fervor. Now, he works again to coax wicked dragons into his ranks so that dragons will once more rule the Realms.

The sect of the Cult of the Dragon active in *Tyranny of Dragons* is lead by the upstart Severin Silrajin, and operates against the wishes of Sammaster. The cult proper does not recognize Silrajin, his Wyrmspeakers, or his Wearers of Purple.

The Cult of the Dragon has longstanding relationships with many of the evil dragons of Faerun. For a general look at some of the more infamous dragons sung of in ballads and steeped in legend, refer to the Dragons of Faerun article.