Tanis Half-Elven
Tanis Half-Elven
Tanis was conceived when a human brigand raped his elven mother, who died in childbirth. He was raised by Solostaran, the Speaker of the Sun. He became friends with the Speakers' children Laurana and Gilthanas, yet most of the other elves treated him with prejudice. He left Qualinesti to explore the world and met the warrior-woman Kitiara. Tanis was attracted to Kitiara's fearless spirit and prowess; she represented the exact opposite of the environment of Qualinesti. Through Kitiara, Tanis became acquainted with her half-brothers Caramon and Raistlin, and in the town of Solace he also met Sturm, Tas, and Flint whom he knew from his childhood in Qualinesti. Together these friends went on many adventurers before deciding to part ways for various reasons. Of the Heroes, Tanis's adventures are probably the most unrecorded and mysterious (except maybe for Tas's). The friends returned five years later (except for Kitiara) and thru Fizban/Paladine's intervention were quickly swept into a grand adventure, starting with helping the barbarian princess Goldmoon become the first true cleric the world had seen since the Cataclysm and ending with the death of the Everman, the destruction of Neraka and the end of the Dragon Highlords as the rulers of Ansalon. After the War of the Lance Tanis and Laurana were married. Tanis later played a key role in defending Palanthas from Kitiara and Lord Soth. Twenty years later he and Caramon infiltrated the Knights of Takhisis's strongold at Storm's Keep with the help of Sara Dunstan and revealed their existence to the Good Armies, who largely ignored their significance. When the Dark Knights invaded Ansalon in the Summer of Flame, Tanis was slain saving the life of Steel Brightblade.
Tanis was the leader of the Heroes of the Lance. He had the ability to think with his head and his heart at the same time, and he could adapt to many situations. He was initially hindered by his insecure feelings regarding his heritage, but he reconciled these feelings with his marriage to Laurana.
Sturm Brightblade
Sturm was the son of Lord Brightblade of Solamnia, and when he was a boy the peasants revolted against the Knights of Solamnia. Sturm and his mother fled to Solace in Abanasinia while his father remained to defend Castle Brightblade. In Solace, Sturm grew up with Caramon and Raistlin and received weapons training from Kitiara. When the Heroes parted ways, he returned to Solamnia with Kitiara to learn what happened to his father. What exactly happened in Solamnia is largely unknown, but somehow Sturm and Kitiara mated and conceived Steel. Whatever happened Sturm never discussed, but what is known is that Castle Brightblade lay in ruins and Sturm barely escaped with his life, but not without finding his father's sword and armor. He returned to Solace but he did not tell his friends that he didn't become a knight. Later this was revealed to his shame and he was separated from the other Heroes along with Flint and Tas at the destruction of Tarsis. Sturm accompanied Laurana to Ice Wall to retrieve its dragon orb and broken dragonlance. In Southern Ergoth he was accused of cowardice by Lord Derek Crownguard, a maniacal Knight of the Rose for refusing to attack elves. He returned to Solamnia with the Knights and was found guilty and stripped of his armor, but after Laurana's intercession his armor was returned and he was made a Knight of Solamnia. He commanded a unit of knights with Laurana, Flint, and Tas at the High Clerist's Tower and won their loyalty and admiration. When the Blue Dragonarmy surrounded the Tower he disobeyed Crownguard's order to attack, a crime which had a penalty of death. Crownguard and his troops were slaughtered and mutilated in the attack. Sturm and his unit defended the Tower successfully in Kitiara's assault and ultimately he was killed by Kitiara herself. However, his distraction allowed Laurana to use her dragon orb to lure the blue dragons into a trap, resulting in Kitiara's defeat and retreat.
Like Tanis, Sturm always had doubts about his identity because he was not a knight for most of his life. However, he had the most honor of all the Heroes and they adopted his honor after his death. His sacrifice gave the Knights of Solamnia new faith in themselves to rid Ansalon of the dragonarmies.
Caramon Majere
Caramon and Raistlin were born to a poor woodcutter and a sickly woman who sometimes was able to go into trances. The twins' father died in an accident and their mother died shortly afterward. Kitiara, their half-sister took care of them until she grew old enough to travel; afterwards the twins only had each other. Whereas Caramon became large and brawny Raistlin was small and weak; the two were nearly complete opposites. Caramon loved his brother dearly and protected him from bullies. Caramon's dream was to become a warrior like his half-sister, and she trained him whenever she returned from her travels. Caramon traveled to Wayreth with Raistlin after the Heroes separated and played a significant part in Raistlin's Test. After the Test Caramon became even more protective of Raistlin despite his brother's growing evil. His over-protectiveness hurt his relationship with Tika. Raistlin's abandonment of Caramon at the Blood Sea allowed him to consummate his love for Tika, though. When the brothers met each other again at Neraka, Raistlin wore the Black Robes. Together the brothers took the Everman to the broken pillar and the Portal was resealed upon the Everman's death. However, Raistlin left Caramon to reopen the cursed Tower of Palanthas , and this crushed Caramon. He took to drink and became ill. Caramon later had to go back in time to have the Kingpriest of Istar resurrect Crysania from the dead. Here he was made a slave and became a gladiator. In the Arena of Istar Caramon became stronger than ever and became a master warrior. After Raistlin had some innocent people murdered, Caramon finally realized how evil his brother had become and he nearly killed him. He escaped the Cataclysm with Raistlin and Crysania, defeated the powerful leader of a gang, took over the gang and formed it into an army. He brought the hill dwarves and plains barbarians with him to fight the mountain dwarves. He left Raistlin to follow his own path, only to discover that Raistlin would end up destroying the world in his plan to become a god. Caramon traveled to the Abyss to stop Raistlin, and there Raistlin saved Caramon's life and stopped the Dark Queen from reentering Krynn.
Caramon returned to Solace a rejuvenated man and took over the Inn of the Last Home. He and Tika had five children, including three sons: Tanin, Sturm II, and Palin. To Caramon's horror Palin wanted to become a mage like Raistlin, only he wanted to wear the White Robes. Despite Caramon's attempts to block him, Palin became a mage. Caramon later helped Sara Dunstan recruit Tanis to attempt to bring Steel into the light, but they failed.
Caramon tried to pass himself as feeble-minded compared to his intelligent brother, but in reality he was not really a muscle-head. From his relationship with his brother he learned to have compassion for the weak and thus he became their champion. As he learned to live apart from his brother he developed his ability to think on his own.
Raistlin Majere
Raistlin was small and weak compared to his brother as a child, but he was very good with his hands. He learned a few tricks and even the rudimentary basics of magic from Tika's illusionist father. While Caramon grew up rough-housing with the other boys in Solace, Raistlin immersed himself in study and his goal was to learn magic and pass the Test of High Sorcery to become a mage. His bitter childhood created a deep cynicism within him for the world, and he inherited his half-sister's desire to control his surroundings. However, Raist had a good side: he had compassion for the weak and despised (being both himself), and this later would spill onto Caramon. Raistlin and Caramon journeyed to the Tower at Wayreth and Raistlin took the Test hoping to wear the Red Robes, marking his detachment from the foolish idealism of Good and the cruel, destructive nature of Evil. With only a few spells he defeated all but one of his opposing magic-users. The last mage, a dark elf cast a fireball at Raistlin. As he lay dying, Raistlin made contact with the spirit of the undead wizard Fistandantilus and they struck a deal: Raistlin would receive the evil mage's magic power, but he would have to surrender some of his life force. With this new power Raistlin defeated the dark elf and passed the Test, but the judges had one more trial for Raist. They created an illusion of Caramon that approached the weakened Raist, and then an illusory foe appeared. The fake Caramon put his sword away and used magic to dispel the enemy! In a burst of jealous rage, Raistlin used the last of his magic (and his life) to kill Caramon brutally. Since the last trial was an illusion, nobody died but this did demonstrate how Raistlin viewed his magic and his brother. Raist was given the Staff of Magius, a powerful item and the Red Robes, but he was scarred by Fistandantilus's price: he became weaker and his vision changed so he could only see life as it was dying. During the Heroes' adventures Raistlin gave useful advice to Tanis, but he always tried to twist the situation to his advantage. He found the way to access Fistandantilus's spellbooks; he would have to borrow a Key from one of the three strongest gods. Gilean, the god of neutrality would not lend his Key but Takhisis would if Raistlin became her servant. Raistlin deserted the Heroes, including Caramon, donned the Black Robes, and became REAL powerful. Realizing Takhisis's return to Krynn would seriously disrupt the world, he betrayed her and helped Caramon seal the Portal. He left once again, this time for the evil Tower of Palanthas and he reopened it. He found a way to go back in time and he found Fistandantilus when he was alive. The two sorcerers battled and Raistlin won, taking Fisty's life energy. Raistlin's last trip was to Skullcap Mountain, where he would be able to enter the Abyss. Raistlin entered the Abyss and as he was about to battle the Dark Queen, Caramon appeared and told him that this would lead to the world's destruction. Raistlin realized his mistake and distracted Takhisis long enough for Caramon to escape and seal the Portal, but he was left in the Abyss. Twenty years later in the Summer of Flame, he returned to Krynn when the Portal was reopened and helped Palin cast the ultimate spell to defeat Chaos.
Goldmoon of the Que-Shu
Goldmoon was an orphan adopted by the chief of the Que-Shu tribe, living in the plains of Abanasinia. She was the princess of the tribe, yet she fell in love with a lowly shepherd, Riverwind. When Riverwind returned from a quest with the blue crystal staff, he was exiled from Que-Shu, and Goldmoon went with him. Goldmoon was able to use the staff to heal good people. She and Riverwind met the Heroes in Solace and Fizban/Paladine accused her of being a witch. The Heroes fled with the two barbarians and they journeyed to the Dark Woods, where the Forestmaster told them to travel to the ruins of Xak Tsaroth. There Goldmoon broke the staff to kill the evil dragon Khisanth and she seemed to perish herself, yet she survived and became the first true good cleric since the Cataclysm! She gained the Disks of Mishakal which described how one could become a cleric; her job was to go forth and find more people to become clerics. In Pax Tharkas she healed the dying Seeker Elistan and he decided to become a cleric of Paladine. After Verminaard's defeat she married Riverwind, and after the War of the Lance they returned to the plains and had two daughters. Goldmoon survived the Summer of Flame and led her people into the Fifth Age.
Goldmoon's power lies in the combination of her faith and her love for the world. Her patience and kind-heartedness returned faith to many in Krynn.
Riverwind of the Que-Shu
Riverwind was a shepherd in the Que-Shu tribe and he fell in love with the princess Goldmoon. His family was ridiculed for having faith in the true gods and Riverwind's love for Goldmoon pushed things too far. Goldmoon's father, the leader of the Que-Shu ordered Riverwind to go on a quest for proof of the true gods. Riverwind was guided by the goddess Mishakal to Xak Tsaroth, where he recovered the blue crystal staff, which nearly cost him his life. When he returned with the staff to Que-Shu everybody freaked out and Riverwind and Goldmoon were exiled. Riverwind didn't trust the Heroes when he first met them- particularly Tanis (being part elf) and Raistlin (a mage). Goldmoon was able to convince the barbarian to travel with the Heroes and eventually he came to respect the Heroes greatly; he eventually referred to Tanis as "brother." Riverwind was killed during the Summer of Flame.
Flint Fireforge
Flint was a scion of the Fireforge family, which led the Neidar clan in revolt against the mountain dwarves. Flint's brother gave him the Tharkan Axe, the great treasure of the Fireforge family after he retired from adventuring. Like other dwarves Flint was skilled at metalsmithing, but unlike the others he was also interested in woodcarving. He eventually turned his skill into a trade and sold his wares on the road. His wooden toys were a hit among the children of Qualinesti, and there Flint met the boy Tanis. The two became friends and when Tanis grew up, he helped Flint sell his carvings. Flint was also acquainted with the kender Tas, and the two made an interesting duo. Flint traveled far and wide searching for rumored dwarven clerics after the companions separated. He found a colony of gully dwarves instead who captured him and forced him to be their king. At first he hated these degenerated dwarves, but eventually he came to pity them. He helped the gully dwarf queen Perian govern them until they were attacked by dark dwarves, led by Pitrick. Pitrick killed Perian and in revenge Flint slew him with the Tharkan Axe. Because the weapon was used by a dwarf to kill a dwarf, it turned into a paper-and-foil axe and blew away into the wind. Saddened by these events, Flint returned to Solace and rejoined the companions. Along with Sturm and Tas, Flint accompanied Laurana through Icewall, Southern Ergoth, and Solamnia and did his utmost to defend her. After her capture Flint journeyed with Tanis to rescue her and to redeem the Everman, but sadly his old age caught up with him and he died of heart failure at Godshome. Upon Flint's death, Fizban/Paladine appeared and personally carried him to Reorx.
Flint always presented himself as a grizzly old dwarf but he cared a great deal for his friends, whom he probably viewed as his children. His gruff and serious nature made a humorous contrast to Tas's carefree outlook on life.
Tasslehoff Burrfoot
Tas was a kender, the diminutive race which suffers from insatiable curiosity. Tas met the Heroes in Solace and journeyed with them everywhere. Along the way he destroyed a dragon orb, got resurrected from death, traveled back in time, went to the Abyss and returned (not before shaking the Dark Queen's hand!), and even became a personal friend of Paladine's. Along the way he saw many of his friends die and other horrible things. His experiences helped him to appreciate his own light-hearted view of life and his ability to shine bright even on the darkest day.
Tas helped the Second Generation defeat Chaos. He distracted the god while Ushas and Palin resealed the Graygem, but the All-Father crushed him. However, his body was nowhere to be found after the battle.
Tika Waylan
Tika's father was a con artist who trained her to be a thief. She was caught by Otik, the owner of the Inn of the Last Home, and instead of punishing her, he hired her and she eventually became a barmaid. As a teenager, her tomboy demeanor and gawky appearance led Caramon to state that she was so ugly she would have to pay someone to marry her. Obviously, Caramon would later rescind that statement. She dreamed of becoming an adventurer one day, perhaps even a swordswoman like Kitiara. She got her chance when she accompanied the Heroes to Qualinesti, and from that point on she learned to fight quickly and helped the other Heroes. She fell in love with Caramon but was scared of Raistlin. She knew that Caramon was not as dumb as he made himself out to be. Their relationship was severely compromised in the aftermath of the War of the Lance, when Caramon became a drunkard and she had to support the two of them. However, things became much better when he returned from his adventures through time. Many years later, she convinced Caramon to listen to Sara Dunstan and her tale of Steel Brightblade.
Tika's main attribute was her ability to understand people. She made the perfect partner for Caramon who had to deal with a lot of grief in his life.
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