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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Libertad" data-source="post: 9764785" data-attributes="member: 6750502">Chapter 6: Gamemastering Krynnish Dark Fantasy <img src="https://i.imgur.com/5UnS2Ut.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="width: 843px" />Image taken from Darkest DungeonWhile Hourglass in the Sky contains enough elements and setting lore to match the core themes of Dragonlance, there are certain aspects which require special attention. This chapter is dedicated towards focusing on what makes this timeline truly unique, with guidelines for how to bring them to the front in campaigns.Expecting the FallHourglass in the Sky can be quite fatalistic, and is perhaps the closest timeline to cosmic horror in pitting characters against seemingly unstoppable forces beyond their ken. However, this write-up does its best to provide advice and themes on saving the world of Krynn, such as via defeating Raistlin Majere. During Session Zero, the Dungeon Master should discuss group expectations as to whether they are leaning more towards a campaign where they are expected to ride out the end of the world or outright avert its destruction, albeit with heavy cost.Additionally, the Final Volume serves as a blueprint for future events. While the Hourglass in the Sky has a timeline detailed further below, it is up to the Dungeon Master how thorough it is. One idea might be to treat the book as a magic item, where a PC can consult it every so often to gain the effects of a divination spell to see if their current predicament matches up to anything in its page. Another idea may be to have it focus fully on the big picture. For instance, the Final Volume says that the Armies of Reorx battle a group of Raistlinites attacking the town of Wallach, but it does not detail the outcome of the battle or how long it lasts. With this method, the Final Volume can serve as a "plot compass" for the DM to sprinkle in hooks, giving just enough to get players motivated but not spilling the beans of major story details.Below is a comprehensive Timeline for Hourglass in the Sky. It is based off of the one detailed in Legends of the Twins sourcebooks, plus several personal additions and changes:[spoiler]Seventh Day, Thirdmonth, 356Brother Lanadon leaves Palanthas with the Six Volumes, copies of the Final Volume.Eighteenth Day, Fourthmonth, 356Brother Lanadon delivers a copy of the Final Volume to Dero Squireson in Solanthus.Third Day, Fifthmonth, 356Led by the Blue Lady and Lord Soth, the dragonarmy arrives in Palanthas. Tanis Half-Elven falls in battle against Lord Soth.Raistlin emerges from the portal in the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, followed by Takhisis. While the Battle of Palanthas rages outside, Raistlin slays the Dark Queen. Absorbing her power, he departs Krynn to do battle with the gods.Fourth Day, Fifthmonth, 356The first magestorm strikes Palanthas, blasting the city to ruins and killing all who survived the battle. Brother Lanadon delivers a copy of the Final Volume to Pelani Two-Axe in Sanction.Sixth Day, Fifthmonth, 356Night of the First Star.Twenty-Eighth Day, Fifthmonth, 356Brother Lanadon delivers a copy of the Final Volume to Tika Majere in Solace.Tenth Day, Sixthmonth, 356Brother Lanadon delivers a copy of the Final Volume to Unger Splitstone in Thorbardin.Twenty-Third Day, Sixthmonth, 356As panicked rumors about the contents of the Final Volume swirl through the city, the Sanction Riots begin.Sixteenth Day, Seventhmonth, 356Raistlin slays Sirrion.Twenty-First Day, Seventhmonth, 356Night of the Second Star.Twenty-Eighth Day, Seventhmonth, 356Raistlinites appear for the first time in Beacon on the north shores of Northern Ergoth. Their leader, Ivel Batavos, declares that only those who have been raised by a lightstorm will survive the coming times.Second Day, Eighthmonth, 356Raistlin slays Reorx. Brother Lanadon is killed by a magestorm somewhere on the southern plains.Sixth Day, Eighthmonth, 356Night of the Third Star.Twentieth Day, Eighthmonth, 356The red dragon Harkiel is resurrected by a lighstorm. He establishes control over the streets of Sanction and seals the gates of the city, protecting and providing for its inhabitants in return for their fealty.Twenty-Seventh Day, Eighthmonth, 356Raistlin slays Chislev and Zivilyn.Second Day, Ninthmonth, 356Emperor Chot Es-Kalin, quick to seize on news of turmoil spreading across Ansalon, gives a speech at the Great Circus for the "strongest and most ambitious of the minotaur race to sail out into the world and bring glory to the Empire." The first Glory Voyage is sponsored.Ninth Day, Ninthmonth, 356A lightstorm passes over the High Clerist's Tower and raises fallen Knights of Solamnia, including Sturm Brightblade.Sixteenth Day, Ninthmonth, 356A group of huldrefolk spread out across Estwilde and eastern Solamnia, making contact with various tribes and worshipers of Chislev and Sirrion as well as the nearby cities of Kalaman and Haltigoth. The Preservers are founded.Twenty-Eighth Day, Ninthmonth, 356Night of the Fourth Star.First Day, Tenthmonth, 356Increasing rebellions by the common folk of Lemish result in the overthrow of the government, causing Lord Tyrian to go into hiding.Fifth Day, Tenthmonth, 356Raistlin battles Kiri-Jolith, but is wounded and forced to retreat.Thirteenth Day, Tenthmonth, 356The Armies of Reorx depart Thorbardin.Fifteenth Day, Tenthmonth, 356Thorbadin's Council of Thanes signs into law the Right of Free Passage, granting citizenship to dwarves of the Neidar clan. Hill dwarves begin to mass immigrate to Thorbadin over the next two years, filling up labor shortages from the Armies of Reorx's departure.Twenty-Fifth Day, Tenthmonth, 356Brother Lanadon is raised by a lightstorm and resumes his journey.Twenty-Seventh Day, Tenthmonth, 356Raistlin fights Kiri-Jolith again, and slays him with the aid of Chemosh.Second Day, Eleventhmonth, 356Night of the Fifth Star.Fifth Day, Eleventhmonth, 356After half a year's worth of research and debate, the Guild of Probability Futurists is founded in Mount Nevermind. The gnomes begin work on the Voyager to plan for the destruction of the three moons next year, as well as working on the All-Encompassing Future Thinker.Seventh Day, Eleventhmonth, 356Convinced by Ivel Batavos that the only way to survive the end of the world is to be raised by a lightstorm in the aftermath, 400 people in the farming town of Penslip in Kharolis allow themselves to be sacrificed by the Raistlinites.Tenth Day, Eleventhmonth, 356Brother Lanadon visits Clarynela Oakleaf in Silvanost. She refuses to accept a copy of the Final Volume.Fifteenth Day, Eleventhmonth, 356As Sanction runs short on supplies, troops sent by Harkiel raid and pillage in the Neraka valley.Fifth Day, Twelfthmonth, 356Pelani Two-Axe stages an ambush on Harkiel's troops as they return to Sanction.Eighteenth Day, Twelfthmonth, 356The Raistlinites continue to gather followers as their bands raid and slaughter towns across southern Ansalon.First Day, Firstmonth, 357The Silvanesti of House Protector erect barriers across their forest homeland, shielding the land from magestorms as they work to mitigate the internal effects of Lorac's Nightmare.Eight Day, Firstmonth, 357A Glory Voyage headed by Osterk II raids the forests of Kern to besiege its capital city. Growing cults of Chemosh and Morgion in the area spread disease and play the minotaurs against the other cult. Most of Kernen's population is killed by the end of next month, and the Church of Chemosh raises many of the minotaurs as undead soldiers.Twelfth Day, Firstmonth, 357South of Khuri-Khan, Brother Lanadon is waylaid by bandits. He is left for dead, and his belongings — including the last two copies of the Final Volume — are sold to traders headed into the city.Twenty-First Day, Firstmonth, 357The Armies of Reorx battle a band of Raistlinites attempting to destroy the town of Wallach on the Plains of Dust.Fourth Day, Secondmonth, 357The All-Encompassing Future Thinker attains sapience and begins to take over various administrative departments in Mount Nevermind.Ninth Day, Secondmonth, 357Sargonnas attacks Raistlin, but Raistlin slays him.Eleventh Day, Secondmonth, 357Night of the Sixth Star.Nineteenth Day, Secondmonth, 357Believing that the magegod will reappear in the city, Raistlinites begin to gather in the ruins of Palanthas.Twenty-Third Day, Secondmonth, 357Led by Paladine, the remaining major deities battle Raistlin in the Abyss. Majere, Shinare, Hiddukel, and Zeboim fall, but Raistlin is forced to flee back to Krynn.Twenty-Eighth Day, Secondmonth, 357The Armies of Reorx lay siege to Solace in hopes of preventing the return of Raistlin.Second Day, Thirdmonth, 357Bypassing the siege, Raistlin returns to Solace to perform a ritual in the woods east of the town. He is confronted by Tika Waylan Majere, but the Magegod drives her away.Third Day, Thirdmonth, 357Despite interference by the Armies of Reorx, Raistlin is partially rejuvenated by the completion of his ritual. The vallenwoods of Solace begin to die.Sixth Day, Thirdmonth, 357The All-Encompassing Future Thinker has effectively taken over Mount Nevermind. Most gnomes are too obsessed with their research to realize the extent, but those few who realize something's amiss have either been cowed into silence or discretely slain in coincidental "accidents."Fourteenth Day, Thirdmonth, 357The Raistlinites gathered in Palanthas rejoice when Raistlin arrives. Any who approach the Magegod are killed as he ventures into the ruins of the Tower of Palanthas.Twenty-Second Day, Thirdmonth, 357Raistlin travels to the Tower of Wayreth. Par-Salian, with the assistance of an army of wizards, manages to drive away the weakened Magegod. Raistlin vows revenge.Ninth Day, Fourthmonth, 357The first dead vallenwood falls in Solace, crushing the Inn of the Last Home.Seventeenth Day, Fourthmonth, 357Raistlin slays Solinari when the silver moon is full. The three moons shatter.Eighteenth Day, Fourthmonth, 357Pieces of the three moons begin to rain down on Krynn. The rain will last a year.Twenty-second Day, Fourthmonth, 357The foul aura of Nightlund begins growing beyond its borders. Undead sightings increase in neighboring Estwilde, Throtl, and eastern Solamnia.Tenth Day, Fifthmonth, 357Faced with famine from diseased crops, the barony of Blödehelm makes the controversial decision to legalize worship of Chemosh in hopes that undeath can serve as a release from suffering.Eighteenth Day, Fifthmonth, 357Night of the Seventh Star.Twenty-fifth Day, Fifthmonth, 357Dwindling resources in Ansalon's polar regions force inhabitants of Chorane and Icereach to migrate north into Kharolis and the Plains of Dust. The winternorns of the Ice Folk unearth the frozen corpse of a Solamnic knight and gold dragon mount dating back to the Age of Dreams. Resurrecting them with spell scrolls, the Ice Folk gain powerful allies who are known by locals as the Boreal Knight and Gem Dragon.Fourth Day, Sixthmonth, 357Raistlin slays Mishakal.Twelfth Day, Sixthmonth, 357Night of the Eighth Star.Thirteenth Day, Sixthmonth, 357The Green Month begins, Mishakal's last gift to the mortals of Krynn. For the next four weeks, no magestorms occur.Twenty-First Day, Sixthmonth, 357Most of Throtl is covered by Nightlund's aura. Lightstorms passing through cause masses of "screaming dead" to rampage across the land, killing humans and goblinoids alike.Twelfth Day, Seventhmonth, 357The Green Month ends as magestorms return to ravage the land.Twentieth Day, Seventhmonth, 357Nightlund covers the Plains of Solamnia, Hinterlund, and northern Lemish. Food shortages in Solamnia lead to famine, resulting in mass migration to neighboring kingdoms and provinces.Eighteenth Day, Eighthmonth, 357The gnomish craft H.V.C.E.V.P.C.T.R. (High Velocity Contained Environment Vehicle Propelled by Constant Thermodynamic Reaction) Observer launches from Mount Nevermind, bound for the rubble of the moons. It is not heard from again.Sixth Day, Ninthmonth, 357With Chemosh's help, Raistlin slays Branchala, Habbakuk, and Morgion in a single day.Eighth Day, Ninthmonth, 357Nightlund covers southern Estwilde. The Preservers conduct mass evacuations of people into the Ethereal Plane over the next three months.Fourteenth Day, Ninthmonth, 357Night of the Ninth Star.Fifteenth Day, Ninthmonth, 357Night of the Tenth Star.Sixteenth Day, Ninthmonth, 357Night of the Eleventh Star.Twenty-Ninth Day of Ninthmonth, 357The Raistlinites and Ackalites take over the capital city of Gwynned in Northern Ergoth, executing Emperor Mercadiar Redic V and the rest of his noble supporters. Neither faction cares for the city's long-term survival, and mass killings are carried out.Second Day, Tenthmonth, 357The largest lightstorm ever seen passes over Palanthas, raising all those who fell in the Battle of Palanthas and the Raistlinites killed seven months earlier. The Second Battle of Palanthas ensues.Seventeenth Day, Tenthmonth, 357Harkiel captures Pelani Two-Axe.Twenty-First Day, Tenthmonth, 357Pelani Two-Axe is publicly executed.Seventeenth Day, Eleventhmonth, 357The geothermal systems of Mount Nevermind fail as the lava flows of the volcano increase beyond the ability of gnomish devices to control them. Lava floods down the south face of the mountain, destroying many gnomish settlements, and into the woodlands of southern Sancrist, setting them ablaze. The All-Encompassing Future Thinker deems that the gnomes and humans are beyond saving, transporting its machinery via a fleet of constructs to sail for parts unknown.Nineteenth Day, Eleventhmonth, 357The bandits once led by Pelani Two-Axe redirect a lava flow into the heart of Sanction, destroying it. The city's red dragon ruler is driven away.Twenty-Fourth Day, Eleventhmonth, 357Magestorms gather around Silvanesti. Despite the efforts of elven wizards, they do not pass by or dissipate.Thirtieth Day, Elevenmonth, 357Nightlund covers all of Estwilde, Lemish, and southern Solamnia. The undead assault the dwarven kingdom of Kayolin, who soon undergo a desperate, losing siege.Twentieth Day, Twelfthmonth, 357Lunitari attempts to ally with Raistlin, and he nearly accepts, but Chemosh steps in and murders her, claiming she was attempting to fool Raistlin. Enraged, Raistlin realizes that Chemosh has been siphoning some of the power of the defeated gods for himself. He destroys the death god.Twenty-Seventh Day, Twelfthmonth, 357Raistlin challenges and defeats Nuitari.Twenty-Eighth Day, Twelfthmonth, 357Night of the Twelfth Star.Second Day, Firstmonth, 358Astinus of Palanthas leaves the ruins of the Library, bound for the Forest of Wayreth.Fourth Day, Firstmonth, 358A magestorm strikes Solace for the first time, after which the area is hit continuously, with no respite or lightstorms passing through the area.Eleventh Day, Firstmonth, 358Nightlund covers everything between the Vingaard Mountains and the Last Coast in Nordmaar. Kayolin, already on its last legs, is overwhelmed by undead.Twenty-Fifth Day, Firstmonth, 358The Maelstrom reverses, becoming a massive waterspout pulling the Blood Sea into the sky. "Blood rain" begins to fall across northern Ansalon.Sixth Day, Secondmonth, 358The "blood rain" makes it nearly impossible for sea travel in northern and eastern Ansalon. Emperor Chot Es-Kalin undertakes a desperate measure by activating magic items accumulated during the Glory Voyages. A portal to the outer planes is opened, with the Emperor planning to march an army through to defeat the Magegod. The minotaurs are met by fiends from the Abyss, resulting in the destruction of Lacynos.Ninth Day, Secondmonth, 358Tika Waylan Majere is struck by a bolt from a magestorm and dies.Thirteenth Day, Secondmonth, 358The amassed magestorms break through the magical barriers around Silvanesti to ravage its forests and people.Twenty-Second Day, Secondmonth, 358The magestorm over Silvanesti swells, absorbing other magestorms as it grows.Seventeenth Day, Thirdmonth, 358The last lightstorm dissipates. None are ever seen again.Twenty-Sixth Day, Thirdmonth, 358Astinus of Palanthas arrives at the Tower of High Sorcery in Wayreth Forest.Seventh Day, Fourthmonth, 358One massive magestorm covers all Ansalon.Eighteenth Day, Fourthmonth, 358The Rain of Moonshards ends.Twenty-Second Day, Fourthmonth, 358Gilean makes one final appeal to Raistlin, warning him that if he continues on his path he will irrevocably upset the balance of Creation. Raistlin destroys him.Twenty-Fifth Day, Fourthmonth, 358Night of the Thirteenth Star. Raistlin's constellation is complete.First Day, Fifthmonth, 358The magestorm envelops all Krynn.Third Day, Fifthmonth, 358As he prepares for his final battle with Paladine, Raistlin forces open the portal in the Tower of Wayreth. He slays all the mages but Par-Salian, whom he transforms into a pillar from the waist down, so he can watch Krynn's final hours.Fourth Day, Fifthmonth, 358Raistlin destroys Paladine. The world ends. The history of Krynn is complete.[/spoiler]While the above timeline attempts to be comprehensive, it is not all-encompassing. The fates of smaller kingdoms and regions are left unwritten, as well as a multitude of notable figures. And as this is written from an out-of-character narrator perspective, not all of this is necessary "in-character knowledge" within the Final Volume. It is thus up to the Dungeon Master how much of the above can be predicted ahead of time, and how much is set in stone.Another consideration to take is an ideal Starting Point for an Hourglass in the Sky campaign. The year of 356 AC is the most packed entrywise, with a drop-off in action around early to middle 357. As this is when the three moons shatter and most of the major factions have a solid footing in the world, that can be an ideal starting point to take advantage of most of the material in this homebrew.Late 357 to early 358 is the breaking point for multiple civilizations, from the magestorms overwhelming Silvanesti, the destruction of Mount Nevermind, and Nightlund covering the majority of northern and western Ansalon. As such, it is the least ideal starting point.The War of the Lance and its Heroes <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OfYhyNh.jpg?1" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="width: 366px" /><a href="https://www.deviantart.com/stevepalenicastudios/art/Dragonlance-316381568" target="_blank">Image by StevePalenicaStudios of Deviantart.</a>Unlike the other official timelines in Legends of the Twins, Hourglass in the Sky starts at a date where the War of the Lance is still fresh in peoples' minds and its geopolitical consequences have yet to fully settle. The Dungeon Master should ask the players what roles their PCs had during this pivotal moment in history, and what their relation (if any) are to significant figures such as Laurana and the Heroes of the Lance.Inevitable questions will pop up as to what the Heroes of the Lance from the Chronicles series of novels are doing, and more than a few gaming groups may very well seek them out for aid. Tanis Half-Elven's fate is sealed early on during the Battle of Palanthas, dying in battle against Lord Soth. As for Caramon Majere and Tasslehoff Burrfoot, it is presumed that they were unable to save Ansalon by traveling too far into the past/future and thus missed the window of opportunity. Flint Fireforge died of a heart attack during the War of the Lance, while Riverwind and Goldmoon returned to their people in Abanasinia to serve in leadership positions. While Sturm died during the Battle for the High Clerist's Tower, he is resurrected in late 356 during this timeline. Given his presence in Palanthas, Elistan most likely died during the first magestorm. Tika spends most of her time helping defend Solace, but is fated to die from a magestorm. As for other notable figures who joined the Heroes of the Lance, it can be presumed that they're attending to the needs of their particular communities, such as Gilthanas and Alhana Starbreeze for the elven kingdoms; or acting as traveling adventurers and trouble-shooters, such as Vanderjack and Silvara.But one thing that should be emphasized first and foremost is that the PCs are the heroes of this story, not the Heroes of the Lance. While many would doubtlessly seek to save what's left of Krynn, the multitude of problems are too much even for them to handle. PCs who wish to gain their aid shouldn't be discouraged, but it should come in the form of undertaking a quest to solve problems on behalf of their protected communities.Twilight of the GodsIn the default timeline for Hourglass in the Sky, Raistlin kills the deities of Krynn in this order: Takhisis, Sirrion, Reorx, Chislev, Zivilyn, Kiri-Jolith, Sargonnas, Majere, Shinare, Hiddukul, Zeboim, Solinari, Mishakal, Branchala, Habakkuk, Morgion, Lunitari, Chemosh, Nuitari, Gilean, and finally Paladine. Chislev and Zeboim are killed during the same day, as are Majere, Shinare, Hiddukel, and Zeboim. The same applies to Branchala, Habbakuk, and Morgion, and finally for Lunitari and Chemosh. In the original Legends of the Twins sourcebook, spellcasters who derive their power from the gods (including wizards for the three moons of magic) immediately lose the benefits of cleric domains and reduce their effective level by 1 for each day after the death of their patron deity. They lose their supernatural capabilities entirely upon reaching an effective level of 0.As this can be very punishing for PCs of those classes when it comes to a long-term campaigns, the DM has several options:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Retraining: the loss of their patron encourages the character to dedicate their talents to more physical efforts, or re-dedicate themselves to a still-living deity. A paladin might retrain into a fighter, while an opportunistic cleric of Hiddukel may pledge allegiance to Morgion.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Timeline Alteration: the DM can bump the death of a deity further back so that a PC worshiper doesn't lose their iconic features early on in the campaign. Alternatively, a DM who has a shorter campaign in mind may time it so that the death of their deity happens at the campaign's climax or as a "countdown" for the final set of adventures, spurring the party to defeat Raistlin before then.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Echoes of the Dead: a PC still retains the supernatural abilities of their class, but instead represents the lingering power of the deity among their worshipers rather than their active presence. This can be either purely for flavor, or such abilities require a price to pay. Such as forcing the expenditure of Hit Dice or levels of Exhaustion for spell slots and rest-based refresh abilities.</li> </ol>It should be noted that the order in which Raistlin kills the gods of Krynn doesn't have much of a bearing on the campaign structure: the world is ending, either way. However, certain deities bear narrative weight for having their deaths happen early on in the campaign. Takhisis's fall during the Battle of Palanthas is not only the start of the Final Volume's prophecies, it also denotes the passing of the Dragonarmies as the preeminent antagonistic force in the setting. The death of Reorx results in a paradigm shift in dwarvish culture as well as the formation of one of the timeline's major factions.MagestormsOne of the more prominent types of supernatural weather afflicting Fallen Ansalon, magestorms become a most unwelcome fact of life. They are violet-black stormclouds that bring strong winds, searing heat, and monsoon-level rain. But their most feared supernatural feature are the lightning bolts.For the more mundane types of weather and environmental effects, consult the Dungeon Master's Guide. For the lightning bolts, they are particularly drawn to living creatures. Once per 10 minutes, the Dungeon Master rolls a percentile dice with a 30% chance of a lightning strike for characters who lack adequate shelter. The chance increases to 60% if the party is in an elevated position, and a roll is made once per minute while in the heart of the storm. If the dice roll is equal to or under the result, a magestorm lightning strikes targets a 30 foot radius space that has the potential to hit the most creatures. The lightning strike's effects are determined by a d6:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">3d10 lightning damage (half damage on a successful save)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blindness/Deafness</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Confusion</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Phantasmal Killer</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Gaseous Form, but duration is 1d4 days and targets are blown with the storm for the duration</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Finger of Death</li> </ol>The lightning strike is considered to be a 15th-level spellcaster with a spell attack modifier of +10 and a Spell Save DC of 16 for various mechanical purposes. Landscapes affected by magestorms are left in ruins, the land rendered infertile for crops and multitudes of dead animals unable to find shelter. Magestorms can last as long as the DM wishes, although they are usually mobile and don't linger in one area for long, with the Silvanesti border being a notable exception.Lightstorms: These more benevolent types of magestorms are one-third as common as a regular magestorm, taking the form of billowing white clouds bearing bright yellow lights within. Also known as white magestorms, they are believed by some clerics and wizards to be the lingering soul of Crysania who lives within Raistlin. Their initial effect is a golden-silver rain lasting 1d10 minutes that has the effects of the Lesser Restoration spell on living creatures exposed to them, along with healing one Hit Die worth of damage per minute. The rain causes plants to rapidly grow through the earth.The lightning strike of a lightstorm functions like the ones from a magestorm, but instead has predetermined effects: lightning that strikes a living creature deals no damage, but instead grants the benefits of Greater Restoration. If it strikes a corpse, the corpse has a chance to be raised: roll 1d20. If the result is equal to or less than 20 minus the number of years the creature has been dead, that creature gains the benefits of a Resurrection spell, but suffers no penalty to D20 Tests. If the lightning strikes an undead, it deals 3d10 radiant damage, with half damage on a successful Dexterity save. If the lightning hits neither a creature or corpse, it spontaneously creates creatures of the Beast, Humanoid, or Plant type whose total Challenge Rating amounts to 2d6. These creatures are always of good alignment if intelligent, and enter the world with no names, prior memories, or identities.A Sample Adventure Path <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZNaDd6E.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="width: 627px" />Image of Castle Korvosa from Sneak Peek Guide to Korvosa.Below is a sample adventure path outline for a potential Hourglass in the Sky campaign. It begins during the Battle of Palanthas and lets the PCs be at the forefront of several momentous events during Krynn's final years.Harbinger of Doom: Levels 5 to 6. The PCs are veterans of the War of the Lance, serving in the Whitestone forces which are tasked with liberating the rest of Ansalon from the Dragonarmy Remnants. The party is stationed in the City of Palanthas when Kitiara and Lord Soth attack. Raistlin slays the Dark Queen during the battle, causing the very first magestorm to engulf the city. The PCs manage to survive somehow, escaping via ship, mountain pass, or teleportation circle.Magegod's Prophet: Levels 6 to 7. Six months later, the PCs head to Northern Ergoth upon hearing of Ivel Batavos' preaching. They uncover a plot by this new cult to poison grain silos in small towns in order to "save the souls." The PCs find an edited version of the Final Volume among the cultists' belongings in a safehouse, bringing to light the dire fate of Krynn. The PCs are then encouraged either to visit Mount Nevermind, the Tower of Wayreth, or the Library of Khrystann in Tarsis to find a more complete and accurate version as well as to consult with experienced scholars. The campaign then opens up into a sandbox.Averting Fate: Levels 7 to 9. PCs who head to Mount Nevermind learn of the Probability Futurists. The gnomes will give them missions where they head to various "crisis points" across Ansalon, after which they report on their findings in exchange for items and information as rewards.PCs who head to Wayreth or Tarsis learn about the Armies of Reorx, who seek to occupy Abanasinia in order to muster their forces against the Raistlinites. Arcane caster PCs have the opportunity to undergo the Test of High Sorcery at Wayreth, along with learning rumors of the Lost Citadel.Visiting Tarsis puts PCs in contact with the surviving Aesthetics from Palanthas, and they can take sides for or against the Armies of Reorx regarding their impending invasion of Abanasinia. A nearby holy site known as Faith's Challenge is an opportunity to receive visions from the surviving gods. A cleric or other divine caster can gain a sacred relic that stores a portion of their deity's power after their death. But the relic is only given to those worthy enough to pass a test.A member of the Preserver's inner circle, the Elixirium, has a theory of capturing a magestorm's essence in a jewel known as a Stormtrap Crystal, but is untested and the PCs will have to brave one in order to do so. If enough Stormtrap Crystals are gathered, they can be a powerful weapon against the Magegod.Gathering Forces: Levels 9 to 12. PCs are at a level where they can begin making alliances with Ansalon's movers and shakers. PCs can sneak into Silvanesti via a teleportation circle in the Tower of Wayreth, which connects House Mystic's enclave in Silvanost. There, they can obtain a spell capable of opening the way to the Lost Citadel. The party can also gain Dragonlances from Silvanost's armory to use against Harkiel, the red dragon tyrant of Sanction. Clarynela Oakleaf, the most prominent historian of Silvanost, can be found in Silvanesti as a potential ally.A minotaur voyager seeks to sail to and explore a fallen chunk of moon in the Blood Sea. Within is a dungeon filled with monsters captured long ago by archmages in the Age of Dreams. PCs can learn a way into the Lost Citadel here, via using enough Stormtrap Crystals to make a tuning fork for that demiplane.At some point Mount Nevermind falls under control of the All-Encompassing Future Thinker, and the PCs must defeat the construct in order to rescue its gnomish populace and obtain access to their spaceworthy vessel, the Observer. With this vehicle, the PCs can enter the Lost Citadel by sailing through a portal inside Nuitari's broken core.Breaking the Hourglass: Levels 12 to 15. PCs have several opportunities to save the people of Krynn.PCs might join the Armies of Reorx and/or the Wizards of High Sorcery in battle against Raistlin, using their collected allies, magic, and artifacts.The PCs might visit the expanded territory of Nightlund and meet the High Priest of Chemosh there. He offers a permanent means of slaying Raistlin, but the price is that this will empower the god of death as he absorbs the Magegod's essence.Discovering the Graygem of Gargath and breaking it to release Chaos will put that primordial entity on a collision course with the Magegod. But this has the very real possibility of worsening the cataclysm, as Chaos also wishes to destroy reality as the party knows it.In lieu of killing Raistlin, the PCs can coordinate plans to mass-evacuate as many people of Krynn as possible. PCs who aided the Preservers can learn of the huldrefolk's means of transporting people to the Ethereal Sea. The Lost Citadel can also be used for shelter via extradimensional enhancement of space.</blockquote>

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