The Dragonswarm is an unprecedented phenomenon occurring across the continent of Tarras, triggered by the deaths of three of the five Elders: Preservation, Ruin, and Void.
When Elders are killed, they do not truly die. Instead, they fragment into countless "spawn" - individuals born with the essence of that Elder inside them. Because the Elders mostly manifest as dragons (with shapeshifting abilities), their deaths result in the birth of dragon spawn.
Just before the start of the campaign, three Elders were slain:
Dragon spawn are born as human children throughout Tarras, but they carry the essence and powers of their associated Elder within them. These children possess Elder-associated powers and are fundamentally different from ordinary humans.
The Dragonswarm has provoked diverse and extreme reactions across the continent:
Some families view spawn children as changelings - monstrous replacements for what should have been their true children. These families often abandon or reject the spawn.
Many governments have responded with organized hunts and bounty systems, treating the spawn as existential threats to be eliminated.
Others see the spawn as blessed individuals, worthy of admiration or even religious devotion, viewing them as inheritors of divine power.
The Dragonswarm represents a fundamental disruption to the order of Tarras, with consequences that will shape the future of the continent.