Creation Myths The sound brought all the other gods through the open

door—Paladine and his six, Gilean and his four, and Takhisis
Each race on Krynn has its own cultural biases and blind
and her six. They all were so struck by the new world that
spots. History can give the facts and the actions, but only
they began to bicker over who should rule it. Annoyed by the
through their stories and ballads and myths can we deter-
clamor in the heavens, the High God slammed the door and
mine the personalities of the races. Here are four portraits in
said, ‘Silence!’ And they were silent!’
myth.
dwarven Myth
Silvanesti Myth
“In the days before history and before the world, everything
“Before time and substance, there was nothing. The High
was a jumbled chaos. Jumbled and useless it was. And the
God opened a door from another place and stepped through
High God was flummoxed. He reached into his robe and
into the emptiness. But she sorrowed, for it was a desolate
pulled out the sticks he had brought from the other place and
place. And she lay down in chaos like a woman asleep.
started whittling. He whittled one stick-a pleasantly stout
“Then Chislev, whom we call Nature, and Reorx, whom
stick with a stern expression-but still hadn’t thought what to
we call Manufacture, happened through the door to see the
do with the chaos. He whittled another. Still nothing. He
High God so distraught. And Chislev said, ‘Make us a world,
whittled twenty-one sticks and in the end was all the more
Reorx, that the High God needn’t weep.’ Grieved in kind, the
flummoxed. So the High God said, ‘What should I do with
rotund Reorx swung his mighty hammer to forge chaos into a
the chaos?’
world. Thus he created a ball of rock. Still the High God did
“The stout stick, whom the High God called Reorx, said,
not rise from grief.
‘I’ll make a round and sturdy world in my own image.’ A lithe
“Chislev descended to walk upon the vast and barren ball
stick called Chislev said, ‘And I will make trees in my own
of rock. It was more desolate than chaos itself, and its rough
image.’ A reedy stick called Zeboim said, ‘I will make oceans
stones sliced her feet. Where her tears fell, rivers poured
for me to live in.’ A beautifully carved stick named Paladine
forth. Where her feet bled, the salty oceans rose. When
said, ‘I will make dragons in my own image! And all the other
Chislev saw the rivers and oceans, she was glad. She laughed
sticks cried out what they would make.
and skipped and danced across the world. Where she
“The High God, pleased with all the ideas, asked the beau-
laughed, beautiful meadowlands blanketed the stone. Where
tiful stick Paladine to create his dragons first. Paladine did so,
she skipped, forests grew. Where she danced, rocks piled in-
clutching the elemental power of chaos in fistfuls and forming
to huge mountains.
noble dragons in rainbow hues. Though this creation pleased
“But still the world was lonely, for none lived in it. So
the High God, a thorny stick called Takhisis was jealous: she
Chislev stooped and fashioned from clay every creature of
wanted to be the first creator and have the first creation bear
land, sea, and air. Once all were made, she laughed at their
her image. So she corrupted the dragons, making them Evil in
small and still forms. Hearing her laughter, the figures sprang
her likeness.
to life.
“Disturbed by the folly that had come of Paladine and
“The ringing of Reorx’s hammer and the sound of Chislev’s
Takhisis’s squabble, the High God turned to Reorx the Forger
laughter awoke the slumbering High God. She, too, laughed.

115
for a better creation. Reorx reared back with his mighty ham- for the sea creatures to eat. The plants crept up onto land and
mer and pounded the chaos as a blacksmith strikes red-hot the sea creatures followed. And so came the flowers and
iron. Each blow flung sparks into the ether, and each spark trees, the beasts and birds. Reorx became truly flustered,
became a star. The other gods watched in awe, certain they thinking he should destroy his cog altogether.
could never forge such wonders. The last mighty blow of “Just about that time, some other gods wandered over.
Reorx’s hammer created Krynn, a gloriously smooth and ‘What’re you workin’ on, Reorx?’ they asked, trying to sneak
stout ball of iron. a peek at his invention. Reorx, ashamed of his plant-and
“The High God applauded, but now the other gods were beast-infested cog, would not let them see. He said, ‘Go
anxious to do their creating. They flooded down upon away. It’s not finished.’ One sly god named Takhisis looked at
Reorx’s perfect world and proceeded to ruin it with deep the stars that had flown up from the forge and said, ‘You
gashes, high ridges, puddles and ponds and lakes and aren’t using those sparks, are you Reorx? They’re just by-
oceans. As though these were not insult enough, the gods products, are they not? Give them to me.’ But Paladine said,
filled the place with grasses, ferns, and trees, and infested it ‘Don’t give them to her, she’ll only corrupt them. Give them
with all manner of wriggling, flapping, creeping, climbing, to me instead.’
and flying beasts. “And so an uproar ensued over what god could have
“Reorx’s wonderful creation of simplicity now burgeoned Reorx’s sparks. At last, the High God happened over and
and teemed. Reorx stomped mightily upon the ground, rais- said, ‘If you are going to fight over them-by-products or
ing a mountain in his anger. That mountain would later be no-none of you can have them. I will make them a people to
called Thorbardin. live on Reorx’s beautiful world. If you wish, each of the fami-
“The High God comforted Reorx, ‘This world is for all the lies of gods-Good, Evil, and Neutrality-can bestow a gift on
gods. They must learn to live and work together. I am sorry these spark creatures. But none can control them.
your perfect world is ruined but, see, you are not the only “Paladine, patriarch of the Good gods, gave the spirits
one who grieves.’ And there, in a lovely glade, they saw Pala- bodies so they could manipulate the world as do the gods.
dine weeping amidst statues of his lost dragons. He had fash- Takhisis, matriarch of the Evil gods, gave the spirits pain—
ioned one dragon statue for each of the rainbow hued hunger, thirst, disease, and death-hoping that she could en-
dragons he lost. The statues were made of only the finest slave them through their desires and fears. Gilean, patriarch
metals of Krynn: gold, silver, bronze, brass, and copper. of the Neutral gods, gave the spirits free will so that they
“The High God asked, ‘Paladine, have you created nothing could choose freely between Good and Evil. Once these gifts
more than these statues for my world?’ Paladine turned his were bestowed, the High God set the races of Krynn on the
sorrowing eyes toward the High God. ‘Yes, I am sorry. I can world.
create nothing new. My heart lies with my lost children! “The cog was clearly ruined. It would still spin, but it could
Reorx pitied the poor god and said, ‘Your creations shall be clearly not drive a whole universe the way Reorx had hoped.
the greatest of all-five Good dragons for our world.’ And so He shook his head and sighed, wishing he had left the chaos
saying, he struck each dragon statue with his hammer. The machine alone.”
shuddering ring of the hammer blow quickened the metal in-
to life, and the five metallic dragons took to wing above the kender Myth
world.”
“There was a big nothing called Void, and in it was a swirling
gnomish Myth thing called Chaos. Reorx, who made dwarves but also likes
us, thought Chaos was interesting. He picked it up, borrowed
“Before everything else, there was a machine called chaos. It a hammer Kiri-Jolith wasn’t using, and pounded Chaos into a
was infinitely large and infinitely complex. But it didn’t do round world.
anything. It just ran and ran. Reorx, great god of the forge, “‘Hmmm. Maybe it needs some decorations.’ He took his
saw this and said ‘We have a design flaw. This machine hammer and made mountains, hills, and valleys. ‘Better-but
doesn’t do anything. We need to make some improvements it’s all sooty from the hammer. Perhaps if I wash it with that
to the machine-add some accessories so that it will save la- water Zeboim isn’t using …' And so the thing came to have
bor and make life simpler.’ rivers and oceans.
“Reorx’s first design modification was to put a giant cog at “Then he found some seeds that Chislev had thrown out.
the center of the machine. With his mighty hammer, he ‘From seeds she doesn’t even want, I will grow some flowers
struck part of the machine to forge the cog. The sparks from for her.’ So, he took the seeds and planted them. Instantly,
the forge flew up and became stars to light his work. At last trees, grass, plants, and flowers sprang up.
the cog was finished. To make it truly efficient, he had made “‘The world’s looking better and better! He found a few of
the cog not only round, but spherical. All cogs need teeth Habbakuk’s fish and threw them into his ocean to keep them
and grooves, so he made mountains and valleys. from suffocating. He gathered in a stray flock of Sirrion’s birds
“About this time, as always happens when one starts a big and placed them on the world for safe keeping. Soon, Reorx’s
project out of doors, it started to rain. Irritated, Reorx cut world was thriving.
channels into the spherical cog to control water flow. The “The gods, seeing their discarded things put to such good
channels became rivers. Soon, Reorx realized he needed use, grew jealous. They complained to Paladine, who studied
some storage tanks for the water, so he hollowed out the ba- Reorx’s world. He said, ‘You’re mad because Reorx made
sins we now call oceans. something good with your throw-aways? Well, too bad for
“But the waters kept rising. Irritated, Reorx made sea crea- you. Anyway, everything’s so mixed up down there, you
tures to drink the water. But water wasn’t enough for these couldn’t get it back if you tried!”
creatures. They began eating the cog. So Reorx made plants

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 Lost folk of ansalon

Not only the national boundaries have changed with the mil-
lennia. As legends tell, the races of Krynn’s people have
changed, too. The creation myths explain that the first mor-
tals to inhabit Krynn were ogres, elves and humans. Many
other races have come into being since then. Some have
been magically transformed. Some were changed by the
gods as punishment or reward for their deeds.
As races were gained, so were others lost. This section de-
scribes the Lost Folk, the peoples no longer mentioned in the
legends and histories of Krynn. Some have vanished from
sight. Others still exist, but hide from the world. Still others
have been recently rediscovered.
These descriptions follow the format previously used with the
races of Krynn. Even those lost folk who seem to be gone for
good are detailed in the present tense. It is possible that the
gods, or even some adventurer, may yet discover them alive.

Lost folk—Bakali
appearance

Bakali look like lizards and walk like men. They are stoop-
shouldered, thick-bodied, long-tailed creatures. They range
from 6’-8’ tall. Their scaly hides vary from yellow-green to doors and triangular corridors with reeds or woven mats under-
mottled brown. They wear few or no clothes. Some have foot. Pools of mud, shallow warm waters, and mounds of dried
been known to wear belts and girdles as well as bandoliers. reeds are their favorite resting places. Their villages are often
Bakali are just as comfortable walking on all fours with their burrows in the bank with the entrance below the surface of the
tail hunched in the air, as they are walking upright. water. Bakali are tribal, and rarely unite with other tribes.
Bakali are relatively long-lived, reaching over 100 years Bakali are omnivorous but prefer meat-either carrion thai
old. Their females can only lay a clutch of eggs every five has softened on the bone, or small fish, rats, birds, and frogs
years. Males are bigger, with larger mouths and blunter that they can swallow in one gulp.
snouts. As with all reptiles, bakali outgrow and shed their Bakali eggs are leathery shelled and are buried in mounds
skins (once every ten years). Older bakali have yellower hide of warm sand or rotting vegetation to incubate until they
and smaller scales. hatch. The young bakali must survive for a year, battling sib-
Bakali language consists of short hisses, growls and smacks. lings for food, space, and nests, before they reach maturity.
Only about 15-25% of bakali can understand Common or use Bakali lead very basic lives: hunting, eating, basking in the
barbarian Hand Talk. sun and warm waters, or lazing in pools of mud. As warriors,
bakali are ferocious, able to fight with tooth, claw and tail, or
attitudes and Lifestyles with primitive weapons. Their greatest weaknesses are that
they become sluggish in the chill of night and they cannot
Bakali are distrustful and suspicious, a trait that comes from venture far from their life-sustaining water. Their lizard ances-
their vulnerability to cold and the fragility of their eggs. They try gives them a nictating membrane to shield their eyes, and
keep to themselves and avoid all the civilized races of Ansa- the ability to swim in water and slide through mud on their
Ion. Though they may seem cruel and savage, having no bellies as fast as they can walk on land.
compunctions against violence, individual bakali are often
tolerant. Bakali are hostile to most civilized races, but they history
have a strong sense of honor and remember the good, as well
as the ill, done to them. They place great store in friendships In the beginning, before there were men, before elves or
once they are made. ogres, there were the First People. Creations of the gods, they
A lesser race, the jarak-sinn, are a throwback to a more vio- were made in the gods’ own image that they might know
lent past. The jarak-sinn were more aggressive and fecund. their creators and worship the gods’ first born, the dragons.
Their involvement in the Third Dragon War nearly caused the And these people named themselves the bakali.
other folk of Ansalon to drive lizardmen into extinction. Vul- The first and only people during the Age of Starbirth, an age
nerable to the ravages of heat and dehydration, the jarak-sinn of reptiles and lizards, they themselves were lizards, and yet
fell back to their marshes, which were then drained and they were men. Therefore they are the original lizardmen.
burned, killing hundreds of thousands. Most surviving jarak- The bakali were loved by the gods, but they were primitive.
sinn live in the Great Moors or on the offshore islands of the To them, the dragons were gods. They worshipped the child
Blood Sea. They quietly raid coastal villages and farms for when they should be praising the parent. The gods were an-
sacrifices, leaving none alive to reveal their existence. gered and they sent a time of cold and fear upon the lands
that their children might know their anger and be chastised.
Bakali live in primitive, swamp villages or near muddy hot Only Chislev and Sirrion hurt for their creations. These two
springs beneath the earth. Their buildings have oddly squat gods taught the suffering bakali the way of fur and fire, that

117
they might survive the long, cold night. Lost folk—huldrefolk
When the Queen of Darkness stole the five original dragons
appearance
from the King of Light, and he in turn gave birth to the five drag-
ons of Good, the bakali chose sides and fought. The close of the Faerie tales describe the huldre-
Age of Starbirth brought the end of the age of lizards. The bakali folk or “faerie” as small, rang-
crawled deep into the earth with their brethren leaving the land ing in size from 1’-4’ tall. They
to the starborn races that would follow. are humanoid in shape, naked
Untold ages passed. The bakali knew little of the First Born, and gray-skinned. They have
the dragons, of what they were or where they had gone. Then bald heads, large eyes, sharp
the Dark Queen came to them in the Age of Right, seeking to teeth, and no ears. Their three-
make them once again her pawns. From the depths of the fingered hands are broad and
earth did the bakali bring forth the eggs of her children, the large for their body size. They
spawn of the dragons. Thus did dragons return to the world. can appear to be male or fe-
But again, the bakali took sides. Some fought for Light, male at will.
though most embraced the Dark. So, when at last Huma, the Huldrefolk may assume a variety of physical forms to mani-
golden knight, defeated the Queen of Darkness and received fest themselves in mortals’ reality. They may appear as a spec-
her oath to withdraw from the world, so too did those lizard- trelike figure of witch-fire, which is closest to their true
men leave the land for a last time. natures. They may appear in their shadow-gray natural form.
Who can say where they are today? What has become of They may at will choose to resemble a vision of a specific ele-
them? Some believe that they traveled north, across the wa- ment, for all huldrefolk control some aspect of creation. An
ters with their exiled masters. Others say they once again insect lord of the huldrefolk might have a fly’s head, for exam-
crawled away into the depths of the ground, never to return. ple. Lastly, and most commonly, huldrefolk may animate a
Yet they left their mark on the world. Bakali were the only physical form comprising the element they command (the in-
people to ever crossbreed with that poisonous race, the gob- sect lord would form a body from a swarm of creeping, crawl-
lins. They sired the dark blooded trolls who make their ing bugs).
homes in the marshes and swamps, once home to this lost Huldrefolk may appear youthful or aged, beautiful or ugly
race of wyrm. as suits their purpose.

Religion attitudes and Lifestyles

If bakali choose to worship gods they worship first the images Huldre appear to reflect the elements emotionally even as
of the Five Great Dragons, before the gods themselves. they do physically. Each huldre has both a light and a dark
Among the gods they deign to worship, the two most preva- side. A huldre of grain wields both bounty and famine. Fur-
lent are Chislev (Krik’k lettz) and Sirrion (Sirr’ushush); these thermore, a huldre’s personality largely reflects the manner in
two gods aided their people during the Cold Season and which they are approached. When approached with respect,
taught them survival. Bakali revere the flame and covet the huldre respond in kind; when approached with scorn or an-
fur of mammals. ger, huldre reflect this nature as well. Still, huldre do not mim-
Jarak-sinn, that misbegotten race, worship Chislev by offer- ic the actions of others. Their responses are always capricious
ing her sacrifices (thus offending the giver of life). Few if any and individual, whether they respond in respect or rage.
gain powers and blessings from her. Those who live on the A huldre’s lifestyle reflects its native element. Those ele-
outlying islands have found another goddess more willing to ments that are cruel and violent breed cruel and bestial
accept their sacrifices and violent nature: Zeboim. huldre. Those that are light and joyous create pleasant and
entertaining huldre. Faerie tales variously describe huldre as
tools, weapons, and technology engaging in wild festivals, patrolling winsome woods, and
stalking gloomy moors. Whatever, their lifestyle, the huldres’
Bakali are natural hunters and ferocious fighters. They have
passions are extreme and manic: one moment they are
not mastered technology and view all technology with suspi-
clutched in melancholy, the next, they rave with passion.
cion. Bakali are distrustful of wizard magic, calling instead on
Huldre bear offspring infrequently. Huldre often steal a
the elemental earth magic of old-ancient and eldritch em-
mortal child and replace it with one of their changelings, so
bodiments of the raging elements.
they can refresh their bloodlines. But if the changeling is ex-
Bakali weapons are fire-hardened spears of wood, tooth-
posed, the child mystically returns to its kin.
edged clubs, short thrusting swords and bone-tipped javelins.
Huldrefolk can see beyond the realm of light and dark, rec-
They wear no armor, though some may carry shields of hide.
ognizing things by their nature, spirit, aura, and emotions.
Bakali are said to be able to command serpents and lizards
They can also see invisible objects and people. As if to com-
as others command dogs and horses, and make them their
pensate for their sensitive sight, most huldrefolk are blinded
mounts and guardians.
by bright lights. Bright lights turn the huldre’s actual form
Bakali have only the most primitive tools-pottery, baskets,
transparent, making them almost invisible to mortal eyes.
and short axes for chopping and shaping wood.
Sunlight diffuses their energy and disperses their physical
Bakali do not possess infravision, but they do have a height-
form.
ened sense of smell and heat detection from pits behind their
In addition, because huldre are enchanted creatures, they
eyes. With these, they can sense the presence of intruders
are affected by attacks of cold iron and holy water.
within 60’ even if they cannot pinpoint the location.

118
history ing often less than 100 pounds despite their 7’ height. Their
plumage is most often brown and gold, though rare individ-
Although no one has seen huldrefolk for ages, an abundance
uals have had black or white wings.
of physical artifacts suggest that they once lived. They left
remnants such as rings of monolithic stone on lonely hilltops attitudes and Lifestyles
and mammoth stone arches found across the face of Krynn
(which are said to be gateways to a gray realm, where the Kyrie are a quiet, passive, generally peaceful folk, unless pro-
faerie huldre now dwell). voked. They have a fierce pride and a low tolerance for in-
Taladas is home to elves who bear the name of “huldre- vaders or trespassers, and will defend their nests and
folk,” folk who avoid contact with others even as the bakali personal freedom with their lives, preferring death to subju-
and shadowfolk do. Yet, the faerie huldrefolk are not elves. gation.
They are creatures of pure power. Faerie, they are called, and Kyrie are the mortal enemies of minotaurs, who stole their
the Unseen, the Invisible, the Unknown. Northstone and have, since the Cataclysm, waged an ongo-
History of the huldrefolk remains pure speculation. Clearly, ing war for the extermination of kyrie. Kyrie have raided re-
their monolithic rings come from an age before history-the mote minotaur villages and hunting parties to steal food and
Age of Dreams. This was an age before magic, when the peo- weaponry.
ples of Krynn were as newborn as the gods. In those days, Kyrie live together in lairs called “aeries:” a series of nests
priests and shamans could tap the forces of the very ele- and caves in the cliffs of isolated mountain peaks. Their socie-
ments. This power was called “nature magic.” ty is based on mutual protection and survival, centered
The huldrefolk may have descended from ogres, elves, hu- around family units. Whether kyrie have a leader or not is
mans, or Smiths—no one knows. Scholars do agree, how- unknown.
ever, that the huldre embraced the passion of the elements, Kyrie eat rodents, small birds, fish, seeds and fruit. They
became one with them, and were forever changed. have a special fondness for wine, but do not overindulge,
When human civilization arose, the huldrefolk recognized preferring to sip it in small quantities.
that their time in the world had reached an end. They sought The greatest weakness of the kyrie is that their young can-
a new place for their own, a gray realm, untouched by civili- not fly for the first few years of life. Thus they cannot easily
zation. They built a dozen mighty portals, aligned to the stars avoid raids of predators and must be protected by the adults.
and the moons, that they might open a door into the realms
beyond. Wizards speculate that the huldre failed, for in the history
present day, the portals are merely cold stone.
Minotaurs name the ancient, mythical race of birdmen the
If faerie tales hold more wisdom than wizards, however,
kyrie. The origins and nature of these mystical creatures are
the huldrefolk now live beyond the portals and stone rings (or
faerie rings) in kingdoms they have built in the gray. Some shrouded in mystery. However, as with the origin of many
tales even claim that the huldrefolk still walk the world, un- other races of Ansalon, some scholars suggest that Kyrie
came into being due to the Graygem of Gargath. Perhaps
seen, untouching, and untouchable in the light of day. At
they were mountain folk who longed to take wing.
night, they may take forms of wood, stone, metal, and earth
Tales relate that the kyrie at one time dwelt in all the moun-
that cavort about the land. But, if the dawning sun catches
them in these solid forms, tales say, the huldrefolk are frozen tains and outlying islands of Ansalon. A nomadic people,
they migrated across the waters of Krynn from isle to isle, it is
within their elemental bodies, trapped forever.
said, with the aid of a magical artifact known only as the
Northstone. Perhaps, this stone in some way enabled them to
tools, weapons, and technology
track the endless waves to find each isle in turn.
Huldre rely upon magic rather than technology. Because
they come from a time before wizardly magic, they are often tools, weapons and technology
immune to it. Priestly spells, however, have full effect. Huldre
Kyrie have the natural weapons all birds use: their beaks and
have little or no use for modern magic or tools, though they
claws. They are versed in the ancient world magic of animal
are fascinated by toys and animated machines.
kind and are one with nature and the winged creatures. No
Lost folk—kyrie reports exist of kyrie wizards and it is suspected that they re-
ject the magic of the three moons.
appearance Those who have visited and lived to escape a kyrie nest re-
port that they have little in the way of possessions, except for
Kyrie are a bizarre mix of hawk
stone-headed axes and spears. They do collect bright and
and man. They have a human shiny things, such as coins, gems, shells and glass, but appear
torso and head with feathery
to put them to no purpose.
hair. Their bodies are covered
with feathers and their arms are
actually wings, though they
possess rudimentary hands at
the end of each wing. They
have a birdlike tail for maneu-
vering and wiry legs with talons
on the end.
Kyrie possess large lungs and hollow bones, adults weigh-

119
Lost folk—Scions became a mighty tower of mystical arts. Commoners falsely
believed this power a god gift, but it was not.
appearance
“At last, seeing but one end to his torment, the sad one
Scions are dwarven stock with golden skin and eyes and sil- tricked his tormenter to call down the curse that men call the
ver hair with a bald circle on top. They wear simple cloth tu- Cataclysm. The sad one perished in the devastation, but his
nics and pants that somehow resist soil, cold, heat, and wear. spirit might yet walk the land.”
Scions can make themselves appear to be any other creature, Although these passages are highly criticized by conserva-
including a dead friend. This appearance is purely illusory, tive historians, they raise interesting questions about the Sci-
however, for Scions can manipulate creatures’ perceptions of ons. In any case, if Scions are immortal, as is supposed, some
reality. may still exist. If one died in the Cataclysm, perhaps the other
Scions are said to be sterile due to their deep immersion in twelve still dwell in Ansalon. Or perhaps, five of them. Or
magic. Even so, reports of the involvement of Scions span at perhaps, one.
least two millennia of Ansalonian history. This fact implies
that they are immortal. Perhaps they are. Lost folk—Shadowpeople
appearance
attitudes and lifestyle
A race of apparent mammals,
Not much is known of the personality of Scions except that
shadowpeople have been mis-
they are dwarven folk with a phenomenal propensity for
takenly described as slim apes.
magic. Beyond this point, speculations abound. Apparently
They actually bear more resem-
Scions are meddlers, interested in change for change’s sake.
blance to humanized bats,
They are most likely beneficent, or at least neutral, for they
though their “wings” are mere
could devastate the land in an instant if they so chose. In ad-
gliding membranes.
dition, the fact that so little is known about the Scions indi-
Shadowpeople have large,
cates that they are an evasive folk. Their history certainly
hairy heads with flattened, up-
gives them reason to avoid their thoroughly non-magical
turned noses, wide flaring ears
cousins, the dwarves. Scions therefore reputedly move
and large green or amber eyes. They have two pairs of curved
through the world only in disguise.
fangs, the lower pair protruding when their wide mouths are
history closed. A shadowperson yawn is actually a sign of challenge
and aggression, baring their fangs. Shadowpeople’s hands
The history of the Scions is the history of the dwarves and and feet bear long claws. Smooth gray, black, or dull-brown
gnomes of Ansalon. Tales say that when the Graygem of fur covers their bodies. A long patagium, or gliding mem-
Gargath turned all of Taladas against the Smith folk, the Sci- brane, connects their arms to their flanks.
ons saved the people by building mighty barges to brave the They do not wear clothes, except for hooded robes when
seas. They even made the land rise into bulwarks to hold moving in the outside world beneath the sun (they are ex-
back the angry armies. After storm-tossed months at sea, in tremely sensitive to light). However, they may appear to wear
which only thirteen of the barges survived, the Smiths and fur bandoliers, ruffs and belts. In reality, these are small
Scions made landfall. The Smiths, grieved by their harrowing animals-ferrets, minks, marmots, chinchillas, and other
journey, seized the Scions and drowned all but thirteen— rodents-clinging to their fur. Shadowpeople use a form of
leaving one for each barge that had survived the trip. Then ESP (extra-sensory perception) with these animal friends,
the thirteen were given the last barge and told to set out to who act as their hands and living weapons.
sea and never return. The Smiths promised to kill any who Shadowpeople communicate with a series of squeaks,
ventured back. hoots, and growls, but more often use their natural talent at
The histories of Krynn tell of the Scions’ return in the saga ESP to send and receive messages. All shadowpeople can
of the Second Dragon War. During this time, the thirteen Sci- send and receive thoughts telepathically to and from crea-
ons landed upon the shores of Ansalon. They each went their tures within 60’ if they share a common language and are not
separate ways, gathering those who had grown adept at com- blocked by more than 3’ of stone or 3” of metal.
manding wild magic. The Scions taught them its proper use.
Some scholars speculate that the Scions made landfall on attitudes and Lifestyle
the Dairly Plains. They claim that Claren Elian (now in ruins)
To the surface dwellers of Krynn, shadowpeople are regarded
was the first creation of the mages who had gathered to the
as creatures of myth. Cherishing their privacy, shadowpeople
Scions. Scholars who espouse this view point to strange god-
seldom interact with other races, maintaining communities
marks upon the landscape, set up almost like a trail to lead
far from civilization. Shadowpeople are kind and benevolent
wild mages to the cloister of Scions.
and may unite with others in the cause of promoting good.
One splinter group of scholars has spent long years study-
Rarely seen above ground, shadowpeople occasionally ap-
ing an apocryphal canon dubbed the Dairly Tablets. These
peared to aid lost children and the elderly. The very young
tablets claim that “one of these sad creatures [Scions] fell into
and very old are the most open to shadowpeople’s ESP.
the hands of the madman [the Kingpriest]. He heaped abuse
Shadowpeople have an affinity with children, often speaking
upon abuse on that venerable head. The madman blinded
to them in the guise of imaginary companions.
and hamstrung him, even took his manhood, hoping torture
Shadowpeople communities are built in catacombs and
might loosen his tongue. But never did the sad one speak.
warrens underground and in the subterranean reaches of ru-
Somehow still, the madman drew the powers from him, and
ined cities. A typical settlement is made of a series of under-

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ground chambers linked by a labyrinth of narrow tunnels and Lost folk—thanoi
crawl-ways. Passages leading to the main living quarters are
appearance
lined with traps for unwary intruders. The main living quar-
ters consist of private dens, which are furnished with nests of Thanoi appear to be a cross be-
cloth and fur, woven mats, and stone furniture. All chambers tween a walrus and a human.
are well-vented and a series of carved channels bring a fresh They have barrel-thick torsos
stream of water. Other caverns are used to raise mushrooms with humanoid arms and legs,
and molds for food. and walrus-like heads. Their
Shadowpeople do not covet gold and gems, but they are eyes are small and dark. A
lovers of art and are masters of sculpting and painting. coarse set of bristles, which
Shadowpeople are organized in close-knit clans and family they use to sweep aside snow
units. Shadowfolk are divided into two classes, counselors and to strain drinking Water
and shadow warriors. Counselors are non-combatants given lines their upper lips. A thanoi’s
to the raising of food and caring for young. Shadow warriors broad feet are clawed and webbed. Their fingers are blunt
are skilled and able fighters, striking swiftly and silently and and stubby, too awkward for a bow, but well-suited to wrap
then fading back into the shadows. around an axe or spear.
The elusiveness of shadowfolk is legendary. They seem to Their coloration varies from dark gray to tan. Their hide
appear and disappear at will, climb sheer walls, pass through hangs in blubbery folds, and the thick layers of fat beneath
solid stone, and stand in no place and two places at once. insulate them from the arctic temperatures.
Shadowfolk’s pale fur helps camouflage them and their ESP Female thanoi are smaller than males (6’ tall to their 8’). Their
warns them to fade into and out of shadows. Their long claws tusks are shorter and their hides are softer brown fur. Thanoi
and ability to glide explains their power to climb sheer walls. reach maturity in 20 years. Their lifespan is about 60 years.
And though they seem bulky in form, their nimbleness and These walrus folk move on land with a shuffling, waddling
small frame allows them to squeeze through very narrow gait, but are swift swimmers. Thanoi speech is a cacophony of
holes. And because all shadowfolk look alike to non- grunts, snarls and barks, supplemented by facial expression and
shadowpeople, two shadowfolk working in unison might chest slaps. The language is almost impossible for non-thanoi to
present the illusion one person in two places. master, although minotaurs have the best luck. Only a small
Counselors can perform a ceremony that mindlinks them number of thanoi can learn to pronounce Common.
to each other. The result is the summoning of the spirit of the
Revered Ancient One. This joined mind can answer any attitudes and Lifestyle
question within its collective intelligence, as well as cure
small wounds and teleport those in its presence. It cannot, Thanoi are a brutal, primitive, hostile race bent on destruc-
however, predict the future. tion. Thanoi kill for the sheer joy of the battle. They distrust
The Shadowfolk’s diet consists of mushrooms and molds, strangers, but cooperate with other evil creatures if it might
insects and worms, rodents and blind cave fish. help the thanoi become more powerful. Even so, thanoi are
Shadowpeople have no natural enemies save for the jarak- too independent to maintain an alliance for long.
sinn. To these violent marauders, shadowpeople show no Thanoi live only in subarctic and arctic regions. They dwell in
mercy. It is perhaps the resemblance of draconians to these nomadic tribes of many families. Thanoi homes are built from
fabled lizardmen that united the shadowfolk in defense of the blocks of ice and heated and lighted with pots of burning oil.
Heroes of the Lance. The meanest, most aggressive male in the tribe is the lead-
er. Females may adopt the role of the “kagog” or “medicine
history giver,” similar to a herbalist in function. The thanoi diet con-
sists of fish, seals, whales, and sea birds.
The saga of the War of the Lance tells how the heroes en- Thanoi make constant war with the barbarian ice Folk, and
countered hidden allies within the very heart of the enemy’s willingly abandon all other duties to wreak havoc on their en-
stronghold, Sanction. The heroes named these creatures the emy. Thanoi are not skilled combatants. They can use either
shadowpeople. They were the first citizens of Sanction be- weapons or tusks when attacking.
fore the humans came and before the Dread Queen estab- Thanoi are not treasure hoarders. They use shiny coins and
lished her City of Doom. Believed extinguished by their gems as fishing lures. Thanoi often raise and train polar bears
conquerors, the patient shadowpeople rallied to the cause of as trackers, mounts, and beasts of burden.
good, helping the heroes escape with word of the deceit of
the Dark Queen’s plot with the Good dragon eggs. tools, weapons, and technology
Where the shadowpeople dwell now, no one knows.
Where they came from, many have guesses. Some say the Thanoi produce only heavy weapons: long daggers of bone,
shadowpeople are children of the Scions. They claim that be- stone clubs, axes, maces, and harpoons. Other tools and
fore Istar and Ergoth, shadowpeople were born when wild weapons of metal they steal from their prey, or demand as
magic mingled with the blood of primitive men. They be- pact price from would-be allies. Thanoi may also fling pots of
came children of the moons and of the night. flaming oil at enemies.
Thanoi view magic with distaste. They responded to spell-
casters with berserker rage, hoping to overwhelm and slay
him. Thanoi view priests with the same distrust they accord
wizards.

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