Read the beginning of the first Dragonlance novel in over a decade

The beloved Dragonlance series returns this summer with Dragons of Deception, the first book in the new Dungeons & Dragons trilogy by creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Polygon sat down with the pair recently to discuss the book and franchise they helped bring to life nearly 40 years ago. We can also share an exclusive excerpt – the first few pages from episode one of the Dragonlance Destinies series.

Dragons of Deception begins far away in the forest of Solace and focuses on a family that may have never heard of Otik and his legend. spiced potatoes. Its protagonist, Destina Rosethorn, comes from a noble line, her homeland far north in the land of Solamnia – soon to be the front line in the coming War.

Photo: Philipp Urlich

“I think the great thing about the Rosethorns,” Hickman told Polygon in a Zoom interview, “is that they represent a completely different view of this war in that they are right in the middle of it. This is not something that is happening in a very distant place. This is their home. This is their life.”

“I think that Detina has a beautiful and predictable fate. […] completely disrupted by these external forces and events,” he continued. “Dragons of Deception a lot about this idea that the fate that we are expecting for ourselves is not the one that awaits us, and that we are faced with a really heavy disappointment that represents us as how. “

Detina will not be alone in her journey through the land of Krynn, a fact that was made clear at the end of 2021 with disclosure of Dragons of Deceptioncover of of the artist Philipp Urlich. The proud aristocrat stands in the center of the frame, none other than Tasslehoff Burrfoot – one of Dragonlance’s original Companions. To her left is a new character, a mysterious dwarf named Wolfstone from the kingdom of Thorbardin. Behind them is the equally mysterious bronze dragon named Saber.

One summary of the Dragons of Deception was released a few weeks ago and confirmed that time travel will play a role in the story. Fans of the original novel will certainly recognize the Time Travel Device, which plays a central role in the Dragonlance Legends trilogy among others. Both Weis and Hickman commented on the power that time travel gives them as storytellers.

“I think the great thing about time travel is discovery what if,” said Hickman. “‘Of all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest is: It could have been!‘I think in essence, the idea of What could have happened? What could have happened if we had made different choices? What if different things happened? What fate will we have?”

“It allows you to explore a depth of character that you otherwise wouldn’t have,” added Weis with a hearty laugh, “because nothing ever goes so well. Whenever you deal with time travel and supernatural, magical things like that, you are always tempted by fate.”

Not long ago, the future of this new Dragonlance trilogy was in doubt. Weis and Hickman filed a $10 million lawsuit against Wizards of the Coastcompany that owns Dragonlance’s intellectual property, in the fall of 2020 for alleged breach of contract. That lawsuit was settled in the winter of 2021paved the way for the Dragonlance Destinies trilogy to be published.

“My working relationship with Wizards of the Coast has been great,” Weis told Polygon, noting that she was finally given the creative freedom to write the book she and Hickman wanted to write.

“I think it all comes down to it in the end,” Hickman added. “The story we told is the story we wanted to tell, and it’s the story we really wanted to bring to the fans and people who love Dragonlance. So for us, the results really couldn’t have been better.”

A new D&D adventure book, titled Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, is also in development at Wizards. Weis and Hickman played no part in its writing or design. Dragons of Deception Launching on August 9th and will be available at local bookstore and Online. The scripting duo added that the draft of the third and final novel in the trilogy has been completed and is in the first round of editing with their publisher, Penguin Random House.

Detina went with her father and mother to the sun after midday meal. The solar room is the most pleasant room in the castle, as the afternoon sunlight streams through the many windows, illuminating and filling it with warmth.

Atieno was in exceptionally good spirits. Among her people, a girl had reached the age of a woman at the age of fifteen.

Gregory joined them, carrying a wooden box of his presents. He became happier, as he always did in the presence of his wife. He kissed her and wished her happiness on the day she gave birth to his daughter, his happiness.

“What’s my gift, Mom?” Destin asked.

Atieno gave Destina a gold necklace.

Atieno said: “Gold for the sun, for the wheat, for the leaves in autumn. “Gold for the goddess of the yellow star.”

Destin wasn’t drawn into the discussion more of gods that didn’t exist. She hung the necklace around her neck and thanked her mother.

Gregory gave his daughter his gift: a silver cup decorated with a kingfisher motif. The kingfisher, with its bright blue sky and fiery orange plumage, was chosen as the mascot for the knights by Vinus Solamnus, their founder. Kingfisher symbolizes courage and hope, it is said that on the day of the creation of the world, the fearless kingfisher was the first bird that dared to fly.

“Give me your chest of hope, Daughter,” said Gregory.

“Papa, thanks! This is so beautiful. Destina put her arm around her father’s neck and kissed him.

Gregory hugged her and then poured himself and his wife wine to celebrate.

Picture: Jared Blando

“Please, Papa, just a little bit for me in my new chalice?” Destin begged. “After all, Mama said that I am a woman today.”

She held out her cup, and Gregory poured a few swallows of red wine from the jug into the cup. Gregory and Atieno toast to their daughter. Destina responded by thanking her parents for giving her life and took a sip of wine, admiring the cup as she did, twirling it around in her hand. When she was finished, she gave the cup to her mother.

“You have to tell me your future in the scum, Mama,” Detina said.

Atieno stared at the cup where the cleats had sunk to the bottom.

“What do you see?” Destin asked.

To her surprise, Atieno let out a scream of terror and threw the cup off her body. The silver cup hit the stone floor with a loud clang and rolled under a chest.

Atieno reached out her hand in a gesture and mumbled a few words that Destina didn’t understand and assumed it was what her mother called “magic”. Atieno then jumped out of his chair and ran out of the room.

Gregory watched her intently. “What happened to your mother? What did she say?”

“It seems Mama saw a bad omen in the scum, and I believe she cast a spell to ward off evil spirits.”

“Foreshadowing of what?” Gregory asked.

“I . . . um . . . . Destina said. ” I’ll talk to her.”

She went to look for her mother and found Atieno at her bedroom window, looking out at the bright blue sky above and vibrant orange leaves below.

“Look at the lovely colors, Detina. They are the color of kingfishers. Blue above and orange below. ”

Detina doesn’t care about kingfishers or the colors of autumn. The Measure forbids believing in omens and omens, and Detina tries to obey, but she has too many questions and not one of the thirty-seven volumes of the Bill can answer them.

Atieno continued to look out the window. Destin saw the tears on her mother’s cheeks, and she was even more scared. Detina had never in her life seen her mother cry.

“Mom, what did you see in the dirt?” Detina requested.

“How can we face what’s to come?” Atineo asked. “How can we bear it?”

She turned to Detina and said softly, “My poor child. . . ”

Detina took refuge in Measure. “Mother, remember what the Ruler said: ‘Paladine forges the sword, but men choose to use it.’ That means each person has to take responsibility for what he or she does in this life. The Measure also warns: “Do not trust the person who brushes his teeth, for his words are lies to trap those who are not careful.”

“And my people say: ‘The wolf is made to kill. Lambs are born to be killed,” said Atieno, correcting her shimmering black eyes.

“Mother, please tell me what you saw in the holy grail!” Detina said desperately.

“Bring me the cup,” said Atieno. “I will show you.”

Detina rushes to the sun to get the grail. She had to get on her hands and knees to get it from underneath the chest. She returned to her mother and held it out to her.

Atieno startled, refusing to touch it.

“Look at it, Daughter, and let me know what you see.”

“Mom, you know I never see anything but scum,” Destin protested.

“If you see, look!” Atieno emphasized.

Photo: Philipp Urlich

Destin sighed and looked at the cup, and this time she saw that the scum had formed a recognizable shape. She laughed and said before she thought, “Isn’t that funny, Mama. Lees takes the form of a dragon. This is the tail and the head and the wings. . . ”

She heard muffled gasps and looked up at her mother. Blood had gushed from Atieno’s face and lips, making her brown skin gray and lead-colored. “You saw the dragon! Same omen. I hope I could be wrong, but you confirm it! ”

“Mom, you’re scaring me,” Detina said. “I saw shape of a dragon. This is just scum, scum, dead yeast. Here, I’ll show you! ”

She dipped her index finger into the holy grail and ran it around inside. The dragon disappeared, staining her fingers red. Detina lifted her finger to point it at her mother.

“Here, Mama. You do not need to worry. The leaven is gone, and so is the dragon.”

Atieno looked in horror at the red mark on Detina’s finger. Then she sat down in a chair, looking so sick that Destin had to scream for her father.