Echoes of Krynn The Cataclysm & The War of the Lance The current year for our homebrewed Dragonlance campaign is set during 383AC. Inspired By Trampas Whiteman

Over three hundred years ago, ended the Age of Might. It is a time from memory when civilization was at it's peak. The nation of Istar was a beacon of education, industry and artistry. However, the Kingpriest of Istar stood against the gods believing himself to be their equal and when the faith turned from celebrating good to hunting and creating evil to destroy, the gods finally had enough.

After 13 warning signs from the gods went unheeded and Lord Soth failed in his act of redemption to stop the Kingpriest, the gods cast down a mountain upon the nation of Istar destroying it and sundering the continent of Ansalon creating the Blood Sea of Istar in its place.

For the next 300+ years, disease and famine spread across the land, this was known as the Time of Darkness in the Age of Despair. The citizens of the world began blaming the Knights of Solamnia for not just failing to prevent the Cataclysm but perhaps even being the cause of it. Knights and their families were hunted and murdered, cast out from their own lands, forced to go into hiding.

After a couple generations, the gods themselves became myths and forgotten. If they are spoken of, its in terms of destroyers and monsters, not loving supporters.

Frustration, anger, and hatred spreads across the continent as life becomes increasingly difficult for everyone.

The Wizards of High Sorcery were also mistrusted, as the lasting bigotry against them from Istar remained. People mistrusted magic and divine heal is completely absent.

Ancient tales once believed as fact are also myths and childrens stories. Dragons are only stories to scare children as they have not been seen in over a 1,000 years (Until the War of the Lance 30 years ago). Myths about a Solamnic Knight named Huma defeating the evil goddess Takhisis, the Queen of Darkness and banishing her to the Abyss with a fabled Dragonlance.

It's a tale only known by Scholars and historians and is told as a fable. In the desperation of this age a group known as The Seekers had sprouted up claiming to have discovered new gods that will take care of the world though in fact they were only interested in seeking economic and political power with no actual Gods behind them.

The mountain dwarves locked their Gates even to their Hill dwarf cousins instigating war and generational discord. The elves stayed hidden within their borders becoming increasingly xenophobic even the more tolerant elves known as Qualinesti Elves maintained a strict border control and did not willingly interact with outsiders. The War of the Lance was brutal and affected everyone on both sides. Good eventually prevailed but at a high cost.

It has now been 30 years since the War of the Lance, a war that brought about great change to the world of Krynn. For many years peace has ruled the land, trade routes had opened up into and out of Thorbardin. There was finally reconciliation between the elves of Qualinost and Silvanost; of course the peace was strained, as was always the case with the Qualinesti and Silvanesti nations. The tribes of plainsmen were united under the rule of Goldmoon and Riverwind, two of the Heroes of the Lance. All across Ansalon people of every race existed in a more trusting and less prejudiced land. That is, until recently.

Over the last couple of years, things have begun to change, tending more toward the dark and gloomy. Rumors of a new Knighthood dedicated to Queen Takhisis have arisen, the weather has been erratic and the sun doesn’t seem to shine as brightly from one day to the next. Scholars, sages and wizards all over the continent have been researching this phenomenon in an effort to answer the oft-asked question: “What is happening to our world”? Their studies and tests have thus far come up empty. Whatever changes are occurring, they have nothing to do with the land itself; there is a power at work here creating problems that seem to have no solution.

The bottom line is as always, it's "us" versus them and you can't survive in this harsh time without a tight-knit tribe be it family, town, region or even nation. Distrust and bigotry now runs rampant. Kender in their Wanderlust travel the continent finding adventure and trouble not to mention that item you have been missing.

The Gnomes have isolated themselves in their hollowed out volcano trying to create technological gadgets that usually end in explosions. As a player you should allow yourself to be informed by the cultural and social norms in all of their sexist and racist overtones (created by the Cataclysm) and most importantly be willing to allow personal experience to break down those walls of hatred your society and culture has built up around you.

For you, Dragonlance is about making an impact for the betterment of the world despite where you started. Building "your own story with your own unique hero". The Heroes of the Lance have told their story, now comes the time for you to tell your own story.