Dragonlance

Dragonlance may refer to one of two things: the series of books by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman set in the world of Krynn, or the d20-system role-play campaign setting based on the series. Here we will concern ourselves with the books by Weiss and Hickman.

The World
Krynn is a fantasy world that began life as the setting for a Dungeons and Dragons-esque role-play, and so it shares some features with the RPG. It contains the kind of creatures you would expect, such as humans, elves, dwarves, dragons, orcs, ogres, etc., and the main characters tend to have aspects of D&D characters, such as having a distinct class like ranger, fighter, barbarian, wizard, or cleric. There are also clear lines drawn between good, neutral, and evil.

The action happens mostly on the continent of Ansalon. Important locations on Ansalon include the town of Solace in the province of Abanasinia, the cities of Palanthas and Neraka, the elven nations of Qualinesti and Silvanesti with their capitols of Qualinost and Silvanost, the dwarven kingdom in the mountain Thorbardin, and Solamnia, the realm of the Solamnic Knights.

Good and Neutral Races

 * Humans
 * Elves
 * Dwarves
 * Gnomes
 * Metallic dragons

Kender
Kender are Krynn's answer to halflings in that they are a small people, but kender, far from being content to stay at home and grow gardens, are as a race afflicted with wanderlust. Kender are intensely curious to the point of endangering themselves and their traveling companions, and they are immune to the emotion of fear. They also have an unfortunate tendency to acquire other people's possessions, though any kender would swear blind that he never stole anything in his life. The object's owner must have dropped it; it's a good thing the kender picked it up for him. Kender are generally cheerful and talkative, always willing to tell a story about their last adventure.

Evil Races

 * Chromatic dragons
 * Draconians
 * Ogres
 * Minotaurs

Magic
Magic-users on Krynn get their power from the gods one way or another--clerics through prayer to their deity of choice and wizards through intense study of the words of magic and devotion to the craft and its three patron gods. Wizards experience the use of magic as a sort of ecstasy that can be dangerously addictive. The desire for more magical power is something that most wizards have in common. The differences appear in their methods of handling it.

Each wizard must take a deadly test. If they survive, then they make a decision whether to follow the path of good, neutrality, or evil. Good-aligned wizards follow the god Solinari and wear white robes. They seek to use their magic for the good of others. Neutral wizards follow Lunitary and wear red robes. They seek magic for its own sake. Evil wizards follow Nuitari and wear black robes. They use magic for their own gain, no matter the cost.

The Books
Though the Dragonlance franchise has grown to monstrous proportions with many authors writing for it, the books that matter most are the ones by original authors Weiss and Hickman. These are the ones listed here.

The Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy

 * Dragons of Autumn Twilight (April 1984)
 * Dragons of Winter Night (April 1985)
 * Dragons of Spring Dawning (September 1985)

Dragonlance Legends

 * Time of the Twins (February 1986)
 * War of the Twins (May 1986)
 * Test of the Twins (August 1986)

The Second Generation

 * The Second Generation (February 1995)
 * Dragons of Summer Flame (November 1996)

The War of Souls

 * Dragons of a Fallen Sun (April 2000)
 * Dragons of a Lost Star (April 2001)
 * Dragons of a Vanished Moon (January 2002)

The Lost Chronicles Trilogy

 * Dragons of the Dwarven Depths (July 2006)
 * Dragons of the Highlord Skies (July 2007)
 * Dragons of the Hourglass Mage (August 2009)

Agents Native to Krynn

 * Earwig Slugthrower