The Companions (or, the Heroes of the Lance) were the main fighting force for Good during the War of the Lance. They found the Disks of Mishakal in Xak-Tsaroth, found two Dragon Orbs, killed Verminaard, befriended two 'outcast' elven races, AND THEN they beat the crap out of Takhisis. All in only three books, too. Whew.
Most of the Companions had been friends before the War; they had grown up together in Solace. Five years before the War, they all decided to go on varied individual quests, making a pact that in five years they would all meet at the Inn of the Last Home. When they met five years later, they were joined at their table by Goldmoon and Riverwind, and all evacuated the Inn together when it was attacked by draconions. This was the beginning of their fight against Takhisis and the Dragonlords.
Key:
O = Original member
L = Joined later
B = Background character who is called a Companion, even though they didn't do a whole heckuva lot
E = Was originally supposed to be a Companion, but instead went over to the 'bad side'
Note: The pictures are just linked to the picture file itself. Give me a few months, and they'll be all be smaller (so it takes less than an hour to load), and labelled. Unfortunately, that'll take a while, what with the rest of the main page not even being done and all...... - KRISTEN
Tanis Half-Elven (O):
Technically, Tanis is the leader. His Qualinesti mother was raped by a human warrior during a battle, and therefore he's half elf and half human (er...his name pretty much tells us that). He was raised along with the children of the Speaker of the Sun (Porthios, Gilthanas, and Laurana), and left Qualinost when his love affair with Laurana was discovered (although they were in love, a 'bastard' wasn't good enough for Laurana, according to her family). He traveled to Solace with Flint Fireforge, a Dwarven metalsmith who traded in Qualinost, where they set up residence.
Tanis met Kitiara uth Matar while returning home, and they soon became lovers. During the War of the Lance, though, Laurana showed up again, having followed him all the way from Qualinost, where the Companions had stayed for a while. Tanis resisted her advances, hoping that Kitiara could be enticed back to 'Good'....nope. Finally, after the War, he realized that he really did love Laurana, Gilthanas and Porthios realized that they'd been jerks, and Tanis married Laurana. Their son was forced to be Speaker of the Sun later on down the road, during the Fifth Age, and Tanis was killed defending the High Clerist's Tower against the Knights of Takhisis.
Due to his elven heritage, Tanis has pointed ears and almond shaped eyes. He was already around 200 years old when the War of the Lance started. However, due to his human blood, Tanis can grow a beard (which he has done), and won't live as long as a regular elf. He's very good with a bow (like most elves), but he carries a sword (and he later ends up with Kith Kanon's sword....the long dead founder of Qualinost's body handed Tanis the sword as he dashed through his [Kith Kanon's] tomb).
Sturm Brightblade (O):
Sturm, for most of his life, fancies himself a Knight of Solamnia. He is very proper, polite, and chivelrous, to the point of annoying the crap out of his friends sometimes. His father, [insert name here], was also a knight, just as every member of hi family was, possibly all the way back to Badel Brightblade (a famous knight).
After the Cataclysm, all the Knights were at some point forced out of their holdings by the people. When the peasants attacked Castle Brightblade, Sturm and his mother were sent away on a ship, while [insert name here] stayed to protect his castle and his men. Sturm and his mother ended up in Solace, where he befriended Tanis and the rest of the original Companions.
After the Companions made their pact to return in five years, Sturm and Kitiara (odd combination) travelled north to Solamnia; they both wanted to find their fathers. However, they ended up on a gnomeish slying ship, and crashed on Lunitari (the red moon of neutrality). They defeated Rapaldo the Annoying, and helped [insert name here] escape (even though he ended up having to go back). While there, however, he had visions of his father at Castle Brightblade, and once back on Krynn, he and Kitiara split, and Sturm headed for the castle. Once there, he found his father's armor and sword, but was attacked by [insert name here]. Fortunately, Kitiara had followed him, and she killed the Highlord before he could kill Sturm.
During the War of the Lance, when the Companions were separated, Sturm ended up with Laurana (the Golden General) and the others at the High Clerist's Tower. He was finally knighted a Knight of the Crown, and then fought for with Knights when the Dragon Army attacked. Sturm was standing on the Tower, armed with only a sword, when one of the Dragon Highlord, astride her dragon, came sweeping through. She impaled Sturm with her lance, and flew off. Now, we all know that this was Kitiara, and it was horribly sad when she killed him. However, it was probably a form of revenge; at some time during their travels (it's not in Darkness and Light, because the idea was added later), Kitiara decided to seduce Sturm to break his honor. They had sex, and Sturm was left feeling very, very, VERY bad once Kit refused to marry him (honor). Unfortunately for Kit, though, she got pregnant. Their son, Steel, became a Knight of Takhisis, but received his father's sword from his ghost, because he really was honorable (amazingly, many of Takhisis's knights were).
Sturm was tall, and habitually wore some kind of armor, even if it was only light mail. Once he got his father's armor, though, he rarely took it off. He sported the customary long moustache of the Knights of Solamnia.
Goldmoon (L):
Goldmoon was the daughter of Chieftain Arrowthorn, of the Que-shu tribe, from the Plains. That made her the priestess of the tribe, their link with the gods. In Plainsmen mythology, the ruling family became gods once they died. Goldmoon had to make a pilgrimage to a sacred temple, where her ancestors were buried, and she was accompanied by two warriors: Riverwind, grandson of Wanderer, and Hollow-sky, whose father wanted to be chieftain. Riverwind and Goldmoon saved each others ;oves, and fell in love. While in the temple, Goldmoon was met by her mother, who told her that she was not a goddess, and Goldmoon would not be, either. She went on to say that the gods that Riverwind worshipped were the true gods. Tearsong told Goldmoon that she would be a cleric of Mishakal, if she could pass all the tests.
When they get back to the village, Riverwind goes on a courting quest - he has to go get something special for Goldmoon, so he can court her. Her father, not pleased with her choice of men, decrees that he must bring back proof of his gods. He leaves, and returns with the Blue Crystal Staff of Mishakal. Arrowthorn was not pleased, and ordered him stoned to death. Just as the tribesmen were about to start, Goldmoon joins Riverwind, Crystal Staff in tow. Before they are hit, the Staff flares with blue light, and the two vanish.
They ended up in Solace; Goldmoon decided that they should search for the Disks of Mishakal, so they could prove to everyone that the true gods had returned (everyone thought they went bye-bye after the Cataclysm). They joined the Companions at their table in the Inn of the Last Home, after Goldmoon had sung a few songs, and she and Riverwind accompanied them when they ran from the draconions. After they recovered the Disks in Xak-Tsaroth, Goldmoon became a cleric of Mishakal. She was the healer for the Companions as they travelled through Ansalon. However, once she and Riverwind were married, they left the Companions (didn't want to die, I guess).
She later turns up in the Fifth Age books, as a guide and teacher to Jasper Gneissfeld-Fireforge. Riverwind is already dead, and she communicates with him through a sort of telepathy. She is killed by Dhamon Grimwulf, after Malys (Malystryx, the red dragon) implants a dragon scale in his leg, causing him to follow her However, it was not her time to die, so she has to come back to Krynn (it was really Jasper's time. It was very sad, when he died).
Goldmoon had long goldish-blonde hair, and was petite. She dressed in Plains-style clothing, and carried the Staff of Mishakal. Being a cleric, she also wore a necklace with symbol of Mishakal () on it. Just as all Que-shu women, she is a trained fighter.
Riverwind (L):
Riverwind, a Plainsman from the Que-shu tribe, was Goldmoon's lover. He was the grandson of Wanderer, which left him to be an outcast in his tribe (Wanderer had picked up a different religion on the road). To discourage Riverwind's advances upon his daughter, the chieftain sent him on an almost impossible mission: find proof of the gods existance.
He found the Blue Crystal Staff of Mishakal while on his quest, and brought it back. Arrowthorn, the chieftain, didn't like him succeeding, so he ordered the people to stone him. Goldmoon saved him at the last minute by joining him with the Staff, which transported them to Solace. He died sometime between the end of the War fo the Lance and the beginning of the Fifth Age.
Riverwind was tallish, with dark eyes and hair. He moved with a 'feline grace, and was good with pretty much every weapon. He didn't talk much.
Raistlin Majere (E):
We all know that Raist didn't really become 'bad', but since he did go over to the black robes during the War, he is technically no longer one of the good guys (!).
Go back to his profile. I'm only writing one of them.......it's way too long.
Caramon Majere (O):
Caramon is Raistlin's twin brother. While Raist was learning magic as a child, Caramon was learning fighting from Kitiara (who is the twins' half-sister). He became very good, and was called upon many times to protect his brother (which Raist deeply resented).
During the five year interval, Caramon accompanied Raist to the Tower of High Sorcery for his Test. After Raist had passed, Par-Salian gave Raist a personal test, which he failed. He made Caramon watch, so he would know what kind of person his brother was. To make a long story shorter, Caramon ended up watching his brother kill an illusion of him [Caramon]. This scared Caramon, because he knew that Raist really would kill him if he stood in his way. However, Caramon loved Raistlin, so he stayed with him.
When the Companions stopped in Solace, they were joined (sneakily) by Tika Waylan. Caramon offered to teach her how to use a sword, and he fell in love with her. Because Raistlin needed him, though, he refused to marry her. Finally, when they were with teh sea elves, he realized the truth, and married her as soon as the War was over.
He was distraught over Raist's leaving, though, and was useless around the house, having become a drunk. He was drafted by the Council into helping to stop Raistlin from challenging Takhisis, was whipped back into shape by the Arena fighting in Istar (when they travelled back in time, of course). Once he returned to his own time, he was back to his old self, and he and Tika had five children - Palin, Sturm, Tanin, Laura, and Dezra. I think he's dead now. I'm not sure, though, and I'm too lazy to look it up.
Caramon was very large and muscular (he was also quite fat for a while). He wasn't very intelligent, but had the proverbial heart of gold. He was good with all weapons, but preferred his sword.
Flint Fireforge (O):
Flint, a dwarf, was a metalworker who traded his wares all over Krynn. In Qualinost, he befriended Tanis Half-Elven, who accompanied him to solace one year, and stayed. They were the first two Companions. Tanis and Fint were always close, but Flint held a special place in his heart for Tasslehoff Burrfoot, the kender, even though he would never admit it.
During the five year split, Flint was captured by gully dwarves, and made their king. Ashamed of this, he won't talk about it with anyone.
Flint was killed before the Companions reached Neraka. Thinking Berem did it, Tanis ran him through (but since Berem, the Everman, couldn't die, it really didn't matter any). However, Flint really died from a heart attack, and Berem was trying to save him. After he died, Flint sat by a big tree in Heaven, or whereever people go in Krynn when they die, waiting for Tas to come. When someone would sit next to him, Flint would tell them all about the 'doorknob of a kender', and his travels. Fizban told Tas this to make him feel better, which it did. Sturm and Tanis joined Flint at the tree when they died, and all three of them met Tas.
As a dwarf, Flint is short and stout. He has a long, gray moustache, and is very good with metal and wood (he was originally planning to spend the five years carving in front of a fireplace).
Tasslehoff Burrfoot (O):
Tasslehoff (Tas) is a kender, which are known for being curious, impervious to fear, and 'borrowers'; in other words, they are thieves (although they never say so). Tas is no different from the rest of kenderfolk for the most part, except that he has felt fear.
When Tas was faced with wanderlust, the kender feeling that they must go exploring, he ended up in Solace, where he befriended the Majere brothers, and Tanis. He and Flint were close, but Flint would never admit it.
During the five years, Tas was taken back to his village to be married. He escapes, and has the now infamous wooly mammoth adventure, where he is captured by an annoying wizard who also has captured a wooly mammoth. I haven't read Kendermore yet.....check back in about six months for the full story.
Tas was the one who first discovered Usha Majere, and decided that she was Raistlin's daughter. He introdued her to Dalamar, who basicially handled everything until Raistlin returned. Tas was with the Heroes in the Abyss, as they fought Chaos. In fact, he was the one who pricked Chaos with the dagger, so that Usha could catch a drop of blood in the Graygem. His name is inscribed over the door of the tomb in Solace for the warriors who died in the Abyss, because his body vanished after he nicked Chaos (I think Chaos stepped on him).
Tas had long ginger colored hair that was always tied in a top knot, as per kender style. He wore colorful clothing that rarely matched, and carried lots of bags to hold the things he 'found'. His favorite weapon was the hoopak, a sling attached to a long pointed stick that most kenders carry.
Lauralanthalasa (L):
I was going to rate Laurana a (B), until I realized that yes, she did do a lot, albeit accidentally.
She is the daughter of the Qualinesti Speaker of the Sun, sister to Gilthanas and Porthios, and cousin (and wife) to Tanis Half-Elven. She followed the Companions from Qualinost due to Tanis's presence, and lead the Heroes of Lance through Icewall, where they discovered a dragon's orb.
After the Heroes of Lance joined up with the Solamnic Knights to defend the High Clerist's Tower, Laurana became known as the Golden General, for her golden elven armor, and rode a dragon into battle. She got all kinds of awards, and later convinced Tanis to marry her and forget Kit. Her son later became the Speaker of the Sun.
Laurana is a full blooded elf, with the pointed ears and everything. She has long red hair, and was one of the first warriors to use the dragonlance.
Tika Waylan Majere (B):
Tika hung around the original Companions, but wasn't really a member; she was a serving girl in the Inn of the Last Home, where the Companions liked to meet. When her parents were killed (or just died, whatever), Otik, the Inn's owner, adopted her, and she helped out around the Inn.
When the Companions pasted through Solace during the War of the Lance, Tika followed them, because she wanted an adventure. Caramon offered to teach her how to use her sword, and soon they fell in love (how sweet).
She didn't do too much during the actual War, just followed the Companions around, and tried to fight draconians. After the War, she and Caramon took over the Inn from Otik, and she tried to whip Caramon into shape (see Caramon's profile above for more info). Finally, they settled down, and had five children.
Tika has fluffy, bright, red, hair, and is short. She has a lot of courage, but isn't very good with a weapon, although she's been known to wield a mean frying pan.
Kitiara Uth Matar (E):
Kit was Raistlin and Caramon's half sister; her father was married to the twins' mother, Rosamund, before he ran off. Kit always loved fighting, and her father taught her a lot about fighting and competition, most of which she passed on to Caramon. She was a mercenary, and one of the best.
She accompanied Sturm north, to end up with the gnomes on Lunitari (see Sturm's profile above for the full story). While there, she found a picture of Takhisis in the dragon's obelisk that captured her mind; as soon as she returned to Krynn, Kit joined the Dragonarmies. She soon rose through the ranks, and became the Blue Lady (NOT Mishakal), the fiercest Dragon Highlord. Along with her blue dragon, Skie (Khellendros, the Storm Over Krynn), she terrorized the good guys, even going as far as killing Sturm on the High Clerist's Tower.
Kit had power-hungary ideas of world domination around the time that Raistlin went to challenge the Dark Queen, and she ended up in the Tower of High Sorcery, stabbing Dalamar (a revenge thing). However, people like Dalamar (and people in general), do not like being stabbed, so he fought back, and killed her. Her son (by Sturm), Steel, became a Knight of Takhisis.
Kit had black curly hair, and was medium height. She always wore some kind of weapon, usually a sword. Lord Soth, the Death Knight, served her because she was the first Dragon Highlord to spend an entire night in Dargaard Keep.
