History of the Cult of the Dragon

The History of the Cult of the Dragon began with the former Chosen of Mystra, Sammaster and his downfall, descent into madness and removal of his divinely magic powers in the 9 century DR. It continued with the necromancer for centuries, from beyond his death, into lichdom and beyond. Even after the mad mage's final destruction in the 1400's the Cult of the Dragon continued on, enduring a period of dormancy before evolving under the new leadership of Severin Silrajin under the influence of the Dragon-god Tiamat.

Preface
After Sammaster and Alustriel Silverhand shared a relationship over some time, he began to become obsessed with his paramour, to the point where his world completely revolved around her. This unhealthy attachment, combined with Sammaster's deeper foray into necromancy caused a rift between the two Chosen and caused their relationship to end in bitterness and regret. Shortly after, in 865 DR, a priest of Bane named Algashon Nathaire ingratiated himself to Sammaster, befriending the mage during those difficult times. Quite rapidly, Algashon began to play on Sammaster's insecurities, rationalizing the Chosen's mistakes as the faults of others while simultaneously reminding him of life events that he perceived as failures. This indoctrination continued for years, in what would turn out to be a long-term scheme to steal the secret of the Chosen's silver fire.

These manipulations culminated in the year 875 DR, when Sammaster confronted Alustriel in the Evermoors in a rage of accusations and delusions. Lady Hope was accompanied by the fellow Chosen Laeral Silverhand and Khelben Arunsun, with whom she shared a unique connection. This confrontation between the four Chosen of Mystra came to be known as the Battle of the Chosen; while Alustriel suffered some minor wounds, Sammaster perished and his body fell to the ground. The deity Azuth appeared in the form of a fiery blue hand, conjured a single silver star above Sammaster's body and stripped the silverfire, along with other lingering powers of the Chosen, from his essence. Although his "friend" Algashon was nearby, his patron deity Bane prevented him from taking any action to intervene or prevent Sammaster's death.

Rather, Algashon cast a spell that preserved Sammaster's life, and removed any remaining humanity from the fallen mage, or so he perceived. Algashon whispered to Sammaster, re-framing the story of the battle from a new perspective: Sammaster had defended himself from the assault of Alustriel and her companions, and his fall was only caused by the treachery of the deities Mystra and Azuth. The follower of Bane managed to convince Sammaster his death must be the birth of a new god.

Origins
The following years for Sammaster and Algashon were shrouded in mystery, and no signs about their whereabouts or activities appeared for a full 12 years. However, in 887 DR published what would be the first of a number of re-translations of historical works. This particular tome was the Chronicle of Years to Come by the sage Maglas, and Sammaster mis-translated one particular passage, which would serve as the basis for the Cult of the Dragon as a whole:

"And naught will be left save shattered thrones, with no rulers but the dead. Dragons shall rule the world entire, and..."

- Original text from Maglas' Chronicle of Years to Come

However Sammaster's translation contained the following:

"And naught will be left save shattered thrones with no rulers. But the dead dragons shall rule the world entire, and...."

- Sammaster's re-translation

This false interpretation set a passion, or more accurately, an obsession in Sammaster's demented mind. Over the next years he and Algashon set out to preach the perspective of how they believed, and wanted, the world to become. They continued the necromantic research in which Sammaster had endeavored in his previous life, seeking not to bring life back to the dead, but undeath upon living dragons.

The two gathered their burgeoning group of follows and settled in the city-state of Chondathan. In the years to follow, Sammaster would appoint himself as First Speaker of his growing sect, reveal the first of his ring of dragons and set out a plan at the turn of the 10 century to bring undead dragons, known as dracoliches to the face of Faerûn.

Formation and growth

 * 902 DR: After some initial experimention, Sammaster convinced the great red wyrm Shargrailar to undergo the process of becoming a dracolich. The dragon was the first to survive this undertaking, and Sammaster uses the threat of the undead beast to extort wealth from the city-states within the area (future Sembia).


 * 905 DR: Sammaster finished his work on the Tome of the Dragon. Copies are then distributed around Faerûn.


 * 906 DR: The term "Cult of the Dragon" began to popularize in the area around Chondathan to describe Sammaster, Algashon and their followers. The group within the city would grew beyond their control and their members started splinter cell groups in cities like Chancelgaunt and Yhaunn.


 * 913 DR: As the nation of Sembia was officially formed, the cult expanded into other cities within the infant nation. The group found fast enemies in both the Zhentarim, who refused to be extorted for safe passage through Shargrailar's domain, and the Harpers, who of course were allied with the likes of the Chosen of Mystra.


 * During these years, a diversion in strategy began to develop between Sammaster and Algashon. As the enemies of the Cult grew in number, and their material wealth waned, the mad mage became more flagrant in his response to perceived threats. After the group had succeeded in siring a few more night dragons, as well as mastered the techniques to control and manipulate them, Sammaster often demonstrated the destructive power at their disposal. Conversely, Algashon strived to keep the organization operating from the shadows and not present such an obvious target for their enemies. Sammaster refused to consider his companion's outlook, blinded by his lust for power and search for vengeance against a world he perceived to have wronged him. Algashon realized how lost Sammaster was and began a plan of action.


 * After catching wind about a Harper-planned attempt on Sammaster's life, Algashon did nothing to intervene. Rather, he arranged for Shargrailar to take flight on long-distance mission well away from his master, increasing his vulnerability. Furthermore he made arrangements for his most-loyal cultists to relocate to Urmlaspyr, should the assassination succeed.

Sammster's death

 * Spring 916 DR: Sammaster and his entourage of 60+ cultists, dragonkin, undead minions and fiendish outsiders traveled to southern border of the forest of Cormanthor to court two green wyrms to their cause. Before they arrived at their destination, the envoy was ambushed by a group of Harpers and their allies, just outside the village of Hap. The ensuing battle lasted a full day and night and, if not for divine intervention, the Cult's nearly invincible forces would have emerged victorious. However, the avatar of Lathander appeared on the battlefield, armed with the mace Dawnspeaker, smote Sammaster from Toril and along with the Harpers and their allies, killed the majority of the cult's forces that day.


 * After his physical body was blasted into oblivion, Sammaster's mind and essence traveled to an awaiting phylactery, long-prior prepared by the necromancer with a series of contingency and chain contingency spells. The phylactery, an uncut, exquisite diamond, was given to a half-elven follower Zotulla, along with Sammaster's original Tome of the Dragon. Within this book were explicit instructions to create a new Cult cell near Shargrailar's lair near Cormyr and steps on how to restore Sammaster's consciousness to a new host body.


 * 918 DR: Zotulla's cult cell, located north of Tilverton in the Desertsmouth Mountains, is discovered by Zhent forces. The Zhent's killed every cult member, save for the fleeing Zotulla, disposed of the seemingly worthless diamond while failing to destroy Sammaster's opus the Tome of the Dragon.

Algashon's Leadership

 * 916 DR - 940 DR: Algashon leads the remaining Cult of the Dragon cells underground, permanently altering their means of operation throughout Faerûn. These fledgling cells were given time and autonomy to develop with relative independence.


 * Meanwhile, Algashon adopted particular traits for himself and his council of leaders within the Sembian cell, who came to be known as the Wearers of Purple. This term would become synonymous with the Cult for centuries. He also began to introduce more influences from his worship of Bane, a practice that bothered some of the Cult's newer members and cells.


 * 962 DR: A Cult cell opens in the city of Hlondath, within the Vilhon Reach.


 * 971 DR: After attempting to open a cell in the city of Surkh, the Cult is rebuked by Church of Tiamat, having felt trespassed upon.

The schism

 * 972 DR: The mage Tuelhalva Drakewings arises as a dissident voice within the cult. He begins to voice concerns over Algashon's leadership and the rising influence the church of Bane has on the Cult's operations. Drakewings' agents were forced operate in secret, as Algashon began to employ more priests of Bane to bolster his influence.


 * 972 DR - 995 DR: The Cult as a whole refocused their efforts to expansion in the North with the creation of at least 10 new cells in that region. Their only known failure during that time was an attempted infiltration of Silverymoon.


 * 995 DR - 1000 DR
 * Factionalism increased greatly within the Cult. Members were forced to align themselves with Algashon and his reformationalists, who saw their sacred undead dragons as subordinates to the greater power of Bane, or Tuelhalva Drakewings and his pragmatic sect, who focused on Sammaster's original view of undead dragons taking rule over all of Toril. Hostilities rose during this period, with occasional violent and bloody skirmishes between their numbers.


 * 1001 DR
 * While investigating rumors of an immensely powerful undead dragon deep beneath the city of Peleveria, in Peleveran, Tuelhalva Drakewings discovered an even more sinister power, a somatic connection to the baatezu Gargauth.


 * 1005 DR
 * The Mourktar Cell of the Cult was formed. Most of its members had ties to the church of Bane and the Black Lord's Altar.


 * 1018 DR: The Mourktar cell of the Cult transformed the great blue wyrm Alasklerbanbastos into a dracolich.


 * During the year in which a dracorage befell Faerûn, Tuelhalva Drakewings had completed almost two decades of work amassing arcane secrets and uncovering ancient spells to finally release Gargauth from the depths beneath Peleveria. In gratitude for his release, Gargauth summoned an army of abishai and aligned them with Drakewing's pragmatic Cult forces, which included draconian creatures and dracoliches. After Tuelhalva Drakewings declared his faction's secession from the Cult, his army and their demonic allies marched on Peleveria, siezed its throne and established the archmage as the ruler of Peleveran.


 * Shortly after Drakewing's victory, Gargauth assumed the form of an older mage and flew north to Urmlaspyr. Once here, he informed Algashon of Tuelhalva's victory, embellishing the tale with accounts of power gained by the slaying of an ancient undead dragon king. This infuriated Algashon, who rallied 20 other mages from the Cult, their followers, as well as dragons and dracoliches under their command and incited the wrath of the dracorage upon the nation.


 * A horrific and destructive battle took place over Peleveran. It culminated with a clash in the skies between Tuelhalva Drakewings and Algashon Nathaire, each mounted atop a dracolich, with the latter astride Shargrailar. In the end both Tuelhalva and Algashon would perish, along with most of their respective armies. There were however, enough members of the Sembian branch of the Cult to return to their nation and resume the activities of the Cult of the Dragon. Despite being leaderless, the remaining pragmatists routed any Banite remnants of Algashon's influence and the cult entered into a period of covert rebuilding.


 * 1024 DR: The Cult cell in Unther had been completely dissolved. Alasklerbanbastos retreated behind the Dragonback Mountain in the Riders to the Sky.

Recouperation

 * 1065 DR: Harpers operating in the North discovered the lair of the dracolich Alglaudyx. They destroyed the undead beast and looted his vast hoard of wealth.


 * 1222 DR: The Cult struck back at the Harpers during the end of the Harpstar Wars, while the latter group was under the leadership of the Harper King Thavverdasz.
 * In the final battle the commander of the Harpers was killed by the Red Wizard Szass Tam, who in turn was defeated by Elminster. When all was said and done the battle was a great loss for the Cult.


 * 1225 DR: The Elversult cell courts the psionic black dragon Hethcypressarvil, and convinces him to become a dracolich a few decades later. Using his unique gifts, Cypress would eventually kill the leaders of that cell some years later.


 * 1279 DR: A branch in Luskan essentially self-destructed when a dracolich and three white dragons, two of which were a mated pair, split off into pairs and battled one another over their horde.


 * Only a few cult members survived the desolation, though they were able to get away with a few choice treasures.

Sammaster's return

 * 1282 DR
 * A lich referring to itself as Sammaster first appeared in the Desertsmouth Mountains and began raising an army of humans, undead and dragons.


 * 1285 DR
 * An adventuring group of paladins known as the Company of the Twelve assaulted the lich's stronghold. Although nine of the paladin's fell, the three survivors managed to confirm its identity as Sammaster First-Speaker and destroy his physical body.


 * 1340 DR
 * The Sembian military engaged the Sembian cell of the Cult in the Battle of the River Rising near Featherdale.


 * 1356 DR
 * The Flight of the Dragons ripped through the Dalelands and the Moonsea regions, cutting out a swath of destruction. While the Cult claimed credit for the dragons' rage, the true cause was unknown.


 * 1357 DR
 * The Sembian cell of the Cult pursued a young Daleswoman from Deepingdale, by the name of Shandril Shessair, in an effort to understand and obtain her seemingly unique magical power known as spellfire. The Cult agents, who were acting against both members of the Zhentarim and the young woman's allies such as the Knights of Myth Drannor, some Harpers members and even the Seven Sisters.


 * This quest for power had the Cult agents traveling from the Dalelands all the way into the Western Heartlands and claim several casualties. Among the dracoliches lost in this conflict were Rauglothgor, Aghazstamn and even the mighty Shargrailar.


 * 1361 DR
 * Four Cult archmages traveled to Silverymoon and barraged the town with a flurry of spells to draw out Alustriel Silverhand, Sammaster's former companion and lover centuries before. She managed to defend herself and the town for some time with the help of Taern Hornblade and the Spellguard.


 * The battle almost turned in favor of the Cult, when they let loose a dracolich upon the town's southern walls. However the Cult forces were finally rebuffed with the arrival of Laeral Silverhand, Alustriel's sister, and Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun.


 * 1364 DR
 * The conflict between the Zhentarim and the Sembian cell of the Cult escalated as cult members began openly attacking Zhent caravans and attempted to take over their trade routes.


 * After years of battle with the territorial white wyrm Arveiaturace, the elder topaz dragon Itharagh underwent the process to become a dracolich.


 * 1365 DR
 * The Sembian cell of the Cult managed to convince Malygris, an elder blue dragon of Anauroch, to undergo the process to become a dracolich. After becoming undead, Malygris destroyed the Suzerain of blue dragons Sussethilasis and supplanted his rule over the 20 or so blue dragons in the desert.


 * Gotha, the red dracolich, was destroyed by Alicia Kendrick when her body was taken over to serve as an avatar of the Earthmother Chauntea.


 * 1369 DR
 * The dracolich Kistarianth was destroyed by Piergeiron the Paladinson on the slopes of Mount Waterdeep during Halaster's Higharvestide.


 * Kya Mordrayn, the leader of a Cult of the Dragon cell operating in Myth Drannor attempted to use the resurgent Pools of Radiance in her grab for power. Aided by her dracolich ally Pelendralaar, she corrupted a mythal, flooded the ruins of Myth Drannor with undead and her cultists, who were wrapped into reptilian and draconic shapes by the corrupted mythal. The new appearance earned them the name of "scarred ones" among their opponents and "mythal-blessed" among each other. She was defeated by a group of heroes from Phlan sent by Elminster and was dragged away by the fiends as payment for her failure.


 * 1372 DR
 * Skull Gorge location 3e.png Sembian cell of the Cult discovered the Well of Dragons, in the crater of a volcano, hidden behind shadow magic in Skull Gorge. This ancient graveyard, where great wyrms went to die, had a unique undead guardian, the Dire Dragon Uthagrimnoshaarl. The Cult formed the Dragonwell Cell, comprised mostly of Sembian members.


 * 1373 DR
 * Unknown: Sammaster resurrected Algashon as a banelich, with the intention to restore his rank as Second Speaker within the Cult.
 * Hammer 1: The returned lich Sammaster completed his work on the Dracorage mythal, inciting a Rage of Dragons that was independent of the King-Killer Star appearing over the skies of Toril.
 * Ches 12: Cult-summoned abishai burned down the Nightwind Academy in Lyrabar.
 * Tarsakh 16: The army of Impiltur, allied with the spirit dragon Vorasaegha, managed to destroy the Cult lair located in the Gray Forest.
 * Mirtul 2: While impersonating the reborn Witch-king Zhengyi, Sammaster raised an army of orcs and giants in the realm of Vaasa. After assaulting the Bloodstone Gates, the monstrous horde poured into the nation of Damara.
 * Mirtul 3: King Gareth Dragonsbane responded to the threat with the Damaran army, but fell in battle after Cult members who had infiltrated his ranks betrayed the paladin-king.
 * Nightal 6: Sammaster and his phylacteries were finally, permanently destroyed. The Rage that had affected dragons for most of the year finally came to an end.

The Triumvirate

 * 1374 DR
 * After the destruction of the lich Sammaster, the Cult underwent a period of upheaval. Several cells tried to seize power in the absence of strong leadership, while the church of Tiamat attempted to absorb the Cult as a whole under the reign of the Dragon Queen. The Great Bone Wyrm, Alasklerbanbastos, tried to unite the Cult cells that continued to operate during this time, but his allegiance to Tiamat's clergy was a compromising factor.


 * In the wake of the Great Bone Wyrm's bid for leadership, an uneasy alliance formed between existing Cult leaders. Comprised of the Shadow dragon Aurgloroasa, the dracolich Daurgothoth and the humanoid lich known only as the First Interpreter, a ruling council formed within the Cult known as The Triumvirate claimed leadership. The First Interpreter was actually the risen Algashon, who kept his former identity hidden from his contemporaries.

15 century DR

 * 1409 DR
 * After an epidemic decimated the population of metallic dragons in the Copper Mountains, many of them evacuated the region. One such dragon, Skalnaedyr, fled south to the village of Phannaskull and offered protection for their obedience. He became the first of many Dragon princes to claim power in the greater region of Murghôm.


 * The town of Phannaskull later changed its name to Skalnaedyr, after its draconic prince. The more moderate members of the Cult established the Dragon House within the city, while its fringe members operated out of the nearby Tower of the Talon.


 * Before 1479 DR
 * As of the Year of the Ageless One, the Cult of the Dragon considered the black dragon Anabraxis, "The Black Talon," to be its ultimate authority.


 * Before 1489 DR
 * By the late 15 century DR the Calishite wizard Severin Silrajin had taken over leadership of the Cult. Manipulated by Tiamat, Severin had reinterpreted the Cult's prophecy to turn the Cult to the worship of living dragons rather than undead ones, and ultimately attempted to summon Tiamat into Faerûn. These attempts ultimately failed. Following this failure, the Cult splintered between those who wished to pursue Severin's interpretation of the prophecy, and those who wished to return to the old ways.

However, Tiamat's Cult of the Dragon was not the only organization that rose in the 15 century DR. The powerful dracolich Daurgothoth, the Creeping Doom, emerged from his extra dimensional lair after weathering the magical ravages of the Spellplague. This fact was not widely known among seers and sages of the Realms, apart from the Chosen of Mystra and Azuth. After the Second Sundering, Daurgothoth returned to Dolblunde, where he began reassembling his favorite plaything: the Cult of the Dragon. By the late 15 century DR, Daurgothoth's Cult of the Dragon was being rebuilt through dracolich's covert manipulation of merchants and adventurers. Through these unwitting agents Daurgothoth's Cult's began expanding. The Creeping Doom spent time picking appropriate agents for recruitment and tested their loyalty and resolve across many nations of Faerûn. His end goal was destroying the Zhentarim, the Red Wizards, the Arcane Brotherhood, and any other organization significant enough to oppose his aspirations to become the most powerful creature on Toril and the creation of a race of living dracoliches.