Who Is D&D’s Fizban The Fabulous

D&D Live, which aired July 16-17, announced a new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook titled Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, but not all D&D fans will know who Fizban is. The new sourcebook is a compilation of everything players could need to know about dragons, including lore, new species of dragons, and a number of draconic buffs for character creation. The book is compiled from the notes of Fizban the Fabulous, an elderly mage with a divine secret about his true identity.

Fizban’s first appearance was in the Dragonlance Chronicles, a book series detailing the War of the Lance, also known as Dungeons & Dragons’ Fourth Dragon War. Fizban was responsible for choosing the Heroes of the Lance, a group of 10 warriors who ultimately ended the war. He is also tangentially responsible for humans learning to forge the mythical dragonlance, a weapon that enables mortals to kill dragons. At the book’s end, he revealed he was actually the god Paladine (who is also linked to Bahamut). Now, through Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, it seems he seeks to share his draconic wisdom with Dungeons & Dragons players.

Understanding Paladine is key to understanding Fizban, as the latter is the dragon’s mortal avatar of choice. He is a rare platinum dragon in Dungeons & Dragons, revered as a god. Paladine is a god of law and all things good, and despises everything evil. As such, he is a very strict deity, setting the standard for the lawful good alignment. He is as compassionate to those in need as he is disdainful to dishonest characters. Bahamut likes to traverse the mortal planes as an old man seven canaries who are also gold dragons in disguise, as it affords him the opportunity to interact with mortals on their level. Bahamut is a figure introduced originally in the Greyhawk setting, and has since come to be associated with the Forgotten Realms. Bahamut represents many, if not all, of the same ideals as Paladine, the Dragonlance god. Fizban also appears to walk the earth with canary companions, echoing Bahamut’s pastime.

What Fizban Means for D&D’s Future

If Fizban is returning to the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, it could have significant impact on future campaigns. Not only does Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons open a door for the return and expansions of dragons, but it also implies Paladine (or Bahamut) is once more getting involved with the affairs of mortals. Fizban’s reasoning for releasing his draconic sourcebook has not yet been revealed, but it’s likely the character is hoping to prepare players for something big headed to Dungeons & Dragons.

Alternately, Wizards of the Coast has confirmed two classic Dungeons & Dragons settings are going to return for 5e gameplay. As a major character in the Dragonlance Chronicles, it’s possible Fizban’s reappearance signals that a Dragonlance campaign is incoming. It would be fun for players to create their own Heroes of the Lance, guided by Fizban through the Dragon War. A new Dragonlance campaign could also provide an opportunity for players to experience a narrative from the Dungeons & Dragons books, continuing the trend started by Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance.

About The Author

Brittany Spurlin
(182 Articles Published)

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Brittany Spurlin is Senior Writer for Screen Rant’s Game Features. Previously, she was a news editor on VENN’s editorial team. With a screenwriting degree from Boston University, she loves engaging narratives – especially the nerdy ones. More often than not, she can be found playing The Elder Scrolls, Wild Rift, The Legend of Zelda and Stardew Valley.

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