--Toad the Wet Sprocket "Good Intentions" Name: Elflord Gilthanas Kanan Ne'l Solostaran Title: Prince of the Qualinesti elves, Lord Governor of Kalaman, Silver Dragon Commander, etc... Race: Qualinesti elf Birthplace: Qualinost, Qualinesti, Krynn Age: 139 (Human equivalent: 23) Occupation: Adventurer, dragonrider, hunter, mage, ambassador Physical description: Qualinesti's popular prince is tall for his race, but smaller than the other men of his family at a slender 5'9", 125 pounds. With long golden hair and expressive eyes to highlight his delicate masculine features, it is still his smile that is his most charming feature, warm enough to melt the Icewall Glacier. Those who spend time around the prince, however, may note that his eyes change colors every once in a while, from light brown to hazel to green to blue and back. A faint scar on the right side of his face mars his legendary good looks, which often draw every feminine eye in a room to him. Being a prince comes with an extensive wardrobe, but Gil can most often be seen in comfortable travel clothes to accommodate his frequent journeys, such as his favorite blue tunic trimmed in silver with the Qualinesti royal crest on the chest worn over light elven chain mail, black pants tucked into soft bugbear hide boots, soft hunting gloves covering his hands and forearms. He almost always wears his signet ring and a golden circlet adorning his brow. At his side he wears a fine elven longsword and a long hunting dagger is at his belt. Hidden by the clothes are scars from his long history of mishaps and imprisonments, although they appear much older than they really are, nearly faded. Personality: Gil was quite arrogant when he was younger, raised with all of the prejudices of race and position that came with his royal elflord status, but hard knocks have opened the elflord's eyes and he is now among the most open of elves, accepting people by their character and not their race or bloodline, and just as beloved in his adopted human city of Kalaman as he is at home. What he has not lost is his quite unelven impatience, impetuous and passionate to a degree that often leaves even humans dizzy. Outspoken and glib of tongue, Gil often speaks a bit too quickly, leaving misunderstandings in his wake. He is fiercely proud of his heritage, but his love of adventure means that he is seldom able to go home and fulfill his duties as prince. His bravery is unquestionable, the adventurous prince merrily leaping in where wiser men sit back and consider a situation first. Of course, this means that he has a tendency to get in real trouble, but his luck and charm always seem to save him from complete doom. In spite of his charming disposition and eye-catching looks, the prince is not a ladies man, his heart belonging to his missing silver dragon. Abilities: Thanks to his impetuous nature, Gil has studied and practiced many things but has never concentrated on one thing long enough to become completely mastered in it. Still, he is quick to learn and is better than average in almost everything he sets his hand to. He is a formidable fighter with longsword, dagger, or staff, but he hates fighting and would rather find a peaceful solution. A scholar, he has a wide background of lore, but specializes in no one subject. He is a skilled archer and hunter, his charming voice often helping him to corner his prey. He has studied magic on his own, and has managed to break the sixth circle, allowing him to cast spells up through that level. He tested at the Tower of High Sorcery at Wayreth, although he did not take up the robes of order and remains to this day a swordmage. His elemental magic skills are strongest in the school of aeromancy, where he is an impressive wind shaper, and he is trained in the schools of enchantment and illusion as well. He speaks a multitude of languages picked up during his travels. He has a naturally gifted voice and his beautiful tenor is not forgotten by those who manage to get a song from him. He is an able horseman, griffon rider, and dragonrider, with possibly more combat experience than any dragonlance wielder but Huma Dragonsbane. Other skills he has dabbled in include painting, flute, violin, elven harp, dance, fencing, boxing (learned from the dwarves of Thorbardin), and most recently, wood chopping, an experiment he took on with enthusiasm but proved to be only moderately successful in, having neglected to protect his noble hands from blisters. Abilities granted by the Hands of the Healing Spirit, the divine amulet given to him by Silvara, are healing, light, and protection from evil, as well as resistance to poison and illness, and immunity to the effects of age. Items: Elven longsword (+4), Blade of the Forestmaster (hunting dagger, +3, stealth, protection from evil), longbow (+1), elven specialty arrows (armor piercing, blunt, singing), staff (+1), ring of warmth, Hands of the Healing Spirit (amulet, casts healing, light, pro' evil 15' radius, +3 to reaction, +3 to persuasion, +3 vs poison and disease, undying), elven chainmail, casting gloves (leather, palms treated to allow for full casting), spellbooks, firebane cloak (protects from heat, disguises from normal and infrared vision) Family: Porthios, Speaker of the Suns (elder brother), Lauralanthalasa (younger sister), Gilthas (nephew), Miralas Kanan (cousin), Relansa Kanan (cousin), Estreael Kanan (cousin), Destrias Kanan (cousin) Associates: Palin Majere, Dalamar the Dark, Pontiak Wilder, Theot Koulourian, Vixos Oakleaf, Ulin Majere, Tyrikon Silver Theme Songs: Good Intentions, Toad the Wet Sprocket / Breathe, Midge Ure Actor: Brad Pitt, who has not only the good looks but the incredible smile, and like Gil would rather be known for his accomplishments than his pretty face. Other Gilthanas links in The Realm of Fantasy: My poem based on Odyssey of Gilthanas, The Golden Prince; Gilthanas in Lyssa's Favorite Dragonlance Characters; books about Gilthanas (and the Gilthanas head injury tally) in Lyssa's Favorite Dragonlance Books; Larry Elmore paintings of Gilthanas in The Larry Elmore Gallery: Dragons of Mystery and Draconian Attack. Gilthanas' charming smile Silvara as a Kagonesti elfmaid Note: While this history is based as much as possible on the official history of Gilthanas, some original characters have been added from personal roleplay (the children of Arelas, Pontiak, and Tyrikon) and the meeting of Dalamar and Gilthanas is based on free form roleplay rather than the actual timeline of the books. Until I come across a skilled and knowledgable player for Silvara, the history will diverge prior to their reunion. Otherwise, the events follow the known stories of Gilthanas from the Dragonlance novels. Spoilers to several books are included in this history. Born the second son of Solostaran, Speaker of the Sons, Gilthanas' youth was one of privilege. As second in line to the throne, he was afforded slightly more freedom than his studious and solemn elder brother Porthios, but no less attention from the court and his parents. Indeed, from the moment he was born, Gilthanas' family doted on him, as charmed by the beautiful and energetic child as everyone else was. The birth of a sister, Laurana, as beautiful as he, and the adoption of his uncle's wife's halfelven child, Tanthalas, did nothing to threaten Gilthanas' favored child status, and the friendly young prince quickly came to think of Tanthalas as best friend and brother all in one, not yet ingrained with the elven prejudices of racial purity and unaware that his playmate was of 'tainted' blood. Gilthanas' mind was as quick as his body, and his parents soon looked for a tutor able to keep up with their inquisitive son's scholarly pursuits. One was found in Miras, a highly educated, although pale and sickly appearing, elven mage. Miras was quickly put in charge of Gilthanas' education, as well as that of Laurana and Tanthalas. Gilthanas excelled in all areas of study, but his tutor resented the lad's self-confidence and the attention heaped on him by his father and older brother. When Gilthanas arrogantly quarreled with him over a point of magic, Miras refused to allow him back into the classroom. A rift began to develop over this between Gilthanas and Tanthalas, who respected Miras and was also coming to resent the favor heaped upon his young friend. Laurana was quick to attach herself to the handsome Tanthalas in Gilthanas' absence. Next placed under the supervision of his older brother Porthios, Gilthanas continued his studies on his own, as always the only one able to bring a smile to Porthios' otherwise too-serious face. As Tanthalas' human blood caused him to mature more quickly, he was soon far closer to manhood than the young prince, and Porthios didn't fail to notice how this left his beloved little brother restless to also grow up. Porthios forced the ceremonial guard to take Gilthanas into their number in spite of his youth, but Gilthanas' enthusiasm and courage soon won over the favor of his commander and fellow knights, even if the boy had to struggle at times to hold his heavy sword at a proper salute. Porthios encouraged Gilthanas to take his responsibilities towards his people seriously if he wanted to be both a man and a prince, and Gilthanas eagerly followed his elder brother into the court life, gaining incredible popularity among the higher eschelons of elven society. With his new duties and friends, Gilthanas spent less time than ever with Tanthalas, who envied the prince's celebrity and social ease, never seeing how hard Gilthanas worked to serve his people. Tanthalas created for himself his own circle of more attentive friends, including Gilthanas' little sister, whose girlish crush made her as devoted to the half-elf as to her brother, Miras, and Flint Fireforge, a dwarven guest of the Speaker. When Gilthanas discovered that Laurana had offered herself to marry Tanthalas when they were old enough, and that Tanthalas, mistaking it for a game, had agreed, the young prince was outraged. The two youths quarreled bitterly, Gilthanas cruelly telling Tanthalas that the idea of his sister marrying a tainted half-elf made him sick. The bitterness deepened the rift between the two. When Tanthalas was accused of murder, however, it saddened the young prince, who didn't believe his childhood friend capable of such a thing, yet he followed his duty as a guard and placed Tanthalas under arrest. Determined to prove his own innocence rather than wait for justice and concerned that the murderer would strike against the family that had adopted him, Tanthalas took advantage of Gilthanas' absence to fulfill his role in Porthios' coming of age ceremony, breaking out with the help of Laurana and Flint. He and Flint arrived to late to save Gilthanas from attack as the prince was pushed off a cliff by a cloaked assailant in the darkness, but Tanthalas did managed to climb down and rescue the wounded Gilthanas. Gilthanas, however, rather than allowing his rescue to erase all that had gone on between them, once more placed Tanthalas under arrest for the crime of which he had not yet been absolved. Tanthalas let Gilthanas think he was cooperative, then overpowered the prince when he let his guard down, leaving him unconscious in the woods in order to return to save the rest of his family from the real murderer, in fact his own tutor Miras, in reality the Speaker's insane youngest brother Arelas. Although he had saved the royal family, his behavior in doing so forced the Speaker to send Tanthalas away from the elven lands. Departing with Flint, Tanthalas became Tanis and Gilthanas would not see him again for decades. In spite of the loss of Tanthalas, new additions were soon to come to the Speaker's Palace. Upon finding that his youngest brother had secretly been married and had fathered two children by a sea-elf, Solostaran opened his doors to first his niece, Relansa, and then his nephew, Miralas. Already mistrustful due to his broken friendship with Tanthalas, Gilthanas was wary of befriending either of his young cousins. Relansa, a mage, was shy and quiet in the court, keeping company with only her wilder elf servant Destrias, a young boy she'd brought with her, and with her tendency to address Gilthanas' shoes rather than his face, made him too uncomfortable to seek more than fleeting conversation with her. Miralas was hardly so reticent, having grown up on the wild streets of Garnet in Solamnia as a thief, as had his servant Estreael, who by coincidence was the twin of Relansa's servant. Placed in charge of Miralas' education, Gilthanas and the firey-tempered Miralas soon clashed, Gilthanas revolted by his cousin's uncouth behavior and Miralas disgusted by Gilthanas' arrogance and air of superiority. Things only became worse when Solostaran informed his youngest son that he would be engaged to Relansa as soon as she was old enough. Unable to tell anyone else of his father's plans, Gilthanas threw himself into anything that would keep him away from home, accompanied by Pontiak, the wilder elf who had once been his servant but was now his only confidante. Shortly after Gilthanas had reached adulthood, a new threat came to Qualinesti in the form of a red dragon and armies of draconians. Gilthanas, now a full commander in the Order of the Suns, volunteered himself and his men for the dangerous task of defending the capital city and the Qualinesti lands while the elves escaped to Southern Ergoth and relative safety. Joining a band of humans who were also resisting the dragon, Gilthanas and his men moved to take their stand near the human town of Solace. Gilthanas left his men briefly to seek the aid of the usually neutral druids, whom he had known since his boyhood. While he was gone, draconians attacked the elven and human troops. Hearing the sounds of battle, Gilthanas rushed back, but a stray arrow struck him in the temple and knocked him out. When he came to, he found that he had been pushed along with the other wounded and the dead over a cliff, and he alone had survived death or capture. Heedless of the danger to himself, Gilthanas pressed forward to rescue those taken prisoner, finding them about to be executed by the Red Dragon Highlord in Solace. Unwilling to let his men die alone, the prince rushed forward to join them, but was stopped by a human blacksmith, Theros Ironfeld. Theros pinned the wounded and emotional elflord, keeping him from his suicidal act and reminding him that this was not his day to die and he had to live to avenge his men. The blacksmith carried the prince to his own home and secreted him there, tending to his wounds and befriending him. For Gilthanas, who had had little sustained contact with humans, the time spent with Theros was the beginning of an education in racial understanding and tolerance. His trust won, the prince came to depend on Theros, his kindness, and his courage. He continued his time in hiding, awaiting word on the doings of their mutual enemy, the Red Dragon Highlord Verminaard. Theros would slip out to garner this intelligence, then later meet Gilthanas in secret in one of the few relatively safe taverns left in Solace, the Inn of the Last Home. As he awaited Theros' return from one of these trips, his elven identity hidden under a hooded cloak, Gilthanas overheard mention of his homeland from a group of travellers. He went to speak to the group, comprised of humans, a half-elf, a dwarf, and a kender, but was intercepted by draconians, who upon finding him to be an elf, instantly attacked him. The human serving girl, Tika, came to his defense and saved his life with a well-aimed frying pan, and soon the travellers he had meant to speak to in the first place joined the fray. Gilthanas was shocked to find that one of them, the half-elf, was none other than his boyhood friend, Tanthalas, now known as Tanis Halfelven. The old bitterness still remained, however, and Gilthanas was none to pleased to see that Tanis now looked more human than elf. When the whole party was captured, Gilthanas avoided speaking to any of them, pushing himself into a corner of the wagon that carried them to captivity under Verminaard. Tanis was no more interested in reopening the old wound of their friendship and let him be, knowing that the cause of the elflord's uncharacteristic sullenness was his presence. Gilthanas did respond, however, when his old friend Theros was flung amongst them, barely conscious from a cruel and mortal wound that had torn his arm from him. Goldmoon, a member of Tanis party, healed Theros and saved his life, using faith in the long-vanished goddess Mishikal. When Porthios rescued his brother and those who were with him from their draconian captors, Gilthanas was quick to inform him of the woman's mysterious powers. Encouraged by the thought that the gods may have returned to Krynn, although suspicious that they would choose a human and not an elf to work through, the Qualinesti sent Gilthanas to lead Tanis and his party to Verminaard's hold. Laurana joined them against her father's, and indeed Gilthanas' will, and together the Companions set out to fight the Red Dragon Highlord and free his human prisoners. Continuing on, the rift between Gilthanas and Tanis as deep as ever, they eventually wound up in Tarsis in their search for a way to end the dragon threat forever. There they met Alhana Starbreeze, daughter of the Speaker of the Stars, ruler of the Silvanesti elves. The Companions split into two parties, Gilthanas accompanying his sister, Flint, and the knight Sturm Brightblade, as well as two other knights, to the Icewall Glacier, where they succeeded in capturing a dragon orb, an artifact that would control dragons, and part of a dragonlance, one of the legendary weapons that had been used to drive back the dragons in centuries past. They then made for Southern Ergoth, where Gilthanas' greeting to the Silvanesti living there was met with mistaken assault. Upon learning they had just knocked out the second in line to the Qualinesti throne, the Silvanesti quickly called forth Silvara, a wilder elf servant with healing powers. The beautiful silver-haired elfmaid healed the prince, but lost her heart to him the moment he awoke and smiled at her. When they finally reached the refugees of Qualinesti, Gilthanas received a warm and doting welcome from his parents and brother, but Laurana, whose disobedient following of Tanis, whom she still loved, offended the father who had banished the half-elf, received a cold shoulder. The gifts they had all worked so hard to rescue for the good of all Krynn were claimed by the Speaker. With Silvara's help, Laurana and those with her escaped from the camp with the orb and lance. Gilthanas was torn between his loyalty to his father and his enchantment with the beautiful elfmaid, but when he realized that the safety of more than just the elves was at stake, he chose to follow his heart and Silvara. Escaping the Qualinesti camp, he was delighted to be joined again by his dear friend Theros, who had forged himself a new arm of silver. As they travelled north, Gilthanas fell more and more in love with the beautiful Silvara, and she seemed equally entranced by the golden prince. One night he snuck away from camp and found her bathing in a nearby stream. He proclaimed his love for her and discovered to his great joy that it was returned. Gilthanas at last had found someone who shared his passions and dreams, or so he thought. Silvara led the party to a sacred place, the tomb of Huma within the Silver Dragon Monument, where she revealed before everyone her secret. She was not an elf at all, but really a silver dragon. Shocked and humiliated by her exposing this in front of the entire group, and angered over the lie and betrayal of his trust, Gilthanas turned on Silvara, treating her with coldness as he had Tanis. Nevertheless, he volunteered for the dangerous task of going to the Dragon Isles to convince the good metallic dragons to join the fight while the others continued on their original course. Gilthanas, upon reaching the hidden home of the good dragons, discovered that they would not break their oath of non-interference they had made to Takhisis, the evil goddess, for she had stolen their eggs and threatened harm should any good dragon oppose her. Gilthanas himself offered to go into the very center of Takhisis' city, Sanction, in order to discover where the eggs were kept and free them if possible. Accompanied by Silvara, he made his way back to Ansalon and penetrated the very center of enemy territory. To his horror, he discovered that the followers of Takhisis were using the good dragon eggs to create the hideous draconians that were terrorizing the lands. Revulsed, he wanted to leave immediately to tell the good dragons of Takhisis' treachery, but Silvara hesitated. The pair were caught and imprisoned by the followers of Takhisis, but escaped with the help of the Shadow People and returned to tell the good dragons what they had learned. With the dragons, Gilthanas and Silvara flew to join the fight, and his sister Laurana, now in command of the Knights of Solamnia, besieged within the city of Kalaman. Gilthanas and the dragons he had allied to the cause helped to turn the tide of the war, eventually driving the evil dragons back. Laurana fell into captivity, however, tricked into thinking she could find Tanis. When Tanis arrived at the city a short while later, Gilthanas again quarreled with him, blaming him for the endangerment of his beloved sister. Even so, when the humans of Kalaman searched for a new leader, Tanis was able to put aside the past differences and suggested they look to the courageous elflord. Surprised by this support, Gilthanas still offered but a moment's hesitation before realizing that it didn't matter that they were human and he elven. Here, not at home where his brother would rule with great ability, was where he was needed. He agreed to become their Lord Mayor, a position of military and civic leadership that made Kalaman, in essence, the prince's fiefdom, then privately apologized to Tanis for all the cruelty and coldness of the past. It was the last time he would ever see the half-elf. Under Gilthanas' leadership, Kalaman entered a golden age for three decades. The prince's devotion to his new people was no less than it had been for those of his own race, and his popularity grew along with the prosperity of the city. A true man of the people in spite of his royal elven birth, Gilthanas became revered as the light and hope of all good things. Silvara remained at his side at first, although he had not forgiven or forgotten her betrayal and didn't allow himself to love her or accept her as she was. Instead, he threw himself into the protection and administration of the city with passion she knew would never be directed towards her. Heartbroken, the dragon in elfmaid guise left Kalaman, telling Gilthanas to meet her at the Silver Dragon Monument in one year if there was any hope of their love surviving at all. It was a date Gilthanas would not keep. Eventually, however, Gilthanas realized how empty his life was without Silvara, and how he truly did love her, whether dragon or elfmaid. With the people of Kalaman safe and secure at last, he left the city in the hands of a human successor and departed to find her and to visit his brother, who had in the meantime restored the land of Silvanesti from the ruins of the War of the Lance for the sake of Alhana, now his wife. What Gilthanas did not know was that in spite of Porthios' great deed for their elven cousins, the Silvanesti regent, Konnal, considered him an enemy, and indeed, had imprisoned Porthios. Gilthanas was captured by the Silvanesti and thrown into a remote dungeon, no more than a hole in the ground, where he languished, alone except for his guards, for a dozen years. Porthios was rescued from his imprisonment in the Tower of the Stars, but he never knew that his younger brother was also held captive. Torture and confinement weakened the young prince, but his Silvanesti captors couldn't break the Hero of the Lance's spirit. Finally, he was led forth before the mad ruler Konnal to be executed, but was rescued by the Silvanesti elves' own griffons, who abandoned their masters to seize the prince and bear him to safety. Now free, Gilthanas set out on a quest that would carry him to the ends of Ansalon, to find his lost love. With only rumors and vague references to follow, Gilthanas tracked Silvara's movements, but always arrived to find she had once more flown on. During this time he faced more hardships and dangers than most men could survive with their minds and hopes intact, yet he never gave up his search for the woman, the dragon, he loved. It was during this period that he rescued and was joined by the young elf Lethagas, who loyally served the prince as friend, caring for him even through a painful period of madness caused by a gnome poison. Assassins of the Forbidden City of the Elian Wilds dogged his trail for decades, their sole life quest to slay the elven swordmaster who had befriended them but proved to be even more skilled in combat than they. The blade of one of these left a scar on the right side of his face, but in the end he defeated them all, confused and saddened by their actions. Also tracking the prince was an agent of the Knights of Takhisis, his deed of rallying the good dragons to oppose her and defeat her plans of world domination not forgotten. This agent eventually tricked Lethagas and Gilthanas, betraying them once more into captivity, this time to the Knights of Takhisis. Gilthanas was presented as a captive to the Blue Dragon Overlord Khellendros, known to humans as Skie, but even the dragon was unable to break the elflord's determined and proud spirit, for unlike most mortals, Gilthanas was immune to dragonfear, and no torture could make him bend or bow to the Overlord's wishes. After several years, Khellendros grew tired and commanded Gilthanas be executed for his insolence. Once more he was saved from death, this time by Palin Majere, son of two of the original Companions, the mighty warrior Caramon Majere and Tika, the former barmaid who had long ago saved Gilthanas' life with a frying pan. Gilthanas gladly joined Palin and his new generation of Companions in the ongoing fight to defeat the evil dragon Overlords, undaunted by the pains he had already suffered. The group readily accepted the legendary elf adventurer with his skill and courage in combat, his ready laugh and warm smile, and his vast knowledge of the lore of Krynn. During his travels he met the once Master of the Tower of High Sorcery, Dalamar the Dark. The two elves tolerated each other out of necessity of circumstance, but their dislike of each other created a tense and constant battle of words and ideology. Gilthanas was disgusted that an elf would choose to follow a dark path, while Dalamar viewed the prince as unruly and too easily distracted to make use of his many talents. Still, a grudging respect has developed between them and they have saved each other's lives on more than one occasion. Gilthanas also met a male silver dragon, Tyrikon, who has joined him in his fight to free the people of Krynn from oppression, and his continued search for his lost love, Silvara. Through Tyrikon he has been reunited with his cousins Relansa and Miralas, who revealed to him that their servants, Destrias and Estreael, are in fact their half-brothers. Calling upon his friends and family, Gilthanas continues to fight evil wherever he may find it. Gilthanas is my favorite Dragonlance character, so it is only natural that I enjoy playing him. He isn't always the wisest character, and I play him that way, but that is part of what makes him so fun. He is likable even when making a complete ass out of himself. I love the somewhat chaotic way Gilthanas lives, taking each situation as it comes up and never planning ahead, so different from others of his race. Nic, who plays Gilthanas' cousin Miralas, has made it a bit of a family trait right up there with lip chewing, and getting those two together in an adventure is a guarantee of non-stop action and bizarre mishap, but somehow they always manage to come out of it successful in the end. Dalamar, played by Jeff, was another great match-up, two charming elves who otherwise have absolutely nothing in common besides magic and the ability to toss out snide remarks on a whim. Have to admit Dalamar won that war. Index | Jump Page | Artwork | Writing | IRC & FFRP | Characters | Dragonlance | Squaresoft | Goodies Guestbook | Links | Link to Us | Rings & Awards | Credits | Site History | Contact Text and Web Layout ©2000 Elisa Jaraba Graphics and Design ©2000 The Madhouse Contact Lyssa Jaraba, [email protected] Revised May 23, 2000