War of the Lance
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The War of the Lance is a fictional war in the Dragonlance setting, created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
[edit] Background
100 years after the Cataclysm, Takhisis, Queen of Darkness and goddess of evil, brought the destroyed temple of the Kingpriest to the Abyss, her realm. Using her powers she corrupted it, converting it into a gateway that connected with Krynn through a Foundation Stone in Neraka.
The War of the Lance is considered the Fourth Dragon War by the authors of the trilogy.[1]
[edit] The Everman
The Foundation Stone was discovered by Jasla and her brother Berem, who decided to take one of the emeralds decorating it, accidentally killing his sister when she tried to stop him. The emerald fuses in Berem's chest, granting/cursing him with immortality. Without the emerald, the Foundation Stone is useless, and Takhisis is prevented from entering Krynn. She commands her forces to search for Berem, who is known to them as the Everman.
[edit] The Oath
To prevent the good dragons from entering the next war, Takhisis commands her forces to steal the eggs from them, hidden in the mountains, and forces them to accept The Oath, in which she will return them as soon as the war is over if they stay away from it.
Unknown to the good dragons, Takhisis commands her clerics and wizards to corrupt the eggs, breeding a new race, the draconians.
[edit] The Companions
Friends since some time (some even since childhood), the companions were the group of persons Paladine chose through his avatar, Fizban, to combat the forces of Takhisis.
The group itself was formed by Flint Fireforge, a hill dwarf, Tanis Half-Elven, a ranger, Sturm Brightblade, a squire to the Knights of Solamnia, Caramon, a mercenary warrior and his twin brother Raistlin Majere, a red-robed wizard, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender.
Although Kitiara Uth Matar, mercenary and half-sister to the Majere twins, was member of the companions in previous adventures, she joined the Blue Dragonarmy of Ansalon, fighting for Takhisis.
[edit] Sides in the conflict
[edit] The Dragonarmies
Lord Ariakas, son of a dark cleric, agreed to serve Takhisis. He became the first Dragon Highlord, Commander of the Red Dragonarmy of Ansalon, the most powerful of the five armies. He in time chose four assistants to command each of the other chromatic armies. The races in the Dragonarmies were the ogres, the chromatic dragons, the goblins and hobgoblins, draconians, and humans.
[edit] Knights of Solamnia
The Knights of Solamnia were the primary opposers of the Dragonarmies. The Knights, as their name implies, defended Solamnia from the Blue Dragonarmy. Their primary defensive fortress, the High Clerist's Tower, was where the Knights took the brunt of the assault, defending Palanthas from the invasion.
[edit] The Whitestone Alliance
Meeting on Sancrist, the remaining free nations formed a temporary alliance in order to fight back against the Dragonarmies. The nations that were part of the alliance were the Knights of Solamnia, the gnomes, the Neidars (hill dwarves), and the people of Southern Ergoth. Although not members, the mountain dwarves, the Qualinesti and Silvanesti elves, and the kender joined to assist the Alliance.
[edit] The War of the Lance
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[edit] The Beginning of the War
The War of the Lance began in 348 AC when the Dragonarmies invaded Balifor and Nordmaar. The Dragonarmies surrounded Silvanesti, and the Speaker of the Stars Lorac Caladon made a treaty with them to stop an invasion.
On the following year, though, the Dragonarmies broke the pact, and Phair Caron, Commander of the Red Dragonarmy and the black-robed wizard Tramd of Thorbardin, also known as Tramd o' the Dark, invaded Silvanesti. The elves were forced to flee to Southern Ergoth, where they founded the city of Silvamori. Lorac Caladon stays in his realm and tries to use a Dragon Orb, a device created by mages to control dragons. He fails, and Silvanesti is destroyed by its magic, becoming a twisted nightmare. The green dragon Cyan Bloodbane takes control of Silvanesti, and uses its magic to control a weakened Lorac Caladon.
On 351 AC, the Black Dragonarmy seized Goodlund and besieged Kendermore, the White Dragonarmy controlled Icewall and the Blue Dragonarmy began the invasion of Solamnia.
[edit] The Start of a Journey
After five years, the Companions except Kitiara meet in the Inn of the Last Home in Solace.
Sturm Brightblade arrives with two Que-Shu barbarians, Riverwind, a warrior, and Goldmoon, daughter of the Que-Shu chieftain, who carries the Blue Crystal Staff and were travelling towards Haven.
An incident occurs in which the true nature of the Crystal Staff arises: the staff is the Healing Staff of Mishakal, recovered by Riverwind from the ruins of Xak Tsaroth while searching for proof of the existence of the old gods his family worshipped. The companions are forced to flee, as the staff is being looked for the local authorities, who depend on the Red Dragonarmy.
Although they tried to reach the city of Haven, they are forced to hide in Darken Woods, a cursed forest. Eventually they meet the Forestmaster, the unicorn protector of the woods, who tells them to go to the ruins of Xak Tsaroth to recover the Disks of Mishakal.
Once in the ruins, Raistlin befriends Bupu, a gully dwarf, who helps them find the Disks of Mishakal and a lost spellbook of Fistandantilus, protected by the black dragon Khisanth. Goldmoon is blessed by Mishakal, becoming her priest, and with her help the companions defeat the dragon, recover the items and escape to Solace, where the Red Dragonarmy captures and sends them to Pax Tharkas as slaves, along with Tika Waylan and Fizban, a wizard.
[edit] Journey to Pax Tharkas
On the way, Qualinesti elves freed them, and took them to Qualinost, where Goldmoon was accepted as a true cleric of Mishakal by Solostaran Kanan, Speaker of the Sun. Afraid of an invasion, the elves were preparing an exodus to Southern Ergoth. However, the Companions and Gilthanas, younger son of the Speaker of the Sun, decided to travel to Pax Tharkas through a Sla-Mori, hidden entrance, to rescue the prisoners and delay the invasion. They were joined by Laurana Kanan, sister of Gilthanas and Eben, a mercenary. At Pax Tharkas, however, Eben betrayed the Companions.
The group split, and Fizban and Tasslehoff Burrfoot learn about Highlord Verminaard's plans about the Everman, who is being held captive in the mines. They were discovered, and Ember, Verminaard's dragon mount, hunts them. Fizban sacrifices himself in order to save Tasslehoff.
Verminaard decides to launch the invasion, but the Companions manage to free the slaves, and he is forced to delay it in order to control the riot. Verminaard is finally defeated by Sturm, Caramon, Raistlin, Tanis, Riverwind and Goldmoon, while the red dragon in charge of the slaves sacrificies herself to protect them from being hurt, killing Ember at the same time.
The Companions flew to Qualinesti, where Goldmoon and Riverwind get married. From there they lead the slaves to the dwarven city of Thorbardin, where the dwarves receive them when the Companions recover the Hammer of Kharas for them.
[edit] Escape to Tarsis
Goldmoon gives the Disks of Mishakal to Elistan, former Seeker, who becomes the first known priest of Paladine since the Cataclysm, and the Companions travel south to Tarsis, where Sturm, Flint, Tanis and Gilthanas are arrested, along with Alhana Starbreeze, daughter of Caladon Lorac, Speaker of the Stars, who is hiring warriors to try to free Silvanesti.
They are rescued by three knights, Derek Crownguard, Knight of the Rose, and Brian Donner and Aran Tallbow, Knights of the Crown, who were trying to find ancient records of Dragons in a library in the city. With Tasslehoff's glasses of true seeing, they discover something known as Dragon Orbs who can be used to control dragons.
[edit] Battle for Silvanost
Spies in Tarsis inform a Dragon Highlord of the Companions whereabouts, and Tarsis attacked by the armies, including red and blue dragons. The inn where the Companions were located falls down, but Alhana Starbreeze manages to rescue Tanis, Caramon, Raistlin, Riverwind and Goldmoon. Although they refused her offer to accompany her to Silvanesti at first, wanting to find their other friends, her confirmation that a Dragon Orb is located in her country changes their opinion.
In Silvanost, the Companions battle the twisted world of Silvanesti and see future visions in the form of a dream. Raistlin manages to reach the castle, where he confronts Cyan Bloodbane and defeats him, ending the nightmare. King Lorac Caladon is freed, but dies shortly after. The Companions take the Dragon Orb and leave, but Alhana, new Queen of the Silvanesti, decides to stay to cleanse the country.
[edit] Journey to Icewall
Laurana, Sturm, Flint, Taslehoff, Gilthanas, and the knights travel to Icewall to retrieve a different Dragon Orb. With the help of the natives of the region, they break into Feal-Thas' castle, where Laurana kills him. They locate the Dragon Orb and a broken artifact that may have once been a dragonlance.
Knights of the Crown Brian Donner and Aran Tallbow die defending the small settlement of the natives. Knight of the Rose Derek Crownguard decides to take everyone to Sancrist Isle, to bring the Dragon Orb to the Whitestone Council to decide how to use it.
[edit] Dragonlances
While travelling by boat, they are attacked by Feal-Thas' white dragon, Sleet, and crash-land on Southern Ergoth, where they are taken prisoner by the Silvanesti elves. Upon learning about Laurana's identity, they assign them a kagonesti healer, Silvara, to treat their wounds, and take them to Qualimori, where the Qualinesti elves were evacuated. They learn that the two elven governments are feuding.
The Qualinesti learn about the Dragon Orb, and lay claim to it. However, the Companions decide to continue with their original goal, and escape from Qualimori taking it with them. Silvara and Theros Ironfeld, known now as Theros Silver Arm because of his artificial arm, joined them.
To prevent being captured by the elves, the party splits. Derek Crownguard and Sturm Brightblade take the Dragon Orb with them and travel to Sancrist, while Silvara leads the rest to the Silver Dragon Mountain, where it is revealed that Fizban is still alive, and that Silvara is a silver dragon, sister to Gwyneth, the dragon Huma Dragonbane rode during the last Dragon War. to an astounded Gilthanas, who had fallen in love with her. With Fizban's permission, Silvara teaches Theros Ironfeld how to forge dragonlances.
Fizban and Tasslehoff travel to Sancrist Isle, where the Whitestone Council was being held. Discussion over the ownership of the Dragon Orb nearly leads to open warfare between the elves and the humans. Tasslehoff shatters it against the ground to prevent this warfare. After Fizban saves Tasslehoff from the repercussions of his actions, Theros Ironfeld arrives shortly after carrying newly forged dragonlances, one of which was able to cut the Whitestone in half.
[edit] Kitiara
The companions in Silvanesti travel to the Bay of Balifor, and then to Flotsam to find a ship. They then find the Perechon, whose helmsman is Berem, the Everman. On the way back, Tanis, disguised as a Dragonarmy official is attacked by an elf, but is saved by Kitiara Uth Matar, now Highlord of the Blue Dragonarmy, who thinks Tanis has joined her army, and invites him to where she is staying.
Kitiara explains to Tanis about Takhisis' plans for the Everman and after four days she departs to Solamnia, to lead the siege against the High Clerist's Tower and capture Palanthas.
[edit] The High Clerist's Tower siege
Laurana, Flint, Tasslehoff and Sturm, recently knighted with Gunthar Uth Wistan' sponsorship, travel to the High Clerist's Tower to help in its defense. They survive the first attack, although most of the defenders die. Derek Crownguard takes most of the knights for a surprise attack, but they fall into a trap and are killed.
Tasslehoff finds a hidden Dragon Orb, and Laurana designs a plan to use it. Sturm volunteers to distract the dragons while the plan is set, and is killed. However, the plan works and two of the three dragons are slain as well. The Dragon Orbs affect the draconians in the army, and the Blue Dragonarmy splits apart, forcing Kitiara to withdraw her forces.
[edit] Into the Maelstrom
In Flotsam, Tanis joins his friends and they board the Perechon and sail. However, Gakhar, a draconian spy, informs Kitiara, and she flies with her blue dragon Skie to stop them. A powerful storm breaks, and Kitiara is forced to retreat, but not before her half brothers recognize her.
The ship loses control in the storm, and is trapped by the Maelstrom in the Blood Sea of Istar. Raistlin teleports himself out of the ship to Palanthas, leaving the Companions. The rest are sucked into the whirlpool, ending in the ruins of the ancient city of Istar. Eventually, a group of dimernesti, sea elves, rescues and brings them to the surface.
[edit] Kitiara's Plan
Laurana travels to Palanthas, where she is given the General rank by Gunthar Uth Wistan, becoming the Golden General. While preparing the defenses of the city, Gilthanas and Silvara arrive with the good dragons, having travelled to Sanction and discovered the fate of the good dragons' eggs. Upon learning about the eggs, the good dragons end The Oath and join the war.
In Dargaard Keep, Kitiara agrees with Lord Ariakas on a new plan, and sends a message to the Golden General to offer a prisoner exchange, Tanis for Bakaris, one of the Blue Dragonarmy officers that had been captured at the High Clerist's Tower. Laurana, not knowing the truth, escapes with Bakaris, Flint and Tasslehoff to meet Kitiara, but while travelling she is captured by Lord Soth, the undead knight working for Kitiara.
With Laurana in her power, Kitiara sends a flying citadel to Kalaman, and demands its control.
[edit] Rescue Mission
At Kalaman, Tanis, Tika, Caramon, Riverwind, Goldmoon and Berem meet with Tasslehoff and Flint, and learn about Sturm's and Laurana's fates. All agree to rescue Laurana, although Goldmoon and Riverwind stay in the city due her being pregnant. Berem goes with the party, as he wants to understand why the Queen of Darkness needs him. While travelling they meet Fizban, who decides to guide them.
Once near Neraka, Berem tries to escape, and Flint pursues him, suffering a heart attack. In his rage, Tanis attacks and kills Berem, believing he had attacked Flint. Fizban takes Flint's body with him to a place called Godshome, while the companions realize Berem is still alive. He narrates them his story.
[edit] The Temple of Neraka
A war council is taking place, and Tanis and Caramon disguise themselves as Dragonarmy officers, pretending to have captured the others in order to reach the prision. Kitiara discovers Tanis, and sends the others to the dungeons. When Gakhan, Kitiara's right hand, realizes the Everman has been captured as well and tries to retrieve him, a battle issues and the Companions run away, although they are separated. Tika and Tasslehoff try to escape, but a door trap leaves Tasslehoff dying and Tika badly wounded after fighting the pursuers.
In the war council chamber, Kitiara receives Takhisis' praise for having captured Laurana, who is to be sacrificied so that her soul could be given to Lord Soth. She also declares that Tanis is willing to join the army, and asks him to lay his sword at Ariakas' feet. When he is going to do so, Tanis attacks Ariakas. Although his first attack is nullified by Ariakas' magical shield, he is encouraged by a voice to try again. The second blow is successful, and Ariakas dies. Tanis recovers the Crown of Power and asks Kitiara to release Laurana in order to get it. Laurana, once freed, flees from the chamber. pursued by Tanis. Both the Red and Blue Dragonarmy begin fighting to prevent the other side from fetching the Crown.
Meanwhile, Berem and Caramon find the Foundation Stone, which is being protected by Raistlin, now wearing black robes. However, Raistlin allows Berem to finish his task, to further his own schemes as he did when he helped Tanis to kill Ariakas. Berem dies, freeing both his sister's and his own soul. The gateway is closed, and Takhisis is sealed in the Abyss again. The temple, no longer supported by her evil, begins to crumble.
Tanis, Laurana and Kitiara meet, and after a brief exchange of words, Tanis and Laurana escape the temple. Lord Soth delivers the Crown of Power to Kitiara, who becomes the supreme commander of the Dragonarmies. She retreats to Sanction with her Blue Dragonarmy.
Caramon and Raistlin find Tika and Tasslehoff, and Raistlin, who owed Caramon for all the times he helped him, heals them. They meet with Tanis and Laurana outside as the Temple of Neraka is destroyed.
[edit] The end of the war
Fizban reveals he is in fact Paladine, and that the gods never left Krynn, but instead it was the people who abandoned the gods. The War of the Lance officially ended in the year 353 AC.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Book 2, volume 1, chapter 3, Tarsis the Beautiful.”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 511. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.
[edit] Other books
- Margaret Weis; Tracy Hickman (2000). Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Chronicles vol. I. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1574-9.
- Margaret Weis; Tracy Hickman (2000). Dragons of Winter Night: Chronicles vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1609-5.
- Margaret Weis; Tracy Hickman (2000). Dragons of Spring Dawning: Chronicles vol. III. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1589-7.
- Margaret Weis; Don Perrin (2000). Brothers in Arms: Raistlin Chronicles vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1429-7.
- Several (2000). The War of the Lance: Tales vol. VI. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 1-56076-431-7.
