War of the Twins

Infobox Book |
name = War of the Twins


image_caption = Caramon Majere and Tasslehoff Burrfoot
author = Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
illustrator = Valerie Valusek
cover_artist = Matt Stawicki
series = Dragonlance Legends
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Wizards of the Coast
release_date = Original: May 1986,
2nd Edition: June 2004 (hardcover)
pages = 411 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7869-1805-5
preceded_by = Time of the Twins
followed_by = Test of the Twins "War of the Twins" is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, in the Dragonlance series of novels. It is the second novel in the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, a series detailing the journey of the fiction twins Raistlin Majere and Caramon Majere, along with Crysania and Tasslehoff Burrfoot. This book details their adventures some 100 years after the Cataclysm and the Dwarfgate Wars.

Plot introduction

The story begins where the last novel left off. Raistlin, Caramon, and Crysania have traveled into the future to about 100 years after the Cataclysm, a monumental event in the Dragonlance world that altered the shape of the world. They arrive in the Tower of High Sorcery at Palanthas. Caramon, before bent on stopping Raistlin's quest for godhood, must now aid him to return to his own time period.

Explanation of the novel's title

War of the Twins is most likely a reference to the devastating Dwarfgate Wars that occur in the novel. The "Twins" part of the title is most likely a reference to Raistlin and Caramon, who are twins.

Plot summary

Upon arrival in the Tower of High Sorcery, Raistlin is tested by the undead guardians to prove that he is really the Master of the Tower. It is revealed that he has beaten Fistandantilus and absorbed his soul, thus increasing his power immensely. After regrouping and gathering themselves after the time traveling, Raistlin goes to find the Portal to the Abyss which is necessary to his ascension to godhood. When he goes to it, he discovers that it is not there. He lapses into a rage and then goes comatose. Crysania goes to Astinus, a man in Palanthas who records all history as it occurs. She asks him where the Portal has been moved to for Raistlin, but he says that "even he has his price". In order to obtain the information, Raistlin creates the Globe of Present Time Passing and gives it to Astinus. Astinus reveals that it is in the magical fortress of Zhaman, located in dwarven lands.

The scene shifts to Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who finds himself in the Abyss, though he doesn't realize it yet. Tasslehoff encounters Takhisis, the Queen of Darkness, who tells him how he has altered time and possibly allowed her to take over the world. Tas meets Gnimsh, a gnome, who claims he is a failure because all of his inventions worked (gnomes in the Dragonlance world constantly invent, and more often than not they fail. The gnomes believe failure is a means of learning). Gnimsh agrees to help Tasslehoff get out of the Abyss and starts to fix the device of Time Journeying. Meanwhile, Caramon, Raistlin, and Crysania have traveled south. They are ambushed by a company of rogues. Caramon challenges their half-ogre leader to a duel, and when he wins, the company, actually filled with honorable men, some even Knights of Solamnia, joins him.

Caramon becomes the General of the Army of Fistandantilus. Many come to join his army, and they number several hundred. The army continues south. The next scene is a meeting between the mountain dwarves of Thorbardin and the hill dwarves. The hill dwarves claim the mountain dwarves have stolen supplies and wealth from them. When the mountain dwarves refuse to give it back, it leads the hill dwarves to join up with Caramon's army. Crysania flees when Raistlin rejects her love and makes plans to bring word of the true gods to the people, 200 years before Goldmoon would during the War of the Lance. She encounters place stricken by plague and finds a dying false cleric, who she tries to convert. She discovers that people are still too angry to accept the true gods yet. Meanwhile, Caramon and Raistlin experience a very interesting moment contrary to their current relationship. Caramon believes he is under attack but it is in fact merely a rabbit. Raistlin and Caramon begin to joke and share memories. Later, Raistlin and Caramon go to the village where Crysania is. Raistlin uses his immense power to summon a massive fire that razes the town. He is in fact preparing Crysania to come with him into the Abyss with trials comparable to Huma Dragonbane's.

Raistlin uses the Dragon Orb in his possession to contact Dalamar, in order to learn Fistandantilus's mistake that cost him his life. This done, Raistlin loses control and the orb breaks. After this, Caramon meets with Reghar Fireforge, the grandfather of Flint Fireforge. Reghar agrees to join Caramon and attend a dinner with the Plainsmen, which Reghar is not happy about. After the dinner, Caramon devises a game for the dwarves and the Plainsmen to play in order to obtain weapons and build trust. This solidifies the army.

Caramon and his army soon capture the fortress of Pax Tharkas, thanks to the help of traitorous dark dwarves. The mountain dwarves retreat to Thorbardin and close the gates, preparing for war. Kharas, the dwarf hero, led a daring assassination of Raistlin. Kharas wounds him drastically, but Raistlin has time before death. Crysania heals Raistlin, perhaps against his will. It is then discovered that Tas and Gnimsh have escaped the Abyss and were captured in Thorbardin. Raistlin appears and rescues Tas, but kills Gnimsh, presumably in order to correct Fistandantilus's mistake of allowing the gnome to be at the Portal when he tried to enter. Tasslehoff is then taken to the dungeons of Zhaman, which Caramon's army occupies. There, he reveals that the Dark Queen imparted the words "Come home" in a message to Raistlin, which strikes Raistlin like a physical blow. It is revealed that when his mother died, Raistlin was in fact affected by it, and said the words "Mother, come home...Come home!" over her dead body. Soon after, it is revealed that the dark dwarves betrayed them and had slowly killed off the hill dwarves. They attempt to assassinate Caramon, but are beaten back. Caramon meets up with Tas, and they plan to return to their proper time period. Raistlin, after a last talk with his brother, opens the Portal with Crysania's help at the same time Caramon and Tas activate their device. The result is the explosion that levels Zhaman, however, this time, Crysania and Raistlin enter the Portal whereas Denubis, Crysania's equivalent in the past, had died and Fistandantilus had departed that plain of existence. The book ends with Raistlin entering the Abyss.

Characters

*Raistlin Majere, an evil archmage, possibly the strongest to ever live.
*Caramon Majere, Raistlin's twin brother, a kind warrior.
*Crysania, a cleric of Paladine in love with Raistlin.
*Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender who has the power to alter time.

References

*"War of the Twins"

Further reading

The other novels in this series are:
*"Time of the Twins", preceding this novel
*"Test of the Twins", following this novel.

External links

* [http://dlnexus.com/products/109.aspx War of the Twins at the Dragonlance Nexus]
* [http://ww2.wizards.com/books/wizards/products/?doc=965460000 War of the Twins at the Wizards of the Coast website]