Goldmoon (also known as ''Goldmoon of the Que Shu tribe'' or just ''Goldmoon of the Que Shu'') is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
from the ''
Dragonlance
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
'' fantasy series of
novels
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...
and
role playing games
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ac ...
, originally published by
TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had been ...
and later by
Wizards of the Coast.
Introduced in the first book of the original
Chronicles Trilogy, ''
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' is a 1984 fantasy novel by American writers Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on a series of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') game modules.
It was the first ''Dragonlance'' novel, and first in the Chronicle ...
'', written by
Margaret Weis and
Tracy Hickman in 1984; Goldmoon has become a recurring character for over 16 years in multiple ''Dragonlance'' novels and series, either as a protagonist or as a supporting character.
Character background
According to
Patrick Lucien Price, author of the "Bertrem's essay on numerology" section published in ''Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home'' (1987), Goldmoon was designed to be a kind and understanding female
barbarian
A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either Civilization, uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by som ...
, who loved to travel, advise, and take care of others. As a high-profile member of her community, she was a natural speaker, able to inspire others to reach for their goals.
[
]
The ''Dragonlance'' novels do not cover Goldmoon's childhood, although her birth date, February 5, 322
A.C. (''Alt Cataclius'' or ''After Cataclysm'') can be found in the ''Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home'' source book.
Different novels and short stories agree that her parents are Arrowthorn,
Chieftain of the Que Shu—a tribe located in the plains of Abanasinia, a desolate area in the central western area of
Ansalon
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
in the fictional world of
Krynn
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
—and Tearsong, deceased high priestess of the tribe.
The
short story
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...
"Heart of Goldmoon", written by
Laura Hickman
Laura Curtis Hickman (born December 7, 1956, in Long Beach, California) is an American fantasy author, best known for her works in game design and fantasy novels cowritten with her husband, Tracy Hickman. She was one of the first women to write a ...
and
Kate Novak
Kate Novak is an American fantasy author.
Biography
Novak grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Chemistry.
She primarily published in the ''Forgotten Realms'' and ''Ravenloft'' s ...
and published in the ''Love and War'' (1987) recompilation, gives insight about her life after her mother died, explaining that the Que Shu community is built around the figure of a high priestess, and whoever marries the priestess becomes Chieftain of the tribe, with the first daughter of the couple becoming the next priestess.
[
]
The focus of the story is Goldmoon journeying to the ''Hall of the Sleeping Spirits'', the place where the tombs of her ancestors are kept, to commune with their spirits in order to become the high priestess of the tribe. The journey ends with an exchange of confirmation of love between Goldmoon and Riverwind, a shepherd who was acting as her bodyguard during the travel, as well as the meeting between Goldmoon and Tearsong's spirit, in which Goldmoon is taught about the ancient gods and given a task in the name of Mishakal, goddess of healing, which she later fulfills.
[
]
At the end of the short story it is stated that Riverwind will be taking the ''Courting quest'', a task he must finish before being able to marry Goldmoon.
Paul B. Thompson and Tonya C. Cook explain this quest in the novel ''Riverwind the Plainsman'' (1990), from the ''Tales'' series, in which he succeeded in bringing back a Blue Crystal Staff, proof that the ancient gods existed.
[
]
However, the staff was not accepted as a valid proof by the tribe, and as related by Weis and Hickman in ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' (1984), moments before he was
stoned by the tribe, Goldmoon embraced him, and they both vanish from the village.
[
]
Reappearing just outside the city of Solace, they decide to travel, to look for someone who could tell them more about the staff, which marks the proper beginning of the ''Chronicles'' trilogy.
Character art was first created by
Clyde Caldwell
Clyde Caldwell (born February 20, 1948) is an American artist. Self-described as a fantasy illustrator, he is best known for his portrayals of strong, sexy female characters.
With his work at TSR in the 1980s, he is considered one of the artis ...
for a calendar, and Goldmoon has also been illustrated by such artists as
Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore (born August 5, 1948) is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines, and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Dragonlance'', ...
and
Keith Parkinson
Keith A. Parkinson (October 22, 1958 – October 26, 2005) was an American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book covers and artwork for games such as ''EverQuest'', ''Guardians'', ''Magic: The Gathering'', and '' Vanguard: Saga of Heroes ...
. According to Elmore, Margaret Weis's reaction to Caldwell's first drawing was very negative; Weis said Goldmoon looked like "a whore". Elmore subsequently attempted to allay Weis's concerns, and drew the character for a book cover to appear less "sexy", adding leather pants. He and Parkinson collaborated on Goldmoon illustrations for a long time afterwards. Weis reportedly appreciated Parkinson's attempt to incorporate Weis's vision of Goldmoon as "Native American with a Celtic touch". Both Weis and Tracy Hickman continued to consult about the artwork, but Weis was always the one more invested in a particular vision.
Development through the series
Chronicles trilogy
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman introduce Goldmoon in chapter 3 of ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' (1984), titled ''"Knight of Solamnia. The old man's party."'' She is presented as a heavily cloaked, silvery-gold haired woman carrying a plain staff, accompanied by a tall stone-faced barbarian. The authors explain that shortly after their arrival to the Inn of the Last Home a fight breaks out and the true nature of her healing staff is revealed, forcing the barbarians and a group of friends to run away. It is after escaping with the barbarians that the friends realize Goldmoon's desire of traveling to Haven, where she hoped the ''Seekers'', priests who were in search of the old gods but degenerated into a political movement, would be able to teach her about the healing staff.
In the following chapters, Weis and Hickman continue to make the female barbarian the main focus of the story, stating that she discovered two constellations were missing from the firmament, and then revisiting when the staff protected Riverwind when the tribe was going to stone him. However, her protagonism fades in the battle sequences that follow, where she is protected by Riverwind,
Sturm Brightblade, a
Squire of the Knights of Solamnia and
Tanis Half-Elven
Tanis Half-Elven is a fictional half-elven character in the Dragonlance series of books, which were published by TSR, and are now published by Wizards of the Coast. He is first introduced in the book '' Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' by Margaret ...
, the leader of the group. This behavior becomes constant throughout the rest of the series.
The authors give the story a harder push when they explain the group, later known as the
Heroes of the Lance
''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance'' is a video game released in January 1988 for various home computer systems and consoles. The game is based on the first ''Dragonlance'' campaign module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy ro ...
, travels to Xak Tsaroth, which is the broken city where Riverwind previously found the magical staff. The sixteenth chapter, ''"A bitter choice. The greatest gift."'' presents the earlier conversation between Goldmoon and her deceased mother, Tearsong, and an appearance of Mishakal, goddess of healing and protector of the ''Blue Crystal Staff'' Goldmoon carries, in which she explains the different sacrifices Goldmoon must make in order to obtain the goddess' gift and the tasks she must fulfill, including the retrieval of the Disks of Mishakal, a sacred book of platinum with the teachings of Paladine, highest god of light in
Krynn
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
within it.
[
]
The novel continues, indicating that Goldmoon receives the power of healing before the goddess departs, which Goldmoon promptly uses to save a mortally wounded Riverwind after an encounter against
Khisanth
This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series.
Characters
Alhana Starbreeze
Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...
, a
black dragon protecting the broken city.
Goldmoon reaches the peak of attention when the authors write about her apparent sacrifice to defeat Khisanth, during the retrieval of the ''Disks of Mishakal''. However, it is soon explained that her sacrifice was the last test the goddess Mishakal needed from her, and as the group nears the exit of the dungeon, they find Goldmoon waiting for them, blessed by the deity as a true cleric of Mishakal with the power of calling upon Mishakal's help when in need.
[
]
Fulfilling her final mission, Goldmoon delivers the ''Disks of Mishakal'' to a former ''Seeker'',
Elistan
This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series.
Characters
Alhana Starbreeze
Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...
, whom the group meets in Pax Tharkas after they have been captured by the
Dragonarmies of Ansalon
This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series.
Characters
Alhana Starbreeze
Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...
, the forces of evil invading the continent of Ansalon. In this way, at the end of the book, Goldmoon marries Riverwind in a valley not far from Pax Tharkas after their group defeated
Lord Verminaard in Pax Tharkas and freed the slaves.
[
]
The marriage vows the characters take are based in the
Mormon
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
ism
Celestial marriage
Celestial marriage (also called the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, Eternal Marriage, Temple Marriage) is a doctrine that marriage can last forever in heaven. This is a unique teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ...
.
[
]
Her involvement in the last two books of the trilogy—and therefore during the
War of the Lance—abruptly diminishes at the beginning of the second book, ''
Dragons of Winter Night
''Dragons of Winter Night'' is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Based on the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' gaming modules, it is the second book in the Chronicles Trilogy, preceded by ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' and followed by ''D ...
'' (1985). Her appearances are mostly to give counsel, spread the teachings of Mishakal and order new clerics. During the second half of the last book, ''
Dragons of Spring Dawning
''Dragons of Spring Dawning'' is a 1985 fantasy novel by American writers Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. The third book in the ''Dragonlance Chronicles'' series, it continues the events from ''Dragons of Winter Night'' (1985) and sets up the p ...
'' (1985), Goldmoon learns she is pregnant. Her goodbye to
Laurana Kanan in Kalaman is the last apparition in the Chronicles trilogy.
Goldmoon is instrumental in reviving the faith of the people of Krynn during a period when the gods have seemingly disappeared. According to Tracy Hickman, "The restoration of truth and faith are Goldmoon's central theme and, to a great extent, the theme of this first book in the series."
[
''The Annotated Chronicles'',
Book 1, chapter 16, A bitter choice. The greatest gift. p. 197.
]
Legends trilogy
Although the series focus heavily on
Caramon
Caramon Majere (326 AC - 38 SC) is a fictional character from the Dragonlance books. He is depicted as a fighter and is one of the main characters in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's first Dragonlance trilogy, the ''Dragonlance Chronicles''. C ...
and
Raistlin Majere
Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the ''Dragonlance'' series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in '' Dragonlance Legends'' in which he ...
, Riverwind makes an appearance at the beginning of the first book of the ''Legends'' trilogy, ''Time of the Twins'' (1986), written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and published by TSR, in which he is recognized as leader of the Que Shu and other barbarian tribes by wearing the ''Mantle of the Chieftain''.
This apparition is also used by the authors to explain the current situation of the couple. With a two-year-old son—
Wanderer
Wanderer, Wanderers, or The Wanderer may refer to:
* Nomadism, Nomadic and/or itinerant people, working short-term before moving to other locations, who wander from place to place with no permanent home, or are vagrancy (people), vagrant
* The Wan ...
—and twin daughters—
Moonsong and
Brightdawn—the couple have worked hard to join the different tribes of Abanasinia, their homeland. It is finally explained that Goldmoon is spreading the teachings of her patron deity there, but nothing more is said about her.
Chaos War series
Goldmoon was not specifically included in the
Chaos War
"Chaos War" is a Marvel Comics storyline that began publication in October 2010 across nine comic book series: the five-issue miniseries ''Chaos War'', written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, supplemented by seven branded miniseries or one-shot ( ...
, an event in which the mad god Chaos tries to destroy the world of
Krynn
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
. However, in ''Spirit of the Wind'' (1998), Chris Pierson explains that Wanderer, Riverwind and Goldmoon's son, has a three-year-old son, Cloudhawk, but nobody remembers his mother. The author hints that Goldmoon's tribe was attacked by ''shadow wights'', chaotic creatures that banish anyone they possess to utter oblivion, destroying even memories from others about the person in question. This hint is given through Wanderer's sisters, Moonsong and Brightdawn, when they speculate that one such creature killed her.
[
]
The novel ends with the death of Brightdawn and Riverwind while fighting the red dragon overlord
Malystryx, and Moonsong scarred forever, events that weighted heavily on Goldmoon's spirit.
The Fifth Age series
The
Age of Mortals
The ''Age of Mortals'' series is a series of novels set in the Dragonlance setting.
For the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game supplement, see Age of Mortals: Dragonlance Campaign Setting Companion.
Contents
* '' Conundrum'' (December 2001), by Jeff C ...
starts at the end of ''
Dragons of Summer Flame
''Dragons of Summer Flame'' is a 1995 fantasy novel by American writers Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The events of the novel follow the fictional Chaos War in the Dragonlance world.
Publication history
''Dragons of Summer Flame'' was first p ...
'' (1996) novel, with the departure of the krynnish gods and the banishment of magic and clerical powers known to Krynn until that moment. Needing a new source of power, a special kind of magic named ''mysticism'' is created based on previous abilities found in the ''Dragonlance'' novels.
[
]
Jean Rabe
Jean Rabe is an American journalist, editor, gamer and writer of fantasy and mystery. After a career as a newspaper reporter, she was employed by TSR, Inc. for several years as head of the Role Playing Game Association and editor of the ''Polyhe ...
's novel
''The Silver Stair'' (1999) explains how Goldmoon, following a recurrent dream, travels to the Isle of Schallsea with
Jasper Fireforge, where she finds the fabled ''Silver Stairs'', an endless stair that was thought to be a portal to reach Solinari, the white moon of
Krynn
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
. The novel reveals that while climbing it, she experiences a new vision about the ''Power of the Heart'', a special magic that would come to replace the one provided by the gods of old
[
]
and which she first discovered while healing a dying Jasper, three years before in Solace.
[
]
The novel continues explaining the different difficulties the group had to establish a camp, while at the same time introducing a branch of mysticism, ''dark mysticism'', which was discovered by Goldmoon's wish to talk with Riverwind. From that point Goldmoon continued using it to communicate with Riverwind's spirit, although conversations between the couple are usually kept secret from the reader. Other authors like Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman made use of that bond between the couple in subsequent books.
By the end of the novel she has managed to found the Citadel of Light, which was established as the healing center of Ansalon.
[
]
Because of this, Goldmoon has been used by ''Dragonlance'' authors to first bring clerical healing from the gods of good back to Krynn during the
Fourth Age, and then to bring mysticism during the
Fifth Age.
Dragons of a New Age trilogy
Goldmoon's most controversial appearance was in the
Dragons of a New Age trilogy, written by
Jean Rabe
Jean Rabe is an American journalist, editor, gamer and writer of fantasy and mystery. After a career as a newspaper reporter, she was employed by TSR, Inc. for several years as head of the Role Playing Game Association and editor of the ''Polyhe ...
between 1996 and 1998, in which it is related the coming of the ''Dragon Overlords'',
dragons of exceptional size and power, to the world of Krynn.
In ''The Dawning of a New Age'' (1996), the first book of the series, Jean Rabe indicates that Goldmoon appears as an illusion to
Dhamon Grimwulf, a former Knight of Takhisis, summoning him to the Last Heroes' Tomb, the tomb where the heroes of the
Chaos War
"Chaos War" is a Marvel Comics storyline that began publication in October 2010 across nine comic book series: the five-issue miniseries ''Chaos War'', written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, supplemented by seven branded miniseries or one-shot ( ...
are kept. The author gives the reader, at that point, the guidelines for Dhamon's mission throughout the trilogy.
[
]
The author keeps Goldmoon's interventions small, especially through visions and communications with
Jasper Fireforge and
Palin Majere
This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series.
Characters
Alhana Starbreeze
Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...
, until the second half of the second book in the series, ''The Day of the Tempest'' (1997), when the party of adventurers arrives at the Citadel of Light. It is here when the author details how an enchanted Dhamon is forced to slay Goldmoon.
[
]
The prologue of the last book in the trilogy, ''The Eve of the Maelstrom'' (1998), relates a shortened version of Goldmoon's death, adding her travel to the afterlife and her meeting with
Riverwind
Riverwind (also known as ''Riverwind of the Que Shu tribe'' or ''Riverwind of the Que Shu'') is a fictional character appearing in the Dragonlance series of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game supplements and novels, created by Margaret Weis ...
, her husband. However, while at the end of the second book Riverwind was expecting her, in the third book she is told that her time has not arrived yet. During the length of the book, Goldmoon appears as an encouraging voice when her friends need her. It is towards the end of the book when the author reveals how Goldmoon is brought back to Krynn, as Goldmoon tells a dying Jasper he was supposed to die in Schallsea, and that his faith and his death against Onysablet, the black dragon overlord, restores her life.
[
]
War of Souls trilogy
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman give Goldmoon a more prominent role during the
War of Souls
''The War of Souls'' is a trilogy of ''New York Times'' best selling novels published between 2000 and 2002. The trilogy focuses on the titular fictional war (the War of Souls) set in the popular ''Dragonlance'' fictional universe. Like many ''Dr ...
trilogy, when she is well over her nineties. During the first chapters of the first book, ''Dragons of a Fallen Sun'' (2000), Weis and Hickman explain how Goldmoon is transformed by a magical storm, regaining the body she had during the
Chronicles trilogy. The authors use this occasion to show an angry, depressed, and bitter side of her that had not been exploited in depth before. Her new behavior is explained due her expectation to die soon and join the soul of her already deceased husband in the afterlife,
[
]
even calling this change a curse instead of a blessing.
[
''Dragons of a Fallen Sun'', p. 441.
]
Her protagonism increases near the end of the first book when she becomes the first character to discover that the souls of dead people are draining the magic from
clerics
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
,
mages
Mage most commonly refers to:
* Mage (paranormal) or magician, a practitioner of magic derived from supernatural or occult sources
* Mage (fantasy) or magician, a type of character in mythology, folklore, and fiction
*Mage, a character class in so ...
, and dragons, giving the reader the first solid reference of the reason about why
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
has been weakening in the world of
Krynn
''Dragonlance'' is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived ''Dragonlance'' while driving in t ...
.
[
''Dragons of a Fallen Sun'',
Chapter 27, "The Touch of the Dead", p. 516.
]
The initial shock is replaced with the unexplained urge of following the ''River of Souls'', also referred as the ''river of the dead'', the continuous stream of wandering souls moving towards an unknown meeting location. Goldmoon spends the end of the first book and most of the second book, ''Dragons of a Lost Star'' (2001), following the stream until arriving to Nightlund, where the
Tower of High Sorcery of Palanthas was hidden.
The final chapter of the second book relates the meeting between Goldmoon and an orphaned girl she found in the Isle of Schallsea whom she had raised and trained in the clerical arts,
Mina. Mina now serves the One God, or
Takhisis
Takhisis is a fictional character from the ''Dragonlance'' universe. She is depicted as the main goddess of evil in the setting and head of the Dark Pantheon.
Titles and forms
Within the Dragonlance universe, Takhisis was a sister of Gilean a ...
in disguise, in her attempt to bring the "true gods" back to Krynn, like what Goldmoon did many years ago. During this meeting the reader is revealed that Goldmoon's body was restored by Takhisis, evil goddess of darkness, through Mina's prayer. However, refusing to become Takhisis' herald, the goddess drains the life out of Goldmoon and orders Mina to secure her corpse in an amber
sarcophagus
A sarcophagus (plural sarcophagi or sarcophaguses) is a box-like funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved in stone, and usually displayed above ground, though it may also be buried. The word ''sarcophagus'' comes from the Greek ...
.
[
][
]
In the first chapter of the last book of the trilogy, ''Dragons of a Vanished Moon'' (2002), Weis and Hickman rehearse Goldmoon and Mina's meeting, and is the last time Goldmoon is seen alive in the ''Dragonlance'' series. From that point, it is explained that her soul was enslaved and forced to join the other magic draining ghosts. Throughout this book she is only present as a body in a coffin that is being carried to the ''Temple of Huerzyd'', where Takhisis would possess it to spread the word of her return, confident that people would worship her if one of her own greatest enemies, Goldmoon, has been converted.
[
''Dragons of a Vanished Moon'',
Chapter 18, "Day's Dawning", p. 416–417.
]
In the last chapter of the book, the authors explain that her spirit is freed after Takhisis is defeated, and has joined her friends' souls to travel to the afterlife.
[
''Dragons of a Vanished Moon'',
Chapter 32, "The Age of Mortals", p. 610.
]
Her death puts an end to the
Heroes of the Lance
''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance'' is a video game released in January 1988 for various home computer systems and consoles. The game is based on the first ''Dragonlance'' campaign module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy ro ...
, as she was the last surviving character from the original group created in 1984 by Weis and Hickman.
Controversy
The character of Goldmoon was killed in the
Dragons of a New Age trilogy, during events explained in ''The Day of the Tempest'' novel, and resurrected in the last novel of the series, ''The Eve of the Maelstrom''. In the ''Dragonlance'' environment, resurrection is extremely rare (with Beldinas Pilofiro, latest
Kingpriest of Istar, resurrecting Cathan MarSevrin with Paladine's intervention in ''
Chosen of the Gods
''Chosen of the Gods'' is a fantasy novel set in the ''Dragonlance'' campaign series, and is the first of a trilogy about the Kingpriest of Istar, Beldinas Pilofiro.
Plot introduction
''Chosen of the Gods'' is set in Istar during the reign of Sy ...
'' (2001),
[
] Fistandantilus through his powerful magic and his bloodstone in ''Fistandantilus Reborn'' (1997),
[
] and
Raistlin Majere
Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the ''Dragonlance'' series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in '' Dragonlance Legends'' in which he ...
returning from the Abyss through
Dalamar
This is a list of characters in the ''Dragonlance'' series of fantasy novels and related fantasy role-playing game materials. It includes accounts of their early lives in the series.
Characters
Alhana Starbreeze
Alhana Starbreeze, Silvanesti El ...
and
Palin
The surname Palin is a name of British origin, either English or Welsh. Possible derivations include an anglicization of the Welsh patronymic ''ap Heilyn'' ("son of Heilyn") or a reference to the English placenames Poling, West Sussex or Sea Pallin ...
intervention in "The Legacy" short story in ''The Magic of Krynn'' (1987)
[
] the main examples). Although fans theorized about her death and resurrection, the matter was clarified by a mail sent to the ''Dragonlance'' list by
Miranda Horner
Miranda Horner is an American game designer and editor who has worked on a number of products for various role-playing games, including ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and the ''Star Wars'' roleplaying game.
Biography
Miranda Horner was born in Waukegan, ...
,
Wizards of the Coast Web Content Developer, and in an interview with
Jean Rabe
Jean Rabe is an American journalist, editor, gamer and writer of fantasy and mystery. After a career as a newspaper reporter, she was employed by TSR, Inc. for several years as head of the Role Playing Game Association and editor of the ''Polyhe ...
, author of the trilogy.
According to Horner:
Writer Jean Rabe explained in an interview the difficulties of multiple writers working in the same fictional universe, saying she was given permission by her editor to kill off the character in one of her novels.
She was forced to bring the character back to life in the very next book because others had plans for Goldmoon.
[
Synchronization problems between novels and gaming material, and even between novels themselves are common in the ''Dragonlance'' environment where, except in few cases, the novel authors do not assist in the creation of the ]role playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal a ...
modules
Broadly speaking, modularity is the degree to which a system's components may be separated and recombined, often with the benefit of flexibility and variety in use. The concept of modularity is used primarily to reduce complexity by breaking a sy ...
.
Related media
Video games
Goldmoon appears as one of the player characters in '' Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance''. Goldmoon can use her magical staff to restore any deceased character back to life, and she is able to perform eight other divine miracles.
Miniature figures
Goldmoon was included in Ral Partha
Formed in 1975, Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, is now known as ''Ral Partha Legacy Ltd.'' and produces miniature figures in 25 mm, 30 mm, 15 mm, and 54 mm scale. The company's products are m ...
's ''Dragonlance Heroes'' boxed figures set of lead miniatures. A reviewer for ''Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' magazine complimented the work Ral Partha did in matching the appearance of their figures to the descriptions of the characters from the novels, and described her figure: "Goldmoon is standing in a relaxed position, holding a lute in her right hand and a staff and symbol in her left. The figure has long, flowing hair with braids over her shoulders. A simple blouse and belt with a buckle that blends into an elaborate, fur trimmed loin cloth and pouch complete the clothing. For outer wear, she has a full-length fur-trimmed cloak, and her buckskin boots are also fur-lined and fur-trimmed."
Dragonlance: Fifth Age
As part of the backstory for the '' Dragonlance: Fifth Age'' game, Goldmoon "has awakened to a mystic power within her own heart, fueled by the essence of life and the purity of emotion", and teaches her newfound magic throughout the land.
Dragonlance movie
Actress Lucy Lawless voiced Goldmoon in the 2008 animated Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight movie,[
]
directed by Will Meugniot
Will Meugniot is an American writer, storyboard and comics artist, film producer and director. He is known for his work on animated shows in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Partial list of works
* ''The Adventures of Corduroy'' (storyboard artist ...
, written by George Strayton and produced by ''Toonz Animation'', ''Commotion Pictures'', ''Epic Level Entertainment'', ''Kickstart Entertainment'' and ''Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
''. Lawless said that she was directed to voice Goldmoon as a Native American, and that after extensive feedback, she was eventually asked to use the voice of Xena.
Reception
The character of Goldmoon has been criticized as a feminine stereotype of the "placid healer" rather than a fully developed fictional persona.
Lauren Davis of io9 commented on how the heroes of the ''Dragonlance Chronicles'' feel like a dysfunctional family, describing the Plainsfolk Riverwind and Goldmoon as "so-called "barbarians" in a strange land".
In the '' Io9'' series revisiting older ''Dungeons & Dragons'' novels, Rob Bricken describes her as "A barbarian and de facto chieftain of the Que-Shu tribe. She's a priest of Mishakal, which makes her the first cleric since the Cataclysm. She bears the Blue Crystal Staff, which gives her the first healing powers in 300 years, too." Bricken identifies her as "arguably the most important character in the series, as her desire to fulfill her goddess' behest drives most of the story."
See also
* War of the Lance
* War of Souls
''The War of Souls'' is a trilogy of ''New York Times'' best selling novels published between 2000 and 2002. The trilogy focuses on the titular fictional war (the War of Souls) set in the popular ''Dragonlance'' fictional universe. Like many ''Dr ...
* Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes of the Lance
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
External links
Goldmoon
at Dragonlance Nexus
The Dragonlance Nexus is a Dragonlance fansite that was created in 1996 as "Dragon Realm". The site was overhauled and a new name was given to it as the "Dragonlance Nexus". Beginning on November 28, 2005, the site began publishing articles writte ...
.
{{D&D topics
Goldmoon
Goldmoon (also known as ''Goldmoon of the Que Shu tribe'' or just ''Goldmoon of the Que Shu'') is a fictional character from the ''Dragonlance'' fantasy series of List of Dragonlance novels, novels and Role-playing game, role playing games, origin ...
Fictional female religious workers