Apoletta (? PC - ? AC) was a Dargonesti Elf who was the leader of the Dargonesti in the ruins of Istar with her love Zebulah. She was known to have been kin to the Speaker of the Moon, and she can trace her family tree back to the Speaker of the Sun and Speaker of the Stars. Apoletta was the type that never stood on formality. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but it is known that she was born sometime before the Cataclysm.
She, like her husband, was an accomplished Wizard and after the War of Souls was a practicer of Spell-fables. As for religion, Apoletta would pray to the Fisher King (Habbakuk).
Apoletta’s mother had long silky green hair. She also thought of Nakaro Silverwake as a second father.
Biography[]
Post Cataclysm[]
Following the Cataclysm that decimated Ansalon, the Speaker of the Moon Nakaro Silverwake sent her to investigate what was left of Istar and the new Maelstrom that was formed. Apoletta and her followers then moved in and started exploring the ruins thinking this was a true gift of the gods. It was not easy though she had to face many horrors that had taken up residence in the city. Nakaro decreed that she would rule Istar until she decided to step down willingly.
During this time there her group rescued sailors as they came down from the storm in what was now being called the Blood Sea of Istar.
In about 300 AC, was a young Red Robe named Zebulah suddenly appeared in the ruins of Istar wanting to present himself before the Dargonesti after falling in love with Apoletta. Apoletta and her followers were going to attack him thinking he was bringing an invasion force down upon them. Zebulah convinced her that he wasn't there to invade, but to simply find artifacts from the Tower of High Sorcery at Istar. While exploring with Zebulah, she grew to love him and they were married. Even though she liked helping sailors, she always wanted them to return to the surface world immediately.
War of the Lance[]
She met with Tanis, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Caramon Majere, Tika Waylan, and Berem, and was able to allow them to leave Istar after hearing about the War of the Lance going on Ansalon. Eventually they would never come to remember her for the spell someone cast on them. Apoletta would then implore the assistance of Maquesta Kar-Thon in exploring the disturbance below the sea.
Post War of the Lance[]
After the War of the Lance, Apoletta tried to reestablish relations with the Qualinesti Elves. It took decades before any progress was made and even then it wasn’t until after the War of Souls did it solidify with the fall of Qualinost.
Chaos War[]
Apoletta led Istar against the Magori when they descended on the city.
Post Chaos War[]
After the Chaos War, there was no magic and without magic Apoletta’s husband Zebulah could no longer extend his life easily and breathe water. He had to resort to leeching magic from magical items like other wizards of the time that still wanted to cast spells. Apoletta gave him her magical items, but that wasn’t enough for him and he secretly started leeching magic from Istar’s twenty-four dragonlances. He eventually left in shame and stole a dragonlance.
During this time Apoletta led the wizards of Istar in investigating why magic disappeared. They looked to their past and invented the spell-fables even though they did not bring forth magic they found it a good way of remembering their culture.
Apoletta also gave two dragonlances to the Dimernesti Elves of the Sunstrider Clan to use in fighting Brynseldimer.
Post War of Souls[]
When the gods returned, Solinari was impressed with the spell-fables and made it so that they would bring forth magic. Apoletta became a wizard that practiced with them. This also caused political friction with the Purists of Watermere.
With the return of the three moons, the oceans’ currents changed again. The Dargonesti had to send out expeditions to map the currents. One expedition discovered the World Gash. Apoletta recognized the threat it represented and organized the first conclave of aquatic races in Dimernost. The conclave did not go well, but the Speaker of the Sea Nuqala Windspeaker requested a joint expedition to the World Gash involving the Dargonesti Elves and Dimernesti Elves. The expedition included Brysis, Echo Fury, Apoletta, Utharne, Arrovawk among others. Together they discovered that the World Gash was an extremely serious threat to ocean life and it was being caused by a Fire Dragon named Blazewight as he tried to heal himself using an Impaling Throne.
She was also reunited with her husband Zebulah, but he was no longer alive. He had been raised as an undead creature by the goddess Zeboim. Zebulah was working with the Mahkwahb who were in turn working with Blazewight albeit begrudgingly. Apoletta and her expedition entered a temporary alliance with the Mahkwahb and defeated the dragon. Zebulah had sided with his wife in the final conflict but was partly destroyed. Apoletta and her husband managed to say goodbye before he turned to mist.
Because of her heroics and diplomatic actions there was a power shift for the Dargonesti people's center of power from Watermere's Takaluras to the city of Istar. Also, the Speaker of the Moon Treyen Silverwake had a vision that predicted that Apoletta would one day become the Speaker of the Moon.
Apoletta was last known to be conferring with other leaders about the mass migration of whales from the Courrain Ocean led by Crest-breakers.
Personality and traits[]
Apoletta was known to have had greenish hair, which turned to silver in later years, pale pearl skin with slim white arms, and bright emerald green, almond-shaped eyes. Like other Dargonesti, she can shape shift into a porpoise. In that form she looks like an albino-like porpoise.
Titles[]
Apoletta was known by many titles including: the Steward of Istar, queen of Istar, and First Mother of Istar.
References[]
- The Annotated Dragonlance Chronicles, Spring Dawning, p. 1104-1106
- War of the Lance (Sourcebook), p. 236
- The Alien Sea, p. 4, 7, 13, 29, 31, 32, 47, 50, 51, 55, 58, 88, 96, 113-114, 144, 160, 162, 172, 199, 231
- Dragons of Time, "Song of the Mother", p. 268, 269