Gunthar Uth Wistan (Spring, 293 AC - 392 AC) was a Knight of the Rose and the Grand Master for the Knights of Solamnia. Gunthar was born to parents whose names are unknown and had six younger brothers, all of whom died prior to Gunthar's own death. It is unknown who Gunthar married, but he sired three sons. One was killed during the attack on the High Clerist's Tower during the War of the Lance, another was killed during the Chaos War, and it is unknown when his last son was killed, but it was prior to Gunthar's own death. He also adopted an Aghar Dwarf named Uhoh Ragnap Uth Kalstan in the time following the Chaos War, and named him one of his legal heirs. Uhoh inherited Castle Kalstan per Gunthar's orders.
Biography[]
Early Years[]
In the year 313 AC, Lord Gunthar gave a wedding gift to a fellow Knight of Solamnia named Daeghrefn. This gift was in the form of ten crystal glasses.
During The Rebellion in 335 AC, Lord Gunthar was based in Castle Brightblade under the command of Sir Angriff Brightblade. During battle one day, everything had seemed hopeless when the castle was surrounded, it was then that Angriff gave himself up in order to save the lives of the knights serving under his command. Gunthar vowed never to forget this.
Over the years, Gunthar built up a rivalry with Boniface Crownguard in anything that they competed in. Even when a young man by the name of Sturm Brightblade came to join the Knighthood and Boniface said declined him, Gunthar said yes to allow young Sturm to join. During the time that Sturm served under him, Gunthar acted as a sort of father figure to the young knight.
War of the Lance[]
He was the nominal leader of the High Council for the Knights of Solamnia during the War of the Lance, but didn't have the complete support of all the knights in order to claim the title of Grand Master. His main opponent for leadership was Derek Crownguard. Gunthar advocated a cautious strategy of slowly building the knighthood's strength and forging alliances with the other Whitestone nations as opposed to Derek who called for an immediate retaliation against the Dragonarmies.
After Derek successfully recovered a Dragon Orb, it appeared his star was in ascendancy. Still, Gunthar was able to get Sturm Brightblade accepted into the knighthood and placed third in command of the Solamnic army that was sent to defend the High Clerist's Tower. Even in the face of the accusations that Derek had made against Sturm, Gunthar personally pledged his honor for young Brightblade. Gunthar was a patient man and expected that Derek would self-destruct if given the chance.
After Derek was killed by the Dragonarmies at the Battle of the High Clerist's Tower, Gunthar finally laid claim to the title of Grand Master in the spring of 352 AC. When the metallic dragons returned, Gunthar had a mount named Giltarald who was extremely loyal to the Grand Master. Gunthar had a keen eye for talent and leadership and thus made the controversial decision to appoint the young elven Qualinesti princess, Lauralanthalasa Kanan (Laurana), as his main general. This decision was a masterful stroke as Laurana proved to be an inspirational leader with military prowess who led the Whitestone Army to a series of remarkable victories during the Vingaard Campaign. Their role in these victories helped restore the good name of the Knights of Solamnia among the people of Ansalon.
Post War of the Lance[]
Following the War of the Lance, Gunthar mostly stayed on the Isle of Sancrist in his castle of Castle Uth Wistan in the province of Gunthar. He kept many mementos from the war, including Theros Ironfeld's first Dragonlance, Derek Crownguard's broken sword, an ogre sword, a draconian sword, and many goblin swords.
In 355 AC, Gunthar was able to officially take the title of Grand Master, even though he had already been acting in the role for three years. His first order was that the Measure needed to be modernized, and that he would personally start it.
During the Blue Lady's War of 357 AC, Gunthar tried to scramble more knights to Palanthas to help defend against Kitiara Uth Matar attacking the city. They were unsuccessful and unable to stop the near total destruction of the city. Later that same year, the knights released Ariakan Ariakas from captivity.
Gunthar decided to retire from the Knighthood in 382 AC, though it is believed he still served as Grand Master in retirement.
Age of Mortals[]
Following the Chaos War in 383 AC, the scattered Solamnic forces retreated to their few areas of control, and Gunthar tried to restore order among his forces. By the time of early autumn of 392 AC, Gunthar was hard at work on the new Measure of Knightly Conduct. He also decided to send an invitation to Mirielle Abrena of the Dark Knights, to combine their two knightly orders together.
When Mirielle agreed with this venture, it didn't sit well with most of the Solamnic Knights, but they accepted it regardless. Dark Knights came to Gunthar to work on details of the new Measure and to pick a leader of the two orders. During this same time, Gunthar decided the knights would hunt down the infamous Mannjaeger. While Gunthar was out on the hunt, he was stabbed by Mannjaeger. Gunthar with a poisoned tusk during a fight and died while his adopted aghar heir, Uhoh, looked on. Gunthar was the last of the Uth Wistan lineage.
Gunthar's death record was testified by Knight of the Thorn, Sir Travalyn Kesper, acknowledged by Knight of Solamnia, Meredith Turningdale, as Lord High Clerist, and witnessed by both the future Grand Master Sir Liam Ehrling, and Sir Valian Escu.
Personality and traits[]
Gunthar had steely gray hair and was stocky. He was a very skilled swordsman with the great sword and didn't care much for ceremony. When he rode into battle, Gunthar was known to pull at his mustache. He was a man of honor, wisdom, faith, and courage. Gunthar had a keen eye and was an excellent judge of character. He never took to riding dragons but instead preferred to ride on griffon back.
Kender Tales[]
The Oath and the Measure novel has him being 30 years old in it, giving him a born date of 314 AC, but this is wrong.
References[]
- Age of Mortals (Sourcebook), p. 151
- The Annotated Dragonlance Chronicles, Winter Night, p. 758-761, 766, 770
- The Annotated Dragonlance Chronicles, Spring Dawning, p. 999
- The Annotated Dragonlance Legends, Test of the Twins, p. 957, 959-960, 970
- Before the Mask, p. 36
- Conundrum, p. 56
- Darkness and Light, p. 365
- Dragonlance Campaign Setting (Sourcebook), p. 206
- Dragons of Summer Flame (HC), p. 169
- Dragons of the Highlord Skies (PB) p. 44, 108-109, 237-238
- Knightly Orders of Ansalon (Sourcebook)
- Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home (Sourcebook), p. 141
- The Oath and the Measure, p. 2, 20, 35, 277
- The Odyssey of Gilthanas, p. 142, 195
- The Rose and the Skull, p. 10-12, 14, 18, 27, 32, 45, 67, 69-70, 73, 97, 100, 116, 140, 278
- War of the Lance (Sourcebook), p. 265-266