Istar before the 1st Kingpriest - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Istar before the 1st Kingpriest

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 26, 2004 0:51:53 I'm currently putting together some material for a Dragonlance game that will be set on Ansalon in the Age of Might, at the start of the 6th century PC ( 593 PC to be exact ). A lot of the initial story and game action will be taking place in the nation of Istar and surrounding territories, and I have one pressing question : how was Istar governed before the declaration of the first ruling Kingpriest? I've variously heard it referred to as a kingdom, an empire and an oligarchic city-state, but never seen anything canon or concrete for this period. I know that there is an established noble class in the city, and that it was a waxing trading and military power at the time, so perhaps a ruling council of nobles, wealthy merchants, and established military families is the way to go. Or maybe they had a good old fashioned King - I have no idea! I would appreciate any opinions or hard facts, from old modules, novel sources, or whatever. Thanks in advance for any help.
#2
quentingeorge
May 26, 2004 1:51:53 There are some tidbits on pre-Kingpriest in the Kingpriest trilogy.

Some points:

Early rulers of Istar seem to be Kings (eg Karthay Pah)

Later rulers, up until the time the Kingpriest Symeon I takes control in 280 PC, are Emperors (eg Lannis the Blind)
#3
zombiegleemax
May 26, 2004 7:46:38
Originally posted by QuentinGeorge
There are some tidbits on pre-Kingpriest in the Kingpriest trilogy.

Some points:

Early rulers of Istar seem to be Kings (eg Karthay Pah)

Later rulers, up until the time the Kingpriest Symeon I takes control in 280 PC, are Emperors (eg Lannis the Blind)

Thanks for the info, I think for my purposes I'll assume that Istar has an Emperor by the 6th century PC. BTW, just out of curiosity, is it ever revealed how many ruling Kingpriests there were between 280 PC and the Cataclysm?
#4
quentingeorge
May 27, 2004 2:49:50 I think Emperor is your best bet.

As for how many Kingpriests - it isn't exactly stated, but the following is all the named kingpriests:

Symeon I
Symeon II
Symeon III
Symeon IV (only this Symeon is named, but the others can be inferred)
Giusecchio (banned slavery, assassinated)
Quenndoros (Giusecchio's successor)
Vasari I the Lion
Pradian
Vasari II
Ardosean I
Ardosean II
Ardosean III
Ardosean IV
Kurnos
Beldinas (last one)

There's probably more of them, but that's at least fifteen there.
#5
zombiegleemax
May 27, 2004 3:06:38 Thanks for the list, must write all this info down. Do we know which Kingpriest was the first to start getting carried away, and begin the whole downwards slide of Istar and the Church of Paladine?
#6
quentingeorge
May 27, 2004 6:30:25 The early ones were mostly just corrupt, whereas Kurnos was power-hungry and mad.

Beldinas was really the only one who truly believed he was being righteous. I suspect the others knew they weren't really serving Paladine.

As a note, I definately recommend you hunt down the Kingpriest trilogy. Not only is it a damn fine read, it has a lot of good background information on the Kingpriests and Istar.
#7
zombiegleemax
May 27, 2004 15:09:32 Kurnos succeeded Symeon IV, who was then followed by Beldinas who was THE Kingpriest everyone knows so much about ;) Everything you've read about The Kingpriest in the DLCS and earlier DL gaming books, the battles against Wizardry, persecution of the followers of the non-'Light' Gods, racial discrimination all came from about due to his influence.

As QuentinGeorge said, get the books about him, they're PHENOMINAL if you want information from that time period.
#8
quentingeorge
May 27, 2004 17:14:45 Actually, the proclamation of Manifest Virtue was not made by Beldinas. It was made a century before him, during the Three Thrones War.
#9
zombiegleemax
May 27, 2004 21:42:41 Thanks again for all the information. I will have to read the Kingpriest Trilogy if I can find copies, they sound like a great resource for an Istarian game.
#10
zombiegleemax
May 27, 2004 23:17:48
Originally posted by QuentinGeorge
Actually, the proclamation of Manifest Virtue was not made by Beldinas. It was made a century before him, during the Three Thrones War.

The memory ain't what it use to be ;)

Beldinas was still one dillusional mofo! :D
#11
quentingeorge
May 28, 2004 5:36:08 Twilight Herald, being a Brisbane-boy from way back (though now slumming it in the ACT) I can advise you that Borders in the city has all three books in the trilogy, if you feel like picking it up.
#12
zombiegleemax
May 28, 2004 10:45:04
Originally posted by QuentinGeorge
Twilight Herald, being a Brisbane-boy from way back (though now slumming it in the ACT) I can advise you that Borders in the city has all three books in the trilogy, if you feel like picking it up.

Thanks for the tip-off. I haven't dropped into Borders recently due to an overload of uni assignment work, but if I can scrounge the cash I'll pick up a copy of the first Kingpriest novel, since everyone seems to swear by the high quality of these books.

Quick question about the novels : does the storyline take place in the original timeline, or the one that was somewhat altered by Raistlin's time-travelling in Legends ?
#13
zombiegleemax
May 28, 2004 12:32:27 Original

Funny how such a world altering event can be caused by so few people (if you really look at the facts).

I would like to see the stats of Beldinas, see what kind of power he REALLY had ;)
#14
zombiegleemax
Jun 01, 2004 16:54:40 I would like to see the stats of Beldinas, see what kind of power he REALLY had
---
There's a good chance you'll get your wish in the 'Holy Orders of the Stars' book that we're going to do for next year.
#15
quentingeorge
Jun 02, 2004 1:47:59 He appears in the Ravenloft adventure When Black Roses Bloom, where he appears in Lord Soth's delusions as a 20th level cleric.

Take that as you wish.
#16
gforce99
Jun 02, 2004 12:32:44 So was Beldinas a true cleric of Paladine, a druid of some sort or a wizard (or maybe even a inherit magical sorcerer)?

If this is explained in the Kingpriest tril let me know too.
#17
quentingeorge
Jun 02, 2004 16:29:02 He began as a true cleric, but there's the indication his powers were later gained from the Crown of Power.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 26, 2004 0:51:53	I'm currently putting together some material for a Dragonlance game that will be set on Ansalon in the Age of Might, at the start of the 6th century PC ( 593 PC to be exact ). A lot of the initial story and game action will be taking place in the nation of Istar and surrounding territories, and I have one pressing question : how was Istar governed before the declaration of the first ruling Kingpriest? I've variously heard it referred to as a kingdom, an empire and an oligarchic city-state, but never seen anything canon or concrete for this period. I know that there is an established noble class in the city, and that it was a waxing trading and military power at the time, so perhaps a ruling council of nobles, wealthy merchants, and established military families is the way to go. Or maybe they had a good old fashioned King - I have no idea! I would appreciate any opinions or hard facts, from old modules, novel sources, or whatever. Thanks in advance for any help.
#2 quentingeorge May 26, 2004 1:51:53	There are some tidbits on pre-Kingpriest in the Kingpriest trilogy. Some points: Early rulers of Istar seem to be Kings (eg Karthay Pah) Later rulers, up until the time the Kingpriest Symeon I takes control in 280 PC, are Emperors (eg Lannis the Blind)
#3 zombiegleemax May 26, 2004 7:46:38	Originally posted by QuentinGeorge There are some tidbits on pre-Kingpriest in the Kingpriest trilogy. Some points: Early rulers of Istar seem to be Kings (eg Karthay Pah) Later rulers, up until the time the Kingpriest Symeon I takes control in 280 PC, are Emperors (eg Lannis the Blind) Thanks for the info, I think for my purposes I'll assume that Istar has an Emperor by the 6th century PC. BTW, just out of curiosity, is it ever revealed how many ruling Kingpriests there were between 280 PC and the Cataclysm?
#4 quentingeorge May 27, 2004 2:49:50	I think Emperor is your best bet. As for how many Kingpriests - it isn't exactly stated, but the following is all the named kingpriests: Symeon I Symeon II Symeon III Symeon IV (only this Symeon is named, but the others can be inferred) Giusecchio (banned slavery, assassinated) Quenndoros (Giusecchio's successor) Vasari I the Lion Pradian Vasari II Ardosean I Ardosean II Ardosean III Ardosean IV Kurnos Beldinas (last one) There's probably more of them, but that's at least fifteen there.
#5 zombiegleemax May 27, 2004 3:06:38	Thanks for the list, must write all this info down. Do we know which Kingpriest was the first to start getting carried away, and begin the whole downwards slide of Istar and the Church of Paladine?
#6 quentingeorge May 27, 2004 6:30:25	The early ones were mostly just corrupt, whereas Kurnos was power-hungry and mad. Beldinas was really the only one who truly believed he was being righteous. I suspect the others knew they weren't really serving Paladine. As a note, I definately recommend you hunt down the Kingpriest trilogy. Not only is it a damn fine read, it has a lot of good background information on the Kingpriests and Istar.
#7 zombiegleemax May 27, 2004 15:09:32	Kurnos succeeded Symeon IV, who was then followed by Beldinas who was THE Kingpriest everyone knows so much about ;) Everything you've read about The Kingpriest in the DLCS and earlier DL gaming books, the battles against Wizardry, persecution of the followers of the non-'Light' Gods, racial discrimination all came from about due to his influence. As QuentinGeorge said, get the books about him, they're PHENOMINAL if you want information from that time period.
#8 quentingeorge May 27, 2004 17:14:45	Actually, the proclamation of Manifest Virtue was not made by Beldinas. It was made a century before him, during the Three Thrones War.
#9 zombiegleemax May 27, 2004 21:42:41	Thanks again for all the information. I will have to read the Kingpriest Trilogy if I can find copies, they sound like a great resource for an Istarian game.
#10 zombiegleemax May 27, 2004 23:17:48	Originally posted by QuentinGeorge Actually, the proclamation of Manifest Virtue was not made by Beldinas. It was made a century before him, during the Three Thrones War. The memory ain't what it use to be ;) Beldinas was still one dillusional mofo! :D
#11 quentingeorge May 28, 2004 5:36:08	Twilight Herald, being a Brisbane-boy from way back (though now slumming it in the ACT) I can advise you that Borders in the city has all three books in the trilogy, if you feel like picking it up.
#12 zombiegleemax May 28, 2004 10:45:04	Originally posted by QuentinGeorge Twilight Herald, being a Brisbane-boy from way back (though now slumming it in the ACT) I can advise you that Borders in the city has all three books in the trilogy, if you feel like picking it up. Thanks for the tip-off. I haven't dropped into Borders recently due to an overload of uni assignment work, but if I can scrounge the cash I'll pick up a copy of the first Kingpriest novel, since everyone seems to swear by the high quality of these books. Quick question about the novels : does the storyline take place in the original timeline, or the one that was somewhat altered by Raistlin's time-travelling in Legends ?
#13 zombiegleemax May 28, 2004 12:32:27	Original Funny how such a world altering event can be caused by so few people (if you really look at the facts). I would like to see the stats of Beldinas, see what kind of power he REALLY had ;)
#14 zombiegleemax Jun 01, 2004 16:54:40	I would like to see the stats of Beldinas, see what kind of power he REALLY had --- There's a good chance you'll get your wish in the 'Holy Orders of the Stars' book that we're going to do for next year.
#15 quentingeorge Jun 02, 2004 1:47:59	He appears in the Ravenloft adventure When Black Roses Bloom, where he appears in Lord Soth's delusions as a 20th level cleric. Take that as you wish.
#16 gforce99 Jun 02, 2004 12:32:44	So was Beldinas a true cleric of Paladine, a druid of some sort or a wizard (or maybe even a inherit magical sorcerer)? If this is explained in the Kingpriest tril let me know too.
#17 quentingeorge Jun 02, 2004 16:29:02	He began as a true cleric, but there's the indication his powers were later gained from the Crown of Power.