GNATCH

Real Name: Gnatchochilla Huxshiorna Minas Tyr Dughohosy Yxr

Class: Gnome

Occupation: Inventor

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Palanthas, Krynn, Earth-TSR

First Appearance: Dragonlance #5 (February, 1989)

Powers: Gnatch was a skilled inventor. One of his creations was the war bladder, which pumped bags of hide full of water and flung them at opponents.

History: (Dragonlance #5) - Gnatch was an overexcited inventor for Lord Anothius of Palanthus, but his overcomplicated inventions were in danger of being overshadowed since Palanthas received a full retinue of silver dragons. Gnatch convinced the Lord to see his new war bladder, but it soon ran amok, pelting the Lord with water bladders. The passing elf Kalthanan turned off the machine, and Anothius offered to reward him with an invitation to dine. The other guest was Laurana, the daughter of the Speaker of Suns, and an elf Kalthanan remembered from Qualinost. She said the elves of his home were no longer so haughty and self-assured since Krynn went to war, and Kalthanan said he'd be honored to fight under her alongside the Knights of Solamnia. The wizard Raistlin was using him as a pawn, and he heard voices and began speaking in Raistlin's voice about how no one could keep his magic from its true master. He fought off a number of guards, stabbing one, and forced Gnatch to activate his misfiring war bladder to cause a distraction so he could steal a horse. Gnatch realized he'd made a mistake, so he grabbed a ride with Kalthanan out of town. He asked Kalthanan why his lord's men were after him, and Kalthanan said he had no idea.

(Dragonlance #6) - Kalthanan was inexplicably drawn to Kalaman, a city run by the dragonarmies. Gnatch cobbled together a mechanical pogostick to speed their journey, but it was barely controllable. they came across slain soldiers, and were ambushed by river pirates. Kalthanan fought them, but was nearly overwhelmed when the dragonarmies slew his attackers. Gnatch said the dead bodies were from the dragonarmy, and they shouldn't have been fighting the pirates. To save his skin Kalthanan said Gnatch was one of the pirates, and tossed him in the river. The soldiers said they'd welcome a dark elf to their ranks, and took him to the inn of the Secret Shadow, where the bar mirror revealed a person's true nature. Kalthanan's reflection showed Raistlin, who was plotting against the Dark Queen, but shunting his traitorous thoughts to Kalthanan so she wouldn't suspect him. The soldiers turned against him, disliking magicians, but he was saved by Gnatch and Myrella, one of the river pirates. They showed him that the griffon he'd tamed had come looking for him, and they took flight. Kalthanan knew Raistlin was going to Neraka, where a pivotal change in the war would occur, and they went to find him.

(Dragonlance #7, 8) - The Dark Queen raised the Temple of Ishtar, corrupting it and making it a beacon for evil forces. Her plans were near fruition, and she warned Raistlin that he would pay if he intended to betray her. His thoughts of usurping her hit Kalthanan, but when he tried to enter the Temple with Myrella and Gnatch they were attacked by Draconians. They needed another way into the temple, and found a tunnel beneath the city. The tunnel was guarded by a Purple worm protecting her larva, but after severing her stinger they were able to flee her. The Dark Queen's armies were assembled to watch Raistlin help her materialize on the physical plane. Myrella tried to help Kalthanan from being drawn to Raistlin's will, but the mage's magic was too strong, and the elf struck his ally. Raistlin took his hidden magic and thoughts back from his pawn. Raistlin's brother Caramon Majere brought Everman to him. Everman's sister Jasla was embedded in the foundation Stone, wedging open the entrance to Takhisis' realm. He convinced Everman to impale himself on the stone, freeing his sister, and shutting the doorway between worlds. Takhisis bellowed in anger, realizing she was being banished from Krynn. Her armies fell into chaos, and Kalthanan and company had to fight off a number of Draconians before fleeing on Kalthanan's griffon. They met Laurana and Tanis Half-Elvan, and Kalthanan apologized for his earlier violence when he was at Raistlin's mercy. Laurana was overjoyed that war on Krynn was over since Takhisis was no longer around to command her troops. All was forgiven, and Kalthanan left his friends, telling them he had unfinished business with Raistlin.

(Dragonlance #13) - Myrella Kalthanan, and Gnatch were present for the end of the War of the Lance. The forces of good won, but Kalthanan went MIA and his friends spent two fruitless years searching for him. The council of wizards chose Myrella as an initiate, and she'd have to locate the Tower of High Sorcery to complete her training. She dreamt of magicians Par-Salian and Ladonna seeking the lost Tower of High Sorcery, crossing nightmarish realms to reach it. The tower appeared deserted, but as they approached tendrils shot from the tower and grabbed them. Gnatch worried about the strain she was under, but she was committed to completing her test. Gnatch bid her farewell and gave her his latest invention, a compressed ball that expanded into a somewhat lifelike dragon-shaped kite that could potentially frighten opponents.

Comments: Created by Dan Mishkin & Mike Collins.

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