The Cult of the Dragon has existed for centuries. During most of that time, its members have focused on the creation and worship of dracoliches, based on a prophecy translated by the cult’s founder, Sammaster. All their attempts have been unsuccessful. Their belief was that dracoliches were destined to one day rule Faerûn and beyond and that it was their purpose to help this come to pass. They were considered to be a secret society or a beast cult, albeit an overly large one, and as a mercantile and criminal enterprise.
However, an offshoot of the cult known as the Keepers of the Hoard has all but taken over the cult, leaving much of the cult with few remaining loyalists.
The Keepers of the Hoard have surfaced recently and made themselves known to the Sword Coast, attacking towns such as Phandalin, Longsaddle, and Yartar.