The Princes of Murghôm were the ruling council who governed the nation of Murghôm since 1409 DR.[2] The princes were members of all the races of dragonkind.[3] Each dragon prince ruled its own settlement and the region around it. Most had humanoid servants and were benevolent; only few of the dragon princes were evil.[2]
Organization[]
- For their military strength and the rule of law under the princes, see: Murghôm
Dragon princes were belligerent, as they fought one another to increase their holdings or eliminate rivals. Landless dragons also searched for weak dragon princes to overthrow. As an unspoken rule, neither dragon princes nor landless wyrms attacked other dragons directly, as they wanted to make their subjects believe that the princes were untouchable and invincible.[2]
Despite the occasional conflict, no dragon prince actively sought to rule all the land and the other dragon princes as a dragon king. When the dragon princes needed to discuss important matters, they held a Council of Wyrms in Dracowyr.[2] Many considered Skalnaedyr to be their leader, however, as he was the strongest dragon prince.[1]
Dragon princes regarded dragonborn with suspicion, knowing most of them had no love for draconic kings. However, a few of them overcame those prejudices and employed dragonborn as their servants as well. For example, Ananta, was the favored servant of Skalnaedyr.[2] Similarly, elves and powerful human wizards were not to be trusted, as well as human cabals, factions and power groups who might pose a challenge to their authority and plans.[4]
Activities[]
The princes dedicated a great deal of effort to maintaining their domains and guarding them against potential usurpers, whether they were internal threats or foreign invaders. They were also highly involved in their game of xorvintaal. However, with each passing day, the dragons became more interested in the affairs of faraway nations and meddled in their politics. Adventures were hired to enact the will of the prince in these foreign lands. The prince provided supplies to these companies but also human spies to monitor their activities.[4]
Individual princes acted in the same manner as the human rulers of the Border Kingdoms. Their levels of power, reach, and the nature of their authority differed from one wyrm to another, heavily impacted by their personalities and goals. Some dragons weren't interested in what the humans under them did and others enjoyed being grand puppeteers pulling the strings from behind the curtains, while most were somewhere in the middle.[4]
Collectively, the dragon princes had been secretly preparing for a war to end all wars against their enemies. They decided to play the long game so not to rattle to many warfronts like some madness-stricken expansionists, slowly putting all of the pieces one by one on to the table, eliminate their foes without arousing suspicion, and when the day their armies and wings are unleashed upon their rivals finally dawns, the dragon princes would be in complete control of the situation while the later would drown in their confusion and panic.[5]
Relationships[]
The Zhentarim were attacked on sight, owing to their history of subduing dragons and using them as flying mounts, with Manshoon being one out of many examples who practiced this kind of behavior. The Princes believed that, if left unchecked, such actions might be copied by other organizations and individuals, and these "heresies" should be stomped out whenever and wherever they appear.[4]
The Cult of the Dragon had entered a period of crisis after the Second Sundering, as all of its cells were fighting one another. Thus, they came under the scrutiny of the dragon princes, who were eyeing to take full control of the cult's leadership. However, if the cult's leadership proved its resilience against such adversity, the princes were unanimous in their opinion that each and every cultist should be hunted down and exterminated.[4]
Ioulaum, an undead elder brain and arcanist of Netheril, viewed the "slothfulness" of the dragon princes—namely, their lack of interest in developing magic and creating a magic-based society in the regions they controlled—as an eyesore.[6]
History[]
The first dragon prince was Skalnaedyr, regarded as such when he "conquered" the village of the same name in the Year of True Omens, 1409 DR, when he was fleeing an epidemic that killed many dragons of the Copper Mountains. Since then, other dragons sought to emulate his example, and eventually many wyrms dominated the lands of Murghôm and Semphar.[2][7]
In the Year of the Dark Circle, 1478 DR, some of the dragon princes joined Brimstone's xorvintaal.[1] However, after discovering that Brimstone was using a spell to compel them to play, the dragon princes joined forces with dragonborn knights from Tymanther and the Brotherhood of the Griffon on Nightal of the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, and put an end to Brimstone's game.[8]
By 1489 DR, the dragon princes were still the rulers of Murghôm.[9]
Known Dragon Princes[]
As of 1479 DR, the known dragon princes were:
- Skalnaedyr, an elder blue dragon, considered the strongest of the princes and their leader;[1]
- Astanalan, an emerald dragon;[10]
- Chelnadatilar, a gold dragon;[10]
- Domborcojh, a sapphire dragon;[10]
- Harmauthantildarr, a dragon who subverted Thayan operations with no plans of territorial expansion;[11]
- Ferzath, a black dragon, deceased as of 1479 DR;[12] and
- Llemgradac, a sapphire dragon, also deceased.[13]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Richard Lee Byers (May 2010). The Captive Flame. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 14–15. ISBN 0786953969.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 265. ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Ed Greenwood (2019-04-02). Interview with the Old Mage Episode 2. Mages & Sages Podcast - Fans of Ed Greenwood YouTube channel. Retrieved on 2019-04-02.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2025-06-12). ED GREENWOOD Returns for Gabbin #357: Elements Beyond the Campaign Focus!. Lord Gosumba YouTube channel. Retrieved on 2025-08-04.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2023-04-25). Legendary Characters of the Realms. Ed Greenwood's Patreon. Retrieved on 2023-05-24.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 324–326. ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 265, 319–320. ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2022-02-21). Harmauth (Harmauthantildarr) (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved on 2025-07-08.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 265, 319. ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 265, 314. ISBN 0786957980.