The Continent of Ansalon, on the world of Krynn.
Map: https://atlasoficeandfireblog....gonlance-final-1.png

In ancient times, Krynn experienced a golden age.  Societies flourished, people prospered.  The height of the civilised world was Istar, the golden city, led by the Kingpriest who was the favoured chosen of Paladine, the ultimate god of Goodness.

At some point in history, the gods turned against Krynn.  A fiery mountain was thrown down onto the city of Istar.  The entire empire was demolished and now resides as the bottom of an ever-whirling maelstrom at the bottom of the Blood Sea.  Mountains rose up, countries washed into oceans, and oceans themselves drained away entirely, leaving Port cities with no shore.  The entire landscape of Ansalon was changed forever.

People cried out to their gods, but now the gods no longer answered.  What clerics survived the Cataclysm found their prayers no longer answered.  The Age of Despair followed.  The fallout from the Cataclysm lasted centuries. The land was broken, plague and famine became reigned, and lawlessness ran rampant.  New religions rose and took over the major nations, and war became commonplace as people moved about searching for food and shelter.  Every group of people about Krynn broke and splintered into new groups, founding new settlements away from their cousins.

This is the current age, in which old brotherhoods and friendships are broken, and the true gods are absent from the world.  Into this world Takhesis comes again to conquer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:08, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

Worship of the old gods has faded from Ansalon.  Other cults and religions, some serving dark, demonic forces, rose in the place of the old churches, and some grew large enough to conquer and control.

There are still a few scattered worshippers of the olds gods, including amongst plains tribes and non-humans cultures (elves and dwarves for instance still revere their patron gods), but these prayers and supplications go unanswered.

==== THE SEEKER RELIGION ====

Much of the human lands in Ansalon follows the religion of the Seekers, who were founded during the early days of the Age of Despair under the philosophy of “seeking” universal truths. Following the Cataclysm, a loose group of people searched for new gods to follow and worship, and rose to greater power in regions of Ansalon.  After the defeat of the rival Belzorite religion, the Seekers established bases across the continent, putting their own people in charge of villages and towns with the title of Theocrat.

A military arm and spy network has formed to enhance and retain their level of power.  The Seekers have two pantheons of gods:

• Omalthea: Motherlord of both Pantheons.
• Sauvey: Once a consort of Omalthea, god of vengeance and Fatherlord of the lesser pantheon.
• Zeshun: queen of the night, goddess of material things.
• Ferae: daughter of Omalthea and Sauvey, goddess of fertility.
• Cadithal: the laughing god, consort of Ferae.
• ... and many other gods whose names are unknown, or known only locally.

Magic on Ansalon

==== Divine Magic ====

Divine magic cannot be found on Krynn in the current day.  When the god abandoned their creations, their magics went with them.  Many new gods have been raised in their place, but proof of divine presence is lacking.

==== Arcane Magic ====

Arcane magic is governed by the Mages of High Sorcery.  Mages are united by their devotion to magic itself, over and above all else, and conduct themselves out of the Tower of High Sorcery at Wayreth.  Once there were five such towers (at Daltigoth, Istar, Losarsum, and Palanthas).  The Towers at Daltigoth and Losarcum were destroyed in a war against the very peoples of Krynn led by the Kingpriest of Istar.  The Tower of Istar was surrendered to the Kingpriest in an effort to end that very same war.  The Tower and Palanthas was cursed by the dying breath of its last master, and remains closed to this very day.  Only the Tower at Wayreth remains.

The Mages of High Sorcery (whose members comprise Wizards, Sorcerers, Artificers, Bards, and any other arcane spellcasters) are loosely grouped into three groups.  To the outside world, they are known by the colour of their clothing as the White Robes of Good, the Red Robes of Balance, and the Black Robes of Evil.  Of course, these classifications mean nothing in and of themselves; individual Mages are free to act in any manner they choose and wear any clothing or robes they wish.

But tradition is a strong thing, and the simple colours became a useful way to identify other who shared similar philosophies.  By and large, the White Robes wear white -- if not robes, then clothing -- accept the solemn responsibility of using magic only to make the world a better place.  The path they walk is a narrow one, and almost daily, a mage of the White Robes faces the agonizing decision of whether to intervene in the affairs of others for the greater good.

Those who wear Red Robes (or other clothing) help others when it suits them and use their gifts for their own enrichment as they desire.  Mages of the Red Robes are expected to wield their power responsibly, represent their order faithfully, and uphold balance in their own actions and the world at large.

Often reviled and feared in equal measure, those who wear the Black Robes expect to first further their own ambitions, then pursue the goals of their order, and then finally support the continued well-being of all Mages.

Regardless of their own ambitions, all Mages are expected to show loyalty to the Conclave of Mages.  While individual Mages may fight bitterly amongst themselves, any threat presented from the outside will find a united front against it.