So I'm considering starting a new RP set in the Dragonlance books, but it's mostly based on a "what-if" situation that I came across some time back. For those of you familiar with the Kingpriest trilogy by Chris Pierson, allow me to pose this scenario:
What if Beldinas, the Lightbringer, was successful in his plan to ascend to godhood?
What would happen to the other deities of the Light, of Neutrality, and of Darkness? Just how exactly would the Night Sky of Krynn be altered? Would the Knights of the Divine Hammer spread their totalitarian rule over the rest of Ansalon? Would the Orders of High Sorcery be able to rise once more? Will a hero - or group of heroes - rise up, put aside their differences, and be willing to join together and undertake a daring and dangerous risk by finding the path to Godshome and square off against the godpriest?
For those of you not familiar with this story:
Shortly before the Cataclysm that ushered in the Age of Despair (Fourth Age), the nation of Istar was rapidly becoming the new political power - and religious center - in Ansalon during the Third Age, or the Age of Might. Originally founded as a small fishing village around 2500 PC (Pre-Catalycus) on the shores that bears its name; sometime thereafter Asanta, Head of the White Robes, visited the tiny village while searching for a place to build a Tower of High Sorcery. She received a vision that one day in the future, Istar would become a grand metropolis, and the center of all that was good and right on the continent with the aid of the Mages. Once the tower was completed, the people began to develop a sense of grandeur, and took to hearing the words and wisdom of the deities of Light.
Istar would become a city-state in 1750 PC, and about a hundred and fifty years later would absorb the Minotaur Empire into its territory. The Minotaurs themselves would be able to shake off their conquerors' shackles, however, but their freedom did not last long. By 1480 PC, Istar established itself as a prominent trading center in Eastern Ansalon.
During the Third Dragon War (1029 PC - 1018 PC), Istar largely stayed neutral, but was drawn in after the Wizards left Istar to forge the Dragon Orbs in Palanthas, far to the west. No sooner than they left did an army from Dravinaar attacked the city, destroying half of it in the process. The people called to the Wizards for aid, but as they were away the citizens had no choice but to turn to the Church. The head of the Church of Paladine was able to summon a divine flame, boosting the morale of the Istarans and thusly scored a great victory over the Dravinish. It is said that because the Wizards were not there in the time of great need, the people of Istar would never forgive them, and therefore the Church was elevated into a greater position of authority.
At the end of the War, Istar continued to grow in power and commerce. Galeric proclaimed himself as the first King in 962 PC, thus founding the Kingdom of Istar.
(Continued next post - apologies for the length, but there's a LOT of backstory to cover!!!)";
What if Beldinas, the Lightbringer, was successful in his plan to ascend to godhood?
What would happen to the other deities of the Light, of Neutrality, and of Darkness? Just how exactly would the Night Sky of Krynn be altered? Would the Knights of the Divine Hammer spread their totalitarian rule over the rest of Ansalon? Would the Orders of High Sorcery be able to rise once more? Will a hero - or group of heroes - rise up, put aside their differences, and be willing to join together and undertake a daring and dangerous risk by finding the path to Godshome and square off against the godpriest?
For those of you not familiar with this story:
Shortly before the Cataclysm that ushered in the Age of Despair (Fourth Age), the nation of Istar was rapidly becoming the new political power - and religious center - in Ansalon during the Third Age, or the Age of Might. Originally founded as a small fishing village around 2500 PC (Pre-Catalycus) on the shores that bears its name; sometime thereafter Asanta, Head of the White Robes, visited the tiny village while searching for a place to build a Tower of High Sorcery. She received a vision that one day in the future, Istar would become a grand metropolis, and the center of all that was good and right on the continent with the aid of the Mages. Once the tower was completed, the people began to develop a sense of grandeur, and took to hearing the words and wisdom of the deities of Light.
Istar would become a city-state in 1750 PC, and about a hundred and fifty years later would absorb the Minotaur Empire into its territory. The Minotaurs themselves would be able to shake off their conquerors' shackles, however, but their freedom did not last long. By 1480 PC, Istar established itself as a prominent trading center in Eastern Ansalon.
During the Third Dragon War (1029 PC - 1018 PC), Istar largely stayed neutral, but was drawn in after the Wizards left Istar to forge the Dragon Orbs in Palanthas, far to the west. No sooner than they left did an army from Dravinaar attacked the city, destroying half of it in the process. The people called to the Wizards for aid, but as they were away the citizens had no choice but to turn to the Church. The head of the Church of Paladine was able to summon a divine flame, boosting the morale of the Istarans and thusly scored a great victory over the Dravinish. It is said that because the Wizards were not there in the time of great need, the people of Istar would never forgive them, and therefore the Church was elevated into a greater position of authority.
At the end of the War, Istar continued to grow in power and commerce. Galeric proclaimed himself as the first King in 962 PC, thus founding the Kingdom of Istar.
(Continued next post - apologies for the length, but there's a LOT of backstory to cover!!!)";
Just over one hundred years after the founding of the Kingdom of Istar, severe trade restrictions were levied against the Kender in Balifor. Istar attempted to force the Kender to accept their taxes through force or through legal action, but it soon proved to be for naught. These actions would later become to be called "The Trade Wars" (850 PC - 727 PC). Also during this time, four other nations joined Istar (including their old enemies, the Dravinish) and formed the Empire of Istar. It was also during this period that the Istarian trade standards had become widely accepted throughout the continent.
The Empire would have another issue on their hands with the Silvanesti over trading rights. From 673 PC to 630 PC, Silvanesti and Istaran naval merchants would fight in many skirmishes, with the elves eventually winning after blockading Istar itself. The Empire was forced to sign the Swordsheath Scroll, effectively a truce between the two nations.
The Orders of High Sorcery were again the subject of heated debates and much hatred during the events of the War of Bones in 574 PC, pushing the Church ever closer to becoming the predominant faction. Over forty years later, the famed Knights of Solamnia would aid the Istarans and the Dwarves of Thoradin against the Ogres in the Khalkist Mountains, as the ogres had been raiding Istaran trade caravans.
In 476 PC, Solamnia re-signed the Swordsheath Scroll, continuing the truce between them and the Empire of Istar. Sixteen years later, Istar would become the most powerful nation on the continent, and their navies had complete dominance of the seas.
In 280 PC, Emperor Vemior was removed from power by Symeon I, and the priest immediately declared Istar as the moral center of the world. He would take upon himself the title of Kingpriest, and renamed the Empire of Istar as the Holy Empire of Istar.
Nearly two hundred years after, the Three Thrones War (118 PC - 98 PC) was fought within the borders of the Holy Empire. This civil war was almost successful in splitting apart the Empire, but eventually Ardosean IV and his army prevailed and managed to reunite everyone under one crown. Also during this time, the Proclamation of Manifest Virtue was given, stating that any act of evil was punishable by slavery or by death. In that same year (118 PC), the Dwarves of Thoradin took offense at this Proclamation and immediately closed their borders, effectively cutting off all travel between Western and Eastern Ansalon. This would lead to the Istar-Thoradin War, resulting in a Dwarven victory.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Three Thrones War, the Holy Empire went through a time known as the Long Reign. The same Kingpriest would rule from 97 PC to 48 PC. During this time, an edict was issued that a number of races - including Wizards - were declared evil, and their extermination was ordered.
The final Kingpriest - Beldinas - came to power in about 40 PC. Under his rule, the Order of the Divine Hammer was founded, which would eventually destroy the churches of Neutrality and Darkness that could be found within the borders of the Holy Empire. In 19 PC, he ordered the Tower of High Sorcery be turned over to him, while mobs attacked the other Towers. Four years later, slavery was reinstated, and in 6 PC the Edict of Thought Control - evil thoughts were now a crime - was issued.
In the final days leading up to the Cataclysm, Thirteen Warnings were sent by the deities. Beldinas thought this was a plot by the gods of Darkness trying to attack Istar and all of Ansalon, and chose to pay them no heed as he continued his plot to ascend to godhood. Then, he would be able to finally cleanse the entire world of evil.
When Beldinas made his demand to Paladine to become a deity in his own right, the gods saw no other option but to send the mountain down upon the Tower of the Kingpriest, taking with it the entire city of Istar and much of the surrounding lands, eventually forming the Blood Sea of Istar.
Now comes the question; what if the Cataclysm never happened, and Beldinas succeeded in his plans to ascend?
The Empire would have another issue on their hands with the Silvanesti over trading rights. From 673 PC to 630 PC, Silvanesti and Istaran naval merchants would fight in many skirmishes, with the elves eventually winning after blockading Istar itself. The Empire was forced to sign the Swordsheath Scroll, effectively a truce between the two nations.
The Orders of High Sorcery were again the subject of heated debates and much hatred during the events of the War of Bones in 574 PC, pushing the Church ever closer to becoming the predominant faction. Over forty years later, the famed Knights of Solamnia would aid the Istarans and the Dwarves of Thoradin against the Ogres in the Khalkist Mountains, as the ogres had been raiding Istaran trade caravans.
In 476 PC, Solamnia re-signed the Swordsheath Scroll, continuing the truce between them and the Empire of Istar. Sixteen years later, Istar would become the most powerful nation on the continent, and their navies had complete dominance of the seas.
In 280 PC, Emperor Vemior was removed from power by Symeon I, and the priest immediately declared Istar as the moral center of the world. He would take upon himself the title of Kingpriest, and renamed the Empire of Istar as the Holy Empire of Istar.
Nearly two hundred years after, the Three Thrones War (118 PC - 98 PC) was fought within the borders of the Holy Empire. This civil war was almost successful in splitting apart the Empire, but eventually Ardosean IV and his army prevailed and managed to reunite everyone under one crown. Also during this time, the Proclamation of Manifest Virtue was given, stating that any act of evil was punishable by slavery or by death. In that same year (118 PC), the Dwarves of Thoradin took offense at this Proclamation and immediately closed their borders, effectively cutting off all travel between Western and Eastern Ansalon. This would lead to the Istar-Thoradin War, resulting in a Dwarven victory.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Three Thrones War, the Holy Empire went through a time known as the Long Reign. The same Kingpriest would rule from 97 PC to 48 PC. During this time, an edict was issued that a number of races - including Wizards - were declared evil, and their extermination was ordered.
The final Kingpriest - Beldinas - came to power in about 40 PC. Under his rule, the Order of the Divine Hammer was founded, which would eventually destroy the churches of Neutrality and Darkness that could be found within the borders of the Holy Empire. In 19 PC, he ordered the Tower of High Sorcery be turned over to him, while mobs attacked the other Towers. Four years later, slavery was reinstated, and in 6 PC the Edict of Thought Control - evil thoughts were now a crime - was issued.
In the final days leading up to the Cataclysm, Thirteen Warnings were sent by the deities. Beldinas thought this was a plot by the gods of Darkness trying to attack Istar and all of Ansalon, and chose to pay them no heed as he continued his plot to ascend to godhood. Then, he would be able to finally cleanse the entire world of evil.
When Beldinas made his demand to Paladine to become a deity in his own right, the gods saw no other option but to send the mountain down upon the Tower of the Kingpriest, taking with it the entire city of Istar and much of the surrounding lands, eventually forming the Blood Sea of Istar.
Now comes the question; what if the Cataclysm never happened, and Beldinas succeeded in his plans to ascend?
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