The Silver Stair is a Celestial Ladder found on the island of Schallsea. Depending on the era, it usually can only be seen in moonlight of some sort. When seen it appears as a glimmering spiral staircase that hangs in midair ascending high into the sky. The narrow stairs appear delicate and there is no railing. It is the only surviving celestial ladder in the Age of Mortals. Leading some to believe that this is a sign that Good is destined to triumph in the world.
Pre-Chaos War[]
During this time the stair would only be visible with the light of the full moon of Solinari. It is widely believed if someone climbed the stair during this time they would be taken to the home of the god Solinari. There are also legends that state that you climber would be taken to Court of Paladine as well.
Post Chaos War[]
After the gods left, the stair took on new powers. The stair would now grant visions educating those who climbed it on unresolved weaknesses that they had hidden in their mind. It would now become visible when moonlight from the pale new moon would hit it.
Citadel of Light[]
In 391 AC, Goldmoon and her order of mystics choose the Silver Stair as the site to center their Citadel of Light. Shortly after construction began, Gair Graymist became corrupted by his experiments in dark mysticism. He leeched magic from the Silver Stair to make undead. In the process he cracked nineteen of the stair’s steps before he was defeated.
In 396 AC, the Citadel of Light was completed. It was built around the Silver Stair. Also, grown around the stairs was the magical Hedge Maze.
The mystics of the citadel use the Silver Stair as part of two of their tests. The first test using the stair is when a potential mystic comes to the citadel. They climb the stair and if they face what the visions show they are granted the title of Citadel Aspirant and given mystic training. After the aspirant has undergone enough training to be a Citadel Mystic they can choose to try the test to become a Citadel Master. In order to become a Master they must climb the stair and defeat the dark facets that are shown to them.
Before the War of Souls[]
Around 417 AC, magic began to fail around Krynn. The Silver Stair was affected as well. It began to be seen during the day.
War of Souls[]
In 421 AC, the Great Storm swept over Ansalon. After the storm, the stair ceased to give visions for a short time. Also, that same year the green dragon Beryllinthranox and her forces attacked the Citadel of Light and damaged many of the domes and burned down the Hedge Maze. The Silver Stair survived the attack.
Post War of Souls[]
The Citadel of Light was rebuilt and the Silver Stair continues to give visions to this day. It is now visible only whenever moonlight from one the three moons touches it.
Leaching Power[]
Magical power can be pulled from the stairs. In fact, it is believed the ambient magic from the stairs fuels some of the properties of the Hedge Maze. If someone pulls magic from the stairs for evil, the stairs will allow it but it will permanently damage them. It will leave cracks in the steps, like those done by Gair Graymist. Interestingly, pulling magic from the stairs for good intentions does not damage them.
Kender Tales[]
One source refers to the structure as the ‘Silver Stairs’, but that is another name for a different structure also called The Silver Stairway.
References[]
- Age of Mortals (Sourcebook), p. 152, 155
- Bertrem's Guide to the War of Souls, Volume 2, "A Journey to Schallsea", p. 46, 57, 58
- Citadel of Light (Sourcebook), 'Book 1' p. 18, 19, 32
- Dragonlance Campaign Setting p. 100, 171
- Dragons of a Fallen Sun (HC), p 515
- The Silver Stair (Novel) p. 21, 25, 167-171, 250, 261, 285, 304