So in another thread I started I’ve designed a cult of Tiamat based off of Hydra (Marvel; just dragon fanatics vs. Nazi) and the Dark brotherhood (ESO).
The current heads are:
1) Red Head: Orc Mutagenic Mauler.
2) Green Head: Half Orc Summoner (Eidolon is a Huge Serpent).
3) White Head: Human Antipaladin (Rampager). He disguises as a white knight.
4) Black Head: Half Dragon Drow Two Weapon Warrior.
5) Blue Head: (Blue scaled) Lizardfolk Dino Druid. Is Convinced he is a dragon.
Each Head is assigned a Talon:
1) Red Talon: Orc Gloomblade Two handed fighter.
2) Green Talon: Nagaji serpentine sorcerer
3) White Talon: Aasimar Mesmerist (Social Assassin). Heavy bluff. Skills and spells around manipulations, rays with a few meant to kill (poison and enervation)
4) Black Talon: Kobold harold caller of Dahak.
5) Blue Talon: Lizardfolk Packmaster (Dinosaur themed)
I also need a catchy praise like Hydra has cut off one head, 2 more shall grow in its place.
Hail Tiamat
Dragon Disciple seems very thematic for a cult of dragon-worshipping zealots.
And I love me some Elder Scrolls Dark Brotherhood... what is the color of night? Sanguine, my brother...
I don't know what level these are supposed to be, or if we are supposed to help build what you have listed, or if you want help with more of the cult that will support/follow what you have listed, or is this only about coming up with a catch phrase... in other words, I might be stupid. Help me, help you.
If you made the Black Talon another Drow, it could take Spider Summoner. Combined with Putrid Summons, it can be fun to summon a Fiendish spider with Stench... not necessarily dragon themed, but depending on which dragon's lair you may be in, or which part of the lair you are in, spiders and spider webs could be quite commonplace.
I do love me some Kobolds, though. They have a pretty decent Fighter archetype, and thier FCB for Fighter is legit. Throw in some levels of Vexing Dodger UnRogue, and you have quite the little monster(s).
Kobolds are also one of my favorite races for Arcane Trickster because of their Merciless Magic and Merciless Precision racial feats... single class entry with Eldritch Scoundrel UnRogue or Sandman Bard. Kobolds offer a unique way to make divine casting Dragon Disciples, too. I like Nature's Fang or Wilderness Whisperer Druids and Divine Commander Warpriests for my source of spontaneous spellcasting when building a Scaled Disciple, but Clerics and Oracles obviously could work just the same. Deinonychus Animal Companions and Kobolds fighting Shoulder to Shoulder together makes me smile.
Nagaji are reptilian, right? Howa'bout a Nagaji Cult Master Mesmermist abusing Mental Potency, Color Spray, and the Nagaji FCB for Mesmerist? They get Leadership at level 7... make their Cohort an Instructor Wizard focused on Conjuration/Summoning... and make the Instuctor Wizard's Apprentice into an Arcane Archer/Eldritch Knight using Conjuration spells like the good Snowball.
And if we are bringing in more Nagaji, don't forget about the Mother's Fang Cavalier... could probably have a Nagaji Cavalier pal around with the Green Head Summomer and their giant snake Eidolon, and the other Nagaji Green Talon Sorcerer... and the Nagaji Cult Master Mesmerist...
Definitely need a catch phrase.
Some dragon disciples will exist but these are the “big 10”.
The heads are 15 as of right now; the talons are 10. I’ve already fully built the heads and the Red and White Talon. The other 3 are my rough ideas but can easily chage.
Hmmm a spider summoner Harold caller could be fun plus makes since of Drow being elitist preferring thier own kind.
Yes Nagaji are bipedal serpentine people. The majority of cultist we’re gonna be Orc, Kobold, Nagaji, Hobgoblin, and Lizardfolk. Other races will exist but these are the majority.
Cool.
The Nagaji Sorcerer, Nagaji Mesmerist, and Nagaji Cavalier could all be from the same clan/tribe. The Mother's Fang Cavalier gets a giant snake as a Mount, which think would pair well with the Half-Orc's Eidolon.
I have a Nagaji Sepentine/Envenomed Sorcerer gestalt with Snakebite Striker Brawler to really drive that whole snake thing home, if you're interested. It uses Eldritch Scrapper Sorcerer to pick up the Martial Flexibility that Snakebite Striker Brawler gives up. Ends up with Feral Combat Training to Flurry with Serpent's Fang... which it can use as often as it wants at level 20 due to Scaled Soul. Lol.
Drow have their own Cleric archetype, too... Demonic Apostle... don't know if it stacks with Herald Caller (but it stacks with Crusader). And their own Fighter archetype... Cavern Sniper... which stacks with Mutagen Warrior or Trench Fighter (if you're playing "guns everywhere").
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Have you seen this?
Ring of the Ecclesiarch
Aura faint enchantment; CL 5th;
Slot ring; Price 28,500 gp; Weight —
DESCRIPTION:
This ornate ring of sanctified silver is engraved with a golden signet that incorporates the holy symbol of the wearer’s deity after being worn for 24 hours. The ring can be used to seal parchments or to mark any surface as the arcane mark spell at will. The wearer is marked as a scholarly leader of the faith and gains a +5 competence bonus on Diplomacy and Knowledge (religion) checks. If the wearer has the Leadership feat, she may attract double the normal number of followers, and her followers’ zealous devotion grants them a +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects.
Once per day, the wearer of the ring can use prayer and enter image, often using the latter power to speak and observe through portraits, statues, and even minted coinage bearing their likeness.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS:
Feats Forge Ring; Spells arcane mark, enter image, enthrall, prayer; Special creator must have 5 ranks of Diplomacy and Knowledge (religion) and the ability to cast divine spells; Cost 14,250 gp.
I have this to add from my Cult Master Mesmerist notes involving the aforementioned ring:
Cohort
... max level 17
Followers (w/ ring)
... 270 max 1st level
... 26 max 2nd level
... 14 max 3rd level
... 8 max 4th level
... 4 max 5th level
... 4 max 6th level
327 total (not including Cult Master)
My Cult Master Mesmerist (with that ring) has a Bard for a Cohort. This Bard has the Lyre of Building... between the Lyre of Building and having hundreds of zealot followers willing to work themselves near to death... they get $#!+ done. The very infrastructure depends on them at this point. If you want to run or ruin an empire, start at the bottom.
"... Remember this. The people you're trying to step on, we're everyone you depend on. We're the people who do your laundry and cook your food and serve your dinner. We make your bed. We guard you while you're asleep. We drive the ambulances. We direct your call. We are cooks and taxi drivers and we know everything about you. We process your insurance claims and credit card charges. We control every part of your life..."
That ring is dope!
Hmmmm demons, spiders and Dragons oh my
That ring is dope!
Hmmmm demons, spiders and Dragons oh my
Oh wait! There's more...
Orcs/Half-Orcs have a racial Witch archetype... Scarred Witch Doctor... which stacks with Dark Sister. Now you can both summon a Hag, AND take the Coven Hex. See where this is going?
What cult would be complete without at least in some way being related to, or involved with, a Coven?
Lmao I just got done building a coven too
Catchphrase:
"For the hoard!"
To go with the Scarred Witch Doctor, you could have an Ironskin-Hungry Ghost Monk... Ironskin is a racial archetype for Hobgoblins. You mentioned Hobgoblins. I like the Scarred alternate racial feature for Hobgoblins with this.
Hobgoblins also have a racial archetype for Cavalier... the Fell Rider. And their FCB for Cavalier is level/2 to Intimidate and Ride... which goes well with Order of the Cockatrice's Braggart/Dazzling Display.
Dragons, in general, do not have a well-known rebirth theme to play off of, like the Hydra does, in particular. If anything, a dragon is known for sleeping... a common theme is avoiding waking up sleeping dragons.
You could always allude to there being a higher dragon. Like, every time one of the cult members falls or is slain, they say they be but a servant to the sleeping king, or whatever... no matter how high up you go, even if you think it is the leader... they be but servant to the sleeping king (or whatever).
Then you have some master plan involving awakening the sleeping king (or whatever)...
Dragons, in general, do not have a well-known rebirth theme to play off of, like the Hydra does, in particular. If anything, a dragon is known for sleeping... a common theme is avoiding waking up sleeping dragons.
You could always allude to there being a higher dragon. Like, every time one of the cult members falls or is slain, they say they be but a servant to the sleeping king, or whatever... no matter how high up you go, even if you think it is the leader... they be but servant to the sleeping king (or whatever).
Then you have some master plan involving awakening the sleeping king (or whatever)...
Vs. a dragon theme I was honestly considering her roots as a giant body of salt water before she took the form of a dragon per her PF lore.
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Maybe part of their underlying theory that drives their zealot beliefs is that they are all part of that aforememtioned body of water in some wierd way.
Hear me out... there's this really good book called God's Debris. In it, a theory is brought up that the Big Bang was God exploding... that's why it may seem that God is away on business (which is a Tom Waits song)... anyways, we are all a tiny piece of God, and life's great purpose is rejoin the other pieces in order to reform God.
Coming back to dragon cults worshipping a great dragon that formed from the sea... maybe all the members believe that they are literally, or at least represent, a small portion of that sea... and thusly, part of the great dragon, herself.
This opens up fanatic martyrdom, human sacrifice, ritualistic mass suicide... all contributing to rejoining/rebuilding the great dragon, or restoring her power, or whatever...
"no matter the head you face, there are six more coming!"
can change 'coming' to 'watching', 'lurking', 'waiting' etc, maybe set it as a different word for each color to help identify between them which section they belong to.
- Alchemist (Dragonblood Chymist)
- Antipaladin (Iron Tyrant)
- Arcanist (Elemental Master)
- Barbarian (Dragon Totem)
- Bard (Dragon Herald, Dragon Yapper)
- Bloodrager (Draconic Bloodline)
- Cavalier (Drakerider, Draconic Companion)
- Druid (Draconic Druid, Dragon Shaman, Draconic Companion)
- Fighter (Dragonheir Scion)
- Gunslinger (Firebrand)
- Hunter (Draconic Companion)
- Kineticist (Elemental Annihilator, Elemental Purist, Kinetic Knight, Terrakineticist)
- Magus (Eldritch Scion, Draconic Bloodline)
- Medium (Relic Channeler)
- Mesmerist (Mindwyrm Mesmer)
- Monk (Scaled Fist)
- Ninja (Breath of the Ancestors Trick)
- Oracle (Dragon Mystery)
- Ranger (Drake Warden, Draconic Companion)
- Rogue (Eldritch Scoundrel)
- Samurai (Soverign Blade)
- Shifter (Dragonblood Shifter)
- Skald (Wyrm Singer)
- Sorcerer (Dragon Drinker)
- Witch (Wyrm Witch)
That's all I could find for dragon-related archetypes or class features ;)
"no matter the head you face, there are six more coming!"
can change 'coming' to 'watching', 'lurking', 'waiting' etc, maybe set it as a different word for each color to help identify between them which section they belong to.
Was 6 a typo? Cause she has 5 heads and even if you add Dahak to the mix; there that leaves a mystery head I’m not seeing?
However I love the rest
was sure she had 7 heads. maybe im thinking of karyn's dragon goddess. from the dragon-lance novels
Oh as a twist too with the water theme what if its a ploy by Dagon.
was sure she had 7 heads. maybe im thinking of karyn's dragon goddess. from the dragon-lance novels
Krynn, Takhisis, 5 heads. (effectively the same godess)
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If you take a look at the Dragonlance stuff, the Dragon Armies are effectively a Cult of Takhisis, and Takhisis is basically Tiamat.
Maybe part of their underlying theory that drives their zealot beliefs is that they are all part of that aforememtioned body of water in some wierd way.
Hear me out... there's this really good book called God's Debris. In it, a theory is brought up that the Big Bang was God exploding... that's why it may seem that God is away on business (which is a Tom Waits song)... anyways, we are all a tiny piece of God, and life's great purpose is rejoin the other pieces in order to reform God.
Coming back to dragon cults worshipping a great dragon that formed from the sea... maybe all the members believe that they are literally, or at least represent, a small portion of that sea... and thusly, part of the great dragon, herself.
This opens up fanatic martyrdom, human sacrifice, ritualistic mass suicide... all contributing to rejoining/rebuilding the great dragon, or restoring her power, or whatever...
“Go into the water. Live there. Die there. Rejoin her.”
The first part is a dethklok verse but I like it. Stopping there could leave a mystery for any water god or demon. But adding Hail Tiamat could be an explanation mark.
We are the waves that will erode "X"
The sea is timeless and cannot be stopped
Like a tidal wave, she will rise
Just as the sea created the great Tiamat, so it creates endless waves of those loyal to her... they believe this $#!+, without question. They think, like the water, they will return to the sea in death, to be reborn. That both senseless killing and blind martyrdom is all the same cycle of returning souls to the sea. Some strange desire to feed Tiamat, a real belief that whatever their contributions are, they are genuinely increasing Tiamat's power.
Their devotion to this task is, in their minds, pure. And they want to spread the joy and wonders of Tiamat's power. They believe that everyone should be so grateful to be part of this, even if it means sacrificing your life in her honor. We came from the sea, same as she did, and to it we shall return... and they throw the person off the cliff, down upon the jagged obsidian rocks below... the waves wash away the body seconds afterwards.
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I do love me some Tiamat.
Motto ideas:
"One goddess, one goal, bound by colors"
Latin: "Unum numen, unus finis, alligatus colorum"
Draconic: "Ir ithquentiv, ir tuarno, jedarka ini kluchud"
literal draconic translation: One goddess, one goal, forced by colors
"Never forget, never forgive"
Latin: "Numquam obliviscar: ne propitieris"
Draconic: "nurti jilinth, nurti onelka"
literal draconic translation: Never memory, never forgive
"Through unity we conquer, through conquest are we free"
Latin: "Concordia vincimus armis per nos liberi"
Draconic: "Erekess dijalf yth frivin, erekess vivex re yth duulo"
literal draconic translation: Through accord we conquer, through victory are we free
"From many heads, we strike as one"
Latin: "Multis capitibus a nobis ut rursus"
Draconic: "De throden fothisevi, yth nar lae ir"
literal draconic translation: "From many heads, we strike as one"
======================================================
I use: Draconic Translator and the basic Google Translate ---> Latin.
Anywho, this draconic translator is pretty handy. Whenever your PC's come upon a lair of one of Tiamat's Generals or Underlings, you can type w/e you want in the above translator and have your cult members chanting something in latin or draconic, and if you do it right, you'll give your PC's goosebumps.
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I definitely think you need a Kobold that is doing its hardest to be a "real" dragon...
Ancalagon, the Kobold
... Day Raider replaces Darkvision and light sensitivity
... Dragon-Scaled (black) replaces natural armor
... Gliding Wings replaces Crafty
Tattooed Sorcerer 6/
Dragon Disciple 6
1. Varisian Tattoo
1. Draconic Aspect (black)
3. Draconic Breathe
5. Draconic Glide
7.
7. *bloodline feat*
9.
10. *bloodline feat*
11. Draconic Paragon
At 12:
BAB +7
Base Saves +5/+4/+8
CL 10, 5th level spells
Ancalagon, because it was said to be the largest dragon that ever was... only thing larger is this Kobold's Napoleon Complex. I chose to stick it out in Sorcerer for a 6th level to even out the BAB, pick up the increased saves, and 3rd level spells... other than that, it's just a race to 11th level to grab Draconic Paragon. Dragon Disciple gives this little lizard +4 Strength, +2 Con, +2 Natural Armor, and some other fun stuff... especially if they are to continue down the Dragon Disciple path.
Ancalagon will not be especially good at casting, or fighting, but should be very flavorful and thematic. Despite having 12HD, you could always introduce Ancalagon quite early in order to make the encounter more difficult... a real dragon Ancalagon is not... but could be fun, nonetheless.
Black Talon
Kobold
... Day Raider replaces Darkvision and light sensitivity
... Frightener replaces Natural Armor
... Wyrmcrowned (Intimidate) replaces Crafty
Harold Caller-Idealist Cleric 10
1. Aura
... Evil?
1. Call Harolds +1
1. Dedicated Summoner
1. Divine Harolds
1. Domain
... Scalykind/Dragon
1. Domain Power
... Venomous Stare
1. Invoke Realm 10'
1. Orisons/Spells
1. Planar Bond
... Water (duh)
1. Spontaneous Casting
... Hydraulic Push
1(level): Sacred Summons
2.
3. Invoke Realm 15'
3(level):
4. Domain Power
... Dragonbreath 15' cone, 3D6 acid (1/day)
4. Mighty Harolds
4(class): Augment Summoning
5. Call Harolds +2
5. Invoke Realm 20'
5(level):
6.
7. Invoke Realm 25'
7. Spontaneous Casting
... Control Water
7(level):
8. Mighty Harolds
8(class): Superior Summoning
9. Domain Power
... Dragonbreath 15' cone, 5D6 acid (2/day)
9. Invoke Realm 30'
9(level):
10. Call Harolds +3
BAB +7
Base Saves +7/+3/+7
CL 10, 5th level spells
Unique Spell Rules
Cleric/Warpriest
Dahak's Release can be prepared as a 4th-level spell
Draconic Ally can be prepared as a 3rd-level spell
Tail Strike can be prepared as a 4th-level spell
I took your original idea and made the black talon a spider summoner herald caller.
Oh, ok, cool... probably don't need two Harold Callers, then. Lol.
Moving on to the Nagaji Sorcerer, then, how much stock are you putting into the Serpentine/Envenomed Bloodline Powers? I'm not looking to change the Bloodline, but certain archetypes trade away Bloodline Powers, so I need to know how important they are to you. Do you have anything in particular you want the Green Talon focusing on?
Oh the talons are built my friend lol. I appreciate the suggestions well other then the blue one.