Sancrist was the least affected landmass by the Cataclysm. But it’s rich in history and diversity. Let’s learn more about the Isle of Sancrist. Buy The Atlas of the Dragonlance World: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/182424/atlas-of-the-dragonlance-world-1e?affiliate_id=50797
Transcript
Cold Open
If you ever find yourself in Mount Nevermind, you have to try the Gnomeflingers!
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Sancrist in the War of the Lance Era. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members, 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 links. I am referencing The Atlas of the Dragonlance World, Tales of the Lance Boxed Set, and the War of the Lance sourcebook for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
The isle of Sancrist is far removed from the politics and challenges of life on Ansalon. It was also the least affected by the Cataclysm, only actually gaining some mountain ranges to the north. But the history of Sancrist is one deeply steeped in lore. For starters, around three-thousand and fifty Prae Cartaclius, Gnomes first discovered the isle while chasing after the Graygem. Once they arrived, they decided to stay. There is rumor with no way to verify its validity, that the isle was actually once a part of Ansalon, but it broke off when the gnomes discovered and started testing smokepowder. Whether this is true or not is irrelevant, as life seems to go on more or less as usual for the Gnomes regardless of the travesties which afflict the rest of the continent.
In two-thousand, five hundred PC, the Ergothian Empire claimed Sancrist as its own territory, but as the Sancrist Straights kept the Ergothian army at bay, the Gnomes didn’t get too bothered by them. Vinas Solamnus, on his Quest for Honor, wandered into the Whitestone Glade and was given a vision to create the Knights of Solamnia in one-thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five PC. In one-thousand, seven hundred and fifty PC, after Ergoth’s fall, the gnomes declared independence. After the Cataclysm the Knights of Solamnia would gather at the Whitestone Glade in honor of their founding.
The geography of the isle is simple, the northeastern segments contain vast mountain ranges that rival the Khalkists in size. Within is Mount Nevermind, the massive gnomish citadel carved out of a dormant volcano. The south features verdant forests and glades. The Western third contains Gunthar forest and Whitestone Glade. The forest contains hearty broad-leaf trees, apple and cherry trees, and vegetables. The winters tend to be mild with four months of freeze and moderate snow. Blizzards can rarely sweep across the isle from the Sirrion Sea. The geothermal activity within Mount Nevermind melts any snow that may collect. Summers are quite pleasant, lasting from Corij through Reorxmont. The cool seabreeze extends across the whole island maintaining a cooler temperature and breaking up any clouds.
The Isle of Sancrist boasts a population of nearly seventy-five thousand! Eighty percent of that are gnomes, with around sixteen percent being human and the rest made up of gully dwarf, kagonesti elves and others. Mount Nevermind is governed by an elected Grand Council of clan leaders and guild masters. The mountain holds over two-hundred clans and fifty guilds. These are lifetime appointments. The gnomes’ fervent insistence on technological advancement keeps them out of Ansalonian conflict by and large. The primary export of the gnomes are gold, silver, platinum, jewels and granite. They traditionally accept food in trade. They do attempt to export their technology, but with its systemic failure, not many cultures are interested in it outside Mount Nevermind.
In this War of the Lance era, news has reached the isle of dark forces gathering to the far east. The Solamnics in Gunthar forrest are seeking more information, but political infighting with the order of knights prevents any organized progress. The gnomes seem disinterested at best, as they have life quests and committees to attend to. There are a few important sites of note on the Isle of Sancrist. First and foremost is Mount Nevermind. This metropolis with nearly sixty-thousand residents is a dormant volcano serving as home to the massive colony of Gnomes for time immemorial. The volcano is filled with technological devices of all sorts. Geothermal energy powers much of the mountain. Outside the mountain, gnomes live on grass covered terraces overlooking the rugged surrounding lands. There are many Solamnic Settlements with over twenty-five hundred residents scattered throughout the province of Gunthar. The villages and towns of Gavin, MarKenin, Garret, Khas, and Alan are all similar in appearance. Each boasts a castle or keep at its center with the town of homes and shops surrounding it. Wagon trails connect all settlements through the woods.
Ker-Relin has just under five hundred residents. This Kagonesti village is more rugged than the other settlements. They maintain their distance from the Solamnics and gnomes, preferring their isolation. They hunt and fish the forests and oceans respectively, and are on good terms with their neighbors, respecting the honor of the Solamnic knights. The Hamlet of Xenos has under four-hundred residents. This gnomish community is located along the coast, south of Mount Nevermind on Thalan Bay. It is the designated launching point for gnomish sea going vessels. Its shoreline is a hive of activity with the air filled with smoke and steam. We have to mention Castle uth Winstan, constructed nearly a millennium before the Cataclysm. It serves as a meeting place for the Grand Circle of Knights. Its high curtained wall is consistently manned by soldiers. The medium sized castle is splendid in appearance and well maintained. Lord Gunthar uth Wistan is its current owner and resident.
There are also a few important sites of note on the island. Outside of the vast mountains and occupied valleys, animals rule. Thalan Bay is the harbor of the isle. It has towering mountains on one side, ringed by a deep forest which contains Castle uth Wistan. Thalan was once a great port that sent ships to Tarsis, Istar, Palanthas and Silvanost! The Lava Flows are artificially made, by diverting the natural underground lava flows. Gnomish engineering is the power behind this marvel, and it is a source of heat for the Mountain and surrounding land. And finally Whitestone Glade is considered one of the holiest places in all of Ansalon. At its heart stands an immense white rock of unknown substance. This is where Vinas Solamnus encountered the god Paladine, and his twin sons Kiri-Jolith and Habbakuk. The glade is green and perpetually warm all year round. The Kingpriest himself has blessed the Whitestone and forbade anyone from touching it.
While the island doesn’t seem to be very large, there is a vast diversity of activity and expression all over and within its surface. As the War never fully reaches the island, it would be a great location to explore either delving into the gnomes underdark deep beneath Mount Nevermind, explore the vast untouched mountain and forest wilderness, or engage with experimentations of the gnomes, or the hospitality of the Solamnic Knights. You could do a lot worse than taking a trip to the Isle of Sancrist.
Outro
And that is all I have to say about Sancrist in the War of the Lance Era. What do you think of Mount Nevermind? Would you make a pilgrimage to the Whitestone Glade, and would you dare touch it? And finally, do you believe Sancrist was ever part of Ansalon before the Cataclysm? Leave a comment below.
I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time, remember:
It is best to look ahead, not behind. What’s done is done. You cannot change it.
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