Krynn
A world forged in dragonfire where heroes rise to stop the darkness.
Krynn is the primary campaign setting for the Dragonlance saga, a world defined by its dramatic history of divine intervention and epic conflict between good and evil. Unlike many other D&D worlds, Krynn's timeline is marked by distinct eras separated by cataclysmic events known as Ages, most notably the War of the Lance where dragon riders clashed with the forces of darkness. The world serves as a stage for some of the most beloved characters in fantasy history, including Tanis Half-Elven and the warrior Raistlin Majere. It is renowned for its unique cosmology featuring the Moonshaes and the absence of traditional magic users during specific historical periods, making it a distinct and cherished environment for storytelling within the broader Dungeons & Dragons universe.
Quick Facts
- Primary franchise
- Dragonlance
- Continents
- Ansalon (most novels), Taladas
- Major conflict
- War of the Lance
- Major gods
- Paladine
- Gilean and Takhisis
- children of the High God
- Dominant races
- Humans
- Elves
- Dwarves
- Kender
- Gnomes
- Minotaurs
- Era of the novels
- Age of Despair (fourth of five ages)
Facts from the source article.
Background
The history of Krynn is a tapestry woven with threads of betrayal, redemption, and divine wrath. The world was once home to the gods who walked among mortals, but following the Cataclysm that shattered continents and killed millions, the deities withdrew from direct interaction, leaving their followers to navigate a broken world. This event fundamentally altered the landscape, raising new mountains and sinking old kingdoms, while also stripping away magic for several generations.
The most significant period in Krynn's recent history is the War of the Lance, where an alliance of dragons known as the Dragon Highlords sought to dominate the world under the influence of the dark god Takhisis. A small band of heroes, including a half-elf ranger and a frail wizard, united disparate races like the diminutive kender and the stoic dwarves to challenge this tyranny. Their victory reshaped the balance of power, though the struggle between the forces of light and darkness remains a constant undercurrent in the world's ongoing narrative.
Did You Know?
- The kender race is native to Krynn and is famous for their cheerful nature and habit of 'borrowing' items without realizing it is theft.
- Magic was completely absent from the world for several generations following the Cataclysm, a period known as the Age of Despair.
- The Dragon Highlords were once benevolent rulers who were corrupted by the dark goddess Takhisis to become tyrants.
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