1.) The reason Taladas seems intriguing to me is that it's on Krynn, but much less is known about it than Ansalon, so I wouldn't have to worry as much about interfering with continuity and such. However, does it still feel 'Dragonlancey'?
2.) Are there 'true' kender on Taladas?
Thanks!
Talinthas could give you more info on Taladas than I could, but I thought I would point you to a most excellent online Taladas resource, by James O'Rance.
Taladas: Lost Lands of the Dragonlance Campaign
Enjoy!
The box introduces and develops the North Eastern continent of Taladas, and provides new spins on classic races, new cultures, new places to explore, and yet maintains the essential vibe of a post apocalyptic world driven by faith.
Here, you'll find Human and Elven tribes in the northern steppes living and dying on their horses, paranoid kender who believe that they were abandoned by the Gods after the cataclysm, the true Empire of Minotaurs ruling a full quarter of the land mass, a nation of corruption and undeath, ancient elves in tune with nature and the ambient magic of the world, rejected early designs of draconians, dwarves that fear the underground, island cultures dominated by Sharkmen, and mysterious sailors living on a sea of Glass.
The center of the continent is the Open Wound of Krynn- Hitehkel. While the cataclysm rained fragmentary fire on Ansalon, only one strike hit Taladas, but it was a doozy. Now, half of the continent is a gigantic lava sea that goes directly to the core of the planet. At the center of this sea is a tower of pure flame, said to be held up by a small chip that broke off of the grey gem (where the irda would later find and exploit the weakness), linking to Hiddukel's home and the Plane of Fire. Surrounding this sea is the realm of Reorx's chosen, the Gnomoi thinkers of Krynn. Living in vast citadels and steel foundries, these gnomes wage a never ending battle against the minions of evil that constantly spill forth from Hitehkel.
Magic on Taladas is not as organized as Ansalon; mystery cults abound. The Cha'asi elves use the inner magic found in natural objects, while the Mystery Cult of Mislaxa works in secret to heal the wounds of the innocent, suffering the sins of the kingpriest. In many cultures, Moon wizards have become incredibly powerful and influential in a time when their's is the only magic.
The Dragons of Taladas are a strange lot. Those that chose not to participate in the War of the Lance live here, known as the Ortholox, the unaligned. They keep to themselves, cursed by their bretheren and their goddess.
And yes, true Kender do exist. The marak kender are permanently afflicted, but the kender of the rainward isles and the minotaur league (and most anywhere else) are not.
Taladas is an awesome place to adventure, whether you want high political city based campaigns, dungeon crawls, demon wars, tomb raiding, or freeing the world from the shadow of evil.
Its the best thing that happened to Dragonlance since foundation, IMO =)
Taladas is very different from Ansalon. I tend to think of it as the poor, barbaric little brother to the more civilised Ansalon. If you are looking for a change from the usual DL setting then its a very good choice. Not to mention that players are most likely not going to know as much, if anything, about it.
Also, Talinthas: are you in marketing?;) That was a great summary that sold me!
Originally posted by Curious about Dark Sun
Also, Talinthas: are you in marketing?;) That was a great summary that sold me!
Yeah...I'm going to have to second that, Tal. That is probably the best summary I've ever read of Taladas.
SP should have you write the Taladas summary for them on the back of the book.
(I'm sure you'd like to do much more than that...but I didn't want to impose, heh heh)I'm heavily biased. I adore taladas more than anything about Dragonlance, and that's saying a lot, given how much i love my DL =) Heck, some of my earliest posts to the online community back in 96 or so were trying to turn taladas into an asian continent (since the box, while providing so much detail, tantalizingly leaves so much out...)
If anything, i've been meaning to write up a summary of taladas for a very long time, and it sure beats writing my final term paper....
Oh, don't give us the exact date, but the quarterly season. That way I don't obsess counting down the days.