The Chromatic Fold

The Chromatic Fold, being a secretive and power-driven faction within the Order of the Primordial Dragons, would likely have a structure that emphasizes secrecy, manipulation, and strength. Their hierarchy would reflect the group's obsession with power, with each rank achieved through force, cunning, and dark ritualistic practices. Unlike the more spiritual, disciplined hierarchy of the mainstream Order, the Chromatic Fold’s leadership prizes raw draconic power and the ability to exploit it, whether through magic, physical prowess, or manipulation.   Structure and Hierarchy of the Chromatic Fold   1. The Wyrmlord (Dominus Draco)   Role and Responsibilities: The supreme leader of the Chromatic Fold, the Wyrmlord is the embodiment of their twisted philosophy, having undergone the most extreme forms of transformation, both physically and magically. This individual has mastered the use of draconic rituals, dark magic, and is often the one who directly communes with the Chromatic Dragons or their essence.   The Wyrmlord makes all major decisions regarding the Fold's direction, sets their long-term goals, and leads the most secretive and dangerous rituals. They have likely consumed many dragons' flesh and blood, granting them immense draconic traits. The position of Wyrmlord is achieved through a combination of immense power, manipulation, and sometimes the assassination of a predecessor. The Wyrmlord often has followers fight or manipulate each other to see who rises to the top.   The Claw Council (Consilium Unguis)   Role and Responsibilities: The Claw Council consists of the most powerful and influential members of the Fold, each commanding respect for their mastery of dark rituals and physical transformations. They serve as advisors to the Wyrmlord but also control key operations, such as recruitment, intelligence, and the training of new members.   Each Claw Council member has undergone significant physical draconic changes, though most are adept at hiding them through magic or enchantments. They are responsible for overseeing the major functions of the Fold, including the hunting of dragons, managing relationships with potential allies, and rooting out opposition within the Order. Becoming a Claw Council member involves ruthless internal politics, dark rituals, and displays of power. Those aspiring to this rank must prove their strength through challenges or even duels, often requiring the slaying of dragons or rivals.   The Fang Heralds (Praeco Dentium)   Role and Responsibilities: These individuals act as the Fold's enforcers and recruiters. They travel within the Order of the Primordial Dragons, identifying potential recruits and spreading the ideology of the Fold in secret. Fang Heralds also ensure loyalty within the ranks, often through coercion, manipulation, or outright intimidation.   Fang Heralds also organize smaller cells within the Order, training new members in secret and leading local operations. Their primary goal is to maintain the Fold’s secrecy while expanding its influence. To become a Fang Herald, one must demonstrate exceptional charisma, manipulation skills, and the ability to carry out secret operations without detection. They are chosen from the ranks of the Serpents or directly promoted by the Claw Council.   The Serpents (Serpentes)   Role and Responsibilities: The Serpents are mid-ranking members of the Chromatic Fold. These individuals have undergone some physical transformations, showing draconic traits but usually hiding them with magic. They are tasked with studying forbidden rituals, assisting in the harvesting of dragon parts, and executing operations like the sabotage of mainstream Order activities or the assassination of perceived threats.   Serpents are also heavily involved in spreading misinformation and guiding new recruits, slowly grooming them toward the Fold's ideals of raw power and ambition. Members ascend to the rank of Serpent after proving their loyalty to the Fold and participating in taboo rituals. They often gain more draconic features as a result of these rites.   The Hatchlings (Pulli)   Role and Responsibilities: These are the lower-ranking members of the Chromatic Fold, often new recruits who have begun their journey into the Fold’s doctrines and practices. Hatchlings are primarily tasked with menial but important jobs—gathering information, providing logistical support, and sometimes assisting in dark rituals. They have not yet undergone significant draconic transformations but may have begun minor experiments with dragon blood or other materials.   The Hatchlings are carefully watched, as the Fold values power and secrecy above all else. If they show enough ambition and raw potential, they will be groomed for advancement. Entry into the Fold is often through secret initiation rites that test a recruit’s willingness to sacrifice, deceive, or betray for power. Once a recruit passes these trials, they are brought into the Fold as a Hatchling.  

Power Dynamics and Promotion

  The Chromatic Fold operates through an internal Darwinian system—only the strongest, most cunning, or most ambitious rise to the top. Lower-ranking members are often encouraged to compete with one another, proving their worth through acts of deception, violence, and power acquisition. Knowledge of forbidden draconic rituals is the key to climbing the ranks, as is the accumulation of magical or physical prowess. The Wyrmlord and Claw Council foster this internal competition to ensure that only the most capable ascend.   This ruthless meritocracy also leads to an atmosphere of paranoia and constant competition. Betrayal is common, and higher-ranking members often manipulate their subordinates to maintain power while seeking to eliminate rivals.

Power Above All: They view raw strength and dominion as the highest goals, seeking to mirror the fierce independence and power of the Chromatic Dragons. To them, dragonhood is not a spiritual journey but a conquest of might, achieved through sheer will and violent action.   Transcendence Through Consumption: Unlike the rest of the Order, the Chromatic Fold practices the taboo of slaying dragons to harvest their blood, scales, hearts, and bones for dark rituals that bring them closer to dragonhood. They believe that consuming these materials—whether in potions, sacrificial rites, or even through raw consumption—grants them physical and magical power, pushing them closer to the apex of draconic strength.   Manipulation and Secrecy: The Chromatic Fold has mastered the art of hiding in plain sight. While their doctrines are extreme, they have developed powerful techniques to conceal their draconic traits, allowing them to blend into the larger Order undetected. Many among the Fold exhibit many physical traits of dragons—scales, claws, horns, or reptilian eyes—due to their dark rituals and consumption of draconic materials. However, they employ a unique alchemical compound to disguise these changes, moving silently within the ranks of the Order, all the while recruiting new members and advancing their cause.   The Chromatic Dragons as True Gods: Unlike the Greatwyrms, whom the rest of the Order revere, the Chromatic Fold views the Chromatic Dragons as the true embodiments of draconic nature—wild, powerful, and untamed. They believe that the High Dragonseer’s teachings of balance and restraint are a perversion of true draconic potential, and that only by embracing the chaotic, primal forces represented by the Chromatic Dragons can one achieve true draconic transcendence.   The Chromatic Fold embraces practices that are considered abhorrent by the mainstream Order. These include:   Dragon Hunting and Sacrifice: The Fold actively seeks out lesser dragons and dragonborn to kill and harvest for their rituals. They believe that each dragon’s death brings them closer to ultimate power, and they justify these acts as necessary sacrifices on the path to transcendence.   Forbidden Rituals: Their rituals often involve dark and violent magic, tapping into the chaotic power of the Chromatic Dragons. These rites involve blood magic, consumption of dragon flesh, and communion with the spirits of dead dragons. These rituals not only transform them physically but also warp their minds, making them more ruthless and driven by an insatiable hunger for power.   Dragon Material Crafting: They are known to craft powerful magical items using dragon parts—armor made from scales, weapons imbued with draconic blood, and talismans carved from dragon bones. These items are believed to channel the essence of the dragons they were made from, enhancing the Fold members' magical and physical abilities.   Corruption of the Order’s Teachings: The Fold spreads subtle misinformation within the Order, corrupting the teachings of the Greatwyrms to attract more power-hungry members. They twist the tenets of the Order to suit their goals, promising quicker paths to power and transcendence without the need for the patience and discipline that the mainstream Order preaches.

Despite their extreme methods and taboo practices, the Chromatic Fold has managed to grow silently within the Order, thanks to their mastery of deception. By concealing their true nature, they have infiltrated even high-ranking positions within the Order’s hierarchy. They recruit from within, targeting acolytes and ambitious priests who are dissatisfied with the slow spiritual progress of the mainstream Order, luring them with promises of immense power and transformation.   Many within the Fold have ambitions to eventually take control of the entire Order. They see the current leadership, especially the High Dragonseer, as weak and misguided, and believe that only through their raw, unbridled doctrine can the Order reach its true potential. However, for now, they remain hidden, growing their numbers and strength until they are ready to reveal themselves and seize control. Their endgame is not spiritual enlightenment or harmonious ascension, but raw domination—an eternal reign of dragon-like beings who wield uncontrollable power over the Veiled Realms.