Lost Creatures of Krynn

With a campaign world as diverse and complex as Dragonlance, trying to fit all of the creatures of Krynn into one or even two episodes is just not possible. So let’s return to the topic with some lost creatures of Krynn. Buy Bestiary of Krynn, Revised: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/23333/Bestiary-of-Krynn-Revised-35?affiliate_id=50797

Time Stamps

0:00 Intro
1:09 Huldrefolk
1:52 Skeletal Warriors
2:28 Death Knights
3:16 Remnants
3:48 Spirit Dragon
4:28 Yaggol
5:12 Chaos Wretchs
6:24 Divine Creatures
6:53 Beloved of Chemosh
7:36 Disciples of Bone
8:34 Outro

Transcript

Cold Open

If this series of creatures doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will.

Intro

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Lost Creatures of Krynn. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. I am referencing Dragonlance Campaign Setting, Bestiary of Krynn, Revised, Amber and Blood, and Holy Orders of the Stars sourcebooks for this information. If you would like to hear about a creature that is not included in any of my three creature videos already, please leave a comment below.

Discussion

Krynn is home to some terrifying and mystical creatures. Some you may regularly come across, and others are incredibly rare. Some are even confined to specific ages of Krynn, lost in time. The Huldrefolk are believed to be primal fey. They use monolithic fixtures scattered across the planet to travel to and from the Ethereal Sea. They are believed to have left Krynn in the Age of Starbirth for reasons unknown. It is speculated that they witnessed the world change around them too quickly, which affected them and their connection to “The Gray.” They appear as small, hairless humanoids with gray skin. They have a large bulbous head with large black eyes and a tiny mouth. They stand approximately two and a half feet tall, weighing under thirty pounds. Each are accomplished sorcerers and are malleable in attitude, often reflecting that which is presented to them.

Many people may confuse Skeletons with Skeletal Warriors, but they are in fact different entities all together. Skeletal Warriors retain the language they knew in life, though they cannot speak it. Their bones are cracked and yellowed, but are very strong. And there is a tiny point of red light in their otherwise empty eye sockets. They can be created by Death Knights or Sorcerers. If a Death Knight creates them, they will serve until destroyed. If a Sorcerer creates them, their soul is tied to a Golden Circlet.

Now that we are on the subject of the undead, let’s talk about Death Knights! There are few beings as powerful and rare as Death Knights on Krynn. Two have been spoken of through their deeds, Lord Soth and Ausric Krell. They are terrifying corruption of those who once served good. They forever wear the defiled armor they wore in life, and have terrifying orange or Red eyes. They are imbued with incredible powers including the ability to kill with a single word and emanating Fear which demoralizes their foes. They are able to cast a plethora of spells and are able to create Skeletal Warriors to serve them in death, and unless you have a very good reason, you would do well to avoid them at all costs!

Remnant’s are the remaining spectral essence of powerful magicians who died in incredible surges of magic. They appear as twisted versions of themselves, with robes shredded and floating around them and multicolored tendrils of light emanating throughout. They are filled with an unending hate for those who live and are able to use magic, as they are reminded of what they have lost. They are able to drain you if touched and even turn you into one of their own!

Spirit Dragons are the remains of dragons whose responsibilities in life went unfulfilled. They are similar to Spectral Minions in that trait. They tend to reside in the location of their duty in life and remain, trying to see it fulfilled. They can be of any dragon species, though mostly lawful versions, as it is this draw that keeps them after death. They are not like other forms of undead and are unable to be turned or rebuked by priests. Spirit Dragons retain many of the abilities they had in life save the casting of spells, though they do have spell-like abilities. They also adopt typical traits of the Undead.

Now from undead to out of this world! The Yaggol primarily dwell in caves and the ruins of Taladas, though some have made it to Ansalon. They are the degenerate remains of an ancient species from the beyond. They are incredibly tall, with the head of a squid. Four tentacles sprout from below their black eyes. Their skin is deep purple to pink, and if they wear any clothing it is tattered remains. They have psionic ability but some prefer to bludgeon or grapple opponents and extract the brain with their tentacles! They blame the gods for their declined fate and can often be found in worship of demons.

The Summer of Chaos brought about some truly terrifying and deadly creatures. Chaos itself brought life from itself in the form of Chaos Wretch’s. The forces that animate these beings comes from the negative energy deep in the Abyss itself! They are cunning, destructive and incredibly violent, prone to mad rampages. Though there were many varieties of the Chaos Wretch created in the Chaos War, I will only cover three here. Carrion Wretch is a malicious spirit that inhabits human and animal remains. They appear as undear but are actually extraplanar creatures. They appear as dark shadowy vultures in their natural form. Cedar Wretch inhabit the husks of trees. It emanates a horrid light and can actually move across terrain. They destroy the plant life around them, and will surround their prey before lashing out violently. Finally Sand Wretch appears to be a man-sized whirlwind of reddish-orange sand and dust. They assault their prey with whirlwind blasts of sand, preferring to attack in groups.

Divine Creatures are those blessed or cursed by the gods to walk upon Krynn. Divine Messengers are typically creatures sent to act as a guide or herald on behalf of a god. They dwell in the outer plane with their god otherwise. They are often mistaken for fiendish or celestial creatures when encountered up close. From a distance they appear to be typical mortal beings. The White Stag of Paladine is one example. A variant of this would be the Beloved of Chemosh. This is a being that swears an oath to Chemosh, Lord of Death, so that they may live eternally as youthful, beautiful and indulgent beings. Once turned, they bear the mark of a kiss on their breast. When turned, they die in horrible pain, but then they wake and in place of their souls is a deep void of need. They must turn more into disciples or kill to ease the ever growing pain. As they age, they lose their memory and ability to enjoy the pleasures of life. They are only able to be killed by taking the innocence of a child. A price very few are willing to pay.

Disciples of Bone are the creations of Chemosh as well. They include Bone Warriors and Bone Acolytes. Bone Warriors appear to be a dead corpse, turned inside out. Their souls are bound by the Lord of Death, and are filled with rage over their death. Thus they are incredibly difficult to control! They are fury-filled spirits who want to exact pain on those who caused them pain in life. Their bone covered innards are as strong as plate mail, and their rage knows no limits, if not kept under strict control, they will even atack their allies. Bone Acolyte’s are the living disciples of Chemosh. They wear unholy skeletal armor and are granted powers by the Lord of Death. It has spikes that protrude from the joints, which are imbued with divine magic. Over time they gain the ability to control the bones of others, from breaking them at a distance, to even liquifying them!

The Chaos War brought out a plethora of demons and aberrations we have yet to talk about, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of the myriad of mortal creatures on Krynn, so expect even more creatures of Krynn episodes in the future.

Outro

But that is all the time I have to talk about lost creatures of Krynn. Do you have a favorite creature discussed? What about a creature you would like to see featured ? And finally, if you could import one non Krynn creature to Krynn, what would it be and why? Leave a comment below.

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This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I welcome you to join in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time, remember:

Closing his eyes tightly so he wouldn’t see anything Horrible he might accidentally conjure up, Tas thrust the ring over his thumb. (At the last moment he opened his eyes, so that he wouldn’t miss seeing anything Horrible he might conjure up.