Before the Mask
Overview
Before the Mask, written by Michael and Teri Williams, is part of the Villains series within the Dragonlance universe. It tells the origin story of one of Krynn’s most enigmatic figures: Ariakas, the future Dragon Highlord and architect of the War of the Lance.
This novel is a dive into ambition, deception, and the corruption of power. It charts the rise of a man born to privilege who chooses a path of darkness not by accident, but by design. Through Ariakas, Before the Mask explores what happens when one man sees himself not as a servant of evil, but as its master.
Main Character: Ariakas (Ariakan)
Born to a noble Solamnic house, Ariakas is a gifted warrior, magician, and strategist.
Early trauma and disillusionment with authority plant the seeds of rebellion and ambition.
Ariakas’s arc is not a fall from grace, but a calculated transformation—from knight to warlord to dark messiah.
He sees order not in goodness, but in strength, and ultimately gives himself to the Queen of Darkness, Takhisis.
Supporting Characters
Daemyn – A mysterious mage who mentors Ariakas in arcane knowledge, but with hidden motives.
Ygraine – A courtly woman whose political scheming rivals Ariakas’s ambition.
Solamnic Lords – Represent the hypocrisy and decay of a system Ariakas seeks to destroy.
Agents of Takhisis – Shape Ariakas’s journey, testing his resolve and devotion.
Setting
The novel is set in pre-War of the Lance Ansalon, during a time of growing instability.
Key locations include Solamnic courts, battlefield campaigns, and the cultish inner sanctums of Takhisis’s emerging clergy.
This backdrop of political rot and social upheaval mirrors Ariakas’s personal journey from disillusionment to domination.
Plot Summary
Ariakas begins the story as a knight-in-training within the Order of the Sword, but his brilliance and arrogance soon clash with the order’s rigid code and internal hypocrisy.
Frustrated and betrayed, he leaves the knighthood and turns toward the arcane, where he discovers both power and a worldview that embraces control over compassion.
Mentored by shadowy figures and drawn into the cult of Takhisis, Ariakas refines his philosophy: the world must be ruled by the strong, and he intends to be its strongest.
Through betrayal, strategic alliances, and magical mastery, he rises in the ranks of Takhisis’s followers, setting the foundation for the armies and ideology that will define the War of the Lance.
Themes
Power as Purpose – Ariakas believes strength justifies authority. The novel interrogates the allure and price of that belief.
Disillusionment with Institutions – His journey is driven by the failure of noble ideals and the cruelty of so-called righteous systems.
Free Will vs. Corruption – Ariakas chooses darkness; his villainy is deliberate, not forced.
Charisma and Control – Ariakas isn’t just powerful—he’s persuasive, building loyalty through vision as much as fear.
Tone & Style
Before the Mask is darker in tone, psychologically complex, and more grounded than epic.
The prose is layered with political nuance, character-driven introspection, and an undercurrent of dread.
This is a villain’s tale told with gravity, not glamor, and it humanizes Ariakas without softening him.
Reception
The novel is praised for:
Offering a nuanced and compelling origin story for a major Dragonlance antagonist.
Balancing philosophical depth with tight pacing and tension.
Expanding the moral and political scope of the setting.
Some critiques:
Light on action compared to other Dragonlance entries.
May not appeal to readers looking for redemptive or heroic narratives.
Final Thoughts
Before the Mask is an intimate, chilling, and intellectually engaging tale of how a man becomes a tyrant. It’s a must-read for fans of Dragonlance who want to understand the motivations behind the warlord who would lead the forces of darkness.
It shows that evil is not always born in shadow—it can rise in broad daylight, wearing a mask of vision, order, and control.
Recommended for:
Readers who enjoy villain origin stories with moral complexity.
Fans of Dragonlance eager to explore the foundations of the War of the Lance.
Those interested in political fantasy and antiheroic ambition.