Dragonlance: The Lost Chronicles: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths

Written by: Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis

When a “midquel” is planned, it is usually for one reason. Money. It’s usually a tale that while sometimes entertaining, often feels shoehorned between two stories. There are often contradictions and since it has been so long since the story, the author’s styles have changed greatly.

So how does the first volume of the Lost Chronicles do with that in mind? It does well despite a few of the same problems.

One reason it succeeds greatly is because it almost seems as this was planned oh so long ago. Perhaps due to it being the first attempt by Weis/Hickman, or perhaps due to the fact that they were going in tandem with modules for a roleplaying world, but I had never seen such a major portion of a storyline simply left out of an epic saga. At the end of Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the Companions had defeated Verminaard and freed the slaves of Pax Tharkas.

At the beginning of Dragons of Winter Night, they are in Thorbardin with the slaves having discovered the lost fabled Hammer of Kharas which was used to forge the Dragonlance and ready to move on.

That’s quite a piece to leave out. So in this rare instance, it actually seemed that a midquel would actually not only be appropriate, but actually almost necessary.

The Companions have led the slaves into the valleys outside of Pax Tharkas and Raistlin has used his magic to destroy the pass making it impossible for the remaining dragon armies to follow them. They settle in a defendable valley, while they determine their next step. Riverwind wants to leave with his tribe but Goldmoon argues against it. There soon begins to be a false sense of security which Hederick the Theocrat takes advantage of, arguing to permanently create a new home in the valley.

The Companions realize how foolish it is and when Verminaard reappears in the sky, they knew immediately that they can’t stay. The only option they can forsee is marching to find Thorbardin and asking the dwarves for sanctuary. Flint, of course being a hill dwarf hates the idea and refuses to help at first.

Verminaard hasn’t really been resurrected. Instead it is a draconian magic user who poses as Verminaard since his kind wouldn’t be accepted as a ruler. Two draconians are now ruling the Red army and they have a plan to have Verminaard killed in such a manor that he would appear to be bungling and they would pick up the pieces so they could impress Lord Ariakas enough to give them the Dragon Highlordship.

Tanis and Flint make for Thorbardin directly, while Raistlin is drawn towards Skullcap by the spirit of Fistandantilus inside him. He insists that the key to Thorbardin is in Skullcap. Caramon joins him as does Sturm, because he doesn’t trust the red-robed wizard.
After they leave, Tika decides to go off after Caramon and convince him to come back. Tasselhoff, who was left in charge of protecting Tika, by Tanis, goes after her.

Tanis leaves Riverwind in charge which is a great idea both fictionally and creatively as it gives Riverwind a focus he never really had in any of the stories.

Being as the tale is heavily involved with Dwarven legend and cities, it comes as no surprise that Flint Fireforge is also given a much needed and deserved central role. Always the reluctant hero, he is often been overshadowed by Dragonlance’s main reluctant hero, in Tanis. A favorite of mine, I’m slightly biased, but glad to see it.

The key to Thorbardin is indeed in Skullcap as Raistlin finds an enchanted helmet which Sturm is drawn to put on. When he places it on his head, Sturm is inhabited by the spirit of a long dead Dwarven Prince. The spirit of the Prince longs to return to Thorbardin…and it knows how to get there.

Tika catches up with Caramon just as they discover an army of draconians at Skullcap. Knowing tha tthis places the refugees in danger, Tika decides to venture back to warn Riverwind. Caramon wants to go with her, but Raistlin guilts him into staying.

Tika’s return causes much consternation as Riverwind has to fight bigotry and Hederick who still wishes to stay. With Ellistan, Goldmoon, and Laurana helping they are able to convince most of the refugees to begin the trek to Thorbardin now even without knowing whether the Dwarves will accept them.

The two companion parties meet up at Thorbardin and are able to enter, and are immediately attacked by dark dwarves. They are rescued by Arman Kharas, a Hylar Dwarf who has taken the name of the great hero as a mark of respect and because he believes he is destined to find the legendary Hammer of Kharas. He even carries a replica of the Hammer with him He brings the Heroes before the council.

It is not long before it is revealed to the reader that two of the clans were working with the Draconians and planning to overthrow Thorbardin themselves.

After Sturm, as the Prince reaches his post, convinces the Dwarves of the validity of their claims, the heroes are able to gain a fair discourse.

In a vision, Reorx appears to Flint although he does not admit it, and it tells him that he must find the Hammer.

In order to subvert the Talls, the Raegar beat them to the punch and declare that they are leading an army of humans on Thorbardin. Although they are mostly women and children, the Companions can not deny that there are humans marching to Thorbardin. They tell the truth but the Council remains unconvinced.

But no Dwarf is able to withstand a wager, so Flint gambles that he can find the fabled Hammer of Kharas and return it to the Dwarves with which they can finally pick a High King again according to their legends. If he does so, the humans will be given sanctuary.

The Hammer does have magical qualities as it forges a strange alliance between two people that hate each other - Sturm and Raistlin. Sturm wants to take the Hammer to Solamnia to forge the Dragonlances. Raistlin also doesn’t want to leave the Hammer with the Dwarves, and feels they can save thousands of lies. Raistlin schemes to have Flint switch the replica with the real one, in order to borrow the hammer.

Sturm rationlizes that they’d save thousands of lives and they’d return the hammer, but it is a path of darkness for the young aspiring knight.

Flint and Arman are sent to find the Hammer which is in the tomb of King Duncan, which was lifted far above the Valley of the Thanes where no Dwarf could reach. And of course Tas sneaks along as he is wont to do.

The rest of the companions are held prisoner until they return. The Draconians and Raegar use the opportunity to attempt to assassinate the companions, but Raistlin notices the poisoned mushrooms in their soup. They fake their death, in order to draw out their attacker. Grag, one of the head Draconians goes to check it out and discovers the surviving companions. They attack and take him prisoner to bring before the Thanes to prove their story of dragonmen to be true.

Arman, Flint and Tas discover the portal to the tomb and are whisked there until they are separated. Arman is met by a spirt of Kharas while Tas finds a golden dragon! In a humorous sequence he is forced to keep silent about the dragon’s presence, forever saying wooly mammoth everytime he tries to say dragon. It’s a great nod to Tas’ wooly mammoth stories. They find the hammer and they are able to make the switch before alerting Arman to their discovery.

Meanwhile Riverwind’s tale is one of a reluctant leader who leads a disparate band of refugees to an unpromised sanctuary. His journey transforms him from follower of Goldmoon to true leader of his people, as he deals with dragons overhead, treachery and discontent from Hederick and his followers who eventually saw reason when they were attacked by a draconian army. With support from Goldmoon, Laurana, and Ellistan, Riverwind completes his journey a slightly changed man that fits in well with what we see him become in the rest of the original Chronicles.

As everyone reconvenes, the draconians attack, and a fierce battle ensues where Flint uses the Hammer to defeat “Verminaard”, and allowing Arman Kharas to die a true hero, like his idol. Flint refuses to go along with Sturm and Raistlin’s plan and Sturm realizes the error of his ways, applauding Flint’s decision.

The Companions have won over the Dwarves and they agree to allow the humans their sanctuary.

All in all it is a somewhat necessary tale and the only real complaint I have is the length of the story. I love long books, but it seemed as if the tale was drawn out far longer than necessary. If anything Weis/Hickman perhaps could have learned from their young selves that sometimes less is more.

But with that being said, it is a very enjoyable tale, exploring some characters that were not as explored the first time around. That alone is worth the read, and it bodes well for the other “Lost Chronicles” being good additions to the Dragonlance saga.

B