Fistandantilus | DragonLance Saga

Fistandantilus is inextricably linked with Raistlin Majere, but he is an ambitious and complicated character in his own right. Let’s learn a bit about the Dark One himself, Fistandantilus! Buy Mists of Krynn: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...

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Transcript
He is the most powerful sorcerer on Krynn. He made deals with gods to further his ambition. He is Fistandantilus.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about The Dark One himself, Fistandantilus. I would like to take a moment and thank my collaborator patrons, the Heroes of the Lance, and invite you to consider becoming a patron or member of this channel by visiting the links in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. This episode is informed by many sourcebooks and the Dragonlance Wiki. I may miss some bits of information or misspeak in the presentation. If you have any comments or corrections, please add them below.
Discussion
It is unknown exactly when Fistandantilus was born or when he took the Test of High Sorcery, save that it was in the Age of Might. What is known is that he was supremely gifted in magic. After his Test of High Sorcery, he took the Red Robes and seemed content until he became intimately aware of his own mortality. He was infuriated at the thought of all of his vast magical knowledge being wasted and turned to dust, in death. He beseeched Gilean, the god of Neutrality to allow him to continue living on Krynn, but alas, having actually created humans, Gilean intended them to have limits. Fistandantilus was counseled to accept his fate. Refusing to do so, Fistandantilus called out to Takhisis herself, demanding to be able to look upon the Black Moon. She granted his request, and transported him to the Abyss where he glimpsed the future and his lived past. She gave him the Bloodstone, a magical artifact that would extend his life by transferring the victim's essence into his body.

With his continued existence, his means of immortality secured, he renewed his devotion to magic and learned all he could, even crafting new spells. He became close to Highmage Gadrella, a black robe who recently became head of the Tower, and was instrumental in convincing local lords to allow the construction of four more Towers of High Sorcery. In 2018 PC he fought alongside his colleagues of High Sorcery in defeating the renegade war mage Malock. When the orders demanded the destruction of Malock’s fortress of Zhaman, Fistandantilus convinced them to keep it as an invaluable place of study, as it was rumored to be indestructible.

Fistandantilus would live and work in Zhaman for a thousand years, until the end of the Third Dragon War in 1018 PC. In that time he would assist the Emperor of Ergoth and Vinus Solamnus in a couple adventure campaigns. For a time he was even the Head of the Tower of Palanthas.

Exactly when his ambition to become a God is also unknown, but at some point before traveling to Istar in 100 PC, he had determined this course of action. Fistandantilus and the fall of Istar are also linked for it was due to his machinations that Beldyn became the High Priest because of the prophecy of the Lightbringer. Fistandantilus was manipulating Istar for two reasons. He could study about the portals to the Abyss in secret and he could find the one true cleric he needed to help him open the portal. However…. When the Lightbringer came, with him came the hatred of darkness. This would include the Wizards of High Sorcery. Fistandantilus offered the new Kingpriest Belindas the seeds to destroy the groves surrounding the Towers of High Sorcery in trade for becoming his personal advisor. Beldinas consented but during the lost battles, the towers and portals would be abandoned and destroyed. In his effort to secure a portal, Fistandantilus would drive his apprentice Andras Rannoch insane and have him jump to his death to curse and seal the gates until the Master of Past and Present returned to open them. Ironically, unknown to Fistandantilus, the portal in the Tower of Palanthas was removed to his old stomping grounds, the fortress of Zhaman. Secure in his belief that a portal was now saved for him, he began work on corrupting a holy priest...