Back to Forgotten Realms stuff I actually like. This is Cult of the Dragon (1998) and it follows in the footsteps of the black-bound FOR-series of sourcebook highlighting important groups and organizations in the Realms, like the Harpers book.

The cult was one of Ed Greenwood’s main villains in his home campaign and they were detailed in a great article in Dragon Magazine 110 (1986), which marks the first time the dracolich got game attributes (I should note that undead dragons appear in Pillars of Pentegarn and, sort of, in White Plume Mountain, but they aren’t dracolichs). The cult basically makes dracolichs as a way to both subjugate dragons and benefit from their power. For a long time, the cult was run by a lich called Sammaster, but I am pretty sure that, unlike every other evil magic-user in the Realms, he’s actually permanently dead now; the cult still works toward world domination, but in decentralized cells. Reminds me a bit of the cults of Tzeentch.

The cult specializes in undead and dragon hybrids and, probably, undead dragon hybrids. So, the monster section has some good stuff. And some bad stuff: I didn’t need a mantidrake, but at least then the wings make sense. Glenn Michael Angus provides all the interior illustrations and he’s an excellent, gritty choice. His line work has a heavy metal spirit that’s suited to the subject. Is the Cult of the Dragon metal? How can you even ask?

Classic Clyde Caldwell on the cover. Bit of a shame it’s cropped down to a medallion. Here’s something ironic: the sorceress here marked the moment I shook off the assumption that wizards need to wear robes. Because she’s wearing pants! A Clyde Caldwell woman in pants! Amazing.