Join me as I review The Citadel by Richard A. Knaak live! Share your thoughts on this third novel in the Dragonlance Classics series, released by Wizards of the Coast on July 1, 2000. You can buy a copy here: https://amzn.to/3LkFPxk 

Weapon of the Dark Queen

Against a darkened cloud it comes, framed by thunder and lightning, soaring over the ravaged land: the flying citadel, mightiest power in the arsenal of the dragon highlords.

In an age of war, an evil wizard learned the secret of creating these castles in the air and sought to use them to gain power over all Krynn. Against him were ranged a red-robed magic-user, a cleric, an ancient warrior, and — naturally — a kender.

Their battle shook the skies of Krynn.

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga review episode. It is Majetag, Newkolt the 6th. My name is Adam and today I am going to give you my review of The Citadel by Richard A. Knaak. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even pick up Dragonlance media using my affiliate links. This is my perspective only, and if you have any thoughts or disagree with mine, I invite you to share them in YouTube chat.

This is a solid start to a story. We are in Christine with the red robe wizard Tyrus and white robe Leot. They are researching when the city is attacked by General Markus Cadrio. He was a former member of the Black Dragon Army who was trying to rally an army around him. He commands dragons, gargoyles and two citadels which pummel Crystine. However, the city is protected by two gold dragons who fight off many of the attackers. The gargoyles take the wizards, but Tyrus falls. He wakes after the battle to Captain Bakal who shares the outcome. Immediately Tyrus wants to travel to get back his friend Leot. He goes to the gold dragons who refuse, as one is ready to deliver her eggs. 

Cardio is met by a wizard named Valkan who wants to raise another Citadel in Atrium, so he travels there and they sacrifice Lemuel, a cleric of Takhisis to raise this new, but different citadel. They use it to destroy the town of Norwich, but the new citadel destroyed one of Cadrio’s other citadels in the process as well as fighting off the silver dragons defending the town. This infuriates Cadrio who doesn’t feel he can trust Valkan.

Back in Crystine, Tyrus is visited by a cleric of Branchala named Serene who asks where Cadrio is. He doesn’t know but he asks if she needs help, and introduces her to Captain Bakal. They travel with twelve soldiers to meet up with a kender named Rap who invites griffons to carry them all in search of General cardio. They eventually arrive at Norwich, shocked at the devastation and remains of a flying citadel.

They suddenly realized there was motion in the clouds, and saw the Atrium citadel flying, concealed in the clouds. They moved to intercept it as they sent Rap to Gwynned to get the Gold Dragons to aid in the attack. Simultaneously, the gargoyles that served Valkan were beginning to mutiny as Stone was speaking with both General Cardio and Tyrus about helping either of them overthrow Valkan. Once the battle began it was a brutal one, with lightning striking and decimating foes. The black dragons joined and the gold dragons were defeated. Serene and Tyrus were taken into the Citadel as captives as it slowly made its way to Gwynned.

General Cadrio and Vulkan were at each other’s throats as well, vying to power, but Vulkan is clearly the victor. Selene realized that the love of her life she was searching for, is actually Vulkan, but was shocked to see the transformation in him. Vulkan showed Tyrus how he has been powering the citadel, through the life force of captured magi. Including Tyrus’ friend Leot. He then curses him to be unable to cast magic, and imprisons Tyrus again. Tyrus is saved by a gargoyle and Leot, and escapes to report to Captain Bakal. Together they come up with  a scheme to stop the Citadel before it reached to Gwynned.

Captain Bakal, Tyrus, and Serene once again invaded the citadel as it was staged to attack, and Tyrus was captured and replaced Leot as the power cell. Rap went to save him and was killed by Valkan. Serene began to take control of the citadel and the gargoyles attacked each other. Valkan was playing General Cadrio off his officer Zander, as they fought the gold dragons with the black dragons.

In the Atrium citadel, they destroyed the help which steers the citadel, but needed to also destroy the magical columns which powered it. Tyrus sent Bakal and Serene off and he went to destroy Valkan, the calendars or both. When he arrived, Valkan was busy focusing on the power, but after a short battle Tyrus sent his staff hurtling toward a calendar and destroyed it, and the citadel began falling from the sky. Valkan was caught under rubble and doomed, as the gargoyles in his service fled. Outside the griffons saved them from the falling fortress as it plummeted onto its own army far below. Tyrus ended up living, and they made a cairn for Rap where he trained the griffons. THe gargoyles came to pay homage to the heroes and went off as free beings.

All in all the story was interesting but I had no idea when it was set. It kept referencing the war of the lance and even kitiara, but then made mention of the gods leaving, but everyone used magic, so I am just confused. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, as Knaak put together an entertaining story with a horrid villain and interesting characters. If you are a completionist, you should read this novel, but otherwise I think you could skip it.

And that’s it for my review of The Citadel by Richard A. Knaak. When do you think the story was set? Do you like the new type of citadel? And finally, will we ever see citadels in the age of mortals? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or leave a comment below. 

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This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).