An orb of dragonkind was an artifact capable of summoning and controlling evil dragons.[3][4][5]
Description[]
Each orb of dragonkind contained the essence of an ancient dragon,[3][4][6] including their personality.[1][6][7] While these dragons usually were evil[3] chromatics, there also existed orbs entrapped with the essence of metallic dragons,[4][8] shadow dragons, and even cloud dragons.[8]
While dormant, an orb of dragonkind was an engraved 10‑inch (0.25‑meter) crystal globe. When activated they grew to about 20 inches (0.51 meters) and displayed colored mists in their interior,[3] an internal fire that matched the color of its associated dragon type.[5] They often had an ancient, forgotten script faintly etched into them. And it was not uncommon for them to be mounted upon three-armed stands made of precious metals.[5]
Powers[]
A creature could try to control an orb of dragonkind by looking at it and speaking its command word. However, the magic on these artifacts had been warped over the centuries, so an orb might also attempt to gain control of its user in order to pursue the goals of the essence trapped inside.[3]
If successful in gaining control over it, the user of an orb of dragonkind was granted access to several spells, such as cure wounds, daylight, death ward, and scrying. The main power of the orb was to telepathically call all evil dragons in a 40‑mile (64‑kilometer) radius to its position, a power that could be used once every hour.[3] Additionally, the wielder of an orb was to be granted immunity to the breath weapon of the dragon variety keyed to it.[4]
All orbs could be used to communicate both verbally and visually with other orbs of dragonkind,[4][9] usually providing the identity of an owner was known, functioning similarly to a crystal ball.[9]
Although resilient, orbs of dragonkind could be destroyed by sufficiently powerful magic weapons or by a disintegrate spell.[3]
History[]
An orb of dragonkind.
The original five orbs of dragonkind were believed to have been created on the planet Krynn[3][5][note 2] in an effort to master dragons in the great Dragon Wars.[4] They were said to employ the same fundamental magic as the orbs of draconic influence crafted by the dragons of Toril.[10] It was unknown exactly how many of these orbs existed, with various stories featuring different amounts and some tales even telling of ones being destroyed. Some sources claimed there was one for every age category for each of the core dragon varieties.[6]
One of the orbs of dragonkind, or at least an enchanted item of similar renown was hidden away in the Tomb of Damara sometime before 14th century DR. This artifact allowed its owner to transform into a powerful red dragon, but it was destroyed by Netheril, a wizard from Freedale in the mid-14th century DR.[11]
By the late 15th century DR, only three orbs of dragonkind were believed to still exist.[3] It was rumored that they were sought after by the Cult of the Dragon.[12]
The frost giant Gryttmort took possession of an orb of dragonkind sometime in the late 15th century DR in an attempt to become a jarl and ascend in the shattered ordning.[13] After his plans were thwarted by Minsc, Boo, Delina, Krydle, Shandie, Nerys, and Saarvin, the orb was given to the custody of the white dragon Nilanthe.[14]
Notable Owners[]
- Alasklerbanbastos, the Great Bone Wyrm of Dragonback Mountain.[15]
- Emirikol the Chaotic (rumored in possession)[16]
- Nilanthe[14]
- Tchazzar, the dragon ascendant ruler of Chessenta.[17]
- Uldrak, the empyrean that held an orb of dragonkind within the pommel of his sword.[18]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons provided only a 4th edition update to the blue orb of dragonkind, but stated that the other orbs could easily be designed by using it as a model and changing details as appropriate. A more general purpose orb of dragonkind was later statted out in Dragon #394's article "Bazaar of the Bizarre: Legendary Eladrin Items".
- ↑ Book of Artifacts states that the setting-neutral orbs of dragonkind are not meant to be the same objects as the Dragonlance setting's dragon orbs, though later books imply otherwise.
Appearances[]
Adventures
Comics
Video Games
Board Games
Card Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Hellfire Requiem
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bruce R. Cordell, et al. (November 2008). Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7869-4980-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Matthew Sernett (December 2010). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Legendary Eladrin Items”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #394 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 45.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 225. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 281. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), p. 65. ISBN 978-1560766728.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), p. 69. ISBN 978-1560766728.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), pp. 73, 75–76. ISBN 978-1560766728.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), pp. 71–73. ISBN 978-1560766728.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 David "Zeb" Cook (December 1993). Book of Artifacts. (TSR, Inc), p. 71. ISBN 978-1560766728.
- ↑ James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7869-6729-2.
- ↑ Richard Baker III, David Cook, Kevin Melka, Bruce Nesmith (1995). Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 26–27. ISBN 0-7869-0332-5.
- ↑ James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-0-7869-6729-2.
- ↑ Jim Zub (May 2017). “Frost Giant's Fury 3”. In David Hedgecock and Chase Marotz ed. Frost Giant's Fury #3 (IDW Publishing) (3)., p. 8.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jim Zub (August 2017). “Frost Giant's Fury 5”. In David Hedgecock and Chase Marotz ed. Frost Giant's Fury #5 (IDW Publishing) (5)., p. 20.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Rich Lescouflair, Alan Patrick (2019). Hellfire Requiem (DDEP09-02) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Avernus Rising (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.