Ah! Hello there. Grak! Be a good boy, and inform the Overcouncil that we have visitors. Quickly now, you can finish your sweetmeats when you get back.
You'll have to forgive him, he's a bit slow. Good help has been impossible to find since Tithian freed all of our slaves. Now then, what is it I can do for you?
What is Dark Sun?
Dark Sun is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Set on the desert world of Athas, Dark Sun is about the struggle for survival.
Nine city-states cling to life in the Tablelands. Until recently, they were ruled by powerful Sorcerer-Kings, both tyrants and protectors. Now, only five remain; the other cities are cast into chaos and violent strife. Soon, the desert may swallow them, as it has so many times before. The wastes are riddled with the ruins of cities long dead.
It is a world where magic drains the very essence of life. Ancient wars have left vast swaths of the planet sterile; even now, druids fight a losing battle to preserve the environment. To practice magic is to tempt death at the hands of the mob, yet the cities themselves are ruled by the most powerful of defilers.
Originally released in 1991 by TSR for the 2nd edition of AD&D, Athas.org has been the steward of the Dark Sun campaign setting since the release of D&D 3rd edition in 2000. In that time, we have released updated core rules, two monster manuals, numerous setting supplements, such as City State of Draj and Wisdom of the Drylanders, and the epic adventure Dregoth Ascending. You can see a list of all of our products here
Announcements
[Dungeon] Traveling the Athasian Wastes
By: Teos Abadia
One compelling aspect of the Dark Sun setting is its diverse landscape. The environment and ecology of Athas have been worn and transformed by the ravages of war, defiling magic, and relentless exposure to the crimson sun. This article provides ideas for bringing to life seven common Athasian terrain types.
Wizards.com(Subscription Required)
Fiction - Lady of Shadows: Part 7
The mountains had grown from a blurred, uneven line on the horizon to a recognisable part of the landscape by the time the sun sank beneath the western horizon.
Fiction - Alternate History: Rajaat and The Pristine Tower
A short alternate history that deals with the War-Bringer, the Pristine Tower and their relationship with Iron.
Article: Hak'Trin Undead Thri-Kreen of Athas
This is a May of the Dead post, part of a a Blog Carnival hosted by The Going Last Podcast. As you may surmise the May of the Dead post has to do with undead, in this post The Wanderer, an Athasian who is famous for exploring the mysteries of the Dark Sun world tracks down Hak'Trin, rare undead thri-kreen.
[Dungeon] Cruel as a Desert Wind Adventure
The first of a whole slew of Dark Sun articles for DDI this month!
By Chris Perkins
House Tsalaxa uses various legitimate trade ventures to conceal its blackmail, espionage, and assassination schemes. Its representatives are feared for their ruthlessness—and for their ability to strike without mercy when threatened. However, Athas holds forces even more ruthless than House Tsalaxa, as a band of adventurers is about to find out.
Wizards.com (Subscription Required)