Taladas
Encyclopedia
Taladas is a continent
in the northern hemisphere
of Krynn
, the fictional world for the Dragonlance
setting of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
role playing game.
. Taladas was devastated on the same day as Istar by a great hail of fire, which destroyed its main empire and split the earth open. The hail of fire caused the central part of the continent to be swallowed by molten rock in a great cauldron of flame. It is now a sea of lava, known as the Burning Sea or the Lava Sea. The heat burned the lands around Aurim, creating ash and glass as well as spewing poisonous gases that killed many people. The inhabitants of Taladas called this event the Great Destruction. Some areas survived, but were deeply transformed : new mountain ranges appeared and a continent was split into two.
Taladas is home to many of the same races as Ansalon, but their cultures are remarkably different.
Northern Hosk is home to numerous human nomads. It is also home to nomadic elven tribes that are extremely aggressive, as well as goblins who live in the mountains.
Neron, the southeastern part of the continent, is mostly covered by jungle and swamp which is home to wild elves, who have mastered a magic strongly linked to nature, and degenerated mind flayers.
Humans, dwarves, kenders and minotaurs live in peace with each other in the Rainward Isles, northeast of Taladas. However, they are threatened by rampaging undead.
The huge mountain ranges close to the Burning Sea are inhabited by ogres, dwarves, hobgoblins and yeti-like creatures.
The eastern, near-barren parts of the continent are home to Traag draconians, a species of draconians created by the servants of goddess Takhisis, but later dismissed as a failed experiment. Many hobgoblins also live there.
The gnomes are the most advanced civilization of Taladas. They mostly live in citadels close to the Lava Sea, and sail the Burning Sea in metal ships. They often have to battle fire creatures living in the Sea. As opposed to the gnomes found in Ansalon, many of the gnomes in Taladas are quite competent and their creations work as intended.
Sea elves, known as the Dargonesti, live west of Taladas.
Armach was created by a Silvanesti war fleet during the war against the Qualinesti. They were brought to Taladas by a powerful storm. Their ships were destroyed and the elves had to settle there. After some armed conflicts, they eventually formed a confederation with their human neighbors.
Extremely old ruins can be found in several parts of the continent, including the lands of the bakali, Neron and the barren eastern lands. Not all of the ruins come from the empire of Aurim.
Takhisis is worshipped by few. Paladine is almost unknown, although he has a minotaur paladin there. Hiddukel/Hith is the most influential evil god. The priests of Mishakal are a semi-secret organization. They travel often, bringing their powers of healing to those who need it. Among the neutral gods, the most popular is Shinare, who is worshipped by the merchants of the Minotaur League. Reorx is worshipped by the gnomes.
, the best known continent of Krynn
, Taladas has been relatively untouched by published materials such as novels and game modules. It is mostly detailed in the boxed set Time of the Dragon
and in the supplement Taladas : The Minotaurs. A trilogy of adventures titled DLA1: Dragon Dawn
, DLA2: Dragon Knight, and DLA3: Dragon's Rest also mostly take place in Taladas.
The events of the computer game The Dark Queen of Krynn
, released in 1992, happen mostly on Taladas.
Blades of the Tiger
, Trail of the Black Wyrm
and Shadow of the Flame are novels in a trilogy set in Taladas, written by Chris Pierson
, and were released on April 5, 2005; April 11, 2006; and June 12, 2007, respectively.
In the novel Amber and Blood
, the kender Nightshade tells Rhys of another continent, presumably Taladas.
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
in the northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
of Krynn
Krynn
Krynn is the fictional world of the Dragonlance novels, co-written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It has also been used in many other books, set in the Dragonlance universe. It is also used as the main setting in the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing...
, the fictional world for the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
setting of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role playing game.
Introduction
Taladas is another continent on Krynn, and is located northeast of AnsalonAnsalon
Ansalon is a continent on Krynn, the fictional world of the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game....
. Taladas was devastated on the same day as Istar by a great hail of fire, which destroyed its main empire and split the earth open. The hail of fire caused the central part of the continent to be swallowed by molten rock in a great cauldron of flame. It is now a sea of lava, known as the Burning Sea or the Lava Sea. The heat burned the lands around Aurim, creating ash and glass as well as spewing poisonous gases that killed many people. The inhabitants of Taladas called this event the Great Destruction. Some areas survived, but were deeply transformed : new mountain ranges appeared and a continent was split into two.
Taladas is home to many of the same races as Ansalon, but their cultures are remarkably different.
Geography
Most civilization is concentrated in Southern Hosk, the southwestern part of the continent. The only true empire since Aurim is located here; the powerful Minotaur League, or the Imperial League. South of the League is the kingdom of Thenol, which is currently at war with the League. Thenol is ruled by Trandamere, Bishop of the evil god Hiddukel (called Hiteh or Hith in Taladas), with the aid of huge armies of undead. A small confederation led by elves, known as Armach, is located near the western coast. Bakali, a race of lizardmen, live in huge swamps covering the southern end of Southern Hosk. Kender can be found in Southern Hosk but unlike their free-wheeling kindred in Ansalon, they are a suspicious, almost paranoid lot.Northern Hosk is home to numerous human nomads. It is also home to nomadic elven tribes that are extremely aggressive, as well as goblins who live in the mountains.
Neron, the southeastern part of the continent, is mostly covered by jungle and swamp which is home to wild elves, who have mastered a magic strongly linked to nature, and degenerated mind flayers.
Humans, dwarves, kenders and minotaurs live in peace with each other in the Rainward Isles, northeast of Taladas. However, they are threatened by rampaging undead.
The huge mountain ranges close to the Burning Sea are inhabited by ogres, dwarves, hobgoblins and yeti-like creatures.
The eastern, near-barren parts of the continent are home to Traag draconians, a species of draconians created by the servants of goddess Takhisis, but later dismissed as a failed experiment. Many hobgoblins also live there.
The gnomes are the most advanced civilization of Taladas. They mostly live in citadels close to the Lava Sea, and sail the Burning Sea in metal ships. They often have to battle fire creatures living in the Sea. As opposed to the gnomes found in Ansalon, many of the gnomes in Taladas are quite competent and their creations work as intended.
Sea elves, known as the Dargonesti, live west of Taladas.
History
Not much is known about the history of Taladas. The powerful empire of Aurim once existed in the middle of the continent but was destroyed by the Cataclysm. Its people had to flee west and founded two kingdoms. One was Thenol, the other was later conquered by the minotaurs and became the Imperial League.Armach was created by a Silvanesti war fleet during the war against the Qualinesti. They were brought to Taladas by a powerful storm. Their ships were destroyed and the elves had to settle there. After some armed conflicts, they eventually formed a confederation with their human neighbors.
Extremely old ruins can be found in several parts of the continent, including the lands of the bakali, Neron and the barren eastern lands. Not all of the ruins come from the empire of Aurim.
Religion
The gods of Taladas are the same as in Ansalon, but are known by different names. Among them are:- Astar: The god of elves, a hunter and bowman, Branchala.
- Erestem: The Queen of Darkness, TakhisisTakhisisTakhisis is a fictional character from the Dragonlance universe. She is the main goddess of evil and head of the Dark Pantheon.- Titles and forms :...
. - Gilona: The goddess of knowledge and learning, Gilean.
- Hith: God of deceit, Hiddukel.
- Jijin: The god of the Uigan, a warrior and protector, Habbakuk.
- Jolith: A human war god, Kiri-Jolith.
- Lunis: The red moon. Lunitari.
- Manith: A god of contemplation, Zivilyn.
- Mislaxa: A healing goddess, Mishakal.
- Morgash: God of sickness and decay, Morgion.
- Nuvis: The black moon, Nuitari.
- Sargas: The god of the minotaurs, Sargonnas.
- Solis: The silver moon, Solinari.
- Zai: A goddess of seas and storms, Zeboim.
Takhisis is worshipped by few. Paladine is almost unknown, although he has a minotaur paladin there. Hiddukel/Hith is the most influential evil god. The priests of Mishakal are a semi-secret organization. They travel often, bringing their powers of healing to those who need it. Among the neutral gods, the most popular is Shinare, who is worshipped by the merchants of the Minotaur League. Reorx is worshipped by the gnomes.
Published materials
Unlike AnsalonAnsalon
Ansalon is a continent on Krynn, the fictional world of the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game....
, the best known continent of Krynn
Krynn
Krynn is the fictional world of the Dragonlance novels, co-written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It has also been used in many other books, set in the Dragonlance universe. It is also used as the main setting in the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing...
, Taladas has been relatively untouched by published materials such as novels and game modules. It is mostly detailed in the boxed set Time of the Dragon
Time of the Dragon
Time of the Dragon is an accessory for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Time of the Dragon is an accessory for the Dragonlance campaign setting that describes the continent of Taladas on the world of Krynn...
and in the supplement Taladas : The Minotaurs. A trilogy of adventures titled DLA1: Dragon Dawn
Dragon Dawn
Dragon Dawn is an adventure module published in 1989 for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:Dragon Dawn is a Dragonlance adventure scenario which explores the continent of Taladas, which was not involved with the War of the Lance; in this adventure, the player characters...
, DLA2: Dragon Knight, and DLA3: Dragon's Rest also mostly take place in Taladas.
The events of the computer game The Dark Queen of Krynn
The Dark Queen of Krynn
The Dark Queen of Krynn is the third in a three-part series of Dragonlance Advanced Dungeons & Dragons "Gold Box" role-playing video games. The game was released in 1992.-Story:...
, released in 1992, happen mostly on Taladas.
Blades of the Tiger
Blades of the Tiger
Blades of the Tiger is a fantasy novel set in the Dragonlance setting, based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This is the first of a trilogy about Taladas; the second book in the trilogy is Trail of the Black Wyrm...
, Trail of the Black Wyrm
Trail of the Black Wyrm
Trail of the Black Wyrm is a fantasy novel set in the Dragonlance campaign series and is the second of a trilogy about Taladas. The third book in the trilogy is Shadow of the Flame.-Plot introduction:...
and Shadow of the Flame are novels in a trilogy set in Taladas, written by Chris Pierson
Chris Pierson
Chris Pierson is a computer game designer as well as an author of several books in the Dragonlance saga. He has created many books for the series....
, and were released on April 5, 2005; April 11, 2006; and June 12, 2007, respectively.
In the novel Amber and Blood
Amber and Blood
Amber and Blood is the third novel in the Dark Disciple series by Margaret Weis.-Plot introduction:The story resumes where it ended in Amber and Iron. The monk Rhys and the kender Nightshade, along with Rhys's dog Atta, find themselves in a cave on the coast of the Blood Sea while a ferocious storm...
, the kender Nightshade tells Rhys of another continent, presumably Taladas.