https://youtu.be/85lFDNTYwV0

She knew exactly what she wanted and refused to let anyone get in her way. Let’s learn all about Kitiara Uth Matar. Buy The Art of the Dragonlance Saga: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17389/The-Art-of-the-Dragonlance-Saga?affiliate_id=50797

Transcript

Her crooked smile ensnared men and women alike, but it was her ambition and drive that drove her to victory. 

Intro

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Kitiara Uth Matar. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. I am referencing the Dragonlance Chronicles, Lost Chronicles, Legends, The Art of the Dragonlance Saga and Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home for this information. If I miss anything, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Discussion

Kitiara was the last of the original three characters created by Tracy and Laura Hickman as they traveled to TSR for an interview. This was before Dragonlance was the name of the campaign world, but the two game designers knew they wanted this new project to convey the idea of balance between good, neutrality and evil. Laurana, named after Laura Hickman, was that pillar of good, Tanis was the pillar of neutrality and Kitiara was the pillar of evil. I have always struggled with the idea of evil, especially when applied to Kit. She is only acting in her own self interest, and thus, I cannot see Kit seeing herself as evil. 

Kitiara believes, as her father did, that “Power is the only truth.” There is nothing inherently evil in this belief, it’s how you exercise the power that defines good or ill. The framing of this dichotomy that Power exercised is evil, only muddies the pillar itself. This is further contextualized by the authors framing her evil actions through the following of Takhisis and by becoming a Dragon Highlord. But again, this is only evil if we are to believe the actions of Takhisis’ armies are evil and the actions of the Whitestone armies are good. But can there be good and evil when both sides are enslaving, slaughtering, and ultimately destroying innocence. This thought exercise is meant to frame the idea that I don’t believe Kit saw herself as good or evil at all, only the authors did. And it is because of their framing that any of us do.

Kitiara was a character that defied every norm. She was a skilled female warrior, a rarity in post Cataclysm Ansalon. She was cunning and steadfast in her control of her emotions, something most male warriors struggled with. She stood up to Lord Ariakas, Lord Soth, and won the respect of the Dark Queen, her armies and her mount, so much so that after her death, Lord Soth and Khellendros would scour the planes of existence in search of her soul. She used men, as men traditionally used women. She was one to celebrate the indulgences of life but never at the expense of her own greater goals. She was also capable of compassion and love, even if she refused to acknowledge it outwardly, and this is seen in her care for her brothers as a young woman. Let's take a look at her history and see if we can understand the character any better. 

Kitiara was the daughter of Gregor Uth Matar and Rosamun Aelan. Her father, a disgraced Solamnic Knight turned mercenary, would teach her to fight,