Hello, And Question: Galak? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Hello, And Question: Galak?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
munin_raven
Jul 24, 2009 8:43:45 Hello Dark Sun fans,

I've been re-reading my old 2nd Ed. Dragonlance stuff - on and off - over the last few years, but yesterday I found all my Dark Sun books in the loft. I could have sworn I got rid of them years ago so imagine my glee when I opened a dusty box and there they all were. I have no interest in playing D&D but I am looking forward to reading all the books and immersing myself in the setting again... and possibly annoying you guys with irreverent questions. :embarrass

Anyway, I would like to do some sketches and paintings as I read through my collection and thought Galak Sandstrider would be a good first choice as he's the opening narrator in the material. From what I've read so far (half of the Wanderers Journal) his race remains a mystery, and I can't remember it being revealed in any other products... although it has been a good 15 years since I last visited the setting. I just assumed he was human, but 'Sandstrider' seems to have an elven ring to it, and if he was a halfling that would make a lot of sense too – kind of like a nod to the history of the setting?

So, has Galak's race been revealed?

Regards,
Munin
#2
Band2
Jul 24, 2009 12:15:55
So, has Galak's race been revealed?

It depends on which Galak you mean the real Galak or the fake one.

The "fake Galak" was a pregenerated character included in the second series of Dark Sun adventures. He took the name as an alias, after the original legendary Galak. He was a half-elf.

Not sure if the original Galak's race was ever disclosed. In VoDaF he says he is a preserver but does not mention race.
#3
munin_raven
Jul 25, 2009 4:18:14 Thanks for the info, Band2. I was not aware of the 'fake' Galak, but the Half-Elf notion strikes a chord with me as their loner/drifter nature would certainly suit The Wanderer, so I think I'll paint him as an aged Half-Elf.

As a side note, the only other info I found on Galak was that he had a niece named Tyra who was interested in necromancy (Dragon Magazine #173). I didn't want to get back into the gaming side of things, but I couldn't help thinking about adventure seeds... what if Tyra decided to bring her beloved (and legendary) stepfarther back from the dead?
#4
jihun-nish
Jul 25, 2009 13:37:21
Thanks for the info, Band2. I was not aware of the 'fake' Galak, but the Half-Elf notion strikes a chord with me as their loner/drifter nature would certainly suit The Wanderer, so I think I'll paint him as an aged Half-Elf.

As a side note, the only other info I found on Galak was that he had a niece named Tyra who was interested in necromancy (Dragon Magazine #173).... what if Tyra decided to bring her beloved (and legendary) stepfarther back from the dead?

I say if she realy love him, she wouldn't do that (depending on her alignement witch I'm not aware of.)
Inthe case she'd be good aligned, I could well imagine a group or an individual who would like to bring him to unlife to extract information on something better not known, witch could unbalance the world as it is. (Lets say the wanderer wrote a hint on something major but never elaborated on the said subject.)

Tyra would still be a major NPC in this adventure since the protagonist is searching for her (or already have her when the players start the adventure) because it (group) he needs more intel on the wanderer to be able to bring him back like:

Where is he buried?
What is his real name?
What race was he?
and so on....

All I'm saying though is that Tyra could be intrigue in what her stepfather would have to reveal/say but terrified at the same time. And she would'nt do so willingly thus not on her own.

Jihun-
#5
munin_raven
Jul 26, 2009 6:45:10 The article (Troy Denning) is set up with Tyra's mother asking Galak to write to her daughter in an attempt to dissuade her from exploring her interest in necromancy, but Galak writes to encourage her (while pointing out the dangers) as a means to learn the secrets and truths of the past, so your ideas work well with how the article is presented.
#6
KrisKobold
Jul 27, 2009 21:38:32 I know the career of the mage Galek Sandstrider, as it is described passim in Valley of Dust and Fire, sounds quite similar to that of the Wanderer, but I'm curious as to any evidence that one is to be clearly identified with the other. Galek Sandstrider, the mage, has been dead for a century, but the Wanderer, whose niece Tyra is, is presumably alive after FY10 at least, since his later Chronicle mentions the events that have shaped the Tyr Region and beyond after the death of the Dragon. It seems unlikely that the two are one and the same, therefore.

Kris
#7
rainbringer
Jul 28, 2009 4:46:53 I agree with Kris, there doesn’t seem to be any real evidence supporting the theory that Galek and The Wanderer are the same person. From what I remember The Wanderer’s race is never mentioned explicitly; although we know he is male, Tyrian and considers himself an ‘old man’ at the time he writes the Journal; beyond that there are scant clues about him.

Simon Hawke’s ‘Tribe’ books introduced the idea that The Wanderer and The Sage (a nascent avangion) were one and the same – which is an interesting idea – but that idea came with a few strange concepts that jarred with Dragon Kings, one being that The Sage is an elf, another concerning what the avangion *might* look like when fully formed. Regardless, I’ve always imagined The Wanderer to be a low-level (at least at the writing of his Journal) human preserver – all indications seem to point to his social class being freeman or noble considering his literacy and general expression throughout his writings and a couple of other things I picked up on in the Dragon article. Hmmm…that was a long time ago though. ;)
#8
phoenix_m
Jul 28, 2009 12:24:16 Rainbringer, the Wanderer has been reveled on page 6 of the Wanderer's Chronicle
Who Is the Wanderer?
The Wanderer is a mysterious figure whom everyone knows about but few can
claim to have met. Tales say he’s a human cleric of earth who never stays in one
place, perhaps because of an insatiable curiosity, He has one highly distinctive
feature: His left arm is reptilian, covered with scales and marked by talon-pointed
fingers. How he came to possess such a limb has never been revealed, but tales
told around campfires speak of his many skills, fighting prowess, and knowledge
about the world.

There is even a picture or him on page 5.
#9
rainbringer
Jul 29, 2009 3:36:24 Hi Phoenix_M...

I completely forgot about the Revised Setting stuff. I have to admit I have a semi-subconscious disregard for certain elements of the revised setting forward - just a personal thing. Although I really liked the maps and the idea of the Obsidian Plain.

Thanks for reminding me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 munin_raven Jul 24, 2009 8:43:45	Hello Dark Sun fans, I've been re-reading my old 2nd Ed. Dragonlance stuff - on and off - over the last few years, but yesterday I found all my Dark Sun books in the loft. I could have sworn I got rid of them years ago so imagine my glee when I opened a dusty box and there they all were. I have no interest in playing D&D but I am looking forward to reading all the books and immersing myself in the setting again... and possibly annoying you guys with irreverent questions. :embarrass Anyway, I would like to do some sketches and paintings as I read through my collection and thought Galak Sandstrider would be a good first choice as he's the opening narrator in the material. From what I've read so far (half of the Wanderers Journal) his race remains a mystery, and I can't remember it being revealed in any other products... although it has been a good 15 years since I last visited the setting. I just assumed he was human, but 'Sandstrider' seems to have an elven ring to it, and if he was a halfling that would make a lot of sense too – kind of like a nod to the history of the setting? So, has Galak's race been revealed? Regards, Munin
#2 Band2 Jul 24, 2009 12:15:55	So, has Galak's race been revealed? It depends on which Galak you mean the real Galak or the fake one. The "fake Galak" was a pregenerated character included in the second series of Dark Sun adventures. He took the name as an alias, after the original legendary Galak. He was a half-elf. Not sure if the original Galak's race was ever disclosed. In VoDaF he says he is a preserver but does not mention race.
#3 munin_raven Jul 25, 2009 4:18:14	Thanks for the info, Band2. I was not aware of the 'fake' Galak, but the Half-Elf notion strikes a chord with me as their loner/drifter nature would certainly suit The Wanderer, so I think I'll paint him as an aged Half-Elf. As a side note, the only other info I found on Galak was that he had a niece named Tyra who was interested in necromancy (Dragon Magazine #173). I didn't want to get back into the gaming side of things, but I couldn't help thinking about adventure seeds... what if Tyra decided to bring her beloved (and legendary) stepfarther back from the dead?
#4 jihun-nish Jul 25, 2009 13:37:21	Thanks for the info, Band2. I was not aware of the 'fake' Galak, but the Half-Elf notion strikes a chord with me as their loner/drifter nature would certainly suit The Wanderer, so I think I'll paint him as an aged Half-Elf. As a side note, the only other info I found on Galak was that he had a niece named Tyra who was interested in necromancy (Dragon Magazine #173).... what if Tyra decided to bring her beloved (and legendary) stepfarther back from the dead? I say if she realy love him, she wouldn't do that (depending on her alignement witch I'm not aware of.) Inthe case she'd be good aligned, I could well imagine a group or an individual who would like to bring him to unlife to extract information on something better not known, witch could unbalance the world as it is. (Lets say the wanderer wrote a hint on something major but never elaborated on the said subject.) Tyra would still be a major NPC in this adventure since the protagonist is searching for her (or already have her when the players start the adventure) because it (group) he needs more intel on the wanderer to be able to bring him back like: Where is he buried? What is his real name? What race was he? and so on.... All I'm saying though is that Tyra could be intrigue in what her stepfather would have to reveal/say but terrified at the same time. And she would'nt do so willingly thus not on her own. Jihun-
#5 munin_raven Jul 26, 2009 6:45:10	The article (Troy Denning) is set up with Tyra's mother asking Galak to write to her daughter in an attempt to dissuade her from exploring her interest in necromancy, but Galak writes to encourage her (while pointing out the dangers) as a means to learn the secrets and truths of the past, so your ideas work well with how the article is presented.
#6 KrisKobold Jul 27, 2009 21:38:32	I know the career of the mage Galek Sandstrider, as it is described passim in Valley of Dust and Fire, sounds quite similar to that of the Wanderer, but I'm curious as to any evidence that one is to be clearly identified with the other. Galek Sandstrider, the mage, has been dead for a century, but the Wanderer, whose niece Tyra is, is presumably alive after FY10 at least, since his later Chronicle mentions the events that have shaped the Tyr Region and beyond after the death of the Dragon. It seems unlikely that the two are one and the same, therefore. Kris
#7 rainbringer Jul 28, 2009 4:46:53	I agree with Kris, there doesn’t seem to be any real evidence supporting the theory that Galek and The Wanderer are the same person. From what I remember The Wanderer’s race is never mentioned explicitly; although we know he is male, Tyrian and considers himself an ‘old man’ at the time he writes the Journal; beyond that there are scant clues about him. Simon Hawke’s ‘Tribe’ books introduced the idea that The Wanderer and The Sage (a nascent avangion) were one and the same – which is an interesting idea – but that idea came with a few strange concepts that jarred with Dragon Kings, one being that The Sage is an elf, another concerning what the avangion might look like when fully formed. Regardless, I’ve always imagined The Wanderer to be a low-level (at least at the writing of his Journal) human preserver – all indications seem to point to his social class being freeman or noble considering his literacy and general expression throughout his writings and a couple of other things I picked up on in the Dragon article. Hmmm…that was a long time ago though. ;)
#8 phoenix_m Jul 28, 2009 12:24:16	Rainbringer, the Wanderer has been reveled on page 6 of the Wanderer's Chronicle Who Is the Wanderer? The Wanderer is a mysterious figure whom everyone knows about but few can claim to have met. Tales say he’s a human cleric of earth who never stays in one place, perhaps because of an insatiable curiosity, He has one highly distinctive feature: His left arm is reptilian, covered with scales and marked by talon-pointed fingers. How he came to possess such a limb has never been revealed, but tales told around campfires speak of his many skills, fighting prowess, and knowledge about the world. There is even a picture or him on page 5.
#9 rainbringer Jul 29, 2009 3:36:24	Hi Phoenix_M... I completely forgot about the Revised Setting stuff. I have to admit I have a semi-subconscious disregard for certain elements of the revised setting forward - just a personal thing. Although I really liked the maps and the idea of the Obsidian Plain. Thanks for reminding me.