Canon:Dragonlance Timeline

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The history of Krynn is divided into five ages: the Age of Starbirth, the Age of Dreams, the Age of Might, the Age of Despair, and the Age of Mortals.

Astinus of Palanthas, in his work Iconochronos, divides the years of Krynn into PC (Prae Cataclius or “before the Cataclysm”) and AC (Alt Cataclius or “after the Cataclysm). After the Chaos War, the chronicler Nathal introduced an alternative reckoning, starting with the year 384 AC which he renames 1 SC (Secundus Cataclius or “Second Cataclysm”). This system is now used concurrently with the AC reckoning.

The Age of Starbirth

The Age of Starbirth is the first of the ages of Krynn, and is said to begin with the High God. The High God accepts the offers of Paladine, Gilean, and Takhisis and lets the three gods select their companion deities. Paladine and his companions become the Gods of Light. Takhisis and her companions become the Gods of Darkness. Gilean and his companions become the Gods of Balance. Reorx shapes Krynn and the first dragons under the guidance of Paladine and Takhisis. The other gods, excluding Chaos, aid in the creation of Krynn as a habitable world.

Takhisis corrupts the first dragons in her image, creating the first red, blue, black, green, and white dragons. A grief-stricken Paladine asks Reorx to craft monuments to his lost children. Paladine gives life to these monuments, thus creating the first gold, silver, copper, bronze, and brass dragons. Takhisis's treachery causes a great war on Krynn known as the All-Dragons War. The gods withdraw from Krynn before their war destroys the world. The Gods of Light build the Dome of Creation, the Gods of Darkness create the Abyss, and the Gods of Balance create the Hidden Vale.

The three pantheons discover the potential of the stars, which are spirits in reality, and the All-Saints War begins. The fighting is stopped by the High God, who proclaims that each pantheon may offer one gift to the spirits. The gods of Light provide the spirits with physical forms so as to enjoy Krynn's pleasures. The gods of Darkness "gift" the spirits with ambition and desire. The gods of Balance give free will to the spirits. The spirits are born into the world of Krynn as the races of ogres, elves, and humans. Each family of gods creates one god to honor the truce, and the Gods of Magic are born: good Solinari, neutral Lunitari, and evil Nuitari.

Reorx is persuaded to craft a powerful gemstone that will contain the essence of neutrality. Reorx tries to infuse the gem with a portion of Chaos, but entraps the god himself. Reorx gives the gem to Lunitari, who puts it in the red moon that shares her name. The gemstone becomes known as the Graygem.

The Age of Dreams

The second age or Age of Dreams is often considered the beginning of recorded history, and runs c. 9000 PC – c. 1000 PC. Three time periods collectively form the Age of Dreams: the Foundation (c. 9000 PC – c. 5000 PC), the Time of Light (c. 5000 PC – c. 2000 PC), sometimes referred to as the Age of Light, and the Time of Knights (c. 2000 PC – c. 1000 PC).

c. 9000 PC Ogres begin claiming the mountains of Krynn. Elves withdraw to the forests. Humans take to the plains. Gnomes claim the plains of the continent of Taladas.

The green dragon Korril kills the brass dragon Sheeranar. The black dragon Corrozus kills the copper dragon Querrasian. The white dragon Akis kills the bronze dragon Haraineer. The blue dragon Arkan kills the silver dragon Tianaran. The red dragon Furyion leads the first chromatic dragons against the remaining metallic dragon, the golden dragon Aurora.

c. 8700 PC Reorx chooses a group of humans to take a northern land and teach his craft. The dwarves of Thorbardin will later call these humans Smiths.

c. 8500 PC The first of a new set of chromatic dragons are born in the Abyss. They are the spawn from the original corrupted dragons. The first dragon hatched is Cremetia, a red dragon, who hears the mantra "Mercy is Death" from Takhisis.

Ogres build an empire with captured human slaves. The major cities are Kern to the east, Narakid to the north, Daltigar to the far west, Parlathin to the northwest, and Blöten Khalkist in the centre.

c. 7500 PC The metallic dragons encounter Patersmith, who becomes their tutor of language and magic.