The Burnt World of Athas

Death among the rocky badlands, budding mountains, and numerous silt basins of the southern coast of the Estuary of the Forked tongue can come quick, but a life can be made here or at least a living. On the Grey Coast, desert tribes trade with one another and a few outposts that eek out an existence, ruins of ancient times are revealed in the silt and beckon would be treasure hunters, traders always need new caravan guards, slavers always need new stock, and tales of the Fabled City of Plenty call to the curious.

A menu from The Halfling's Spoon, an Athasian eatery.

I was wrong,” Bayl said, chewing thoughtfully. “Cooking hasn’t improved them at all.” He pulled the little rodent’s tail from between his teeth and grimaced at it in distaste, then flung it into the fire.

Wizards monster summoning tables for 2nd Edition Dark Sun.

Hamanau's Code is a strict set of laws that govern every aspect of life under the preview of Hamanu, Sorcerer-King of Urik.

Ancient tablets found in a wrecked silt skimmer herald the coming of Athasian Warforged.

As the name suggests, this is a compilation of types of plants found on Athas. This resource gives descriptions of various plants: trees, cash crops, and even dangerous, carnivorous plants. Geographical locations where the plants grow are given as well as any other relevant information on the plant.

The Good and the Green; An Examination of the Athasian Halfling Culture in the form of ater from Brandobaris, flailing adventurer of Ogo, to his dear friend, the elven priest and preserver Disnomos.

Part 2 of the Lady of Shadows fiction

An alternate history with explanations of the lack of gods on Athas and the creation of the Dead Lands

The history of Athas is long and often lost to the sands of time. Similarly, the history of the Dark Sun setting's online presence is sometimes obscured. From the birth of the setting in 1991Dark Sun has had a continuous story.

In 2000, Dave Ries-Clark(Agantyr) released the Merchant's Calendar, a small Windows based program to track the Dark Sun calendar.

Pain. Pain the like of which I had never imagined. Like spears of sun-scorched obsidian sliding through my limbs where my bones should have been, the claws of some ravening beast tearing through my bowels, razors across my sweat-slick skin. And, through it all, he was there, inside my mind, pouring fear and anguish into my soul.

Another ancient unofficial article found in the web archives:

According to the Draji religion, a faith propagated by centuries of state sponsorship, King Tectuktitlay is the supreme temporal and spiritual authority of the cosmos, a kind of perfect incarnation of the spiritual forces of Athas. The Draji are taught that their King is the creator of all life and is responsible for investing the world with order and purpose. Unlike their neighbours in Raam, the people of Draj largely believe what the Moon Priests have taught them and they look upon Athas as world with their own King as its necessary centre. In Draj, as in Gulg, it is the state religion which dominates Draji identity and outlook, making it one of the more stable cities of the region, and certainly the most arrogant.

Tales of the corrupt races, Trolls, Wemics, Pixies, Goblins, the abominations of the Arcane Apocalypse.

The Net Projects were a series of projects created by members of the Dark Sun mailing list during the late '90s to flesh out the Dark Sun setting.

An ancient unofficial article from the depths of the internet:
The Dray, the draconic race who dwell far beneath the scorched surface of Athas, owe their fearsome form to a transformation wrought ages ago upon the band of humans who then served under Dregoth. However it was not only the bodies of his people that the Dread Lord saw fit to alter to his liking, but also their hearts and minds. This was achieved long before the physical transformation, when he fashioned for them a new religion, one which places himself at the centre of a cosmic drama in which they would play a vital part.

We are monsters. We are the damned. We recognise that there will be no place in this new world for us. Like the prophets of old, we are blessed with the foreknowledge of Paradise regained, but doomed never to see it with our own eyes.

Words and Language of the Athasian Elf.

What is the true purpose of the Dragon's Levy?

Rather than give a general review of the supplement (which can be found in numerous places online), let’s go over what the Dark Sun centric player and DM would be interested and show that “Heroes of the Elemental Chaos” is worthy of being called a Dark Sun supplement even if it’s not advertised as such.

In the late 90's a series of unofficial Dark Sun Netprojects were created on the Dark Sun mailing list. This list of Athasian Armor is one such project. The multitude of second edition stats for armor allowed a variance of each type of armor made from different Athasian creatures, creating a rich, detailed setting.

In the '90s a series of Net Projects were coordinated on the Dark Sun Mailing List. This project was about Dark Sun equipment.

As told one evening to a group of halfling children around a dying campfire under the light of the Athasian stars.

Defiling is arguably the most unique and recognizable aspect of the Dark Sun Campaign Setting. Though the idea of defiling is well ensconced in the mind of players, the concept and rules surrounding it have changed not only between editions, but even within editions. Here we look at defiling through the ages and leap into what we need for the future.