The Gates of Thorbardin Review

Join me as I review The Gates of Thorbardin by Dan Parkinson, live! Share your thoughts on this second novel in the Dragonlance Heroes II series, released on September 26, 1990 by TSR Inc. You can buy a copy here: https://amzn.to/484BkN4 

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About The Gates of Thorbardin

Magic and peril run rampant beneath the earth in this Dragonlance Heroes novel about Krynn's forgotten dwarven heroes

Legends tell that beneath the mountain fortress of Skullcap lie the remains of the dark wizard Fistandantilus and the path to the gates of the ancient dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin. Buried somewhere along that perilous path is the magical helm of Grallen, son of King Duncan, tragic hero of the Dwarfgate War. Finding Grallen’s helm, it is prophesied, will herald the return of a united Thorbardin—but it will also open the gates of the realm to fresh horror and chaos.

Now, one exiled dwarf’s dreams of the fabled helm will lead him on an adventure to glory. Or will it lead to his ultimate doom?

Review

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga review episode. It is Bakukal, Frostkolt the 8th. My name is Adam and today I am going to give you my review of The Gates of Thorbardin by Dan Parkinson. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this YouTube 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 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.

We are immediately introduced to the plot in an interesting way. Apparently a mountain dwarf named Chane Feldstone is having recurring dreams about finding the Helm of Grallen, though he doesn't know what or where it is. Only that he must find it. He tells the female dwarf he's into named Jillian about it and she believes him, and tells her father, Slag Firestoke. Slag does not want Chestal anywhere near his daughter, as he wants her to marry up in class, not down. So he pretends to help Chane but the troops he sent with him end up beating him and stealing his clothing and gear. Setup complete. Chane is seeking out a helm he's dreamed of and no one likes him.

Then we are introduced to his resourcefulness as he lured a mountain cat into a cave to kill it. While he is butchering it a kender named Chestal Thicketsway wanders in and hangs around to eat the cat meat with Chane. Chess tells him that he is on his way to Wakeep valley and Chane is headed that way as well. It presents it as a mysterious place that wizards won't even approach. We know Chane needs to get to Skullcap, so I wonder how he will arrive. In any case, they find a talking bird and as they follow it more cats arrive hunting them.

As Chane and Chess flee the cats, they come across ancient gnome machinery from the assault on Gargath’s keep, and Chane decides to make a hammer and sword while Chess explores. Chess comes across an unactivated spell from the Dwarfgate Wars and names it Zap. A red robed wizard named Glenshadow the Wanderer approached Chane, somehow knowing his destiny, and guides him to an Irda. Chess meets up with them and the Irda explains that two gems held the greygem. The Spellbinder which is still affecting the valley, the reason Zap hasn't gone off yet, and Pathfinder which is in the Helm of Grallen, kin to the last King of thorbardin Duncan. She also tells Chane that he is a descendant of Grallen! It is his destiny to use the helm to hide the northgate of Thorbardin, which has been abandoned since the Dwarfgate Wars.