Join me as I review The Annotated Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning, live! Share your thoughts on the continuation of the best selling trilogy and this new annotated edition. I share the insights I gleaned, how the annotations presented a new perspective and why I still love this novel.
You can pick up the Annotated Chronicles here: https://amzn.to/3r3tqPV
Review
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. It is Misham, Fierswelt the 8th, my name is Adam and today I am going to give you my Spoiler review The Annotated Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning. I will be spoiling the story, so if you don’t want to know it, stop watching now! I would like to take a moment and thank my collaborator patrons, the Heroes of the Lance, and invite you to consider becoming a patron or member of this channel by visiting the links in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. This is my perspective only, and if you have any thoughts or disagree with mine, I invite you to share them in YouTube chat.
The beginning of the novel provides the story of Berem Everman, the green gemstone man, and his sister Jasla. He was out hunting with his sister and came across a column with gems in it. He insisted on prying one out to sell, and his sister, out of fear, tried to stop him. He accidentally murdered her, and the gem became embedded magically into his chest, giving him seemingly eternal life. This is the beginning of the temple and the last piece needed for Takhisis to enter into Krynn, so you can imagine her desire to find him.
This sets up Kitiara’s reason for being in Flotsam rather than Solamnia. It also connects Tanis with Kitiara and dooms the companions ultimately as Tanis succumbs to her physically in a wonderful boot scene that is explained by Tracy Hickman in the annotations. He preferred inferring sex scenes rather than describing them, as Captain Kirk had in the Star Treck TV series, by puting on his boots after an ‘alien encounter’. Kit and Tanis, took each other’s boots off before their own. Kit is convinced at least marginally of Tanis’ switch to the Dark Queens army and ends up leaving town for a bit. Tanis listens to his conscious finally and leaves her to return to his friends. Kit told him about her search of the Everman and his importance. Tanis, realizing he saw him again on the ship he booked passage out of Flotsam on, realized he must leave immediately.
He convinces his concerned companions to leave and they see his torment from hiding something. They convince MarQuesta to leave and they are chased by Kitiara and Skie into the Blood Sea Maelstrom. Raistlin uses the Dragon Orb to escape, devastating Caramon, and Kit nearly captures Berem before the sinking of the Perechon, their ship.
We travel to Palanthas where Raistlin transported himself to and lies at its steps nearly dead. Bertrem informs Astinus and conveys Raistlin’s request to meet with him. They bring Raistlin inside the library for care and Astinus reveals that there is something else within Raistlin’s eyes that he recognises. Riaistlin asks to peruse the library as he secretly wants to gain more power. Astinus consents and Raistlin nearly dies in his pursuits. Ultimately he realizes that he is sharing his body with another. He recalls his test and understands that Fistandantilus is sharing his body, causing him the suffering and granting him power in return.
We switch to Laurana who is still mourning Sturm but fulfilling her duty to Lord Gunthar. In the message Gunthar sent the Palanthus leader, who reads it aloud to Laurana and Astinus, Lord Gunthar Uth Wistan promotes Lauralanthalasa to General of the Solamnic Knights. As the Knights complain that it’s against the measure, Astinus says that there was a female commander in the Third Dragonwar who was accepted into the Knights of Solamnia after her father and brothers died, who rose to Knight of the Sword and died honorably in battle. Tracy Hickman mentions that the story needs recalling and is still being researched in an annotation.
Laurana is placed in control of Palanthus’ defenses and standing army as well, and is overcome with the burden but ultimately steps up to the task. When standing guard Flint and Tas witness dragons approaching the city from a distance and warn others. The townspeople flock to the streets to share in the news and their terror. Laurana takes the city guard to calm the people and Tasselhoff Burrfoot recognizes the dragons from the tapestry in Pax Tharkas and the Tomb of Huma as good dragons. Upon Flints seeing them, his eyes grow misty due to their portent of the tide of the war finally changing.
We see Laurana leading the dragonriders in battle against the oncoming dragon armies through the perspective of Firestrike, Flint and Tas. This is a fantastic moment to read as Tas’ excitement is juxtaposed by Flint’s terror and the reality of dragonflight. I recalled playing the 3d dragonflight game, DragonStrike, just a month ago and understanding the terror, excitement and difficulty.
They attack a blue dragon and rider and Tas inadvertently captures the rider by wrapping around the dragonriders head like a quote ‘six-legged bug’. I laughed out loud during this until the end when we see Flint’s heart is going out as he suffers what appears to be a minor heart attack due to the excitement. This is the end of the first book and presents us with the first true glimpse of hope. I danced past Gilthanas explaining how he and Silvara snuck into Sanction and was tortured by Lord Ariakas before being helped by a secret agent to escape. This does not line up exactly with the adventure gamebook Lords of Doom, but it does connect to Dragons of the Hourglass Mage IF Iolanth is the secret assistance they gain.
There was another annotation of note by Douglass Niles who was writing the module to this section and shared how he took the WWII approach of planes assaulting ships at sea and troops on land for his portrayal of dragons fighting. It seems appropriate in hindsight, but I never considered it before.
In Book Two Kitiara is nearly killed by Lord Ariakas until Lord Soth intervenes, and there is an uncomfortable moment when we realize the Lost Chronicles were written long after this book, but the authors never went back to check continuity, as in Dragons of the Hourglass Mage, Takhisis is sending all highlords dreams of Lord Soth, asking them to get him to join the war. But in this book, Lord Ariakas is surprised and forgot who Lord Soth was. It immediately takes you out of the book and makes you disappointed with the authors. She shares her idea about using the Flying Citadels and Laurana to recapture Solamnia, banish the Good Dragons and collect Berem the Everman.
We then pick up with Laurana being delivered a note from Kitiara through a loyal draconian and Tasselhoff. It said that Tanis was dying and wanted to see Laurana before it was over. She was to come alone outside Dargaard Keep but if desired she could bring Flint and Tas. Everyone knows this is a trap, even Laurana expects as much, but IF it is true and Tanis is sick, she must go to him. Her love for Tanis makes her forsake her duty and abandon her post. In an annotation Margaret explains that she was against this from the start but that Tracy insisted. Tracy followed it with an annotation saying he was wrong and Laurana shouldn’t have chased after her love, as it was an abusive love and women should never run toward abusers. This is a difficult idea to me, because I do see how Tanis was abusive in his past and how he is torn between the two women, he does actively love Laurana. This is what humanized him and makes him interesting as a character, albeit a terrible person to be connected to romantically or sexually.
She is to deliver Kitiara’s captured commander in return for Tanis, and she goes through with the act. Sneaking him out of prison. He discovers Kitiaras plan and sees right through it as being a deception and trap. He actually turns the tables on the three of them and nearly sexually assaults Laurana if it wasn’t for Tas murdering him. Then Lord Soth appears and takes Laurana. Kitiara tells Flint and Tas to deliver her message to Kalaman to be prepared to surrender in three days.
We switch to the ‘drowned’ companions in the red sea, who meet a red robe wizard named Zebulah who is living in the drowned city of Istar with his love, a Dimernesti Elf. She eventually assists the companions to leave after Tanis explains the reality of the war being waged on land and in the air, clearly stating the sea is next. There is a wonderful annotation about Caramon, how he is simple and likes to add humor if possible. In his youth he would play shadow puppets for Raistlin who was often ill, and when they were writing the original end ot Dragons of the Autumn Twilight, which lined up with the modules having Verminaard and a fire dragon attack the companions in Thorbardin, they asked what Caramon would do. Mickael Williams said he would make shadow puppets against the cave walls and everyone had a big laugh.
The companions arrive in Kalaman with the aid of the Sea Elf Maiden and forget about the experience thanks to a forgetfulness spell from Zebulah. They travel into the city which is mourning the loss of the Golden General, but the companions have no idea who that is. They meet Tas after he pick pockets them, and learn the whole story about Icewall, Whitestone, the Dragon Orb, The High Clerist Tower and Sturms Death. This made me very sad all over again, having to live through it vicariously through Tanis. They were such dear lifelong friends that my already exposed nerves became overwhelmed yet again. Then Laurana was asked about and Tanis loses it. Kitiara arrives to make her demands for surrender. They have three weeks to send the good dragons to Sanction, find and deliver the Everman, and surrender Kalaman. To put a fine point on it, Flying Citadels with Dragons arrive to watch over the city.
Tanis and a few other companions leave with Berem to Neraka to rescue Laurana. Gilthanas stays to command the Kalaman forces. Riverwind and Goldmoon stay to assist, while the others sneak out on dragon back in the middle of the night.
Book Three opens with Fizban snoozing on an ancient gold dragon. He wakes to see the heroes flying low over him on their brass dragon and chases them down, grounding them with his dragon. Furious, Tanis confronts Fizban and they realize they can’t do anything about it, as Fizban dismissed all the dragons and had his transform into an idol. Tas puts it in his pouch. They drew the attention of multiple companies of draconians, and they run for their lives. They come across an ancient bridge that begins to collapse as they pass over it, and Fizban casts a spell that saves them by making a platform.
They are traveling to Neraka and find themselves getting close to Godshome. Berem vanishes and Flint goes in hot pursuit. Berem stumbles his way into Godshome and the heroes follow. Flint has a heart attack, and Berem returns to help him as Tanis runs up on him and murders Berem for seemingly attacking Flint. This scene gets me every damn time. Even after all of the allusions to it throughout both the Chronicles and Lost Chronicles, I know what it feels like to lose a close friend. I know the pain that grips your heart, making it difficult to breathe and comprehend what is happening. How sorrow fills you to the point of pain. Because of this I can empathize with Tanis, Tas and the heroes. Especially Tanis and Tas. It is a devastating moment especially when Flint realizes who Fizban is and asks him to join him in the first part of his journey to the next life.
Now, I don’t believe in an afterlife, but I like the idea of one. Love, friendship and connection to other humans is true magic and to have them come to an abrupt and nonsensical end sucks. In Dragonlance there is not an end to that connection and to see Tanis with his agnostic mind chase after Fizban carrying Flint is yet another moment of devastation. The ritual of a funeral is so important for closure, and for Tanis not to be able to honor his adopted father and friend, even as he realized the truth of who Fizban is, is a painful reality he must reconcile amidst everything else happening around him. Tracy would write in an annotation that they wanted to show how heroes don’t always die in heroic ways. The life they lived is what made them heroes, but sometimes those you love simply die. I am still processing how I feel about that action and statement, even though it is firmly planted in reality.
They all travel to Neraka with the plan of infiltrating the temple, finding and freeing Laurana and escaping. This eventually happens, though not as planned. Ultimately Tanis has to offer Kitiara his life and service in trade for Lauranas freedom, and Kitiara uses it as leverage to continue her existing plan. She wants the Crown of Power that Lord Ariakas has and is leveraging Laurana to gain it. Tanis commits himself to the Dark Queen and goes to lay his sword down at Ariakas’ feet when Raistlin tells him to strike and he will help him. Tanis follows through and kills Ariakas, the Crown of Power is being sought by Lord Soth for Kitiara and Tanis dons it. He moves to Kit, escorted by Soth and Laurana uses the moment to break free, telling Tanis she doesn’t need him to save her.
This is a huge and inconsistent moment in my opinion. Laurana forsook her role and responsibility with the Knights of Solamnia and Kalaman to chase after Tanis, again, because she is hopelessly in love with him and will do literally anything for him. Now, days later, she can’t stand him? Give me a break. He is doing a purely selfless act to save her life and she couldn’t seem to give a shit. She knocks Kit back, knocks Tanis to the floor, and all Hell breaks loose. Everyone is after the Crown of Power and evil is killing itself. Meanwhile Caramon escaped imprisonment with the Everman and, chasing after him, finds himself at the original archway to the portal Berem’s sister’s soul is guarding. Raistlin’s alarm goes off and he confronts them both. This is Raistlin’s moment to shine. Not only does he make it painfully clear that he is in total control of everything happening, he is the one that allows Berem to join his sister’s soul, and banish the Dark Queen. He shows Caramon he doesn’t need him at all. At the same time Tika and Tas are trying to divert the draconians attention from Caramon and Berem and run up onto a locked door. Tas tries to pick it and trips the poison needle trap. As he is dying he turns to see Tika fallen already from the Draconians. The shadow of the nightmare in Silvanesti hovers over everyone. Caramon pleads with Raistlin to help and ultimately Raistlin pays back everyone that helped him in the past by saving their lives.
Tanis chases after Laurana and when he finally catches up with her, Kitiara joins them and we are presented with the point of this entire trilogy. Good, Neutrality and evil, all fighting for control. Tanis is the neutral party that has grown to hate his decisions, weaknesses and desires. The trilogy is about him finding balance within himself and only after he accepts himself can he be open to love from others. This is echoed in all of our human experiences, and it is precisely what draws Laurana and Kit to him. In the end Tanis chooses Laurana, who accepts him as a close friend with potential for growth. Kit lets them leave while making plans for future control of the army and victories as Lord Soth delivers the Crown of Power to her.
Outside, Raistlin summons Cyan and leaves Caramon telling him to be his own man. They meet up with Tanis and Fizban who confirms who he is and how he set the stage for their adventure so long ago. The heroes wait till dawn and all part after an endearing and another tear shedding scene as Fizban shares Flint’s presence near Reorx’s forge, waiting for his friend Tasselhoff.
This trilogy ends beautifully. It encapsulates how Dragonlance was framed, on pillars of good, evil and neutrality. This Annotated edition delivered insights that were interesting at times, and honestly pointless at other times. I do think the good ones outweigh the bad in information if not quantity and it is very much worth a read.
Dragonlance has been influenced by so many people from artists, writers, game designers and fans, taht to hear the authors share their love for them all makes me love it that much more. I will always stand by my last claim about my favorite Dragonlance book being the last one I read, and in this case, I can’t imagine anything beating the Annotated Chronicles.
That is, until I start the Annotated Legends next…
Outro
And that’s it for my review of The Annotated Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning. Have you read the Annotated version? Do you enjoy the reviews I am putting out there? Feel free to email me at info@dragonlance-saga.com or comment below.
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This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).
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