Orbs of Dragonkind

The Orbs of Dragonkind are powerful artifacts, in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the Greyhawk setting, they are powerful ancient Suloise artifacts designed to press dragons into servitude.

Publication history

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The Orbs of Dragonkind first appeared in the fourth supplement to the original D&D rules, Eldritch Wizardry (1976).^[1]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The Orbs of Dragonkind were also mentioned in the original 1979 Dungeon Master's Guide.^[2]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The Orbs of Dragonkind were further developed in 1993's Book of Artifacts.^[3]

Description

The Orbs of Dragonkind are eight crystalline artifacts about the size of a human head, each containing the imprisoned essence of a dragon.

History

Around 3114 SD (-2400 CY), the Suel Imperium fought a series of wars with the monsters of the southern Crystalmist Mountains, what are now called the Hellfurnaces. The leaders of the enemies of the Suel were the so-called Fiery Kings, great families of red and shadow dragons, who led armies of orcs (roka in the Suloise tongue), goblins (or chebi), and hobgoblins (hochebi) against the fighters and wizards of the Suel. Working in concert with them were the treacherous Inheritors of the Red Gloom, magic-using worshippers of the evil Pyremius who made common cause with the dragons.

With the aid of Wee Jas and perhaps other gods, Emperor Inzhilem II of the House of Neheli-Arztin began the creation of the eight Orbs of Dragonkind, though they were not completed until at least fifty years later, during the reign of Ubrond Thrideen of the House of Neheli.

During the Great Migrations, Oeridians used Orbs of Dragonkind to capture dragons from the Griff Mountains and Corusk Mountains and force them to battle their enemies. Flights of dragons using magical fear to rout terrified troops were decisive in many battles.

Bibliography

1. ^ Gygax, Gary; Blume, Brian (1976), D&D Supplement IV: Eldritch Wizardry, Lake Geneva WI: TSR, pp. 43–44 
2. ^ Gygax, Gary (1979), Dungeon Masters Guide, Lake Geneva WI: TSR 
3. ^ Cook, David. Book of Artifacts. (TSR, 1993)

Additional reading

• Moore, Roger E. "The Orbs of Dragonkind." Dragon #230. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.

• Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, unpublished. Available online: [1]