Orbs of Dragonkind
Encyclopedia
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.
(1976).
.
.
.
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.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. In the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting, they are powerful ancient Suloise
Suloise
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Suloise, also known as the "Suel," are one of the major races of humans inhabiting the Flanaess....
artifacts designed to press dragons
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
into servitude.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The Orbs of Dragonkind first appeared in the fourth supplement to the original D&D rules, Eldritch WizardryEldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry is a supplementary rulebook by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, written for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which included a number of significant additions to the core game.-Contents:...
(1976).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The Orbs of Dragonkind were also mentioned in the original 1979 Dungeon Master's GuideDungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The Orbs of Dragonkind were further developed in 1993's Book of ArtifactsBook of Artifacts
The Book of Artifacts is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This book, published by TSR, Inc. in 1993, details 50 different artifacts, special magic items found within the game at the Dungeon Master's...
.
Description
The Orbs of Dragonkind are eight crystalline artifacts about the size of a human head, each containing the imprisoned essence of a dragonDragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
.
History
Around 3114 SD (-2400 CY), the Suel ImperiumSuloise
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Suloise, also known as the "Suel," are one of the major races of humans inhabiting the Flanaess....
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
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
(roka in the Suloise tongue), goblins
Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
(or chebi), and hobgoblins
Hobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing form of goblins. They are smaller and weaker than bugbears, but better organized. Hobgoblins are humanoids that stand nearly 6'6" tall on average, a little taller than orcs...
(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
Pyremius
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Pyremius is the Suel god of Assassins, Fire, Poison, and Murder...
who made common cause with the dragons.
With the aid of Wee Jas
Wee Jas
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Wee Jas is the Suel goddess of Magic, Death, Vanity, and Law...
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
Great Migrations (Greyhawk)
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Great Migrations is a general term applying to the migration of great hordes of Oeridians and Suel humans into the Flanaess from western Oerik...
, Oeridians
Oeridians
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Oeridians are a race of humans living in the Flanaess...
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.
Additional reading
- Moore, Roger E.Roger E. MooreRoger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
"The Orbs of Dragonkind." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#230. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- Sargent, CarlCarl SargentCarl L. Sargent is a British author of several roleplaying game-based products and novels.-Early career:...
. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, unpublished. Available online: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads