Chronicles of Dragonlance

Sometimes things are just out of your control. Scheduling issues and family illness prevented a recording this month.  We'll be back in December with Dragons of Winter Night. Very excited to share our thoughts and feelings with you all then!  Until then, please join us on the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147877956611082 Intro/Outro music: Winter Night by Alexander Nakarada  

In this special interlude episode Shvam and Jonathon are joined by Dragonlance creators and authors, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman! We learn about how the two found themselves at TSR and how the world of Krynn was created. Some of these stories we believe have never been told before!  This was literally a dream come true for your hosts and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did recording it.  We now have a Patreon for those who want to help defray the costs of hosting and editing. Details are here: https://www.patreon.com/ChroniclesofDragonlancePodcast Intro/Outro music: Winter Night by Alexander Nakarada

In this first episode of the podcast we meet ourhosts, Jonathon Howard and Shivam Bhatt and how they discovered this influential series. A short introduction to the World of Dragonlance and it's creators: Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. How this podcast will work.

Jonathon and Shivam dive in to the first Dragonlance novel, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, covering the Prologue and the first couple of chapters. Listeners are introduced to the world of Krynn, parts of its history and we begin to meet the protagonists of this tale!

Shivam and Jonathon continue their dive into the first Dragonlance novel, Dragons of Autumn Twilight. We are introduced to the Inn of the Last Home and more of the Companions! The twins: Caramon and Raistlin, the knight Sturm, and a pair of Plainspeople who have come to Solace.  And they are all unceremoniously dumped into an adventure!

Things are really picking up in Dragons of Autumn Twilight. The Party is complete, all the Companions have been introduced, and the adventure is underway! The Party escapes from the Inn of the Last Home, flees Solace, and finds its way on the road to Haven with a divine staff that hasn't been seen since the time of the Cataclysm. Along the way we meet a new threat, not just to the Companions but to all of Krynn

The Companions learn more about the strange party of black robed 'clerics' they encountered. Goldmoon tries to gain new information about the blue crystal staff. A new race is introduced to Krynn, creating problems for the Companions. The party flees, again.  Sturm remembers and maybe goes a little crazy. The Companions benefit (?) from his mental turmoil. They follow his madness (?) into Darken Woods. 

The Companions journey through Darken Wood. Wherein they find a place more alive than tales would have lead them to believe. Once night falls they meet some of the "less alive" denizens of the Wood.  The Companions are lead to the Master of Darken Wood and are provided much needed context and direction. Oh, and an impossible task...

Tanis chooses for the group. They will accept the task given to them by the Forestmaster. The Companions wonder at what exactly it is they must hunt down. The Forestmaster whisks them across the continent on pegasuses.  Goldmoon and Riverwind experience serious trauma. Their acceptance of the blue crystal staff continues to have a high cost. The Companions hurry to meet the deadline set by the Forestmaster entering a dismal swamp. Before they can find the ruins of Xak Tsorath they're ambushed and defeated by Draconians 

The party is imprisoned by the Draconians. The weird creatures celebrate their retrieval of the blue crystal staff. Tanis worries over the Companions, Tasselhoff and Flint missing, Raistlinpoisoned. Tasselhoff plans a rescue. Hijinks ensue.  The Companions escape only to encounter true terror, a black dragon. Tragedy awaits one of them. 

Shivam is excited to talk a bit about the new Dragonlance book that came out this year, and his role in its writing. In these chapters Goldmoon meets a Goddess. The Companions witness a miracle. They descend into Xak Tsorath to claim the platinum disks for Mishakal. We meet Gully Dwarves and we have a lot to say about them. Rasitlin makes friends with the gully dwarves. The companions find a way down into the ruins of the city, but there is a complication. 

The Companions find another way down into the ruined city of Xak Tsorath with the help of their new friend Bupu. Oh, really she's only Raistlin's friend. This way is a little more complicated and a lot dirtier. They finally find themselves in the ruined city, somehow folded over on itself tucked into a giant underground cave. A discussion of strategy. Spying on a dragon. Finally, they meet with the leader of the Gully Dwarves, Highbulp Phudge the First and discuss how best to get the disks they seek without letting the dragon know. The Highbulp has other plans. 

The Companions make their plans to sneak into and steal from the Dragon’s hoard. Their plans go horribly wrong. With disastrous consequences for the Companions, and the buried city of Xak Tsaroth. The Compansions disasterous retreat with what perhaps is the people of Krynn's only hope in their possession! We think... Shivam and Jonathon have a long conversation about canon,what exactly it is, and what purpose does it serve? 

In this episode, Jonathon and Shivam follow the Companions as they escape Xak Tsaroth, witness a miracle, see Raistlin’s good side, and finish Book One of Dragons of Autumn Twilight. We discuss the D&D Dragonlance Modules a bit wondering how economical and good they still are. We then try to ease into Book 2 but it doesn’t let us, preferring to start with a devastating boom!

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of rape. Discussion begins at the 58 minute mark.  In this episode we return to Solace and see how the invasion of the Dragon Queen’s army has destroyed the town and its people. The Companions return to the Inn of the Last Home only to find it occupied by murderers, hobgoblins, and draconians. Tanis receives an icy reception from an old friend, and the party is captured. Goldmoon practices her sacred healing arts to the astonishment of others, and we meet an old, though familiar mage, who is clearly more than he appears.   

In this episode Jonathon and Shivam follow the Companions as Fewmaster Toede leads them towards Pax Tharkas. Tas makes a new friend, Toede’s servant, Sestun the gully dwarf. We learn from Fizban that dragonlances and Huma were real. The slave caravan is ambushed by an Elvish party, all the prisoners are freed. We meet Gilthanas’ brother and see again the tension that exist between the races of Krynn. Companions are lead to elvish city of Qualinost where they meet the the leader of the Elves and Tanis’ surrogate father. We also learn that the elves are leaving their home. The Elves are shocked by the return of the Gods and finally we meet one of Tanis’ loves, Laurana.  Quite the action packed chapters!

We learn all about the history between Tanis & Laurana, how it lead to Tanis fleeing his home, and going out into the world. The plans of the Qualinesti Elves are revealed and we learn the role the Companions must play to enure the Elves' future. In order for the Elves to escape successfully, the Companions will have to sneak into Pax Tharkas and free the enslaved humans there, drawing the attention of Verminaard and a draconian army away from the fleeing elves.  The Companions have the time honored D&D argument over splitting up the party, ultimately deciding, against Tanis’ wishes, to stay together. Doubts grow about Gilthanas, who will lead them on their journey to Pax Tharkas. Tanis tells Laurana she must grow up and find a reason to live and fight for.

Content Warning - Discussions about sex and the many cultural rules around it.  Tika receives a royal gift, and the Companions leave Qualinost bound for Pax Tharkas. On their way they find an old battle site, amongst the corpses of goblins and humans they find a survivor, Eben, he joins them. Draconians appear, Tika creates a new form of combat in the aftermath of the fight she kisses Caramon. They resume their journey. Suspicions grow. They reach the outskirts of Pax Tharkas. Head towards the secret entrance. More suspicions. Eben recommends a frontal assault on the fortress. The party is followed. They enter the secret passage. Goldmoon and Caramon have “The Talk.” They search for hidden doors only to find a giant slug. The follower is revealed. Tanis receives a royal gift. The Companions have to take another path. It can be a little confusing when we're talking about the Sla-Mori and which paths they took when and where the giant slug came from, etc. I thought this map from the Dragonlance Atlas would help. The Companions camped at the first intersection after the Secret Entrance. Raistlin felt the evil come from the western tunnel. The door that the slug came out of is opposite (west) of Kith-Kanan's throne. 

After the harrowing encounter with the giant slug the Companions are forced to take the path through the tombs of Kith Kanan’s royal guards. Goldmoon’s holy powers ensure they don’t have to fight a horde of zombies. Flint and Tasselhoff find secret doors. The Companions find an evil Drow spirit that splits the party. Your hosts have a discussion of whether there are or are not Drow in Dragonlance. Tas and Fizban “meet” Verminaard and his dragon, Ember. There is little love lost between the two. We learn of the Queen of Darkness’ plans within plans. We get an update on Fewmaster Toade and Sestun, it isn’t great for either of them. The rest of the Companions work out their “plan” for freeing the enslaved families held in Pax Tharkas. The spy connects with his masters.  

While Tanis and the majority of the Companions conspire with the slaves of Pax Tharkas Tas and Fizban explore its secrets. Taz learns, and then forgets, the truth of Dragonlances. Laurana converts one high seeker to the old faith with a parable. Tas and Fizban learn who the traitor is. Tanis wishes he knew, as everyone who could possibly be the traitor is suddenly not where they are supposed to be! Despite everything the plan to free the slaves moves forward. Tas and Fizban save Sestun only to reveal themselves to Verminaard and Ember. The three flee with the dragon in pursuit. The dragon is wrecking the fort as he pursues them. That giant chain is broken,that ancient cog starts moving. Fizban, Tas, and Sestun fall into darkness...