Before the Cataclysm . . .

A kender becomes a Solamnic Knight (almost).

An ogre emerges as an unlikely savior of the dwarven race.

And gladiators compete in the bloodsport of Istar.

Together with a novella by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, these and more short stories, penned by Richard A. Knaak, Michael Williams, and others of the original Dragonlance Saga creative team -- tell wondrous tales of Krynn in the legendary time of the Kingpriest.

“Six Songs for the Temple of Istar” by Michael Williams

Through the haunting voice of a bard and mystic, this lyrical sequence of poetic vignettes paints a portrait of Istar's golden age—and its fatal pride. Each "song" offers a glimpse into the fading virtues and creeping corruption of a city that has confused divine will with mortal ambition. Symbolic, introspective, and beautiful, it sets the mood for the fall to come.

“The Voyage of the Sunchaser” by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya C. Cook

In an age when magic is hunted and the gods are distant, a crew of exiles aboard the Sunchaser sails east in search of the legendary land of the gods. Led by a sea captain and a renegade mage, the crew braves sea monsters, divine omens, and mutiny. Their journey becomes both a literal and spiritual escape from the oppressive rule of Istar—and a desperate grasp at hope before the world ends.

“The Three Lives of Horgan Oxthrall” by Douglas Niles

A gripping tale of a Solamnic blacksmith who lives three separate lives across Krynn’s changing ages. Bound to a cursed object, Horgan's fate becomes entwined with the rise and fall of Istar, and he learns the terrible cost of power and immortality. Each "life" is a reflection of Krynn's shifting morality and the echo of the gods' silence.

“Fyrenna” by Richard A. Knaak

A humble tavern maid in Istar, Fyrenna finds herself pulled into the heart of a celestial conflict. As tensions in the city rise and the Kingpriest's grip tightens, Fyrenna’s kindness and simple wisdom draw the attention of both mortals and immortals alike. A deeply human story about compassion in a world on the brink of divine judgment.

“The Anvil of Time” by Jeff Grubb

When a smith discovers a strange and ancient anvil beneath Istar, he finds it can shape more than just metal—it can shape destiny itself. But such power comes with dangerous consequences, and his creations begin to alter the very fabric of fate. A tale blending myth and machinery, reminding us that some tools were never meant for mortal hands.

“Backwards Thinking” by Dan Parkinson

A clever comic tale featuring gnomes, reverse-engineering time travel, and a whole lot of chaotic logic. As the gnomes of Mount Nevermind attempt to predict (or prevent?) the Cataclysm using convoluted science and even more convoluted math, disaster—predictably—ensues. A needed dose of absurdity in an otherwise weighty volume.

“The Silken Threads” by Nancy Varian Berberick

A dark, romantic story of obsession and magic. A powerful noblewoman, bound by duty and slowly going mad under Istar’s puritanical rule, turns to forbidden enchantments to capture the love of a traveling bard. The threads she weaves bind more than just hearts—ultimately ensnaring her in a tragic end.

“Clerical Error” by Nick O’Donohoe A humorous yet sobering tale of a hapless cleric of Gilean who discovers that the bureaucracy of Istar’s church is just as dangerous as any monster. As he tries to file a simple paperwork correction, he’s caught in a web of zealotry, censorship, and clerical absurdity. A satire of religious fanaticism—with a surprisingly sharp edge.

“From the Yearning for War and the War’s Ending” by Michael Williams (Reprint)

This poetic meditation from the earlier Tales volume is reprinted here, offering a mournful close to a collection framed by loss and looming doom. Through the eyes of a bard, we see how the people of Krynn experience the shift from the age of pride to the age of ruin.