Dragons of Desolation
Encyclopedia
Dragons of Desolation is the fourth and final module in the first major story arc in the Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance series of game modules
. It is one of the 14 Dragonlance adventures
published by TSR between 1984 and 1986. Its cover features a painting by Keith Parkinson
which shows the heroes riding away from the floating tomb of Derkin. There is a very tiny TARDIS
, Doctor Who
, and K-9
hidden in the painting.
These events are covered in the book titled Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
.
s find their way into the underground kingdom of Thorbardin, where the dwarves
are already contending with agents of the draconians. The characters must search a floating air-castle for the legendary Hammer of Kharas to gain the dwarves' aid. The module describes the realm of Thorbardin, which is mapped using repeating modular map pieces.
In this module, the dragon armies have conquered the North. The players must use their characters to lead the band of refugees to the Doors of Thorbardin. Once there, they must persuade the dwarves the let them pass, meeting their price. All of this must take place before the draconians find the hidden camp of the refugees and destroy it.
Chapter 14: The Doors of Thorbardin
Event based with a small wilderness trip. Elistan appears dead, strange dreams, a possible conversation with Verminaard then finding the Doors of Thorbardin.
Chapter 15: The North Gate of the Dwarves
A vast but very sparsely populated dungeon that leads into a vast underground dwarven realm. The characters encounter dwarf Arman Kharas who is searching for his kidnapped half-brother Pick, but should avoid the Derro
city.
Chapter 16: The Honor of the Hylar
Eventually the players will come to or be brought to Life-Tree of The Hylar, a massive half mile high stalagmite
with a dwarven city carved into it, that rises out of the middle of an underground lake. There they attend an audience with the Council of the Thanes who agree to allow the players to go and the refugees to pass through if the heroes recover the Hammer of Kharas. Eben Shatterstone is kept as a hostage by the dwarves, but Arman Kharas travels with them on their quest to recover the hammer
Chapter 17: Kalil S'rith
Kalil S'rith is Dwarven for "The Valley of Thanes", it is a valley totally enclosed by high mountains, in which the Dwarves bury their dead. There they find the Derkin's tomb floating above a lake. Evenstar the Gold Dragon is the guardian of Kharas Hammer which is inside the tomb. After a confrontation with Ember, which will be the end of both Ember and Evenstar,
the heroes escape on magical horses as the tomb begins to sink, this is the image shown on the module's cover.
Chapter 18: Dark Realms
With the Dragon armies in pursuit the Heroes are chased, or captured and taken, to the climactic encounter of the First Book of Dragonlance. In the Temple of Stars the heroes will confront Verminard, the traitor is revealed and fight the final battle.
Epilogue
With Verminard dead and the Hammer of Kharas returned the heroes have secured a safe passage for the refugees. If they have not done so in time there is sadness for the few survivors. The Wedding of Goldmooon and Riverwind completes the story as the heroes consider what needs to be done next.
and Michael Dobson
, with Harold Johnson
and Bruce Nesmith, with a cover by Keith Parkinson
and interior illustrations by Larry Elmore
and Jeff Butler
, and was published by TSR in 1984 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder and a large map.
, and gave it 9/10 overall. Staplehurst called the module "perhaps one of the most innovative scenarios that TSR have recently produced", although he noted that he felt TSR UK had been a lot more forward-thinking in their ideas at the time than TSR itself had been. He did feel that the DM would have a lot to keep track of with this module, making it very taxing to run. However, he felt that the scenario was rewarding if well-run, "with some very interesting encounters and a mapping system that I'm sure I'll want to use elsewhere". Staplehurst was impressed with the module's design, and noted that the scenario had the most actual text of the first four (Dragons of Despair
, Dragons of Flame
, and Dragons of Hope). Staplehurst concluded the review by sharing his feelings on his the module: "one of the most intriguing aspects of the scenario is that the main part of the action (a tomb) is essentially not run by the DM at all! In fact, both players and DM are caught up by the action at many points in the adventure and can do no more than take a backseat asthe story unfolds. Whilst 'dominating' players might find this a trifle annoying, it is in fact a good opportunity to forget the gaming aspects and concentrate on role-playing. It is a shame that players could not have developed their own characters for the quest, but those provided by now will be familiar enough."
In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick calls this adventure "A dramatic scenario."
personal computer game is based on this module and DL3 Dragons of Hope
. It is very different from the official games based on earlier modules in the series, it is one of the earliest real-time strategy
games.
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
. It is one of the 14 Dragonlance adventures
Dragonlance modules (DL series)
The DL Dragonlance modules are a series of adventures and some supplementary material for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. These modules along with the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels, which follow one possible adventure series through the modules, were the first...
published by TSR between 1984 and 1986. Its cover features a painting by Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson was an American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book cover and game artwork for games such as EverQuest, Guardians, Magic: The Gathering and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.-Early life:...
which shows the heroes riding away from the floating tomb of Derkin. There is a very tiny TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
, Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, and K-9
K-9 (Doctor Who)
K-9, or K9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977...
hidden in the painting.
These events are covered in the book titled Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
Dragons of the Dwarven Depths is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on the Dragonlance fictional campaign setting. It is the beginning of the Lost Chronicles trilogy, designed to "fill-in" the gaps in the storyline between the books in the Chronicles trilogy...
.
Plot synopsis
In Dragons of Desolation, the player characterPlayer character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s find their way into the underground kingdom of Thorbardin, where the dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
are already contending with agents of the draconians. The characters must search a floating air-castle for the legendary Hammer of Kharas to gain the dwarves' aid. The module describes the realm of Thorbardin, which is mapped using repeating modular map pieces.
In this module, the dragon armies have conquered the North. The players must use their characters to lead the band of refugees to the Doors of Thorbardin. Once there, they must persuade the dwarves the let them pass, meeting their price. All of this must take place before the draconians find the hidden camp of the refugees and destroy it.
Chapter 14: The Doors of Thorbardin
Event based with a small wilderness trip. Elistan appears dead, strange dreams, a possible conversation with Verminaard then finding the Doors of Thorbardin.
Chapter 15: The North Gate of the Dwarves
A vast but very sparsely populated dungeon that leads into a vast underground dwarven realm. The characters encounter dwarf Arman Kharas who is searching for his kidnapped half-brother Pick, but should avoid the Derro
Derro (Dungeons & Dragons)
The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first devised for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition adventure Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...
city.
Chapter 16: The Honor of the Hylar
Eventually the players will come to or be brought to Life-Tree of The Hylar, a massive half mile high stalagmite
Stalagmite
A stalagmite is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate. This stalagmite formation occurs only under certain pH conditions within the underground cavern. The corresponding formation on...
with a dwarven city carved into it, that rises out of the middle of an underground lake. There they attend an audience with the Council of the Thanes who agree to allow the players to go and the refugees to pass through if the heroes recover the Hammer of Kharas. Eben Shatterstone is kept as a hostage by the dwarves, but Arman Kharas travels with them on their quest to recover the hammer
Chapter 17: Kalil S'rith
Kalil S'rith is Dwarven for "The Valley of Thanes", it is a valley totally enclosed by high mountains, in which the Dwarves bury their dead. There they find the Derkin's tomb floating above a lake. Evenstar the Gold Dragon is the guardian of Kharas Hammer which is inside the tomb. After a confrontation with Ember, which will be the end of both Ember and Evenstar,
the heroes escape on magical horses as the tomb begins to sink, this is the image shown on the module's cover.
Chapter 18: Dark Realms
With the Dragon armies in pursuit the Heroes are chased, or captured and taken, to the climactic encounter of the First Book of Dragonlance. In the Temple of Stars the heroes will confront Verminard, the traitor is revealed and fight the final battle.
Epilogue
With Verminard dead and the Hammer of Kharas returned the heroes have secured a safe passage for the refugees. If they have not done so in time there is sadness for the few survivors. The Wedding of Goldmooon and Riverwind completes the story as the heroes consider what needs to be done next.
Publication history
DL4 Dragons of Desolation was written by Tracy HickmanTracy Hickman
Tracy Raye Hickman is a best-selling fantasy author, best known for his work on Dragonlance as a game designer and co-author with Margaret Weis, while he worked for TSR...
and Michael Dobson
Michael Dobson (author)
Michael S. Dobson is an American author in the fields of Business , Alternate History novels and Role-playing game adventures .-Early life:At a young age, Dobson's family moved from North Carolina to Germany; his father...
, with Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson (game designer)
Harold Johnson is a game designer and editor, and an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life and education:...
and Bruce Nesmith, with a cover by Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson was an American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book cover and game artwork for games such as EverQuest, Guardians, Magic: The Gathering and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.-Early life:...
and interior illustrations by Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and the comic strip series SnarfQuest...
and Jeff Butler
Jeff Butler
Jeff Butler is an American illustrator and comic book artist. Butler worked with the art department of TSR, Inc...
, and was published by TSR in 1984 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder and a large map.
Reception
Graham Staplehurst reviewed Dragons of Desolation for White DwarfWhite Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
, and gave it 9/10 overall. Staplehurst called the module "perhaps one of the most innovative scenarios that TSR have recently produced", although he noted that he felt TSR UK had been a lot more forward-thinking in their ideas at the time than TSR itself had been. He did feel that the DM would have a lot to keep track of with this module, making it very taxing to run. However, he felt that the scenario was rewarding if well-run, "with some very interesting encounters and a mapping system that I'm sure I'll want to use elsewhere". Staplehurst was impressed with the module's design, and noted that the scenario had the most actual text of the first four (Dragons of Despair
Dragons of Despair
Dragons of Despair is the first in a series of 16 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR, Inc. between 1984 and 1988. It is the start of the first major story arc in the Dragonlance series of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game modules, a series of ready-to-play adventures for use by Dungeon...
, Dragons of Flame
Dragons of Flame (module)
Dragons of Flame is the second module in the first major story arc in the Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance series of game modules. It is one of the 14 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR between 1984 and 1986...
, and Dragons of Hope). Staplehurst concluded the review by sharing his feelings on his the module: "one of the most intriguing aspects of the scenario is that the main part of the action (a tomb) is essentially not run by the DM at all! In fact, both players and DM are caught up by the action at many points in the adventure and can do no more than take a backseat asthe story unfolds. Whilst 'dominating' players might find this a trifle annoying, it is in fact a good opportunity to forget the gaming aspects and concentrate on role-playing. It is a shame that players could not have developed their own characters for the quest, but those provided by now will be familiar enough."
In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick calls this adventure "A dramatic scenario."
Adaptations
The Shadow SorcererShadow Sorcerer
Shadow Sorcerer is a 1991 role-playing video game. The game was the sequel to Heroes of the Lance and Dragons of Flame. It is based on the third and fourth Dragonlance campaign modules, Dragons of Hope and Dragons of Desolation.-Reception:...
personal computer game is based on this module and DL3 Dragons of Hope
Dragons of Hope
Dragons of Hope is the third module in the first major story arc in the Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance series of game modules. It is one of the 14 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR between 1984 and 1986...
. It is very different from the official games based on earlier modules in the series, it is one of the earliest real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
games.