Orb of Dragonkind
A sphere of absolute dominion that bends the will of the world's most powerful beasts.
The Orb of Dragonkind stands as the most perilous artifact in Faerûn's history—a deceptively smooth sphere forged by the archmages of Netheril that holds a malevolent intelligence within its depths. Far more than a mere tool, it acts as a master key to dominion over dragonkind, capable of overriding the ancient minds of wyrms across the world and twisting their wills to serve a single, hungry purpose.
- Origin
- Created during the Netheril era
- Primary Function
- Control and summoning of dragons
- Nature
- Sentient Artifact (Evil alignment)
- Key Appearances
- Dragon Queen's Rise, Dracorage Myth
- Current Status
- Lost or hidden in the deep lore
Lore & Background
In later ages, the Orb became the holy grail for the Cult of the Dragon, whose fanatics sought to bind the goddess Tiamat and reshape reality through undead dracoliches. Yet the artifact's true legacy is written in blood: during the Dracorage Myth, its chaotic resonance tore across the world, driving dragons into a berserk frenzy that nearly extinguished civilization. The Orb does not merely command; it corrupts, turning ambition into catastrophe and leaving a trail of scorched earth where mortals dared to grasp power meant only for gods.
In Their Own Story
Sulfur and ancient dust choked the cavern air as the cultist raised the sphere. It pulsed with a sickly violet light, casting jagged shadows against the stalactites that seemed to writhe like living serpents. A roar shattered the silence—not born of rage, but of absolute compulsion. Through the opening above, a massive red dragon descended, its eyes glazed and unseeing, obeying the silent command radiating from the Orb. The cultist's smile faltered as his own mind began to fray; a whisper slithered into his thoughts, promising that soon, the master would become the servant.
Reader's Guide
Throughout history, only a handful of figures have wielded the Orb without immediate ruin, and even they paid with their sanity or souls. The Cult of the Dragon has sought it relentlessly for apocalyptic rituals, yet every attempt ends in disaster as the artifact turns its user's own ambition against them. Today, the Orb remains Faerûn's most coveted and dreaded treasure—hidden in forgotten vaults or shattered into fragments by desperate hands, all to prevent another age where dragons rule as mindless slaves.
Did You Know?
- The Orb was originally created by Netheril, a civilization that existed thousands of years before modern Faerûn.
- It can summon dragons from anywhere in the world, regardless of distance or barriers.
- The artifact has a distinct personality and often communicates with its user through telepathy.
- During the Dracorage Myth, the Orb's influence contributed to the widespread madness that caused dragons to attack indiscriminately.
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