Dragon Worship

All dragons demand reverence from the masses of the Eternal Empire. The Dragonpriests teach that dragons are divine, descended from the celestial gods, and that the world belongs to these dragons by divine right. The people rarely need more of a reminder than when a dragon takes flight over their homes, where all can see the magnificence of their living gods.

Draconic Deities

Deity	Rank	Alignment	Domains	Symbol
Fel, white Greatwyrm	Lesser deity	Chaotic Evil	War, Tempest	Three red, diagonal claw marks inside of a white diamond shape
Golos, blue Greatwyrm	Lesser deity	Lawful Evil	Order, Tempest	A blue sapphire containing a storm cloud with twin lightning bolts descending
Miir, black Greatwyrm	Lesser deity	Chaotic Evil	Death, War	A jawless dragonfolk skull with curved, downward-pointing horns
Surr, red Greatwyrm	Lesser deity	Chaotic Evil	Light, War	A snarling red dragon face wreathed in flames
Vaer, green Greatwyrm	Lesser deity	Lawful Evil	Trickery, Nature	A copse of three deciduous trees with thorny vines wrapping the bases of their trunks

Structure

Ranks:

1. Initiate
2. Acolyte
3. Junior Priest
4. Itinerant Priest, Shrine Priest
5. Chief Shrine Priest, Attendant Priest
6. High Priest

Initiates spend all their time either learning or performing minor tasks for the priests. They first learn how to care for the grounds of the shrine. This is followed by learning the tenets and basic doctrine of the faith.
Acolytes study the stories contained within library at the shrine, learning more of the lore surrounding their faith. It is at this point that they begin learning about and assisting with the various rituals conducted at the shrine.
Junior Priests perform minor rituals, and oversee the work and studies of the acolytes and initiates. They also attend to the needs of visitors to the shrine, deferring more serious matters to the Shrine Priests.
Shrine Priests are charged with overseeing all rituals and observances, keeping order within the shrine grounds, and attending to the needs of the more important visitors to the shrine. They are also responsible for seeing that donations to the shrine are transported to the hoard of the dragon for which the shrine is dedicated.
Itinerant Priests have been marked as particularly worthy by the dragons, and as such transformed into half-dragons. They are allowed to wander wherever they please, and have latitude to conduct affairs as they see fit. In return, they guide the people of the empire and watch for dissent or heresy. They answer only to High Priests, and the dragons themselves. (Note: All player-character clerics of this faith are Itinerant Priests)
Each shrine has one Chief Shrine Priest, who is responsible for the shrine as a whole. They oversee all rituals and operations, and meet often with High Priests to discuss rumors and information brought up by the visitors to the shrine. A Chief Shrine Priest may have earned the gift of being transformed into a half-dragon.
Attendant Priests are secretive, masked half-dragons who attend directly to one of the dragons, or even to one of the Greatwyrms. Little is known about the specifics of their duties, although it is known that they often make up the personal guard of important dragons. They are magically bound into silence, capable only of speaking to half-dragons or dragons.
High Priests are always half-dragon. They direct the faith, guided by the will of the dragons, and make judgements and proclamations in their name. High Priests are extremely powerful, and absolutely assured of their faith.

Public Agenda

Promote worship of dragons as divine.

Divine Origins

Unbeknownst to all but the high priests, the dragons are not divine beings by nature. Long ago the Greatwyrms consumed the essence of their goddess. Soon after, they fell into torpor, but remained connected to their descendants through their newly-acquired divine power. They and the younger dragons established many shrines, and developed the principles of the faith, so that their rule over the world could never be questioned.

Cosmological Views

The world was created by the elemental titans, on behalf of the primordials, but was given to the dragons by the celestials before their disappearance.

Tenets of Faith

1. The dragons are divine beings with immense power that must be appeased and served.
2. Draconic creatures are of higher station in life than all other creatures. Among dragonfolk, station is prescribed to the following order: dragons, half-dragons, dragonborn, and then kobolds.
3. Causing insult or offense to a dragon is the highest blasphemy.
4. Stealing from a dragon's hoard is sacrilege, unless the treasure stolen is given over wholly to another dragon.
5. Receiving a boon from a dragon, or a gift from their hoard is the highest honor.

Worship

Shrines are errected all over the Eternal Empire, and followers leave offerings of money or other valuables in the collection boxes or with the acolytes and priests at the shrines in return for the assurance of blessings.

Some worshippers may buy tokens at the shrine, such as Prayer Charms. These tokens are thought to bring luck, fortune, and other desirable effects to the buyer.

Priesthood

Dragonfolk who join the faith are inducted into a series of circles, each one informing new details about the dragons and their celestial power. Dragonpriests are chosen by several tests of strength and endurance; both physical and spiritual.

Upon attaining the rank of Itinerant Priest, or Shrine Priest in some cases, a dragonfolk undergoes a special communion with one of the Greatwyrms, wherein they learn the deepest mysteries of their faith. If the Greatwyrm finds the applicant unworthy, they are spiritually consumed. If they are found worthy, they are transformed into a half-dragon. From that day forward, they can call upon their draconic patrons for guidance, and receive the power to perform rituals and spells. These priests guide society on behalf of the dragons, at times dispensing wisdom, at others rooting out rebellion.

Granted Divine Powers

Priests are granted spells and the ability to channel the dragons' divine power. Some are also given a form closer to that of the draconic ideal, as they are transformed into a half-dragon.

Scalechanged Legacy logo by Kim Swan

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Demonym

Dragon-worshipper

Leader Title

High Priest

Parent Organization

Eternal Empire

Deities

• Fel
• Golos
• Miir
• Surr
• Vaer

Notable Members

• Ruta

Related Species

• Dragon
• Dragonborn
• Half-dragon
• Kobold