List of Dragonlance creatures
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The list of Dragonlance creatures attempts to list the races that can be found in the Dragonlance setting.
Contents |
[edit] Dragons
Dragons were first creatures created by the powerful Ionthas (also known as Chaos) who was angry that his fellow gods had created Krynn. Hoping to cause disorder and chaos through which he gained power, he created dragons. Flying lizardish creatures, dragons are able to breath fire, electricity, frost, and other elements. Most took sides on either good or evil. On Krynn, the good dragons are known as the metallic dragons due to their colors, consisting of gold, silver, brass, copper and bronze. The evil dragons are better known as the chromatic dragons and are red, blue, white, green, and black. Along with their formidable breath weapons, they can also wield powerful magic which can only be countered by equally or more powerful mages.
[edit] Dragonfear
In the Dragonlance series of fantasy novels, dragonfear is a power that dragons have to instill fear in their enemies. Particularly human oriented, other races have a certain level of immunity, although never complete.[1] Other dragons seem to be immune to the fear yet draconians are not.
[edit] Draconians
After the Cataclysm, Queen Takhisis awoke the evil dragons and told them to steal the eggs of the good dragons. The sleeping good dragons could not stop them and, when Paladine woke them, they despaired for their loss. Although being promised that their eggs would be safely returned after the War of the Lance, priests of Takhisis and black-robed wizards broke the pact by corrupting the eggs using evil prayers, spells and the mold of the Zhakar dwarves, creating the draconians at the end of the Age of Darkness.
[edit] Noble Draconians
These were created in an act of desperation toward the end of the War of the Lance. After the good dragons were liberated, Lord Ariakas ordered that the corruption ritual to be performed on evil dragons. However, the result was good draconians. Most were destroyed, but a few survive to this day.
[edit] Dreadwolfs
Some sort of ghost, which can heal itself instantly if it's a minor wound. Galan Dracos could take control of them and use them as spies.
[edit] Humans
The most common race found on Krynn, humans are humanoids created by the neutral god Gilean. In order to make them neutral, he imbued them with the shortest life-span of the three original races. Such short life prompts humans to act with little considerations of their actions, and becoming susceptible to alignment changes in a way neither the elves nor the ogres are.
[edit] Elves
- See also: Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
The elves were one of the three original races, created by Paladine, god of light. They were given a great span of life, wisdom and beauty. They were known as the Colinesti.[2] However, as time passed their conditions turned them into:
[edit] Silvanesti elves
In the beginning of time the original elves, fearing the mountains where the evil ogres lived and the plains where the short tempered humans were settling, decided to adopt the woods as home. After battling the evil dragons with the help of the gods of magic. The realm of Silvanesti was founded after Silvanos, the first leader of the elves.
As time developed, the silvanesti elves became more secluded, stopping contact with the other races. Their society divided into different casts, creating a social discrimination that ultimately led to the division of their realm into the Silvanesti and the Qualinesti elves.
In ancient age, the Silvanesti elves were known to have telepathy powers, reserved for the royal household to communicate with subordinates through Silvanesti. After the Cataclysm its use diminished. By the time the War of the Lance began, the use was restricted to the royal household itself, and disappeared soon after the war.[3]
The main building is the Tower of the Stars where the king of the Silvanesti, known as the Speaker of the Stars, lives. It is settled in Silvanost, the capital of Silvanesti.
The Silvanesti elves believe themselves the Firstborn of the gods. Using their magical powers, they twist the trees in the region to shape them into structures of marble and silver, and do not have contact with other races, except for their servants, the Kagonesti.
The authors have defined that, due their extended time apart, the Qualinesti and Silvanesti elves developed different accents. Also, as a trait, the Silvanesti elves have finer features.[4]
[edit] Qualinesti elves
The Qualinesti elves are Silvanesti ones who decided to follow Kith-Kanan, the younger of Silvanos' sons, to a new land with the promise of social equality and more interaction with the outer world. The turning point for this event came with the Kinslayer Wars, where elves fought elves to prevent Ergothian forces from invading Silvanesti. After the war, Kith-Kanan decided to leave for the western lands, followed by his closest friends.
Kith-Kanan Silvanos founded the Qualinesti realm based on the premise of freedom and equality, naming himself the Speaker of the Suns, founding a Tower of the Sun in the capital city of Qualinesti, Qualinost, however, was later destroyed, forcing them to begin another journey to another new land alongside the Qualinesti.
Contrary to the Silvanesti, the Qualinesti elves prefer not modifying the trees in which they live. Instead, they construct buildings based on the form of the trees, giving their cities a slightly twisted look. The qualinesti have a broader contact with other races, including trading agreement with the mountain dwarves of Thorbardin and the hill dwarves of the plains, humans of Ergoth, Tarsis and Istar (before the Cataclysm).
[edit] Kagonesti elves
Also known as wild elves; elves that are attuned to nature, and considered barbarians by the Qualinesti and Silvanesti. They sport tatoos in different parts of the body, including the face, usually symbolizing their close relationship with nature.
Contrary to the silvanesti and the qualinesti elves, the Kagonesti prefer living in the natural caves and trees, and never build unless the situation forces them to. In addition, they dismantle anything that is unused, in an attempt leaving the land as they had found.
The Kagonesti are considered slaves by the Qualinesti elves. However, the Silvanesti consider them belonging to House Servitor, the lowest class.[5]
Although in some sections of the books they are referred as Kaganesti, Tracy Hickman explains that this is a "problem with phonetic translation", where northern elves pronounce it as Kaganesti.[6]
[edit] Sea elves
[edit] Dargonesti elves
Dargonesti are elves in the Dragonlance fictional book series. They are elves that live underwater, shy from humans, and can shape-change into dolphins. They see no point in modesty. The Dargonesti elves live in both deep and shallow waters, and can breathe air. Their skin is bluish. They sometimes rescue sailors who have been washed ashore, including several Heroes of the Lance in Dragons of Spring Dawning. They are also featured in the novel The Dargonesti.
Their society is based in the figure of a king, named the Speaker of the Moons.
[edit] Dimernesti elves
Very little is known about them, as they hardly appear in Krynn's archive. They too are sea elves, like their Dargonesti cousins, but they transform to sea otters instead of dolphins.
[edit] Ogres
The ogres were created by Takhisis, and the first of the three original races to be settled on Krynn.
[edit] Original ogres
Even more lovely than elves, the original ogres were the most beautiful of all the races on Krynn, and among the most powerful sorcerers. Except in the case of injury or suicide, they had extremely long lifespans and were virtually immortal. With the passage of time, though, ogre society crumbled because of an internal division between the ogres that wanted to live in peace with the other races and those who wanted to enslave them. As punishment, the latter were turned into horrible creatures, twisted by evil.
The ogres that wanted to live in peace escaped to an isolated island north of Ansalon, and with the blessing of Paladine, became shape-shifters. They took the name of Irda to differentiate themselves from the twisted ogres. Despite their good intentions, years of isolation from the world would eventually make them a very prideful people.
[edit] Twisted ogres
- See also: Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)
The curse that turned the original ogres into their current shape gave them a tremendous strength as well as a tendency of wild, anger-driven attitude. In the change, however, they lost most of their magical powers, concentrating only in brute strength. They live in clans, especially near mountains, and usually raid near towns to provide themselves with food and tools.
[edit] Gnomes
Gnomes were created after Reorx, god of the forge, cursed the scions that were helping him in forging the world after these tried to develop items for themselves.
Gnomes are quite short with their brown, grubby skin. They are constantly thinking of new inventions and have developed a tendency for speaking faster than the Common speech. Each gnome is given a life-quest which must be accomplished, but is passed on from generation to generation if not completed. Their names are created by basically repeating the history of their entire ancestry and can go one for volumes if not stopped. Also, gnome inventions have a reputation for never working since once something works perfectly, there is no enjoyment in fixing it.
The gnomes are considered one of the races of the Graygem because of their involvement in the creation of the dwarves and kenders.
[edit] Kender
Kender were created when the Greygem of Gargath corrupted the gnomes that were trying to catch it in order to study it. Their frame is slight, and can be confused with elven children. Naturally fearless, they cannot be frightenend unless in very specific situations.
[edit] Dwarves
- See also: Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
The dwarves were created when the Greygem of Gargath corrupted the gnomes that were trying to catch it in order to make profit out of it. Dwarves are divided into three broad categories: Mountain Dwarf, Hill Dwarf, and Aghar/Gully Dwarf.
[edit] Mountain dwarves
Mountain dwarves were the original race of dwarves from which other dwarven races arose. One of the three Greygem races, mountain dwarves greatly value rocks since they are the founding bones of the world. They love to shape the rock into wonders of art. Mountain dwarves are found in their mountain fortress of Thorbardin which can be shut off from the rest of the world by closing the two gates so they perfectly resemble the surface of the mountain.
The races of dwarves living in Thorbardin are the Daewar, Hylar, Daergar, Klar and Theiwar. The mountain dwarves have a social division of 'light dwarves' and 'dark dwarves'. The light dwarves being the traditionally ruling Hylar and the their allies the Daewar. Both of these lack dark vision and need light to see. The dark dwarves are blessed with dark vision and are comprised of the Daergar, known for their cunning and treachery, and the Theiwar, dwarves with an innate magical ability. The Klar are the barbarians of dwarven society and thus have both light and dark aspects. Before the chaos war, each race of dwarves had their own city, but since Chaos destroyed most of the mountain realm, they have been forced to live much closer together.
The Neidar were a race of dwarves that originated in Thorbardin, but they began to like the open skies above the mountain rather than its enclosing caverns. In time, the Neidar eventually became what are known as the hill dwarves.
[edit] Calnar
The Calnar, in the fictional series of books, Dragonlance, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, were a mining dwarf clan, located in Thorin, since the Age of Dreams known as Thoradin in the Khalkist Mountains. It was the first known dwarf kingdom in the History of Ansalon. In the past had had open trade relations with human settlements, but the nation became closed and each century less people remembered them.
The Calnar were a peaceful mining clan of mountain dwarves who were known to trade with openly with humans. The humans and dwarves came together to trade on the festival of Balladine, which was created specifically to be a time to trade with humans. During the final Balladine (they stopped due to events that happened at this Balladine), a human by name of Grafen Ember-Eye attacked the Calnar. The peaceful dwarves were forced to retaliate, and fought back against these humans they once traded with. The dwarves repelled the humans, but the attack had done damage beyond mere bloodshed.
A dwarf named Colin Stonetooth told the Calnar they had to make a decision; stay in Thorin under the leadership of Tolon the Muse, or come with him and form a new clan, which would leave Thorin. Those leaving with him were to seek Everbardin. Those leaving with Stonetooth traveled to Kal-Thax, and Colin named his new clan Hylar, a word the humans called his people. It means "Highest".
In the Cataclysm the main city and the entire civilization were destroyed. Those that survived got a fungi plague and become the Zhakar dwarves. In the Age of Despair no more dwarves considered themselves Calnar.
Curiously, both Zhakar and Hylar come from Calnar but the first group is considered the shortest clan of dwarves and the second the tallest.
[edit] Einar
The Einar are any of the dwarves in the Kal-Thax area who do not associate with any other dwarf clans. These dwarves have merged with mountain dwarves or have become part of the Neidar society after the original Cataclysm.
[edit] Hill dwarves
See also: Neidar
Hill dwarves are a breed of dwarves who grew up living up in the hills near Abanisinia. Hill dwarves split up from the mountain dwarves in a separation similar to the elves, with the Dwarfgate Wars becoming the maximun point of conflict between both races.
[edit] Gully dwarves
Gully Dwarves or Aghar Dwarves are ugly, sometimes considered repulsive, dwarves from the the fictional Dragonlance world. Dwarves consider them lesser cousins, ashamed and disgusted by them. The most prominent clan in the Dragonlance novels is the Bulp clan, led by the Highbulp. One of the dragonlance novels states that Gully Dwarves are actually a cross breed between Dwarves and Gnomes. This may not be canon.
[edit] History
Gully dwarves, while looked down on, are given some small standing in dwarven society. They are given a representative on the dwarven council, but he rarely speaks. During the attack on Pax Tharkas, led by Caramon Majere and Raistlin Majere, a group of gully dwarves defended the fortress valiantly to the last.
Gully dwarves are often employed doing menial tasks, like cleaning bars. The Inn of the Last Home in Solace employed a gully dwarf to clean spills and wash dishes, but their gully dwarf takes every chance to lick the beer up or lick food off plates, considering himself one of the luckiest of all gully dwarves.
[edit] Personality
Gully Dwarves are generally stupid, few being able to manage reaching the number two, and as such when they use the number two, it can mean any number. Bupu, one of the more intelligent gully dwarves, managed beyond this.
[edit] Goblins
Evil creatures said to be a mix of elves and ogres. They were most commonly known for the wars before the Cataclysm in which they, along with ogres, consisted of the major fighting force of Queen Takhisis.
[edit] Minotaurs
- See also: Minotaur (Dungeons & Dragons)
Minotaurs are half-bull, half-human. They worship the minotaur-god Sargonnas, god of vengeance. They are an evil race usually associated with the sea due to their nation being located on the Blood Sea Isles.
[edit] Other races
[edit] Aarakocra
Living amongst the mountains of Krynn, aarakocra are rivals of the kyrie and often fight over living space, especially those tribes on the island of Karthay where aarakocras have been known to work with minotaur barbaric tribes to hunt kyrie. Aarakocras that live in the Abanasinia region often trade with the phaethons that live among the Sentinel peaks.
[edit] Beloved of Chemosh
The Beloved were followers (mostly reluctant) of Chemosh, the Lord/God of Death in fantasy series Dragonlance. They were forced to follow by pain. The beloved were usually created by other beloved and by love. Someone who was a beloved would be forced to seek out the ones closet to them. The beloved would then ask their love to swear to Chemosh to prove that they actually loved them. This would turn the lover into another Beloved. All the beloved carried a mark called Mina's kiss. It looked like a birth mark shaped of lips. The beloved were virtually invicible. They could not be harmed or touched by magic. Severed limbs didn't affect them. The beloved only could be destroyed by innocence which only young children had. However, the innocence that destroyed the beloved will in return be destroyed. The beloved can be sepereated from a crowd by looking deep into their eyes. You will see that no beloved will have feelings nor life. All of the beloved were promised eternal life by Chemosh, but they only got unending death. Although they were given the status by Chemosh, they do not take commands from him; they only follow Mina.
[edit] Kyrie
The kyrie are humanoids with feathered wings and a talent for mysticism.
[edit] Shadowpeople
The Shilo-Thahn, commonly known as shadowpeople, are ancient creatures who used to live in the underground mines and passages in Sanction. Their appearance is that of a hairy ape, human size, protruding muzzle, yellow eyes and mouth with sharp fangs. They can articulate their lips and tongue to speak the common tongue, although they use their own secret dialect.
The Shadowpeople is able to read the mind of any being without being noticed. As extension, they are able to talk to other beings mentally. They can also see in light and darkness. Although they prefer staying in the depths, some may have gone to the surface hiding their features with heavy cloaks, disguising themselves as Zhakar dwarves or Priests of Takhisis.
They lived in a community governed by the Councilors, several ancient shadowpeople. Being extremely peaceful and intelligent, the shadowpeople prefer evading battles if possible. They set up traps in walls, floors and ceillings, sticky nets that squeeze tighter the more the prey tries to escape. They do not believe in vengeance, and accept death without question.
At such depth, fungus is utilized in every possible way, including food, illumination when needed, and prison cells (tall mushroom-shaped fungus positioned in a circle with only an entrance).
After having discovered that priests of Takhisis held metallic dragon's eggs as hostages, the shadowpeople tried to do everything they could in order to stop the degeneration of the eggs into draconians. However, their efforts were in vain, as Ariakas slayed the last warriors with his blessed sword.
Nothing is known about the shadowpeople after the War of the Lance.
[edit] Tarmaks
The Tarmaks are a race of brutes, who paint themselves with a blue healing paint to help them fight better. Linsha Majere was captured, and taken to the homeland of the tarmaks, the Isle of the Brutes, which is located east of Ansalon and south of Taladas.
[edit] Thanoi
The Thanoi are a group of Walrus-men. They live in scattered villages, situated mostly in the Icereach area.
[edit] Shadow wights
The shadow wight is a creature of chaos that appear insubstantial, like a ghost. They cannot be harmed by normal weapons, unless it's are blessed, however can be harmed by magic. They possess people, however in order to do so, they first mirror the shape of their victim, then hypnotize them with words of despair. Once the victim has succumbed to despair, the wight nullifies the victim, destroying the victim as well as any memories of that victim. The only way to "remember" that person is through physically written objects.
[edit] References
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 3, chapter 13, The sun rises. Darkness descends.”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 879. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, chapter 2, The White Dragon. Captured!”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 656. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, volume 1, chapter 10, —Not destined to meet again in this world.”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 555. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, volume 1, chapter 5, The riot. Tas disappears. Alhana Starbreeze.”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 536. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, chapter 2, The White Dragon. Captured!”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 658. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, chapter 2, The White Dragon. Captured!”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 657. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5.
[edit] Other books
- Weis, Margaret; Hickman, Tracy (2000). Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Chronicles vol. I. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1574-9.
- Weis, Margaret; Hickman, Tracy (2000). Dragons of Winter Night: Chronicles vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1609-5.
- Weis, Margaret; Hickman, Tracy (2000). Dragons of Spring Dawning: Chronicles vol. III. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1589-7.
- Sullivan, Stephen (2002). The Dragon Isles. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2827-1.
- Thompson, Paul; Cook, Tonya (2004). Firstborn: The Elven Nations trilogy vol. I. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3367-4.
- Niles, Douglas (2004). The Kinslayer Wars: The Elven Nations trilogy vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3370-4.
- Thompson, Paul; Cook, Tonya (2004). The Qualinesti: The Elven Nations trilogy vol. III. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3373-9.
- Kirchoff, Mary; Winter, Steve (1991). Wanderlust: The Meetings Sextet vol. II. TSR. ISBN 1-56076-115-6.
- Niles, Douglas (1993). Emperor of Ansalon: Villains Series vol. III. TSR. ISBN 1-56076-680-8.
- Songs of the Loremaster
- Covenant of the Forge
- A World in Stone
