#ansalon

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Dragonlance: Villains III - The Emperor of Ansalon Cover Art by Jeff Easley

[whats-in-a-sentence]

"DragonLance Chronicles: Collector's Edition" - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

[vintagerpg]

I have said before, and I guess will never stop saying, that I can’t quite wrap my brain around the DL-series adventures that make up the initial core Dragonlance experience. It meanders in surprising ways that, at least in this case, was probably expensive to produce. This is DL11: Dragons of Glory (1986). It isn’t an adventure module, but rather a strategy game that encompasses the entirety of the War of the Lance. It comes in a heavy cardstock folder, has heavy die-cut cardboard counters and two very big hex maps that display the entirety of the continent of Ansalon (which, admittedly, are pretty sharp); it doesn’t really look like any other ’80s TSR product.

I can’t really evaluate the actual strategy game without playing it, and I am not gonna do that. It looks…OK, neither particularly deep, no particularly lacking, laid out in just 8 pages. It gets the job done I guess. It also doesn’t mesh with any other of TSR’s available rules for mass combat (War Machine was in the Companion Rules in ’83, Battle System came out in ’85, the hybrid of both was in X10: Red Arrow, Black Shield in ’85, which amusingly, uses the bottom half of the painting that this module uses the top half of for its cover). It’s also distinct from the previous DL mass combat stuff (which was watered down Battlesystem, iirc), though I think all that was tactical rather than strategic? I guess all these things are tactical, now that I am thinking about it.

Regardless, sticking a strategy game in the series here, three modules from the end, seems odd. Did Dragonlance players really want this? Did it enrich the experience of the greater campaign? The action of the novels and the modules takes place in what is really a small portion of the overall war, so I can’t imagine using this as an integrated backdrop for the campaign, as the rulebook suggest. Aside of the fact that, like, most DL campaigns were 2+ years in when this dropped. I dunno. It’s strange.

[book--brackets]

DragonLance: Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (1984-1995)

Once merely creatures of legend, the dragons have returned to Krynn. But with their arrival comes the departure of the old gods--and all healing magic. As war threatens to engulf the land, lifelong friends reunite for an adventure that will change their lives and shape their world forever . . .When Tanis, Sturm, Caramon, Raistlin, Flint, and Tasslehoff see a woman use a blue crystal staff to heal a villager, they wonder if it's a sign the gods have not abandoned them after all. Fueled by this glimmer of hope, the Companions band together to uncover the truth behind the gods' absence--though they aren't the only ones with an interest in the staff. The Seekers, a new religious order, wants the artifact for their own ends, believing it will help them replace the gods and overtake the continent of Ansalon. Now, the Companions must assume the unlikely roles of heroes if they hope to prevent the staff from falling into the hands of darkness.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (2005-2015)

While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland.

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (2023)

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger (2009-2012)

Alexia Tarabotti is labouring under a great many social tribulations.

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire (2016-present)

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children  No Solicitations  No Visitors  No Quests 

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

Codex Alera by Jim Butcher (2004-2009)

For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies--elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy--the Marat horde--return to the Valley, Tavi's courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war...

The Belgariad by David Eddings (1982-1984)

Long ago, so the Storyteller claimed, the evil God Torak sought dominion and drove men and Gods to war. But Belgarath the Sorcerer led men to reclaim the Orb that protected men of the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe.

But that was only a story, and Garion did not believe in magic dooms, even though the dark man without a shadow had haunted him for years. Brought up on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, how could he know that the Apostate planned to wake dread Torak, or that he would be led on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by those he loved - but did not know? For a while his dreams of innocence were safe, untroubled by knowledge of his strange heritage. For a little while...

Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers (2021-2022)

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.

One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered.

But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.

They're going to need to ask it a lot.

The Once and Future King by T. H. White (1958)

Once upon a time, a young boy called "Wart" was tutored by a magician named Merlyn in preparation for a future he couldn't possibly imagine. A future in which he would ally himself with the greatest knights, love a legendary queen and unite a country dedicated to chivalrous values. A future that would see him crowned and known for all time as Arthur, King of the Britons.During Arthur's reign, the kingdom of Camelot was founded to cast enlightenment on the Dark Ages, while the knights of the Round Table embarked on many a noble quest. But Merlyn foresaw the treachery that awaited his liege: the forbidden love between Queen Guenever and Lancelot, the wicked plots of Arthur's half-sister Morgause and the hatred she fostered in Mordred that would bring an end to the king's dreams for Britain--and to the king himself.

Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong (2001-2012)

Elena Michaels is the world’s only female werewolf. And she’s tired of it. Tired of a life spent hiding and protecting, a life where her most important job is hunting down rogue werewolves. Tired of a world that not only accepts the worst in her–her temper, her violence–but requires it. Worst of all, she realizes she’s growing content with that life, with being that person.

So she left the Pack and returned to Toronto where she’s trying to live as a human. When the Pack leader calls asking for her help fighting a sudden uprising, she only agrees because she owes him. Once this is over, she’ll be squared with the Pack and free to live life as a human. Which is what she wants. Really.

[dndhistory]

446. Douglas Niles and Tracy Hickman - DL11: Dragons of Glory (1986)

A unique addition to the Dragonlance series of modules, this eleventh entry in the series is not really a continuation of the adventure of our gang of mismatched heroes but a parallel board game. Similarly to the recent fifth edition "Warriors of Krynn" board game that was supposed to be played in conjunction with the Shadow of the Dragon Queen campaign, this entry is actually a board game that is supposed to determine how the wider War of the Lance is going. 

It's interesting that we would get this game in parallel to the already existing Battlesystem wargame, but Dragons of Glory is supposed to determine the war at an even larger scale, at the scale of the whole continent, with players moving whole armies around the map instead of being a skirmish battle. 

In fact you could play Dragonlance at three levels, the micro level of the roleplaying adventure, a middle level of Battlesystem local battles and a macro level where you would use this game to determine positions of whole armies and war advancement across the continent of Ansalon. If, for example, your roleplaying party happens to be in some location where this game determines there is an active Dragon Army, this should then influence the micro roleplaying action. For this reason you get a massive map and a load of counters bundled with this set as well as rules for this board game. Not sure if anyone actually used this as it seems hard to manage as well as demanding that you get your friends together for yet another game! 

[darklordazalin]

Azalin Reviews: Darklord "The Baron"

Darklord: The Baron Domain: The Eyrie Domain Formation: All that can be determined is this Domain formed prior to 750 BC as Il Aluk is mentioned in an adventure associated with the Domain and Il Aluk becomes Necropolis in 750 BC during The Requiem. Power Level: 💀💀💀⚫⚫ Source: Dungeon Magazine Issue 58; 1996

There is very little history on the Darklord of the flying citadel Domain known as The Eyrie. Indeed, there is more information regarding The Eyrie’s former residence than the Darklord himself. At least the former resistant has a name even if he was only in the demiplanes of dread for a month before his flying castle was infiltrated.

Eyrie Keep was once located along a pass in the Khalkist Mountains on the continent of Ansalon on Krynn. It was originally inhabited by the Knights of Solamnia, the rigid knights of Krynn with strict moral codes (unless you’re Lord Soth). During the War of the Lance, the Keep was transformed into a flying citadel in hopes to defend itself and others from the aerial forces of Takhisis’s army. It may have extended their time on Krynn, but the flying citadel was no match for Takhsis’s dragons and it was eventually taken by the Dragon Highlord Kravon.

Kravon lost his red dragon mount earlier in the war and decided to make it everyone’s problem. He slaughtered and tortured his way through Ansalon until even his cruelest generals abandoned him. It’s unclear why they did so, perhaps Kravon was too focused on his personal vendetta than the will of his Goddess? Regardless, alone in his flying castle, Kravon was taken by the mists and transported to the demiplanes of dread forever bound to his the flying citadel, which roamed freely among the Domains of Dread.

Kravon was only a Darklord for one moon cycle, for, when a group of werebats discovered the castle their leader saw it as the perfect home for his kind. The werebats infiltrated the castle and when confronted by Kravon and told to bow before him and Takhisis, the leader of the werebats simply attacked the former Dragon Highlord and killed him. In doing so, the leader named himself The Baron of The Eyrie. Upon doing so, this self-proclaimed ‘baron’ became the Darklord of The Eyrie in Kravon’s place and as its Darklord, The Baron is completely contained within the walls of the flying castle.

Since he cannot leave The Eyrie, The Baron relies upon the werebats (Jerzi, Pyetr, and Liza) he created – and has absolute control over - to fetch his nightly meal of humanoid blood. The Baron despises that he must rely upon them for this and they, in turn, despise him for forces them to do so every night. Indeed, Liza plots to overthrow The Baron and utilize the citadel as a haven for werebats as a formidable fortress to launch raids from and subject humanoids to her will. The Baron, on the other hand, wishes to be free of his underlings but must rely upon them for his nightly meal.

The Eyrie itself isn’t very impressive, aside from the fact that it can fly, though one cannot control where it flies, only our Tormentors have that particular ability. It is inhabited by werebats, flying beasts (bats and birds), and the occasional harpy. On its base, giant spiders wove massive webs to catch flying creatures as the castle moves through the skies.

The Keep has a long history and one can find evidence of the former Knights of Solamnia or the Dragon Highlord that once lived there if they know what they’re looking for and at. It also has a rather unique mental imprint upon it where the castle has absorbed the memories and souls of those who have died within, which often manifests as the whispering of voice or an illusionary vision. Yet, it is not haunted and these manifestations cannot harm those who view them. At least, not physically. I’m certain that viewing a Dragon Highlord having a temper tantrum about their dead dragon leaves a permanent impression on one’s psyche.

The Baron is a werebat wizard who prefers spending time with his books over time with others as most wizard do. He can cast in both his human and hybrid forms, though not in his bat form…which, given the need most wizards need for gestures, words, and components, is unsurprising. As Darklord, he may summon an ‘aerial’ servant to come to his aid, can summon a flock of ravens or two hawks, and swarms of bats. Also, as most Darklords, The Baron can close the borders of his Domain by summoning high winds that surround the Eyrie, making it impossible for anyone to leave. He typically does this to prevent his prey from leaving.

It’s difficult to rate a Darklord with very little history, but given that he is a wizard and has a decent amount of control over his underlings, I will award him 3 skulls.

[the-invested-ranger]

Ranger Gathering 2024

Prompt 9 - Guilty

Trigger Warnings for uuuuuh Blood / Death / Injury / General Bad Vibes

This Prompt Fic uses an OC I made a long time ago, before I knew about Royal Ranger. If you don’t like reading OC content then this ain’t for you.

This Prompt uses of my OCs. His name is Ansalon Prier and additional information for him will be under the cut as well. His father may appear or be mentioned in these prompts. His name is Geldon, he’s a senior Ranger, it’s not super important (another OC. Shocking I know)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ansalon sat on the steps of the old cabin. He knew he had time. Setting his elbows on his knees, he tried to catch his breath. This was it. He'd made his choice. He knew that. He knew there was no going back now, but even still, his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

He tried to wipe the blood off of his hands when he realized he was covered in the stuff. He stood up abruptly, stepping off of the porch, his footsteps staining the grass red. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

This isn’t the first time Ansalon had taken a life. He was a Ranger. He killed for a living. Killed for the King for a living. For a King he barely knew, for people who barely knew him. Who were afraid of him. Why? Why wouldn’t he listen? It was all wrong. We can’t keep going like this.

His cheek throbbed where blood oozed steadily from a gash there. He’d almost had his eye taken out. The vertical slash started less than an inch below his right eye, and ended just past his jaw. He needed to stitch it up. He could use the mirror in the bathroom- No. Don’t go back in there. You can’t go back in there.

This wasn’t the first time Ansalon had been here. This was the cabin he grew up in. He’d trained in the backyard. He learned to cook in the kitchen. This would be the last time he saw it.

All he had to do was listen. Why didn’t he listen!? He didn’t even need to agree. He could have told Ansalon to leave. Told him to get out. Cursed him. Anything else. He would have gone. He didn't want it to be this way. But he pulled a knife. 

Ansalon could hear a horse in the stable. The first ranger horse he’d ever known. She was upset. She was angry. Of course she was. He had killed her Ranger. He looked up and saw his own horse, Shade, staring at him. Concern washed over the horse's face. Concern for him.

This wasn’t the first time Ansalon had taken a life. This was the first time Ansalon had killed someone he’d known. Someone he’d loved. The man who trained him. The man who had given up so much for him. Geldon Prier, King’s Ranger. There was no turning back now.

He was no longer a Ranger. Ansalon Prier had just killed his father.

[another-rpg-sideblog]

The continent of Ansalon, home of the DragonLance saga.

(Link to interactive map)

[vivianvixen]

The alignment framework in Dragonlance is fucked

First of all, the setting makes a huge deal about how important balance is, but also the good gods are more correct than the others and the evil gods are the most wrong, at least when it comes to how they are to deal with mortals. So clearly the High God has a favorite side.

But that's not the worst of it, oh no. Let's talk about the Cataclysm, the event that shaped the world of the original Dragonlance modules. The gods tossed a mountain on Istar to punish the Kingpriest for his hubris. But what was said hubris?

At the height of the Holy Empire of Istar, the forces of good had decisively won, basically ruling the entire continent of Ansalon. They went on to destroy the churches of the evil and neutral gods, legalize slavery, and enact genocide against goblins and minotaurs. So the argument seems to be that if the forces of good aren't balanced by the forces of evil, they'll do all the same things that the forces of evil would, but just in the name of good, which is some epic level "both sides" horseshoe theory nonsense.

Is this what the gods, specifically the good ones, punished Istar for? No, not really. They did send various calamities as warnings, but the people just assumed it was the doing of the evil gods, because why would they think anything else? And the last straw for the good gods wasn't all the slavery and genocide, it was when the Kingpriest asked them to be made a god.

And all the while, the Kingpriest remained lawful good.

[diogenescynic2288]

You know what they left off? The Flaeness, Faerun, Kara-Tur, and Ansalon. Oh and Borovia.

One of my favorite hobbies is thinking about the fucked up implications of this fantasy world map my parents got me for christmas

[Image ID: photo of a map. On the left side of the map is Middle Earth, with the Shire and Mordor labeled. To the direct right of Mordor is Whoville.]

[missallanea]

@anonymous : Will you tell us more about the campaign you're planning to run?

*hrm* anyway.

The campaign is actually a published module called Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen. Having fallen in love with the Dragonlance lore, I got really excited about the idea of playing within the world of Krynn and getting to expand on the history with my friends.

ESSENTIALLY : hundreds of years before the story, the city of Istar brought about the Cataclysm, an event which forever changed the face of Ansalon. The Gods have abandoned the world of Krynn, leaving what remained behind to try and piece itself back together. The Age of Darkness, a period of three hundred-odd years, has newly passed. Cities have begun to rebuild, though the ancient ways have been lost. Krynn is a world shattered, surviving but not thriving.

Now, there are whispers of war on the horizon. Rumors spreading throughout Ansalon of dragons sighted — despite dragons having departed from Krynn in the Age of Dreams. The Dragon Queen seeks her return, and has chosen a champion to lead her to victory. With war threatening to tear apart the world once more, the War of the Lance begins.

or that's the idea, anyway! Obviously, that's the broad strokes, but I'm really excited to get to see how my party manages. In the grand scheme of things, the idea is not to avert the War of the Lance — it will happen with or without them — but to do what they can to defeat a common enemy.

semi-unprompted !!

[tenth-sentence]

Deeply involved in the war that was slowly stamping the life out of the northern lands of Ansalon, something as trivial as a staff with healing powers did not merit their attention.

"DragonLance Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning" - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

[bobelblogger]

Laurana met with the speaker of the stars Alhana Starbreeze in silence both entranced sat amid the exiles of their conquered homes among the last of their race. Kagonesti, Qualinesti and Silvanesti all refugees fleeing the Dragon Queens rule who betrayed the peace promised by treaty in favor of new settlers brought to replace them, in all three hundred sixty four souls remain, horrific slaughter. Dargonesti Demeresti "Why have the fates turned so cruelly, have we not given our due to the stars for--." "What have your ears and eyes learned of our company, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Tika, Flint, Caramon, Raistlin, Tass or Tanis, and what of Gilthanas?" "Flint is holed up in Godshome, Tasselhoff is in Kendermore with the remains of his people building ships to sail, nor Riverwind or Goldmoon were seen or talked about, Gilthanas and Raistlin and Caramon and Tanis and Tika have ventured to Taladas in hopes of gathering renewed force, it will take some time, many think continued resistance is futile and the dragonarmies unstoppable." "Then I must obtain unstoppable power to match them, aimed at the heart of evil itself with such ferocity they never rise again." "How, such magics and vessels to hold it are left to the gods and goddesses alone, and the price for it steeped in suffering." "Then I've paid my fare hundreds of times over, my person and name soiled and mocked, betrayed and humiliated, if there is such a vessel I will take it and if not forge one, ascend the steps to my waiting place in the heavens and temples a red a white and black day shall herald it, the tortured souls of my foes will flood the underworld." "Laurana, what shall you do without our friends? my love for Sturm, it didn't bring his return, love is all we have." "Love is a childhood infatuation of foolish ideas cursing our minds, between us it's more trouble than help." "Then we must love ourselves to move onward to lift this evil net snaring our world, before the cataclysm returns." Alhana, I am the Cataclysm, this is the Age of the Golden Goddess, bow down and worship me now." Without a thought Alhana did and soon the rest followed, their old gods did nothing, all faith realigned on her, they were Lauranesti now,

---------- Aloft with his Wing over Kendermore, Emperor Ariakas hunts for sport, with only the dwarves and a few bands of escape elven slaves, all Ansalon was in his thrall and Takhisis had full sway over the land. ARIAKAS SUCKS COCK spelled out in a field, flying lower and realized it was made of slain dragonarmy men. Red Wing, fan out over the area and burn everything, no survivors,

Ariakas, by drowning in dragon blood, piss, sperm and shit.

----------- Kitiara's body ached from her strenuous sparring practice, she needed to stay swift and sharp even with a pacified region to rule, her spies in Taladas brought news of Tanis and his friends, soon she would have him in her bed and in marriage, Steel would bring him back, willing or unwilling. Steels life for the whereabouts of my child, no lies, come on cunt, I'm not asking nicely again, feel the lance you ugly slattern.

Kitiara, by Lance with castrated sons cock

----------- Barnesby wasn't given the rulership of Palanthas before its ruin but his harem of elven widows and a vast fiefdom on the Solamnian coast more than made up for it.

Barnesby, by rats in a barrel tossed down a hole.

----------- Kreiss found his castle more dark and joyless than usual as he stalked through the halls, it's only been two weeks.

----------- Suleiman ordered a race of his finest horses was set to begin soon, with his favorite called Godswill, in a bet against his

Suleiman, by trampling with stallions mating.

A nar finished sequel to Euchers Laurana Whore General.

[the-knew-network]

The Knew Network had its first ever D&D workshop last night with Avi Klein and myself hosting. Attendance was sparse but enthusiastic and knowledge was imparted and a great discussion had.

The history of the 50 year old game and its evolution, along with the basic mechanics of character building were the main points of the workshop.

I will recap all that and forge ahead on next week’s workshop as we move toward The TKN Celebrity D&D Campaign: Adventures in Ansalon!!

CHECK OUT E182 OF THE GREEN ROOM (copy&paste): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/mpUZekH1iaD9fVLX/?mibextid=WC7FNe

CHECK OUT THE TKN YOUTUBE CHANNEL (copy&paste): http://www.YouTube.com/@theknewnetwork

(TUNE INTO MY WEEKLY FACEBOOK LIVE AT 6:30PM EASTERN, EVERY SATURDAY, FOR ALL THE NEWS AND CLUES!)

#TKN #dungeonsanddragons #youtubechannel

[kalianos]

So I just got the Dragonlance Shadows of the Dragon Queen 5e book.

so...I grew up reading Dragonlance books basically. All I knew about Dungeons and Dragons was from there initially.

I have two shelves double lined with books from the setting I read so much of it.

Had an internal moment of massive nostalgia seeing the map of Ansalon in the back. Read through bits of the adventure. Tickled pink at the progression for someone becoming a Wizard of High Sorcery down to having them go through the Test.

Trying to make peace with Lunar Sorcery though. Initally I thought it was some epixy of Wild Sorcery but...thats essentially primal magic released by the Greygem so *shrug*

I feel like a teenager again, vacationing inthe Colorado Mountains in a log cabin reading my entire collection of the War of the Lance into the Chaos war to the War of Souls.

I...I want to run a D&D campaign again for the first time in five years.

Granted I always wanted to use Starlight Hall as a plot point for an all dwraf campaign, and I really need to write down the False Hydra campaign I ran.

>_> And write out memoirs of what I dealt with running for my initial group. The good and bad. Going to be Difficult. But good exercise.

[amicidomenicani]

Santi Giordano Ansalone, sacerdote, Lorenzo Ruiz, padre di famiglia, e Compagni Martiri

(memoria) Giacinto Ansalone, nato il 1° novembre 1598, a S. Stefano Quisquina (AG), all’età di 17 anni, affascinato dall’ideale missionario entrò nell’Ordine dei Domenicani nel convento di Agrigento e prese il nome di Giordano. Iniziati gli studi nel convento di Palermo, si trasferì nel 1618 a Salamanca per completarli e acquistare un’adeguata preparazione al suo desiderio di recarsi missionario…