Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
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| Dragons of the Dwarven Depths | |
 Dragons of the Dwarven Depths book cover |
|
| Author | Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Matt Stawicki |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Lost Chronicles |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy, Dragonlance |
| Publisher | Wizards of the Coast |
| Publication date | 2006 (mass market hardback and paperback) |
| Media type | Print (Paperback/Hardback) |
| Pages | 438 |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0-7869-4099-8 |
| Followed by | Dragons of the Highlord Skies |
Dragons of the Dwarven Depths is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on the Dragonlance fictional campaign setting. It is the beginning of the Lost Chronicles trilogy, designed to "fill-in" the gaps in the storyline between the books in the Chronicles trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning)
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The book continues with the adventures of the Heroes of the Lance after they free the slaves from Pax Tharkas in the book Dragons of Autumn Twilight. This book is about the heroes trying to lead the refugees to safety in Thorbardin, as well as attempting to obtain the Hammer of Kharas.
[edit] Explanation of the novel's title
The title alludes to the plot of the book, as the heroes must enter Thorbardin in order to obtain the Hammer of Kharas, thus the Dwarven Depths.
[edit] Plot summary
After the Companions help the slaves escape and kill the Dragon Highlord Verminaard, the Companions lead the refugees into a defendable valley for the winter. To ensure their safety, Raistlin Majere destroys the pass leading into their valley. During this time, Goldmoon and Riverwind are married by Elistan, with great feasting and cheering. After their marriage, Riverwind informs Tanis of his intent to leave with their tribe, however, Goldmoon disagrees with him. As the weeks pass, the refugees soon begin to forget the chaotic events of the previous weeks, and so, begin to feel a false sense of security. The Highseeker leader, Hederick, capitalizes on this, persuading the refugees to permanently reside in the valley. However, the Companions see the truth of this plan, and attempt to persuade the refugees otherwise. The Companions organize a debate on the valley floor between Elistan and Hederick, however, are interrupted when Verminaard, on his dragon, swoops down and sets trees on fire as a warning. The Companions immediately set out, realizing that there may be a great evil at work if Vermiaard has been resurrected. Tanis persuades Riverwind and Goldmoon to stay behind, as they can guard and teach the refugees. Raistlin, Caramon, and Sturm sneak away in a bizarre turn of events, heading through a secret tunnel to Skullcap, while Flint and Tanis head towards a secret dwarven pass leading to Thorbardin. The night before Caramon leaves, Tika attempts to stop him, as Tika tells him that Raistlin is using him as a fool; sending him on a suicide mission. After she realizes that he left anyway, she goes after him, and Tasslehoff, who was forced by Caramon to swear to protect Tika, goes with her too.
Back in Pax Tharkas, as the Companions and slaves escaped, the aurak second-in-command of the fortress, Dray-yan, has the dead Verminaard rushed back to Verminaard's room under the pretense that he is badly wounded, orders everyone out, locks the door, and assumes the shape of Verminaard. He realizes that he's not very knowledgeable in battle tactics, an essential trait for impersonating the dead Highlord. He disposes of Verminaard's body, and calls in a bozak draconian named Grag, and lets him in on the secret, in order to help him command the remaining forces. They make plans for restarting the steel mines that were shut down when the refugees escaped, and to pursue the refugees. They hope that their success can show Queen Takhisis, who feels that draconians are dumb fodder, that draconians are better than humans. And so, the rest of the draconians in the fort still think that Verminaard is alive, but Verminaard is actually an aurak in disguise.
Tanis and Flint hike up a mountain, where Flint says the secret dwarven pass is located. They reach the pass, and Flint notices a big rock marked with yellow paint, and tells Tanis that it's a keystone, a stone that if removed, will block up the entire pass. He leaves a pickaxe facing the rock, a sign for Riverwind in case he and the refugees need to escape. They hike down the other side of the mountain, and onto a plain.
Caramon, Sturm, and Raistlin trek towards a rock cliff, and once at the base of the cliff, Raistlin activates a secret rune, causing a rock slab to roll away, revealing the entrance of an underground tunnel. They continue through the tunnel for about two days, when they begin to hear voices at the other side. Coming closer, they realize that it's the voices of draconians. They carefully creep out of the tunnel, and see draconians finishing off a mortally wounded brass dragon. The threesome immediaetly make a brave charge to save the brass dragon. They manage to kill the draconians, however, the dragon dies. They examine the cavern with the dragon to see what the draconains were looking for, when Raistlin inspects a sack in the corner of the room and notices an enchanted dwarven helm inside it. After Raistlin leaves, Sturm, mistrustfully of Raistlin, goes to inspect the helm. The enchantment on the helm forces him to put it on, and once he's done so, he becomes possessed. Upon conversing with the "new" Sturm, Raistlin and Caramon realize that the helm contained the spirit of an ancient dwarven prince, Grallen, who is trying to fulfill his duty, to warn his father in Thorbardin of the attacking Fistandantilus's army. As it's already night and they are tired, Caramon and Raistlin persuade the dwarven spirit to stay the night to rest. As they are prepearing to rest, Caramon and Raistlin hear noises coming from the tunnel, and go to investigate.
Tika and Tasslehoff follow Caramon, Raistlin, and Sturm's tracks to the base of the cliff, where Tika and Tasslehoff enter the same tunnel. When they emerge at the other side, they also hear noises ahead of them, and prepare to battle. When they see their foes, however, they realize that it's Caramon and Raistlin. Tika then tries to convince Caramon to leave now, and leave Raistlin to complete his own suicidal plans on his own. However, Caramon refuses to leave, and in a temper, Tika leaves. Tasslehoff also follows. Tika then realized that she overheard Caramon and Raistlin talking about finding a way out, and she decides that if she finds a way out, Raistlin wouldn't consider her useless. Tasslehoff feels fresh air coming down from a walkway above them, and with Tika's help, manages to climb onto the walkway. He notices that there's a lot of equipment scattered all over the walkway, and when he sees the hole where fresh air is coming from, he pop his head into the hole. He sees a troop of draconians right beside him, and quickly pops back out again.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Heroes of the Lance
- Tanis Half-Elven, a half-elf and de facto leader of the companions.
- Sturm Brightblade, a squire to the Knights of Solamnia and deeply honorable man.
- Goldmoon, daughter of the chief of the Que-Shu tribe (Chieftain's Daughter) and first true cleric since the Cataclysm.
- Riverwind, husband of Goldmoon and leader of Plainsmen refugees.
- Caramon Majere, huge, muscular (but sometimes slow-thinking) warrior with a deep affection for his twin brother.
- Raistlin Majere, a powerful, sarcastic, cynical, frail mage of the Red Robes, and the twin brother of Caramon.
- Flint Fireforge, a gruff old dwarf and old friend of Tanis.
- Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a happy-go-lucky, innocent, and genial kender.
[edit] Quotes
"Just because a mage wears the Black Robes, does not make him evil." Raistlin Majere
[edit] Trivia
Margaret Weis dedicates the book to her father, George Edward Weis, while Tracy Hickman is more obscure and dedicates it to "all those whose sacrifices are praised only in the heavens."
There may seem to be an error in this book concerning the location of Rabbitslayer, Tasslehoff Burrfoot's magical dagger. When Tika leaves the group in Skullcap, she asks Tas for Rabbitslayer because she is without a weapon. Tasslehoff gives her the dagger and they are not reunited again in the book. However, later Tas is found cleaning the weapon. The Dragonlance Encyclopedia [1] reminds us that Tasslehoff is bound to this weapon and it will always return to him regardless of any distance. The authors seem to be showing this to us but not mentioning the magic at work here.
