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Sammaster the Chosen of Mystra
In a time long past, Mnethos, a humble mage and caravan guard, took in an orphan as his apprentice, never suspecting the boy named Sammaster, will one day reshape the fate of Faerûn. The boy possessed a nervous disposition and acute senses that often left him agitated, trembling, and prone to fits of rage. Frequent illness plagued young Sammaster that simple herbs could barely alleviate. Despite his ailments, Mnethos recognized the boy’s fierce intelligence and burning ambition to master the magical arts.
So devoted was young Sammaster that he regularly missed meals and sleep to better understand magical principles. It was during this time when young Sammaster became increasingly fascinated by the underlying foundations of magic known as the Weave, and Mystra, the Goddess of Magic who regulates the Weave. Introduced to formal worship by Mnethos, Sammaster became an ardent follower of Mystra. From that point forward, Mystra seemed to smile upon the young mage.
His studies accelerated rapidly and soon Sammaster outgrew his mentor’s teachings, leaving Mnethos to seek greater challenges. Sammaster journeyed incessantly across Faerûn, seeking new mentors to learn ever more advanced magic. Time and again, he would quickly outstrip his new teacher’s abilities and move on in search of greater challenges. The only constant in his restless life was magic itself, Sammaster’s first and only true love.
Despite his late start and poor health, Sammaster achieved archmage status before a single gray hair sprouted from his scalp. Sammaster delved ever deeper into magical theories and the profound mysteries of the Weave. He discovered, rediscovered, and improved numerous spells in the advanced field known as metamagic. Sammaster remained deeply grateful to his Lady Mystra as he reverently called the Goddess of Magic in his prayers. At the natural age of 50, Mystra herself appeared before the devoted archmage.
Sammaster was awestruck and utterly smitten as he fell to his knees, weeping upon Mystra’s divine feet. Mystra asked this young genius if he believed himself worthy and strong enough to carry her divine power within him. Not fully understanding what lady Mystra meant, Sammaster nonetheless accepted without hesitation, trusting completely in her wisdom. He became the first mage to join the ranks of Mystra’s Chosen since the legendary Seven Sisters years before.
Sammaster the Mad
It was the year 855 DR in the season of spring at dawn when tragedy would forever change Sammaster. Sammaster was wandering through the borderlands when he came upon a troop of caravans. He approached and quickly determined their true nature, evil Zhentarim slavers, preying upon and transporting innocent peasants. Driven to one of his characteristic rages at this atrocious scene, Sammaster felt overwhelming anger consume his rational mind. Alone, he approached the Zhentarim, calling upon silver fire, the inherent power of all Chosen of Mystra.
The Zhent guards surrounded the wizard while some ran toward the helpless peasants to take hostages. Sammaster was delayed by the guards as he fought with desperate fury to reach the prisoners. Just as Sammaster dispatched the last guard, he witnessed the atrocity being committed by the fleeing Zhents. The panicking people in the cage carts flailed about with their chains, striking the approaching Zhents. All thoughts of hostage taking fled the Zhents in their anger and fear as they began slaughtering the helpless slaves.
Sammaster, already covered in blood from battle, heard the peasants agonized screams. He screamed in matching fury as he saw the wholesale slaughter being carried out before his eyes. A brilliant ball of silver fire erupted from him uncontrollably. The silver fire flew straight to the cage cart where the Zhents were hewing and chopping the innocent prisoners. The silver fire struck and exploded with blinding light, killing not only the Zhents, but also any peasants who had managed to survive the slaughter thus far.
Sammaster realized the horrible truth of what he had done to those innocents. His psyche could not cope with what he had done. Something in his mind snapped completely that fateful day. The scents of burning wood, horse flesh and human flesh assailed him. He lost consciousness entirely, falling among the destruction that his uncontrolled power had wrought upon the innocent. From that day forward, Sammaster could never forget what he had done with Mystra’s gifts.
His chaotic tendencies, irrational rages, sense of failure, combined with this horrific memory overwhelmed his sanity. Little was heard of Sammaster for many years following, with most believing he had gone into complete magical seclusion. Some believe Sammaster sought to restore those innocent lives he had taken, marking his first forays into necromancy. These researches awakened his interest in the creation of the undead. Sammaster, as one of the Chosen, had little to fear from most undead creatures and actively sought them out.
He came to know and gained knowledge from vampires and liches of great power.
Sammaster and Alustriel
In the year 861 DR, in the magnificent city of Silverymoon, fate would bring two Chosen of Mystra together. Alustriel had been ruling the city wisely since 857 DR, beloved by her people for her grace and wisdom. When Sammaster met the Lady Mage Alustriel, another Chosen of Mystra, neither had seen such beauty and genius since meeting their goddess. Alustriel saw something in Sammaster that drew her to him. Perhaps the fire of genius is still evident in his tortured eyes.
The two spent much time together, with Alustriel’s caring nature seeming to calm Sammaster’s grief and stabilize his extremes. For a brief time, it seemed that love and companionship might heal the wounds in Sammaster’s tortured psyche completely. Sadly, this stability was not destined to last. Sammaster’s damaged mind could not maintain healthy relationships for long. As with magic and Mystra herself, Alustriel slowly became an obsession rather than a healthy, natural passion for Sammaster.
This was an insatiable drive to master Alustriel completely, to make her world revolve around him. The independent Alustriel was uncomfortable with Sammaster’s obsession over her. After a few years, the pair parted company with bitterness in Sammaster’s heart and regret in Alustriel’s. This failed relationship reignited the angst in Sammaster, leaving him far worse off than before. He dived back into his studies of necromancy to build impenetrable walls around his deepest feelings.
Battle of four Chosen of Mystra
Subsequent to his relationship with Alustriel, Sammaster met and was befriended by Algashon Nathaire, a manipulative priest of Bane. Algashon adopted the Banite tenet of supporting tyrants and in unstable Sammaster, he saw the chance to create a formidable one. Algashon befriended Sammaster, then slowly and subtly played on Sammaster’s deepest vulnerabilities. He created and reinforced rationalizations to explain his past failures. “The accident with the slaves was the Zhent’s fault.”
“The failed relationship with Alustriel was her fault.” “In fact, your troubles began when Mystra made you her Chosen.” Algashon pointed out. Algashon’s poisoned words gradually twisted Sammaster’s already damaged mind. As the two traveled together over many years, Sammaster fell gradually deeper under the sway of Algashon. After Algashon was convinced that Sammaster was truly under his thumb, he received instructions from his dark god, Bane. They believed they understood Sammaster’s silver fire and could control it if Algashon could steal the ability. Rather than risk their pawn’s life, they decided to steal another Chosen’s power.
Algashon decided that the best target would be Alustriel because of Sammaster’s past. Putting their plan into action, Algashon tracked Alustriel to the remote Evermoors and led Sammaster near her camp. While approaching, Algashon dredged up Sammaster’s self-hatred and self-pity, directing it towards Alustriel. He drove Sammaster into one of his insane rages, then slinked away to watch from safety. As another of Mystra’s Chosen, Alustriel sensed Sammaster’s proximity to her, but never expected an attack from the intense but brilliant man, she recalled.
As she emerged from her tent, Sammaster’s rage burst out of him, like a flooding river bursting through a dam. She defended herself as soon as she recovered from her shock, but was sorely wounded by Sammaster’s devastating first strike. With no other choice, Alustriel reluctantly called upon two other Mystra’s Chosen with whom she shares a special bond. Laeral Silverhand and Khelben Arunsun appeared instantly by her side. She did this with the full and sorrowful knowledge that in doing so, she was likely condemning Sammaster to a bloody, violent death. Neither Algashon nor Bane had planned for this contingency and saw their scheme destroyed before their very eyes.
Algashon attempted to aid his pawn, but Bane forbaded it, paralyzing the priest where he hid. Bane’s voice thundered in Algashon’s head that this defeat could also be turned to his advantage. A ferocious battle ensued between four of Mystra’s Chosen. When the powerful magical energies from the battle finally ceased, Sammaster had fallen in defeat.
Azuth, a lesser deity and lieutenant of Mystra, appeared before the Chosens, gesturing solemnly over the defeated Sammaster. A silver star fell from the sky to hang above Sammaster’s beaten body, pulsing with Mystra’s divine power. Great gouts of silver fire flowed out from Sammaster’s wounds, absorbed by the star. Azuth declared that Sammaster’s body was to remain where it had fallen, as final lesson and punishment from the goddess. But Sammaster did not pass on to the planes that day, as the others believed.
After the others left, Algashon emerged from his hiding place, prompted by his dark god’s whispered commands. He casted the spells prepared for Alustriel on Sammaster instead, trapping divine power and restoring life. While the silver fire was gone, Sammaster retained the healing powers and immortality of Mystra’s Chosen. As Sammaster healed, Algashon fed him more lies, painting him as a tragic hero who had withstood the other Chosens’ attacks. Only the treachery of gods Azuth and Mystra had defeated him.
“The powers of Faerûn must have feared you terribly to betray you so. Only another deity in the birthing could have inspired two gods to such fear, and you must be that nascent god.” Algashon whispered.
The rise of The Cult of the Dragon
Sammaster was now in the full grip of the delusions carefully fostered by Algashon. In his search for power and purpose, Sammaster scoured many prophetic tomes, including Magla’s Chronicle of Years to Come. From one passage, or more specifically, Sammaster’s mistaken translation of the prophecy in the passage, the Cult of the Dragon would rise. “And naught will be left save shattered thrones with no rulers.
But the dead dragons shall rule the world entire…” The evil fire this passage set alight in Sammaster’s demented brain was destined to burn for centuries to come. Together with Algashon, Sammaster wandered Faerûn, preaching the future of the world as he saw it should be. He changed his direction in necromantic research, hoping to grant a form of undeath to dragons. Eventually, Sammaster, Algashon, and their followers settled in Chondathan and established headquarters for their growing movement.
They continued to preach and attract followers, and Sammaster was coined First Speaker. Under Sammaster’s leadership, cult members began experiments that would reach fruition. In the year 902 DR, Sammaster convinced the Red Dragon Shargrailar to become a dracolich. The successful creation of a dracolich, or a Night Dragon as Sammaster first called it, changed everything.
Using their new weapon of terror, the nascent cult in Chondathan exploded in wealth and popularity. The cult acquired huge fortunes by using the threat of Shargrailar to extort money. This extortion occurred throughout the former city-state colonies of Chondath that would eventually become the nation of Sembia. By 906 DR, the name, Cult of the Dragon, became popular, likely originating among the terrorized peasantry. The cult in Chondathan soon grew too large for even Sammaster and Algashon to manage.
Offshoot cells began to establish themselves in other city-states, spreading the cult’s influence. Sammaster even persuaded another dragon, Rauglothgor, to become a dracolich under the cult. Algashon was thrilled by the progress since that day in the Evermoors and was determined to expand further. He suggested that Sammaster create a collection of all his wisdom, prophecies, and procedures concerning Night Dragons. Algashon could have the book reproduced and distributed to cult members.
The idea of his life’s work forming the written ideology of the cult played to Sammaster’s growing megalomania. He agreed and created the Tome of the Dragon over the course of three years.
Reproduced copies were then brought to distant lands by cult members over the centuries. Algashon’s masterstroke resulted in the spreading of Sammaster’s cult and ideology far and wide.
The Tome of the Dragon, Amulets of Draconic Might and the Rings of Dragons
The original Tome of the Dragon preaches the dracoliches’ destiny as Faerûn’s rulers and the cult’s favored position in Toril’s new order. It also contains theories and magical processes regarding the dragons and dracoliches. The recorded cross-breeding experiments to better understand how draconic life functions, allow cult wizards to create draconic hybrids and dracoliches. The book was written in a magical cipher that resists all known mundane and magical decoding attempts.
The only way to read the writings is through knowledge passed from cult wizard to cult wizard verbally. Over centuries, many copies were made to spread Sammaster’s teachings. While these copies have magical protection, the single original Tome of the Dragon is near indestructible and qualifies as an artifact. Further encrypted in different script, Sammaster detailed the creation process for Amulets of Draconic Might. No one can create a new Amulet of Draconic Might without the instructions in the tome. The six existing Amulets of Draconic Might are the secret keys to the cult’s control over the dracoliches.
Created secretly by Sammaster, the amulets work in conjunction with the Rings of Dragons. The Rings of Dragons are worn only by high-ranking cult members who retain the secrets of their construction. The wearer is empowered to verbally and telepathically communicate with any true dragon. The wearer can issue a call to evil dragons and cult dracoliches, allowing them to home in on the caller if they hear the call and choose to respond. However, they are under no compulsion to respond. Unlike the rings, any command from an Amulet of Draconic Might to the cult’s dracoliches cannot be refused. An intrinsic part of the cult dracoliches’ creation process links the dracoliches to all amulets.
When worn together with a Ring of Dragons by an evil being, the wearer of an Amulet of Draconic Might can command dracoliches like an evil priest commanding undead. In addition, the amulet wearer can specify only certain dracoliches or dragons to hear the command. Dracoliches cannot ignore the command, but unique circumstances can prevent them from hearing the call. Living evil dragons have a chance to resist the amulets and be fully aware of what was just attempted. For this reason, the amulets are used on a living dragon only when bribery and coercion fail.
The death of Sammaster
As the cult grew, it soon attracted dangerous attention from other power groups across Faerûn. Algashon tried to dissuade his partner from blatant schemes, counseling caution and suggesting they go underground. Sammaster refused, blinded by his visions of power and revenge against the world that had wronged him. Seeing that he was rapidly losing his controlling grip on the mage, Algashon began to plan. In the year 916 DR, the Harpers, a group dedicated to defending innocents from evil, mobilized to infiltrate, disable, and destroy the cult in Chondathan.
The cult’s spies relayed to Algashon that the Harpers were tracking Sammaster, seeking to ambush him. He kept this information from Sammaster, then took the most powerful cult dracoliches elsewhere before the Harper ambush. Sammaster and his entourage of cult members, dragon hybrids, dragon kin, and undead, were traveling to pay a first visit to two green dragons, who were being courted to become dracoliches. The Harper ambush, with a massed force of Harpers and allies, attacked at dawn. Though surprised, Sammaster responded quickly, summoning two lesser dracoliches to aid in obliterating this impudent threat.
The battle raged for a full day and night. Despite being ambushed, the cult, led by Sammaster’s might, was overwhelming the Harpers when the sun rose over the battlefield for the second time. Several priests, desperate to stop the seemingly invincible Sammaster, appealed to their god, Lathander, the Morninglord. Lathander heard their dawn prayers and was outraged by the future Sammaster prophesied, and the abominations he had created. Lathander sent a battle avatar to the field, and a tremendous battle ensued between avatar and Sammaster.
In the end, the avatar managed to defeat Sammaster with overwhelming divine power. However, Sammaster had prepared for unlife as a lich should his regenerative abilities fail him. Upon his death, his soul fled to a phylactery, a small but exquisite uncut diamond. If undestroyed, the phylactery can allow Sammaster to return as a lich, like the events centuries later. In the year 1282 DR, a lich calling itself Sammaster began gathering servants and even dragons under its banner.
Rumors spoke of the lich using a dracolich of enormous size and power as a steed. Cultists investigated and found the lich’s claim was true. He was indeed Sammaster, returned from death itself. The cult began to rally around the lich lord as words spread of their founder’s triumphant return. Alarmed Harpers and good folk of the Dalelands and Cormyr readied themselves to defend against the lich’s hordes. In the year 1285 DR, a group of paladins known as the Company of Twelve, supported by the Harpers, attacked the lich and his dracolich in the ruins of ancient Harrowsmouth.
The battle was immense and nine of the Company died, but Sammaster was defeated once more. However, neither Sammaster’s phylactery nor the Tome of the Dragon was recovered to prevent another return.
The fracturing of The Cult of the Dragon
Back to the years following Sammaster’s death, battling Lathander’s avatar. Algashon took over the remnants of the Sembian cell and took the organization underground as he had long advised. Over centuries, the sect loyal to Algashon and cell’s loyal to Sammaster came into conflict many times. This early schism resulted in the fractious nature of the organization to this very day. Algashon adopted robes of rich, deep purple to signify his status in the cult.
Soon, only the inner circle of leadership were allowed to wear this color and they became known as Wearers of Purple. As Algashon ruled over decades, he slowly brought more of Bane’s doctrines into the Sembian branch. Many followers grew unsettled as Algashon steered the cult towards seeming union with the Church of Bane. Many who joined the cult saw it as a means to further their own power through dragon alliances. They believed the cult should be more of a secret society than a religious organization.
This coalition was led by the Archmage Tuelhalva Drakewings, forming the pragmatic branch in the cult against Algashon’s Bane influenced reformational stance. By the year 1000 DR, philosophical differences grew until the entire cult of the dragon in Sembia aligned behind one of two leaders, Algashon or Tuelhalva. Algashon brought in more priests of Bane to bolster support and intimidate those who oppose his leadership. Hostilities continued to grow with occasional skirmishes within the fractured cult.
In the year 1001 DR, Tuelhalva was sent to investigate reports of an ancient undead dragon in Peleveran. He found no undying dragon, but discovered an evil entity in the deepest caverns. From the depths of an endless pit, a reptilian voice whispered promises of absolute power if ancient wards that prevented his entry into the world were sundered. Tuelhalva saw this as his opportunity to break with the Sembian cult and set up his own power base. For 17 years, Tuelhalva labored with ancient magics until he could cast the incantations the voice revealed.
With the casting of the spell, the great fiend, the demipower Gargauth, arose from the pit. In exchange for his release, Gargauth summoned forth an army of fiends to serve the ambitious archmage’s whims. Those most loyal to Tuelhalva declared secession from the Sembian cult and joined him in Peleveran with their dracoliches, draco-hybrids, and dragon allies. Tuelhalva, leading the horde of hellspawn and draconian allies marched forth, taking Peleveran’s throne within a fortnight.
As Peleveran fell, Gargauth, demigod of betrayal and political corruption, sought out the leaders of the cult, he whispered of Tuelhalva’s victory and that the archmage destroyed an ancient, undead dragon he found for the victory.
Enraged, Algashon and other mages of the cult summoned all their dracoliches, dragon hybrids, and dragon allies to form a huge Flight of Dragons. Within a month of Tuelhalva’s coronation, a Rage of Dragons descended on Peleveran. Tuelhalva’s forces were destroyed, but Algashon fell in the climactic confrontation with Tuelhalva. The victory came at a price. The cult’s ranks of draconic might was decimated and their high priest was no more. After destroying Tuelhalva’s faction, the remaining Sembians returned home, but the cult needed new leaders without Algashon. The remaining Banites tried to maintain control, but with Algashon’s intimidation gone, they were outvoted by the pragmatist faction. The pragmatic philosophy has had the upper hand in the cult to this day. The cult entered another quiescent period, either working covertly or quietly recouping their tremendous losses.
The activities of The Cult of the Dragon
The cult’s activities include visiting evil dragon’s lairs, praising them and telling them of their destined rulership. They contribute large amounts of treasure to these dragon’s hordes and offer any assistance at their disposal. Cult members strive to convince more evil dragons to undergo the process to become dracoliches, or Sacred Ones, as they are commonly referred to in the cult. In exchange for services, cult members ask dragons for permission to use their lairs as emergency shelters and for a promise of aid, should the cult ever call on them using the cult’s Rings of Dragons.
To gather the wealth to bribe officials, purchase rare necromanic components and contribute to dragon hordes, the cult involves itself in many legal and illegal enterprises, and various intrigues throughout Faerûn. These operations fund the cult’s goals of convincing evil dragons to become dracoliches, and keeping loyal the cult dracoliches. The cult’s members also accumulates wealth and power through the cult’s activities.
The Cult of the Dragon and Tiamat
The cult existed for centuries focused on dracoliches until the rise of a young cultist named Severin Silrajin changed everything. Severin’s ambition amused Tiamat, the Goddess of Evil Dragons, who watched from her exile in the Nine Hells. Inspired by Tiamat, Severin discovered a different interpretation of the texts translated by Sammaster. “And naught will be left save shattered thrones with no rulers but the dead. Dragons shall rule the world entire…”
The new translation prophesies that real draconic knowledge and power belongs to living dragons, not undead ones. Severin’s quest to reshape the cult led him to the dragon Hoondarrh, the “Red Rage of Mintarn”. The fact that Severin not only survived this encounter but befriended the dragon greatly impressed Tiamat. As reward and further test, she gave Severin knowledge regarding the existence of five dragon masks. Individually, these ancient masks, one for each color of chromatic dragons, make wearer’s wyrmspeakers.
It allow them to think like dragons, gain favor among them and subtly influence their behavior. When all five masks are brought together, they merge into the Mask of the Dragon Queen. This artifact can release Tiamat from her prison in the Nine Hells and bring her into the world. After discovering that secret, Severin bent all of the cult’s resources under his control to finding the long lost masks. When he recovered the red mask, Severin became the first of the wyrmspeakers.
The charismatic cult leader attracted many powerful allies to form the rest of the wyrmspeakers under his command. Many chromatic dragons were attracted to his cause, seeing the potential for their own rise to power. Under Severin’s leadership, most cultists devoted themselves to Tiamat embracing this new direction. However, not all agreed. Some old cultists disliked the cult’s new direction and long for established dracolich traditions. A common thought among dracolich loyalists, is that Severin is being played by the fiendish Tiamat for her own ends.
However, Severin pressed ahead and began a plan to summon Tiamat into Toril to bring the new prophecy to pass. Thus, the long and twisted history of the Cult of the Dragon moves toward a new chapter in the Dungeons & Dragons adventure, Tyranny of Dragons.
